CORNELL 
 
 UNIVERSITY 
 
 LIBRARY 
 
 THE 
 
 Arthur H. and 
 Mary Harden Dean 
 
 Book Fund 
 
CORNELL UNIVERSITY LIBRARY 
 
 3 1924 102 766 007 
 
Cornell University 
 Library 
 
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 http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924102766007 
 

 ^xVv ' /f \ 1 
 
 i 
 
THE 
 
 -CHRISTIAN'S DEFENCE 
 
 AGAINST THE 
 
 FEAfiS OF DEATH, 
 
 SEASONABLE DIRECTIONS 
 
 HOW TO 
 
 PREPARE OURSELVES TO DIE WELL. 
 
 WRITTEN QRI6INAI.I.Y IN FRENCH, 
 
 BY CHARLES DRELINeOURT, 
 
 Late Minister of the Protestant ChurcKoTTiwis, '* 
 
 TO WHICH IS FREFIXEDj 
 
 THE LIFE OF THE AUTHOR, 
 
 AND HIS BEHATIOUR iN HIS LAST MOMENTS. 
 
 FROM THE TWENTY-SECOND LONDON EDITION. 
 
 PHILADELFHM: 
 
 FEINTED ANDPuiBLISHED BY SIMON PROBASCO, No. 350 NORTH. 
 SECOND STREET. 
 
 1818. 
 
PREFACE. 
 
 THE usefalness of such a treatise as I now put into 
 the hands of my reader, is so obvious, that to insist 
 upon it, would be to suppose him of an understanding 
 little better than that of the beasts that perish: for who 
 knoweth not, " that it is appointed unto all men once 
 to diSf and after this the- judgmentP" and that conse- 
 quently, as our excellent author expresses it, the best 
 philosophy miist he the meditation of death. 
 
 Neither shall I insist upon the character of this val- 
 uable piece, lest, I should be thought to hold a candle 
 to the sun, its reputation being already universally 
 established amongst all people of piety and learning. 
 The extraordinary approbation it has met with in all 
 the countries of Europe, (as well Roman Catholic as 
 Protestant) and the numerous impressions it has under- 
 gone in almost all the European languages, is a greater 
 encomium upon it, than any we can possibly find words 
 to express. 
 
 After a long experience and practice amongst depart- 
 ing souls, and in the houses of mourning, at the re^^uest 
 of some of his congregation, who mightily approved of 
 ttie proper and seasonable arguments that he made use 
 of to fortify their persons against the apprehensions of 
 death, suitable to their conditions and tempers, did 
 Drelincourt publish his book of Consolations. 
 
 Its truly Christian spirit and politeness, its great de- 
 votion, nervous sense, and elegance of e:fcpression,,have 
 deservedly given it access tp courts as well as private 
 
IV PREFACE. 
 
 honseS, and rendered it the darling of persons of the 
 highest rank, who have not been ashamed of being 
 religious. It was at first dedicated to an illustrious 
 Princess of the house of Hesse; and our own late ex- 
 cellent Queen Mary, (consort to King William III.) 
 had so great an esteem, not to say fondness, for it, that 
 she told our author's son, then one of her physicians, 
 that she had read it above seven times over. 
 
 After such commendation and universal approbation 
 of Christians of all professions, it would be needless to 
 say more. How serviceable it may be to divines in fu- 
 neral sermons, in visiting the sick, the poor and, afflicted, 
 and how proper to be left as legacies to surviving friend.^, 
 at funerals, I leave to others to judge, who shall sin- 
 cerely desire to promote the salvation of souls. 
 
 The Engr'aved "Frontispiece, annexed to this edition, represents 
 the very interesting scene that took place between the celehrated 
 Joseph Mdison, at the hour of his death, and hi^ nephew, the 
 young Earl of Warwick;^-of ^hom his biographer sajs, 
 
 « The virtue of this excellent man f Joseph MdUon) shone 
 brightest at the point of death. After^ a long and manly, but vain 
 struggle with his distempers, he dismissed his physicians, and 
 ■with them all hopes of life; but with his hopes of life he dismiss- 
 ed not his concern for the liring. He sent for 16rd Warwick, a 
 youth nearly related to him, and finely accomplished, but irreg- 
 ular in conduct and principle; on whom his pious instructions and 
 example ,had not produced the desijed effect. Lord Warwick 
 came: but life now glimmering in the socket, the dying friend 
 was silent. After a decent and proper pa^use, the y«uth said, 
 " Dear sir! you sent for me: 1 believe, and ho,pe, you have some 
 comaAnds: I shall hold them most dear." May the ireader not 
 only feel the reply, but retain its impression! Forcibly grasping 
 the youth's hand, Addison softly said, see in what peace a 
 CHRISTIAN CAN die! He spoke with difficulty, and soon expired. 
 Through Divine grace, how great is man! Through Divine mercy, 
 how stingless death!" 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 Chap. „ , Page 
 
 AN account of the Author's Life and Writings, - f 
 of his Behaviour in his last moments, 10 
 
 I. That there is nothing more dreadful and terrible 
 
 than Death, to such as have no hope in God, - 19 
 II. That in all the philosophy of the Heathens there is 
 no true and solid comfort against the Fears of 
 
 Death, - - '26 
 
 III. Of divers sorts of death with which we are to en- 
 counter, - r - - - 36 
 
 IV. That ouV Lord Jesus Christ hath redeemed us from 
 eternal death, and delivers us by degrees, from the 
 spiritual death, - - - - - 42 
 
 V. Why we are yet subject to the natural or corporeal ' 
 
 death, and what advantages we obtain thereby 
 through our Lord Jesus Christ, - - - 48 
 
 VI. Whence proceed the Fears of Death - - - 67 
 VII. The First Remedy against the, Fears of Death is, 
 
 to meditate often upon it, - ... 75 
 
 VIII. The Second Remedy against the fears of Death is, 
 
 to live under a continual expectation of it, 88 
 
 IX. The Third Remedy against the Fears of Death is, 
 to consider that God hath ordained the time and 
 manner of, our death, - w - - - 102 
 
 X. The Fourth Remedy against the Fears of Deatk is, 
 
 to wean our hearts from the world, - - 137! 
 
 XI. The Fifth Remedy against the Fears of Death is, ' 
 to forsake vice, and to apply ourselves to the 
 practice of true piety and holiness,. - - 178 
 
 XII The Sixth Remedy against the Fears of Death is, 
 
 to rely upon God's good providence, - - 245 
 
 XIII. The First Consolation against the Fears of Death: 
 
 God will not forsake us in our dying agonies, - 293 
 
VI 
 
 CONTENTS. 
 
 ^^^P- Page. 
 
 Xiy, The Second Conspl3,tion against the Fears of Death 
 isj to look upon God as a mercifnl Father, and to 
 rely upon his infinite goodness, - - - 324 
 
 XV. The Third Consolation against the Fears of Death 
 is, »to meditdte continually upon the death and 
 passion of our LorH Jesus Christ, and to relj 
 lipon the merits of his cross, - - '■■ . - 344 
 XVI. The Fourth Consolation against the Fears of Death 
 is, to meditate upon our Lord Jesus Christ in his 
 sepulchre, - - . ,. . . 367 
 
 XVII. The Fifth Consolation against the Fears of Death 
 
 is, to meditate upon the resurrection of our Lord 
 Jesus Christ, -. ,:- - ,--• - S74 
 
 XVIII. The Sixth Consolation against the Fears of Death 
 
 is, the ascension of JeSus Christ into.heaven, and 
 his isitting down at ^Ke right hand of God, - STS 
 
 XIX. The Seventh Consolation against the Fears of Death 
 is, our strict and inseparable union with Jesus 
 Christ through the Holy Spirit, and the first-fruity 
 of our Messed immortality, - ' - 390 
 
 , XX. The Eighth Consolation: Death delivers us from all 
 
 the miseries which we daily suffer, - - 410 
 
 ^[XI. The Ninth Consolation: Death delivers us from ain, 
 which we see reigning in the world, and from the 
 remains of Our own corruption, ... 425 
 
 XXII. The Tenth Consolation arises from the happiness of 
 
 the soul in its st^te of separation from the body, 444 
 
 XXTII. The Eleventh Consolation: The glorious resurrec- 
 tion of our bodies, - - ,- - 473 
 
 XXIV. The Twelth Consolatipn: The destruction of death, 
 and the eternal aiid most happy life which we 
 shall enjoy4)oth in soul and body after the resur- 
 rection, - ' , - - - - 519 
 
 The Meditations and Prayers, proper for every condition, are at 
 the end of the several chapters tinto which they belong. 
 
LIFE OF 
 
 tHE REV. CHARLES DRELINCOURT. 
 
 Extracted chiefly from Monsieur Batle. 
 
 T. 
 
 HIS illustrious person [for what is more illustrious than true 
 
 piety?"] was born on the 10th of July, 1595, at Sedan, where his 
 father, whose name was Peter Drelincourt, a gentknian of good 
 family, had a considerable post, being at first Secretary to Henry 
 Robert de la Mark, Duke of Bullion and sovereign Prince of Se* 
 dan, and afterwards chosen Register of the Supreme Council of 
 that city. ° His mother was no less worthily (lescended, being the^ 
 daughj:er of Nicholas Buyrette, Advocate in the parliament of Pa-^ 
 ris, 01 whom we find it related, [from a manuscript life of our auf 
 thor] that having embraced the reformed religion, he was followed 
 therein by his wife and children, with so much zeal, that Thomas 
 Buyrette, his eldest son, is reckoned among the glorious company 
 of the Protestant martyrs; and James Buyrette, bis second son, 
 having devoted himself to the mipistry, would have been elected 
 one of the pastors of the church at Paris, if he had not died the 
 same week that was appointed for his ordination. 
 
 As this exemplary piety'in his mother's family, reflects so much 
 honor upon our author, I hope the reader will not think me too cir* 
 cumstantiaU if I take notice in this place, that his aforesaid un- 
 cle, Thomas Buyrette, was but nineteen years of age, when, |)y 
 the advice of Calvin and bis colleagues, he uiidertook the ofiElce 
 of a minister, which lie exercised with great reputation at Lyons, 
 for some years, till the storms of persecution arising, he was 
 obliged to retire to Geneva; but not finding any comfort, except 
 in the discharge of his duty, he was soon after sent to Besancon; 
 where God was pleased to give such a blessing to his labours, as 
 to enable him to settle a church privately, and to advance the 
 kingdom of Christ in a wonderful manner- 
 After he had been here some time, his mother, not having seen 
 him since he becaoie a minister, and being passionately desirous 
 of a visit from him, he took a journey to Paris the year of the mas- 
 sacre, where he fell, the third day of that dreadful slaughter, into 
 the hands of the murderers; who having learned from him his re- 
 ligion and function, put him to death in % most cruel manner, ttr* 
 
viii THE AUTHOR'S LIFE. 
 
 gether with John Mole, the hftsband of Mary iBuyrette» his eldest 
 sister, and inhumanely dragged both their bodies intrf the river 
 
 His inother narrowly escaped the same fate, by a kind of mira- 
 cle, and immediately retired to Sedan, with the rest of her chil- 
 dren, whom she carefully educated ia the fear of God. The youn- 
 gest of these was a posthumous daughter, who was after ivards the 
 mother of our Charles Dreliricourt. 
 
 To return to our author, he passed through the study of polite 
 literature and divinity at Sedan; after which, W w^s sent to 8au- 
 mur, to go through a course of philosophy there under professor 
 Duncan: at both which places he acquitted himself in such a man- 
 ner as to gain the admiration and love of all who knew him. 
 
 Having thus finished his preparatory Studies, in the beginning 
 of June 1618, he was admitted minister, an(l received imposition 
 of hands in the castle of Precigni; after vi'hich, he went to dis- 
 charge the duties of his function near LangresV whither he was 
 cilted upon the following occasion. - 
 
 ' It bieijig thottght, that a church might be founded ?it the gg.tes 
 of Langres, as in a bailiwick, those vrtio endeavoured to establisli 
 it were very pressing with Mr/Drelincourt to undertake the care 
 of this t^'ihg churCh; which he readily accepted; and because he 
 was assured there' was a prospect of a considerable harvest in those 
 parts, preferred the offer to all the others that were then' made 
 him. For though at that time he was but twenty -two years and 
 some months old, he had the good fortune to bq desired by many 
 churches of the kingdom, anS even-by some of the most considera- 
 ble foreign churches. , ' 
 
 Accordingly, when he came to Langres, he was filled with abun- 
 dai\t hopes; for he found in that city a great number of people, ■ 
 who only seemed to wait for' an opportunity of declaring them- 
 selves; and in the country, hie saw the people so Well disposed to 
 embrace the purity and simplicity of the gospel, that even upon 
 the mere report of the settlement of this church, there flocked' to- 
 gether to the number of above six hundred j in hopes of hearing a, 
 sermon. ' • » ~ - , 
 
 Whilst he stitid here, expecting thi's so miich desired establisli- 
 ment, he often preached in the neighbouring churches, and some- 
 times in the castle of Precigni, where he had been ordained. For 
 as he was not permitted to make his ordinary residence at Langres, 
 it made him the more rfiligent in visiting, instrilcting, and comfort- . 
 ing the protestants in the country. 
 
 Bat when it was found impassible to obtain the necessary de- 
 cree of the king's council, Mr. prelincOurt ^felt so deep a sorrow 
 on this account, that i't threw him into a dangerous fit of sickness, 
 which lasted thrfee months, and brought hira almost to the grave.' 
 
 Having recovered from this illness, he accepted of the call of 
 the church of Paris, where he preached for the first time on the 
 15th March, 1620. But he alvfays retained a particular affection 
 for .the members of his former church. 
 
THB AUTHOR'S L1B%!. !j 
 
 In the year of 1625, I\e married the only daughter of a rich 
 merchant of Paris, whose name wasBoIdue, [a convert from the 
 Romish church] by whom he had sixteen children, the Beven first 
 all sons, the rest intermixed, six sons, and three daughters. 
 
 Nor was the blessing of God, which shewed itself in his mar- 
 triage by this uncommon fruitfulness, less visible in the success of 
 his ministry. His sermotjs were very edifying; he was incom- 
 parably well skilled in comforting of the sick, and he managed 
 with great success the aftairs of the churgh, and even those of 
 other flocks, upon which he never failed to be consulted when they 
 were important. The services which he did to the church by his 
 pen can never be sufficiently acknowledged, whether we consider 
 his books of devotion, or those of controversy. In the former, 
 there is such a vein of piety, and the spirit and expressions ot 
 scripture run through them in such a manner, that religious minds 
 have always, and still do.. wonderfuUy edify from them. What 
 he wrote against the church of Rome has confirmed the Protestants 
 more than can be expressed; for with the arms with which he fur- 
 nished them, those who had not the advantage of learning were 
 enabled to oppose the monks and parish priests,, and resolutely 
 contend with the missionaries. His writings have made him con- 
 sidered as the scourge of the Roman catiioliq, controvertists; and 
 yet bis candour and great endowments won biifi the love of man v 
 of that party. • He had an easy access to the secretaries of state, 
 the first president,; the kings advocate, and the civil and criminal 
 lieutenants; but he never made any other use of his interest with 
 them, than to assist the afiiicted churches, or to serve such private 
 persons as applied to him for his protection. 
 
 The chief lords of the ret'orined religion in general had ihe high- 
 est regard for him, particularly the dnke de la Force, the marshals 
 Chattillion, Gascou, and Turene, and the duchess of Tremoulle 
 who distinguished him by a great many, favors. They often sent 
 for him to their palaces, and honoured bim from time to time with 
 their visits; as likewise did several foreign princes and noblemen, 
 and the ambassadors of Knglana and Holland; and all of thcin fre 
 quently made use of his prijdent advice. We must not omit that 
 he v/as particularly^ esteemed by the illustrious house of Hesse; as 
 appears by the boolcs Vjrhich he dedicated to the princes and priii 
 cesses of that name. 
 
 He was always animated with a warm -zeal for the glory of God; 
 to which, ar.J the service of the church, he had consecrated all his 
 labours; and was so indefaligable in the discharge of his function, 
 that,he never spared himself^ when he had any ministerial duty to 
 perform: insomuch that once upon an esrtraordinary occasion, he 
 had resolution and strength enough to preach seven times in one 
 day. 
 
 He was constant in visiting the sick; in comforting of whom, 
 as we have before taken notice, he had a peculiar facility of ha<p- 
 
 B 
 
? THE AUTHOR'S LIFE. 
 
 piiiess; and the little leisure he had from these holy offices, he 
 Wtlifully employed for the benefit of the church, in (lefending and 
 enforcing the great truths he taught by his writings, and in at- 
 tacking the errors of the contrary party; in whith he took so much 
 pious pleasure, that it is said he wished to die with his pen in his 
 Mnd. 
 
 He was always extremely assiduous in prayer; and in the latter 
 years of hislife, if he wasail^ne, he never he^rd the clock strike,' 
 bat he fell down oh his knees in praiyer to God. 
 
 He died on the 3d of November 1669, in the most comfortable 
 disposition, as one who had beeii always faithful in his Lord's bu- 
 siness. He preaclxed'to the last wefek of his life; his last sermon 
 being that of the 27th of Oct. 1669, taken frdm Psal. li. 7", 8 — 
 " Puj-ge me with hyssop,?' &c. 
 
 ^ "VVe li'ave already observed, that he was blessed with a ^reat 
 wany children; and Had alsa the consolation to see many of t|em 
 grow up to an uncommon stature of piety and repiitation. 
 
 The, books which our escelkht author left behind him, and 
 which will, always endear his meinory to every'goqd christian, and 
 true protestant, are as follows. . 
 
 1. A treatise of Preparation for. the Holy Supper. 
 
 2. A Catechism. 
 
 3. A Short .Viev? of the Controversies. 
 
 4. The Christian's Consolations against the Fears of D^ath. 
 These, of all his works, are those which have been the most 
 
 frequently reprinted. Some of them have paSsed: through above 
 fifty editions, and have"^beeri translated into divers languages; par- 
 ticularly his admirable piece against the Fears of Death. 
 
 5. Hi& Charitable Visits, in five volumes. 
 ■ 6. Threeivolumes of sermons. 
 
 And thirteen works on different controversial subjects. 
 
 He likewise wrote several, lettei-s, which have been printed, one 
 to the Duchess of Tremouille, upon her husband's revolt fro|n the 
 Protestant religion; one of consolat^, addressed to Madame de 
 la Tab-iriere; one upon the restoriffion of King Charles; and some 
 upon the English Episcopacy, &c. by which it appears, that he 
 had a pa'pticular esteetti ^nd veneration for the Church of Eng- 
 land. , 
 
 He also published several Prayers; some of which were mdde 
 for the King, others for the Queen, and theJiauphin. 
 
 Behaviour of the Kev. Author in his last moments. 
 
 IT having been reported in every quarter, that Monsieur Drcr 
 lincoui't died suddenly, of an apoplexy, several godly persons have 
 thought it might be of service to promote the glory of God, and 
 the edification of his church, to undeceive such as may have en- 
 tertained this opinion, by acquainting^all those into whose hands 
 
THE AtTTHOR'S LIFE. 
 
 Xl 
 
 this may fall, that God was graciously plifiased to pfermit his servant 
 to glorify him to the last, arid to make him an instrument of edi- 
 fying all them who were witnesses of his happy death. It is this 
 that occasions our present undertaking, to give a faithful and 
 genuine account of his last minutes; which, though it comes abroad 
 somewhat late, yet will not appear unseasonable, if that blessing 
 and success attend it which the authors jiope ai^d wish for. ' 
 
 But before we proceed to tlip particulars of the last scene of 
 this illustrious life, it majy not be improper to observe, that the 
 deceased wasnatu.rally of a very strong and vigoroWs constitution, 
 which enabled him to bear up under very great labours. for a l.ong 
 time together; insomuch that once, upon an extraordinary occa- 
 sion, he had the strength to preach seven times in one day. 
 
 As God had bestowed upon him, together with this strength of 
 body, a very Hvely and active spirit, and a zeal which burned for 
 his glory, he spared himself neither day nor night in the ilischarge 
 of bis>functioh, hut pmployed himself, with an unwearied diligence 
 and application, in visiting the sick, in looking after the affairs of 
 the charch^j and in the divers works of piety and cliarity, of which 
 his .beneficent and compassionate temper never suffereu him fo 
 want occasions; often, causing him to repeat our Saviour's words, 
 " It is more blessed to give than to receive." Actsxx. 35. 
 
 He had, in particular, a very weighty charge upon him during 
 the first years of his ministry in the church at Paris: For a few 
 months after his call thirther, Monsieur du Moulin being removed, 
 he was twelve years, on* of the three persons to serve (hut great 
 church; and even for a long time had no otlier assistant than Mon- 
 sieur Mestrezat. 
 
 In the midst of so many employments, not being able to find any 
 timeintlie day, he set aside part of the night for bis meditations, 
 and the composing his works. 
 
 But at length his youthful strength giving way to old age, his 
 natural good constitution was extremely broke by these continual 
 labours. The first notice he had' of this change, was from the at- 
 tack of a sharp defluxion, which fell from his head upon his throat, 
 and occasioned him frequent disorders. In the last years of hi.s 
 life, his nature growing- weaker every day, and not having that 
 strength to resist the enemy which it had before, this defluxion be» 
 gan to fall upon his breast, and to afflict him, from time to time, 
 with y^ry painful obstructions, attended with a violent cough, 
 which sometimes reduced him to the last extremity, and masle it a 
 doubtful struggle between life and death. This was particularly 
 troublesome to him in the night, in winter, between that season and 
 sprihg, and between autumn and'^that season. 
 
 Also, intlie yeai; that preceded the last of his life,tb'ere happen- 
 ed to bim an accident, apparently mortal, and whichfin its begirj- 
 ning, both for the nature of the disorder, and the circumstances 
 attending it, was exactly lik^ that which carried jiim out of the 
 
Sii THE AUTHOR'i^LIFE. 
 
 world. This was on the last day of April, in the year 1668^ wjien, 
 bj^jng already weak and indispL&sed,. h© would needs go that even'- 
 ing,,doptrary to the intreaties of iiis family, to the burying-gfoundj 
 to pay thelast-du'ties to one of his grandidaughters, whom Ood had 
 taken to his rest. Accordingly, he went, witjh some difiBcuHy, lean- 
 ing on the annof onieof his.sons; but as he returned, his legs fail- 
 ed him several times, so that he hadmuch Sido to set one foot be- 
 fore another: however, at last, with a great deal of trouble, he 
 mad^ shift to get home,,jvhere he arriyed exceeding faint, and in a 
 cold sweat; appearing, iu a manner, Vvithtiut life; and so pale and 
 wanj that for some time he frightened all his family; but at length 
 he came to himself, beitig relieved byaremedy which ihe had some- 
 times used with success.. . 
 
 Notwithstanding these, frecjuent and dangerous attack S» this 
 faithful and zealous servant of God would not omit apj of his or- 
 dinary labours- aiidemplpymerits; insomuch that tfie next day af- 
 ter the accident of which we have Ijeen speaking, he went to preach 
 at Charenton; and three days afterw^ds Ayrote in the-ij|ornittg 
 eight hours togethej- in his study; in which eh[\ploy he took much 
 pleasure, that he often used' to vyish he- might die with' hia pen in 
 his hUnd. He was equally indefatigable in all the other duties of 
 his function, s6 far as his sti'epgth would give him leave. . 
 
 But, ahove.all, he would never dispense with visiting the sick; 
 which was a duty he had particularly at heart, and for which he 
 was in an especial manner qualified, by the excellent and admir- 
 able gifts of prayer and consolation, wherewith God had enriched 
 him; not to mention that happy discernment, which a long and 
 daily experience had taught him,^to suit his. exhortations according 
 to the necessity of the sick person, ,and the apparent issue of the 
 di sease. We may add , that in these visits he religiously practised 
 what lie himself sets forth, to be the duty of a .faithful pastor, in 
 the sixtieth of his, Charitable Visits; which is to have, a particular 
 respect to the consolation of the poor, seeing they have the most 
 imn>ediate need of it. So, we ftiay justly apply to him, what Job said 
 of himself, « That the loins bflhe poor and afflicted blessed him.'? 
 Job xxxi. 20. _ ^ , . 
 
 To the pressing remonstrances coittiniially made him by his fa» 
 Biily, thjjt he would favour himself upon account of his infirmities 
 and great age, he would commijnly answer, " That he couhl wil- 
 lingly take such a rosolutioa-, but that he should never be able to 
 put it in practice., because of his great desire to please all the 
 ■world, and his known readiness to.serve whoever applied to him." 
 Even a few rtipnths before his death, the weather being very rough, 
 he went at nine o'clock at riight t8 visit one of his friends, who was 
 dying, and did oot return until midnight. This he called " a young 
 niati's exploit," but thought himself happy in being able to perform 
 it. •..■"■,, -.;■/■ 
 
 In the midst of so many fatigues, he rightly judged, considering 
 
THE AUTHOR'S LIFE. xlii 
 
 . his age and itifirmities, thcat there was nx* probahility of his con- 
 tinuing Kong in the world;- as he, declared to his flock some months 
 before his deaths To the same purpose he expressed himself to 
 others, both by .word of mouth and by writing, particularly after 
 he was entered into bis seventy-fourth year. 
 
 With this persuasion, he made a Christian preparation for death; 
 or rathei'j ^S he himself "expresses it, " being jipstly amazed at 
 having passed such a number of years in the midst of so many fa- 
 t^ues and labours, 1 hive, fixed all my hopes upon a life which is 
 neither reckoned, by years iior by ages.'' To this devout medita- 
 tion upon death, or rather Upon immortality, after which he ear- 
 nestly aspired, was owing, that, in the latter part of-his life, he 
 took up a custom, when he was- alone, to pray to God'every time 
 he heard the clpck strike, as if every hour warned him of bis de- 
 parture, and every stroke of the hammer summoned him toappeaY 
 before-God. This he discovers in one of his letters' to bis eldest 
 son, in the confidence of- paternaUaftection. To ,the same cause 
 must also be attributed the exti-eme pleasure which he took in rea- 
 ding over hjs book of Oonaolations ^^inst the Fears of Death the 
 yearhefore he died; often declaring to those about him, "That 
 he praised God for having inspired hlra with such a work, for the 
 edification of his church, and bis own comfort." 
 
 It ia true, had it pleased. God to prolong his days, the earnest 
 desire he had to finish some works of piety, which heaven per- 
 mitting, he had promised to the public, would have made him 
 willingly^cry out with the Psalmist, "Let my soul live, that it 
 may praise thee!"'- Nevertheless, he submitted himself entirely to 
 the- adorable wisdom of God; as be hitnself tells us, ifi this excel- 
 lent prayer which you may find at the end of his charitable visits: 
 " Ihave both lived and preached a long time. Lord, I wait for 
 thy salvation and deliverance. I am not weary of serving so good 
 a master, so bountiful a Lord; nevertheless, my Lord, and my God, 
 when it shall please thee to put an end to my labour, I shall go 
 with fulness of joy into the rest of thy glory. Lo, I come to do 
 thy will, O my God!" 
 
 He wrote this in the year 1668, and God delayed hot lonj> re- 
 ceiving him into his rest. The year following was the last of his 
 life and labour: and this, in respect to him, was a year variouaty 
 divided between^sickness and health, life and death. ' 
 
 During this fatal year, he had two considerable calms, one in 
 spring, and the other in autumn. But these were soon followed 
 by two terrible storms; in the last of -which, the vessel of the man 
 or God, that is to say, his body; suffered shipwreck, v^hile his bles- 
 sed soul gained the port of salvation, the heaven of glory. 
 
 In the mqntli of March he writes this account concerning the 
 state of his health: *' Though jt is the time of the equinox, thank 
 God I am very well; belter than I have been a long while." 
 But this sudden gleam, the cei-tain forrunner of i tempest, was 
 
xiv THE AUTHQlR'S LIFE. 
 
 bu^, of short continuance; for on the 6tli of April following, he 
 makes this eottniplaint in one of his letters: « I am often struggling 
 between life andi death. I was so well a little while ago,, that I- 
 tlioiight my health was going to be entirely re-establisned. But 
 this last cold weather has affected it in such a marn^er, that, on the 
 iii^ht between the 4th and 5.th of this month; my cough was so vi- 
 olent, a:nd my defluxion. oppressed, me so cruelly, that I was upon 
 the point of being strangled no less than three times; wherefore I 
 recommended myself unto God, not knowing whether it was his 
 good pleasure to take me to his rest."'' 
 
 Nevertheless, as ill as he, was, he would not dispense with him- 
 self from preaching on the 7th day of the- same month, which put 
 him to a great deal of ;pain, and increased his illuiess so much, that 
 Jiis physician plainly told him, that suSli another attempt would be 
 enough to cause an inilammation on his lun^s, and to bring on a 
 continual fever. Tliis blessed person himsel}" was- fprced likewise 
 tp acknowledge, that in the excess of his sieai, " he ha,d rather 
 tefinpted Go.d than relied upon his providence." 
 
 (This accident deprived-him of almost all his courage, and the 
 hopes of ever mounting the pulpit again. Nevertheless he .com- 
 forted ^himself with the thought, that he should not be entirely 
 useless to the church, so long as it: should please God to- continue 
 him in the world. For besides visiting the sick, and, looking after 
 the affairs of the church, " If my tongue fail me," saith be, " T 
 hope my pen will continue to labour for the glory of God, and the 
 edific^ion of his church." 
 
 But not long S'fter, viz. on the 21st of the month, bei^g Easter 
 Day, God having presented his servant with an extraoi'dinary oc- 
 casion of speaking a word of exhortation tp such of his flock as 
 could not that day get into the church at Charenton, he recom- 
 mended himself to the Lord's mercy, and preached in the church 
 porch with a good deal of facility. After which 4iis' health growing 
 better, he began to take heart, and to entertain fresh hopes that.lie 
 should soon be able to attend, aS' usual, the Ordinary duties of his 
 function. 
 
 On the 6th of May, he opened the gynod at Charenton, where, 
 after the conclusion of^s sermon, he received the united thanks 
 of all his brethren, which ;was rtratter of great comfort to him; in- 
 S^uch, that he praised God withi liis whole hea,rt, " for having ' 
 given him that new strength to glorify him in the presence of his 
 servants." 
 
 This was the second calm which he experienced this year and 
 the last of hisglife. It lasted all summer, and during the first moniji 
 of autumn. And this, new and final health of this zealous servant 
 of Jesus Christ, put him upon undertaking to preach twice in the 
 church-porch'^t Charenton on the faj^t day, being the 12tli of 
 Sept. 1669f in which pious design, inspired no doubt by God, the 
 blessing of God manifestly attended him, strengthening him in so 
 
woiKdeffnl a manner, that, the last discourse seemed to come from 
 hira with inore power and ease than the former. > 
 
 This pleasing, biit short and treacherous serenity, even increas- 
 ed till the eve, if I may so express myself, of that fatkl storm which 
 robbed us of this holy person. The light of his life, like that of a 
 c&ndte or torch, being just expiri^^g, cast forth new flames, and 
 appeared vi'ith' greater brightness. To this purpose he v^rites'to his 
 ddeSt son on the Slst of September: " I have yet thank God, some 
 vigour left." On the 28th, « Thank God, I am in good health. I 
 preached on Sunday morning; and I find no inconvenience froWi 
 having preached twice on the fast day. I have a better appetite, 
 and eat more than I have done at any time this twelve months." 
 On the 5th of October, " I apply myself to my ordinary labours; 
 and am, thank God, in/good health." On ihe 19th, " Thank God 
 I have been very well all this week, and have rested on nights 
 without coughing, spiting, or any of my old complaints. But God 
 knows how long this will last. His will be done." And on the 
 26th, which wais his last letter to his son, " I have great reason to 
 praise God for the. health which he is pleased to indulge me; for 
 thank God, I have been very well all this week, and have rested 
 well on nights- I have klso a good appetite." This whole letter is 
 of full marks of the vigour both oil. his bo~dy and mind; and towards 
 the latter end, he observes with joy, that, " Thank God, he had 
 just finished writing over his sefmon for the morrovv, and that he. 
 was going to read it at the candle." 
 
 Accor^tfgly, on the morrow, being Sunday the Srth of Oct6:ber, 
 he preached in the morning, begining with this holy exercise the 
 week. Those who heard him, auirm, that he shewed a great deal 
 of strength, both of body and mind, and preached his last sermon 
 (as has been mentioned) from Psalm li 7, 8. 
 
 This last sermon was looked -upon afterwards as a presage he 
 had of his death, and a preparation for it, by desiring the pardon 
 of his sins, and' a cleansing froth ail the pollations of his flesh and 
 spirit, through the infinite mer(fy of God, and the blood of his sa- 
 viour. The whole audience were very well satisfied with his. last 
 performance, which they judged to be excellent, and worthy to 
 crown all his former religiou.* exercises. At his return to tiie city, 
 he spent the rest of the sabbath in acts of piety and charity; and, 
 jit Iris return home, being desirous to enjoy the company of all his 
 family then at Paris, he supped with them, and seemtid vevy plea- 
 sant in his discourse; he continued well on Monday, and the next 
 day, till the 29th of October, the fatal day in which his mortal dis- 
 temper began to att;ack him; from that morning he felt an' indispo- 
 sition, and had no appietiteat dinner; yet cbuffl not forbear visit> 
 ing sick persons in his district. This good man came home very 
 feeble,' and out of order, with a fever upon him: Some time after 
 his speech failed him; and when Mr. Malnoe (advocate in parlia- 
 ment, his son-in-law) was eonre to vist Kim, lie was scarce ah,le 
 
xvi -THE AUTHOR'S LIFE, 
 
 to apeak; he was persuaded to take hik. rest, he suddenly fell upon 
 his knees and made such an excellent prayer,'that his family never 
 heard from him one more ferve'nt: He discoursed of tk$ frailty of 
 human life, of* the condition he was in, of the cliurch of God, and 
 iinsistfed earnestly upon her deliverance;, he iprayed for all the 
 members of hts\ family; and in #iis-last religious exeTeijSe perform- 
 ed amongst his dortiefeticks, he omitted nothing material, prayed 
 with Zealand vigour, with a clea)r voice, and writhout hesitation, 
 to their comfortj'and his own aatisfactipn, being then only a little 
 feverish. In this hopeful condition he went to bed, but about 
 midnight he relapsed again into Ivis former difficulty of speech: — 
 Th^ fever increasing upon him by degrees, a physician by his'pre- 
 scriptions gave him relie'f; and-he remembered the Psalms which 
 he was won't to repeat, namely, xxxi, xxxiij xxxiv, xli,li, Ixiii^and 
 cxxx. He had always a ^reat veneration for'the Book of Psal-ms, 
 which made him likiB the reading of John deLere; who writes 
 how some savages of Brazil were wonderfully aftfected and ravish- 
 ed at the hearing of one "of those divine hymns sung. A certain 
 person that came to visit him,' prayed that God would change hi% 
 bed of sickness, to a bed of hea,Wu he answered, " My bed of 
 healtli and rest will be in Paradise." A noble lady, then a close 
 prisoner, for whrfm the sick person had a high esteem, having sent 
 to enquire of his health, he told the messenger iie was very sorry 
 foi'' her coufmement, ordered him to" pVesent his service to the 
 good lady, and to tell her. t^at he should see her no more but in 
 heav'en. 
 
 During this short interval, his mind was free to discourse about 
 his doniestick affairs; but in a little time after his cough 'and fe- 
 ver increasing violently upon him^ his physician watched with hini 
 till morning. Our patient .perceiving his dangerous condition^ 
 spake in this manner to him,"," Sir, though all good Christians, 
 ought continually to be prepared .tb die, and though .GoJ hath 
 granted me the grace to be ready when he shall please to call me, 
 yet if you find I am drawing to my end, pray give me notice of it; 
 for I am. willing to put my affairs io, order." About two or three 
 hours after, the physician finding he could not live much longer, 
 it was judged convenient by his son-in-law to acquaint him with 
 it; to whom he spake to this purpose: " 1 find the time of my de- 
 liverance is drawing near, and that God will take me to his rest. ' 
 I shall be glad to discourse with you privately: I have not only 
 leoked upon you as myson-in-law^,butas my child, whom I have 
 loved anil tenderly love; I recommend my- family to your care, 
 and desire yeu allto live in perfect' union." And having giv^ii 
 his lesson to all hi^hildren,as well absent as present, he ordered 
 the private affairs of his family, antl the rewards to be givea t* 
 those who had%een serviceable to him in his sickness; and order- 
 ed his son-in-law to entreat Mr. Girard, the ekieir of his church, 
 to Carry this messa^ge to the Consistory of Charenton, '• That he 
 
THE AUTHOR'S LIFE. sfu 
 
 died their faithful servant, and prayed God with all his heart to 
 preserve the church." ' 
 
 After this he spent most part of his time in prayers to God, re- 
 peating several texts of scripture, but with such a weak voice, they 
 ccmld only guess by some syllables what he said. He was often 
 heard to repeat the words of Job, " I know that my redeemer liv- 
 eth," and those of the. Psalms, " I have put my trust in thee, &c. 
 I recommend my spdl into thy hands." Thus he continued in his 
 pious meditations. Then his son-ia-law offered to read to him out 
 of his Book of Consolations against the Fears of Death, which he 
 attended to, and seemed to be well pkased with the Consolatioa 
 for a dying Minister, and with the prayer apftointed for such a 
 one who faced deatli with a holy joy. " That is, (said he) very, 
 good. 1 dont, speak it because it came from me: God be praised 
 that he enabled me to publish this Book, to comfort others as well 
 as myself." The next morning, when Mr. Girard came to visit 
 him, he repeated to him the same words that he had given to his 
 son-in-law in charge to tell him; and he delivered to him a hill, to 
 be prayed for publicly in the congregation. At that time Mr. 
 Oaiflej Mr, Morus, and Mr. Claud came to see him, expressing 
 their tender aft'ection and concernment for him; at which he seem- 
 ed to be moved. Mr. Oaille made a pathetic exhortation, which 
 the patient kindly accepted; and speakitig of the loss the cburck 
 would Abstain by his death, 'Mr. Drelincourt answered, "Sir, you 
 are far more useful to her than I can be; ray desire i^) part, and 
 to be with Christ, which is far better for me." At Which words 
 Mr. Daille asked him., Don't you add with the apostle, that it is 
 more necessary .for tlie church that you should continue in ther 
 flesh? He replied, " G6d will raise ministers who shall discharge 
 their duty better than I can." When Mr Daille asked him whe- 
 ther his hope was not in the mercy of Gqd? he answered him in 
 divers texts of scripture, such as these, « I know in whom I, have 
 believed; I have fpught the good fight, I have finished ipy course, 
 I have kept the faith, &c. I draw towards the fnarkof the prize 
 of the high calling," &c. / 
 
 . Mr. Daille perceiving how painful his speech was to him, advis-/ 
 ed tira to speak to himself, to hinder the increase of his distemA 
 per; bat he answered, « how willing he was to glorify God to the 
 last gasp, and edify by his speech, such as were there present."-^ 
 Then having embraced each other at iheir, parting, Mr. Daille told 
 him, he did not altogether despair of his recovery, and that he hop- 
 ed God would save him, according to the prayers of the churcli: 
 he replied, « The will of the Lord be done, I resign myself en- 
 tirely to the order of his providence." The two other ministers 
 were not wanting in their prayers and exhortations. About noon 
 these gentlemen left him to rest, which he desired the^ to take; 
 but instead of sleeping, he was heard to pray very eafipe stly three 
 or four times, and concluded every prayer with O^Jpather, and. 
 
xviii THE AUTHOR'S LIFE. 
 
 • 
 
 I belifeve in God, &c. He gave his blessing to all his children, and 
 to them that desired it of him. The afternoon Mr Claude returned 
 to him "again, and cijptitiued until six; our patient answered him 
 distinctly, but briefly, by reason tif his great weakness. "About li 
 of the clock -at iiight, several jlhysicians came to him; and at the 
 sight of him they agreed^ that there were scarce any hopes of hini; 
 mean time he' was praying and addressing: himself to God, but 
 could not be well understood. Yet when a lady, one of his inti- 
 mate friends, came to hi,s bed-side, he said, " Madam, you are an 
 eye-v^itness of my groans and sufferings; but-I cannot well; speak 
 to you.'*' And about 10 at night he called to mind that a pledge 
 of some value had been committed to his keeping": he ordered it to 
 be taken out of hi« cl#et, brought to him, esaminetl if it were all 
 there, and gave order to restore it to the right owner. 
 ' His second son, minister of the Reformed Church of Fohtaihe- 
 b]ean,came in the room to see his dear fathei'.deparfuig who knew 
 him, and seemed to be moved-atthe first sight of him: Mr. Claude 
 then asked him if he knew his son; he answered, Yes'; this was 
 the last word he was heard distinctly to speak. His son assisted 
 his dying father with his exhortation and prayers^ he was sensible 
 to the last, his countenance never changed untij/about an hour be- 
 fore he deceased; and though nature was struggling with the das- 
 ease, and he tormented with a, burning fever, he seemed, by his 
 looks to be transported with joy, and full of coitifort. Oriffeunday 
 the 4th ofiKovember, 1669, this feVerend Divine^ yielded up his 
 soult:o%idr r ■■ ■ • ' -• , 
 
 This was the end of this holy and zealous servant of God, who 
 departed this life in theT4th year of his age, the 52d year of his 
 ministry, and in the 50th year after his being called to serve the 
 Reformed Church of Paris. He died in the bed of honour,' in the 
 exercise of the duties of his function,preach'iog the gospel, writing 
 in vindication of the truth, and conif«piBg the sick, &6'. 
 . TJl»eloquent tongue of Mr. Daille and Mr. Morus,from the pul- 
 pit of Charenton, the tears of the wholejcongiegation that day and 
 the next, when they committed his bodyto the grave, in expecta- 
 Vtion of a joyful resurrection (in a word, the tiommendationoT. peo- 
 ple of both religions) sufficiently verifi'e(V the saying of Solomon, 
 The memory of the Just is •blessed. 'Che portraiture, of his ex- 
 cellent, learned and religious mind, maybe seen in his works," par- 
 ticularly in this useful and comfortable treatise, The Consolations 
 against the Fears of Death. 
 
 We doubt notbut he is gone to receive in heaven the incorrupti- 
 ble crown of glory, which the' great •<3od and Redeemer of our souls 
 promiseth of his mercy to all faithful servants. God grant that we 
 may imitate his excellent life, and follow him in his happy end!« 
 
THE 
 CHRISTIAN'S CONSOLATIONS 
 
 AGAINST THE 
 
 FEARS OF DEATH. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 That therA is nothing mo^e dreadful and terrible than 
 Death, to such as have no Hope in GOD, 
 
 Holy man, speaking of Death, styles it with a great 
 deal of elegance and propriety, The Ming of Terrors, 
 Job xviii. 14;, that is to say, the most terrible thing in 
 the world.' Nor iadeed is there any thing that presents 
 itself to our iisiagination, which bears a more formidable 
 aspect. It is possible to escape the edge of the sword, 
 to stop the mouths of lions, and to qtieflch the rage of 
 fire; bat when Heath once shoots at us the evenomed 
 arrows, of which his quiver is full, when it opens its in- 
 fernal threat, and vomits forth its devouring flames, it 
 is utterly impossible for us to guard Against its fury. 
 
 There are a number of warlike inventions wherewith 
 to oppose the attempts of the most powerful and impla- 
 cable enemy; but neither the stratjll^ems of the greatest 
 captains, the most regular fortifications, nor the most 
 Victorious and triumphant armies, can withstand a sin- 
 
aO' THE CHRISTIAN'S CONSOLATION. 
 
 gle mement the approaches of deaths , It pierces in ari 
 ^Stant, thTough4he strongest ' bulwarks, the thickest 
 wallSj and the, most solid towers. It leaps over the*wi- 
 dest ditches^ the highest forts^ and tbe^ most inaccessible 
 rocks. It blows down the strongest barricadoes, and 
 laughs at all our military intreBchtaents; every where 
 it finds the weakness of our armour, and through the 
 "best-tempered breast-plate strikes the proudest heart. 
 In. the most solitary retirement ^t conies upon us, and 
 snatches us froin' the midst of the mostsrfaithful and vi- 
 gilant guards. In short, there is nothing, either in na- 
 ture or art, which can protect us from its cruel and in- 
 satiable hands. 
 
 There are none so barbarous, but are sometimes over- 
 come by the prayers and tears of such as prostrate 
 themselves to implore mercy and compassion; and even 
 those who have the least sense of hu'manity' commonly 
 spare the weakest sex and age. But unmerciful Death 
 has no more respect to such as humble themselves, 
 than to those who resist. It regards not the tears of 
 infants sucking at the breast, biit plucks them from the 
 bosoms of their tender inother^^ and dashes them in 
 Jiieces before their eyes. It mocks at the lamenta- 
 tions of thq fair and lovely, and delights to trample 
 upon their enchanting beatities. lit stops its ears to tl)e 
 supplications of trembling old age, and takes a pride -in 
 easting to the ground those venerable oaks which have 
 been so long rooted in the world. 
 
 In the day of battle,- •when princes or generals of an 
 army are taken pri#ners, they are treated in a differ- 
 ent manner from common soldiers; but inexorable Death, 
 •who is blind to rfll distinctions, treads under foot, vyfitU 
 the same haughtinegs^ the prince and the subject, th« 
 
THE CHRISTIAN'S CGNSOLA'HON. SI 
 
 toaster and the servant, the nobleman and tlie vassal) 
 the rich Dives and the beggar Lazarus. It blows out 
 with the same blast the most shining laminacies, and 
 tlie most obscure lamps. It has no more respect for 
 the crowns of Kings, the Pope's triple crownl, and the 
 Cardinal's hat, than for the sbephepd's crooik, or the 
 slave's chains. Sooner or later it heaps them altogether 
 in the same dark and loathsome prison, and in the 
 same mortar reduces them to dUst. k 
 
 There is no wars so furious and crue^ but what admits 
 of some days, or at least some hours of truce, and 
 even the most inhuman minds are at last weary of their 
 ■conquests, and elided with shedding blood. But insati- 
 able Death never cries. It is enough. At every hour 
 and monjent it mows down whole nations and kindreds. 
 The flesh of all the animals that have lived and died 
 during the space of more than six thousand years,' hath 
 not been able' to glut the ravenous hunger of this de- 
 vouring monster. 
 
 The fortune- of war is various; he that wili§ the vic- 
 tory to-day, to-morrow may be put to flight; and he 
 that rides at present on a triumphal car, may become 
 the footstool of his enemy. But Death is always vic- 
 torious, and insolently triumphs over all the kings and 
 people of the earth. It never returns to.its den without 
 being loaded with spoils and drenched with blood. The 
 strong Sampsons and the victorious Davids who have 
 torn in pieces lions and bears, and cut off the heads of 
 Goliahs, have, at last been devoured and swiallowed up 
 by Death. The great Alexanjlers, and the triumphant 
 C5aBsars, who made the world to tremble before them, 
 and subdued most part of the habitable earth, could ne- 
 ver find any weapons to defend them against this last 
 
S3 THE CHRISTIAN'S CONSOLATION, 
 
 enemy. When magnificent statues, and stately trophies, 
 w^re erected to, their honour. Death lauajhedl'i them to 
 ' #c6rn, and mocked at their foolish vanity.; the rich mar- 
 bles, whereon so ^many proud titles were engraved, co- 
 vering ndthiiig but a little rotten flesh, and a few bones 
 which Dteath hath broken and reduced tQ a-she^. * 
 
 We read, in the Revelation of the prophet Daniel, 
 that king Nebuchadnezzar saw in a dream, a greait 
 image whose brig^itness was excellent, and the forBfi 
 thereof terrible; »" Its head was of fine gold, its breast 
 " and arms were of silver, its belly and'thighs of brass, 
 '• its legs of iron, and its feet partly df iron and partly 
 "ofclay.'^ Dan. ii. 33, 33. As th0 mighty prince was 
 beholding it with astonishn'ent, a little stone, ciit out 
 of a mountain without hands, smote the feet of this pro- 
 digious statue, which were of iron VimI day, and broke 
 them to pieces; not only th<g iron and clay were broken but 
 also the gold, the silver, and the brass; and it all became 
 as chaff which the wind driveth away. Psal. i. 4. This 
 mystical image represents the four universal monarchies 
 of the world, that of Babylon, that of the Medes and the 
 Persians, that of the greeks and that of the liomans. 
 It likewise represents to us the vanity and inconstaftcy 
 bf alL things under the sup.:. For what is all the pomp, 
 glory, power, and dignity of this life, bttt a smoke 
 ; drh^n witli the wind, and a valour Hhat soon vanishes?- 
 It is like a shadow tha,t flies from us, pr like a dream 
 that quickly fades away. Wheui man, who was created 
 in the image of Godj makes his appearance from thfe 
 dust, he struts about a little while, and becomes for- 
 midable; but as soon as Death strikes'at his earthly parts, 
 *ad begins to break his flesh and his bones, all th«}-pomp 
 and power, all the glory and magnificence of the richest, 
 
THE CHRISTIANAS CONSOLATION/ S3 
 
 most victorious, and most tertible monarch, is changed, 
 into a loathsome stench; turns to ashes, and is reduced 
 to nothing. " Vanity of vanities, all is vanity!" — 
 Eccles. i. 3. , . 
 
 Since therefore Death is so cruel as to spare none, 
 and its power so great that none can either escape or 
 resist, it is no wonder that it becomes so terrible, and 
 fills witlf fear, anguish, and deispair, the minds of all 
 fucb as ha,ve not, settled their faith and hope upou 
 God. There is no criminal so hardei^d but trembles, 
 and is seized with horror, when he sees the scaffold 
 erecting upoh which be i^ condemned to be broken upon 
 the wheel, or when he sees iu the fire the red-hot irons 
 with which he is to be pinched to. death. 
 
 In the midst Qf a sumptuous banquet, king Eel- 
 shazzar saw the fingers of a man's hand writing, these 
 words upon the walls of his palace, "MENE,MENE, 
 « TEKEL, UPJIARSIN;" which is thus interpretted 
 by the prophet Daniel, " MENE, God hath numbered 
 " thy kingdom, and finished it; TEKEL, though art 
 *' weighed^ the balanjces, and art found wanting, PE- 
 « RES, or UPHA-KSIX, tby kingdom is divided, and 
 " given to th« Medes and Persi?tns.'? Daniel v. The 
 moment this great monarch cast his eyes upon this mi- 
 raculous writing, /'. his countenance was changedj and 
 " his thoughts ttoubled him, so that the joints of his loibs 
 *' were loosed, and: his knees smote one against anotheti" 
 How much greater cause, then, has t!ie profane and 
 w^ildly man to be seized with horror aad dismay, wlo 
 in the niidst of, liis vain pomp and deceitful pleasures, 
 may perceive the frightful hand Qf Death writing on 
 every walLin his bousej, in capital letters, and even en- 
 graving on his fdirehcad, that "God hath numbereti 
 
g4 THE ^CHRISTIAN'S eONSOLATION. 
 
 hi§ di|ys/* and that tliis in which he, breathes shall be 
 sQon followed by an eternal night! That God hath 
 weighed him in ihe balance of justieij and found hitu 
 light as the wind; and that the almighty disposer of all 
 things, to wJiom vengeance belongSj,, will soon disrobe 
 him of all his glory and riches, to flothe therewith his 
 enemies! It is certain no comfort can be5 found for thos© 
 wretched sinners, who not only undesrsiand this to be 
 their dreadful sentence, but alsd hear the - thundering 
 voica of the Sovgi^eign Judge of the world, exas|w|ratett 
 by their iB'iq.uitieSp They see ihell openits'moutliito re^ 
 ceive them, and the#ery .chains: already pre^tared: which 
 shall confine them lo'iall eternity! Tbey even now feel 
 the hands of i,heir tormentors, who, drag them to pun- 
 ishment, and see themselves stretched and tortured in 
 that horrible place, where there is n,otning but ** weep- 
 " ing and gttashiiigoiG teeth." Matthi xxii. 13. Even 
 here they feel thfe fierce approaches of that la^e of fire 
 and brimstone, which is '<the second death." Mev; 
 XX. i4<;*and it may > be justly said of these anl^appy 
 wretches, that hell comes to tjlieini before they go to hell; 
 and that in this life they haye a foretaste of the griev- 
 ous torments that wait them in <the next. Hence it 
 comes to pass, that some of them ojRfer violence to them- 
 selyes, aqd perpetrate an unnatural murder upon their 
 own pereons, as if they were afraid they slipuld not be 
 eut off by a hand wicked enough. The expectation of 
 death is more intolerable to them than deat^, itself; and 
 they had rather cast tbemselvfes headlong into the bot- 
 tomless pit of hell, than endure ^e terrors and fears of 
 it in their guilty conjipiences: to be%divered fropi the 
 flashes of hell-flre, that mount up to their s^uls in this 
 life, they plunge .themselves, with a brutal fury, into 
 Isvcrlasting I)arninc;s. 
 
THE CHRISTIAN'S CONSOLATION. gS 
 
 WJiat is still more terrible, these horrors, agoniies, 
 a.nd fears, that seize upon the wicked, are not for a 
 moment. As a crii^inal, who knows there is a sen- 
 tence of death pronounced against him, has continually 
 before his eyes the torments preparing for him: If he 
 hears his prison-door uq|ock, or a fly buzzing about' his 
 ears, he presently concludes they are coming to drag 
 him to *lexedlition; in some sense, he desires what he 
 dreads, and hastens the approaches of that which he 
 wishes to avoid, bi*t cannot. So desperate sinners whom 
 God has abandoned, who know there is a sentence of' 
 sternal death pronounced against them in the court of the 
 Ring of Kings, and that from this sentence there is no 
 appeal, must needs be in perpetual fear. They have 
 constantly before their eyesHhe hideous form of death, 
 which fills them with trouble, and wakes in their breasts 
 a thousand furies. To use St. Paul's expression, 
 " through fear of death they are all their lifetime subject 
 •' to bondage." Heb. ii. i5; that is to say, they are like 
 so many miserable slaves, that continually tremble un- 
 der the cruel hands of a merciless tyrant. 
 
 I know there are some ^theists who talk of death 
 with a great deal of contempt, and make an open pro- 
 Fession of not being afraid, of it, nevertheless they bear 
 in tlieir bosoms some secret thorns^ which often galls 
 them, some terrors and apprehensions, which rucks and 
 disquiets them, in spite of all their bravadoes. It is 
 true, for the most part, they boast loudly of not being 
 afraid of death, and make a mock at it, when they be- 
 lieve it at a distance Irom them; but then, upon its 
 approach, these very wretches are the first that turn pale,' 
 and shew their cowardice and despair. ** 
 
 If th^re be any that laugh at death, it is only in ap-' 
 
26 THE CHRISTIAN'S CTONSbLATION. 
 
 peafance, or it is, as it were, a laughter upon the lips. 
 They are like a new-born infant, which while it seems 
 to ;smile, is inwardly tormented ifl the bowels; or like 
 those that eat of the famous herb, mentioned by the 
 tiatura,lists, which causes a pleaiSaht smile to wanton 
 u|)on the lips, while it conve5% ,a mortal poison to the 
 heart. 
 
 In short, if there beliny w;ho die unconcerned, or with- 
 out any terror iipon their conscienfo, thtey miistbe either 
 pers«ns entirely stupid and brutal, l&e a drunkard who 
 is thrown from a precipice when fast asleep; or they 
 must be such buffokn souls as resemble -those merry cri- 
 mina^ls that go dancing to the gallows; or else they must 
 be such as are transported .with rage and despair, who 
 may jproperly enough be compared to a wild boar, that, 
 rushing forward with a blind fury, throws himself irtto 
 the huntsman's toil. Such monsters deserve not to be 
 reckoned in the number of rational creatnribs. 
 
 CHAPTER. II. 
 
 That in all the philosophy of the Heathens there is no 
 true and solid comfort against th^ fears of death. 
 
 HERE are certain pretenders to physic, who appear 
 at first sight very knowing, and tal%'of diseases with a 
 gpod deal of acuteness and siibtility, but riSi^ertheless are 
 sliamefully ignpraut af the bottom and very unfortunate 
 in their praotipe. Their unseasonable learning disturbs 
 the pati^eint more than their remedies ease him, and they 
 themselves are a new disease and an addilional affliction. 
 
THE CHRISTIAN'S CONSOLATION. 37 
 
 1q this tiiey very aptly r^ppesent to us the philpsophers 
 among the Heathens; for when they go about to describe 
 to us the misery of our human condition they sharpen 
 the fine edge of their wits, and display their utmost still 
 Eiiid rhetoric. Some of them laugh at our calamitie^in a 
 very ingenious manner; and others, with equal artifice, 
 (veep to behold them. But in all their writings, all their 
 tragic expressions, we find not any solid and sincere 
 comforts against the apprehensions of death; insompch 
 ;hat the weaknes* and vanity of their conceits obliges 
 as to tell, them, as Job did his troublesome frieuds, 
 '■' Your remembrances are like unto ashes; your bodies 
 ■' to bodies of clay," Job. xiii. 12. 
 
 Some of them indeed have very well said, that we 
 begin to die as soon as we begin to breathe; and that , 
 our life is like a candle, that lives by its own consump- 
 tion, its flame being that which devours it: For the . 
 natural heat that maintains our sensitive life, by little 
 and little undermines it, spending and consuming. our 
 radical moisture, which is the same to us as oil to a 
 lamp, or wax to a taper. 
 
 Others, with no less elegance, assert,' that our life is 
 )ut a swift race from one mother to another; that is to 
 say, from the womb of our mothers, that brought us into 
 he world, to the womb and bosom of the earth, that 
 ivill at last receive us: For no sooner are we born, 
 ban we run a swift race towards our grayes; at the 
 I'ery time we are flying from death, we insensibly ap- ■ 
 jroach towards it, and contrary to- our intentions, throw 
 mrselves into its' embraces. 
 
 Some of the same school have compared man to a 
 )ubble of water, which rises up and swells, and at the 
 lame instant- breaks and disappears; or to the Mfater- 
 
J, 
 
 S8 THE CHRISTIAN'S CONSOLATION. 
 
 bottles of divers colours, whidh little children' blow up^ 
 and Hrtestroy 'with their breath. In truth, the beabty of 
 man is notbing but a vain appea,rance, which passes away,, 
 and \4nishes in a moment: "AH flesh is aS'grass," and 
 the glory of man as the f' flower of the field." Is. xl. 
 6. 1 Pet. i. SI. 
 
 One of these great philosophers being asked, Wha^ 
 the lifejof man was? answered not a word; either be- 
 cause he thought' the question deserved no answer, or 
 rather because he had a 'mind to imitate the custom of 
 the age he lived in, which for the most pa^t conveyed 
 its instrifctions by g^stui'es and symbolical representa- 
 tions: he therefore entered into a chamber, and directly 
 passed out again, giving his disciples thereby to un- 
 derstand that the life of m^n is no more than a coming 
 into the world, and a going out of it; the first of which 
 actions is followed very close by the other. 
 
 Another of the same sect after having taken several 
 turns about the room, with a very stately air, immedi- 
 ately slipt away, and hid himself in a hole; intimating 
 thereby that life is a kind of masquerade, a vain show, 
 which is over in a moment. After .a man has placed 
 all his plumes to the best advantage, strutted about a 
 little while, and drawn upon himself the eyes and ad- 
 miration of the world; on a sudden, death comes upon 
 him, tarnishes all his lustre, erases his pompous titles, 
 and at once swallows up all his glory and magnificence. 
 
 We are in this world like so many players upon a 
 stagej one represents a king, another an emperor;; this 
 is a privy counsellor, and that a mjriister of state, but 
 when the play is over, and they have laid aside their 
 habits you no longer know which is which. We are as 
 so many counters on a table^ some stand for units. 
 
THE CHRISTIAN'S COJISOLATION. S9 
 
 others for tens, some for hundreds, some for thousands, 
 and some for millions; but as soon as they are swqit 
 into the purse, and inclosed there, the vast difference 
 vanishes. This is a lively image of the conditions of men 
 in this world: for in this life some are placed on thrones, 
 whilst others are seated on daug-hills; one sweats be- 
 neath a load of gold and silk, while another has scarce 
 rags enotigh to hide his nakedness; these command as 
 princes, while those obey as slaves; and gomefare sump- 
 tuously, while othfers eat nething but the bread of sor- 
 row; but as soon as death has ihjlosed them altogether 
 in the grave, they then become equal. 
 
 All these comparisons are very just and elegant, as 
 are likewise many others of the same kind. They in- 
 struct us, and flatter our imaginations; but then they 
 contain nothing that is capable of administering any 
 solid comfort; insomuch that there is not one of these 
 learned doctors to whom we may not apply that ex- 
 pression wherewith the servant of God reproached his 
 ifiu^tunate friends, who added affliction to the afflicted: 
 ^^fe are all physicians of no value; how then comfort' 
 " ye me in vain?" Job. xiii. 4. xxi. 34. -'' 
 
 When a person is visited with a violent fit of gout 
 or stone, that forces from him the deepfist sighs and 
 groans, if any one should offer to draw his picture and 
 represent his distorted look%a%i grimaces, or to mi- 
 mick them theatrically in hispresence, he would give 
 little ease to his pain,' but would rather increase his 
 torment and vexation. Or as the niost beautiful flow- 
 ers can afford no delight tjo one who is stretched upon 
 the rack, or burning in the midst of flames, or on the 
 point of beiilg- torn to pieces by wild horses; so the most 
 eloquent and florid discourse can administer no comfori; 
 
10 THE CHRISTIAN'S CONSOLATION. 
 
 [> a [ibor soul that is Just upon its departuF|e. The 
 lajrp of David alone can drive a,way the evil spirits, 
 nd still the tumults of a troubled conscience. 
 
 But some perhaps, may imagine, that in this general 
 urvey of the learned follies and studied vanities of the 
 eathen philosophers, I should except the Stoics. I cki- 
 jss'indeed, that they express themselves upon this sub- 
 set with more gravity, but ihey, are altogether as nnsuc- 
 essful as the Others. Nay, when I have well con- 
 idered them, I find that they are far more impertinent 
 nd insuflferable. For, besides that they talk of immor- 
 ility of the soul in a very doubtful artd obscure manner, 
 le pretended comforts that they offer render death more 
 )rmidable. 
 
 They tell us, that death is the end and centre of all 
 uman misery and affliction; and that, consequently, it 
 ! rather to be sought for than avoided, more to be de- 
 ired than feared. They would have some reasob for 
 lis conclusion, had they discovered beyond" the grave 
 ny happiness whereon to lay hold by a lirufc and Ibffily 
 lith. But the only comfort death assures them^m^ 
 le puttiBg^aperiod to -the cal?imities of this life; whica 
 roperly speaking, is not a comfort, but rather a fool- 
 ih passion, much like that of a criminal upon the rack, 
 ^ho earnestly longs for deiath, that he may be delivered 
 ■om the cruel handisj|||fcthe executioner; and thirsts 
 ith impatience to momit the scaffold where he is to be 
 roken upon the wheeL O miserable wretch! the change 
 f punishment will bring no sase to thy pains. If thou 
 anst not bear the cords that unj,oint thy limbs, how wilt 
 [lou endure the bar of iron that shall breiEck all thy 
 ones to pieces? O blind philosopher! if thou canst not 
 upport the miseries of this life, how wilt thou under- 
 
THE CHRISTIAN'S CONSOlflC]})N 3i 
 
 Moreover, they tell us, that tlfc mbst 'painful and 
 jruel death is a noble exei^cise for our r virtue, and the 
 Host illustrious opportunity to display an herpic con- 
 itancy. This at first appears very plausible, but in re- 
 ility is nothing but wind. For of what servicts is this 
 niaginary virtue? it hinders us not from falling into the 
 leepest abyss of misery and misfortune, and dies itsel:^ 
 yith its possessor. Wherefore such as have most ad- 
 nired it, have at last acknowledged it to be nothing but 
 canity; witness that renowned and woTthy general, who 
 lattered himself that his virtue would make him vicjo- 
 ious over all the enemies of the commonwealth in whose 
 luarrel he took up arms. When the battle was lost, 
 md all his ambitious hopes had forsaken him, being 
 eady to fall upon his own sword,. he cried out, " O ml- 
 ' serable virtue! what art thou, but a vain unprofitable 
 'word, a name without a being!" He exdaimed in this 
 aanner aigainst the virtue he had formerly idolized, be- 
 :ause it could yield him no comfort in the' day of his 
 distress, nor keesp him from despair. 
 
 The most ordinary comforts they bring, and those 
 bey insist upon most, are .these: that death is inevita- 
 ile; that we all come into the world upon condition to go 
 ut Qf it; that we have as much cauie to mourn for the 
 lay of our birth, as for- the day of our death; that hu- 
 lanity and immortality are incompatible;' that death is 
 tribute we aU owe to nature; that kings and the great- 
 st emperors are forced to pay it, as well as the meanest 
 f their subjects, and that this is such an universal law, 
 liat it neither admits, nor can admit of any exception. 
 
 But such comforts as these rather increase than abate 
 ur affiictioUg|;( and therefore compel me to say to these 
 ;rave philosophers, what the importunity of his trou- 
 
Sa T^.CHRlSTIAlSi'S CONSOLATION. 
 
 blesome friepds wufpted from the mouth of holy Job, 
 ^^l|lliserable comforters are ye all/' Job xvi. 3. .IPov ia 
 truth} they not only search t;he wound to the quick, withr 
 out applying any healing remedy, but. they al^jo tear and 
 widen it, inflame and render it far more painful So long 
 as we haveany hope to see an end to our calamities, we 
 take comfort, and arm our. minds with constancy. But 
 whten we see ourselves plunged into an abyss, of misfpr^ 
 tunes, without any prospect of getting out, our patience 
 ^andons us, and we are overwheljthed with despair. It 
 is a lamentable thing to be born to die; but it is fa.ir more 
 Ipuentable and mortifying to know "that death cannot 
 be avoided, and that all the treasures in ftie world cannot 
 redeem us from^it. Hfe is doubly miserably whose af- 
 fliction admits no cure. 
 
 It is also a false and . dangerous maxim. That the 
 comfort of the miserable is to have companions in their 
 misery. Though many thousands drink together of the 
 waters of Marah, they seem no less bitter to the taste; 
 and though thou shouldst burn in a fire where multitudes 
 are consumed, the flames will be no less vitJlent. Thy 
 neighbours giief cannot alleviate thy affliction, his sick- 
 ness cannot restore thy health, nor his death comfort 
 thee against the approaches of thine own. On the con- 
 trary, if thou hast the least feeling of humanity, thou 
 wilt weep for, his misery and thine own together; as the 
 great Xerxes, king of Persia, formerly did, when cast- 
 iug his eyes upoja his prodigious army, in Avhich there 
 were nuiabered one million,'one hundred .thousand men,, 
 and reflecting that vyithin ,an hundred years all those 
 brave captains and soldiers would be rotting in their 
 graves, he- was moved with compassion,, and burst into 
 tears, ' , 
 
THE CHRISTIAN'S CONS9LATI0Sr. ge 
 
 I shall pass by, as not worthy of notice, aiid foolish 
 and brutal opinion of those who believe that the souls of 
 men are mortal, and perish with their bodies. This 
 consideration, instead of bringing comfort, casts us into 
 an irrecoverable despair: for next to the torments of hell, 
 nothing can be im,agined more dreadful than the being 
 reduced to a state of non- entity. 
 
 Neither shall I stay to discuss the doctrines of the 
 Flatonists, who have treated of the immortality of the 
 soal and its happiness after death. They fancy them^ 
 selves masters of a great deal of subtility; but their dis> 
 courses on this subject are so gross and extravagant, 
 that instead of persuading us of the truth bf their opin- 
 ion, they expose it to our contempt and ridicule; witness 
 their fond and chimerical description of the Elysian 
 fields. For whatever they have invented of this kind 
 has been ranked amongsfthe poetical fictions. Those 
 imaginary subterraneous gardens contain nothing that 
 may be compared to the divine excellencies, and un- 
 speakable pleasures of the paradise of God. 
 
 In a word, search, all the rarest and most precious 
 treasures of Heathen antiquity; turn over the writings 
 of the most eloiineint orators, the subtilest philosophers, 
 and the most celebrated poets; examine all the secrets 
 of those great and learned physicians, consider their 
 pcactice, and all the remedies they prescribe to the soul, 
 and you shall find them too unskilful to perform any 
 real cure. They only charm the disease, and to flatter 
 the wound take away thp sense of the pain; they fur- 
 nish us v/ith a good exterior, and teach us to set a good, 
 face upon the matter; -but they have no true antidote 
 against the venom that destroys the prihciple of life, nor 
 
 . any remedy that reaches to the heart, As the brooks 
 
 E 
 
8* THE CHRISTIAN'S CONSOLATION. 
 
 that dry up in hot weather, so are all the comforts thaf 
 flow .from the foantaia of life; they vanish away, and 
 dry up to nothings when deep sorrow, fear, and dismay^ 
 have seized upon a sinful soul. 
 
 f The inventors of the Pagan superstitions seem itt 
 some nieasure, to have been sensible of this truth. For 
 they dedicated temples and erected altars> to all mannev 
 of gods and goddesses, not only to the virtues, and to 
 health, but also to vicep and diseases; as to fear, cow- 
 ardice, anger, the fever, pestilence, and an infinite num-; 
 ber of others. But not one was dedicated to death;* 
 which is an open acknowledgement, . that they knew not 
 how to mollfy death, and win its favour. They had 
 na sacrifice nor incense that could appease its fury. — 
 They looked upon- it as their most cru^l and implacable 
 enemy: The very name of death struck them with hor- 
 ror, and was therefore accounted one of their most un- 
 fortunate omens. 
 
 The emperor Adrian is a convincing proof of what I 
 say. He was one of "the greatest princes that ever 
 rpigned: He reduced the .greatest .part of the world to 
 his obedience, and put to death a prodigious number of 
 meu; but at last he himself trembled, and was herribly 
 dismayed at the approaches of death. He had con- 
 quered the most barbarous nations, and tamed the most 
 savage beiasts; but so far was he from t^onquering this 
 last enemy, that he had no weapoiis fit fbr the encounter. 
 On this occasion he discovered the weakness and in- 
 constancy of his mind, which, y^rithout dispute, was fiir 
 more distempered than his body. Sometimes he had 
 recourse tp magic art^ to retai*d dearth; and sometimes- 
 he endeavoured, with hissword, or with poison,, to has- " 
 ten it. At length he killed himself^ by abstaining fromt, 
 
THE CHRISTIAN'S CONSOLATION. gg 
 
 the food necessary to support life. He bad given laws 
 io all the world, and peace and happiness to his empire; 
 liut he could not govern his own distracted thoughts, nor 
 give repose to his conscience. He was so far from endea- 
 vouring to calm the trouble and agitation of his mind, 
 that he shamefully' abandoned himself to despair: He 
 flattered his «oul while he hastened its ruin; talking to 
 it in this .or the like manner^ when his disorder allowed 
 him an easy minute, " My little soul my dearest com- 
 ■*' panion, thou art now going to wander in obscure, cold, 
 ■^* and strange places: thou shalt never jest again aq- 
 " cording to thy wonted manner; thou shaltnever^aflFord 
 *' me any more sport or pleasure.^' 
 
 You'll say, perhaps, That 'Adrian was a potent prince, 
 but no great phiksopher; that he was very well versed 
 in politics, but not much acquainted with morals; and 
 that although he was a perfect master in the art to reign 
 well, yet he wanted the skill to die well. Let us there- 
 fore give an example that is liable to no exception, and 
 at once stop the mouth of objection. 
 
 Aristotle is generally esteemed to have been the most 
 learned and subtile of all the philosophers that flourish- 
 ed among the Heathens. Accordingly he is styled. The 
 prince of philosophers, The light of the age he lived in, 
 and. The chief and the most precious ornament of his 
 sect. This extraordinary genius expatiated every where; 
 he mounted up into the heavens, and searched into all 
 the excellencies of the earth; he careftilly examined all 
 the Wonders that appearin creation, and with a surprisi- 
 ing facility discovered the rarest secrets of nature. Yet 
 he could never find any solid comfort against the appre- 
 hejisions of death. Notwithslanding all his admirable 
 fiubtilities, and profound learning, the terrots o^ itiexor- 
 
36 "^HE CHRISTIAN'S CONSOLATION. 
 
 able death so amazed his conscience, that he was forced 
 to cry out, « Of all terrible things death is the most 
 dreadftti." 
 
 CHAPTER HI. 
 
 Ofdiverssorts of Death; with which we are to encounter. 
 
 fT HEN David had a design to fight with Goliah, 
 and could not make use of the armour of king Saul, he 
 "took a smooth stone out of his bag, cast it with his sling, 
 struck the Philistine in the forehead, and brought down 
 this proud giant, who had defied the armies of Israel. 
 We have already examined and tried all the armour of 
 bun^u wisdom and learning, laid up inihe store^houses 
 of the greatest wits of former ages; and we have found 
 that they are not able to afford us any assistance in an 
 encounter with death. Let us, therefore, now see whe- 
 ther we may overcome this proud enemy with the sling 
 of our mystical David, with the weapons of our divine 
 shepherd: but, before vye begin the resistance, let us 
 look and behold it in the face. The enemy 1 intend 
 yotf'shall overcome, is a monster with three heads; for 
 there are three sorts of death, the natural, the spiritual, 
 and the eternal. 
 
 The natural death is a separation of the soul from the 
 
 body. Although our body hath been fashioned with the 
 
 nnger of God, it is but a weak and frail vessel made of 
 
 'iearth; but our soul is an heavenly, spiritual, and immor^ 
 
 tal substance; it is a spark and ray of the diviaity, and 
 
THE CHRISTIAN'S CONSOLATION. 8| 
 
 the lively image of our great Creator: for when God had 
 u^adc eur first parent, " he breathed into Ms nostrils the 
 ^' breath of life," Gen. ii. 7> that we might thereby uu- 
 derstand, that our souls alone proceeded from his im- 
 mediate hand; therefore he is named the Father of Spi- 
 rits, Heb. xii. and the faithful Creator of souls, 1 Pet. 
 iv. This soul raises us a degree above all animals, and 
 above the celestial bodies, and renders us like the an- 
 gels of heaven. It is the light that enlightens us, the 
 salt that preserves us from corruption. In one word, 
 by this soul we live, enjoy our senses, move and under- 
 stand. As soon as this angelical gu&st leaves its man- 
 sion, the body, it loseth all its beauty, and falls of itself 
 into a state of ruin; for this flesh that we are so careful 
 of, and feed with all manner of dainties, then corrupts 
 and rots. After that it hath been stretched awhile up- 
 on beds of gold, and richly attired in purple and scar- 
 
 " let, it is cast upon a bed of worms, and covered with 
 the Tilest insects of the earth. Notwithstanding all its 
 former perfumes, it yields then a most horrid stink; be- 
 fore, it ravished the eyes of the beholders with-its ad- 
 mirable beauty; but now it becomes so odious atid of- 
 fensive, that the living care not to see it. It is at last re- 
 duced to ashes, according to the sentence that was pro- 
 nounced in the earthly paradise^ " Dust thou art, and 
 " unto dust thou shall return." ** 
 
 The spiritual death is the separation of the soul from 
 
 God our creator; for he being the soul of our souls, and 
 
 the light of our life, we fall into an abyss of darkness 
 
 and death: *' For all those that depart from God shall 
 
 *«erish," Psal. Ixxiii. As the members, when they are 
 
 , cut off from the body, commonly rot; as the twig withers, 
 when it is separated from the vine; so, in a separation 
 
38 THE CHRISTIAN'S CONSOLATION. 
 
 from God, we can neither live, move nor have a being.' 
 And as it is with the body sepa,rated from the soul, it 
 Nourishes a nest of worms that devour it, and sends 
 ^brth a most insufferable iStench, so it is with our souls 
 at a dii^tance from God: it yields those evil affections 
 that torment and cbnsiime it; and the ill sceni of its 
 (bibles is offensive to heaven and earth. Of this kind 
 of death our Saviour speaks to the Jews in this manner: 
 " If you do not believe that I am he^ you shall die in 
 your sins," John viii. And to the augel of the. church at 
 8ardis, ■" Thdu^ hast a name that thou livest, and art 
 deadj" Rev. iii. The same, death St. Paul menlions in 
 the second chapter of the Colo.ssians, and the second 
 chapter of the Ephesians; " When we are dead in our 
 "trespasses and sins, God hath quickened us together 
 '' with Christ." And elsewhere he exhorts a sinful 
 man, "Awake thou that^ sieepest, and arise from the 
 " dead and Christ shall give thee light," Eph. v. And 
 it is of the same kind of death that St. Paul speaks coq- 
 eerning the wanton widow, that " she is dead while 
 she liveth," 1 Tim. v. . 
 
 It 'was this kind of death that Adam suffered as soon 
 as he had tasted of the forbidden fruit, according to 
 God's threatning; " In the day thou eatest thereof thou 
 " shalt surely die.'' For not only his body became 
 mortal*' and subj^ect to rottenness, but his soul also was 
 involved in the death of sin, and enslaved to corruption. 
 It happened to him as to a lamp, which is no sooner 
 put out, than it diffuses a most noisome scent. 
 
 As the life of gr?ice is a preparative to the life of glo- 
 ry,* and furnishes us with the foretaste of the heavenly 
 joys; so, on the contrary, the carnal life is as it we * 
 the suburbs of hell; it is the first beginning of an eter- 
 
nal death; and the entrance into the infernal pit. Th 
 eternal death is nothing else but an entire and irrecovei 
 able separation of the soul and body from God, accom 
 panied with infinite torments; torments, indeed, unt 
 which all the sufferings of this mortal life are light an( 
 inconsiderable: nevertheless as the. spirit of God repre 
 sents the heavenly joys and felicities by things that ar 
 most pleasant and delightful; so, to express to us hell 
 tcf ments, it borrows things that are the most dreadfu 
 and painful in this life: We are told of an " abysss o 
 " furnace full of flaines, a bottomless pit burning jvitl 
 *' fire and brimston^." The scripture mentions <' chain 
 " of darkness, an eternal night, and an hell-fire when 
 " there are weeping ind gnashing of teeth." It tells u 
 that. " Tophet is ordained of old, yea, for the kinj 
 " it is prepared, he hath made it deep and large: Thi 
 " pile thereof is fire and much wood: the^breath of thi 
 " Lord, like a stream of brimstone doth kindle it," Isa 
 XXX. 33. 
 
 Fancy to yourselves a man devoured with worms 
 burning in hot flames, in continual torments, in vtrhosi 
 wounds kindled brimstone is poured'out without inter 
 mission, with boiling lead, and burning pitt;l>; if then 
 be any other pains more sharp add grievous, fancy then 
 also. All this will give us but a little and imperfec 
 image of the state of hell; for all the pangs of the^dj 
 are nothing in comparison to the horrors, troubles, ant 
 incredible gAfs that shall forever rack and torture tht 
 damned souls. 
 
 As shame aggravates our sufferings, and renders 
 them more terrible, the damned shall be loaded witl 
 shame and ipfamy to all eternity; their names shall b< 
 Itateful to God and hia holy angels, and they shall ht 
 
THE CHMSTIAN'S CONSOLATION; 
 
 rsed with an endless curse. And as it is an increase 
 our torment to suffer in the company of abominable 
 rlets, and to become a. cojmpanion of the most inf%« 
 3us rasqals; they shall suffer with hell's executioner, 
 d shall be sent to the ftre prepared for the devil and 
 i angels. All their senses shall share in tliese horrid 
 rments; they shall be crushed in the wine-press of 
 od's eternal wrath,, atid they shall feel for ever and 
 er the strokes of God's vengeancey and of his almighty 
 nd. They shall then learn, by experience what a 
 'ri|ile thing it is to fall into the hands of the living 
 )d, and how insufferable that fire is, that shall con- 
 tne his enemies. Their eyes Shall perceive nothing 
 t the bottomless pit, the devil's image, and the furies 
 hell; their ears shall hear , nothing but the horrible 
 tcries, and fearful roarings of tormented devils and 
 mned souls. They shall be choaked with the noi- 
 me smell and fumes of" the bottomless pit: they shall 
 jn drink ,the very dregs and bottom of God's anger 
 d indignation, and they shall suck, the venom of his 
 rows: " fire and brimstone shall be the portion of 
 their cup." 
 
 The sufferings of this life are but short, and for a mo- 
 jnt; but the torments of, the damned shall never end; 
 Their worm dieth not, and their flte shall never he 
 qi^ched," Mark ix. Rev. xx. They shall be tor- 
 mted day and night to all eternity. When they shall 
 ve suffered as many .thousiand ages, astHt^re be drops 
 water in the seajj,'tfif- grains of ssn^ on the shore,, it 
 |11 be bjit the, beginning of their grief. They sliall 
 e forever to die cgntinually; and they shall di§, and 
 ver be consumed. In the midst of these hot fljimes, 
 ey shall beg a drop of water to cool their tongue. 
 
THE CHRISTIAN'S CONSOLATION, 41 
 
 Luke xvi, but we may say of the fire that shall tortuiie' 
 lie damned, what the spouse in the Canticles saith of 
 ;he divine love that had inflamed her soul; ''Many wa- 
 lers cannot quench it, neither can the floods drown it," 
 Bant. viii. And St. Paul tells us, *' That the things 
 * that God hath prepared for them that love him> eye 
 '•' hath not seen, ear hath not heard, noiv did it ever en- 
 '^\&v into the heart of man," 1 Cor. ii. So, on the con- 
 irary, we may say, that those things that God hath pre- 
 [>ared for them that hate him, " eye hath not ^en, ear 
 f' hath not heard, nor did it ever enter into the heart of 
 " man." From hence shall proceed their rage, mad- 
 ness, and despair, they shall cry in Oain^s language, 
 " My punishment is greater than I can bear," G«n. iv. 
 When they shall see nothing but an extreme misery and 
 ivbefal darkness, ihey shall curse God the king of all 
 creaitures, Isa. viii. In their fury and rage they will 
 bit& their tongues, and blaspheme the great God of heta- 
 vea and earth- It had been far better fdr such persons, 
 tliait they fed never been bofn;i 'therefore they shall seek 
 death and shall not find it, Matth. xxvi. They shall 
 desire to die, that is, to b*. reduced to nothing, Rev. ix. 
 but this death shall fly' frpm them.-^ Who of you can 
 dwell in eternal flames? Rev. vL If the phials and lit- 
 tle cups full of God's 'wrath forCe the wicked to bry out, 
 how much more shall the fivers and the ocean of God's 
 vengeance draw from them, " moiintains, falLon us, 
 " O 'rocks cover us, and hide tis from the face of hiin 
 " that sits upon the throne, and from the wrath of the 
 " Lamb; for the day of his wrath is come, antf'who njijiy 
 *' abide it?" But as they have stopped their ears to God's 
 gracious calls, and hardened their hearts to his invita- 
 tion to repentance. God shall also stop his ear to their 
 
43 THE CHRtStlAN'S CONSOLATION. 
 
 otot^icries, and hi^ eyes to thfeir grievous sufferings; and 
 When thfey shall be overcome with fear and despair, God 
 \rill scorn and mock at their insuffera,ble misery. 
 
 CHAPTER iV. 
 
 / ' ' - ■ ,■ 
 
 S^a* the. Lord Jesucs Christ hath redeemed us from 
 eternal death, niti, by degrees, rescues us from a 
 death. \ 
 
 W] 
 
 E read in the fifth chapter of the Revelations of 
 St. John, that he Wept Bitterly^ because nii beihg in hea- 
 ven and earth, nor under the earth, was able to open 
 the book sealed with seVieh seals, that was in God's 
 right hand. At thai instanl: one of the twehty-foufc.eI- 
 ders spake to fciiuSj " Weep hot, behold the Lion oi the 
 ''tribe of Jiidah hatlfepVievailed to open the book and 
 ^' to loose the si^-en seals;'? , Thus we have uiftil now 
 wept bitterly, because w,e coiAd find nobody in* the ar- 
 mies of Israel'lo enco'Snter with thatpowefful monster, 
 death. But let us ^so wipe our tears, and take ^ood 
 fcourage, my beloved; fp# Jhis same Lion of the tribe of 
 Judahis appointed to, fight^ with" this ^^feaiSfful 'enemy: 
 our vie|prious and ti-iumpTiing David, who had torn in' 
 pieces the infernal iLioh, bruised the ancient serpent's 
 head, and " spoiled prin.eipaliti,es* and powers triumph- 
 ing over Them in his cross," Col. ii. 15. It is he that 
 hath undertaken this glorious combat; it was for that 
 purpose that he left for a while the throne of God the 
 Fathead and the company of his holy a%els, 1 Sara. xvii. 
 
THE CHRISTIAN'S CONSOLATION. 4, 
 
 I^ was for that intent that he came into the camp am 
 confusion of Israel. He hath Qot bprrowed the weap 
 uQs and assistance Qf the world, Heb. ij. AU that h 
 hath taken from us is our frail nature. But " he bat 
 " armed himself with righteousness, as with a breasi 
 " platey and hath put on the helmet of salvation. H 
 ^'^ hath clothed himself with a vengeance as with 
 *< cloak; he hath troddenthe wine-pre§s and nobod 
 <<.hath assisted him," Isa. Mx. Ixiii. But his arm hat 
 .saved him, and his ha.nd hath upheld him; as Davi 
 cutoflF Goliah's head with bis own sword, Jesus Chris 
 hath overcome death by death. Like unto the strQn 
 Sampson, he hath destroyed all the eneqaies of his glo 
 ry by his death, 1 Sam. xvii. He hath overcome, in dj 
 ipg, him who had the empire of d^ath, that is, the,de 
 vil, Heb. ii. and hath delivered them, " who througl 
 " the fear of death were all tjieir life-time subject to bpn 
 " dage." Then was fulfilled the saying of Hosea, " ( 
 « death, I will be thy plague; O grave, I will be th^ 
 "destruction," Hos-. xiii. And that of Isaiah, (' H( 
 <' will swallow death up in victory, and the Lord Goc 
 *( will wipe away tears fi-omoff all faces, and the re 
 « buke of his people «hall be taken away from all, th< 
 « earth," Isa. xxv. 1 Tim. vi. This blessed prince 
 king of kings and lord of %ds, who onfyjiath immor 
 tality, and dwelleth in iiiaccessible light, hath destroy 
 ed death, and brought to light life and immortality b^ 
 the gospel, 1 Tim. i. « death where is thy. ?tjng? C 
 « grave where if thy victory? The sting of death ii 
 « sin, ajpid the strength of the siji is the law; but thanks 
 « be to God who hath given us the victory through out 
 « Lord Jesus Christ," 1 ^or. XV. 
 This great Gpd and Saviour has pefectly.redeejned 
 
THE CHRISTIAN'S CONSOLATION. 
 
 irom eteraal death, as he himself -teaches us ia the? 
 spel of St. John: " Be that heareth my word, and he- 
 iieveth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, 
 Etnd shall^ riot come into condemnation, but is passed 
 From death unto lifej" ch. v. S4. " I am the living 
 bread, which came down from heaven; if any man 
 jat of, this brerd he shall live foreiver/' ch. vl. 31. 
 r. 40. " Your fathers did eat manna in the wilderness, 
 and are dead; this is the bread which eometh down 
 from heaven, that a man may eat thereb:^ and not* 
 die," ch. viii/ "Verily, 'verily, I say unto you, if 
 a man keep my word, he shall never taste of death. I 
 am the resurrection and the life; he that liveth and be- 
 lieveth in me shall never die; and he that believ- 
 eth in me although he were dead yet shall he live," 
 . ix. " The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God 
 is eternal life througb our Lord Jesus Christ. Bles- 
 sed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrec- 
 in." Rev. XX. " The second death shall never have any 
 iwer upon him."^^ In a word, the gates of hell, that 
 to say, death cannot prejudice them who are settled, 
 •on Jesus Christ, the rock of eternity. This mer- 
 Tul Saviour hath also delivered us from the spiritual 
 salh, Eph. ii. For we being dead in our trespasses 
 id sins, he vhath quickened us, and raised us up to- 
 stfitit unto newness of life, Col. ii. He hath carried 
 ir sins in his body, upon the cross, that he, dying un- 
 I sin,' we might live unto righteousness. We are bur^ " 
 I with him in his, death hy baptism, that as Jesus 
 hrist is raised from the dead by the glory of God the 
 ather, who sj^ould also walk in the newness of life,*! 
 'et. ii. " Awake ihoxi "that-^leepest, and rise from the 
 ead;, and Je§us Christ ihall enlighten ithee," Eph. v. 
 
THE CHRISTIAN'S CONSOLATION. 4i 
 
 For by his death he has notouly reconciled us to God 
 
 the Father, Rom. yi. Col. i. bat he hath also procured 
 
 to us the Holy Spirit that creates in us a new heart, ant 
 
 imprints the image of his holiness, Kzek. xxxvi. S Cor 
 
 V. He makes us become new creatures, and regenerate 
 
 us by the uncorruptible seed, 1 Pet. i. This is that whicl 
 
 the scripture names the first resurrection, Rev. 7^. Si 
 
 Peter was ravished in admiration at this great and won 
 
 derful benefit, and therefore he acknowledged it; " bles 
 
 ^' sed.be the God and father of our Lord Jesus Ghrlsl 
 
 " which according to his abundant mercy, hath begot 
 
 " ten us again into a lively hope, by the resurrection c 
 
 "Jesus Christ from the dead," 1 Pet. i. God discovere 
 
 to the prophet Ezekiel a field covered with dry bone 
 
 and commanded him to prophecy upon these. bones 
 
 £zek. xxxvii. At the prophjef^s command, they bega 
 
 to draw near to one another; then the nerves, began t 
 
 appear, the flesh to grow, and to be covered withskii 
 
 'but there was no life till God commanded the prophi 
 
 to prophesy again, " Thus saith the Lord, spirit, com 
 
 ^' from the four winds, blow upon these dead bodies 
 
 ^' and let them rise from the dead." Then the spirit er 
 
 tered into . them, they began to revive, and the 
 
 stood upon their legs. This is the lively and true in 
 
 age of the first resurrection^ for the spirit of God ths 
 
 blows where it listeth, regenerates us by degrees, Jol 
 
 iii. and the new man is created in our hearts by littl 
 
 and little as the child grows -in the mother's womb. 
 
 When Joshua brought the children of Israel into th 
 
 land of promise, he destroyed not all the Canaaaitei 
 
 Josh, xxiii; there remained some who became scotirgt 
 
 in their Sides, and thorns in their eyes. Thus our tru 
 
 and spiritual Joshua, *who has let us into the- kingdoi 
 
46 THE CHRISTIAN'S CONSOLATION. 
 
 of his grace, hath not altogether destroyed all our evil 
 afl^ctions; some yet remain, that are like prickles in 
 our sides, and like swords- that pierce through our souls. 
 They yet render our life bitter and unplealsant; there- 
 fore we often desire death to come and put a period to 
 this conflict. Sin was in possession- of us, as a strong 
 than* armed' in an house; but Jesus Christ is, entered in- 
 io our souls, and became master; he hath therefore 
 bound and chained sitiy and hath hailed it to his cr6ss. 
 Bnt this' furious "Mast,, though he hath received a mor- 
 tal woutid, and is ready to give up the last gasp, yet * 
 straggles and foams within us. Our blessed Saviour 
 hath extinguished with the real stream of his blood;, th6 
 infernal flames of our cursed affections; but yet there re-^ 
 main in the ashes some sparkles of this devilish fire, 
 that yet cause in ns feverish fits. Only this merciful Re- 
 deemer, of his infinite goodness, hath loosed us from the 
 devil's chains; but that we might hate cause to be hum- 
 ble, to desire the inifiifese of grace, and long for the ar-* 
 rival of his glory, he leaves about tis some of the trou- 
 blesome fetters;' by his hbl^?^ spirit he files them off by 
 degrees; but one day he will take then! away from us. 
 
 At the voice of this Prince of Life, that reaches to the 
 .vtery bottom of our hearts, we are risen from the sepul- 
 chre of our vices with our grave-clothes about us, as La- 
 zarus when he come but of his tomb. We are like the 
 ancient slaves who were set at liberty; we bear upon 
 our foreheads the visible tnarks of our ancient bondage; 
 but one day our Lord .Testis' shall cover these marks of 
 infamy and disgrace with an heavenly diadem. If yoti* 
 desire another image of our spiritual condition, fancy to 
 yourselves a dead man cast into a foul pit or sink, unto 
 whom life is restored in a moment; afterwards by de- 
 
THE CHRISTIAN'S CONSOLATION. ^ 
 
 grees, lie is washed and cleansed of that filth that co- 
 vered his body. "We were not only dead of a spiritual 
 death, hut we were also overwhelmed in an abyss of 
 e«i!'i;a|)tiQu and filth. The Son of God hath pulled us 
 oat of this abyss,: and already restored us to, life, but the 
 dirt and putrefaction with which we are disfigured, he 
 washes away with the ^vater of grace, Zech. xiii. " For 
 there is a fountain open for sin in the house of David," 
 Isa. iv. in which Grod hath promised to wash away 
 all the filth of the daughter of Sion, and all tJ;e blood 
 of Jerusalem. And as it happened to the cruel king 
 Adonibezek, when the tribe of Judah took him p]?ison- 
 er, he lost the thumbs of his hands and the great toes of 
 his feetj but he suffered not death till, he came to Jeru- 
 salem; thus our great God and Saviour, the Prince of 
 the tribe of Judah, hath cut off the strength and power 
 of the old man, who tyrannized in our souls, and hath 
 deprived him of his venomous nails, with which he 
 wounded .our hearts; he hath also given him a mortal 
 wound, but he suffers him to enjoy a languishing life, 
 and will net^ake away his last breath, until we bring 
 him to the gatiBS.,of the heavenly Jerusalem, 
 
 But to spea'k more openly; sin is yet in us, but it 
 reigneth not: For our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ 
 hath broken its sceptre, and pulled it from the throne; 
 and as he hath taken from it all command in us, he con- 
 strains it to leave the possessiota of our souls by degrees. 
 As a strong and mighty king, who having won the bat- 
 tle, pursues and drives, the enemy, until he hath totally, 
 expelled them out of hfs kingdom; so doth our Saviour 
 deal with sin. 
 
 And as it happens to a woman with child in her old 
 age, there are in her. body two contrary lives, that of the 
 
4S THE CHBISTIAN'S CONSOLATION. 
 
 motber and that of the child, the one decays and dies 
 ioHnsibly, the child's life grows and iticreaseth by de- 
 grees; so it is in, the faithful and regenerate soul; there 
 are two lives, that of sin^ that the scriptare names the 
 old man; and that' of the new man, which is created ac- 
 cording to God in righteousness and true holiness; ihe 
 one diminishes and draws to its final end; but the other 
 grows, and gathers strength', until we arrive to the pet- 
 feet stature of our Lord Jesus Christ; the spirit. of God 
 every day gets ground of our corruption and weakness. 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 Why are. we yet subjected to the corporal or natural 
 death, and what advantage, we thereby receive, iK 
 Jesus Christ. 
 
 I HE wise king teacheth us in the ninth of Eclesias- 
 tes. That the same accident haippens to all, to the righ- 
 teous, and to the wicked, to the clean, and to the pol- 
 luted, to him that sacrijiceth, ^nd to him that sacrificeth- 
 . not. These words are to be understood of the several 
 afflictions unto which we are exposed during this mor- 
 tal life;, but we may apply them to the natural dfith: 
 For it is appointed unto all men once to die, and after: 
 that judgment follows, Hieb. ix. By one man sin is en- 
 tered into the world, and by sin death; and thus death 
 is Qome upon all men because they have all sinned, Rom. 
 V. Therefore whm Joshua felt iiimself feeble and de- 
 caying, he told the children of Israel, That he was go- 
 
fHE CHBISTIAM'S COmSOJ^ATIOBr. 49 
 
 ing th0 way ofullflegih, Josh. Kxiii. A^<l Job (;opp),ajn9 
 UBto ;6od, / know tlmtthoy, wilt redy,ce vfie ufito death, 
 andtothehomi^ewppffint^foraUMviv^, Job-xxx. ,Ij; 
 •was wpon this (SwJIgeip!: that the roya;l prophet was exer- 
 dsing bis medltAtioQ; when Ije crieid tiut,, Who i> j|^ 
 ihsi Uv&th, md shall mt see de^th? ^Ml he free h^ 
 soul from the fower ^ the grave? P9. Ixxxix. At)dt(» 
 speak tiOtelanguage of S«U>mon, Or ever the silver cord 
 be loosed, or the golden h>ipl irofcm) or the pitches be 
 broken at the fbufttmnf os^ thfi wi^e} b^ bn^ke^ji at t\e 
 cistern: that is {o say, tbe bai^-b^Mr whefe marrow 
 is as white as eilvieiK:, be Iodised.; wjlipn the sk,ull, wh^icb 
 is Uke a precious Vies^el of gold, ;be bjeoken; yvh^^ the 
 vena cava receives no Bjo^e MoQid ftoiD the liver, the 
 fountain of life; when the lights which draw in and pusji 
 forth the breath, move no move; or when ithe k:idneys, 
 which extract tjie humidity (fnn the veins, m4 cause it 
 to drop down'ioto a <blaidder as into a cisjterA, begia to 
 fail; Theii shall the body return tp thfi mrtJi as JtJf^a?^ 
 and the spirit shpll return unto God thai gave it. 
 
 To e^Bpresf to us thi? ipeyitable fate, ^to^es, reckons 
 all the ajicient fa.thers, who have lived longest in the 
 first woyld; he meations one who livftd 700, others 8Q0, 
 others 809 years, and some near 1000? Gen. v. But 
 when he had well spoken of their deeds, and of their 
 children whichthey left behind, heaidds, in the conclu- 
 sien of all, and tiben sijdi an one died. Thus our creator 
 executes upon aU men ;the sentence prfpouaced ftgainsl 
 Adam, the father of all mankind, Must thou art, and to 
 dust thou shalt return. 
 
 By this means God iledared his justice and truth, and 
 accomplSh what was signified by the ancient types^ 
 Lev. xiv. For according to the laws which God gave 
 
30 THE CHRISTIAN'S CONSOLATION. 
 
 to Israelbv Moses, the house that was intfected witfa 
 Ifprosy, Was tot»e demalished, and ^ast into k noisoniS!'^ 
 place. There is a nio|etirgent cause for a mam^ bpdy 
 to be destroyed, and laid in the sepdlchre, because he 
 ^as created to be the palate of the living God, the' 
 dwelling of his gl*)ry; b«t sin, a kind of iafectious lep-' 
 rosy, hath insinuated itself, and'di^%tfredit, hath en- 
 tered the ^kin, corrupted the blood, disordered the spir- 
 its, crept into the joints and marrowj and hath spread 
 its venom in such a manner 4hat there is none of dur 
 members but an instrument of iliiquity and unrighteous- 
 ness, Rom. vi. For the same reason, we cannot sujffi- 
 ciently admire the difference which God hath put be- 
 tween the vessels that were clean, and such as were 
 unclean; for he commanded, that the earthen vessels 
 infected should be broken in pieces, Lev. ix> but that 
 such as Were of a more ^valuable substance should be 
 only washed with water, and purified with^ftre, Numb.^ 
 xi. The commands abd laws of the great fiod are ex- 
 ciellent commentaries tipon his actibns. Our sofli is 
 like a goldien vessel, because it is a spiritual a.nd hea- 
 venly substance, therefore God doth not altogether de- 
 stroy it, although it be infectM with sin; but caused it 
 to be washed and cleansed kt the fountain of his infiaite 
 mercy. He purifies it with the blood of his son, and 
 causes it to pass through the fire of his holy spirit. But 
 for this iniserable body, and earthly vessel and taberna- 
 cle, he brakes it to pieces, aUd reduces it to dust and 
 ashes. It is my judgfi^fent that death is an excellent 
 means to demonstrate the infinite power of our great 
 God and Saviour: for the greater the distance is, the 
 more admirable is the cure, and without doubfj the fin- 
 ger of God in his infiite power is far more -visible ia 
 
THE CHRISTIAN'S CONSOLATION. gi 
 
 vaJsije^ on^ man team the dead, than presemng many 
 thousands alive. . 
 
 As God is ^wont to lighten oar darkness, so he 
 makes use of death, to cause his infinite wisdom to sfaine 
 and appear in al^his creatures. Sin hath brought forth 
 dqath, and death, on the contrary, as a most ,foirtunate 
 p9>rricide, kills and detroys its parent, sin; for it is 
 death that totally roqts. out of our sojils all corrupt affec- 
 iioasf 
 
 MOTeover,> God who, is the same yesterday, to-day 
 and for ever, Hek xiii. will have all his children pass 
 Ahrough the same path, to take possession of his eternal 
 inheritance, and enter by the same gatp into his ro^l 
 palace. All the faithful in the Old Testament are gone 
 already this way; through, many tribulations, Acts. 
 xxiv. they are arrived 'at the -kingdom of God, and 
 through death they are come to the abp^e of life and 
 immomtalifty. The holy sci-jptures, that are inspired^ 
 of God, tell us, thatsthe Reube-nites and half the tribe 
 of-Manasses, Numb. xxii. Josh, i, left their dwel- 
 lings which they had beyond Jordon to go over and 
 fight in the army of Israel, and did not offer to return, 
 until God had given rest to their brethren, and put them 
 into a inpiceable possession of their inheritances. If I 
 may make some stop at such an elegant allegory, I may 
 say,* that these passages represent to us a lively figure 
 • of the faithful who die before the end of the world: 
 fw? they leave their bodies, the abode and dwellings of 
 ti«eir souls, and pass through death, as through anotlier 
 Jordpn,#ito the celestial Canaan, to encounter with 
 God, by .their prayers, in ihe society of the |rst born, 
 whose names are registered m heaven, and they will 
 
3S THE GtlBISTIAN'S GONSOLATION. 
 
 .V, 
 
 ipjpt return agaio to their bodies, until the number of the 
 stents be c«iiipiete, until thfe buildjing df the cbtrrcb im 
 < finished, and until our great Joshua hath ibtfoduced ili^ 
 ihto his eternal rest, and put us in ptfssessi6n of the in- 
 <iorruptible inherilances res$i*ved' for us in heaven. Fhett 
 we shall nort aeed to fight, but to^ enjoy pfeapeably the 
 Ituits of oiir, victories^ and to r^St forever frond our la- 
 llonrs. We shall have no cause to offer to God prayef* 
 and supplications; but our b£isin!e^» shall be to <£(i!ig un- 
 to him praises and eternal thanksgivings. 
 
 The more considerable reason, in; my tjudgMMf^. of 
 our destiny, is, that God liatli> predestinated v us to be 
 Cdmfor^tajble to the image of his souj that-' he might -be 
 the fipst bofn ^moiig many brethren; he will have us to 
 be baptized tvith his- baptism, and/drink in liis cupy and 
 enter into btis^iby th6 same gftte^ through which be hath 
 already passed. Through shadte and disgii'fiee he is 
 arrived to glory, and through death he is entered into 
 life. He hath drunk the cup of the bitter wate% beiem^ 
 he tasted of the river of celestial joys; and he went 
 down into tiie grave before he would mount up to the 
 pght hand of God. , , 
 
 Although it' is appointed Unto all men once to die, 
 Heb. ix. I dare affirm, that death has no cause to tri- 
 umph, because the chief advantage is not on that side. 
 We read in the book of *Esth,er, that king Ahasuerns 
 would not recal the proclamation that he had sent f&rth 
 against the Jews, but he gave full liberty to take up 
 arms to defend themselves/ to attack their enemies, and 
 to make them suffer all the mischief they intendei(l 
 against them. I find somcithing like unto this' proe^eii^' 
 ing, for God would not call back the sentence of death 
 .pronounced against mankind in the garden of Eden; 
 
TSE OH'ftlSTIAiN'S CONSOLATION. §3 
 
 nfetertbeless he allows us, uay, he commands his true 
 Israely to take up^ arms against deaths to ^iiqaei' and 
 tFample it vmier feet. 
 
 I» the first place Jesus phrist, our head, hath encoun- 
 tered' with death and o^ efcome it; he hath pursued it 
 uftto its trenches, and baffled it in its own fortiftcation; 
 death thought to have devoured him, hut it hath been 
 devoured itself. As the fishes are taken by tlie hook 
 that they think to swallow; and as the bees hurt those 
 whom they sting; hut do gi-eater harm to themselves; for 
 they bi-eaktheir stings, and lose tlii^eby their lives; thus 
 death by fixing its sting in tlie humanity of Jesus Christ, 
 hath put him to a great deal of pain for a time, but it 
 hath thereby lost all^J^'engtlllilud vigour for ever. 
 
 The men of Jiidah, to satisfy the enraged Philistines^ 
 delivered into their hands Sampson hound with ropes. 
 When they saw him they gave several joyful shouts; 
 but the spirit of God came upon him in such a manner, 
 that he lore ia pieces the* two ropes wherewith he was 
 bound, and overcame them by whom he was to be led 
 away' prisoner, and killed a thousand of them. Thus the 
 miserable Jews, for fear of the Romans, delivered unto 
 them our Lord Jesus iGhrist, their brother, according to 
 the flesh, bound like a malefatStor. When hell saw him 
 nailed to the crossTand afterwards laid in the grave, it 
 did, wonderfully rejoice the devil, a«»d his angels began 
 to sing stMJgs of , triumph. But it was altogether impos- 
 sible, that the Prince of Life should l^e detained in the 
 prisons of death. He hath not(6ftly broken out of the 
 grave by his infinite power, but hath also trampled un- 
 der feet all his most furious enemies, and overcome mil- 
 lions of infernal fiends. And to declare how life and 
 death; were in his power^ he baffled death, when he 
 
5i THE CHRIStlAN'S CONSOLATiONV 
 
 was, as it were, a prisoner, shut up in liis dungeon. He 
 hatK broken open the gates of this black prison, and 
 torn in pieces all his fetters: for when he was yet' in the 
 grave, he raised to life many that were dead, who were 
 seen in the holy city; and yet at present he holds in his 
 hands the keys of death and of hell. Therefore, as chil- 
 dren rejoice at their father's victory, and as the Subjects 
 are concerned at the prosperous proceeding of their king, 
 and as the members are the better for the glory and 
 honour of their head; thus ,we may justly glory in the 
 most notable victorif^ and famous)' trjomphiKof Jesus 
 Christ, who is our father, kihgj and head. We may al* 
 so justly glory, that we are lords of death, and that„we 
 have otercome it in thel^erson of our rgreat God and 
 • Saviour. In saying this 1- speak with the Apostle, who 
 affirms, That God hath qUicJeeried us together, and rais.- 
 ved us together, and made us sit tQgttker'in heavenly 
 places in Christ Jesus, Eph. ii. 5, 6. 
 gj^loreover, as our Redeelrier hath once overcome 
 meath for us, so he continues to subdue it in us, and by 
 us. He suffers us not to eijcoiinter with our enemies un- 
 divided, nor deserts us in our time of need; but as, in. 
 the day of battle, a wise? and provident general has hia 
 eyes on every side, and enfefages, by liis voice 
 and gestures, all those whom' he perceives to be en- 
 gaged with the ehemy; suchj, as 'behave themselves 
 valiantly, he animates with praises and promises; the 
 weak he assists; and to such as are overborne he sends 
 a reinforcement: so our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, 
 the great God of Hosts, who sits in triumph in the hea- 
 vens, beholds with attention all our c^bhibats; and when 
 he perceives the fight to be unequal, lest we should sink , 
 beneath the assaults of such a powerful and dreadful 
 «nemv. on the one hand he clothes us with his holy 
 
THE CHRISTIAN'S. CONSOLATION. 
 
 spirit) and farDishes us with Ms own armour, as Jon 
 thav did David, when he gave him his mantle, his bo 
 his sword, and his bell; and on the other, he disari 
 death of all his most dangerous weapons, and wre: 
 from him all Ms darts. 
 
 As the strength and power of Sampson was lodg 
 in the hair of his head, which the Philistines could i 
 ver have imagined; so, the strength and power of des 
 consists in such things as the world least thinks of. T 
 most terrible weapons with which it^assaultit us, are 1 
 thunderbolts and curses of the law, and our sins are i 
 poison in which it dips its arrows, or rather they the 
 selves are the fiery darts with which it wounds i 
 souls. Now, Jesus Christ hath redeemed us from 
 curse of the law, when he was made a curse for u?, G 
 iii. 13. He bare our sins inMsown body on the tr 
 1 Pet. ii. 34; and like the he-goat Hazaz^l, hath carr 
 them away into an uninhabited wilderness j Lev.xvi. ; 
 He hath removed them from before the faceoi" God, 
 far as the east is from the west, Psal. ciii.. 12. He h 
 castijiem into the depths of the sea, Mic. vii., 19, a 
 hath drowned them in his own blood. So that we u 
 now see fulfiled what was foretold by the prophet Je 
 miah, The iniquitif of IsroieL^hall be sought for, i 
 there shall be none; and thesinsofJudahfUnd t 
 shall not befgund, jch. I. SO, * , '' 
 
 Therefore h^ing put on the grace of Godj and be 
 armed tWith the strengtli of his holy spirit, let us be 
 liant with a holy valour, and give a brave deflanct 
 death; let us look it in the face without dread, laugl 
 all its menaces, and encoun|,er it without fear. Fo 
 is now like a boasting soldier, who threatens with 
 weapons; like an angry bee withopt a sting; an old I 
 
33 W^ 'iMMmWlA.^m COMSOUlTIGS!. 
 
 tM Foars, but whifdi hath lost itscl'aw^ or like a snake^' 
 that would instil its poison, but whose teei?h have beeft 
 Sill pulled out by him who hath bmsed the serpent's 
 head, iGen, iii. 15. f" '. 
 
 If we look no farther than the exterior of desa:tii, and 
 only conside'T' his ghastly visage, its fcgktful eyes, its 
 meager body, its irun hand, and its inevitable scythe, 
 we can perceive no difference between the dea^h of 
 God's c^ldren, and that of the isiekipid; but -if we lift 
 up its mask, and tla^ke away its.decei^nl veil, w£ shaM 
 find as much difference bfetweeir them, as there is be- 
 tween heaven and eai^th, the paradise of Ood and helL 
 
 As theibrazen serpent which Mos^s set up in thede- 
 sert, had all the form and appearance of a fiery serpent, 
 butnothing of the poison and fire. Numb, xxi; so fche 
 death of the faithful appears, to external view, as the 
 death of otber men, but hatsh none of tJie deadly and 
 pernicious consequences. For it is not only a sign of 
 his gTSice, and*a testimony of his favour, bu>t thebegin- 
 ing of our deliverance, and the cure of all our diseases. 
 When Moses had cast of the tree into the waters ©f, 
 Marah, they still retained their colour, but not the same 
 bitterness and unpleasant relish; so the death of God's 
 children retains the sam@ tii|ctupi-aM appearance as it 
 had before; but the cross of Jesus Christ hath taken 
 away all its agonizing terrors, ^nd hath changed its in- 
 supportablfe bitterness into a sweetness ^ke the sweets 
 of heaven. ■ -i^; ,".;••_ v., , ; -, . , 
 
 Like Pharoah, witli all his hosts, was drowned in the 
 waters of the red-sea, but the children of Israel passed 
 safely through them Jrtto the promised land, and being 
 arrived upon the other shore of that dreadful sea, sang 
 unto God .songs of triumph and IbaJiksgi^lagf, Exod. 
 
THE CHRISTIAN'S CONSOLATION. 
 
 xiv; so death opens ib jaws, and swallows up the wi( 
 ed; but with respect to the children of God, it is a s 
 passage to a- life of eternal bliss;^ they pass throng' 
 in a moment, and immediately ftnd themselves in a pi 
 of assurance^ joy, and rest, where God puts into tli 
 mouths' the song ef Moses, and the song of the Lar 
 Kev. XV. 3. 
 
 The rod in Moses's hand was turned into a serpe 
 hut when it was placed in the tabernacle, before 
 testimony it blossomed and bore almonds. Thud w] 
 we are under the dominion of the law, death puts 
 the appearance of terror and despair, but as soon 
 we draw near to Christ, the true ark of the covenani 
 produces fruits of joy and e-ternal comfort. 
 
 The false prophet Balaam, was sent for to' curse 
 people of God; but he blessed them, contrary to 
 vain expectations of Balak, king of Moab, Numb. Xj 
 and xxiv. Thus death was brought into the world, 
 the devil, to destroy and utterly exterminate the h 
 seed; but God by his infinite goodness, and incompreh 
 sible wisdom, hath changed it into salvation and b' 
 sing* Let us therefore perplex ourselves no longe; 
 janfi out and explain the meaning of Sampson's ride 
 Out of the eater came forth meat, and out of the stn 
 came forth sweetness, Judg, xiv. 14. For the chu 
 of God, unto whom' Jesus Christ her beloved spot 
 hath discovered all the clioicest secrets of his kingdi 
 teaches us .to seek for the lioney of the most sweet cor 
 lations, in the belly of this old lion. 
 
 V/e pannot judge of a piece of music by a sir 
 note, or of an oration by a period, nor of a comedy 
 a scene. So we must not judge of a battle by the 1 
 onset, nor of a wrestling by the first embraces and 
 
 H 
 
&8 THE CHRISTIAN'S CONSOLATION. 
 
 forts of the wrestler?* For somfe in tjhe !)egl0iiiQg of 
 ijie battle, tiirit their backs, who at lastwitt the vifctofey 
 and eome off vyrith triumph; and some in wre^tUng are 
 foiled at the beginnidg^. who Jleverth^less supplant their 
 Adversary, andtcast hito upon the ground. Therefore, 
 that we may the bettfer understand the great and glori- 
 ous advantages thai we have over death, let us take % 
 view of our etocounter with it from the first t6 the 
 last, and cairefully rem%r^ wh&t we win, aud what w§ 
 lose, in our conflicts with this crbel and implacable en- 
 emy. 
 
 The taper of our life is uo sooner lighted, but Sat^a 
 sends forth his blasts from every quarter to extiiiguish 
 it. This poor dwelling is scarcely built, but death la- 
 bours to destroy it, and besiege it on every side? we 
 perceive; not its approaches, though by the help of time^ 
 it uQdermia&s us, and batters us to pieces with a varie- 
 ty of diseases, and a train of unforeseen accidents. 
 £very day it makes some breach, and displaces somie 
 part of this building. Sut if death, on one hand labbiirs 
 to demolish, we^ on the other, labour to repair; and as 
 those Who built the walls of Jerusalem, held on one 
 hand th^ trowel, ahd in the other a sword, to ^l^ffefld 
 themselves^ Neh. iv. 17. in the same manner we gua.rd 
 ourselves, as well as we are able, against the as- 
 saults of death; and not only endL>avour to preserve this 
 earthly tenement, that God hath set us for a term, and 
 to keep that in repair, but also in the very face of death, 
 when it calls us to the combat;, we advance our spi- 
 ritual buiMing, and labour to bring it to perfection; 
 so that we say with the Apostle St. Paul, Though our 
 outward man perish, yet /the inward man is renew- 
 ed d,ay by day, 3 Gor. iv. If?, 
 
THE CHRISTIAN'S CONSOLAtfON. 
 
 To speak properly, death attacks nothiqg bul 
 «atward man; for as to oar principal fort and chiei 
 wark, it fears neither mine, nor assault; for it is i 
 iijbove the heavens, and built upon the rook of etei 
 it cannot be battered; ibr as neither thunder^ ha 
 tiempest, can prejudice the sun-beams, because the 
 of a celestial nature, so all the fury of the worli 
 the powers of hell, and the rage of death, can 
 hurt the soul, which is of a spiritual and immorti 
 ture. This fortress can never be famished; foi 
 rains upon it manna from heaven; and from the roc 
 on which it is built, there tows a stream of livini 
 ters, that rise to everlasting life. In a word, a 
 serpent creeps only upon the dust, so death has no 
 er but upon the earthly part of God's children; w! 
 our Lord Testis Christ admonishes his Apostles, 
 not them which kill the hoAy, bvt ave not abh to let 
 soul, Matjih. X. 28. 
 
 At the moment of the soul's separation from th 
 dy, death seems to have a great advantage over U! 
 all :^iDgs^msidei'ed, we shall find, that he triu 
 without a^use, and that he bath no reason to 
 of the victory. When a valiant captain marches, 
 his sword in hand, out of a town that is almost d^ 
 ed, to throw himself int<t another that is more se 
 and better fortified, we say, that he has abaadone 
 ]p:lace, and not that he is overcome. Thus whe 
 wretched body falls in ruins, and our soul departs, 
 armed with faith and hope, to possess hferself of A 
 secure abode in the highest heavens, no one can s 
 speak properly, tfel the christian is overcome; 
 fares with those who saiiupon the sea, when a vi 
 tempest threatens them with shipwreck, they think i 
 
60 THE CHRISTIAN'S CONSOLATION. 
 
 selves iiappy, if, by leaving their vessels to the mercy 
 of the waves, they can escape with their lives and rich- 
 es. Thus it is with us who sail upon the tempestuous 
 sea of this world; when death raises his most cruel 
 storms, we think ourselves liappy if we can leave this 
 miserable body^ which is, as it were, a ship to the soul, 
 and escape with our^spiritual life and heavenly treasures. 
 Therefore we may say to the faithful, that are affrighted 
 when death threatens to drown them in its deptlis,; as 
 St. Paul to the ship's company, who trembled for fear, 
 in the midst of the waves of an enraged sea; Now, I ex- 
 hort you to be of good cheer; for there shall be no loss 
 of any man's life among you, but of the ship, Acts. 
 xxvii. 22. Nay we can furnish them with yet stronger 
 comforts; for these poor mariners lost their ship, without 
 any hopes of ever recovering it; but we know that Bed 
 will one day gather together all the pieces of the broken 
 vessels of our bodies^i and restore them tp us in a 
 much more perfed; state. 
 
 Therefore death takes not our bodies from us by vio- 
 leace, but we qiiit them willingly: we te^pr not till it 
 turns ns out; w« prevent its summons, ano'^ve it free 
 leave to enter: when we have packed up our baggage, 
 we are at all hours ready to depart out of this wretched 
 tenement, where we endure so many calamities; for 
 here it rains defluxions, malignant vapours arise, the 
 pillars and foundations tremblej^ the joinis are loosed 
 the windows darkened,; and burning fevers like so ma- 
 ny fires, consume us. 
 
 We must not pass over in silence, that the faithful 
 
 call their death, not only a departure but a departure 
 
 from a tabernacle; to teacb us, that we should depart 
 
 fi^oiri hence with as much joy and readiness, as a soldier 
 
THE -CHRISTIAN'S CONSOLATION. 
 
 departs from his tent, to go and rest himself in his < 
 ters, after the hardships and fatigues of a hlobdy 
 and with as much pleasure as the children of 1 
 left their camps in which they had remained in tht 
 deraess, to enter into the sweet and pleasant rest o 
 land of Canaan. 
 
 This body is not only like to an hired House, or to 
 liernacle that is carried up and down: but by reason ( 
 sin and corruption with which it is defiled, it is be 
 to our soul a kind of prison. Therefore death mi 
 compared to the messenger sent in haste by king 
 raoh, to take Joseph out of the dungeon, and brinj 
 to his palace, Gen. xli. l-i. The body that was cr 
 to be a pavilion of joy and honour, is become t( 
 soul a wretched and doleful prison; and death is 
 to the fiery furnace of Babylon, that burnt and coi 
 ed the bands of the three children that were cast ii 
 without so much as hurting their appare^, Dan. ii' 
 It consumes and destroys the natural bands that i 
 our souls enslaved io the earth, but touches not the 
 naments, their righteousness and sanctification. A 
 membrane that encloses the child in its mother's v 
 or the shell in which tfie chicken is formed, so i 
 body; it must of necessity be broken before we ca 
 ter into eternal life. In a word, we may affirm 
 the body, which was given to the soul for its pala 
 become by sin its sepulchre, far more loathsome 
 ^ver was that of Lazarus; and tliat death • is lik 
 voice which cries unto us, Lazarus come forth. 
 xi. 43. 
 
 You see then, O ye faitliful souls, that as San 
 took away the gates of the city of Gaza, and ci 
 them up to the top of the bill, Judg. xvl; so Jesus C 
 
63 THE CHRISTIAN'S CONSOLATION. 
 
 ofir true Sampsdn, hath taken away- the gates of hell, 
 and bath carried them up to the highest summit of glo- 
 ry: wherefore, instead of looking upon them, as here- 
 tofore, with Jiorror, as the gates of hell, let us now con- 
 template them with raptures of joy, cryiiig out, as Jacob 
 did at Bethel, This is the gate af heaven, Gfeq;. xxviii. 
 
 Seeing, therefore, that this is the nature of deatb> I 
 think that men commonly make it too great concessiohs!, 
 and that we should by no means affirm those to be de^d^ 
 whom God hath gathered into the bundle of life: for 
 denominations should always be taken from principal 
 parts. As it is in nature, there is no generation without 
 corriiption; and we usually call that a generation, when 
 th^ thing engendered is more excellent than the thing 
 c^Tupted; and, on the contrstry, that a corruption, when 
 the 'iiitrg corrupted excels, the thing that is engendered. 
 For the same reason, the change which happens to us 
 when we remove out of this world, should rather be cal- 
 led a life than death. Though our body dies, and rots 
 in the earth, our soul revives,' and lives gloriou^ in hea- 
 ven; and this life which we leave here below amongst 
 men is nothing;, in comparison \vith that which we shall 
 'enjoy above with Christ and his holy angels. God styles 
 himself the God of Mraham, of Isaac, and of JacOp, 
 Exod. iii.'6. ^ow he 13 not the God of the dead, but 
 of the Irvirig, Matth. xxii. 33. 
 
 I may also, without any hyperbole, affirm, that, even 
 with respect to the body, the change which befals us, 
 when we leave this world, is not properly death, but a 
 kind of sleepf as it is said in the prophecy of the pro- 
 phet Daniel, Many sleep in the dust of the earth, ch. 
 xii. S; and in Tsaiah, That the righteous rest in their 
 
THE CHRISTIAN'S CONSOLATION. 
 
 ieds^ ch. ivn. Hence likewise our. Lord Jesus C 
 speaking of Jalrus'^ daughter, said, The maid i 
 dead, but shepeth, Mattb. ix. 3-1; and of Lazan 
 friend, that was laid in the tomb, Ourfrwnd La: 
 sleepeth, bnt I go that I may awake him, John x 
 My dear brother, if thou art of the number of 
 whom Christ loveth, thy death will be but a ki 
 fleep of short continuance; and in a few days the 
 will raise thee up again: For ilii hour is coming 
 now is, ivh^n the dead shall hear the voice of th 
 of God^ andthey that hear shall live, John v. 3 ^ 
 ^|)uring the course of this life, the attacks of dea 
 no other than slight skirmishes; the most sensible 
 ihaiit strikes, and to appearance the most dangt 
 is|nen it separates the soul from the body; b'ut thi 
 and decisive combat, which shall put an end to al 
 putes, will not be till the day of judgmenj;, \vhenC 
 himself will descend from heaven to assist ns^ 
 -thousands and ten thousands of his saints. He 
 descend with a shout, with the voice of the archa 
 And the last trumpet shall sound, 1 Thess. iv. 
 Then will death make its last efforts to retain us 
 dark prison, and our bones will be found withoc 
 or motion; but the spirit of God will breathe 
 these dry bones, and they shall live, Bzek. x: 
 As when the Propliet Jonah had lain three 
 and three nights in the whale's belly, G-od comme 
 the fish to vomit him up upon the dry land, cha 
 40; so, vphen we shall have made our abode in the 
 the time that God, of his infinite wisdom, hath ap[ 
 ed, Death will be forced to lestore all he fiath swa 
 «d; and as Daniel came out of the lion's den very 
 in the mor^ng, without bavins; received any hurt 
 
64 THE CHRISTIAN'S CONSOLATION. 
 
 those savage beasts, Dan, vi. S3; sp at the break pfihe 
 last day, at the rising of the sun qf righteousness, we 
 shall all come out of death's deep dungeon; and as if 
 he had sent bi& angels on purpose to stop the mouth of 
 this old lion, we shall then find, that we have sustained 
 no harm. Itistead of devouring us, it will prove a faith- 
 ful keeper of our bones. The christian may then speak 
 to death in the words of the prophet Micah, Rejoice wt 
 aguiiistme, mine enemy: when I fall, I shall arise; 
 ichen I ?it in darkness, the Lord shall be a light unto 
 me, chap. vii. 8; and as Moses said unto Pharaoh, We 
 will go iMo the wilderness to sacrifice unto our God; 
 we will go out of thine Hgyptf'with our young, and 
 with our old, with our sons, and, with our daugM^s, 
 with our flocles, and with our herds., there shall,mKk'n 
 hoof he left behind, Exod, x. 9. Thus we, being armed 
 witli an li'oly confidence, may talk to death; in spite of 
 all; thy rage and fury, we will go up int»> heaven, to sa- 
 crifice to our God everlasting praises; we shall get free 
 from thy fetters, we, our wives and our children, our 
 brothers and sisters, our parents and friends, and all the 
 people of God, whom thou at present detainest in thy 
 unrighteous prison. ^Totwithstanding the utmost efforts 
 of thy cruel and inf2rnal power, there shall not remain 
 so much as an handfuU no, not sq much as the least 
 grain of our ashes behind fis. 
 
 When the Son of God shall appear from heaven, like 
 a consuming fire, he shall barn up in a moment all the 
 trophies of death; and it stall happen to this proud ene- 
 my, who tramples upon all mankind, as it happened 
 to^the kings^tf the Amorites mentioned in the Israelitish 
 history, Joshua suffered tliem to live while be pursued 
 his victory; but. as soon as he had entirely defeated the 
 
THE fcHRlSTIAN'S CONSOLATION. 6g 
 
 rest of his enemies, he ordered them to be brought out 
 uf the cave, and commanded all his cabins to tread 
 upon their necks, and having slain them with his own 
 sword, cast them into the cave, and caused great stqnes 
 to be laid in the mouth thereof, Josh. x. Thus our true 
 and heavenly Joshua suflfers death to reign, while he 
 pursues his conquests; for the last enemy that shall be 
 destroyed is death, 1 Cor. xv. 36. But when he shall 
 have entirely subdued all. his other enemies, to crown 
 all his victories with a glorious end, and complete his 
 churches triumph, he shall cause us to trample death 
 under our feet; after which he will cast it into' the lake 
 of fire, and the mouth of the bottomless pit shall be 
 shut upon it forever; Rev xx.' Then shall be fully ac- 
 complished this glorious prophecy, Death is swallow- 
 ed up in victory, 1 Cor. xv. 51; for the Spirit of God 
 assures us, in express terms, TAaf there shcdl be no more 
 death, liev. xxi. 4. 
 
 From what hath been said, we may easily understand 
 what is become of this threefold cord, twisted by the 
 devil, with a design to strangle all mankind. The 
 Son of God hath cut in pieces the first of these unhap- 
 py bauds with the sharp sword of his almighty power. 
 By the spirit of sanctification, he loosens and wears 
 away the second by degrees; and by the last he draws 
 us to himself, and then he burns and consumes them alto- 
 gether. Therefore we have no occasion to fear an eternal 
 death, nor to tremble, when hell opens its enormous 
 jaws, If we' resist the devil, he will fiee from us, James 
 iv. "f- and we shall some day bruise him under our 
 feet, Rom. xvi. SO. It is true, the consequences of 
 the spiritual death make us sigh aud groan bitterly, 
 while our souls re luain in this sinful flesh; for'thjugh we 
 
 1 
 
66 THE CHRISTIAN'S COISSOLATION. 
 
 are risen from the tombs of our sias, yet we bear about 
 witb us the^ve-clothes of our corruption. Bat we 
 have this conJ&eration to comfort us, that Jestis Christ 
 will shortly give the same order from heaven concerning, 
 us, as he did in the case of Lazai^us, jLoosp Mra, avd 
 let Mm go, John xi. 4*; when instead Of these rags of 
 corruption which at present disgrace us, he will clothe 
 us with light and glory, and immortality, atfd perfect 
 happiness. .Vs to' the natural death,' we can truly say^ 
 that all its bitterness is over, and that our Lord and 
 Saviour Jesus Christ hath delivered usf from all its ter- 
 rors. Nay, in Ay opinion, it is talkiiig too coldly to 
 say, that we no longer fear it, and that we expect it with 
 courage: for if we are really Christians, and of the 
 number of God's children, we shall hope for and desire 
 it, and hasten its arrival, by our sighs and most pas- 
 sionate wished . ' 
 
 What I have taken notice of in this qbapter, might 
 suffice to furnish any christian soul with ample comforts 
 and consolations against the fears of death. But as one 
 who goes to buy "stuffs in a shop, when he cheapens 
 such as are of small value, he only ca,sts his eye. slight- 
 ly upon the piece, or just looks*npon some small pattern; 
 but when he is about to purchase a rich tapestry of great 
 :price be desires to see every part of it, one after anothier, 
 to view it at leisure^ atid consider all its beauties; so I 
 judge that the pious and sagacious reader will desire; 
 now I have discovered to him in gross this treasury of 
 Consolation^ against the Fears of Heath, that I should 
 in the next place, reveal its hidden excellencies, pro- 
 duce every jiart of them by degl-ees to his coritempht" 
 tion, and with my pen remark to him all its most ex- 
 quisite beauties. 
 
qpRlSflA'N'S CONSOLATION. 67 
 
 CHAPTER VL 
 
 Whence proceed, the Fears of Death. 
 
 ^S a wise find skilful physician carefully examiues 
 the causes of the disease before he pr£scribes a remedy; 
 and as an experienced surgeon scratches the wound be- 
 fore he pours in the balsam; so I think it highly neces- 
 sary to examine, with care and. exactness, whence tfl 
 fears of death proceed, before we begin to apply those 
 consolations with which we hope to fortify the christian 
 soul, for when we shall once understand the causes and 
 n ature of the disease, we shall, without diffi.calty, be 
 able to assign the proper remedies. When we shall have 
 scratched and washed the wound, we will, with Uod^s 
 assistaiKie, pour into it the true balm of Gilead. 
 
 In the first place we think too seldom ui)OB death, 
 and meditate loo little Opon the misery and frailty of our 
 poor decaying nature. We confess indeed with our 
 lips, that our life is but a breath in our nostrils, a va- 
 pour tjbat §o.on passes away, a shadow thg-t quickly van- 
 ishes; but wp flatter ourselves at the bottom, of bur hearts, 
 and, with Herod, take a pleasure that men should look 
 upon us as so many little gods. Acts. xii. Because 
 death approaches us, having its feet shod with wool, 
 and without noise, we fpplishly imagine, that it will ne- 
 ver come near ps: like that wicked servant mentioned 
 in th^ gospel, who becausp the Lord delaf^ed his com-; 
 ing, concluded that he would not come at all, l^iEatth. 
 xxiv, we suflfer ourselves to be deluded by the- flatter- 
 ing suggestions of our own corJrupted flesh, and by the 
 deceitful insinuations of the old serpent, that whispers 
 to us, as to oar first psyrents, Te shall noi die, Geo. iii. f. 
 
68 THE CHRISTIAN'S CONSOLAT||N. 
 
 2. We all say, that death is inexdrable, and that it 
 is dea,f, and hath no ears; nevertheless we live, forthp, 
 most part as if we had made a covenant witU death, and 
 icere at agreement with the gram, Is. xxviii. as if 
 we were well assured, that death was afar off, and that 
 it would, riot come of a long season. We trust in our 
 youth, our vigour, awti our health, and persuade our- 
 selves that we shall see all our acquaintance go before 
 us, atid when we follow them it would be at a great dis* 
 Imice. We have in abhorrence every thing that repre- 
 sents dearth unto us, or calls it to our remembrance; and 
 if at anytime i^ image comes in our way, we turn 
 from it our eyes, and banish it from onr thoughts, as an 
 hideous dream, and a deceitful illusion. Death seizes 
 upon us before we have so much as seriously reflec- 
 ted that we are mortal; therefore we tremble with hor- 
 ror, and are dismayed at, the iapproaches of death; 
 and are become like the Israelites, who trembled 
 and fled before the face of the giant Groliah,b^ause they 
 were not accustomed, to behold him. 
 
 3. We lay too much stress upon second causes; we 
 look upon death as accidental, as a thing that happens 
 by chance, and confine our cofisideratiens to the means 
 that produce it; whereas we should be fully persuaded, 
 that God hath not only determined and appointed death 
 itself, hut also all the caQses and means which usually 
 attend it. Hence we are perplexed and disquieted with 
 a thousand vain and useless anxieties, and even sedu- 
 ced to murmur and repine ag{),irist (rod. We curse the 
 dart that pierces us^ instead of adorning, in all humility 
 the hand from whence it. came. In a word, whenever 
 death comes upon usj we are rfiady to say to it, as the 
 devils to our blessed Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, 
 
THE CHIIISTIAN'S CONSOLATION. fig 
 
 .AH thou, come hither to k^rment ns before the t'meP 
 Matt, viii 29. 
 
 4. We are too deeply rooted here below; we are po 
 fastened and attached to this world, that we would wil- 
 lingly abide here for ever, and cannot bear the thought 
 that death will remove us, , Our msts have no bounds, 
 and we often kill ourselves in- pursuing the most worth- 
 less vanities. When we draw near the end of our 
 mortal race, and our voyage of life is almost finished, 
 we are the most solicitous to n^ake large provisions of 
 worldly vanities. We baild stately houses and mac- 
 Qificent palaces wben we should think of nothing but of 
 buildii.-g our tomb, and preparing our winding sheet. 
 In short, we have so strong a passion for all the things 
 of this life, that to separate us from them, is to pull out 
 our hearts, and to tear in pieces onr bowels. When 
 death approaches our pillow,- and offers to pull us from 
 it, we are ready to say with the sluggard, mentioned in 
 the l)ook of Proverbs, Tet a little sleeps a little slurn- 
 her, a little folding of the bands to deep, ch. vi. 10., 
 When our heavenly bridegroom knocks at the gate, we 
 cannot persuade ourselves to leave our repose, any 
 more than the spouse s|)oken of in the Canticles, ch. 
 v. What, says the worldling, must I for ever abandon 
 my sumptuous palaces, my houses of pleasure, and my 
 magnificent gardtens? Must I leave tiiis fine tapestry; 
 these costly moveables, and all these rare and precious 
 ornaments, with which my halls, my chambers, and ray 
 closets are enriched? Must this cruel death/degrade me, 
 so soon from all my offices and honors, and deprive me 
 of the enjoyment of all these possessions and treasare-s? 
 Mnst it snatch me in a moment from all" my pleasures 
 and delights? Must I be torn from the embraces of my 
 
70 tHE CHRISTIAN'S CONSOLATION'. 
 
 belovetl wife, the ' sight of toy dear chilSrenj and the 
 sweet society of ir.y friends? And must I for ever re- 
 nounce the flsLttering services of my domestics? Whea 
 we are in this wretchra unprepared state, it is no won- 
 der if death seems t^ible to us, and if Jt Causes us to 
 feel all the sharpness of its sting. For as, when'Absa- 
 lom was hanged by the. hair of the head on an oak in 
 the forest, Joab took three darts, and thrust them through 
 his heart, 2 Sara, xxviii. so, 'when our affections are too 
 liiuch entafl^gled with the world;, and with vain expec- 
 tations of earthly contientment, we are exposed, in the 
 most miserable manner,' to all the darts and violences 
 of death. 
 
 Another principal cause of the fear of death is a SIK- 
 FUL LIFE. We abandon ourselves to all the vice 
 and debauchery of a dissolute age. We suffier ourselves 
 to be seduced by bad company, and carried away by a 
 tbrrent of pernicious customs. It istherefore no won- 
 der if death appears /terrible to us, bfecause it comes 
 against us armed with our Own sins, an-1 has f&r Its har- 
 bingers tlie stings of our own consciences. WheM^do 
 you think, proceeded that horrible dismay Vhich^^ed 
 upon king Belshazzar, when he saw the hand writing 
 upon the wall of liis palace? Dan. 5: it was because he 
 had profaned the holy vessels of God's house, ^nj 
 rioting in the company of ksclvioiis women. 
 Felix tremble, v^Ih' he heard St. Paul reason of rish- 
 teousness, tempe'Mnce, and judgmant to come? Acts 
 xxiv. it was because he was^a \vicked man, given over 
 to all manner o|/uncleanness and unjust living. Thus, 
 because we profee the members of our body, whiclj are, 
 as it were, thevfessels of God's sarictuaiy, arid because 
 our lives are wicketi atd disordei-ly, Vi-e cannot endure 
 
TI^E CHRISTIAN'S CONSOLATION. yt 
 
 tohe^ the mention of dearth; and when it comes upon 
 us, are ready to say to it, as Felix to St. Paul, Go thy 
 tQd^-far this time^ when I have a convenient season, 1 
 tpiU call for thee. The love of sin, and the fear of death 
 are Tike two sisters, who.^iold one another by the hand; 
 or rather4hey are twins, that are born and die together. 
 As the prophet Amos said to the Israelities of old, You 
 jiptfar away the evil day, and cause the seat of violence 
 to come near, Amos vi. 3; so we may say to the greatest 
 part of the men of this age; You put as far from you as 
 possil^ly you can, the day of death, and cause to come 
 near unto you all manner of tmcleanness, covetousness, 
 ambition, pride, vanity, usury, rapine, violencej envy, 
 hatred, and such like plagues of the soul. You not on- 
 ly cause these abominable vices to come near unto you; 
 but, what is worse, you root them in your hearts, and 
 foster them in your bowels. Certainly we may very 
 well apply to all vicious and profane people, what tfie 
 prophet Jeremiah said heretofore of the city of Jerusa- 
 lem, Her filthviiess is : in her skirts, she remembereth 
 not her last end, Lam. i. 9. 
 
 6. I have also remarked another defect; and that is, 
 we distrust the providence of God, and know tt«t how 
 to place our confidence in his fatherly care; we have too 
 goodan opinion of ourselves, and of our own abilities; 
 we cannot resolve to die, because we fancy; ourselyjeg to 
 be of very great importance to the worM, and that our 
 death )vould make an irreparable breach in the church 
 of God, the state, or our family. 
 
 7- .Because the soul, and body are joined together, in 
 
 so strict an union, we cannot imagine how they can be 
 
 , separated without the greatest and most exquisite pains. 
 
 Nay, so great is our infidplity, that we cannot rely np- 
 
7# THE eHRIStlAN'S CONSOLATION. 
 
 on th« promise which Grod hath given, That he will ^titil 
 cour nsiv. our disii'ess, and deliver us from all out- 
 froMes, Psal. IJ Jacob's ladder thit reaches up to hea- 
 ven, may ravish uS with admiration; bnt it seems Very 
 difQcuIt to ascend. l*aradise is rich, glorious, and 
 at)ounds with the sweetest delights; but the gate to ii is 
 stVkight, and all choked up with thorns. 
 
 8. I also conclude, that one of the chief reasons why 
 we fear death is,. because we look upon God as a moist 
 severQ judge, inflamed with anger and indignation, and' 
 armed \Vi(h veriareance aaiainst us: wbeireas we shohid 
 consider him as a merciful Fathtei;, full of the bowels of 
 compassion and kindness. Every slave trembles at the 
 sight of his lord; and thefe is mo malefactor bijt is afraid 
 when lie app-iars, before his judge, to be examined upon 
 the rack. Then how can 1, who' am piilluted with sin, 
 
 , and.blackened with crimes, appear before that glorious 
 thr'oiie, before which the ^eraphims cover their faces 
 with their wings? Fs. vi. ttow shall I, that aai but stub- 
 ble, be able toendare the presence of that greal^aveng- 
 ing God, who is a CDnsumingfit'e, Meb. xii. '^9. 
 
 9. Another visible, defect is, we do not em'l)race with 
 a true and lively faith, the death and passion of our 
 Lord and Saviour. We all talk of Jesns Chiflst cruciied; 
 hut we do not comprehend the divine virtue of his pas- 
 sion, nor feel its eiScacy. We do not consider that his 
 death hath rent asiinder the veil that kept us from the 
 heavenly sanctuary, and that his blood hath marked out 
 for us the way to paradise, and procured us an entrance 
 into it. I 
 
 iO. To avoid the'horror which thinking on the grave 
 is apt to give us, we do not reflect, as we ought that our 
 Lord ami Saviour Jesus Christ liath himself lain in the 
 
THE CHRISTUN'S CONSOLATION. 7^ 
 
 gTave^ and that he hath sanctified it with his holy and 
 olivine presence. We do not engrave upon our minds, 
 that it is just and reasonable that we should be confiirilii- 
 able to Christ in his aibasem«nt, if we will liave any part 
 with him in his glory and exaltation. 
 
 11. Another cause, which niaurishes in our souls the 
 fear of death, is this, we look upon it as if it was in its 
 full sti-ength and vigour; whereas we 'shpuld remember, 
 that Jesus Christ hath overcome and disarmed it by his 
 resurrection, and that we have pothing to do but to fol- 
 low the glorious track of his victorious wheels, and fas- 
 ten that furious beast to his triumphant chariot. 
 
 IS. We do not consider enough, with a serious and 
 Teligjiou$ attention, that our Lord and Saviour Jesiis 
 Christ, is not only risen from the grave vittorious and, 
 triumphant, but that he is also ascended into the high- 
 est heavens, as our forerunner, to prepare a place for 
 us; and that by departing out of our miserable bodies, 
 we follow the footsteps of our glorious Redeemer to go 
 and reap with him tlie irasuH-tal fruits of Ms ineffable 
 victories. Jl v ^ 
 
 1.3. We confine ourselves too mucb to the contcimpl^-''^ 
 tion of our frail, corrupt and moral nature; and we sel- 
 dom enter into tiiis most necessary meditation, that by tbie 
 Holy Spirit we are nearly and inseparably united to 
 Jesus Christ the Prince of Life, and the Kountaiii of 
 Light; and that we have already in us tjie aieede of blea- 
 'Sedneas, of glory and immortality. 
 
 14. As the children of Isra-el caurraured in the desert 
 against Moses, and longed to be again in Egypt, for- 
 getting the bitter slavery ustder which they had groan- 
 ed, their making of bricks, and tlie heat of the fusees; 
 aad minding only the pleasures which theyjiay lost, 
 
5* *HBJ CHMStlAN'S CONSOLATION. 
 
 ^ey i|£eamed of nothiag but the abtrndance of breailt 
 the 'flelh-ipotsy cucumbers, onibiis, and other dainties, 
 ivith which they had so often satisfied their.hunger: so 
 We repine at death because we do not reflect upon the 
 evils from which it delivers us; we only think upon the 
 ' Vain delights and seeming advantages of which it de- 
 prives us. 
 
 15. We foolishly imagine, that death destroys and 
 reduces us to nothing; and do not jconsider, that, with- 
 out touchihg our essential ;part, it only tajies from 
 us Bin, in which we were entangled, and breaks the rest ' 
 of the chains of our spiritual bonda^; so that death is 
 rather the death of sin, than of the faithful^ 
 
 16. Another great errror in us is, we do not lift up 
 ourininds to contemplate the glqr^ prepared for us as 
 soon as our souls shall hay^ left our languishing bodies. 
 Whatever face we may set upon the matter, we do not 
 lieartily be^eve in the felicities which God hath promi- 
 sed to all those that shall come into his presence. Some- 
 times, indeed we think upon the joys of 'paradise; but 
 then it is a transient thought, that Quickly passes through 
 oiir souls, and takes no root; insomuch, that many, if 
 mere shame did not restrain them, would be apt to cry 
 out with the emperor Adrian, My dearest soul, my 
 little iiirling, the gkest and companion of- my body, 
 uM0ier art thfiu going? 
 
 ly. Ad4 to, this, that we fix our attention, and dwell 
 too, much, upon the rottenness and corruption that threa- 
 tens the body; whereas we should, by faith, extend our 
 views to the glorious resurrection that shall soon follov^. 
 Charming abode, the del^htful host of my soul,^ must 
 death snatclf me from thee with so much violence? Must 
 1 part from thy loved and sweet society? Must ] leave 
 
THE CHRISTIAN'S CONSOLATION. 
 
 7JJ 
 
 thee upon such hard and lamentable terms? That of so 
 maity honours which have been heaped upon thee^ not 
 80 much as the shadow shall follow thee to the grave? 
 That of all thy rich furniture aa^ treasures, thou shalt 
 bear away nothing but a winding sheet^ a few boards, 
 or at the most some pounds of lead. After thou .hast 
 been clothed, with ^o much magnificence, must tJby cover- 
 ing at last be the worms? After thou hast lived so proads 
 ly in palaces guilded with gold, and perfumed witii the 
 t^weetest odours, mtu^t thy abode be at last a stink- 
 ing and loathsoqijes sepulphre? Must these beautiful 
 eyes lose their lustre? These coral lips become pale? 
 This golden mouth be stopped? And must this flesh, sus< 
 tained with so much delicacy, rot, and becom.e an ^b^ 
 horrence in the eyes of the world? 
 
 18. In the last, place, we do not meditate, as we 
 ought, upon that fullness of bliss and glory which is 
 prepared for us from the foundation of the world; and 
 of which we. shall have the full and perfect enjoyment, 
 when .Christ Jesus shall come from heaven, with his 
 holy angel'., to judge the quick and the deadi.^^He 
 shall then reunite our souls and bodies, for all eter- 
 nity, That his may be ghnfied in his. saints, anijiis 
 wonders made manifest in all the faithful. 
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 
 The first remedy against the Fears of Death is to med,' 
 itate} often upon it, 
 
 X. HE most dreadful things are made familiar to us 
 by custom. tiVoldiers who are raw and uftiiXperienced, 
 <;ommonly tremble at the sight of the eneriry, imn pale 
 
76 rtME CHRISTIAN'S CONSOLATION^ 
 
 a,i the noiise of the musqqetsj anil fa,il to the giomLiJ^ 
 jhftlf dead, at the roaring of the cannon; but whpn theif 
 courage hath been once haKlened by a long exercise^ 
 Ihey will march to seek the enemy, even up to hisen- 
 tretichmcnts; ^nd will go to the battle with as miiich 
 gaiety as to a least or a triumph. Neith'er the tempesta- 
 ^u s yollies of the sinall shot, nor |he thuiuder . and light? 
 ning of the ordnancet can make them wink their eyes,,or 
 cover their heads, and they themselves laugh at their for* 
 mer apjgriehetisions. So the fii^t notions of death com- 
 monly scare and terrify us; but when, we have seriously 
 msditated upon iV and take a nearer view of it, we 
 not only ceaise tp fear it, but boldly march. uj» to its very 
 irttrenchments, and with an undaunted countenance be- 
 hold it lanch all its thwderSj^ and let fly all its arrows. 
 As they who are not accustomed to the sight of savag@ 
 feasts dace not go near them, and! c^n hardly look up.- 
 oni them, without horren, but such as ace used to live 
 with, m^ earesfr tbe^,. can touch them' y^ithoiiiappre- 
 ^nsioni, antii^tly play with them: so they who never 
 had the conffd^nce, to- look death, in the fa^e, tremble> 
 and are disnjkayed, as soon a,s they see it approfch; bat 
 they who often meditate upon it, make it faoiiliar td 
 them, and can, without fear, put their hands into U^ 
 mouth. Moses fled from before his rod> the flrst time 
 it!^ waj;^ turned into a serpent; hut when he had takeit 
 courage- te> lay hold of it, apd saw that it returned to its 
 foisper shitpe> hi& was sa,fa|; from flying from before it, 
 or being afraid' of it, tftat J|f e^loyed it to a'very happy 
 Osej andkby ©od's eommahd*, wrought with it many mira,- 
 cles. Thus it is with dieath>ii^ngbten8 us at flrst;;^:but if 
 we onc©:lSy' hold of it with the hand's of a true and lis'^e- 
 
 ly fai^,. iti will be so far fuom frighting us, that it wilfe 
 jdiscover totus A new world of most excellent wonder&. 
 
THE CHRISTIAN'S CONSOLATION. 77 
 
 Death, therefore, is so far from terrifying such as 
 liave made it familiar to them, that it fills them full of 
 joy and comfort. As a child that looks upon his father, 
 who is masked; is frightened, and begins fco cry, but if be 
 bath but the courage to pull off the vizartl, and sees the 
 loved counteiAnce of his parent hid under that deformi^ 
 ;y, be not only ceases from weeping, and puts away his 
 fears, but also leaps for joy, and embraces him: so, if 
 ive look with a timorous eye iipoft death's outward vi- 
 sage only, we are struck with horror at its hideous ap- 
 pearance; but if we take but the courage to lift up the 
 leceitful vizard, we shall soon discover our heavenly 
 father, and leap with tears of joy to embrace him. As 
 iye. apostles, when they saw at a distance, and in the 
 »ight, Jesus Christ walking spon the sea, fcried oyt for 
 'ear, supposing it had been a spirit; but when he drew 
 ligh to them, and they heard his voice, they perceived 
 aim to be their Lord and Saviour; and having received 
 liim into their ship, the tempest immediately ceased.-r- 
 rhus,if we look apon death at adistarici^, the blindness 
 ind ignorance with which we are surrounded will re- 
 present it to us as a frightful spirit; but if we take i 
 iearer view of it, by the light of the gospel, we shall 
 ind it to be our salvation and our deliverance that ap- 
 proaches. All our fears will then be hushed, and out 
 louls will return to our former calmness. In a word, , 
 IS he that flies before his enemy increases his courage, 
 md makes him the more eager and resolved in the pur- 
 !uit; so when death sees us tremble and turn pale at 
 ts approach, it becomes the more insolent, aind makes 
 he more haste to devour us. 
 
 We must therefore think betimes of death, meditate 
 ipon it without ceasing, and make it familiar to us.r— 
 
78 THE CHRISTIATS'S CONSOLATIdNi 
 
 'Illns was holy Job's ptactite, Ihave said tocorruptiorirf 
 Thou art 'Iky father: to the worm, Thou art my mother, 
 and my sister, chap, xvii; 14:. I am of opiniitt that thii 
 was also 0116 of the principal reasons why Phflipy King 
 of Macedon^ commanded one of his pages to cry' aloud 
 to htm every ttioriiihg, at his first awaking, Remember, 
 O Ring, that thou art a man! For by this often repeat- 
 ed lesson, he not only end%a:«VOured to subdue his mind 
 to humility, and to teach bis frail nature not to groW 
 proud of a sceptre, or abuse its poWer, but he likewise 
 proposed, by this means, to make dea^ familiar to him, 
 that he might not be surprised or dismayed when it 
 made its approaches. This was also without doubt, the 
 design of the Empeiroi* Mervan, or Mervanes, when he 
 caused this moito to b6 engraved on his seal, ^emei^iT' 
 that thou must die/' What his courtiers were afrslid to 
 tell him, tlwse few words put him in mind of every nio- 
 ment: and this great prince could~ never put bis seal to 
 a warrant fur tlie execution of any man, but, at the satne 
 time, hie represented to himself, that his own death was 
 inevitable. For the same reason, the chief men among 
 the Chinese are used to keep their coffins rea|^ made 
 in their chambers, that, at every, moment, they may look 
 death in the face. And with the same view, the Egyp* 
 tians, in their most splendid entei^tiaSnments, always pla- 
 ced a dead man's scull upon the sideboard; intending, 
 by this spectacle, liot only to teach their guests to mo- 
 derate their joys, and restrain their unruly appetites, bu* 
 also to bnng them acquainted with, and to accustom 
 them to behold death in the midst of all their delights, 
 as if they had invited it to theit feast, that they might re- 
 joice together with it. I conceive it to have been for the 
 same cause, tbat the Jews built their sepulchres in their 
 
THE CHRISTIAN'S CONSOI^ATION. 79 
 
 .garc||B,S; that they might have the image of death con- 
 tinii^ily before their eyes; and, that, ia the midst of all 
 their recreations, it might be their most pleasing and or- 
 dinary entert^'inment. 
 
 But. for us wild are Christians, to oblige us to think 
 upon death, there is no need th^t a page should reinetn- 
 bpr us every morning that we are mortal; or that the 
 inotto of a seal should put lis in mind that we must die; 
 or that a coffin should be placed in our chambers, there 
 being many times more ostentation than true, piety in 
 such proceedings; nor is it necessary that a dead man's 
 scull should be set before our eyes, or that a sepulchre 
 should be hewn in our gardens. For as Alexander the 
 Great knew himself to be mortal by the blood th^t flow- 
 ed from his wounds; so the diseases to which we art 
 subjected, and .the hourly infirmities that we feel, suffi- 
 ciently assure us, that we are in a frail and mortal state. 
 As a celebrated philosopher, when he received the news 
 of his only son's untimely death, answei^d the messen- 
 ger with a settled countenance, Iknew that I begot hm 
 a mortal man; so will the faithful say, without change 
 of countenance, or the least sign of fear, I know th?ii 
 my mother conceived me a mortal man; 1 kndw tha< 
 death is the tribute we must all pay to nature; and thai 
 it was upon this condition that 1 came itito the world. 
 
 If we will make use of any exterior helps, to engrave 
 this lesson still more deeply in our minds, we must, ir 
 the first place, carefully practise the advice of the wise 
 man'. It is better to go to the house of mourning thai 
 to go to the house of feasting; for that z? the end ofal 
 men, and the living will lay it to his heart, 'EtCcXea. ch 
 vii. 2. Never look upon a sick perspn breathing hif 
 last, or upon a dead corpse in its coffin, but remembci 
 
80 THE CHRISTIAN'S CONSOLATION* 
 
 tUat this is an universal law unto which all jiiiitnkind are 
 subject; that it is. the express image of thy own future 
 condition. 
 
 I am also of opinioQ> that to make, our last -wiirbe- 
 times^ and to read it over frequently, may prove a very 
 good and successful expedient, to recdncile to our minds 
 the habitual thoughts of death; for as^ when we medi- 
 tate upon a fare w el that vre aire going to take of oiir 
 friends, we feel in our souls the very same emotions that 
 happen to us at the moment of our separation; so, when 
 we seriously meditate upon the last farewiel, that we 
 sliall bid to this world, death, seems already upon oQr 
 lips; or rather, we think ourselves already in the em- 
 braces of Jesus Christ, our ever blessed Uedeemer. 
 
 Besides these things, which may be called extraordi- 
 nary, I find nothing, either within or without us, noth< 
 ing that we see, feel, taste or smell, in short, nothing 
 that passeth in ou» private or public conversation, whicli 
 is not capable of recalling into our minds the considera- 
 tion of death. 
 
 The flesh that thou eatesl, the wool wherewith ^hou 
 art clothed, the silk that adorns thee, and, ii^generJil, 
 most of thy garments and ornaments, are the spoils of 
 dead animals. The siglit, therefore, of these, imd all 
 others of the same kind, should call to the remembrance 
 thy frail and mortal slate, and cause thee to meditate 
 upon the preachers saying. For that tcMck befalleth 
 beasts, befalleth the aims of men, even one thing befkl- 
 leth them; as the one dieth^so dieth the other; yea,ihey 
 have aU one breath, so that a man hath no pre-eminence 
 above a beast; for' all is vanity: all go unto one place, 
 all are of the dust, and all turn to dust again, Eccles. 
 iii. 19,30. 
 
THE CHRISTIAN'S CONSOLATION. gt 
 
 Never put off thy clothes, but remember that thou 
 tn^ii^. shortly put off this miserable body; and when 
 thou liest down in thy bed,- think of the coffin in which 
 .hou.niust one day be stretched out. If tliou art awake 
 luring the darkness of the night, consider that death 
 vill shortly come, and put out the taper of thy life. — 
 [iCt thy s-leepbe the image of thy death; and let' it not 
 ail to remind thee, that the time is drawing near, when 
 hou must sle.ep in a bed of dust When thou awakesfe 
 hink upon the delightful sound ef the archangel's trum- 
 »et, that shall avtrak«ri thee from the sleep of death. — 
 Say within tliyself, when thou arisest, perhaps I may 
 lever rise again till the Son of God shall cone from 
 leaven, and reach out his almighty arm to lift me from 
 he grave. And when thou s6est the rising sun, per- 
 laps I may never again behold the i-ising of any sun, 
 »ut the Son of Righteousness, with healing in his v,ings. 
 Think, as thou dressest thee, that the time is c&ming, 
 vhen thou shalt assume a much more? magnificent habit, 
 ind put on a robe of light and immortality. When thou 
 ittest down to table, say to-thyself, perhaps tlie hour 
 s drawing near, in which death will feed upon myjamsi 
 wm^ perhaps I shall never again sit down to table, till 
 sit dovynwith Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and with 
 iie blessed martyrs, who have washed and whitened' 
 leir robes in the blood of the Lamb; perhaps I may 
 ^ver eat again, till 1 eat the bread of angels, and of the 
 p^ of, the tree of life; nor ever drink more, till I drink 
 f the, new wine in the kingdom of beaven and of the 
 fater&of ihe river of ^ernal joysj; that flow from the 
 irone of God, and of the Lamb. Every time thou goest 
 at of thy housje, or chaugest thy habitation, reflect with 
 rj'self, that in a little time thou must d.^art out of this 
 
m 'E^H CHRISTIAN'S CONSOLATION; 
 
 BlQi^l itabiBrBacle., Art thou alone^ and Separated front 
 all human socieif ? Uemember that in a leyr da.j$ death 
 i^p separate and divide thee from th^fself Art thou go-. 
 ir^iMo any eampany, or into the holy assemblies? Say 
 ivc th^^aft, perhaps, I may ii^ever go agai;i|i into .a]|y 
 company^' '^1| 1 come to the cqngpgi^Qa of the first- 
 born, whose nanies' are written itivheaven. Art thou in-/ 
 vited to the mamage-feast of any friend? Say untpthy 
 soul; perhaps I niay never go to any other feast, till I 
 sjQf to the mar^age-feaf t of the Lamb slain frpm tlte 
 foundation of the world. Art thou viewing any rich 
 and magnificent palace, nr any garden of pleasure? Say 
 to thyself; pei'haps I shall never see any other pala^e^ 
 till 1 entier into the palace of the Uying God; nor any 
 other pleasant garden, till I conie to the celestial para- 
 disc. 
 
 When thou casteth thine eyes downward, and behol- 
 dest the earth upon which thou tretldest, consider with 
 thyself at the same time, thai-t tlus earth, or some other 
 like it, shall afford thee a grave, and that thou shalt 
 sleep- there the slg^: of death. Think upon what God 
 said to Adam, Oust thou arty ami unto diJLst ajialt thpu 
 return, Gen. ui. i9; and say with the holy man Job, 
 Memertibetf J beseech thee, thai'thgu hast made me as 
 the day, and thou wilt bring me into dust again, Job x. 
 9. I' go down into the dust f aTtdif thou^seekest forme 
 in Uie morning I shall not he found. Job. vii. 21. 
 
 If thou takest a view of the plants, the herbs, and 
 tjie iowers, let it not be without meditating upon \^hat 
 the Holy Spirit speaks concerning our life| in the 90th 
 psalm, That matt is lijee the grass tehieh groweth up: 
 in the morning it fiourisheth and groweth upj in the 
 evening it is tut down mi mthereth. And in the 103d 
 
THE CHRISTIAN'S eoNSOtiATIDN. gg 
 
 psalih, A8for minif his days ate as grass f as a flower 
 of the field so he flownshtth. For the wind piisseth over 
 it and it is gone, and the place thereof ^aU know it no 
 more. And elsewhere^ Ml flesh is grass, and all I3ie 
 glory of man, at the flower of the field. Is. xl. t Pet. i. 
 
 If thoa lookest upon the brooks, tlie rivers, and Mis 
 of water, remetnber, at the same time, what thou readest 
 in the 14th chapter of the second book of Satiiael, for 
 we must needs die^and are as water, spilt on the ground, 
 which cannot be gathered up again. And in the 90ti| 
 psalm, Thou carriest them away as with afiood. 
 
 If thou takest -nbtice of the shadow upon a dial, that 
 follows the swift motion of the sun, or of the shadows 
 which bodies'-cast upon the earth, in the evening th^y 
 lengthen themselves, and a little after vanish, place be- 
 fore thine eyes, and engrave upon thy heart, this excel- 
 lent, sentence, Man is tike to vanity} his days are as a 
 shadow that passeth away, Psal. cxliv. 4; and say with 
 David, I am gone like the shadow, when it declvneth, 
 Psal. cix. 33. 
 
 When thou hearest the whistling of the winds, which 
 God bringeth forth out of , his treasures, lift up thy soul 
 unto thy creator, and say unto hiin with Job, O remem- 
 ber that my life is wind: mine ^yes shall no more sie 
 good, chap. vii. 7; that is, the imaginary good of this 
 transitory world. And again, l^ou Hfte^ me up to the 
 wind}, tkou eausest me to ride upon it, and dissolvest 
 my substance, chap.<^xxlli.^ 22. " 
 
 If thou takest a pleasure in se^^ the birds that fly 
 in the open firmament of heaven. Involve in thy^ngypd 
 this beautiful simile, My days passeth a^cay, as an ea- 
 ^le that hasteifielk to the prey, Jobix. S6. 
 ^Wi.en tbou behoidest the rich beauty of the hea^jjs^ 
 
81 THE GHIM«TIAN'S eONSOLATION. 
 
 and the sparkling lustre of the stars, consider with tb^ 
 self that thou hast a gracious God, who bath formed 
 thee after bis own image, not to grovel always in the 
 filth of this miserable earth, but to dwell eternally in the 
 heavens, and that, at the end of thy mortal course, he 
 will lift thee up on higH into the palace of his gloty, 
 where thou shalt shine forth as the stars in.the iirnia- 
 ment, and as the sun shinethin his strength, 
 " If thou thinkest upon the revolution of the seasons^, 
 remember that the spring of thine infancy, the hot sum- 
 mer of' thy youth, the autumn of thy maturity, and the 
 lowering winter of thy ^Id and decripetl age, shall suc- 
 qsed one another in the same order. 
 
 Let bitai who travels by land think upon ?ob's com:" 
 plaint, My days are simfter than a post: they flee away, 
 they see. no good, Job ix. 2i5; and meditate upon these 
 excellent'words of the apostle St. Paul, This onethmg: 
 I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and rea- 
 ching forth unto those things which are before, Ipres^ 
 toward, the mark, for the prize of the high calling of 
 Godin Christ Jesus, Vhih iiu IB, .1^. , 
 
 Let him who sails upon the sea represent to himself,, 
 that this world is like a gi^eat sea, swelling with tem- 
 pestupo^ waves, our lifelike a. dangerous voyage; that 
 our days pass away as the swift ships, Job ix. 26; and 
 that at last the wind of death will drive us into the port 
 of eternal felicity, the haven qf immortal. glory. 
 
 Hath God given us children? Let us undei'stand that . 
 it is to r^|3aind us of our mortality: for they come to take 
 our place, and succeed. to our estate. Doth God take, 
 them from us intOihis holya?e&t, even those we love the 
 most tendevl^? Let us imprint upon our minds, that Go||| 
 casts up the roots that -bind us to the earth, that he 
 
THE CHRISTIAN'S CONSOLATION. gg 
 
 night liin up our hearts and affections to himself. In- 
 tea.(l of bursting intq a flood of tears, and abandoning 
 lutselves to a useless and immoderate sorrow, let us 
 omfort ourselves with this reflection, that one part of 
 IS is already entered into heaven, and that the other 
 Filllrojrtly follow. Let us say with David, We shall 
 •0 to them, but they shall not return to us, 2 Sam. xi. 23, 
 
 Let the rich man who counts over his treasures re- 
 aember, that God hath counted and numbered his days; 
 et these words continually resound in his ears. Give an 
 ccount of thy stelvardsMpfltuke xvi. 3. 
 
 Let the magistrate, every time he delivers his opin- 
 on, or pronouQces a sentence, arm himself with this 
 consideration, That he who judges here below, shall 
 >e judged himself abov^e; that be must one daiy Appear, 
 IS a poor criminal, at the tribunal of God; that the 
 looks will be opened, and that the great Judge of the 
 vorld will examine into every particular of his conduct; 
 hat he must give an account, not only of his\vords and 
 i,ction's> but also of his most secret thoughts; and that, 
 vithout examination by the rack, God will discover the 
 rery inmost recesses of his soul. v» 
 
 Let the gentlemen, whenever he receives his rents and 
 ■fevenues, place before his eyes the tribute wbich be 
 tiust pay to the earth. Let the prince or nobleman, 
 vhen he examines his charters and ancient patents, and 
 'eckons up the services and homages due to his house, 
 ■emcmber that he himself must shortly go in» person to 
 he gates of heaven, to pay his*-' homage to the Divinity. 
 Let the king, v.'hen he sits upon his throne of justice, 
 ;aU to mind the throne of the King of Kings, before 
 yhich he tnust make his appearance, as well as the 
 neanest and most despicable of his subjec%-and that 
 
B6 TPBE eKRISTIAN'S COISSOLATION. 
 
 lie Riust be accountable to a just God,' who is no respec- 
 ter of persons. 
 
 Let the minister never be employed in the care of his 
 lock, but let him sigh and long for the happy daj in 
 kvhich the Lamb-shall feed him in person, and lead him 
 lo the living fountains of water, Rev. vii. 17- * 
 
 Let the Christian soldier engrave upon his sword this 
 sentence of Job, In there not, as it wetej a warfare -ap- 
 pointed to man upon earth? Job vii. 1; and instead of 
 thirsting to shed th6 blood of his feUotiv creatures, priB> 
 pare to encounter death itself. 
 
 Let' the husbandman, whenever he sows his seed, or 
 reaps the corn off liis fields, be mindful of the seasott 
 that draws near, in which bis body must rot in the earthy 
 :hat it may spring up to eternal We: Let him rememr 
 [)er what the Apostle says. Thou fool, that whi^h thou 
 iowest is not qmeJeened enecept it die, i Cor. xv^ 36;. 
 md meditate upon the comfortable words of the Fsalm- 
 st, They that sow intmrs,shallreapinjoy,'Psa\. cxxvi. 
 
 Let the handicraftsman, who works in his shop, en-.. 
 ;rave in the bottom of his heart this excellent sentence, 
 Ouriaysare like the days of an hireling, Sob vii. 1; 
 ind when he hath ended his task, and is going to rest, 
 >et him comfort himself with this assurance, that when 
 le shall have finished the work which God hath given 
 lim to do, he shall have rest from all his labours. 
 
 Whenever the physidan visits his patient, or wLeit^ 
 )ver the ^rgeon dresses a wound, let them remember, 
 hat th(»y have no secret that can preserve them from 
 leath, or that can cure the wounds that it makes in our* 
 jwruptible nature. 
 
 Let the most, skilful lawyers, the most able coaucellor^, 
 imprint bpon their minds, tiiat all their subtilities and 
 
Tim CHRISTIAN'S CONSOLATION. 87 
 
 *hetQi;iSf .^ijl nevBF obtain for them their saLt against 
 death, nor procure for them a moment of delay. 
 
 j^A let the greatest philosophers learn, That the 
 scpndest philosophy is the meditation of death, ^ 
 
 In short, of \yiiatever age or couditiqii we be, let, us 
 lift np our hands and hearts, wi,thout ceasing unto (iod, 
 and say unto him, with that Royal T saXmist, Lord Make 
 m^ to know mine end, and the j^easiife ofmy days what 
 it, is, that I may knqw hoip frail I cvn, J'sal. xxj^x. 4. 
 and with the Propliet Moses, So teach us to number \ 
 our daySy that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom, 
 Psal. xc. 1^. 
 
 PRAYER AND MEDI-I*!vf IOx\. 
 
 Upon the 0Mb}eet of our Mortality. 
 
 Q ]yiY God, and heavenly Father, since it hath plea- 
 sed thee that 1 should be liotu of a mortaland perisha- 
 ble nature, and that this i>o6r body should return to the 
 dttst from whence it came, grant me grace to b^^ always 
 iwodfol of my frail condition. Let the revolutions of 
 iime, which consumes all things, the variety of the sea- 
 sons, the inconstancy pf the world, and all the various 
 cliattges which I observe ilpon the face of the earth; 
 make me remember the g?eat change ^hioh I myself 
 mnst dndergd. Let me consider vny natural infirmities, 
 and the frequent maladies that- Jitteiid me, as so many 
 messetigers sent to warn mc, that 1 must shortly leave 
 .this earthly tabernacle. Let the bed upon which I lie, 
 put me in mind, that when 1 have finished my days of la- 
 bour here, my body shall rest in a bed of dust. When I 
 put off my garments, let me recpllect. that in a few days 
 I must put off this mortal and corrnptible body. Let 
 
88 THE CHRISTIAN'S CONSOLATION. 
 
 me consider the sleep th^tJocks up my senses, as a r^- 
 resentative of death, whicn shall entirely put a stop to 
 all the animal functions of this life; and let me look upon 
 the coffins and sepulchres of my relations and friends, 
 as a lively image of the house which Lmust shortly go to 
 inbahit O Lord, grant me thy grace, so often to look 
 upon death and the grave, that they may no longer ter- 
 rify and aflFright me. Let me so much accustom myself 
 to meditate upon them, that the thoughts of them may 
 become familiar^and pleasing to me, and, instead of af- 
 fliptlnf, comfort and rejoice me. 1 am born to die; but 
 I shall die to live eternally with God,, who alone, is the 
 author of my life, the fountain of my happiness. Aihen. 
 
 CHAPTER Vlli. 
 
 27te second remedy against the fears of tt^ath, is, to live 
 under a continual expectation of it. 
 
 JlT is not sufficient to think often upon death, and t» 
 make fine harrangues upon it. There are a great mai\y 
 persons who talk of it perpetually, with all the eloquence 
 imaginable, and yet cannot boast of being exempt from 
 its terrors. They are always ready to discourse upon 
 death; but their hearts are never disposed, to expect it. 
 They know v:^r/well that death will seize upon them; 
 but they are foolish enough to believe it will not be of 
 along time. They acknowledge, that they are indebt-ji' 
 ed to God and nature; but they put off the payment 
 of the debt from day to day, as if they could corrupt the 
 Serjeants of death, and obtain a farther respite at plea- 
 sure. Thete is not any man so old, so feeble and de- 
 crepid, but flatters himself, that he has at least, another 
 
TlriE CHRISTIAN'S CONSOLATION. 89 
 
 year to live; nay, the very last, we fancy we perceive 
 .death at a vast distance; and thfl,t! we may prepare at 
 our leisure to receive it as we ought: Whence it comes 
 tb pass, that at whatever time, or in whatever place, 
 death conies to take us out 6f the world, it Surprises and 
 astonishes us. 
 
 To remedy this evil, we should al\v'ays have in our 
 thoughts, not only that we are mortal, but also that oar 
 lives are short, and of small duration; we must cohtiually 
 say with Job, Are not my days few? ch. x.* 20; and 
 imprint upon our minds this sentence of David, The 
 Lord hath made my days as a Kand-breadtH, and mine 
 age is as nothing before him, Psal. xxxix. 5; and this 
 divine saying of Moses, The best of our days are la- 
 bour and sorrow: they are soon cut off, and wejiy away, 
 Psal. xc. 10. 
 
 The ancients painted time with wings: an emblem 
 very expressive of its incrediJ)le swiftness; and the 
 Holy Spirit compares our life to a weaver's shuttle, an 
 hired servant, a post that runs apace, a swift ship, and 
 an eagle' that basteneth to the prey. It spealcs of it 
 as of a fiood of waters, acload, a vapour, a wiuil, and 
 a breath. It tpUs us, that our days fade away as a 
 dream, that they fly like a shadow, vanish of a word in 
 the air, and perish as a thought. In a word, all the 
 lightest and most inconstant things in the world, and 
 those whose motions are the most siudden and rapid, are 
 employed in the holy scriptures; to represent to us the 
 vanity of our life, and the shortness of our days. 
 
 But the short continuance of our life is not all; \t 
 likewise slides away insensibly. It is like a clock, the 
 AVheels of which move without ceasing, although the 
 hand seems to u^ to stand still; or likfe a plant that 
 
 M 
 
90 Tfll CHRISTIANAS CONSOLATIQN. 
 
 groM's continually, aMbough the motion of its growth 
 Gannot be fliscernetl. 4.s a man ^\ho is on board a ship^ 
 under sail, goes, forward let him employ himself as he 
 will; so whether we wake or sleep, Walk or fsii;,"eat or 
 fa*^t, ;labour or take our rest, we still advance insensibly 
 towards the grave. Our body is like a tree continua.lly 
 devoui'ed by two worms; for day and night prey upon it 
 without intermission. In vain you banish out of^yqur 
 minds the thoughts jof death; although you forget it, 
 it will H©t forget you; the more you fly fronjrit, the 
 more it follows and pursues you; and when you imagftie 
 it the farthest off, you have, often hold of it. 
 
 As a cancer that infects the breast, eats it away per- 
 petually, so time never ceases to consume us. The ve- 
 ry food that nourishes us, bring us by degrees, into the 
 embraces of death; as the oil that causes a lamp to burn 
 brings it to its end. ^s, when a torch is lighted, it;be- 
 gins to decay the moment it begins to burn; so I may 
 truly say, without being thought to, e^tagerate, that the 
 fii:st mouient of this animtil and corporal life is also the 
 itst moment of our death; for the natural heat tha't is 
 in us, which is our principle of life, is also the principle 
 of our death,- by means of its continual acting upon the 
 radical moisture) which it never leiages to consume, as 
 the flame never ceases to Qonsume the wax of the torch- 
 So that we have within ourselves the cause of our cor- 
 ruption, ahd the decay of our life. And as we are"' 
 used to say of all sublunary bodies, that the &;eneratioW' 
 of me is the destruction of another; so 4t is with time; 
 the birth of an hour, a day, a week, a month, or a year, J* 
 is the death of that wiii^h went before. It is like a 
 wheelthat mounts to no other end but to fall down a:2;ain. 
 
 Since, therefore, bur life, properly speaking, is nothing 
 
TME CHRlSTlAll'S CONSOLATION. 91 
 
 else but a continual death, we express* ourselves amiss, 
 to call tljat onl^ the hour of death, in which the soul 
 iij- separated from the body. For as when tnany can- 
 non shot are discharged against a strong castle, we 
 by no means say, that it was the last shot only that 
 opened the breach; or as whem a hard stone is cut with 
 a chissel and hammer, or insensibly hollowed and worn 
 away by water, we give not the glory of the perform- 
 ance to the last blow that was struck, or the last drop 
 that distilled; so when the bodies decay and fall into 
 rottenness, we must not consider alone the last assaults 
 qf death. As in a ladder, when we go 'ur> or down it, 
 we take notice of every round from the top to the bot- 
 tom; or as in an hoar-glass we look at every grain of 
 sand that passes; as in a journey we reckon tli? first 
 mile as well as the last; and in a face consider the mo- 
 ment we set out as well as that in Which wc come in: 
 so we shmild reckon the hour of our death, from the 
 first moment that we dreV in our breath, till the last 
 wherein we give . up the ghost. 
 
 Besides what hapens of course to (his poor miserable 
 body, there are an infinite numher of strange and unex- 
 piected accidents which interrupt and shorten its I'ace.-^ 
 ^he taper is not alwa;ys.: burnt out by its own flam«j 
 many contrary blasts and unkind showers extinguish 
 it. If our life is abort, it is no less frail and uncertain. 
 The body in which we languish during this life, is like 
 Jonah's gourd, chapter iv: for if it b® but touched by 
 an unwholesome wind, or smote by a woi-m, it presently 
 withers and dies kway. This Was the opinion of Eli- 
 phaz/ when he said, We dwell in houses ofclaij, whose 
 foundation is in the dust; toe art ^rushed before the 
 moth, Job. iv. 19. ' 
 
gg THE CHRlStlAN'S CONSOLATION. 
 
 WliCtt God intends to destroy maakiad in hi^ angefj 
 and Iread tbeini in the wine-pfess of hi* fary, he does 
 not always make use of the ministry of angels, as he did 
 when he smote all the firstborn of Egypt, Eyod. xii, 
 S9; when he stretphed forth his hand to destroy Jeru- 
 salem, 3 Sam. xiv. 16; and slew in one night one hun*- 
 dred fourscox-e and^five tho^usand men of the army of 
 Sennacherib, 3 Kings xix. 35, He does not always let 
 loose the wicked spirits^' as wbpn he gaye them permis-- 
 sion to raise a furious tempest, which, blew down to the 
 ground the house where Job's children were met togeth- 
 er, and buried them under its ruins, Job i. 19- Hte 
 Qpens not always the flood-gates of heaven, as when he 
 drowned the world of the ungodly in the waters of the 
 deluge, Geil. vii. He causeth not always fire and brim^ 
 stone to rain from heaven, as he did lipon Sodom and 
 Gomorrah, and upon Admah* and Zeboim, Gen. xix. 
 He does not always Work wonders in the dee^ as when 
 he destroys Pharaoh and the Egyptians in the watjers of 
 the R^d Sea, Exod. Xiv. 38. He prepares not always 
 the whales to swallow us up as he did in the, case of 
 Jonah, ch. i. 17' He^ends not always fiery serpents^ 
 as he did to the children of Israel, who murmured in 
 the desert, Numb, xxi, 6. He commands not alwia^^ 
 the earth to open her mouth, as he did when it swallow- 
 ed up Cp^eah, Dathan and Abirap, Numb. xvi. 3S._; 
 He does not always cast down great atones from heaven, 
 as when, he smote the Amorites, Josh. x. ii. He does 
 not always devour iis by flames that come out from his 
 presence^ as he did Nadab and Abihu, who offered 
 strange fire before him Levit. x. 3. He commands not 
 always the lions and bears of ttie forest to issue forth, 
 fiB he did wheiji the rebellions prophet was slain, 1 
 
THE CHRISTIANS CONSOLATION. * Qg 
 
 Kings xiii. S4? and when tlje ill-tutored children of Be- 
 thel, who mocked Elisha, were torn td pieces, S Kings 
 ii. 24. He does not always employ the plagues of juilg- 
 nlents of pestilence, war, and famine; the stinking snuff 
 of a' lamp, or the unpleasant vapour of any malignant 
 smoke, is able to suffocate and kill us in a moment. A 
 Jittle fly, the kernel of an apple, an hair^ a grape-stone, 
 a grain of sand, or any other the smallest atom, is'S'affi- 
 eient to" stop our breath, and put an end to oaf life; 
 tlierefore God advisetfa us by his Prophet Isaiah, Cease 
 ye from man, whose hreaffi is in his nostrils: for where- 
 ^is he to be adcounted of? Is. ii. 33. 
 
 What" is still more seriously to be considered, thestj 
 accidents happen at all times and in all places. Death 
 lays bis snares for us every where, as well in the midst 
 of our relations, and in the embraces of our deareist 
 friends, as in the midst of our most mortal and irrecon- 
 cilable enemiesi Its vilible darts fly on every side; arid 
 as the Psalmist finely expresses it, The pestilence walk- 
 eth in darkness, and 0estruction wasteth at noon dtiif, 
 Psal, xcv 6. Death is as busy on, the most solemn fes- 
 tivals, as on working days: it pulls us from the table, 
 where we are tiaking our delights, with as much ease as 
 from the bed of* sorrow, where we sigh and groan.— 
 There is no place, though ever so sacred, that can afford 
 us an asylum: it hath no more respect for the churches 
 dedicated to God's service, than for ordinary housed. 
 All the richbs of Peru, and all the power of the greatest 
 monarchs, cannot pi^ect us from its pursuit. The debt 
 it ^ttiands of us, must be paid at sight: and it is Jot 
 possible for us to appear by deputy to the summons it 
 sends us. ~ 
 
 iJeath does not fix his citations upon the doot, nor 
 
94. THE CHRISTIAN'S CONSOLATlbN." 
 
 p^!p thjem fnto the hand of a servant. There is not on« 
 of them upon which it cannot write, as a proof of its 
 'isqivl^g been servadj, SpeoJting to him in person.- It suiS 
 prises OS in the hpa^ and in the fields; in our closets 
 ikA in the streets; on our couch and in our chair; in the 
 midst of our feasts, and all our p6mp. It attacks the 
 greatest kings in their most magnificent palaces, their 
 most, flourishing cities, and thfeir best fortified castles; 
 in the midst of their most faithful subjects, and mo^t 
 victorious armies; upon their thrones and in tlieir trium- 
 phant chariots. As king' Ahab, when he went down to 
 take possession of Naboth's vineyard, met unexpectedly 
 with thfe Prophet Elijah, to vFhom he said in great wrath, 
 Hast thou found me, O mine enemy? 1 Kings xxi. 20; 
 so^^e proud men of this w^orld, when they think of no- 
 thing but the pleasant employment of their unjust ac- 
 quisltions) and of bathing themselves in the blood and 
 sweat of the poor, ofteu meet wifh death unexpectedly^ 
 which they curse in their hfeartfe^; and if it did not stop 
 their mouths, and set their venomous teeth; they would 
 alstf say' to it in a fury, Hast thou found me, .0 mine 
 enemyf: :• ' -■■ v : '?V 
 
 It was this pious reflection that caused the wiseit king 
 that ever lived upon Uie earthy to cfy out, For man 
 Jcnoweth not Ms time; as the fishes that are taken in an 
 evil net, and as the birds that are caught in the snare;' i 
 so are the sons of men snared in an evil time, when if 
 faUeth suddeMy upon-them, Eccles. ix. 13; and this U 
 was that indited this excellent science in the book of 
 Job, In a moment they shall die, and the people shall 
 be troubled at midnight, and pass away: and the mighty 
 diall he taken away tcithout hand^ chap, xxxiv. 30: that 
 is to say, that to destroy kingdoms, and whole; nations^ 
 
THE CHRISTIAN'S CONSOLATION. 95 
 
 and to carry off the most robust and; iittigli,ty amongst 
 men^ death has no occasion for any other force than that 
 of.his own arfti. •# _ • ;' 
 
 Memeviber, then, O young maxi, thy Creator in the 
 days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the 
 years draw nighy when thou shc^ltsay, I have no plea- 
 sure in them, Eccles. xii. i. Thougl^ thou art the 
 strongest and most vigorous amongst men, yet trust not 
 in thy sitrength, ndr confide in thy vigour. Think upon 
 the iron and the brass in the image of king Nebuchad- 
 nezzar, which were broken to pieces, and become like 
 the cjiaff of the summer thrashing floors, which the wind 
 carried away, Dan. ii. 3i1; and forget not that death as 
 easily brings; down the strong and mighty, as the most 
 feeble ^.nd infirm. 
 
 Sleep not, O young maiden, with the foolish virgins 
 mentioned in the gospel, Matth. xxv; for ye know not 
 at what' hour the bridegroom will call you to the marri- 
 age supper of thet Lamb, Rev. xix. 7- 9. Though ye 
 possess the greatest beauty in the world, yet remember, 
 that death will not ssufiTer himself, to be captivated by 
 your charms; -^nd tliat he mows down the most lovely 
 ftowers in the garden, as well as the mosj common herbs 
 in the field. 
 
 - Ye old men, who tremble beneath a load of years, 
 prepare yourselves for death .jvith an holy alacrity: Let 
 your hope be as an anchor of the- soul, both sur& and 
 steadfast, which entereth beyond the vail, even into hea- 
 ven itself, whither the Sayioijr of the yvovXA is entered, 
 as a foverijLnner for you, Heb. vi. 19, SO. Look up 
 ' with the eyes of your fajith, and behold the ancient" of 
 days, who stretched out his arms to receive yon into tliat 
 glorious rest which remains to his people. 
 
gg , THE CHRISTtAN'S eONSO-LATlON. 
 
 , li^oald tlje christian i feaider know the tendency »f 
 this discourse? Since death is certftinand ini^^it^ble there 
 is nothing more uncertain than the h^iBr of its aajpfval, we 
 should live as if we expected to die every moment; hav- 
 ij|g oui" souls always, upon our lips, ready to resign them 
 into jthe hands of our creator; of, to speak with holy 
 Job, Having our flesh in 0i](r tefitk^ anjd o%r life in owr, 
 hands, chap. xiii. 14. Since we knof' not at what age, 
 at what time, nor in what plg;ce,.dejtth will come upon 
 ns^j^let us look foi' him every where, and at all seasons. 
 Siiee we are in this house of clay fot no certain term, 
 leit us be ready to depart at the fest warning; for it is 
 better to go oat cheerfully, than to be draped out against 
 our will. We should, not let death cafipy us away, in 
 the same manner as the sea tosses and drives before it a 
 dead^earcase; but we should imitate Itbe discreet {lilot, 
 who trims his sails^ and assists,, the wind and tide with 
 the best of his skill. We should not follow deaths as 
 the criminal follows the executioner who leads him to 
 punishment, but as the child follows the fat^ei? wlio con- 
 ducts hiiA to a feast. We should not encounter with 
 death by constraint,, as the ancietnt slavl^oiight witk 
 wild beasts in the Roii^n amphi-theatres; btit we should 
 imitate David's , courage, who issued forth, of his owa 
 accord, from the qamp of Israd, to fi^t with Goliah.— - 
 In short, it is better foe» us to attack and seize apoOt. 
 death, than to he seized and swallowed up by it. 0, 
 
 Come, then, when thou wilt, O Deiith! thou shat^^ 
 never surprise me; for I wait for thee, at all hours, witl^ 
 my weapons in my Imnd* Thou shalt not dfag me away;; 
 by force; for' I vy:ill go willingly, and cheerfully with ; 
 thee; and *thoa though art mine enemy, yet will 1 not 
 scruple to say tb thee^ in the language of the spbtise to 
 
Tiffi CHRISTlX]?if'S CONSOLATION. w 
 
 . ^' 
 
 ber well-beloved. Draw irie, altid I will run after thee 
 
 'Catit.i. 4. Nay, I will meet thee in the way, andreceivj 
 
 thee with open arms. Instead of dreading thy coming 
 
 I hope and wish for thee: for at thy .first arrival, ai 
 
 soon as I have seen thee, 1 shall overcome thee. C 
 
 happy day! that promiseth me snch a gldiic>,as victory 
 
 silch an eternal h-iumph! 
 
 PRAYEK AND MEDITATIOJf. 
 
 Xfpon the Uncertainty of the Time of our Beatlu 
 
 O GOD! in whose power are all times and seasons 
 1 know thai it is appointed iinto all men once to die, ant 
 ;that the grave is the, house >yhi^ thou .b^'St prepared ti 
 :»eceive all mankind. The experience of all ages teacb 
 es us, that there is no one able to say, 1 shall live for 
 eveV) and shall not see death. Tfiou, O my God, whi 
 art,t1gte living God, and the sovereign judge of all i\v 
 world, hast pronounced our irrevocable sente|ice in tin 
 earthly pai-adisej insomuch, that I mnst l)e the hiqs 
 senseless of all men, if I did not firmly beliav^^hat 
 shall die as others, -and that I roust go in my tufn, thi 
 way of aJl flesb. But, O Lord, thou hast been plea 
 sed to hide from us the «acred counsels of thine adora 
 ble providence, and hast not set before our eyes th( 
 band.'that points to the last hours of gur lif<|. There h 
 no shadotW by which we can perceive with certainty tb( 
 going dow« of our sun. t We know not at wiat hour o 
 the day, or nigbt, thou v^il!; summon us'fCo»appe^ 
 before thy tribunal. Grant me therefore, O God o 
 mercies, to be always ready ^ answer to thy call 
 and obey thy holy pleasure. La|m*be like a ship a 
 anchor, which only waits for a Wind to set sail; or like 
 a soldier, who only expects the call of the trumpet t( 
 march out to the battle. O that I may imitate the good 
 smd faithful servant who watches* for the coming of his 
 
 N 
 
qp t»E CHRISTIAN'S CONSOLATION- 
 
 Lord, and hears when he knocks at the gatpfanj^ 
 be like the wise virginiSy who are ready to ,mpet tht 
 i>ridegroom, and to follow him into the marriage-chao^r 
 ber. As I know not at, Wliat age, at what time, nor in 
 nvbat place, death will present itself before me, grani 
 that I may expect it ^4 every age, at all times, and in 
 every plac% that I may liveas if I looked to die every 
 molntsratj that my soul may be upon my lips,, and that J 
 may be always ready to resign it into thy hands; O my 
 Grod, who art the faithful creator thereof. Thus pre- 
 pared by thy grace and mercy, whenever death comes 
 upon me, I shall receive it with joy, as thy messenger, 
 and follow it with cheerfulness, being assured It will 
 guide me into the light of life, anfl bring me into the 
 everlasting palace of thy glofy. JLmen. 
 
 PRAYEIl#AND MEDITATION. 
 
 ¥oi' those that are young. 
 
 O ©GD,, the inexhaustible fountain of light and life, 
 which eMightenftth every man that cometh into the world, 
 Jn theeJ^ live, move, and have my being. Thou, Lortl, 
 hast f^pEned and fashioned my body with thy hands, and 
 hast bteatbed into it an immortal soul, created in thine 
 ioiage, and after thy likeness. Thou hast not only given 
 mft' life, but thou hast continually watched over it 
 to preserve me from all, the dangers to which my frail 
 and miserable nature is exposed. Whatever liealth and 
 strength 1 enjoy, if thou withdrawest thy mercy and 
 cprotection,*which uphold me, 1 shall immediately sii^k 
 down, and return to the original dust from whence thotf 
 wast pleased to call me. O Lord since my life is from 
 thee, graciously grant, that I may live only for thee; 
 and that a,ll min&l ilbtqps may tend to ithy honour and 
 glory; that I may joyfully dedicate to llieethfe first-fruits 
 of my life, and the flower of my age; that I: may re^ 
 member my creator in the days of my youth; and that 
 I may refrain from vice, before the fevit days come, in 
 
THS CHRlSTUiSI'S CONSOLATJON. gii 
 
 •which I shall say, I have no pleasure in them. Fa! 
 ther of mercies, blot out all the sins, and support rat 
 under all the infirmities of this dangerous and unstabh 
 st%e of my life. Stop all the irregular motions ant 
 transports^ of my youthful blood, arid subdue unto thy 
 self this miserable flesh that rebels against its maker 
 If neither the reverence due to thy holy laws, nor tin 
 dread of thy all-seeing eye, be sufficient to deter m( 
 from evil, and incline me to that which is good, gran 
 I beseecii thee, that I may always rjsmeriiber that deatl 
 is unavoidable, and that perhaps, it is already in mj 
 bosom; and that I may always think I hear the voic( 
 from heaven, which calls nje to appear in judgment be 
 fore thee, the sovereign judge of the world, before whon 
 our most Secret thoughts are not hid. Let not mj 
 yoath, and the vigorous health 1 feErjoy, betray me t( 
 fancy myself secure against the darts of death; but le 
 me remember that the tower is shorter lived than thi 
 fruit, and that a young plant is sooner pulled up thar 
 kh aged tree. Let me place before my eyes the vas 
 Humbers of children and young persons who are biiriet 
 every day, and how few live to be old; and let me ne 
 ver forget, that the blessed Jesus, who died for us, ant 
 who is enteretl as our fore-runner, into thy Paradise 
 died in the flower of his age. O God, wean my liear 
 and my affections from this world, from all its faithfu 
 pleasures, and deceitful vanities. Grant me thy grace, 
 that I may place all my joys and felicity in thee; 
 that I may not flatter myself witli the foolish notion tJ 
 having years of tlelight to come; but that I may always 
 bfear in mind, that there is no season of life exempt frort 
 itsevih, its cares; crosses and troi'ihlos. Tb6 green frui 
 hath Its grubs that devt)ur it, as well as the ripest; anr 
 the jrouDg bud upon a rose-tree hath its thorns, as wel 
 as tte rose that is 'full blown, or that vi^ho'se leaves fal 
 off th!*6ugh £lge. I'he longer 1 live in this raiserabh 
 and cdrrupt Wotlii the more evil I 'sluill, see, ant 
 the more sortow I shall feel; the more. I shall polluti 
 my soul, and offend my Gtid. Lord, I stall havi 
 lived long enough, when I shall have leai'ned to livi 
 well, and am prepareil to die. A^nd I lriio*w that I shal 
 
±m THE CHRISTIAN'S CONSOLATION. 
 
 possess these tokens of tby favoiii", if I make tijy sacrett 
 word my guide, and tUy holy spirit sanctifies it unto 
 me, O Lord, that I may find thy yoke easy, and thy 
 bui'den light. O gracious,.God, if thon prolongest tiiy 
 days, multiply in me the I'ich abnndancetff thy grace, 
 and inflame my heart with thy love. But if thou seest 
 good to cut short the. thread cif my life, O g'rant that I 
 may not be so much mine own enemy, as to afflict my- 
 self because, thou art pleased to remove me betimes to 
 a happy immortality', to shorten ray labours, put an end 
 to the cruel war of my passions, ami to crown ni« in the 
 middle of my course. 1 shall have glory andcomfoEt 
 enough, provided thou givest me strength sufflelbnt to 
 subdue sin, to overcome death and to triumph over all 
 the enemiesof my salvation. Grant tliat I may never be 
 so senseless as to regjet a transitory moment; seeing thoa 
 hast promised me an eternity in which there i*no va- 
 riation nor shadow of change; and that thou wilt give 
 in heaven a youth that blooms with everlasting joys.— t 
 O my God, 1 am ready to glorify thee, either by my 
 life or by my death, since thy holy son Jesus is gain ta 
 me, whether Ihve o^e whether I die. »lmen. 
 
 PRAYEE AND MEDITATION 
 
 For such as are in Tears. ] 
 
 GOD, the ancient of d^ys, the; Father of eternity, 
 fhou Avillest, that at all times, and in every season of lifsy 
 thy children should be prepared to die. How much 
 more ought I to prepare myself, O Lord, who am full 
 of days^ and have already one foot in the grave? Grant, 
 I beseech thee, that as my outward riian visibly decajp^ 
 my inward man may be renewed day by day; that tMs 
 infirm body, that bows towards the earth, may teach me 
 to lift up my thoughts to heaven; that the furrows on my 
 brow, an^ the \i;riHkles in my skin, inay be a means to 
 efface th,e sins of my soul, and free my heart horn all its 
 fi^ars and anxieties; that though my knees tcepible, and 
 
CHRISTIAN'S^ CONSOLATION. i0i 
 
 flay hair is become white through age.j my faith may Ue 
 strong, and my hopesstill vigorous, and blooming; and let 
 death, which threatens me every moment, teach me to 
 lay hold on the Prince of Life. O Lord God of heaven 
 and earth! thou seest liiy poor and wretche'd estate- 1 
 beiginto be a burden to myself, and useless to others, — 
 My soul is weary of. living, and tired out with the weak- 
 ness that oppresses me: for ray body is become as it 
 were, the grave of my soul, and I do not so properly live^ 
 as die daily. My Creator, a,nd my God! thy providence 
 watched over me before I was born; and from the womb 
 of my mother thou hast been my strong God. Thou 
 hath blessed, God of mercies, mine infancy, and hast 
 crowned all my years with thy paternal favour, and lov- 
 ing kindness. O Jftave me not in my weak and, helpless 
 age! My vigour decays; be thou the rock of my heart,, 
 and the strength of my life. My years are carried away 
 as with a flood; and I am n6w no more than the sha- 
 dow of a shadow that declined.. Yet thou, art the, 
 same for ever, and thy years shall have no end. As thy 
 existence is without beginning, so it is without end. — 
 Renew my youth like that of the eagle; reanimate and 
 warm this cold and dead clod: and oh! above all things,, 
 reach me thine hand from on high^ Take me from this 
 house, which is all rotten with age, and rafse me up ta 
 thy new Jer&salem. I have no linger any taste for the 
 meat and drink of this world; U is time that thoh satisfy 
 me with the delights of thy holy table, and that I, drink 
 of the new wine of thy kingdom, i am already, as it 
 were, out of the world; and my life holds but by a slen- 
 der thread. Lord, now let thy servant (thine handmaid) 
 depart in peace, according to thy word; for mine eyes 
 have seen thy salvation, ^men. 
 
103 THE CHRISTIAN'S CONS0LATIol# 
 
 CHAPTER 1^^ ; 
 
 Wie third remedy- against the Fear of Death is, to con- 
 : sfder that God hath ordained the time and manner ef 
 our death. 
 
 W: 
 
 E are either livpocrites, leho draw vigh, nnto God 
 ivith our mouths, and htmour him with Our lips, while 
 our heart is far from Mm, Matth. xv. 8;' or we must 
 desire the accomplishment of the will of (Jbd, and re- 
 sign ourselves to it without murmuriug; . for every day 
 we say unto him in our prayers, Thy will be done in 
 e&rtk as it is in heaven, Matth. vi. 10. Wherlce it 
 follows/ ihat We cannot have death in athOrrenieej nor 
 fly from it in a cowardly manner, if we are firmly per- 
 suaded, as we ought to be, that God has appointed the 
 titnej and oi'dainfSd the filaaner at iiui death. In triilh, 
 odr complaints of death are getierally occasioned by our 
 having our eyes too much fixed below, and by the top 
 gre3,t deference we pay to Second causes. We are like 
 a flog that bites the stone that l#ildii him; for \^6 curse 
 the meand which God etaplb^s to remove us from the, 
 wbi^d. 
 
 Now, it is easy to show, that God hath numbered 
 otir daysj and that, in the eternal counsel of His a#o-' 
 rable wisdom, he hath decreed the hour and moment ot 
 evety man's death. For, besides what our Saviour Je- 
 sus Christ saith in general, 2Viat God hath put in his' 
 town pote&r the times and the seasons. Acts i. 7- Job 
 expressly tells us, The days qf man are determined^ the 
 niemher of his monies arAvith iheej thou hast appoint- 
 ed his bounds that he cannot pass. Job xiv. 5. The 
 
THE CHRISTIAN'S CONSOLATION. 10 
 
 B-oyal Prophet speaks to the same purppse ia the 31g 
 ]*sahTi, I trusted in thee, O Lord: 1 said, Thou art ni 
 ,0od. My times are in thy hand, ver. 14, id. He ex 
 presses himself to the same sense ia psalm xxxix. Be 
 hold, thou hast made my days as an hand-breadth, vei 
 5; and in psalm Ixviii. Unto God the Lord belong th 
 issues from death, ver. 20. The Prophet Moses like 
 wise teaches us the same Jes^n, in his divine song 
 where he represents to us, that it is God who reduce 
 man to ashes, and maketh him return to his first ol'igi 
 nal: Thouturnest man to destruction; and sayest, Re 
 turn, ye children ef ??ieK, Psal. xc. 3. 
 
 King Hezekiah's comparison is vei:y remarkable. H 
 compares the life of man to a piece of cloth, which Go( 
 hath weaved, and cuts off at his pleasure, Mine age i 
 departed^ and is removed from me as a shepherd' stent 
 I have cut off like a weaver my life-- he will cut me qj 
 ivith pmin'g sickness: fi'om day even till night wilt tho\ 
 make an end of me. Is. xxxviii. 13. Hannah, the mo 
 thei? of the Prophet Samuel, leaves no room for g^ doubt 
 The Lord killeth and maketh alive, he bringeth down t 
 the grave, and bringeth up, 1 Saip. ii. 6. And notbini 
 can be more express to our purpose than these words o 
 our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, lam alive for ever 
 more, and have the keys of hell, and of death, Rev. i 
 18. This great Lord and Saviour shatteth theiigates o 
 the grave when he wteasiBth.; and it is not possible t( 
 open them against his will. In short, whether we Wbe 
 we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we dieiinii 
 the Lord: whether we live, therefore, or die, we are th 
 Lord's, Mom. xiv. 8. 
 
 Reason also, enlighlened by revelation, teaches*'ui 
 the same good and salutary lesson: fw if God presides 
 
104 THE CHRISTIAN'S CONSOLATION. 
 
 over the conception and birth of man, and appoints th© 
 i^e t)f our entrance into the world, why should he not 
 also preside over our deaih, and point out the time of 
 our departure? The Eoyal Prophet speaks thus to Gpds^ 
 My substeMce was not hid from thee when I teas made:^ 
 in secret: and curiously wrtrnght in the lowest parts- of 
 the earth. Thine eyes did see my substance yet being 
 imperfect, and in thy bgok all my members were writr 
 ten, which in coutvnuav^e were fashioned, when as yet 
 tImVB, was none of them, Psal. cxxxix. 15, IG. But, in 
 Kty oiMnioa, we may say to him, in much stronger terms, 
 lljihe scattering of my bones shall flot he hid from thee, 
 when this miserable body shall fall in pieces, as rotten 
 wood, or a moth-eaten garment; thine eyes shall see me, 
 when death shall cutoflF the thread of my life^ and separate 
 wbat.thou hast joined together with such admirable wis- 
 dom; thy providence sliall watch o\'er my last moments; 
 and nothing shall happen unto me, but what thou hast 
 ordained, from the beginning, in tliy seciret-Geimsel. 
 
 If Grod (decrees the time of our resurrection, and if 
 witHont his express command, Ms spirit will not breathe 
 upon our dry bones, p^^ cause them to live, Ezek. xxxvii. 
 is it in the least probable, that our breath should depart 
 from our nostrils, and that ou? body should fall into the 
 bed of corruption, without the express order of the great 
 and living God? He who hath appointed their course 
 to the sun, moon and stars, that shine iu the firmament, 
 hath he not alsio appoiriied his cjiildven their . course,; 
 who are to shine foi'eyejr before him, as bright stars, in 
 Ithe new heayens, where rigliteousness does forever 
 dwell? He who hoith measured the waters in the hollow 
 of his hand, andmeted out heaven with a span; who hath 
 imighed the mountain^ in scales, and the hills in a ba- 
 
TBtE CmWSTIAN'S CONSOLATION. iflg 
 
 imcef Is. xl. 12; wJw hath stretehed out the earth with 
 a pittmmet, and set bounds to the sea,*" bath he not also 
 meted out to us the measure of our life, and marked its 
 last period with his finger? He who hath numbered the 
 kingdoms of Heathen princes,' hath he not also number- 
 ■ed the days in which he will please to reign here below 
 in ou^; hearts by his Holy Spirit? And hath he not ap- 
 poinPd the time whein we shall ascend np to the heaven 
 ■of heavens, to reign in the 'kingdom ef his dory? 
 
 If God numbers 'Me'^ hairs of our head, how mach 
 inore will he number the days of our life; and if a s/jar*- 
 row fulls not to the ground without his 'permission, 
 Matth. X. 39, 30, how is it possible that a soul should 
 take its flight to heaven without Ms order? He who put- 
 teih our tears in Ms bottle^ Psal. liv. S, who writeth 
 our afQictioiis in his book, and keepeth an account of all 
 our sorrows, shall he not also keep an account of the 
 life and deatii of men? and hath he not writ ia his 
 book the days which we are to spend in this vale of 
 tears? He who knoweth thy down-sitting and thy up- 
 rising, who compaaeth thyf path amd thy lying down, 
 Psal. cxxxixl 2, "S, hath he not algo observed thy ris- 
 ing at thy birth, the way af thy life, and thy lying 
 tlown at thy death? 
 
 In short, if if is true, that God, in his infinite wis- 
 tlom, hath ordained how long this world shall continue, 
 ■it is no less certain, that he hath also prescribed bounds 
 and limits to the life of man, who is the little world, 
 and a compendiam of the great one. • 
 
 As our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ teaches us, 
 that no man Jby iaking thought can add one cubit unto 
 his statureM&iih. vi. 37: so we find by experience, that 
 all our care and industry never wiU be able to add OAie 
 
 O 
 
406 THE CHRISTIAN'S CONSOLATION. 
 
 year, no, not one dayj nor even so much as a sifigle 
 toonient, to the duration of oar life. 
 , : If life and death were not in the hand of God, there 
 wotild lie 'nothing settled or constant, either in the king- 
 dom of the earth, or-in the Church of Christ'. The 
 ftrophets Would be often convicted df grievous errors; 
 and elections from eternity would, in a manner, bejtotallj 
 abolished; for the most weighty affairs of kingd|R de- 
 pend upon the lives of their princes; and the death 61 
 one man is sufficient to overturn an empire or to change 
 entirely the face of affairs. If Alexander thfe Greal 
 had been destroyed in his cradle, what would have be- 
 come of the prophecy of Daniel, who represents to us 
 the glorious victories this prince should obtain over Da- 
 rius King of the Medes and Persians, by the emblem 
 of an he-goat that runs against a ram in the fury e^ 
 his power, breaks his two horns, and stamps upon him 
 with his feet? Dan. viii. 7* And if Cyrus had died 
 before he had made himself master of the kingdom ol 
 Babylon, how would Isaiah's prophecy have been ac- 
 complished, who not only points out this young con- 
 queror in the most Jively Colours, but also calls him ex- 
 jpressly By his name, and engraves these words of him 
 in the eyes of the sun, an hundred and fourscore years 
 before he was born: I have said of Cyrus, fhe is my 
 shepherd, and shall perform all my pleasure, even say^ 
 ingto Jerusalem, Thou, shalt he built i and to the tem- 
 ^e, Thy fOuiidation shall be laidP Is. xliv. 28. 
 
 Had the devil had power to have taken away St. 
 PauPs life before his journey to Dama^eus^ on which 
 be was converted by a glorious miracle. Acts, ix, how 
 could the decrees of God have been fulfilled, whasepa- 
 fatedhimfrotn Ms tnothetfs womb, Gal. i. IS; to inakc; 
 
THIE CHRIST! Al^'S CONSOLATION. IQJ 
 
 him & chosen vessel, and a faithful ambassador of his 
 Son? Had the good thief never seen the light, or had 
 h&been killed upon any of his robberies, how could he 
 have been converted upon the cross, where he repented 
 of his crimes? or how could he have heard, just befqre 
 he expired, these words of eternal comfort from . th^ 
 mouth of our blessed Saviour, Verily, I say unto thee, 
 To-day thoushaltbe with me in Paradise! Lukesxiii.|!3. 
 
 The very Heathens themselves perceived some ray of 
 this divine truth; but they have overcast it by their im- 
 pertinent and ridiculous fables. For their poets feign, 
 that there are three fates or goddesses; one of which 
 spins, another winds, and the third cuts off tlie thread 
 ©f every man^s life. -By these gross images, they endeav- 
 our to teach us,' that only God lengthens or shortens man's ^ 
 life at his pleasure. 
 
 As it is certain, therefore, that God hath numbered 
 and set bound to our days; so it is as certain, that he hath 
 appointed, in liis infinite wisdom, the means that shall 
 convey us out of the world. If one dies in peace, and 
 another is slain in war; if one expires in his bed, and 
 another on the scaffold; if one perish by famine, and an- 
 other is cut off by the pestilence; if, one is struck with 
 :^ander, and another torn to pieces by wild beasts; 
 if one is diowned in wa,ter, and another consumed 
 with fire; in short, whatever way the separation of 
 the soul and body is effected, it is not without the ex- 
 press leave of our heavenly fathet. Therefore, when 
 we see the strangest accidents come to pass, and the 
 most unexpected and tragic deaths before our eyes, we 
 should call to mind the saying of the prophet Jcreniiah, 
 when he beheld the pluadering and burning of Jerusa- 
 lem, Who is he that saith, and it cometh to fass. 
 
tHE CHRISTIAN'S CONSOLATION. 
 
 whentheLpr^cammmdBthitnotP.Qut of the moi^ 
 of the' Most High proceedeth not evil and good. Lam. iii. 
 &7, 38, We ipust remember, with Isaiah, That it is 
 God that forms the light, and creates darJcness; that 
 makes peace, and ereatm evil, ch. xlv. 7j aad this ex- 
 clamatiouof the Prophet Amos sheuklecho to the. very 
 bottom of our h^kvi^, Shall therebe evil in a city and the 
 Lord hath not done itP ch. iii. B; that is to say, shall 
 there be any kind of afi^iction or' death in that .place, 
 which God hath not ordained, and directed by his wise 
 providence? If the devil could not destroy Job's flock 
 of sheep, Job. i.^ nor harry headlong into the sea 
 the herd of swine, with hiS' leave who holds.; him 
 fast in chains, Matth. viii. 3S; let us persuade ourselveS) 
 that all the powers of hell and Jhe world cannot' cause 
 us to die by a violent death, if Grodhathnpt so appoin- 
 ted in the counsel of his wisdom. So that if at any 
 time a prince or magistrate should say to us, in Pilate's 
 language, Knowest thou not, that T have power to cru- 
 cify thee, and have a,p»wer to release tliec? John xix. 
 10. being armed with a holy confidence, let us answer 
 him with our Saviour, Thou couldest have no power 
 at all against me, except it were given the from above. 
 Withiout the permission and will of Go«l thou canst not 
 take from me a hair of, toy head. . 
 
 We read in the book of Judges, that when Abimelech 
 assaulted the tower of Thebez, intended to take it by 
 storm, a woman cast from the tower a piece of a mill- 
 stone, that fell upon his head, and broke his skull, Judg. 
 ix. If we look fa,rther than second causes this acci- 
 dent appears, altogether fortuitous*, and the chaiice of 
 war; but we must lifttiip our gyes to the Almighty hand 
 of an all-seeing power, far more skillful than this poor 
 
THE CHRISTIAN'S CONSOLATION. 109 
 
 woman: for the same history tells us, that by this means 
 God, accomplished Jotbam's prophecy, And rendered 
 the wickedness of Abimelech, which he did unto his fa- 
 ther, in slaying his severity brethren. ''^'^■ 
 
 Abab, king of Israel, bad disguised himself to fight 
 against the Syrians: a soldier of the enemy'a army draws 
 his bow at ventare, and smote him between the joints 
 of the harness, of which wound he died, and the. dogs 
 licked uf> the blood that run from his wound, 1 Kings 
 xvii. A carnal and worldly mind would say, upon 
 this occasion, that it was only an accident of war; but 
 the SpiritiOf God tells us, that this happened to fulfill 
 the prophecy of Elijah, and the dreadful threatnings 
 which he had pronounced against the wicked prince, 
 wbo>by tyrannical and devilish means, had invaded the 
 possession of. another; Thus saith the Lord, in the place 
 where the dogs licked the blood of Naboth, sb^l dogs 
 lick thy blood, even thine, ch. xxi. 19. ^ 
 
 When we consider the tragical death of Josiah king 
 of Judah, it seems at first view to be altogether owing 
 to the boiling heat of youth, which carried him contrary 
 to all the maxims of prudence, obstinately to fight against 
 Pharaoh Necho, king of Egypt, or to the strength and 
 and swiftness^f his enemies, according to the complaint' 
 of the prophet Jeremiah, Our persecutors are swifter 
 than the eagles of the heaven; they pursued us upon the 
 mountains, they laid wait for us in the wilderness. The 
 breath of our nostrils, the anointed of the Lord was ta- 
 ken in thfiirpits,. of whom we said, Under his shadow 
 we shall live among the heathen. Lament, iv. 19, SO.— -* 
 But to understand the truth, we must enter farther into 
 the sanctuary, and adore the wisdom of God's decree, 
 who, before, he poured down his jast vengeance, and 
 
1| THE C HRISTIAN'S CONSOLATION. 
 
 punished the people of Israel for the m^ny idolatries, 
 and enormous criroes, with which they had poUutetl 
 themselves, would take this good and rej^gious prince 
 into his eternal rest, and give him a richer and more no- 
 blfc crown than he wore upon xsarth, fulfilling, by ttus 
 means, the promise which he had iW%de.'Jiim by the pro- 
 phetess Huldah: Behold therefore, I will gather thee 
 unto thy fathers, and thou shalt be gathered into thy 
 grave in peace: and thine eyes shall not see alltke evit 
 which I will bring upon this place, S Kings xxii. SO. 
 
 When we meditate upon the death and passion of 
 lesus Christ, it seems at first siglit altogether charge- 
 able upon the envy of the Pharisees, the treachery of 
 Judas, the mutiny, of the people, the injustice of Pilate, 
 the* scoffs of Herod, and the cruelty of the Roman sol- 
 diers. But the holy apostles, Peter and John, to whom 
 our blamed Saviour had revealed the choicest secrets, of 
 his ki^^om, consider these wicked agei^jts, as no other 
 than the instruments which God made use of to bring 
 about the great work of redemption; for thus they speak 
 of it in the fourth chapter of the Acts, Against thy holy 
 child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, hath Herod and 
 Fontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Is- 
 rael, were gather-ed together for to do jehatsoeise^,thy 
 hand and thy counsel determined before to he done, yet. 
 37, 28. 
 
 If a man kills his friend ignorantly, and without de- 
 sign, for example, if he goes with him into a wood: to 
 hew timberf and his hamd fetcheth a stroke with the ax 
 ' to cut down the trep, and the head slippeth from the 
 helve, and ligtheth upon his neighbour that he die, Heat. 
 xix, 3. Nbthiug can be imagined more accidenta/l, if we 
 look no further than second causes. But God has for^ 
 
THE CHRISTIAN'S CONSOLATION. ill 
 
 mally declared, Tfiatitis he Jiimselfthat idiver$ such an 
 oneintothe hand of him that slayshimthus inadvertently. 
 J&xod. xxi. 13; and therefore, to secure the innocent 
 authors of such murders, God, appointed cities of refUge 
 for them to fly to,' Num. xxxv. Josh. xx. 
 
 As, when our houi" is come, all the riches m the world 
 cannot pay our ransom, nor all the wisdom of counsels, 
 nor the strength of kingdoms, protect us from the pow- 
 er of death;, so, on the conffiry, when it pleaseth God 
 to preserve our lives, all the subtility aind artifice of the 
 devil, all the power and malice of the world, cannot 
 take them from us. 
 
 !Esau, inflamed with hatred, and thirsting after re-/ 
 venge, forms a resolution to slay his brother; and in 
 seems to have been on purpose to perpetrate this horridi 
 fratricide, that he went to meet him with four hundred 
 men; but God, who holds in his hand the hearts of all 
 men, who turns the stony rocks into fountiiins of water, 
 and the flints into rivers of oil, forced out of this har-, 
 dened heart tears of love and compassion. Elsau, inJ 
 stead of drawing his sword against his brother, embra- 
 ced him in the most tender mannetj, fell ypon hit neck, 
 kissed and Ivept' over him. Gen. xxxiii. 
 
 Jacob's sons had wickedly conspired the death of 
 their brother Joseph, and were ready to imbrue their 
 hands in the blood of this innocent lamb; but by a se- 
 cret and admirable provid^3|)6e, God put a stop to their 
 hellish design. This sovereign Lord of the universe^ 
 who by his infinite wisdoln, draws light out of darkness, 
 made use of the most inveterate malice that could enter 
 into the hearts of men> to acGomplish his good, purpose, 
 and to raise his servant to that height of glory and hon- 
 our ^hicb he had prepared for him. These inhuman 
 
113 THE CHRISTIAN'S CONSOLATION. 
 
 soulsj^full of a jdiabolical lenvy, had cdmbided together 
 agfiinst this pious and just person, to hijjder the fulfil-' 
 ling his miraculous dreams; but quite contirary to their 
 intention, they njade way for the accomplishnient of those 
 tilings which God had revealed to his prophet. There- 
 fore, when his brethren were afraid leSt h6 should re- 
 venge himself upon tjiem, when he had the power in his 
 hand, he said to them with an heart tbe^t overflowed with 
 love and charity, Am I in the place of God? As foi" yoii, 
 ye thought evil against me, but God meant'it unto good, 
 &;c. Gen. 1. i9, ^0. 
 
 David, A man iifter God's own heart, fell into a mul- 
 titude of very gteiat and terrible dangfers; insomuch, that 
 he v^as often brought down to tbe veiy gates of deilb; 
 but God delivered his sotjl from death, his eyes frotti 
 tears, and his feet from falling, Psal. cxvi. 8. ' In the 
 wilderness of Maon, king Saul had compassed him 
 round about on every side, so that there was no help or 
 succour to be Expected from man; but God wrought his 
 deliverance by a wonderful providence: for just as they 
 were going to lay hands on him, a messenger- comes unto 
 Saul, saying, JJast^ thee, arid come; for the Philistines 
 have inyaded the land, 2 Sam. xxiii. 37- Nekher the 
 continual persecutions of this cruel tyrant, nor the for- 
 midable conspiracjr of his unnatural son, nor the revolts 
 and insurrections of the peopley^not all the furious tem- 
 pests raised against him by hell and Ifie world, were 
 able to extinguish his lamp of life. But after he hatf' 
 served his own generation, by the will of God, he fell 
 on sleep. Acts xiii. §6. as a man that lays himself down', 
 and takes his rest sweetly, after a long and painful la* 
 hour. 
 
 Queen Jezebel bore the most bitter hatred to the pfQi- 
 
THE CHRISTIAN'S/ eONSOLATIGN. as 
 
 phet Elijah. She had sworn by her gods, that she would 
 
 put him to death, 1 Kings xix. 2; but God preserved 
 
 him by a miracle frpm the bloody hands of that infeffial 
 
 fupy. Nor was hig providence less miraeiilons in pre- 
 
 ' serving him from famine^ whom he had thus delivered 
 
 from the sword and from violence. Ile^^pmanded the 
 
 ravens to feed him, and to bring him^Had and flesh, 
 
 morning and evening, 1 Kings xvii. or He increased' 
 
 for his sake, the poor widow of Zarephath's cruse of 
 
 oil, and barrel of mcial, ver. 14j and when he fainted 
 
 In tip wilderness, Grod, who is absolute over all his^ 
 
 creatures, sent him meat and drink by -the ministry of 
 
 an afagel, 1 Kings xix. In short, all the storms that 
 
 w^re raised against him by the prince of the power of • 
 
 the air were not able to hurt liim; but when God saw 
 
 ' ' ' . '* 
 
 good to crown his labours hp took him up to heaveri iu 
 
 achariotpf fire,^ 2 Kings ii. 11. . 
 
 The Syrians, being enraged against the prophet Eli- 
 sha, because he disco'vered their most secret counsels, 
 and frustrated a^l their designs, besieged the city of Do- 
 than to seize upon this man o'f God. Mis servant, be- 
 holding the great'host of horses and' chariots which en- 
 eSrapassed that weak city, cried out, Alas, my master, 
 how shall we do! and he answered. Fear not; for they 
 that be with us, are more ihan tliey that be with them; 
 and immediately the eyes of the young man being open- 
 edby the prayer of Elishskj, he saw: and behold the 
 mountain was full of horses, and chariots of lire, which 
 God had sent ftom heaven to giiard his servant the pro- 
 phet, S Kings #1. . . 
 - The Jews (rften conspired against our Lord and Sa- 
 viour Jesus Christ, and attempted to kill him. They 
 even went so far as to take up stones to stowe him, Jokw 
 
 V 
 
414 THE CHRISTfA>I'S CONSOLATION. 
 
 X. 31: and once led him io the brow of an hill, that they . 
 mrght cast him down headlong: but he escaped out of 
 thilii: hands, and passed throngh the midst of them with- 
 out receiving any hurt, Ltike iv. S9; nay, they some- 
 times found it impt^stble to lay so much as a finger 
 lipon him, whm they resolved to seize him. ' The rea- 
 son which th^ferit of God gives us is, because his hour 
 'ivas not yet corae, John vii. 30. ' ♦ 
 
 The high priest and the Sadducees, being inflamed 
 with envy, an hellish fury, laid hands on the apostle^^ 
 and* put them in the common prison; but becaJp the' 
 time of their martyrdom appointed by God was not 
 come, the angel of the Lord by night opened the prison' 
 doorS) and brought them'forth. Acts v. 18,19- > 
 
 When Herod saw that th'e Jews thirsted afte^ the ' 
 blood of these blessed servants of God, and that^they 
 took delight, in their sufferings, he l^eheided St. James, 
 kuA afterwards proceeded to take St. Peter, whom he 
 put in prison, and delivered to four quaternions of sol- 
 diers to keep him, intending after Easter to bring him 
 forth to the people. But the hour was not yet come in 
 which this holy jj,postle was to be crucified for the glory 
 of hiiD who was crucified!' for his salvMon. Therefofte 
 the night before bis intended exeigution, as St. Peter was 
 sleeping between two 'soldiers, boujBd vpith two chains, 
 and the keepers before tlie door, behold a ligfit shined 
 in the prison, and. the angel of the Lord came upon him, 
 and smote him on the side|*and raised him up, saying, 
 Arise up quickly, atod hjis chains fell off from his hands. 
 And jhe alngel said unto him. Gird thyself and bind on 
 thy sandals; ai|4 so he did. Then he saith ui^ta him, 
 fJast thy g^rni^nt about thee, and follow me: and he. 
 went out and followed him, and wist not thatlt was 
 
raE CHRISTIAN'S CONSOLATION. 41® 
 
 Lrue, which was done by thfe angel; but thought he||^w 
 
 I vision! When they were past the first und second ward, 
 tliey came to. the irAin gate, which opened of its own ac 
 :;ord; and they went out, and passed on through one 
 street, and forthwith the angel departed from him. — 
 Then Peter, being come to himself, said, Now I kuovy 
 if a surety that the^Lord hath sent his angel, and hatli 
 delivered me out of the hand of H^rod, and from all the 
 expectations of the people of the Jews,^cts xii. 
 ^4 In short, when the hour is not yet come which God 
 liath marked out with his finger to take unto himself his 
 Faithful servants, there is no miracle so great wliJch he 
 will not work for their sakes; he dries up tlie seas, 
 stops ttie mouths of lions, and denies the fire its natu- 
 ral heat; he preserves them in the midst of floods and 
 lames, in the whales belly,, in the fiery furnace, and in 
 the deepest gulfs. * » 
 
 If we would but examine the4ii^tories;of oui;^forefa- 
 thers, andcatl to mind the things that we liave seen with 
 our eyes, and experienced from our infancy, we sliould 
 find-that the means which God hath ei&plpyed,.and which 
 lie daily employs for our protection and deliveiauce^ are 
 no less wonderful than those of former ages. The Lord's 
 liand is not shortened, Jior his almighty power lesssened; 
 lie hath as much authority as ever over both men and 
 ievils; and his eternal providence is no less watchfuj> 
 than heretofore, for the preservation of such as fear and 
 ivotship him. If the eyes of our soul were as open as 
 those of our body, or if we could but perceive the things 
 hat are df themselves invisible, we should see that Gqd 
 :ontiHU&lly looks upon us with an eye of loye and pa- 
 
 kler of 
 
 iernal g|^e; and that he covers us with Jiis hand, as with 
 
 I buckler of proof, against all the darts of tlje wotld^ 
 
116 THE CHRISTIAISr'S CONSOLATION.^ 
 
 ' - 
 
 if hell. We should see, that we are encorapajsse(5 
 
 wrai a wall of fit% Zech. ii. 5; and thai the atiigels of 
 heaven are eacamped rojind about us, Fsal. xxxiv. 7- 
 We should then, acknowledge, that it is God wMc^ /loZ- 
 ieih OUT soul in life and suffer etJi not oiirfeet to ie mo- 
 Dedl, Psal. Ixvi. 9; and we should ci-y, o«* '^^ith the roy- 
 al Propliet, God, W'Jw is like un^^iee? thou, ichich 
 hast xhewed me great and sore troubles, shalt quiSke^ 
 me again, and slialt bring me up again from the depths 
 of the earth. Thou shaU increase my greatness, and 
 comfort me on every side, Psal. Ixxi. 19, 20, SI. ' 
 
 But notwithstanding this pious and wholesome doc- 
 trine is plainly tauglit in the scriptures, and confirmed 
 by so many rich examples, there are a great many per--,, 
 sons wliQ still object against it, and endeavour to Overr 
 thraw it by a variety i>f arguments. 
 
 In tlie-ifitet place, they observe, that- God promises ta 
 prolong: the days of '*siiph« children as honour their fav 
 thgrs and mothers, Exod. xx. IS. Deut. V. 46; whence; 
 they think it ought to be 'inferred, that our life has no- 
 certain limited tiuje; biit that it is either len^tbeHed' or 
 shortened, according as we obey or disobey the laws of 
 God. But this is easily answered. For if we consult 
 the s^le of the Holy Ghost, in the language in which 
 this was origiH.ally written, we shIiMBdj that the word,; 
 which hath been translated to prolong, Aq&s not always 
 signify to make a thing Icpiger than, iftwas, or"^than it 
 should-be, but simply to; qi^e it of a long continuance. 
 So that God prfliiises not here, that ^h® children who> 
 cbey his sacred laws shall enjoy a longer life tl«in other- 
 wise it ought to be, but on]y that he will grant them the 
 favour, to livelong and happy in this world. "Bite proof 
 of this exposition is as clear as the light of the son from 
 
THE CHRISTIAN'S C(HStSOLATION. HJ 
 
 ft. Paul, wba paraphrases the firsfcommandmentof the 
 jcond table,: ia these words:- CJiUSt^) ehey your pa- 
 ints in the Lord: for this is ri^ht. Honour thy father 
 nd mother, ft^ich is the first cdmmandmeTft leith pro- 
 dsej, that it may be well with thee, and thou mayest 
 »e long on the earth, Eph. vi. 1, 2> 3. And if even 
 lis promise must be oiiderstood with some exception, 
 |z. if God shall judge it expedient for bis glory, and 
 )r the good of bis children. Rr there are a great many 
 ions and obedient children, whom God removes from 
 le. world in the flower of their age, to give them a hap- 
 ier life, which hath no other limits than eternity. 
 In the next pllce| they alledge the remarkable histo- 
 y- of king Uezekiab, unto whom the prophet Isaiah was 
 ent with this message, Set thine liouse in order, for 
 hou shaUdie, and not live, 3 Kings ,xx. 1. neverthe- 
 jss God, being moved to compassion by his prayers 
 ad tears, prolonged his life, and sent back the same 
 lEophet to ! tell him in his name, I will add unto thy da^s 
 If teen years. To this ©bjection I answer,- That, ac- 
 ording to the ordinary course of the world, and the 
 vents of natural causes, Hezekiah was to die of that 
 lisease: for the scripture saith expressly, that HezeM- 
 ih was sick -unto deaths that is to say, that his disease 
 vas mortal m respect of second causes, and the ordina- 
 y course of nature. Therefore, these wordsj Set thine 
 i^use in order,- for thou she^Me, ought to be understood 
 yith this exception, Thou sbalt die unless I deliver thee 
 )y a nj^ir^cle, and if I employ not mind almighty power 
 ;d heal tbee^ and restore thee to thy health. We may 
 ikew|se understand them with this condition, Thou 
 sbalt Mie, unless thou repentest, and turnest unto me 
 ivith prayers and tears, in the same sense that God 
 
118 THE CHRISTIAN'S CONSOLATION. 
 
 caused it to be proelaitncd in the streets of ]^^ne'^s^, 
 Yet forty d&^Sj and JSTimveh shall be overthrown, Jo- 
 nab iii. 4. 
 
 But let no one conclude from hence^ that Hezekiah's 
 repentahcB was'the cause of the lengthening of his days; 
 and that, consequently, it was an accident altogether ca- 
 sual and uncertain. On the contrary, God, who had de-i 
 ereed, in his unsearchable wisdom, that this, wise and 
 religious prince should we so many years beyond tjhe 
 natural disposition of his body, had likewise resolved to 
 draw from his heart sighs and groans, and from his eyes 
 the tears of repentance; for know untd Goi are all Ms 
 works from the beginning of the wMa^Acts xv. 18. 
 'There are others who argue against this opinion still 
 more grossly. If God, say they, hath numbered our 
 days, and set bou^nds to our life, we labour in vain when 
 we take so much pains about the sick, administer rem- 
 edies to them, and pray to God for their recovery. In 
 like manner, such may affirm, thsCtit is in' vain for us to 
 eat or drink; and that it is a foolish care to hinder mad 
 people from casting themselves out of windows, or from 
 shallowing down poisgn; because, let them act as they 
 will, they shall live neithel" a longer nor a shorter time 
 than God has ordained from all eternity. But how- 
 ever plausible this objection may-i-a^ear, it is most ab- 
 surd and ridiculous, and can only proceed from the ex- 
 tremest ignor^tnce, or the most prepense maMce: for it ik 
 self-evident, that when a man proposes , to himself a^y 
 and^ he does not exclude the mean by which he is' ten 
 SLttain it; on the contrary," he pre-supposes them, and 
 connects them tog#herby a necessary succession. ^ 
 
 God had determined, in the counsel of his w^dom, 
 b preserve the patriaisci Japob, and his children, during 
 
THE CHRISTIAN'S CONSOLATION. * Hg 
 
 lie grievous fa,miiie that prevailwd for the space of seven 
 ears^ bat, to accom[^Btliis gracious purpose, he stot 
 oseph into Egypt to gather together a]l the food «f the 
 even years of plenty, Gen. xli. The prophet Ts'aiah had 
 old Hezekiali, from (Jod, that he should live yet fif- . 
 een years: nevertheless he commanded, that they should 
 afce a lump of dried figs, and lay it on the boyl of 
 hat- prince, a Kings xx. 7- It had been revealed to 
 David, that he should reign over the house of Israel; 
 ind .to confirmihis oracle, he had been anointed by the 
 band of thefP^net Samuel, 1 Sam. xvi. 13: but this 
 hinders hini not from seeking, by all possible means, lo 
 preserve himself from Saul's unjust persecution. And 
 when the prophet Nathan assures him, that God will 
 establish his posterity on the throne, and confirm them 
 in it for ever; this puts no stop to his prayers, nor abates 
 the ardour of his devotion; on the contrary, it quickens 
 and inflames it: therefore he thus poureth out his heart 
 to God, O Lord of Hosts, God of Israel, thou hast re- 
 vealed to thy servant, saying, I will build the an house, 
 therefore hath thy servant found in his heart to pray 
 this ifrayer unto thee, &c. 2 Sam. vii. S7. 
 • 0«r Lord Jesus Christ knew* for certain all that 
 ^hduld befall him; nevertheless we find him spending 
 the greatest part of his nights in prayer; and when his* 
 life- was in daMger, he neglected not his lawful and in- 
 iiocent means of preserving it. He said to his Apostles, 
 nWenot two sparrows sold for a farthing? And one of 
 them shall not fall on the ground witKout your Faifier. 
 <Mut the very hairs of your heaXare all numbered, Matth. 
 X. 39, 30. Yet this hinders him n«t from recommen- 
 ding to thefflt this lesson, When they persecute you in 
 ptte city; fie& ye into, another, ver. S3. 
 
taO THE CHRISTIAN'S CONSOLATION. 
 
 God hatl determiaedvto save St. Paul's life, and tlie 
 lives of all those that sailed with him; and this was 
 •evealed to 'the apostle by aa angelfroin heaven; never- 
 ;heless, when he saw the ship -men about to flee out of 
 ;he ship, he said to the centurion, and to all the sol- 
 liers, l£xcept these abide in the ship ye cannot be saved, 
 A-cts. xxvii. 31. In short, the means are subordinate 
 the end, in sach a manner, that to offer to divide 
 ;hem, or to suppose tb«m contrary, is the hight of folly 
 md -extravagance. ^^ j^' 
 
 It is entirely without founi3ation> £wh1Rhey advance 
 igainst this eternal tr«ith in the case of king Asa. They 
 ilSrm, tlisit this prince was reproved for seeking to the. 
 itiysioians in a desperate lllneM. The words of the 
 iacred text is these, ^sa, in the thirty and ninth year 
 if his reign, was diseased in Ms feet, until his disease 
 vas exceeding great: Yet i^ his disease he sought nat 
 the Lord, but to the physicians, 2 Chron. xvi. IS'. 
 The light of the san is not more clear and bVillJant than 
 he meaning of the Holy Spirit, This Prince Is not 
 (lamed because he desired the assistance of physicians 
 mt because he neglected to seek help of God/* and 
 call upon him in the dky of his distress.^ Most 
 iertainly he that is sick may as freely take* phySie,- 
 she that is well may eat arid driinkf bat we must not 
 Jtogether place our confidence m the''^'remedi^s,*but 
 ather in God, who scBfds bpth sickness and health. As 
 nan does not live by br^ad atone, hktby every word thai 
 troceedeth out of the movLth sf G^d, Mj^th. iv. 4i. so 
 t is not by the physic1i!lone that a patient is cured of 
 lis distempeV, but by the blessing and power of him 
 I'ho maketh sore, and bindeth up; who woundeth, jiad 
 as .band miikes whole, Job. v. 18. Therefore as w6 
 
THE, CHRISTIAN'S CONSOI^ATION. 131 
 
 jught aever to eat or Ariak, before we pray to God lo 
 rouchsafe his blessing upon oivr meat ami drink^ and to 
 ;rant them the virtue to .pourish and support us; so we 
 should never take any physic, without first praying to 
 [rod, that he will please t« samctlfy it unto us by his 
 ilessing, and to grant it the power to cure our disease. 
 Every creature of God is good, if it be received wi^ 
 kanksgiving: for it is. stmctifed % the word pf God, 
 m£ prayer, 1 Tim. iv. 4j 5. 
 
 It is worthy our remark here, how much those peo- 
 )le are to blame, who, when they mourn for the loss 
 >f their relations or friends, instead ef looking op to 
 le^ven, look d©wn upon earth, and .confine all their at- 
 ention to natural causes. Instead of adoring with all 
 lumility, the wise providence of God, that presides over 
 ill worldly events, and directs even the minutest cir- , 
 lumstances, they fly into transports of passion^ and mur- 
 nur. They delight not 16 nourish in their minds a dis- 
 pleasure that consumes thera, and are continually break- 
 ng forth into many vain and useless complaints, which 
 mly, serve to open their wounds, to make them bleed 
 ifresh, and to renew all their sorrow. If he had net. 
 leen-in sujph, a place, if he had not been engaged in such 
 I War, if such a physician had jnqt been called, or if an- 
 ttherhad been,sent foi", if this or tbat had not been done, 
 f less blood had beeq. taken froqifalm, or if he had lost 
 iiorej if they had squared liini to, take more nourisli- 
 nent, or if less had been giVen him, my brother or my 
 ister, my clnld, my wife, or my husbagd,.had been still 
 live. It may be, thou g-rt inistaken, my friend, and the 
 lisease could not.be cured by any thing less than a mi- 
 acle; but whep it should be otherwise, wetoug|^t never- 
 lieless to lift up our eyes to heaven, and ;to, Acknowledge 
 
123 ,^;j THE CHRISTIAN'S CONSOLATfQN. 
 
 tjhje fingiBr of God; for ofteBtimes he blinds the phjs|cj- 
 ans, so that they, know dot the nature of thedisteuaper, 
 or he suffers them to apply remedies contrary to the dis- 
 ease. As he breaks the staff of our bread, Levit. xxvi. 
 ;g6; that is to §ay, its h«tritive strength and virtue; so 
 lie likewise takes away his blessing from, the mpst 
 spvereign rem,edies, and renders them altogether useless 
 and ineffec|;ug,l. It is the same with all the other acci- 
 ^dents that befal us, an4 that bring us to our graves. Fpr 
 ■when it pleaseth God to remove any person ojit of the 
 world, he sometimes puffers him to shut his eyes ,tp all 
 the light of reason and prudence,, and to cast himseli 
 headlong into the most forbidding danger. As when he 
 purposed to destroy Absalom, he ca^used him to be led 
 away by evil counsel, and dcjfeated the prudent advice 
 of AJhifqphel, S Sg.m. xyii. 14!.;4; - -** 
 
 Therefoi;e, since God hath appqia%d, even before the 
 creation of man, the time and manner of every , one's 
 deathj at what hour, in what place; or by what means 
 soever, death deprives us of our friejnds, or strikes at 
 'our person, let us always possess our souls with patience, 
 aid pot suffer thp least repining or desponding, ^opd^ to 
 ''proceed out of pur mouths.. ;; ,f 
 
 If it suddenly snatches away f|om thee tl^y ehil<,tep> 
 pr "thy dearest friends,^murmur nSt against it. Remem- 
 ber that it oqly puts in execution the decrees of God^i? 
 eternal will, ahd'thit U Jcara^esJjyithita^Qpim^ 
 ed with a signet of the living God. -A^ore^ ,therefo]^j^ 
 -with all humility, the Sviprem,e:Maj,eSty qf heaven and 
 earth, and saf to him, as Dayft'twith an holy submis- 
 
 ■■.-'^4^ i:,i. ^'^^'^m^m ^'^'' #/■ "^»»^ ■■',,'» •■•^'.■•■^'^ -,- 
 
 sion, 1 was mmb, 1 opened novmy vtouth, because tnou 
 didst It, PsaX. xtxix, 9. 
 I am far ffom d'esiririg thqe to hav^^a heart of flint, 
 
THE CHRISTIAN'S CONSOLATION. 133 
 
 without natural affection. Piety hath nothing harbarous; 
 it deprives us not of our bowels: the tender affection that 
 thou bearest,' thy children can never be displeasing to 
 the Father of merciesj if thou keep it within its proper 
 bounds, and suffer it not to run to excess. It is lawful 
 for thee to sympathize with their griefs, to weep whea 
 they are ill, and to pray to God to restore their health. 
 But when he hath once received them into the rest of his 
 glory, thou must then calm all thy sighs, dry up thy 
 tears, and say, as David did, after the death of his belov- 
 ed child, I shall go to them, but they shall not return 
 to me, S Sam. xii. 33. 
 
 ''; Are they taken from thee by a violent death? Stop^ 
 not thy consideration at the evil blasts that have hurried 
 them away, but lift up thjj mind to the great and mighty 
 God that brlngetb forth these winds out of his treasures; 
 and armed with an holy constancy, say, with the most 
 patient of all men. The Lord gave, and the Iiord hath 
 taken away, Messed be the name of the Lord, Job i. 31. 
 I am only a weak instrument which God hath employ- 
 ed to bring them into the world; but God is their King, 
 their Father, their Creator, and, what is still more, their 
 Saviour and Redeemer. Therefore it is but just and 
 reasonable, that he should dispose, at his pleasure, of 
 his subjects, his children, his workmanship, and those 
 virhom he hath redeemed with his precious blood. 
 
 The master of a family gathers, when he pleases, the 
 floWefs and fruits of his garden; sometimes he cuts off 
 the buds, and sometimes he waits till th^ are full blown; 
 sometimes he gathers the fruit while green, and at other 
 times he lets it hang on till it is ripie. And shall, not 
 God have the same power to dispose, at his will, of all 
 that grows upon his iiiheritance? The master of the fa- 
 
IM' THE CHRISTIAN'S CONSGIiATION. 
 
 Hii0 hatli not cre&ted the trees aad plants tliat are at his 
 cc^tnand; but Crod Ifath made and fasliioued with his 
 
 mhand all his. children, and all the men in the world. 
 )ur flowpfs quickly fade, and pass away, as it were, iu 
 
 Momentj our fruits soon spoil, and grow rotten?, not- 
 withstanding all the pfecaution we use to preserve them;^ 
 but the flowers that God cuts off, or pulls up, he trans- 
 plants into bis heavenly pai-adise, wher« he gives them 
 a perfect and tUvine beauty,. the bloom of whose glory 
 never fades; and the firuits that he gathers, however 
 green they may be, he preserves through all eternity, in 
 unspeakable sweetness. 
 
 Doth death threaten thy person,' when it ha,th thus, 
 deprived thee of thy dearest friends? Be not frighted at 
 its appearance; for it, is not able to anticipate a single 
 moment the hour which God in his wisdom hath appoin- 
 ted. . And when the hour 1^ come, and God shall call 
 to thee from lieaven, kiek not against the pricks, nor 
 stop thy ears at the voice of thy Creator; but say,, with 
 the Krophet Samuel, Speah Lord, for thy servant hean' 
 eth, 1 Sam. iii. 10. Since thy glorious presence goeth 
 with me, J, am ready to depart from this tabernacle, and 
 to leave this wilderness, to enter into the heavenly a,nd 
 happy Canaan, Exod.,xxpii. say with our blessed ^&- 
 y'lonv, -Father, the hour i^. comejig\prify thy Son that 
 thy Son also may glorify thee, Jdhnxvii. 1. 
 
 Hast thou lived a great many years iu the world? 
 Ascribe it not to the constilution of thy body, thy- man- 
 ner of liyingj nor to the skill of thy physicians; but re- 
 member that it is God who hath leflgHhened out thy days, 
 and go and. hu^mbly bow at his feet thy hoary head, 
 which the scripture styles, a crpxcn of glory, IPvov, 
 xvi. 31. 
 
THE CHRISTIAN'S CONSOLATION. fgg 
 
 Art thou threatened with death in the flower of thy 
 jrj^th? Be not afflicted at it, and let not the least word 
 proceed out of thy mouth, bat what is seasoued with the 
 salt of true piety. Hemember that it is God hihiself 
 who thus cuts short the thread of thy life, and puts a 
 period to thy piortal race. Thou hast as much reason 
 to grieve that thou wast born so laie) as that thou di^st 
 so soon. Instead of wasting thyself in useless complaints, 
 and dashing an earthen vessel, newly formed^ agamst 
 the rock of eternity, adore thy Creator, and return him 
 thy htearty thanks, that he is graciously pleased to crown- 
 thee in fhe midst of thy course, and so bountiful as ^o 
 bestow upon ibee, the wages of the whole day, when 
 thou hast laboured but a few hours. He is very merci- 
 ful to thee to transplant thee before thou hast felt tlie heat 
 &f the day, and the scorching of the sun^ It is the gale 
 of his divine favour that drivesvihee thus swiftly Jnto 
 the heaven of salvation. Think not therefore, that God's 
 calling thee away in the bloom of thy youth, is a testi- 
 mony of his displeasure and hatred? for to hasten to make 
 a person happy is no token of ill-will. It may be, that 
 God calls thee because he hath found some good thing 
 in tbee, as in Abijah, the sonof Jeroboam king of Israel, 
 Kings xiv. 13. Because he loves thee tenderly, and 
 thou art greatly in his favoiir, he will remove thee from 
 the approaching evils, as he did Josiah, one of the ho- 
 liest and most religious princes that ever reigned, 2 
 Kings xxii, SO. Because thou walkest before him, and 
 seekest to please him by conforming tFiyself to his.hply 
 will, he will take thee up into his heavenly paradise, as 
 he did Enoch, Gen. v. 34; for fear the temptations of 
 the world should corrupt thy 'godly disposition, and 
 thou shouldst be turned ftom the way of righteousness 
 
136 THE CHRtSTiAN'S CiOlSiSOLATiON. 
 
 ty the vUcked firtifices and suggestions of the enemy of 
 thj; salvation. 
 
 As there are some rich stuffs," \Vhereof the very 
 ashes are precious, and' othiers^ the cinders of which are 
 gf>od for nothing but to he cast awaiy; so there are 
 some precious yhoafy heads, wherfein the rich relicks 
 of righteousness ahodnd; whereas there arei others only 
 fit to show us tlie follies and vanities of iiuman nature. 
 As there are some sort Of Wine, that becomes the bet- 
 ter the oMer it grows, and preserves its goodness down 
 to the very lees; Whereas, there are other wines that 
 soon turn sour, and unfit far use; so liliewisej thei^fe 
 are some men, whom old age makes better and wiser; 
 like those Iildiari trees that yield a precious balsam only 
 when they begin to decline and wither. The old age 
 of such is most honourable, and sends abroad a blessed 
 perfume of piety. But there are others, who grow 
 worse and more corrupt with age, and send forth a most 
 noisome savour; under a white head, they hide a black 
 and most polluted conscience; though their body decays, 
 the vices of their mind grow young again, and engen- 
 der monsters. Instead of weeping for the sins of their 
 youth, they add crime to crime, and become more har- 
 dened in evil; while old age imprints more furrows and 
 wrinkles in their rebellious hearts> than it does upon 
 their foreheads. 
 
 Neither men nor their lives are to be measured by 
 the ell; We must not consider how long, but how wellj: 
 we. have lived, or in what manner we haVe employed 
 the course of this life. For there are some young men 
 who have the wisdom and prudence of old age; and, on 
 the contrary, there are old men who degenerate into in^ 
 fancy, and some who can never properly be said to have 
 
THE CHRISTIAN'S CONSOLATION. 137 
 
 passed that simple age; the flrst are twice children, and 
 the others are always so. Sbine young men have per- 
 formed such worthy deeds, that when we read .their his- 
 tories, one would judge they had lived several ages; 
 whertas there are some old persons, who have no oth- 
 er proof of their having lived a long time in the world, 
 than the church-register, their grey hairs, or the- multi- 
 tude of their scandalous anjd wicked actions. It was 
 this consideration that made the author ofthebookof 
 ■wisdom to say, For the honourable age is not that wliich 
 is of long time, neither that whi^Ji is measured by the 
 ■ number of years; but wisdom, isWie grey hair, and an 
 undejiled life is the old age, Wistl. iv. 8, 9- It is cer- 
 tain he hath lived long enough, who hath learned to 
 live well, and hath prepared himself to die Welh 
 
 What would it profit thee to have a miserable and 
 languishing life lengthened out a few days? Art thou 
 afraid to be happy too soon? And fearest thou to see 
 the end pf thy torment? Where is the traveller that 
 endeavours tojlengthen out a painfnl and dangerous 
 journey? Is the workmen afflicted to have finished be- 
 times his laborious task? Does the soldier murniur when 
 he is relieved from bis watch? Miserable man! what 
 are all th» years after which thou sighest thus in va^n? 
 ier one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and 
 a thousand years as one day, 2 Pet. iii. 8. 
 
 He that sails upon the ^ea admires |ihe vast extettt of 
 its waters, and the variety of its waves, which some- 
 times mouiit up to the clouds, and at other times sink 
 down as it were, into a bottomless abyss. And those 
 who travel by land behold, with astonishment, on one 
 hand deep vallies, and on the other mountains, which 
 |ift their heads into the skies. But if God had taken us 
 
1^8 THte CHRISTIAN'S CONSOLATION. 
 
 up into the palace of his glory, and we should cast 
 oar eye from the high heavec, where he reigns upon" 
 this inferiourj, if not contemptible part of the creation, - 
 both sea a^d land, with all their sM^elling waves, and - 
 most prodigious mountains would seem to us an even 
 plain, or rather they would appear no more than- a sin- 
 gle point. Thus, when \9e compare men one^ with 
 another, we shall find, that some have lived long, and 
 others but a little while; that some are old, others 
 young; but, in respect of God, there is no difference 
 between youth and old age, between a Methuselah, who 
 lived nine hundred sixty and nine years, Gen. v.^7j 
 and a child that hath only jiist seeii the light of the 
 living; forthe life of all men is but a moment in compar- 
 ison to eternity. 
 
 If thou art ready to die, for rightfeousness sake, by a 
 violent death, meditate seriously upon this saying of the 
 Royal Prophet, Precious in the sight of the Lord is the 
 death of his saints, Psal. cxvi. 13. Arm thyself with 
 an holy constancy, and say, with Eli the high- pi'iest,. 
 It is the Lord, let him do what seemeih him good, 1 
 Sam.iii. 48. Imitate the generosity of St. Paul, and 
 engrave in thy heart these divine words, Tlie Holy 
 Ghost witnesseth in every city, saying,- that bonds and 
 afflictions abide me. But none of these things move me, 
 neither count I myself dear , unto myself, so that I 
 might finish my courser with joy, and the minic4ry which 
 I received of thb Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of 
 the grace of God, Acts. xx. 23, §4. Have always in 
 thy mouth, a^id in thy heart, the prayers that our bles- 
 sed Lord and Savioiir offered up to God in his most bit- 
 ter agony, my Father, if it be 'possible, let this cup, 
 pass ftoni me; ket^rtheless, not (is I.wiU, hut as thm 
 
wilt, Matth, itxlv. 39. Cprnfart thyself with .wiedita- 
 ting upoa this divine lesson, He that loveth his life 
 shall lose it, he that hateih Ms life m this woM shall 
 keep it unto life eternal, John xii S3, Almighty God, 
 the enemies of thy glory, and thine heavenly "truth, have 
 •gathered themselves together against the dear children 
 whom thou hast sanctified by the- blood of thine everlas- 
 ting covenant; but they shall do nothing but what thy 
 hand and thy counsel, ?tthy power and thy wisdom, haive 
 determined before to be donej Acts. iv. S8. 
 
 PJtAtjER AND MEDITATION 
 
 "" fJ^^Rhe hour of death. 
 
 O LORD9 who dost govern aM things by thine ad^o- 
 a"able wisdom, and hast reserved the times and seasons 
 in thine own power; thou hast not only written my 
 name in the book of the living, b«tt hast also measured 
 ©ut the length of my life, and afipointed the liour of 
 myideath. Thou hast numbisred my days, aind set m^ 
 boufids which I cannot pass. For thou, O Sovereign 
 Tuler of the uni>lerse, didst point ©at with thy inger, 
 from all eternity, the Mottieat of my entrance into the 
 world, and that of my departure frotn it. This misera- 
 We body is a weak vessel mft^s of earth; Subject to all 
 inanner>,0f infirmities; pevef Unless iticannotbe broken; 
 -ei^ept by those divine hands which formed and fash- 
 iopid it. If a spara-ow cannot fall to the ground with-,, 
 out thy leave, how much l6$t shasll my soul ascend up ' 
 into heaven without thy .cdmil^Rdl My Father and my 
 God) grant, I beseech thee, • that I «iay not be of the 
 number of those whom tbes fear of death snrrounds #itU 
 continual terrojjj'sj but thai I may place all my confide#ee 
 in thee, who dpst kill a«d make alive, irho sendeith 
 4own to ithe grave and raiaett jip agaliHi Let Satan, and 
 i|iiB enemies of thy glpry, lay what snftpes they will fop 
 
130 THE CHRISTIAN'i CC^OLATION. 
 
 jpe, they shall be able to do nothing but what thy h^-nd 
 and thy counsel have before detesrmined from the foun- 
 dation of the world. Without thy holy and divine 
 permission, they are not able to pluck an hair from my 
 head, nor to diminish a luoment of the time I am to 
 live in this mortal flesh. O almighty and most merci- 
 ful God, I recommend to thee my soul, as to my faith- 
 ful creator, and yield it entirely into thy hands. Be- 
 hold lamjeady to accomplish thy will,^ and to obey 
 thep without resistance, whether thou art pleased, that 
 this soul, which thou h<aist created in thine image, aud 
 which is a spark of thy di^jji^y," shall, remain in this 
 body, that 1 may serve thee i^ the .land of the living, 
 or whether tBou wilt take it up into heaven, that it may 
 glorify the^ with thy blessed saints and triumphant; 
 angels. Amen. 
 
 PRAYER AND MEDITAtlON 
 
 On the JUanifier of our Death. 
 
 O GOD, the creator of all flesh, and the Father of 
 all spirits^ I know.that every kind of death of thy saints 
 is precious 'in thy sight; and that, in what manner so- 
 ever 1 happen td die, thou wilt take care of my salva- 
 tion, When I weigh things in'- the balance of my 
 sanctuary, 1 ^nd th^t it matters not whether my spirit 
 issues piit of my lips, or through A poundj sc^it; || 
 enters mio thy glorj to enjoy thipe eternal happiness. 
 What mattwis it, #11^6^ toy lamp goes outpf|ts own 
 accord, or whether it be blown out b^ sqi^e stitfden'blas^ 
 SQ that it be lighted a^ainby the ifiilii'ortal beams^the 
 fiun of'feighteousnes, and shine -for fetter* gloriou^lh 
 the highest heavens? I's'hayll be siltfei^ently happy, 
 by whatefver death I die, if Idie Iji thee, O Eord^an'fl 
 enter into thy rest> to receive the reeompen^ of al| my 
 labours. Ficom the b'^nnffl^* O Xofd, thoji fcnoWest 
 all thy works; at mie v%V^1tou discoverest the-depffis, 
 and seest throu£«an endless efternily. As thou hast* 
 
THE CHRISTIAN'S CONSOLATION. 131 
 
 narked the moment of my death; so thou hast also ap- 
 ointed the rtianner of it. I must therefore, almigh- 
 y aad ever-iiviog God, repose myself upon thine adora- 
 le providence, and rest satisfied with thy uncontroul- 
 bie decrees; l^ut, O my God, and heavenly Father, if 
 lou wilt grant me the liberty, who am but diist and ash- 
 s, 'to Sipisak unto thee, and to pour out the desires of 
 ly heittt before thee, I humbly beseech thee to be so 
 racious as to let me know my end, that I may not be 
 Lirprised by death, like Job^s children: but that thou 
 nit please, of thine infinite mercy, to give me timely 
 otice of my de|^^|^^as thou did to thy servant Hez> 
 kiah. I ask not "the warning of inany years^ but of « 
 jw days, or at least of a few hours, that my soul may 
 ot be disturbed by evil thoughts^ nor aifrighted by the 
 ilse insinuations^ and malicious suggestions of the de- 
 il; but that I may end my days with all peace and tran- 
 uility of mind; that I may always have a right use of 
 ly senses^ of my reason, and understanding, and the 
 ssistance of thy grace, that I may glorify thy holy 
 ame, and edify my neighbours, until the last moment 
 f my life. Let not my soul, therefore, be snatched 
 way by violence, but enable me to render it voluntarily 
 ato thy merciful hands. Amen. 
 
 PRAYER AND MEDITATION 
 
 ^or one that dies in a Foreign Country in the midst 
 of Infidds. 
 
 O MY God and heavenly Father, how full of bit- 
 irness, is this trial! who can ^press the agonies of 
 ly mind^ In the "knom^nt of my greatest distress, my 
 lost urgent iDecegsity, and my. most dangerous conflict, 
 
 see mys^ilf destitute of all human assistance. Here t- 
 m not only at a distanca from my country, and the agree- 
 ble company of my friends", deprived of all those spi- 
 itiial comforts of which I have at present the greatest 
 
iS I'm €HR^TIAN'» CONSOLATIO!*?. 
 
 ftfd, in tins my extremity, bat also to my unspeakaM^ 
 ief, here 1 am in a barbaTOUs nation^ in the power of 
 y most eruel and most irreconcileable enemies. I am 
 it only without any body to administer consolation un- 
 
 me, and to strengthen me in the faith of my blessed 
 iviour Jesus Christ, but every thing round about me 
 Ids to my affliction, and tnereases my sorrows. I am 
 sre among the adversaries of thy Iruth^who labour to 
 ;stroy my interest ja Christ, and to s|iipwreck my soul' 
 
 the very port of eternity. 1 have not wily (leath ta 
 icouflter, but hell itself, and all the fury of the infe?- 
 lI spirits. O alipighty and msost merciful God, suffer 
 e not to lose my courage, and to sink under the pre- 
 nt temi>tation. By thine adorable providence, and out 
 ' thine abundant mercy, supply all m;y wants and in- 
 mities, and grant that 1 may With the shield of faith, 
 lench all the fiery darts of Satan. I am surrounded 
 ith many visible a,nd invi&ible eraenries; but they that 
 e for me are more in number than those that are against 
 e. I am far from my native country; but I am not for 
 lat reason the farther from heaven. Of which all this 
 irth is but the centue. I am at a distance from all my 
 latiyns £iSid friends; but nothi»g can set me at a dis- 
 nce from thee, O Hoi of inercies, who lovest me with 
 1 unchangeable love. 1 am in the embi-aces of my 
 javenly father, and my God. I have no minister to 
 isist me in these ray last foments; but I know, that 
 lou wilt send me thy holy angels, as once ta thy belov- 
 i Son, in his bitter agony. Thou, who art the shep- 
 erd of my soul, wilt administer consolation unto mej 
 ly staff and thy crook shall support me through this 
 alley of the shadow of death. O Lord, thou dost migti- 
 r things, which are not to be searched out, and so ma- 
 y wonders, that it is not gpssible to number them. Thy 
 race is sufficient foj; me, and thy power is made glori- 
 usly manifest in mine infirmities," Xhy Holy Spirit, 
 rho is the true comforter, and the great power of the 
 Llmigbty, shalt comfort me in these mine afflictions, and 
 lake me in all things more than conqueror. Thou art 
 tronger thaii all other beings; so that nothing can' snatch 
 le out of thy hands^ I am certain, that neither diMith, 
 
THf CHRISTIAN'S CONSOLATION. 133 
 
 or life, nor angels, nor- principalities, nor powers, nor 
 lifigs present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, 
 or any creature whatever, can separate me from the 
 )ve which thou hast declared to me in Jesus Ghrisfe my 
 .ord. This precious faith, with which thou hast armed 
 ly soul, shall viinquish the world, triumph over hell, 
 ad destroy death itself. Amen. 
 
 PRAYER AND MEDITATION. 
 
 Upon the' Death of any beloved Person. 
 
 O MY God, I acknowledge, that there is nothing sure 
 ind unchangeable on earth, hut thy holy precious pro- 
 aises; and that therefore we ought to enjoy the things 
 n this, world as if we enjoyed them not. Thou hast 
 Batched from my arms, and plucked from my bosom, 
 he person that was dearest to me, and the most nearly 
 illied to my soul. Thou hast cleft my heart, and torn 
 mt my bowels. Thou hast separated me from myself, 
 io that my life iSi'become a burden unto me. '1 consi- 
 iered this object of mj- love as thy gift from heaven, and 
 I mark of thy favour and liberality; it was my greatest 
 oy, and my sweetest consolation: the day that depriv- 
 sd me of it, overwhelmed me with sorrow, and plunged 
 ne into a sea of bitterness; but that which increases my 
 ;rief, and redoubles all my torment> I am afraid that 
 this stroke is an eflfect of thine anger and just vengeauce- 
 
 Lord my God, I must needs nave offended thee in a 
 aaost grievous manner, seeing thou chastisest me with so 
 much severity, and makcst me feel so sharp an affliction. 
 
 1 am Wworthy of all thy favours, since thiau hast taken 
 from me such a precious jewel, which was shewn to me 
 as lightning, so quickly it passed away. I fear 1 have 
 been wanting in ray duty, and that this deatli that de- 
 stroys me is the effect of my own blindness: methinks 
 1 might have prevented this terrible accident; and that, 
 if 1 had behaved itnyself otherwise than I have done, my 
 
34* THE CHRISTIAN'S CONSOLATION. 
 
 ife had not been enclosed in the grave. God of raef- 
 ies, pardon my excessive sorrow, calm my sighs, and 
 top the current of my tears. Remove from me all these 
 ain« cares that prey upon my heart, and" all these dis- 
 uiets that consume me: deliver my soul from this cruel 
 ick, on which it torments itself, and from these troubles 
 lat are more than the weakness of human nature can 
 ear. Instead of looking at second causes, and the cir- 
 jinstanccs of the death of this beloved person, give me 
 race to remember that the least things, as well as th.e 
 [•eatest, are directed and governed by thy wise provi- 
 nce; and that both good and, evil proceed from thy di- 
 ine appointment. Let me never forget that thou hol- 
 jst in thine alniighty hand the keys of life and death; 
 id that it is thou alone who sehdest down to the grave, 
 id raisest up from thence again. O Sovereign Mon- 
 ■ch of the Universe, thou not only givest the reius to 
 ;ath, but thou likewise governest and appointest all 
 e means by which it removes us from the world. Let 
 e therefore lay my finger upoa my lips, because it is 
 y doing; or, if I open them, let it be to adore thy jus- 
 :e, and shevv forth thy praise. The persnn 1 lament 
 as very near and dear to me, even like another self; 
 it lie (or she;} was also thy creature, thy child, and a 
 ember of the mystical body of thy beloved Son. We 
 slieve, that we have a riglit to dispose of our workman- 
 lip, and that of which we have bbugbt with our mo- 
 sy; and shall not thou, O God, dispose at thy pleasure 
 ' that which thou - hast created after thy likeness, and 
 lught, not with corruptible things, as with gold and 
 Iver, but with the precious blood of the Lamb without 
 lot or blemish? Thou hast an only Son, vvho is the 
 ■ightness of thy glory, and the express image, of thy 
 idhead, whom thou hast not spared for me; and shall 
 Lortl, refuse thee my heart and my bowels? Thy be- 
 ved came down upon the earth to, suffer a most cruel 
 id ignominoijs death upon the cross; but thou has,t ta- 
 ;n up into hekven the person whom my soul loved, to 
 own him (or her) with a glorious and ever-blessed im- 
 ortaiity. Shall his (or her), felicity, therefore, be the 
 use of my affliction? and shall his (or her) rest be the 
 
THE CHRISTIAN'S GONSOLATCON. 133 
 
 subject of my disquiet? It is the property of true love 
 to prefer the happiness of the beloved person to our sa- 
 tisfaction: wherefore our Saviour told his apostles, If 
 ^e loved me, ve would rejoice, because I said, I,s;o unto 
 the Father}, for my Father' is greater than I, John*xiv. 
 38. Between thee, O great and living God, and us mi- 
 serable worms ol^tbe earth, there is an infinite distance; 
 aad all our most chaste and innocent pleasures in this 
 life are no more than a drop of water, that is dried up 
 with the least breath of wind, when compared with that 
 inexhaustible sea of delights which we shall enjoy in 
 thy presence. I weep for him (or her) whose tears thou 
 hast wiped aw^y. 1 put on a mourning habit and wear 
 a black scarf for him, (or her) whom thou hast clothed 
 with robes of joy, and adorned with a scarf more white 
 than snow, and more resplendent than the sun. I de- 
 light in darkness, while he solaces himself at the fountain 
 of light. I seek a solitary and melancholy retreat, while 
 he rejoices amongst the thousands of ans;els, and the 
 glorious company of immortal' spirits. I sigh without 
 ceasing, and he sings a new song, the song of the bles- 
 sed, which is always in his mouth. All hiy complaints 
 and groans cannot bjring him back upon earth; an4 was 
 it possible, it would be unjust to attempt it: such cha- 
 rity would be cruel, such love most barbafons. How 
 could I resolve to make him .leave the heaven of eter- 
 nal felicity, to expose him again to the furious storms of 
 this tempestuous world; to make him descend from the 
 car of triumph, the mjignificent throne, to which thou 
 hast exalted him, to engage him in new conflicts, and 
 load him with new chains? Could I strip him of his 
 robes of light and glory, to cover him with darkness, 
 and clothe him with our infirmities? Could 1 be so in- 
 hunian as to take him from a river of delights, to plunge 
 him in a sea of bitterness? to take from him the bread 
 of thy kingdom, and the fruits of the tree of life, to feed 
 him with the bread of affliction, and the bitter fruits of 
 mortality? Gould 1 have the heart to siiatch him from thy 
 bosom, the breasts of eternal comfort, and the fullness 
 ofjoy which he possesses in thy presence, to fold him 
 >gaia in our helpless arois, to make him suck the ^'enom 
 
136 THE CHRISTIANIS CONSOLATION. 
 
 of our misfortunes, and to overwhelm him with grief 
 an4 uneasiness? In a word^ could I be so senseless as 
 to wish him unbound from the bundle of life, to be the 
 ^port of death? He is passed from death to life, and 
 woifld 1 have him pass back again ifrom life to death? He 
 is passed from misery to- happiness, and would I have 
 him retunn from happiness to misery?. We shall go to 
 him, but he will not come back to us. Therefore, since . 
 life is short, and passes away as a thought, it will not 
 be long before we shall behold each other again in the 
 light of the living. 
 
 O Lord, how wonderful are thy works, how magnifi- 
 cent are all thy wayil, and how unsearchable is thy 
 wisdom! 1 acknowledge, that what thou hast done is 
 not only for thy glory,, and for the advantage 'of this 
 happy creature whom thou hast taken into thine eternal 
 rfest, but also foi^y good> and the instruction of all my 
 'friends. In taking of him (or hei*,) who was all my 
 joy, my comfort, and my only hope, tllou wouldest 
 make trial of my obedience and my faith, as heretofore 
 tfeoii makest trial of, the Father of the Faithful, when 
 thou reqwircst of him his only son Isaac, in whom 
 thou hadst promised that all tiie families of the earth 
 should be blessed. But, O Lord my God, to the praise 
 of thy mercy and sovereign goodness^ Imust own that 
 my trial is nothing like so severe as his: for thou com- 
 mandest Abraham to sacrifice his son with liis own 
 hands, to pour out Jiis bloodiefore thee, and to reduce 
 his body to ashes; but thou requirest no sacrifice from 
 me but that of my obedience and sabsjission to thy ho- 
 ly will, that I may say with the High Priest Eli, It is 
 the Lord, let him do what seemeth him good; and with , 
 thy servant Job, The Lord gave, and the Lord Jiath taken 
 away^ Messed be the {name of the Lord. Thou hast 
 plucked up the root which fastened me strongly to thes 
 earth, aad hast cut assunder the beloved band which 
 bound me to the world, in order to lift up my heart and 
 affections to heaven. One part of myself, and that 
 which I always considered as my most precious trear 
 sure is already with thee; and the wings of that divine 
 love with which I feel myself inflanifd, traijsport me 
 
TflE .GHIHSTIAN'S CfiNSQLApOiir. i.^ 
 
 {hither a^ every hour and tsyer^r; moment. "^Insteatl of 
 
 cohtinHi 
 
 CQVlierj; 
 
 iler^essj 
 
 mjriremovgil from this earthly tahjefnacle. jBrant that 
 
 I may imitate the 'piety, zeal, faith, cons'taticyj, andia,ll 
 
 the hqly arid heiroic virt;ue$ of those whom tlij|pij;ha'st te- 
 
 ceived into thine eternal rest, and crowned withthy l:lf«-- 
 
 ry** Let rm dm the, death of the'rigJi^&i(!Sfq,tid lei^iny 
 
 last end he like Ms/hni^TS. ' , ;!f = "1 - '^ 
 
 , QH AFTER JS. 
 
 The fonrtJi remedy against the Fears of Death is, to 
 wean our hearts from the >iebfldl 
 
 T': ■ - ■ . •■ "*';•,.■■ : '■ '■ ■•■■ 
 HE childrefia of Israel fduiid no reUictance when: 
 
 they left the wilderness. At the first coraniafld which 
 
 ■ (rod was pleased to give them far that purpose, they 
 
 pp.ssed over Jordan with incredible joy; tjje. reason of 
 
 this was, because they dwelt intents which were easily 
 
 rempvedj and they had been used for many years to sigh 
 
 aft^r the land of Canaan. Kow, deathi^ the saliie tons, 
 
 iifYi%gard to our heaLviealy^^aradise^ as tlie riyer Jordan 
 
 was to the children of Israel^ in respect .jto the promised 
 
 lattif Whence it appears, that the only true means to- 
 
 reconcile as to this pafsS^e, and to make ujs pass 
 
 throiigk it phe^rfully, is' ito divest ourselyfes of .every 
 
 tljiag that may hindei: us^ by !att^(;l>ing;ns to the world, 
 
 and tojiol'd ourselves always in readiness to depart;* 
 
 . To ^his jfelftd, it is not necessary -tjiat we should 
 
 go oitt of the wnr|d* vbttt that tlte v/oHd should hiv-han- 
 
,10 THE ; eppSltAlif *iS- CON'SOL A'KON. 
 
 40!f^^ aR4 (^f efli:quiipi us,, .^aiiid' -thrift we f?bb:uM-re'H.«J»itee 
 ^aJVi^its ya^jtjies,j4aia(l ijnzijll.y appfetite^; inkomuch that 
 we,|»iiiia.y«l>|iaWe'to say with tije JifosUff, }'The Wbrl'd 
 m:i%'U^^et-Mni&,}mf, and' T''2mip$tJi^ wo5*"Mj«e'0al.i5*;iv.- '4^;' 
 vlhr^ feliep are maiiy tf^fe^'sttiiisg wUo withdraw their bodies 
 JifQtti the j^jjld, Jfjjit Ifl^^^je thy^^^ and;ttt0St tendep 
 
 indina!fet(^ris;;h<BhindS\/*JiS'Ii(^^^^ 
 
 ,S,odom, ; 'but left-*»!there; her treasures ;and dili§hts^t'Ker 
 hea,«t^ atttk'iHiQ^iarde.^t^.^^ish'es;! or ;as« thMs5a%lltes^swh9, 
 \vbeH they went, out ibfj-Kgyptjrlefts^behind'tthemthliir 
 GUf^fid aifetiiaijs^ .withjtheir flesh^ptits and tMjjPh®.' "" 
 , ii^hft' &a«ie thiHgchappeBstoniaQy'who's^alfatie them? 
 ■selve9j»w,ith0,ttt^n(f?necessity^ froraiithe^s^ci^ty of imeuj 
 and^ affeqt^l4knp;v^iBot;,*wh»t strange aad au;is(!Bre kind M 
 life. Tlief lealye tk^p^uaintance-of wise and Virtuous; per- 
 soMSj and-theila.wful use pf. those blessings which heaven 
 %atli be stowed upqn them, i^h^y- deprive themselves of 
 aiev^ry thing that;is amiable inlhe world, aad most proper 
 toii^riMGod, and edify their neighboWs; but many 
 tiitees theyy carry with them every, thing ttet is corrupt " 
 and yjicioKfe^lflegtopsjoL wicked thoughts and jcai-nal de- 
 ^iijfes. By thj^j njieaBs they give way to the tlevil^ aftd 
 exposetj^ittselvfes to all his- assaults; fer thai wicked 
 serpeu't Siskts rat,her in th6 dens of wild beaits^^ and 
 the shephei^d'l^ahin/ than ia the dwellings of.pFineeli^^ 
 an^ the^^aces of kings. The most horrid aM eixecra^ 
 hl^sins ;often breed in; ^desetts- a;ttd\4>kces M rfetreii^ 
 rather than in public, arfd in great- cities that sws^rm 
 with inhabitants, tot remained' chaste in the most 
 abominable city that was in the worcT; but when he fled 
 
 K ■ 
 
 ^0 the foot ofva. niountain, into a cave, to dwell,* he de- 
 
 ■■■i 
 
 filed himsiS' witK^'a mon&troua incest. When Satan 
 
THE CHRISTIAN'S CONSOLATION. 139.; 
 
 inCended to ^tempt the Lord Jesus 'Christ, he carried 
 '%iiii|,|nto a dese^t^ and up to |l>e tofi of an high mountain. 
 W|ltence we may judge; that this Subtle -enemy of man-- 
 ki€d hath learnt by fatal experience, that the most pri- 
 vnte. and. sqli^ajy places aye the fittest to lay his sna^^es 
 ia. If ou^ blessed Saviour, who was holy, harmless, 
 undf^led, and separate, from sinner^, Heb. vii. S6. hath 
 been able to overcome all, the manner of temptations; 
 we are npt of the same tamper, Q/eitber are we furnish- 
 ed, likb him, with armour of proof agaipst all the inflam- 
 ed darts lofi the devil: for pur^iserable flesh delight^ 
 ia its own destruction. It opens both e^r and heart to 
 the deceitful proo^ees of Satan, and suffers itself to be 
 cheated by^his allusions. It flatters and lulls us asleep 
 in its bosom; and tlien> like a treacherous Delilah,, it foe- 
 trays us into the hands of our most cornel and .ii||gceR- 
 cil^able enemy. - •'' 
 
 .Some put Of shirts of hair and gird thjamselves with 
 jk^otted cords, whom the devil drags to hell by the in* 
 visible chaids of their unruly lusts. Others climb upto the 
 tops, of frozen mountains, and yet their hearts burn with 
 tb.e most impure fires: while qthers s.coreh 'their bodies 
 in the sun, whose souls are bathed in all the voluptuous 
 pleasui'cs of the most luxurious cities. Some affect a 
 moumfal solitiude, and hurry i&to a desert, whose desired 
 and longings are for the wpyidaml its vanities: they live 
 amoDgSt serpents and vi'ild beasts; and yet their hearts are 
 at the ball, and they themselves are dancing there in im- 
 aginatloiiL witfewantoa y€ni.iii§letaal0S:« They seem tohav® 
 their bodies ntiartificd, btct Uieir .affections are unsubdoed. 
 Others have their ba^s lifted up tD 1i^¥&b, whose m'in49 
 Are enslavcsd to ^e 6^th, and rooted in the ^^^n aa^ 
 filthy pleas«3res>ij|F th(^. age. Some have a lamp burH- 
 
ilO stg#lbi[|tlSTIATir'S|EJONS0LATI0N. 
 
 ipg beforfe . tfeem,' i Flrose uu^erstainjlmg 4s wrapped 
 in thick ^arkne^s, more palpable; tban that of Egypt.^ 
 Others haye an empty f stomach, whose sopils. of er&)W 
 with, th^ most abominable passions. ' In shoc^ som@! 
 live in a/ppeatauce, like attgels;, ,wh0 are possessed f;v^ith 
 a legion of" dev|ls;u: and'- .fithers; who seei^ do have ho 
 concern with the Iwoi^ld^ yetJodge th&wholfe world in 
 their iieaidts ^^ - ' ^ /?- ■: ]« ., -■,>:,.". ^ "' ■ :, ■' ..- 
 Under: a coarse habLt* • t|ief4; sometimes dwells more 
 envy, more v?ilii|y^' and ambition^than under a g^getms 
 attire of silk ia.rid gold.-i Through a tattered* garment 
 Inay o|tea be perceiv|i.d souls sweJleiwdllii pride i«ad 
 il^rcogance, and loany times the^desigB^ of kings, andr^the 
 lofty thougTtitsiof4h|',gceaj3|esi!' monarchs^are to be foilnd 
 in the equipage of a ^jieggar. To,sptJak plainly, we^ii'e 
 not |P much,attached to the world, by the good things 
 of this lifej as byjj^e love and affection we belir to them: 
 for^ without d^ubt there arfc4iiany^persQ]p;whoare m^re 
 earnfeft for tie things they wantj- thaii>^?0;tfaers thkt en- 
 joy them. Many poor people hare a far greater passion 
 for riches than ever Solomon had in the midst of all his 
 flighty tr^^jires. Some.iilly women, who are covered 
 with rags, nay, ev^^somQ of the basest and most wretch- 
 ed servants|iilis^e; more ^qa^ity and pride in their hearts^ 
 than ever Queen Esther ha4 in her rich and most glorious 
 array. The propihet Daniel was exalted to an high and 
 eminent ^tion, being governor of the third part of. the 
 vast empire ,M ;t|?f%Medes -ajnd Persians; nevepthelesSi he 
 was no more aittached to Babylon tlp|p if he had notl^i^g 
 there but a sepulchre, and had Worn, tbec chains of a 
 slave. ' He £i^nds/forth.as inany\sigbs,:.and pours out as 
 ftiany tears||as if he.'had' been sitting won the ashes of 
 Jerusalem;' 
 
•Til CllRiSTlA]^*S CONSOfi^^'ON. 141 
 
 ^^ome misei'able beggaTs are morelath tp' leave their 
 rags, than sovereign princes to l^y aside- their purple. 
 Siich are more fetislaved to thfeir filth and indigence^ than 
 the greatest monarchs to the glory and spl^nd^r of their 
 empires. Death takes as miich pains to free men from a 
 prison, and to set them- at lifaei'ty from a dungeon, asrf to 
 drive t^iem from a palace, or to pluck them down from a 
 throne. The poor and necessitous who Iddge upon the 
 hard earth, make as much resistance as the rich, who are 
 stretched npon the softest^ down^ The anhappy. slaves 
 that row in the gallies are a,s unwilling that deatlrsKiiiild 
 loose them from their chains, and free them from their 
 misery, as the most potent kings and emperors ate to 
 leave their sceptres mid their crow^ns^ and T am persua* 
 ded> that David' was more ready to quit his kingdom, 
 and all his treasures, than many poor wretches are to 
 depart from their dunghills -and their poverty. Sbme 
 persons ^re tormiented with the gout, the s^one, and other 
 grievous aM dfute diseases; nevertheless they more 
 pasfsionatfely desire to live than many who enjoy a per- 
 fect and vigorous health. Carnal and earthly souls are 
 so much wedded' to the world, that theyfeel an horrible 
 regre^ and an unspeakable anguish, when tliey are to 
 depart from a body rotteu and falling to pieces with old 
 age; whereas others, who are more spititu;alized> And 
 have tasted of. the heavenly giftj and "the powers of the 
 world to come, Heb. vi,^ 3, depart most joyfully out 
 of young and vigorous bodies, flourishing m their full 
 strength d!nd beauty. 
 
 We must not, therefore, remove our arms and legs 
 out of the world, but our passions and aiTections. If God 
 ttestows his earthly bles^sings upon us, we are not to imi- 
 tate the examp||iof that extravagant philoirophei", who 
 
13 THE CHRISTIAN'S GONSOLATIOT?. 
 
 iigb into thg sea Ms gold and precifff stones, tliait:^ be 
 light not have the trouble Ip keep them, and Jjt^hp wil- 
 illy threw tl^em away, thatiie finight not be any longer 
 I, the fear; of losing them. , But we must take heed f^iat 
 jey oaus6,us not, to make .shi;p;(^reck of our faith; and 
 lat we preserve 4hem not at the expence of our consci- 
 ntces. Forihesoul is farmore precious than, tht^bpdyy 
 ttd life is far mpre vfiluable than raiment, Matth'> vi. 
 5. Since God gweth us inehly^ all things, toe^off-l 
 'im. ^i. 17. we should shew ourselves ^ngr-alelTul t© his 
 oodness^ rebels to his wise providence, aind unjusfc and 
 cuel to ourselye^, churlishly to refuise the means of us- 
 »g and employing those' blessings; JPor every ci^eaivtif^ 
 ? God is -gopd; and $othing. to be t^mefi, ifjiti be re- 
 «^ved^fetth th,mJc8gimi^^^forit4s saaieUfiedby the word 
 f' God and prayer, i Tim: h.4i,^.S,,'''' 
 IThe honours and riches derived to us from oyv birth, 
 p that we obtaiiivby lawful and just methods, are to be 
 umbered among the blessings of God^ therefore ^Esther, 
 'ho was but a po'or stranger, received with j,oy, as a 
 ivour >fr^Bi.Heaye|L^ tlie isp'pelri'^l crown that was put 
 piin her headf and rSliMed ,np,t- to be. the bride .of ihe 
 reatest monarch then living. , Joseph readily embraced 
 le |K)TiVer ahd?*dignity with which king Pharaoh inves- 
 $d him; and the prophet Daniel, not only accepted the 
 ^(jUKkble^ com munds^ which were bestowed, upon him!, 
 y the king of Bjabylpn, but li;kewise employed all his 
 ower and credit to raise his companions to palaces 0^ 
 •ust, and the ppncipal goviemraentsof that enlpire.^ God 
 ideed^^if^i|^im^-,^^ sceptres into the hands of crueL 
 nd profane persons,; such as Pharaoh, Abab, Nebtt- 
 li^ne^ar> B&lsMzzar,< and II,er^^ to teach ; iisy t^ 
 i^inioii is mA thechieif gpod of^^man, :and that we muit 
 
THE'CHRiSTfXNC CONSOLAtHn. ||3 
 
 aim' at a'^inoriB^xcfeltenl kiiagdoni, ablat a more lasting 
 atiilscllid'happinessr but then he also places upon the 
 tlhi>&he aien after his own heart, whcm he cherislies as 
 the aj^ple of his %;^e, suchas-flaVi'dv Solomon, Jehosa- 
 <phat,> Ifezeldallf^ aiid Jo'siah, to teach iis, that the fear 
 •of €rod, and the* expectation of an immortal cro#n, is^ot 
 incompatible #Ith the "honours of fHis life, nor V^itU 
 Worldly glory; for Gbdlines's hath the frornisi ^^tjie 
 life that now is, and'^ofthat which is to come, l''Tim.' 
 
 Theriehes ofrtlie-earth are'no more hurfful thaii its 
 .. honours, unless it^be by iaclident: They are highly nse- 
 ? ful and advantaget)us'td'iiiiGlr as employ them well,'and 
 dispose of them .with* a' religious prudence: they are 
 powerful helps to fe'ue piety^ an excellent means to glo- 
 rify €rod, and to exei'cise a virtuous coinpassion; nay, I 
 may venture to call theltt the beauty and' lustre of the 
 zeal and charity of God^s children. Ilic^es, it is true, 
 turn to evils, and are ill situated in the liands of a^ru- 
 tal and sordid wretch^ stieh as Nabal; of ^merciless and 
 ^i^U^tiiOus person, such as the irich glutidn' in the gos- 
 pel; of a treacherous and perfidious thi^f, such as Ja- 
 dae; and of a tboii^tless and delSauched' young man, 
 fSoeh as the tpiiodlgal so'n. Eat then they are bleesed 
 lioth of hefiven and e^rth, when they fall into the hands 
 of a Joseph, ^who nourislieth therewith his father and 
 a;ll his kindred; of a'Dividy who eiii|il%s them in offer* 
 ingSito Almighty God, initlie sight of all the people; of' 
 a Soloinon, who>builds therewith a Magnificent temple; 
 and of a Mary Mag#alen> Who liStows them, not in 
 laxniyanl vanity, fcdr in 6uridus trinkets, bat to buy a 
 box of precioiis ointment, which she 'potirs on the head 
 «i£ the Sa*!jotir of the world. They arell^i^Bgs in- 1 
 
deeil when siicli aii one eB|6yg=tKej#& Cm-aiSUus Ih^ 
 centurion^ \v ho "erapl&ys'^eni in aliis, tlSB*^^ pferfame 
 wherfeof&'cenfleth up' torthe throne of 4he (r&A of mer- 
 Ciel. lYi'short, oifr I^'ord Jds^^iisi ChrM^^ who i» thie eter- 
 nal^ivistlom of the Father, hath pronouiited with bjs sa- 
 cted lipsy that it is ■mQf& dlessi'd to give tliM to receine, 
 MsxxS35, "•»•'■ ■'"■^' ■ ^^--^■>''i' [^. • --;:':■-■. ■ ; 
 
 I aM' not jgnbrant of the otaclfe of this%rfekt Grod and 
 •feaviplir,' Wk6'evfii' Ifivts fiither or iriOtJievf Jtouses or 
 lands^ Mi^re ttan me'yis not wvHlif^fi'rH*e,(i^^^ x. 37, 
 wiiich' was spolsentb teach' us, tha't we must renounce, 
 ^^th all our heart and s|(irit, all the things inthe world, 
 unjd of this pr^eiit life; 'and thfit we must/be alAvays; 
 reajFyto'f6j?sake them, in case ^^^^^^^ cailnot keep them 
 without offending God, ^jtnd 'giving pccasttin of scandal 
 to his,churdhf bat Without shlih an < absolute necessity, 
 God requires us not^ inUpy ^lac^of scripture, actually to 
 forego dur wbrldly'polfeessiongr v ; 
 
 I also know very well, that when a ydung man ask- 
 ed our Savlbu'^ WAffli shalll Ao to inherit eternal life^' 
 this, wisest of ie&i(ik#s answefiisd^ Sell all thwt thou hast, 
 and 'iistribkte unto the pooi^y and thou shalt have trea- 
 sure in heaven, and come, followine^ I^Ulie xfiiii But 
 t& was a'''|)M4icular command, given to^i particular 
 person, upon a paiticular occasibry wHerefbre it is not 
 possible that we shohld '^alher any coneljiision toj^l^ll? 
 others to the same' S'^ion^fbrotbierwise this would' 
 oblige all Chnstians in'^liiieral to sell what' they liave^ 
 without exception," and to give it to the poor. This vain 
 glorious Pharise^p^' had bbastfed of havilig kept all the 
 commandmeritB of God fi'om his youthupvvard. T5 root 
 out of his Mm tlui^'overgood bp4nion of himself, and to 
 give a vent4o llTe" sHvei!m§?of his Pharisaical pride, oar. 
 
THE CHRISTIAN'S -CONSaLATlON. i^ 
 
 liprd puts lum to the trial, by iBJaining Iiim tosell all 
 tha,fehe had, sad to give it to the jxool"! At heailng this, 
 thepoQi- yottBg man went away A'ery sorrowful,, for he 
 was very rich, anul his- lieart and strongest aflPections 
 -were placed upon his earthly treasures; by which he 
 discSvered, that he was far fepnj loving God 'Rith all 
 his heart, and with all- his strength, seeing he-loved his 
 worldly possessions more ihan Clirist and Jiis blessed- 
 ness. It therefore plainly appears, devout squls,, that 
 this command, given to this particular young man, ^x-. 
 tends not to all in 'general^ far if it had been so under- 
 stood, the holy apostles, "who were zealous after every 
 thing that tended to perfection, would not ha.ve been 
 contented with losing tho- Crnjoyment of their goods, to 
 fellow Christ, as they themselves declared xinto him, 
 We have forsaken all, and folloivedr iAee, Matth. xix^ 
 27. But they would have kept nothing for themselves; 
 which course they never took: for St. John, Christ's be- 
 loved disciple, had a house, wb^rein he entertained dm 
 holy virgin, after our Saviour's passion, John xix. 27; 
 and the other; ai|ostl&s had reserved their ships, their 
 nets, and their tackling, wherswiih th^y returned to 
 their trade of fishing, after Christ's icsuyrection, John 
 
 .1 Our SaviGiar, upon, the oceasion of this yogng man's 
 disobeying this express and particular command, to sell 
 that he had and give it to the poor, tells his disciples, 
 all tlp,t a rich man »haU hardly. enter into thejcingdom of 
 /isai3e«, Matth. xix. 23: But then in another place, he 
 explfi,ims^this piissage in such a laanner, that he leaves 
 not the least shadow of a difficulty, when he says, ffow 
 hard is it for them that trust in riches, to enter. into the 
 Jczngdom of God!. J^ark x. 3-i. So that he speaks jjot. 
 
t6 . iJlJfc CttRlStlAN'S CQNSQLATIQif. 
 
 ' all rich' njen ip. gienero.!, withaut any exceptidasij 
 it of such only \Vho pat their trust in th^ir riGhes. 
 'herefore the appstip qf St. Paul does not command 
 lose who are rich to cast away their effects, and absolute- 
 'renouHbes th^m; but he exhorts them iiot to put their* 
 mfidence in thpm, so as to become more yain and 
 itt^hty: for thus he speaks to Timothy, 01iat^etherii 
 lat p,re rich in this world, that they^ be notJiighmiM- 
 l, nor trti^tin unvertain riches, bjut in theMting Goi, 
 hogimth us richly all things to enjoy, 1 Tim. vi. if.. 
 
 Ilfere are thjerefof^ the b6st rulp,* according to my 
 idgm^t, which a tru^ christian cart observe, who de- 
 iVes to render his soul acceptable to God, and to at'^ 
 lin the necessary- dispositions for {|, happy death. 
 
 1. Wp mnst employ all our endeavours, and set all 
 uraffectiorts to wofk, tq secure to ourselves 'the spiritu- 
 1 and eternal advantages of the world to come; we 
 tust thipst imp^tieiitly fpr the grace of God, and the 
 ift of his Holy Spirit; we in«st sigh after the trea- 
 iires of heaven, and labouip with all pur might to attain 
 iie ificetruptible ci:o\yn of glory and immortality. Our 
 lessed Saviour himself gives nS this holy Isssoi^ in the 
 ixth chapter of Ijis gp^pel accoii^ding to ^t. Matthew, 
 kek ye first, says he, the kingdom of God, aiii his 
 ighteousness, and all thehe things sihall be added unto, 
 ou: and in the sixth chapter of St. John, Labour not 
 vrthat meat tphich perisheth, but for thatm$at which 
 ndureth unto evef^&sting life. - ~$^ 
 
 S. As Solomon built first the liord's house, and then 
 lis own palace, 1 Kings ix; so we ought to laboui; 
 irstforthe jatdvancement of God^s kingdom, and the 
 dification of his Church, 'after which we may have the 
 iberty to employ ourselves about the affairs of the pre- 
 
THE CHRISTIAN'S CONSOLATION. i^ 
 
 stjnt life, and the exercise of our civil calling; butilhea 
 our employment or calling must be just, "and warranted 
 by the laws 'of God and man; for he tha^t gp.4her8 
 riclies bylinlawfal means, is no other than a' thief and 
 a robber. 
 
 3. Before we engage in any werk, we should offer 
 up 01^ prayers to God, that he will vouchsafe his jt>les- 
 sing upon it, and say to him with Moses, Let the beau- 
 ty of the Lord our God be upon us; and establish 
 thou the work of our hands upon us, yea the work of 
 our hands, establish thou it, J?sal. xc. 17; fov without 
 his assistance and blessing, all our labour is in vain^ 
 The Lord nidketh poor, and maketh rich; he brin,geth ' 
 low, and lifteth up, 1 Sam. ii. 7» J^eitheris he that 
 planteth, any thing, saith St. Paul; JSTeither he that 
 watereth, but God that giveth the increase,' 1 Cor. iii. 
 7; with whom agrees the royal Prophet, in these sig- 
 nificant words, Except the Lord build the,hou^, tliey 
 labour in vain who build it, Psal. cxxvi. 1. 
 
 4. Our labour must be without repining, and distrust- 
 ing the providence of God; we must banish out of our 
 minds all vain thoughts, and groundless expectations, 
 that disturb g^. We, must pluck out of our hea^rtsall 
 the cares and disquiets that prey upon us, and must 
 imprint in our memories that excellent saying of David, 
 Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and he shall smtain 
 thee, Psal. Iv. SS; and that of St. Peter, Cast all yout 
 care upon him, for he carethfor you, i Pet. v. ^; nor 
 must we ever forget tins wholesome exhortation of our 
 blessed Lord and , Saviour Jesus Christ, Take heed 
 to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overchar- 
 ged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and the cares 
 of this life, Li^e. xxi. 31. 
 
t^lS ■ leUli CHRrSTIAN'S CONSOLATION 
 
 « 
 
 $. Above ^11 things, We must guard against covctouff- 
 nesk, which is a most set-Tile vice, and tacitly denies 
 the providence of God, and his fatherly care. To this 
 purpose St. Paal e-xhdrfcs ns, in express lerms, Z,et 
 rioiir conversatioil he iciihoutcovetpusvess; and be con- 
 tent with such things as^d haver: for he hath said, I will 
 nei^rjeave thee, nofforsake thee, Heb. xiii. 5; an#toM- 
 get hi us a horrour of this infamous vice, he tells us-, ^%etf 
 that will he rich fallinio temptation and^d snare, dndin- 
 % man f foolish and huHful lusts, which drown men 
 in degtriietion and perdition, i Tim. vi. 9. He adds, 
 For the love of money is the root of all evil, 'which, 
 while some coveted after they have erred from the faith, 
 And pierced ;fJiewtsdves through with many sorrows. Iti 
 short, he proceeds so far as to pronounce,^ tha,t co^e- 
 toiisnes^ is idolatry^ Col. iii, 5; and that the covetous 
 man is an idplator, who hath no inheritance, in the 
 kingdom cf Christ and of G-od^ Eph. v. 5; therefore 
 we ought to engrave in letters of gold, this excellent 
 lesson of the wisest king in the world, Ldbournottoh& 
 rich, cease from/Oiine own wisdom, Prov. xxiii. 4. 
 
 6. If, notvvith'slanding oCir continual labour in a law- 
 ful yocati.iti, it pleaseth God to ufflict ns with pdverty, 
 and to bring us doWn to the dust, of a mean estate, let 
 us learn to possess our souls in patience, and to have 
 always before our eyes the example of onr Lord Jesus. 
 Christ, ivho though he was rich became poor fot us, 
 that;»we might become rich by his poverty. Let jus be- 
 seech him to grant us the blessed disposition of his ho- 
 ly Apostle StJ Paul: and that we may be able to sky 
 with hiin, I have learned in whatever state I ani^there- 
 'with to be content, I know how to be abased, and I 
 know how to abound; every where and in all things^ I 
 
THE CHRISTIAN'S CONSOLATION. 1^ 
 
 am instructed botli to be. full, and to be hungry: both 
 to abound, and to suffer need: I can do all things 
 thtough Christ, which strengtheneth me, Pliilip, iv. 
 It, 13, 13. Kemember, Christian souls, to lay up for 
 yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor 
 rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through 
 and steal, Matth. vi. SO. Labour to be rich in faith and 
 good works, that ye may be heirs of ;the kingdom which 
 God hath promised lo them thatlovebim. Jam. ii. 5. , 
 7. 'But, on the contrary, if it hath pleased God to 
 bless their labours, and his almighty and liberal hand 
 hath *raised thee up to great honour, so that thou over- 
 flojivest with riches, thou must remetnber to enjoy them 
 in such a manner, that they may not enslave thee, and,^ 
 according to St. Paul's advice, to possess them, as if 
 thou possessed them not; and must remember, that the 
 fashion of this world passeth away, 1 Cor. vii. 30, 31, 
 We must not place our confidence, in them, nor prid« 
 ourselves upon their account. There is something else 
 in which we ought to glory, as God himself exhorts us 
 in this divine precept, Let not the wise man glory in 
 his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his 
 inight; let not the rich man glory in his riches; but let 
 him that glorietb, glory in this, that he understandeth 
 and knoweth me, Jer. ix. S3, S4. 
 , 8. We must not only wean our hearts, and affections 
 from the world and its vanities, trample them under our 
 feet, and esteem them like dirt, in comparison of t^e 
 unspeakable treasures of- heaven; but Vv'e must also )be 
 ready toleave them at a moment's warning, as so njia- 
 ny vain and' perishable trifles. As we are to posi^ss 
 them without ittqifietude and fear, s.o we must p^rt Worn 
 them wiihout grief anO murmuring. Though, we should 
 
430. /rHK CHRISTIAN'S GONSOLATIWN. 
 
 lose in one day all that God hath blest as wiili in tbi» 
 ^orld, we should arm ourselves with a holy coflstancy, 
 and say with Job, The I^ord gave, and the Lord bath 
 ■taken away, blessed be the name of the Lord, Job i. 21. 
 
 9- If we happen' to lose our goads, honours, dignities^ 
 in the service of God, and for the profession of Christ's 
 gospel) in such a case we should not only bear the loss 
 with a ,Cbristi,ao patience, but we should embrace it 
 with an holy joy; because a loss of that nature, in so 
 just a cause, is of. great advantage as well as great glo^ 
 ry. This was the practic^ of the faithful Hebrews, of 
 whom the Apostle gives this Jionourable testimony. Ye 
 took joyfully the spoiling of your goods knowing in 
 yourselves that ye have in heaven a better and endur- 
 ing substance, Heb. X. 34. Christian souls, place'before 
 your eyes the example of the prop^het Moses, who 
 esteemed the reproach of Christ greater riches than the 
 treasures in Egypt; for he hjid respect ia the recompense 
 of the reward, Heb, xi. S6. 
 
 10. Whilst we enjoy our goods, we must have respect 
 to the poor, and be liberal in alms; or to speak in St. 
 FauVs language, .^8 we have an opportmdtjf let vis da 
 good unto all men, especially ^unto them who are of the 
 household of faith, Gal. vi. 10: He that hathpify upon 
 the poor, lendeth unto the Lord, and that which he hath; 
 given, will he pay him again, Prov. xix. 17; and our 
 Saviour promiiseth. That .whosoever shall) give to drink 
 rnito one of tke meanest of those who believe in him, a 
 cup of cold water only, shall in np wise iose his reward f 
 Matth. X. 4S. Alms are a seed that is cast upon the earth; 
 but its flowers, and most excellent fruits, aveto be' gath- 
 ered in heaven; U^ that soweih hountifully, shall reap 
 hountifully, 3 Cor, ix. 6. But ^t is not like that seed 
 
jHE 13JJRISTIAN'S CONSOLATION. iat 
 
 in the 136th psalm, They that sow in t^ars 
 shtMreap in jay: for those who .bestow their alms un- 
 willingly, are in the sight of God, as those who with- 
 hold them. Therefore St. Paul declares, Though Ibe- 
 stow all niy goods to feed the poor, and have not charity, 
 it prqfiteth me nothing, I Cor. xiii. 3. (rod loveth a 
 "cheerful gjver, S Gpr. ix. 7j andis jyell pleased with saf- 
 -crifices, Heb. xiii. IS. Remember O Christians, that 
 God will -judge you at the last diay, not according to 
 your learnijng and eloquence, and the riches, honours, 
 and dignities, hy which you have been distinguished in 
 this life, but ajccocding to your alms, deeds^ and acts of 
 chanty and hospitality, Matth. xxv. and as you have 
 distributed to the necessities of the saints, Rom* xii. 13. 
 Therefore make to '^mtrselves friends of the mammon 
 qf uni^ghteousness, that when ye fail, they may receive 
 you into everlasting habitations, Lake xvi. 9. And that 
 those whom you leave behind you, may be able with 
 justjice to engrave upon your tomb, He hath dispersed, 
 he hath given to the poor; his righteousness, that is, his 
 fharity, and the compassion in which he delightetb, en- 
 dureth forever, Vs&l. cxii. 9. 
 
 H. Finally, wp must not only wean our hearts and 
 affections from the riches imd honours of this life, and 
 all the vanities of the world, but we must also deny our- 
 ' selves, suhdue our passions^ and crucify our flesh with 
 its lusts. To this we are exhorted by our great God and 
 Saviour lesus Christ, who crieth to us from heaven. If any 
 ^ man will copie after me, let him deny himself, and take 
 up his eross, and follow me, Matth. xvi. S4. 
 
 That we may engrave this lesson more thoroughly 
 in our minds, v^e should consider: 
 
 1. That we are but strangers and pilgrims in this 
 
153 THE CHRISTIAN'S CONSOLATION. 
 
 world, and that, ^ere we heme no continuing city, Heb. 
 xiii. 14. The hoiises which God hath given us, are not 
 so properly dwellings, as inns for our convenience.— ■ 
 This was the frequent meditation of those great patri- 
 archs, who saw the promises afar off, ctnd were persua- 
 ded of them and embraced them, Keb. Xi!. 13. For the 
 Aposflie informs iSs, that they confessed that they were 
 strangers and pilgrims^on theearth, and that they sought 
 a better country, that it is, an heavenly one.. This W3,s 
 Jacob's lan|;uafe when he 4 appeared , before Pharaoh: 
 Few and evil have the days of the years of my life.feeen> 
 and have not attained unto the days of the years of the 
 Kfe of my fathers, in the days of their pilgrimage, Gfen- 
 xlvii. 9. And not only the ancient patriaj-chs, who ne- 
 ver had any other polsessions in the world than a se^ 
 pulchre, or some small piece of ground, have acknow- 
 ledged themselves to be strangers arid pilgrims, but alsa 
 kings and princes, whom God hath sactified by his Ho-. 
 ly Spirit, have frankly confessed the same. "Witness 
 David, who, )^| in *the time of his banishment, nor; of 
 his flight, nor in his caliLmities and misery, but in his< 
 most flourishing state, and in the midst of his, triumphs 
 and vast riches, prostrates himself before God, arid says j 
 I am a stranger with thee, and a sojotirner, as all my 
 fathers were, Psal. xxxix, 13. , And where he speaks, 
 not only of himself, but also of all God's cblldren that 
 are in the world, he makes no diflSculiy to confess. We . 
 ire strangers befote thee, and sojourners, as were all 
 aur fathers: our days, on the earth are as a shadow, and 
 ;here 4s nope abiding, 1 Qhron. xxix. 10. Ri^ and 
 loor, masters and servant^, princes aind subjects, all of 
 is in general, may justly say to the children of this age, as 
 ibraham to the sons of Heth, lam a stranffer and so. 
 
THE CHRISTIAN'S CONSOLATION. 153 
 
 joumiii' with you, Gen. xxiii.: 4-. Now he that travels 
 in a strange country, may gather some flowers as he 
 passes, or take with him a few ears of cOru; but if he 
 be wise, he will never stay to build a palace, j^, If he is 
 well treated in liis inn, he will not despise the good 
 cheer; but if his entertainment is bad, he will bear with 
 patience the inconveniencies he meets with, and only 
 langh at the ill management he o|jserves. If the road 
 is. full of mud, briars, and thorns, he will endeavour to 
 get out of it as soon as he can; and if it is good and plea- 
 santf^he will make the more haste over it. Jn short, in- 
 stead of spending his time in making needless inquiries, 
 evfery one that is on a journey, di'eams of nothing bul 
 home, and how to get forward on his way. In the same 
 mannei*, beio^ accustomed to plenty and want, to riches 
 and poverty, to honour and dishonour, we ought to for 
 get those things which are behindj and reach forth untc 
 those things which lyre before, to press toward them^rk 
 for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus, 
 Phil. iii. 13, 14. 
 
 2. Consider .also, I beseech.you that* we are not onl^ 
 strangers and sojourners in the world, and that we an 
 not always to inhabit in this foreign country, but tha 
 our passage will be but a few days. We need but littL 
 to nourish and entertain us, during this sbort race; a 
 the end o^ which we shall hunger no more, neithe 
 thirst any more, neither shall tlve sun light on us, no 
 any heat. Rev. vii. 16. As Jacob and his sons, whel 
 they went into Egypt, had no more corn, nor any othe 
 kind of food, than what was necessary for them in tb 
 way; because they were certain, to meet with a ricl 
 abundance of all good things in Joseph's house; so w 
 need not make any great provision for ourselves in thi 
 
154 THE CHRISTIAN'S CO^TSOLATION. 
 
 life, because we are going to meet Christ Jesus, our ( 
 (ler btoher, unto whom God bath given all power 
 earth, Matth. xxviii. 18. We arc going to a counf 
 that overflows with all manner of true riches, glory, a 
 happiness. 
 
 ■3. We are not only strangers, but we are also soldij 
 that fight under the banner of Jesus Christ our -hea 
 who dioth judge and make war in righteousness, Kf 
 xix. 11, Job tells as. That there is an appointed W! 
 fare to man upon earth. Job vii. 1. But I may ventu 
 to affirm, that this warfare is chiefly for such as lopg i 
 ter a glorjoiis immortality, and that trod calls them Wi 
 |o a very grievous, and violent encounters, fhercfo 
 St. Paul exhorts his^beloyed disciple Timothy, To I 
 have himself as a good soldier in this good warfare, 
 Tim. i. 18; and to fight the good fight of faith, chap. 
 13. Now, No man that wareth entangleth himsejf w: 
 thejfl,ffairs of this life, 3 Tim. ii. 4. 
 
 4. Moreover, we are like to sol'diers who war in ; 
 enemy's country, not to establish themselves there, b 
 only to obtain aVfree passage, having other views, ai 
 wanting nothing ' more than to return into tlieir o\ 
 country. We have no ambition to get into our han 
 the goods and inheritances of the children of this woi'l 
 nor to rob, them of their crowns and sceptres; we ha 
 no other request to make to them, but that which t 
 children of Israel made to the, Edomites, when they Mf« 
 going to possess the land of Canaan,; which God ha 
 promised to their fathers. Numb. xx. We desire lea: 
 to pass pCjipeably by the king's highway, to go and ta. 
 possession of the inheritance which God hath prepari 
 for us from the foundation of the Avorld. We will n 
 •0 much as take a bit of Ivread without paying fpr it, n 
 
THE CHRISTIAN'S CONSOLATIOK. 155 
 
 5. This life ii a race, and the world is the race-plat 
 we are to run in. Now, such as ^-un in a race must take 
 heedy that the thorns catch not hold of them in their 
 course, and that their feet sink not in the miretind clay; 
 and that they may run the swifter, they must cast off 
 every thing that may burden or incumber them. If, 
 therefore we would run this race, so that we may obtain , 
 the prize, 1 Cor. ix. 2*; we must take care tl^|i the 
 thoirns and briars of the world take not hold of us, and 
 that we sink not in the mire qf the filthy pleasures of 
 this life. We must cast away all the burdens with which 
 we are loaded; and especially the burden of sin, which 
 is so grievous, that the whole creation groaneth under 
 iif Rom. viii^ 33, To this purpose is the apostles ex- 
 hortation. Wherefore, seeitig we are encompassed about 
 with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside, every 
 weiig^l^and the sin which doth so easily beset uS, and"* 
 let us run with patience the race that is set before us, 
 looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher flf oUr faithj'' 
 who, for the joy that was set before him, endured the 
 cross, despising the shame, Heb. xii. 1,3. 
 
 6. Our life; is a continual wrestling: For we wrestle 
 not only against flesh and blood, but against priijejpali- 
 ities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness 
 of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high pla<- 
 ces, Eph. vi. 13. Now, he that strivelh for the mastery 
 isiilemperate in all things, 1 Gor. ix. 35. If therefore, 
 for a ccftTuptibl©. crown, men keep under their bodies, 
 bring them into subjection, and abstain from all the plea- 
 sures of life; how much the rather ought we to practise 
 the like for aii incorruptible and glorious crown? 
 
 7'. God will have us to be conformed to the image, of 
 his Son, Rom. viii. 39,'^ and that wc should follow his 
 
156 tflE CHRISTIAN?S GONSOLATIONi 
 
 skp, i Pet. ii. 21. NotW this blessed Savioar, in re- 
 pEBsenting his own qomditian, tells us, Foxes have holes, 
 and birds of the air have nests, hut the Son of man hath 
 not where to lay his head, l<uke ix. 58. T^herefore; he 
 made this, noble confession before Pontius Pilate, My 
 kingdom is not of this world, John xviii. 36. And when 
 he reproved the gross and carnal expectations of t^e 
 two disciples who were going to £m<maus> he said unto 
 them. fools and slow of heajrt to believji all that the 
 prophets have spoken: ought not Christ to have suffered 
 fhese things, and to enter iato his glory? Luke xxiv. 25, 
 S6. Therefore, according to his holy example, we must 
 have no portion in this world, and must through much 
 tribulation enter ijatO; the kingdom of God, Acts xiv. 22. 
 8. I also judge, that it i^ altogether necessary thatwe 
 should represent unto ourselves continually, fthat, pro- 
 perly speaking, we have only the use, and not the pi;o- 
 priety, of God^s creatures. We %re intrusted with his 
 favours, as the stewards of his blessings. At every mo- 
 ment he may call upon us to give an account of oui* stew- 
 ardship, and may deprive us of our honours. We should 
 therefore look upon our houses and posselsions with the 
 same eyes that we look upon books, or any other goods 
 that are lent us. For as we are nipt displeased to restore 
 what we have borrowed, and enjoyed as long as it plea- 
 ses the rightful owner to lend itj so we should.cheerft|lly 
 leave this transitpry life, and all our worldly j^ssessioqs, 
 provided we^could but persuade ourselves, that all these 
 things belong to God, and that he hath lent them but for 
 a moment. - : 
 
 9. Moreoiver, it is highly convenient for us to qiedi- 
 tate, without ceasing, upon the pains and laboui's we are 
 At, to acquire the riches of this world, and to attain tq 
 
THE CHRISTIAN'S CONSOLATION. 157 
 
 its. li^ioiU's and dignities. As the husbandiuau, when 
 he hath manured his field, and watered it with his sweat, 
 is manytiines deceived of all his promising expectations: 
 so it commonly happens to the covetbiis and ambitious: 
 they toil and labour in vain; the good things which tiiey 
 think they grasp, slide away between their fingers like 
 water, or as wax that melts before the fire; and all the 
 honours which they imagine they already embrace, van- 
 ish like a shadow, or as smoke that flies up out of their 
 reach: as they have sowed vanities, so they reap noth- 
 ingbut grief and displeasure. 
 
 10. Consider how little satisfaction and contentment 
 there is to be found in the most perfect enjoyment of all 
 the advantages of this world. They are like drink, 
 which leaves us still athirst, and like those hungry vi- 
 ands which cannot satisfy our appetite. They are like ' 
 the w^^ters of the well of ,Sychar, whereof our Saviour 
 said to the woman of Samaria, Whosoever drinJceth df 
 this water shall thirst again, John iv. iS. It happens 
 to the ;^hlldTen of this world, as to a hungry man, who 
 dreameth, and behold he eaiheth: but' he awaketh, and 
 his soul is empty: or as to a thirstfy man, who drearaeth, 
 and behold he drinketh; but he awaketh, and behold 
 he is faint, and his soul hath appetite, Is. xxix. 8. For 
 he who hungers after money, is never contented with his 
 tce||Bures; and he who thirst^fter vain-glory, is never 
 aatisflfed%ith all the 'lonours and dignities of the world. 
 Instead of quenching his t!;irst,. these things only serve to 
 increase and inflame it, Tlie whole vvorkl was not larse 
 enough to content the foolish ambition of an Alexander: 
 for it is recorded, tha^he wept wheii a philosopher told 
 hitti, that there was^t^t many worlds to contjuer. This 
 man, for whota six feet of earth v.eie sulfideat, had tlie 
 
158 THE CHRISTIAN'S CONSOI.ATION. 
 
 vanity to desire to rule over a thousaod worlds^if therie 
 had beea so many. •si* 
 
 All the treasures Of Peru, and all the honours of the 
 world, are not able to give peacp to the soul, nor repose 
 to a troubled conscience. When a poor man hais got 
 together a heap of gold and silvei', or when a mean per- 
 son is raised from the dust to the highest offices, acid 
 most eminent dignities, his misery continues still, though 
 it changes its appearance; nay, it is often the more in- 
 supportable, in that it puts on a fal^e lustre, and ia. de- 
 ceitful gloss, because such are forced to live always 
 masked, to hide their grief, and stifle the sighs ^d groans 
 that return every moment, to interrupt theiF profane 
 smiles, and carnal pastimes. ¥ov this reason, our Sa- 
 viour compares riches, to thorns; and, in truths they prick 
 and gall, not tlie hands, but the hfeart and bowels of 
 such as embrace them too eagerly, and place their affec- 
 tions upon them. It may also be said, that they are 
 like lions and bears; for they are not to be caught with- 
 out much dil]Sculty, and it is still more troublesome to 
 keep them, and to guard against the bite of thei? ven- 
 emous and deadly teeth. If you had but once experi- 
 enced the horrible disquiets, the acute sorrows, the se- 
 cret fears, and the tormenting cares, that attend upon the 
 most glorious sceptres, and the richest crowns, you would 
 judge that it was not witlipit reason that a great ppkice 
 cried out hen-etofore, 0%rown! if any one but TcnSw thy 
 Weight, he icoidd never ialce thee up from the ground. 
 The greatest part of the pleasures and satisfactions of 
 this world are merely imaginary^ and all its grandeurs 
 like the wirid that passeth. Thi^ royal Prophet incul- 
 cates this trjith with mucli elegance, vvhen he saith. Ve- 
 rily every man athis best state is altogether vanity.— 
 
TIfi: CHRISTIAN'S QONSOtATION. 459 
 
 Stiwly eveiy man walketh in a rain shew: surely they 
 are disi^uieted in vain, Psal. xxxix. 5, G. Solomon, the 
 wisest of all kings, and the richest and mosttoi^gniflbent 
 prince of his age, had refused notliiag to his eyes, nov 
 to his desires; liie had tasted of all tlie pkasures and tie- 
 lights that can be imagined; but after all he foand in 
 tliem so little, satisfaction and solid content, that he was 
 forced to acknowledge, That all things tinder the sun 
 are but vanity and vexation of spirit, Jiccles. iv. 
 
 13. Above aJl things,' if our possessions have been 
 wrongfully g-ot, as Balaam's reward, Numb, xxii; 
 Achan's wedge of gold, and Babylonish garment, J[osh. 
 vii; Gehazi's Ghtatiges of raiment, 3 Kings v; Ahaband 
 Jezebel's viBeyard, 1 Kings xxi; and Judas's thirty pie- 
 ces of silver, Matth. xxvii; they will be so far from 
 ^ bringing any real content or peace to the soul, that they 
 •will fill our consciences with unspeakable horrours, and 
 with a most dreadful despair. If the voluptuous world- 
 ling, who hath enriehied himself by rapine, usury, and 
 extortion, was to wring those sumptuous garments where- 
 with he clothes his pride, there would stream out before 
 his eyes the tears of the poor whom he hath afflicted. If 
 lie did but relish, as he ought, the liquors that he drinks 
 out of his cups of jasper and chrystal, he would find, in- 
 stead of wine and lemonade, that ihey overflowed with 
 the sweat and blood of the miserable; and if he did but 
 look with attention into the gold and silver dishes that 
 are placed upon his table, he would perceive in them the 
 ttiarrow and bones of such as he hath devoured. Wbo- 
 soever bex;omes fat with the substance of the widow and 
 the orphan, shall never open his coffers, but he shall spy 
 there'the image of the devil, and the infernal furies; he 
 sljall hear Vm cries and groans of those whom he hath 
 
i60 TI!E CHRISTIAN'S GOMSGLATION; 
 
 destroyed by his unjust tyranny, and more than savagfc 
 ♦Tuclty. ]f sucli escape unpunislied here uptin earth,' 
 ttoey shall not escape the vengeance of heaven. If thiere 
 is neither sword to strike them, nor fire to consume them, 
 nor leprosy to gnaw them, nor dogs to tear them to pie- 
 ces, nor haltvn" to strangle them; yet they have a consci- 
 ence, which M'ill witness against them, and will be their 
 judge, their rack, their wheel, Jiild their executioner; 
 nor is the day far olT,' when they must go to be tortaent- 
 ed in the place prepared for t\mm, leh ere tMir tvorm 
 dieth not, ani the five is not quenched^ Mark ix. 44. 
 
 43. It is possible to be vei'y indigent in the midst of 
 a rich abundance. This the poets have represented un- 
 to us by the fiction of a man thirsting in a river, the wa- 
 ter whei?eof reached up to his chJn. A covetous person 
 is like the poor man in the gospel, who had a whitherod. 
 hand, Luke vi. He may also be compared to the bar- 
 ren fig-tree, cursed by our Saviour Jesus Christ, that 
 brought forth no fruit for others, and withered away for 
 want of nourishment, Matth. xxi. A contented poverty 
 is of more worth than many riches with discontent. Nai- 
 ture is satisfied with a little, piety wfth less; but covet- 
 ousness hath no bounds. The Heathens themselves ac- 
 knowledged, that he was the richest who ha,d the fewest 
 desires; for the more things you covet, the more are 
 wanting to you. It matters not at all whethey the cup 
 which is presented to you be of gold or earth, so there is 
 liquor enough in it to quench your thirst. I would ra- 
 ther drink of a little clear stream, than out of a great ri- 
 ver, whose water is troubled. A small quantity of ground 
 is sufficient to nourish a man during this life; but less is 
 required to cover him when be is dead. A little money 
 suffices to subsist Mb»estly in the fear of God; but less 
 
THE CHRISTIAN'* CONSOLATION. igj 
 
 |s necessai*y to die in peace in the favour of our He- 
 d«^llier. The great kings and emperors have but one 
 bpi^ to feed and cloth@> as well as the meanest of their 
 sl^jects. They who enjoy the largest portion in this 
 world, commonly use, or rather abuse, the most of any, 
 the things that they possess. Therefore, instead of envying 
 the rich worldling's opulency, let us meditate upon St. 
 Paul's excellent saying. Having food and raiwient, let 
 us ie therewith conUvtj i Tim. vi. 8; and let us en- 
 grave in the bottom of our hearts this other valuable sen- 
 tetice, Godliness with contentment is great gain, ver. 6, 
 14. Christian souls, cast youyeyes upon all the things 
 in this woi'ld that are the most highly esteemed, and 
 you shall find, that their possession is very uncertain 
 and of short contiiiuaQee; for riches make themselves 
 wings; they fly away as an eagle towards heaven, Prov. 
 xxiii. a. All flesh is grass, and all the glory of man as 
 the flower of the field. Is. xl. fi. 1 Pet i. 34. The world 
 passeth away and the lust thereof, 1 John ii. 17. There 
 needs biit 'thfe sacking of a town, the bankruptcy of a 
 merchant or an unsuccessful suit at law, to bring th^e 
 tQ poverty. A little spark of fire is able to reduce «,ll thy 
 poesessiofis into ashes, and to make thee a bsggar. 
 The least frown can cover thy face with sliame and con- 
 fusion, and cast thee down from the highest pitch of hon- 
 our and human glory into the lowest abyss of ignominy 
 avd: disgrace. The wise man tells us, He that tri/isteth 
 in his riekes ghallfall, Prov. xi. 28; We may say the 
 same of those who rely upon great men's favour; for it 
 is like a broken read that pierices the hand of such 
 as lean upon it. Is. xxxvi. There is nothing here b^lovv 
 so constant as inconstancy. If the earth did not often 
 change its face, it would be no longer earth; and if tlie. 
 
163 THti GHIlISTIAN'S CONSOLATldN. 
 
 w^riaVas uot inconstant, it would cease to be the world,: 
 Therefore it is no Wonder if thfe Heathens, *whb Were 
 not acquainted With the wise providence of God, thit* 
 governs the universe, and bnngs light out of daTkness, 
 have represented fortune blind, moitnted on a wheel, 
 which tumbles down again in an instant." How many 
 petsons do we see redtfced on a sudden to beggary. 
 who a little before abounded in richefs^ and all matinei 
 of plenty? HoW matfy are caJ^t down into the dust, 
 and become the scoff of the w-oi'ld. Who not long since 
 were raised to the highest honours, and the laiost glori- 
 ous dignities? How many fall into the contempt amd de- 
 cision of the vulgar, whose praises Were once exalted 
 to the skies? In a word, hdW many do we s^ie drtg^feSf! 
 througih the streets, shut up in prison, and bfbtfght bui 
 to the scaffold, and the gibbet, who were once the glorj 
 pf the world, the admiration of the people, and the 
 scourge of worthy men? When we run over in out 
 minds all the 4*idden and unexpected changes that Wfi 
 haye seen in bur days, they seem to us as so rAati^ 
 dreams and illusion. It is the vanity and inconstancy o] 
 this shadow .that flies. Which St. Paiil represent untc 
 *us, to wean our hearts and affections from the worM 
 The time, saith he is short. It remaimth, that both tJFej 
 that have wives, he as'ihpugh they'hai none; and Mi 
 that weep, as though they wept not; and they thdffe- 
 joie0yastkeythatrejoicednot;aiidthey that buy, as though 
 th^f possessed not; an& they that use this world, ai 
 notahusing.it; for the fashion of this world p^M 
 amay, 1 Cor. vii. S9, 30, 31. Because of this uncertain^ 
 ty gf all the adva^t^es of this world, the same'gr4a1 
 apostle, invitfisu? to think upon the everiasiing trea- 
 sures Qf the Hfe to ComeT Charge them, saith he, tfel 
 
THE CHRISTIAN'S CONSOLATION, iQg 
 
 ,' ' ' 
 are rich intliis world, not to triist in uncertain riche^. but 
 in the living God: Laying u^ in store for themselves a 
 gc^A foundation against the time to come, that they may 
 lay hoW on etermal life, 1 Tim. vi. 17, 19- For the 
 same reason' likevpse, th^ Son af (rqd advises us, Lay 
 not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth 
 and rust doth corrupt, and where thievaes, break, through 
 and steal. IJut lay up fiir youselves treasurBs in hea- 
 ven, where neither moth nor rust . doth corrupt, ancl, 
 where thieves do not break through and steal, Matth. 
 vi. 10, 20. A wise Persian seems to have been favour- 
 e<l with a ray of this divine truth, wheii he left this ad- 
 mirable lesson to posterity, The world is constant to 
 no. man; my brother, give thy heart to t^e great Creator 
 of the world, and that shall suffice thee. 
 
 15. If the, honours and riches of this world leave us 
 not during this life, or if they are npt take^ from us 
 by violence, it is certain, that death will depinve us of 
 all, and will separate us from them for ever: For when 
 a man die'th, he shall carry nothing avfay: his glory 
 shall not descend after him into the sepulchre, ]?|al. xix. 
 17- ^V'e fcjrought. nothing into thi^ world,, and it is cer- 
 tain we can carry nothing out, 1 Tim. vi. 7- Kings ant} 
 the greatest princes may say, as well as the meanest 
 soldier of foi;tune, Naked came I out of my mothe|-'s 
 womb, and naked shall I return thither, Jobi, 31.;All 
 Iheir treasures, riches, sceptres and crowns^ can a^'an- 
 taare them nothins after their decease- What w£ts N,^''- 
 uchftdnezzar the be-tter for having had an infinite num- 
 ber of people, within his dp^iIniansS Th^ could nqt hin- 
 der him frpni lying .down upon a bed of worths, nor 
 from being eaten l)y vermin, Is. xiv. To what purpose 
 did liierich glutton abound with an ocean of ricjies dur- 
 
164! THtj CURISflAN'S CONSOLATrON. 
 
 ing his life? After his tteath he could not so much as 
 o^btain a drop of water te cool iiis'tongufe, Lute Xvi. 
 The author of the Book of Wisdom bad entered iido 
 ihU ffledilationj, where he represents the chilth-eu of this 
 World a^makittg ntany fruitless latnentationsYor their for- 
 mer follies, and voluntary blindness: What hatli pride 
 profited us? Or what profit hath the pomp of riches 
 brought lis? All those thiugs are passed away like a 
 shadow, and as a post that passes by: As- a ship that 
 passeth over the waves of the water, which when it is 
 gone by, the trace thereof cannot be found neither the 
 path of it in the floods, chap. v. 8, 9, 10. Our heirs givfc 
 lis nothing of all our substance but a windiAg-she'et, a 
 few boards, or perhaps some pounds of lead; and all 
 these consume with us, and in time rot in our graves. 
 In short, we must not only leave all our honours, dig- 
 dignities, treasuriis, and riclies, but we must also quit 
 this body, this flesh, tliese bones, and this skin whidl 
 covers them. O man! remember, that dnist thou art, aOiJ 
 unto dust thou shalt return, Gen. iii. 49, 
 
 ^6. Saladifte, the renowned Sultan of Egypt,^ hath 
 left to posterity an illustrious testimony of this Canity 
 of riches and worldly grandeur. For when he lay upon 
 his death-bed, he commanded that the winding-sheet in 
 which he was to be burvied Should be carried publicly 
 at the end ofalafice, liy an herald, who proclaimed 
 with\ loud voice, Behold here is all that this greJil 
 mcKiarch carries aWay of all the treasnrfes, glory, pritfM- 
 palitliies, and lordships, which he pOi^^essed in the world'; 
 17- What is4still more afflicting, we know not who 
 shall inherit the fruits of all oUr labours, which we pos 
 ses witfc so much fear and restless avarice. Perhaps oal 
 
THE CHUISTI^N'S CONSOLATION. I65 
 
 gi-eatest enemies, of,' which is still worse> thcentemics of 
 God, shall clothe themselves Vvith our spoils; and thai 
 which we have heen gathering together for many years, 
 shall be squandered in a moment. Of tliis vanity and 
 evil the royal Prophet complains in the 39th psalmi. 
 Surely every man walketh in a vain shewt- surely they 
 are disquieted in vain: he heapeth up riches, and know- 
 eth not who shall gather them. 
 
 18. Consider well, O Christian! the dangerous ef- 
 iects that are* wrought in us by the love «f the world, 
 and th^ deceitfulhess of riches. This passion chokes in 
 our hearts the good seed of the gospel, Mattfa. xiii. and 
 hinders it from growing up t^alvation. It keeps, many 
 from glorifying God, and malfing an open profession of 
 his truth; as it is said of some of tiie chief Pharisees 
 that they believed in our Lord Jesus Christ, but would 
 it6t confess faim before men, because they loved ils<e 
 praise of men more than the praise of God, John xii. — 
 Hence it came to pass, that when Cyrus made procla- 
 mation, that the children of Israel should have leave to 
 ifeturn into their own country, to rebuild Jerusalem and 
 the temple, and to re-establish the service of Almighty 
 Sod, there wci-e many Jews who shut both their, "ears 
 and hearts to this wise princess voice, and 6^d*s call; 
 the reason of Which was, because they bad taken to6 
 much pains to establish themselves at Babylon, were 
 too deeply rooted there, and were too much wedded to 
 the pleasures and delights of tlie place. For the same 
 cause likewise, the young man in the gospel, of whom 
 mention has been already made, would not follow the 
 Saviour cif the World, nor ol)ey his command, because 
 h« had so much riches,' and had settled h|s heart and Af- 
 fections upon thefii. As the ark of the covenant and Da- 
 
166 ' '■ JflE CHRISTIAN'S SdNSOLATtON. 
 
 gon i?te idol of the PhiE^^Snes, could not dwell together 
 ywdcr one roof, 1 •Sara, v; so the love of God and th6 
 Hove of the worliJ are absolutely incompatible. , Where- 
 fore 8t, JoLn exhorts us, love not the world, neither 
 the tliipigs that arc in the world. If any man love the 
 wci'id, the love of the Father is not in him, 1 .John ii. 15. 
 .19. It is this passion that stops so many at their first 
 setting out in the paths of piety. For as Lot's wife was 
 changed intrt a pillar of salt, as soon as 'she had looked 
 behind her. Gen. xix. 36; so when God sends his holy 
 angels to take us by the hand, and drag us out of the 
 spiritual Sodom, there is nothing more dangerous than 
 to look back with regret after the worldly advantages 
 and delights which we *e then entirely to abandlj9i|. 
 That alone is able to stop us in our course, to quench 
 our zeal, and to cause all our pious resolutions to vaiu- 
 ish. IVherpfore we oughtto-jaigrave in letters ©f gold 
 this excellent sentence of our blessed Saviour, JVo man 
 having put his hand to the ploiigh, and looking back^ is 
 fit for the kingdom of God, Luke ix. 36. 
 
 20. Hence it likewise^ comes to pasSj, that so many 
 persons, esteemed the best grounded in religion and pi- 
 ety^ turn their backs upon God, and make shipwreck 
 of their faith. VVhat was»the reason why the chlklren 
 of Israel murmured so often, and desired to return into 
 Egypt? Was it not, as we Jiave already remarked,, be- 
 cause their hearts and affections were rooted to thatunir 
 happy land, from whence God liad delivered them by 
 so many miiracles? And wherefore did Demas leave St. 
 Paul, and the gospel of Christ? It was because he, la- 
 ved tkis preseutvorld, 2, Tim. iv. 10. in short, our 
 own experience confirms to us every day the precious 
 paying of our Saviour, JSTo man can serve two masters: 
 
THE CHRISTIAN'S CONSOLATION. l67 
 
 for either lie will hate the one; and love the other; or 
 else, he will hold to the one, and despise the other: 
 ¥e cannot serve God amd Mammon, Mattli. vi. 24. 
 
 21. If the riches and honours of the woilil happen not 
 lo wotk in ourselves these fatal and lapenlalile effects, 
 they often produce them in our posterity. Many would 
 live happier in the World, and be worthier men, if their 
 parents had left them less wesiltli, and ill a humbler 
 rank. Their riches and honours occasion them innumer- 
 able evils, and oftentimes plunges them into the gross- 
 est and most insolent debaucheries. It is tllat which puffs 
 them up with a ridiculous vanity, and an insupportable 
 pride, that renders tlrem hateful both to God and man. 
 In a word, it is that which makes them forgt-t God; aud 
 the unspeakable treasures of his kingdom. Wherefore 
 Agur offers up this excellent prayer unto God, Give me 
 neither poverty, nor' riches, feed me with food conveni- 
 ent for me; Lest I he full, and deny thee, and say: Who 
 is the Lord? Or lest I be po&f, and steal, and take thi 
 name of my God in vain, Prov. xxx. 8, 9. Wretched 
 man! to what purpose dost thou torment tiiyself, and 
 take so much pains to heap up riches for thy children? 
 Perhaps those wry riches which ihbu tearCst from others, 
 or which thou acquirest with the loss of thy soul, shall 
 serve to make golden calves, Esod. xxxii. and be the 
 substance of abominable idols, Judges xvii. As Gideon^s 
 gold, which be took from the Midianites, was employ- 
 ed to make an ephod which became a snare to his house 
 and to all Israel. So it happens many times, that the 
 goods which we get with the expense of so much blood 
 and sweat, and the honours unto which we climb with 
 so much toil and eager passion, become a snare to our 
 posterity, and cast them headlong into an abyss of 
 
168 THE CiiRISTIAN'S CONSOLATION.; 
 
 S3. We mast not foFget that death js a kind of skep 
 whei^efore in holy seiiptupe, to die and to fall aslee) 
 aie fftequently te be understood in the same sense. Nov 
 as we find by cxperienee^ that we can not fall asleep 
 unless we first banish from our pillow all thoughts c 
 our worldly affairs; so it iss^ltogetber impossible for u 
 to die comfortably, and in peace, unless we banish be 
 times from our hearts and affections all the foolish thought 
 that disquiet us, and all the corroding cares that under 
 mine and prey upon us. 
 
 ' 2S. To this purpose, we read in profane ^Mstra'; 
 that when Pyrrhus king of EpirUs had prepared a pow 
 erfal army to march against the Romans, one of hi 
 chief counsellors, named Cyneas, spake to him in th( 
 following manner, Sir, if it fleq,se God to groM 
 us the mctor^ over the Romans^ ichdt use shall iCi 
 make of it? The king answered, We will endeavou 
 to conquer the r^st of Italy; and when we shall bavt 
 conquered Italy, replied Cyneas, how shall we emploj 
 ourselves next? We will then subdue Sicily, said tb« 
 kingJ.The ptudence Cyneas ccfntinued to demand. Ant 
 when we shall have subdued Sicily whaf^ shall we do] 
 Pyrrhus answefed, We will pass over into Africa am 
 take Carthage; and a,fter that, we may recover Mace 
 donia, and give law to all Greece, without contro^l 
 But, Sir, replied Cyneas, wheri we shall have go 
 all into our possession, what shall we do then? Th 
 king ansAvered, with a smile. My friend, we will thei 
 repose ourselves, and spend our days in pase and plea 
 sure. And what hinders us now, Sir, from reposinj 
 ourselves, and taking our ease and pleasure, said thii 
 faithful minister to his prince, since we have already ii 
 our hands that which we are gQipg to seek so far, wifl 
 
THE CHRISTIAN'S CONSOLATION. 169 
 
 so much bloodshed and danger? We may apply this to 
 oui'^ves; for we have, most of us, a long series of de- 
 pendent designs, which cannot be accomplished during 
 the lives of several men. We tremble, as if death had 
 already caught us hy the throat; and yet we have many 
 desires to fulfil, as if we were immortal. We build 
 and adorn our dwellings, as if we were never to leave 
 tham; and we may make as much provision as if we had 
 the charge of a royal army. Let us therefore imitate the 
 wise and prudent Cyneas; let ua ask ourselves, If or 
 what purpose are these mighty designs? What end we 
 propose to ourselves of all our labours, cares, and 
 watebings? What we aim at when we run through so 
 many dangers, and endure so many inconveniences? Our 
 souls, without doubt, will answer us, That it is with an 
 intent to repose ourselves at last, to live at ease, and en- 
 joy the fruits of our labour. If so, let us seize the pre- 
 sent hour to enjoy that happiness, and satisfaction, and 
 not stay till death shall stretch us in our graves. Let us 
 be contented with the goods that God hath already be- 
 stowed apou us, and use them with thanksgiving. Mi- 
 serable wretches that we are! Why do we labour and 
 torment ourselves for so many things, seeing there is on- 
 ly one thing needful, s|,nd that is piety,, the fear cf God, 
 and the expectation of his eternal joys! Let us therefore 
 chuse that good'^part, which shall never be taken from 
 us, i4nke x. 4!^. 
 
 ^. If we desire to imprint still deeper in our minds 
 a contempt of the world and its vanities, we must often 
 meditate^ with a pious attention, upon the excellency of 
 our nature,^' sanctified by grace, upon the dignity of 
 our spiritual calling, and upon the riches and glory of 
 that everlasting happiness which Ood bath reserved for 
 
lyO THE CHRISTIAN'S CONSOLATIOJf, 
 
 US in heaveih It is impossible to think upon these things 
 as we ought;' but we must conclude with the Apostle, 
 that the world, with all its treasures and delights, is not 
 worthy of us, Heb. xi. The woman that appeared to 
 St. Jotin in a vision Mas clothed with the sun, and the 
 moon was under her feet, and upon her head a crown of 
 twelve stars, Rev. xii. 1. This is a lively image of thjB 
 church of Christ in general, and of every faithful mem- 
 ber in particular; for when we are clothed and adorned 
 with Jesus Christ the Son of ilighteousness, we should 
 tread uiider foot all the pomp and magnificence of the 
 world, laugh at its revolutions, and at all the vanities 
 and inconstancy of the earth. We must seek our great- 
 est glory> and our most transporting d@Jlghts, in the doc- 
 trine of the twelve Apostkvs, who are as so many bright 
 stars that shine in the firmament of /the church. Let the 
 world change its counteDance as often as the deceitful 
 Laban;' we ought to resemble the rays of the sun, 
 and to be always the same; for our\glory is not like the 
 glory of the world, and that of the princes of this age, 
 1 Cor. ii. which comes to nothing. It is not built upon 
 a vain and perishable foundation, but upon the living 
 ind true God, who is the same yesterday, and to-day, 
 mdfor ever, Heb. xiii. 8. Some trust in chariots, and 
 iome in horses; hut we will remember the name of the > 
 Lord ur God, Psal. xx. 7. * 
 
 S5. God hath given us an erect countenance, looking 
 Lip towards heaven, that we might thereby learn tt^Jift 
 ip our heart, and send our desires and affections thither. 
 He hath created our souls of! a celestial nature, that they 
 may take their flight above all earthly matter. He hath 
 idorned them with immortality, that they may contemn 
 ivery thing that is prerishing and transitory, and not im- 
 nortal like themselves. In short, seeing God hatb pre- 
 
THE CHRISTIAN'S CONSOLATION. 171 
 
 pared for us his heaven, his paradise, his glory, his 
 treasims, and his rivers of everlasting- joys, how can 
 we debase our affections to the dust of this eartli, on 
 which the serpent creeps? 
 
 26. Alexander the Great, being: about to leave Mace- 
 donia, to go and conquer the Persian empire, he distri- 
 buted all his substance to his friends and faithful ser- 
 vants: and when one of his favourites asked him, what 
 he had reserved for hfmself, he answered. That he had 
 reserved hope. In the same manner, we ought at all 
 timesto be ready to depart out of the world, and to leave 
 our kindred and friends whatsoever we enjoy. And if 
 our flesh should ask. us, what we have kept for ourselves? 
 Let us answer, with an holy confidence, That we have 
 kept our hope. This answer, I assure you, christian 
 souls will be better grounded than that of Alexander to 
 his favourite. For this prince left his royal patrimony 
 without any constraint; but whether we will or not, we 
 must leave the wprld. Alexander quitted certain pos- 
 sessions for a doubtful hope; but we abandon perishing 
 enjoyments, for a hop^ more certain and immoveable 
 than heaven and earth. Alexander's expectation regar- 
 ded only a temporal kingdom, and a short and fading 
 glory; but our expectation is of an incorruptible crown 
 and eternal triumphs. Death that seized upon Alexan- 
 der in the flower of his age, put an end to all his victo- 
 ries, and destroyed all his trophies; but we are in hopes 
 to conquer death itself; and this hope will not deceive 
 us. This therefore being our assurance, it is no wonder 
 if the Apostle tells us, that hope is as an anchor of the 
 soul, bothsure andsteadfast, and which entereth into that 
 mthin the vail, that is, into heaven, whither Jesun Christ 
 is entered for us, as our forerunner, Heb. vi. 19, SO. 
 
17S 1*HE CitRlSTiAN'S CONSUiiATiOST. 
 
 ay. God hath hid in the eai^h, gold, silver and pre- 
 cious stones, to teach us to Jkead uoder our feet the rlchi- 
 es and pomps of the world. But he hath lifted up to 
 the highest heaven, our spiritual treasffii^s, and our im- 
 mortal crowns, that we may place thei^e Out hearts, and 
 most ardent affections. He would have us imitate the 
 prophet David, who dui^ing his flight, and the cruel per- 
 secutions which he suffered, which had been prom^ed 
 to him, and of which he had received the uttCtidn from 
 Samuel. He would have us behave like those true Is- 
 raelites, who, when they were captives in Babylon, had 
 always their hearts and affections in Jerusalem, &ttA 
 made it the only subject of th«ir joy in the midst of all 
 their sorrows, Psal. cXxxviii Thus vfe, who are wan- 
 dering up and down in this miserable wilderness, ^nd 
 who live in the world as in another Babylon, in a kind 
 of captivity, ought to comfort ourselves, and rejoice in 
 expectation of the heavenly kingdom, which hath been 
 prepared for us from all eternity, and whereof the Holf 
 Spirit is the true unction, which hath confirmed to us the 
 promise, and given the earnest of it. The eye of our faith 
 should be always fixed upon the Jerusalem above, wliich 
 is the mother of us all. Gal. iv. S6, and the place of our 
 iBternal rest. To this the Apostle exhorts us in these di- 
 vine words, If ye then hefisenwith Christ^, seek those 
 thir,gs which are above, where Christ sitteth on the 
 right hand of God. Set your affecti^S on things above 
 not on things on the earth: for ye are dead, and your 
 life.is hid with Christ in God^ Col. iii. 1, S, 3. 
 
 SS. When men are going to reside in another coun- 
 try, where their money is not current, they furnish them- 
 selves betimes with bills of exchange, and find the means. 
 
THE ©BRISTIAN'8 CONSOLATlOISr. 17S 
 
 to receive it in otlier coin. Therefore, sfceing that nei- 
 ther gold, nor silver, nor |JT6oioQg stonesj will pass cur- 
 rent ia heaven, the place of^ our eteroal abode, let us 
 send thither ijeUoies all our riches and treasures, as it 
 were by way of bills of exchange; and that we may intrust 
 theta in safety, with assurance of a notable gainj and 
 a lawful usury, let as pat them into the hands of God 
 himself, who will re$tote thetn to as ati hundred fold ia 
 his kingdom. Let us distribute thefn to the p6of, who 
 are the members of Christ's fiiystical body, and this bles- 
 sed Saviour will reward us as if they had been given to 
 his own person. Ton that are in so much fear to lose 
 your money, get such purses as will n«ver d«6ay, and 
 ■make to youi*sBl<fbs friends nf tM inammon ofunvigh^ 
 teousness, that i0h.en ye fail they may r&ceive you int^ 
 everlasting%habitation. Luke 3£vi. 9> 
 
 29. Lastly, as the children of Israel, when they had 
 tasted of the land of Gknian, most ardently desired to 
 enjoy such a noble and delicious country, and their 
 abode in the wilderness became still more tedious and 
 insQpportable; so we, who have the jif si fruits of th^ 
 Spirit^ Rom. viii. 2&. and the foretaste of paradise, 
 must aspire with all our hearts to the heavenly Canaan, 
 and sigh without ceasing, for its unspeakable delrght. 
 All the pleasures of the worM should seem insipid tu 
 us, and its greatest sweets be turned into bitterness; so 
 that we may often pray with David, Remember me, O 
 Lavd, with the favour that thoabearest unto thy people:- 
 O visit me with thy salvation: That linay see the good 
 of thy chosen, that I may rejoice in the gladness of thy 
 nation^- That I may glory in thine inheriianc^, Psal. 
 cvi. 4, 5. '■'■'' -■•'■• ' ■■'" 
 
 To concludis this discourse, since ice have here no 
 
174 THE CHRISTIAN'S CONSOLATION. 
 
 continuing city, hut that we seek for one to come, Heb. 
 xiii. Hi. since we kaow not the hour when God will 
 please to take us out of th^ world, to introduce us into 
 his holy Jerasalem, let us take heed to ourselves, lest 
 at any time our hearts be overcharged with surfeiting^ 
 and drunkenness, and the cares of this life, and so that 
 day -come upon U8 unawares, Luke xxi. 34. And as 
 the Apostles left their nets to follow Jesus Christ, M^tth. 
 iv; so let us leave the vain cares, the groundless fears, 
 and the deceitful hopes, that entangle our soiils, that 
 when it shall pleiase God to call as, we may be ready to , 
 answer his heavienly call. Let us accustom ourselves 
 betimes to will what God willtith, and to obey him With- 
 out reluctance. Let us cast all our cafes upon God> 2 
 Pet. v'. 7. and rely upon his wise and fatherly provi- 
 dence. Let us look with contempt upon the world, its 
 vain pomps, and perishable riches; and esteem nothing ., 
 upon the earth, nor ought that man is able to procQre 
 for ns; in comparison of the blessed hope which we have 
 in heaven, Tit. ii. 13, and the precious gift which God 
 hath reserved for us, S Tim. ii. Let us prefer Job's 
 dunghill and ashes to the proud throne, and vast em- 
 pire of Nebuchadnezzar. Let us esteem the beggary of 
 poor Lazarus, more happy than the wanton abundance 
 of the rich glutton; and let tts engriive in our hearts this 
 blessed saying of the Son of God, What is a man ad-*' 
 vantaged, if he gain the whole world, and lose hintseM^' 
 or be cast, away? Luke ix. S5. Let us have always be- 
 fore our eyes, the image of that rich worldling who hiad 
 heaped up many goods for himself, but was not rich in 
 the sight of God. Let us remember what he said unto 
 his soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many 
 years, take thine ease, eat, drink,' and he merry, Luke 
 
THE CHRISTIAN'S CONSOLATION. 173 
 
 ix 19} and let what God said unto him sound always 
 in our ears, Thoufool^ this night thy aoul shall he re- 
 quired of thee: then whose shall those things he which 
 thou hast provided? Instead of contriving how toenlarge 
 our barns and graneries, and to increase our revenues 
 and treasures, let ns labour to set bounds to our desires, 
 and be content with such things as we have, H^b. xiii. 
 5. Seeing we have but a breath in our nostrils, and that 
 we are clothed with a ntortal body, let us not entertain 
 such distant designs, nor suffer our covetings to be im- 
 mortal. Let us always, and in every place, be ready to 
 put an end to our labours, and to lay the last stone on 
 our building; or rather let us be always in a disposi- 
 tion to loose the;bands of this earthly tabernacle. Let 
 us willingly break all the ties that attach us to this mi- 
 serable ,world, that when death comes it may have no- 
 thing to do but to cut the last string, by which our soul 
 is naturally united to this languishing body. Let our 
 affections take root in heaven. That where our treasure 
 is, our hearts may he there also, Matth. vi. 21. Let 
 us not slumber with the foolish virgins, Matth. xxv; but 
 having OUT loins girded about, and our lights burning, 
 Luke xii. 35; let us be prepared, at every moment, to go 
 to meet our heavenly Spouse, and follow him into the 
 marriage-chamber. Let us be like a ship at anchor, rea- 
 -dy to sail with the Urst fair wind; or as a soldier, com- 
 pletely armed, that only waits for the day of battle, and 
 holds himself always in readiness to mount his horse 
 that he may m^rch into the field at the first sound of the 
 trumpet. Let us send betimes all our most precious 
 jewels into the most glorious palace of eternity, that our 
 bag and baggage being already gone, we may have no- 
 thing to do but to take our last farewel. If any consi- 
 
 .1: ea L J ui__j -J. 
 
17€ THEeaRIST^AN;'S;CO^SOLAT^ON. 
 
 4fB all these bands by the strength of Christ, the Cap>- 
 tara of bur Salvation, our Nazareuigm; that is to say 
 by the virtue of Bod's HaW Spirit, which he hath been 
 graciously pleased to vouehsafe us. And if the person® 
 whom we love and cherish the most tenderly, or even 
 those whom we esteem the most, or those to whom we 
 owe the greatest reverence and honour, should labour 
 to estrange oar affections, and deliver us from our holy 
 resolution; by mean and earthly considerations, let us 
 say to them, in the words of our Saviour to Mary Mag- 
 dalen, Touch me not, for I am not yet ascended to my 
 Father, John xx. 17. Stop not my course; for 1 have 
 already h@ld of the prize, the promised crown. In short, 
 as, the Father of the Faijthful loosed the ram, whose 
 hoi>ns were caught in a thicket, and c^ered it up for a^ 
 burnt-oifeiting unto Grod^ Gen. xxii; so let us free our 
 minds from alt worldly cares, and carnal affection^; let 
 us of^r theni u]> to Bod a burnt- offering of a sweet smel- 
 ing savour, as aaholy andlimng sacrifice, Bom. xii. i, 
 which burns in the ardent flames of zeal and charity,. 
 yet is never consumed. 
 
 Vt'hen the Christiali is thus prepared, he will not 
 fear death, but will say to it,: with; an assured counte- - 
 nance. Come when thou wilt, deaths 1 desire no de^ 
 hay, for it is a long time siace 1 ;have settled all my af' 
 fairs, and have waited for thee with intrejpidity. The., 
 principal part of myself is not here below; my heart isi ' 
 already ravished into heaven, where God: expects me 
 with open arms. Ther^om^notwithstandtug the feailaL 
 darkness that surrounds me, and the design that titfwii 
 hast to destroy me, I will follow: the© as courageously, 
 and with ag much joy^as Peter: didLtha angel of lighl*. 
 that threw- opea. hetea him the gates i o6 his ppis«a>. 
 Acts xij. 
 
THE CHRISTIAN'S CONSOLATION. ^177 
 
 PRAYER AND MEDITATION 
 
 For Slick as prepare themselves for ^mth by renouncing 
 of tti.e World. 
 
 ALMIGHTY God, the Lord of heaven and earth, 
 who dealest out good and evil with a divine foresight, 
 and admirable wisdom! thou hast not permitted us to 
 have here a continuing city, that we may seek for that 
 which is to come. Thou hast set before our eyes the 
 vanity and inconstancy of all things under the sun, that 
 We may aspire to attain more solid and durable advan- 
 tages. Thoii hast placed and reserved in heaven inex- 
 haustible treasui^e^, incorruptible crowns of glory, and 
 eternal triumphs, that we might traijsport thither our 
 hearts and affections. The fountain of everlasting joys 
 is with thee, that we may always thirst after the migh- 
 ty and living God; and that we may desire, with an ho- 
 ly earnestness, to look upon thy beautiful and glori- 
 ous face.^ O adorable creator! seeing thou hast given me 
 an immortal soul, suffer me not to be so wretched, as to 
 grovfcl in' the dust of this miserable earth, or to plunge 
 myself into the filth of its abominable pleasures. Give 
 me grace to renounce the world and all its vanitjesj! 
 and grant that 1 may possess all these decaying and 
 perishable goods, as not possessing them; that I may 
 trample upon all the pomp and glory of the age; that I 
 may remember the gold, silver, and precious stones, 
 whose outward beauty dazzles i\i& carnal eye of man. 
 are nothing else but a little concrete earth, that must 
 again be dissolved into dast; and that I may never for- 
 get, that after my disease, all these things will profit 
 me no niore, than the earth and stones which shall ■ 
 cover my dead qofpse, or the wood or lead which shall; 
 serve for a coffln. Give me grace to despise all the hon-- 
 ours and di^nitie^s, aftpr which the inen of this world 
 hunt so iftipatiently; for the fashion of them passeth 
 away, and they sire evcti as a shadow that'flieth. Pluck 
 out of my hcai*t!^l the caves of this life, andiill werldy 
 solicitudes; that death may not surprise me unprepared, 
 
 Z 
 
(78 THE CMlSTlAN'S CONSOLATION. 
 
 and that there taay be nothing to stop or binder me frtfm 
 §oing to thee, whenever thou shali be pleased to call 
 me;' tha:t my soul being wholly .disentangled and freed 
 from these briars and thorns, I may be ready at every 
 moment to oflFer it up to thee, a living and holy sacri- 
 fice. As thy chosen people Israel pitched their tehts, or 
 removed their camps, just according to thy commaad, so 
 give me grace to be equally disposed either iO' live or 
 die, to remain in this tabernacle, oj" dlepart' from it. — 
 And as this people passed overthe river Jqrdan with a 
 wonderful joy, to take possession of the promised lan^; 
 grant that 1 may also leave this miserable wilderness 
 with transports of delight, to enter into the celestial 
 Canaan, which flows with, the milk and honey of diyine 
 pleasure and everlasting consolation- God, who art 
 the portion of mine inheritance, number me not with the 
 men of this world, whose portion is in this life. Thdti 
 satisfiest their appetite witii thy good things, so that 
 they are full, and leave sufficient for their posterity; but 
 as for me, I shall behold thy face in righteousness, anel 
 shall be satisfied with thy likeness, when t awake at 
 the soiind of the last trumpet. Amen. 
 
 CHAPTER XI. 
 
 The fifth remedy against the Fears of Death, is, to 
 , forsake vice, and to apfly ourselves to the practice of 
 true piety and holiness. *^^ 
 
 VyOD is- so wonderful in. all his works, and disposes 
 of his creatures in such a manner, that he forces from 
 his very enemies the acknowledgement of his truth. You 
 have an excellent example of this in the person of Ba- 
 laam, who, beholding the tents of the children of Israel 
 
THE CHRISTIAN'S CONSOLATION. 179 
 
 was constrained to break out into , this passionate wish, 
 Let me die the death of the righteous, and let my last 
 end be like his, Numb, xxxiii. 10. Although he was a 
 wicked wretch, who loved the wages of iuiquity, ne- 
 vertheless he perceived,'by that prophetic light with 
 which his understanding was enlightened, how sweet 
 and comfortable death was to such as addicted them- 
 selves, during this life, to the service and fear of the Al- 
 mighty God; and how different it is from the death of the 
 profane and worldly-minded, who abandon themselves 
 to their lusts, and love to wallow in the ordure of their 
 lawless and abominable delights. For as the sleep of a 
 drunkard is restless and unquiet, so those who have 
 made themselves drunk with -the filthy pleasures of this 
 life, if they be not altogether Atheists, commonly de- 
 part out of the world, in great agonies of mind, and 
 such horrours upon the conscience as cannot be expres- 
 sed. On the contrary, as the handicraftsman, who 
 hath worked all the day in his shop or as the husband- 
 man who hath wearied himself in following the plough, 
 lays himself down at night, and sleeps sweetly, and in 
 peace; so the good christian, who during this life hath, 
 carefully attended the works of piety and mercy, falls . 
 into his last sleep with great quiet of mind and serenity 
 of soul. As the patriarch Jacob, whose life was unblame- 
 able, when he travelled a journey at his father's com- 
 mand, was not disturbed to see the sun go down, though 
 he was alone in the midst of a vast plain, but laid him 
 down in peace, and slept sweetly, having no other 
 bed but the earth, no other pillow but a stone, no other 
 covering but the heavens, nor any other curtains than 
 the dark shadows of the night, Gen. xxiii. In the same 
 mannBr;,a man sanctified by theSpirit of God, who walk« 
 
iSO THR CHRISTIAN'S CONSOLATION. 
 
 in all the commands of his heaveny l^^ather, shall never 
 be afraiek For wheresoever his sun goes down, where- 
 i^oeVer death arrests him,' he will look upon himself as 
 another Bethel. He will sleep quietly in the Lord Je- 
 sus; and even in the most cruel death, will feel a joy un- 
 speaJeable and full of glory ^ 1 Peti i. 8. with the peace of 
 Gad, which passeth all understanding, Vhil. iv. 7- 
 
 We have an instance of this- in St. Paul: He>,had 
 Uv^i in all good conscience before God, and before men. 
 Acts, xxiii. 1. and had laboured more abundantly in the 
 ministry than all the other Apostlmy 1 Cor xv. iO. 
 Therefore he stood in no fear of death; nay, so far is 
 he from being afraid or apprehensive of it, that he hopes 
 and wishes for it, as the passage into glory and eternal 
 felicity. The same is likewise no less observable in St. 
 Stephen, the first martyr of Jesus Christ; for in the' 
 midst of the most grievous torments,, he had acountenance 
 shining like that of an angel, Acts yi. 15; which was 
 a certain testimony of the inward peace, of his con- 
 science and the extraordinary Joy of his soul; for, ak the 
 wise man infprms us, A. m,erry heart maketh a cheerful 
 countenance. Pro v. xv. 13. From the same fountain i^ 
 • derived this otheT oracle, that foretells, in general, 
 what shall happen to every particular. The ttfiche4>. is 
 driven away in his wickedness: but the righteous': hath 
 hope in his death, Prov. xiv. 33. To which agrees this 
 excellent saying of Jesus the son of Sirach, WWosei 
 feareth ike Lord, it shall go well with him at the laM^i . 
 and he shall find favour in the day of his death EccLji. 
 43. This life is but a moment, that soon flieth away; yet 
 it determines our eternal state, It either raises us to the 
 , glory of heaven, ot casts us headlong into the abyss of 
 ' sternal misery: for whatsoever a man soweth, that sh,!^ll 
 
Tim CHRISTIAN'S CONSOLATION. igi 
 
 I 
 
 h© Sil^iOi reap. For he that soweth to his flesli. shall of 
 the flesh reap corruption: bat he th^at soweth, to thie spirit, 
 shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. Gal. vi. 7, 8. 
 
 If you are afraid of a cruel and unfortqnate death, 
 keep yourselves from an evil and profane life: for com- 
 monly' as a man's life is, so is his death. Most of those 
 who delight to live in filthy lusts and impiety> .depart 
 with hardened hearts, or in despair. God's patience 
 weared out, kindles into a just fury; and Mjre see, that 
 God leaves those at the hours of death, who have left 
 him Bi the course of their lives. He is deaf to the cries 
 and groans, of such as have shut their ears and hearts to 
 hisholy word, and his fatherly admonitions. He laughs at 
 the amazing horrours, and exquisite torments, of thos^ who 
 trample upon his sacred command^; as he himself tells 
 us in the following words, which, like so many-thunders 
 are capaible of overturning mountains, and rending rflcks 
 asunder: Because I have called, artd ye refused, I 
 have stretched out rtiy hand, and no man regarded; but 
 ye have set at nought all my counsels and would none 
 of my reproofs; 1 also will laugh at yoilr calamity, I . 
 will mock when your fear cometh. Prov. i. 24, 23, 26. 
 
 King Ahab desire'd to hear a grateful prophecy of- 
 victory over the Syrians; nevertheless he continued in 
 his impieties and tyranny: thei^fore the prophet Mica- 
 iah, without standing in fear of his displeasure, boldly 
 thrSitens him with the just judgment of God which hung 
 over his guilty head, 1 Kings xxii. In the same man- 
 nerj, some sinners desire to be flattered; and notwith- ' 
 standing they persist in their crimes, expect from us no- 
 thing but predictions of joy and triumph. But we should 
 he' false prophets, possessed with a lying spirit, if we 
 jdid npt fprtel to such people that a most lamentable ^nd 
 
18^ THE CHRISTIAN'S CONSOLATION. 
 
 miserable death will befall them. Our charityfor theitt 
 would be very cruel if we did not endeavour to save 
 them with fear, pulling them out of the fire, Jude S3. — 
 If we did not shew them hell opening its jaws, and the 
 eternal torments wherewith God, in his just wrath, pun- 
 ishes impenitent and hardened sinners: .R^'wozoiX^ the 
 terPour of the Lord, we persuaded men, 3 Cor. v. ll. 
 For if we fail in this duty, their bloods will be required 
 at our hands, Kzek.-xxxiii. 
 
 It was in vain that the Heathen philosophers discour- 
 sed, so learnedly concerning the shortness of liffc; and 
 to as little purpose were those momentos of mbrtality so 
 highly affected by many of their princes. They were 
 oply vagrant thoughts, barren of arty benefit, seeing they 
 could not prevail upon them to reform their li^es, and 
 by consequence to prepare for a happy death. It was 
 likewise in vai» that Balaam so passionately desired to 
 die the death efthe righteous, and that his last endmight 
 he like his, Numb, xxiil. 10; seeing he still lived the 
 life of a sinner, and continued in the congregation of 
 idolaters; therefore he died, with them, and was involv- 
 ed in their punishment, Numb. xxxi. 8. As he was a 
 partner irj their crimes, it was but just and reasonable 
 that be should share in their calamity, and be a partaker 
 of their sufferings. 
 
 To forsake vice and sin, is to spoil death of its ve- 
 nom, and all its fiery darts. It is to disarm this furioii«r 
 beast of its teeth and claws. It is to break th^ cords and 
 chains, by which the devil drags us into perdition. It i^ 
 to strangle the monsters that affright us, and the furies * 
 that haunt us. In short, it is td change hell and its tor- 
 ments into a paradise of delights. There never was any 
 person yet that led an holy and religious life, but he di- 
 
THE CHRISTIAN'S CONSOLATION. 183 
 
 ed happily in the favour of God. Now that the Lord 
 kndeketh, open unto him the doors of your hearts, and 
 at the hour of your death; he will Open unto you the 
 gates of heaven. Present hinij during this life, with 
 your souls and bodies, and he will accept the gift, and 
 set his own seal upon it. Here below, he will enrich 
 you with his graces, and crown you in heaven with his 
 glory. Blessed are the dead, which die in the Lord, 
 Rov. xiv. 13; but to die in the Lord, we must live to th& 
 Lord, that we may be able to say, with the apostle. 
 Whether we live, we live unto the Lord, and whether 
 we die, we die unto the Lord: Whether we live there- 
 fore, or die, we are the iortZ's, Rom. xiv. 8. 
 
 To excite us to this religious duty, we must consider, 
 in the first place, the command which God gives us to 
 love him, to fear him, to repent of our sins, and to walk 
 in his holy laws. Unto this he exhorts us in all the wri- 
 tings of the Old Testament; as in Dueteronomy vi. Thou 
 shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and 
 with all thy soul, and with all thy might. In the 3nd 
 psalm, 'Serve th« Lord with fear, and rW3||e with trem- 
 bling. In the 36th chapter of Isaiah, Sanctify the Lord 
 of Hosts himself, and let him be. your fear and dread. 
 And in chap. Iv, Let the wicked forsake, his way, and 
 the unrighteous man his thoughts; and let bim return 
 un^ the Lord, and he will have merqy upon him, and 
 to our God-, for he will abundantly pardon. In the anjl 
 chapter of the prophet Joel, Turn ye even to me with 
 all ^our heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and 
 with mourning. And in the first chapter of Malaehi, A 
 son honoureth his father, and a servant his mast^j-: if 
 then I be a father, where is miue honour? apd if I be f?i 
 mastetj where is my fear? 
 
181 THE CHRISTIAN'S' C0NSQ(LATl6i*f, 
 
 Si Jesus Christ did not come to destroy the law, Dut 
 toi fulfil it; therefore in the New Testament, we ha^eno 
 less frequent exhortations' to the practice of piety and 
 virtue. As in the 5th chapter of St.' Matthew, Let your 
 light so shine before men, that they may see your good 
 works, and glorify yopr Father which is in heaven. And 
 in the first chapter of St. jMark, Repent ye, and believe 
 the gospel. The apostle St. Paul, in the 13th of the 
 Romans, has these divine 'words: I beseech you there- 
 fore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present 
 your bodies a living sacriflcs, holy, acceptable unto God, 
 which is your reasonable service. Arid be not conform- 
 ed to this worlds but be ye transformed by the renewing 
 of your mind, that ye, may prove what is that good, and 
 accepta]|Le, and perfect wilt of God. Abhor that which 
 is evil, cleave to that which is g6bd^ And in the 13th 
 chapter. Walk honestly as in the day, not in rioting and 
 drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness^ not in 
 strifie and envying; but put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, 
 and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts 
 thereof, In JMIr. xv. Awake to righteousness and sin 
 not, In Eph. iv. Put ye off, concerning the former con- 
 versation, the old man, which is corrupt according to 
 the deceitful lusts; and put ye on the new man, which 
 after God is created in righteousness and true holiness. 
 In Cpl. iii. Mortify therefore your members, which are 
 upon the earth: fornication, uncleanncss, inordinate af- 
 fection, evil concupiscence, and covetousriesS, which is 
 idolatry. In the fifth chapter of the first iepistle to the 
 Thessalouians, Watch and be sdbei*: abstain from all 
 appearance, of evil. And in the fourth chapter of the 
 Pbillippians, Whatsoever things are true, whatsoever 
 things are honest, whatsoever things are just, wbatso- 
 
THE CiiI^IS?riA^^,JG(JllpOLATION. i§5 
 
 ^MStv things jire pure, whatsoever things ^ve, leveljr, 
 whatsoever llipgs are of a good report; if tiiere hetany 
 vipkie, and if there be any praise think on these things. 
 I might with as much ease count the stiirs of the sky, 
 as reclijOn up all Ihe passages in scripture that exhort to 
 an holy life. , ,;", 
 
 4, 3. God not only commands us to labour after holiness, 
 Jri^i^ice, and innocency of life; but |ie proposes himself 
 for our examplcj that as jgbedient children delight jto 
 copy their father's virtues, so we may endeavour to im- 
 itate in oiiv lives the divine perfections of our heavenly 
 ■Father, and re-engrave, in our hekrts his sacred image. 
 It is, this glorious patierri which he sets before us in the 
 1 Ub chapter of Leviticus, Be ije holy, for. 1 dm holy: ^s 
 does St. Peter, reciting this very passage, As he luhieh 
 hath called you is holy, so be ye hol^ in all manner of 
 conversation; because it is written, Be ye holy for tam 
 holy. . Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ gives us the 
 same lesson: Lovp, isays he, your enemies, bless them j 
 ttiat curse you, do good to them,tliat hate you, and pray , 
 for them that despitefully use ytu, and persecute you^ 
 Ijhat ye may be the children, of your Fathei- which is in 
 Jieavcnj for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on 
 the good, and sendeth rain on the just, and on the un- 
 just. Be ye thereforg perfgct, even as your Father which 
 is in heaven is perfect. Ai^d ^he apostle St. Paul, wri- 
 ting to the Ephesians, recommends the' same model to 
 us in these di^ioe wcppds: Be ye' followers *pf,,Grod, as 
 Sear children, chap. v. L Put ye off the old man, and 
 put ye on that new man, which after God is created in 
 righteOusnessj and true holiness.. And in Col. iii. N^qw 
 put off all these; anger, wrath, maJice, blasphemy, .filthy 
 communication out'of your mouth. Lie not one to aii-^ 
 
186 THE CHRISTIAN^ CONS0LATION. 
 
 oth^,. I^eing^that ye have put offithef^jjl njan with; hit 
 dejps^, and have put on, the new fflan, whlbh is renewed 
 i^.1^p«wledgiB atoi^r the image of him t^at cr^ate^ him. . 
 
 4. tffit us meditate wilh atteptipn upon the excsllfBt 
 and precious prpmisesth^-t God h^th. made tofpcjixas 
 ad(|ic.t themselves to .gifty, ^j(4: g!|od ^p?|i;|.', As in th# 
 20th chapter of Expdtj|, I shew mercy unt.oitfe«(ji§ia^j||! 
 of them that lpv|iime, and^^ip my comma,ndments., And 
 1 Sam,^ ii. X^em tiiat hpnour, me, l)iyill hopoUr, Ai^d 
 in fe iii. Say ye to .thie rifh|ifc|ii.s, th^-ylt: he wMl 
 wiliii hiinj ^or t,b^y s4|^|iW eat of thf fruit p| thf ir doiniS' 
 In Matthpw v.. Blessed j^are thfj pure in heart; for, they 
 shaH see God. And in chap. vi,.i§6.e]^ ye ||rf|;. the king? 
 dom of God, and his righte^u^jj^^s;, and all these thin;§|i 
 shall be added unto you. And in chap, vii^ Kpt ev,ery 
 one that saiUi Uwto,fflej Jjord? Lord, shall 'feiiteriiatolhe 
 kipgdom of heay^enj^ but he that, doth the will of my Fa- 
 ther which is in heaven. St. 'P%ul speaks thus to the 
 Liomans: :If j^e through the Spirit d9: mortify the deeds 
 ofiM hody,ye shc^ live, c\\ei\i. viii.;10. Antl in the. first 
 epistle to Thaojihjf^flQrodlinessl is pj^{)^table,Kunto all 
 things, having promise of the Ufe itj^Lfit HQw; is,''ani;,1^ 
 that which is ^o eome,, Ajjd in the ^Oth chapter of the 
 Itevclationa, it is W'ritten, JSZe^se*? and hfOly, is he, that 
 hatk part in the first resurr,ec:tjon^ on :S^ch , the secQ,nd 
 death shflllhave no pq-iper: . ^ , ; 
 
 5. Let the earth' Ijear, and tremble, , at the terribly 
 judgment which God hathjdenpunced against all impe- 
 nitent sinnersi a^|p;;Expd. xx. j, the l4ord thy Gp^il 
 ata a jiPalous God| fi'siting the ipigfUlty of the fathei^ 
 upon the dhildren uh|o the thirtl and fourth gejaerations 
 of them that hate Pj^. Jfn the 3nd chapter of tl|g,JlEst 
 book of Samuel, The^in tl^at honour me, I will' 
 
THE CimiSTIAN'S CONSOLATION. 187 
 
 and 1^^ tliat' despise me shall be lightly esteemed. In 
 the iMh charpter of StL Mat'thefw, Every idle word that 
 men shall speakj th^- give account thereof in the day of 
 judgment; In the 3d of St. John, Except a man be 
 born of water and of the Spirit, that is to say, of a spirit 
 purifying like water, he cannot enter into the kingdom 
 of God. In Rom. viii. They that are in the' flesh can- 
 not please God. Aiid in the 6th chapter of the first 
 epistle to the Corinthians, Be not deceived; neither for- 
 nicators, nor adulterers,' nor idolaters, oor effeminate, 
 nor abusers of themselves with mankind, nor thieves, 
 nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor eitortion- 
 ers, shall inherit the kingdom of God. The apostle to 
 the Hebrews is hot content to tell us. That •without ho- 
 liness no man shall see the Lord, ch^p- xii. 14^: for he 
 says, father. That if wC sin wilfully after that weijbave 
 received tlie fnowledge of the truth, there remaineth no 
 more sacrificeJ'or sins, but a certain fearful looking for 
 of judgment, atil fiery indignation, which shall devour 
 the adversaries, chap. x. 37. For Gfeod is a consuming 
 fire, chap. xii. 39. And in the KCT^lationSj it is not only 
 said, that there shall in no wise enter into the holy Je- 
 rusalem any thing that defiletli, neither whatsoever wor- 
 keth abomination or mal^eth a lie, ch. xxi. 37; and that 
 God will shut out of it all dogs- and sorcerers, and whore- 
 mongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever 
 loveth, atid maketh a lie, chap, xxii^ 15. But the Holy 
 Spirit likewise assures us, That the fearful, that is to 
 lsay,such as are more afraid of man than of God, and un- 
 believing, and -the abominable, and murdeters,, d'lltl 
 whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all li- 
 ars, shall have their part in the lake which biirueth with 
 fire s^nA brimstone; which is the second dcatli, chapter 
 
188 THE GilRISTlAK'S OONSOtAtlON. 
 
 ' 6. TItodgh We shoulil speak with ttte tongues of an 
 
 gels, thoU*h'wc shoald bestow all our goods to feed tin 
 
 pororVahd though We shoulti give oBrlJodies to be burn 
 
 ed, if we have not cliarity, we a?e become as soundim 
 
 VtL^s, Of a tinkling-sf rabcrt^ 1 C6v. xiiii Thotigh w« 
 
 shbuld'be able to work sigiis and' Woiider^y if we ar> 
 
 ndt clothed^ with holiness and innboency' of 4ife"j if wt 
 
 are not adorned with meekness and ioy6>" Christ WilJ 
 
 saj uato ns, as the foolisW Virgin^^ J know you not. 
 
 Matth. XXV. 13. Thbush we could with Judas, cast the 
 
 .? , ^ f 1 
 
 devil (iut of other men, it would avail us nothings unless 
 
 we cast him butof our 6<vn hearts^ with aM the wick«d 
 
 lusts that he fosters there. Such stlall fery Out in vain ai 
 
 the last dAy, Lord, Lordf have we not prophesied in 
 
 thy naitM^ 'and in thy name have east out devils? and 
 
 in thy name donettiany wondclpfal worlts? Jesus Christ 
 
 will return them this dreadful answer^ jbepUrtfrom me 
 
 yepiulworlc znig'w^, Matth. vii. SiS, ^% ^i^ 
 
 'V- Considei-, that whatever be yoftr portion of the 
 good things of Um life, or whatever worldly advantages 
 you enjoy, wherl%r^Fcome to die, yoa shall carry away 
 neither yotor riches, hbnours, nor your pleasures. But if 
 you are rich in faith and good works, if you are clothed 
 with holiness, and crowned .with righliBoasne^s; if all 
 your joy and satisfaction consists in the service of God, 
 and the exercise of piety, you shall carry away out of 
 the world this spiritual treasure, this cblestial glory, and 
 these angelical delights. It is what the Holy Spirit 
 teaches us, where it says. Blessed fl0. the dead whieh 
 die in the Lord^ for tliey rest from their laboars, and 
 thefr works do follow tiiem', Rev;, xiv. 13. ■ .= 
 
 8. l^et us have always hefdre our eyes the blessed 
 examples of so many holy persons, who hive trfcei' out 
 
TIP^ CHRISTIAN'S pONSOLATION. igg 
 
 foft-us the way to*heayen,'^nd who, by their piety and 
 sjood works, are arrived at the paradise of God^ and 
 th^rglory of liis kingdom. It is» reported of a famous 
 aodent painter, that when he was aboutto draw an ac- 
 complished ^beauty, hi$ borrowed from divers objects the 
 graces atid excellencies with which he designed to adorn 
 Lis piece. From one he took the M'hiteness of the Ully, 
 from another the glowing blush of • the rose, from this 
 the lightning of the eye, and from that the coral of the 
 lips, and so of the other parts. In the same manner, 
 to TMiew m our sbuls the iiioage of God defaced by sin, 
 we should imitate the virtues and :^ excellencies of the 
 best and most holy men. for example, we shquld al- 
 ways represent to ourselves Abel's innocency, Enoch's 
 holy, life, JJToaji's righteousness, Abraham's faith, LolS" 
 hospM^ity, Isaac's obedience, the fidelity of Jacob, 
 the chastity of Joseph^ the patience of Job, the meek- 
 ness of Moses, the zeal of Phineas, the constancy of 
 David, the wisdom of Solomon, the piety of Josiafa, 
 the ♦piuyers of Daniel, the tears orjeremiah, the fast- 
 iag of Esther, the holy . earnestnesHf tfae Canaanitisli 
 
 : w^men, the >dev4tion of jCornelius, the charity of the 
 good Samaritan, the alms of Dorcas, aaul of the poor 
 widow, the publican's humility, the good thief's repen- 
 tance, the tears of Mary Magdalen, the bitter weeping 
 to St. Peter, the heroic coa^e and indefatigable la- 
 j(.bouTPs of St. Paul, and the glorious martyrdom of St. 
 Stephen, and of so many renowned- pei-son of all ages 
 and sexes, who have gone to the torture with as much 
 joy as to a feast, or a triumph, and who have s,ealed with 
 their blood the truth;of the gospel of the Son; of God, 
 Wherefore, seemg we are compassed about with so great 
 
 %, cloud of 'witnesses, let us run with petievce the race 
 
laO THli CHRISTIAN'S COUSOI^-ATIM- 
 
 ^ 9. Above all things let us lopjp to Jesm^, the aiilitewr 
 and §uisher of our faith; for he hath' left us an exam- 
 ple 4hat we should follow hisrstegisf^ 1 Pet. ii. SI. All 
 the virtues that are dispersed in the souls of ,Gro4^« peo- 
 ple are Uut so many faiiit rays of the Son of Righteous- 
 ness, and a weakimage of hi.$ glory. There, is no lame 
 here belpyf §p perfect, but yields a smoke; nor aaiy 
 righteousness so accomplished, but hath its defects. 
 While we are clothed with the iQfirmiti:e^^ of flesh ?and 
 blood, the garment of the most inpocent is soiled and 
 spotted; but our Lord and ^Etviour is the Lamb without 
 blemish and without spot,! Pet. i, 19j«neither was gplle 
 found in his mouth, 1 Pet. ii. S3; For such an ■Jdgk 
 priest b&cdme us, who is holy, hwrmless, undefiled', sep- 
 arate from sinners, Heb. vii. -^6i. The, perfect image 
 of every virtue was never found in any mortal man; but 
 Jesus Christ is fairer than the children of men: grace is 
 poured into his lips, Psal. xlv. S. In him alone we 
 have a complete model of all virtues, and^all imaginl- ' 
 ble perfections. , Therefore, when the Apostle had ex- 
 horted the Rom^R to renounce the.Mt9; of the flesh, 
 drunkenness, anger, envy, and all kinds of sin, instead 
 of enumerating the contrary virtues, he thinks it suffi- 
 ^^ient to sum up the whole , in this short but divine sen- 
 tejQee> Fut ye on the Lord Jesus Ghrist, Rom. xiii. 1-4; 
 to teach us, that all the vj;rlues and §ra:ces only meet in 
 the sacred person of ouv blessed Saviour, in theiifhi^h*' 
 est degree of perfection. a 
 
 • 10. We are the more obliged to imitate Jesus Christ, 
 . and to engrave his holy image in our hearts, becau/ii@ he 
 is not only t)ur Father, our Lord, and our King> but 
 "he is likewise the blessed head of that body- whereof 
 we are members. Now it is not reasonable that defflen 
 
THE CHRISTIAN'S CONSOLATION. 191 
 
 n4 pipfitbft ttite*wbers sliould be joined to an head soho- 
 Y andgldrionsi Therefove,'Whoever gives hiniself over to 
 'n, and .delights in vice and corruption, maims, as 
 liH^as in him lies, the sncred body of tlie Sort of Gorl. 
 fe was tliis consideration whifch drew from the holy 
 postle this paitltetic expression, Shall I take the mem- 
 ^ of Christ, and iHaMtliem l^e members of an harlot? 
 Cot. vi. 15. ' 
 
 11.; Tlie -Holy SpMt dweilling in our hearts, is also 
 great obligaititin to-a. pious life. Know ye not that ye 
 re the temple of God, artd that the spirit of God dwel- 
 eth in yon? 1 Cor. iii. 16. Shall we dare then to dis- 
 over our filthy and uiiclean thoughts in the presence of 
 oholy and divine a guest? Shall we be so bold as to 
 irect upon his altar the idols of jealousy, whicli' provoke 
 lim to jealbusy? Ezek,viii.' 3. He is of purer eyes than 
 o behold fcvil, Hab. i. 13. It is the only thing in the 
 vorld that afflicts a.nd grieves him. Therefore Avhen St. 
 Paul had exhorted the Ephesians, Let no corrupt com- 
 nunication proteeed out of your tnout^but that vvhicli is 
 ;ood to the use of edifying, that it my minister grace 
 into the hearers; he adds. And grieve not the Holy 
 Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed to the day of i-er 
 lemption, chap. iv. 21), 30. And if there be any one 
 pvho is not awed at the presence of so glorious a person, 
 let him ttemble at thi^ dreadful threatening, If any man 
 lejUe ihet&tnple of God, him shall God destroy, 1 Cor. 
 iii. ir. — • • " 
 
 13. There were two tables of st6ne *in the ark of the' 
 covenant, whereon God himself ha^ written his law, 
 which he gave to his people by the ministry of Moses, 
 i Kings viii. 9. Since, therefore, the God of all mer- 
 TOs hath chosen tbj^ soul to be his sanCtixary^ and th« 
 
19^ THE UHRTSflAN'S CONFLATION. 
 
 pavilion of li is glory, his s^cr^il commahdtoents tqust be 
 written upon the tables iof thine healty Prtiv. vii. Sfat\c\ 
 fhou must be inflatned with an earnest desire for his 
 service, and an fexact conformity 'to his holy will; ■ that 
 we may be aide to say to you. whj^t St. Paul said to the 
 faithful in liis days, Ye are manifestly declaiflEd to be 
 the epistle of Christ}' wiltten^iiSt with inl,but \fith the 
 Spirit of tbe'liviiig fJ6d; n&t In tables of storiip, hut in 
 fleshly tables of the heart, 3 '&irt iii. 3f and fliat tllou 
 tttayest say "with' the royal Pf ophet^ J ddi^M': to'daHhj 
 will, my God: yea, tiy la^is tvithik ijty A^art, Psal. 
 xl. 8. ^'■■' " ■;■' "v-' ^ ' ■ ;'. "'■ 
 
 13. Let us represent to oQrselves continuially' the 
 great and endless ohligations tliat we have to love God, 
 to fear him, and to serve him. He is the tnost |JMSigc;t 
 of alj beings, sovereignly good, j^nd inflhitely anriable; 
 so that if there were iieither hetl to pflHfSh, nor heaven 
 to reward us, he ought to be served and adored, because 
 of himself and his divine perfections. Itwas this trans- 
 porting cpnsidera^n which Caused the prophet to bre&k 
 forth into these lorfy expressions, Who would not fear 
 thee, O Tcing of rmtioiisf for to thee dotJi it appertain: 
 forasmuch as artiong all the wise-men of the nations, 
 iind in all th^v kingdoms^ there is none like unto thee, 
 Jer. X. 7.^:' 
 
 1*. Whilstvve are sojourners hfcre below, we are tidl 
 capable of such an exalted and heavenly meditation. It 
 belongs only to the angels wbom iGrod hath clothed with 
 light an,d glory; and to those happy spu-it«. whom he 
 hath adtpitted to the contemplation of his face. Let us 
 therefore turn our thoughts to those blessings and fa- 
 vours which we have received from this greal God, \vh4) 
 hath created us in his own imhge, knd. hath been pl^^ 
 
THE CHRISTIAN'S CONSOLATION. 193 
 
 ed to make us (be master-piece of all his inferior woq- 
 ders. He hath placed, and as it were summed up in ks 
 all) the graces and peifections which he had dispersed 
 through the universe. He hath given us a being, as to 
 the suD; moon, and stars; a life, as to -the plants; sense, 
 as to the animals; and an understanding, as to the an- 
 gels. In short, he hath breathed into this body, fash- 
 ioned with his own fingers, an immortal soul of an hea- 
 venly substance, a ray of his glory, and a living image 
 t)f his godhead. Bless the Lord, O my soul: and all that 
 is within me, b^ess his holy name. Bless the Lord, O 
 my soul, and forget not all his benefits, Psal. ciii. 1, S. 
 
 15. It is for man's sake that God hath stretched out 
 the heavens, laid the foundations of the earth, poured 
 out the waters, and set bounds to the raging sea. For 
 man's sake it is thai; this bounteous creator hath set the 
 firmament so thick with luminous stars; hath appointed 
 the inconstant moon its course, and endued it with such 
 wonderful influences; hath placed in the sun such an in- 
 exhaustible source of light, and liath established the in- 
 variable succession of the seasons. Hie days, the months, 
 and the years. For man^s use and innocent recreation 
 it is, that so many birds sing and fly in the open air; 
 that such prodigious numbers of flsh swim in the seas 
 and rivers; &at the earth is enamelled with. so many 
 beauteous flowers, brings forth so many wholesome herbs 
 and pleasant fruits, feed so many kinds of animals, and 
 engenders in its bowels gold, silver, and precious stones. 
 \& short, for man's sake it is that God hath created the 
 world, filled it fiill of so many riches, and adorned it 
 with so many rare perfections. Therefore it is not with- 
 out reason that the royal Prophet, jtransported with ad- 
 
 ([{►mlration; cries ou*, God! what is mm, Hiat thou art 
 
 Bb 
 
d.94 THE <?HIIISTIAN'S cgtf^SOLATION, 
 
 ^/^Afifil qf hijnP dnd the so|8 of man that thoii/ vlsit^t 
 '^^P Worthgi/i hastmwie,. him a little low^r tka^ the an- 
 gels, .(a,^d hast erow^efi.him with, glory, and .honour. 
 Thou 0ig4e^t him to have ^a^viinipn over , the work ^f 
 $h^ haxiis: Thoiu hast put joU things under his Je^t- 
 Ml shee;p and oxm^ y^Oj arf,d the leasts of tfie field, 
 ^he fowls of the air, and the fish of the sea, Psal. viii. 
 i.. &c, ;lf the example of this great prophet hag notsufi- 
 cient i^iience to excitje and persuade ypu to, the fear 
 .ajEid^FQIs^ip of God? by the cbn^ideratioi) of the won- 
 -4^W Forks of .the creation; hear tlie voice and exhortation 
 of t^e a&gel th^t took his flight tbr^pug]!! the midst of 
 heaven with .the everlasting gospel in his hand, Vear 
 ,Gfid, and gi'^e glory to him that iiveth for ever and evev- 
 an^dt^ffipghj^ hiw th^t fnci,de heaven a^d earth, and the 
 sea, mid th^fountcfins of jcatei^, Kev. xiv. 7- 
 
 16. ^e not only live, move, and have our being in 
 ^qdj but he hath never left himself without a witness 
 pf it, dping good, Jtnd giving us raiij .fronai heavep, 
 iatid fruitful seasons, filling oii.r hearts with food and 
 gladn^s^, Acts xi4| 17< He feeds us with manna, and 
 ^iyes us tp drigfc of his abu^d^nce. He pverslbiadows 
 uip with ]3.\§ protecting clouds, and enligli(.ens us with 
 hie he^ivenly fire. Hehath hU eyes always open to our 
 ^i,^fovtnnes, a^ his ears to our sighs and groans. He 
 is jcilgh junto a}l them that call upon !hip, tp all that call 
 upon hip ijgi truth, Psal. cxiv. IS. fhiereforfi let us say 
 . with the inan after God's own heart, 1 love the Lord, 
 because he hath heard my voice, and my supplications. 
 ^eeuM^ h^ hath inclined his ear finto me, therefore 
 will I cfill uponMm as long as Hive, Ps,al. cxvi. 1, S. 
 
 17. IBesides the ^advantage^ whlt^li thou enjoyest ip 
 common with the rest pf God's children, medit^^te ofteii^ 
 
THE CHRISTIAN'S CONSOLATION^ ^gg 
 
 uponlhbse blessings and favours whicli hath voudhsafed- 
 to thee in particular. Kemember how often' he hath 
 sent thee his succour from above^ and how many times 
 he hath delivered thee, as it were by a miracle, from' 
 the evils that hung over thy head; hnw liberal his hand 
 hath been ta thee, and what admirable and munificent 
 means he hath employed to crown thee with his mo'^ 
 precious favours. Then thou wilt say with the patriarch 
 Jacob, God/ lam not worthy of the least of oil the mer- 
 cies, and, of all the truth, which thou hast shewed untd 
 thy servant. Gen. xxxii. 10. and with Dsly'iA, Many, 
 O Lord my God, are thy wonderful works which thou 
 hast don&i arid thy thoughts which are to us-wdrd: then 
 cannot he reckoned up in order unto thee: if I would 
 declare and speak of them, they are more than ddii he 
 numbered, Psal. xl. 5. Being ravished' with an holy 
 admiration, thou wilt cry out with th6 same prdphet, O 
 Crod who is like unto thee? Thou which ha«t shewed 
 me great and sore troubles, shalt quicken me again, and 
 shalt .bring me up again from the depths of the earth. 
 Thou shalt increase my greatnessy and comfort me on 
 every side, Psal. Ixxi; 19, SO, SI- And again, What 
 shall I render unto the Ldrd, for all his benefits towards 
 me? ll'sal. cxiv. IS. 
 
 18. The consideration that God hath redeemed ufe', 
 obliges us in a particular manner to deny ourselves, and " 
 to consecrate ourselves to his service. For'a slitvfc dbes' 
 not belong to himself, but to him who hath redeemed 
 him, and paid his ransom. Thns when God bad de- 
 livered the chilldren of Israel from their Egyptian boli- 
 dage, he gave them his laws and ordnances' in Mount 
 Sinai,- In the same manner God hath redeemed us frooi 
 fte tyranny of the devil, the world, sin, death^ andhtell, 
 
106 THE CHRISTIAN'S cajVSOLATION. 
 
 and m geoeral from the power of all our enemies, tkteJ! 
 ^e might serve him without fewr, in holiness and righ- 
 teousness all the days of our *lifp, Lake i. J4t, 75- He 
 «hath given bim a ransom for us that we might be unto 
 bim a peculiar people, zealous of gbod works. Tit. ii. 
 14. Ye are bought with a price; therefore glorify God 
 in your body, and in your spirit, which are Crod's, 1 Cor. 
 vi. 20. 
 
 19. One love must light up another. The- sacred fire 
 comedown from heaven must kindle in our hearts an 
 ardent zeal for bis glory, For God so loveUhe world, 
 that he gave Ms only begotten Son^ that 'tishmoevmie- 
 lieveth in him, should not perishf but hate everlasting 
 life, Johnlii. 16. He hath not spared bim« who is the 
 brightness of his glory, and thp express image of bis 
 person^ Heb. i. 3. but bath delivered him to death for' 
 Us, even the ig^ominous deatb of the cross, Phil. ii. 8. 
 And is it not reasonable that we should love bim above 
 all worldly consid@]?ationg^, a God so good and merciful? 
 nay, that we should lave nothing but in bim, and for, 
 bi^ sake? Is it not'f ust that we should offer up unto him 
 our souls and bodies, a living sacrifice, holy and ac- 
 ceptable in bis sight? Rom. xii. 1: and if we have any 
 lust that offends him, is it not just that we should cheer- 
 fully abandon it, although it should appear as profita-^ 
 ble to us as our hands and feet, and as dear as the ap'^ 
 pie of our eye? Matth. v; Whosoemp deniethnet him^-i 
 self, is not worthy of him, M^&tih. X. 
 
 SO. We must treat the body of »in, which the boi- 
 ly scripture call the old man, and the fir^t Mam, i» 
 somewhat the same manner as Christ, the new man, 
 vmd the second Main, was treated in his sufferingfi^om. 
 "vi. Instead of suffering it, and oadeavouring' to satisfy f 
 
THE CHRISTIAN'S CONSOLATION. 197 
 
 its desires, we must deprive it of all its pleasures, give 
 it vinegar and gaul to drink, tear its head with, thorns, 
 bind and chaia its affliction's and nail them to the cross 
 of our Lord JesuB Christ, with all its inordinate and bru- 
 tal lusts; and lastly, we must pierce it through the heart, 
 and destroy it: For those that are Christ's, have cruci- 
 fied the fiesh, with the affections and lvLsts,Gd\. v. S4?. 
 Mortify therefor^ your members which are upon the 
 earth; Fornication, ttncleanness, inordinate affection, 
 evilf concupiscence, and cuvetousness, which is idola- 
 try, Col. iii. 5. 
 
 Si. Talive in sin, 'a,nd delight in iniquity, is to frus- 
 trate, as much as lies in our power,, the design of our 
 Lord, and the principal end for which he left, for a sea- 
 son, the celestial abodes of glory and immortality: for 
 he is come into the world to destroy the.works of the de- 
 vil, 1 John iii. 8. Now the thief work of this enemy of 
 our salvation, in which he glories,, and takes the most 
 delight, is sin, with which he ensnares mankind: for by 
 sin, death, and all kinds ef calamities, entered into the 
 world, Kom. v. 
 
 2S. It is to trample upon the, only Son of God, to 
 ^ffer violence to the Holy Spirit, and to account the 
 blbod of the covenant an unholy thing. It is to render 
 iBefiectualthe death and passion of our Redeemer, and 
 to pull down bis cross: For he himself bare our sins 
 in his own body on the tree, that ice being dead to sin, 
 should live unto righteousness, 1 Pet» ii. 24. He halli 
 given himself for his church, that he might satietify it, 
 and present it to himself a glorious church, not having 
 spot or wrinkle, or any such thing, Eph. v. 25, S6, 37- 
 If the blood of bulls, and of goats, and the ashes of an 
 *h,eifcr sprinkling tlic unclean, did sanctify lo the purify- 
 
18 THE CHRISTIAN'S CONSOLATION. 
 
 ;of the^esh; how much more shall the blood of Christ^ 
 id through the eternal Spirit, offered up himself wilh- 
 t spot to God, purge your conscience from dead work^ 
 sferve the living' God? Heb. ix. 4§> 14. 
 
 23. Our Lord and Saviour did not only die, but he 
 IS also buried; to teach us that we should bury with 
 n our- sins, and shut up in his tomb all our carnal af- 
 itions. Know ye not, that so many of us as were bajj- 
 .ed into Jesus Christ, were baptized into his death?. 
 Iierefore we are buried with him by baptism into death, 
 jm. vi. 3, 4. Col. ii. IS. 
 
 24. This glorious Saviour arose from the deadj and 
 't in his sepulchre the linen cloathes in which his 
 dy was wound, and the napkin that was about his 
 ad; to teach us to rise toa newness of life,, and to 
 ive in our grave the sin that encompasses us, and the 
 nds of our corruption that binds us so fast. Toi-speaik 
 th the apostle. As Jesus Christ was raised from the deaid 
 
 the glory of therFather, even so we also should walk 
 newness of life. For if we have been planted toge- 
 iv in the likeness of his death: we shall be. also in the 
 Leness of his resurrection. And as Christ being raised 
 im the dead, dieth no more, and death hath no more 
 minion over him: so we ought, not to yield our mem- 
 rs as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin; but to 
 i\d ourselves unto God, as those that are alive from 
 5 dead, Rom. vi, 4, 5, 9, 18. He died, and rose, and 
 i^ived, that he might b« Lord both of thei :dead and li- 
 ig, lioia. xiv. 9- If any man be in Christ, he is a 
 w creature: old -things are passed away, behold, all 
 ;Hgs are become new, 3 Cor. v. if. 
 %o. Our blessed Saviour, after his triumphant resur- 
 "tion, asceqded up into heaven, to engage us to raise 
 
TlilE CHRISTIAN'S CONSOLATION. 199 
 
 thither our hearts and affections, and te teach us to re- 
 form our mariners, and to live an holy, angelical, and 
 c,e).figtial life. If ye then be risen with Christ, seek 
 those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on 
 i^e right hand of God, Set your affectjjpus on things 
 ^bovii, not on things'onthe earth. Col. iii. 1, 2. 
 
 26. There is nothing in the world so beautiful and 
 amiable as virtue: It is the joy and delight in hdaven, 
 the daughter of the living God, and the true asd lively 
 image of our Creator. O lovely dress of a christian 
 sonl! O rich and precious ornament of God's children! 
 O heavenly grace! vvhat sweet and irresistible charms 
 hast thou to win the hearts and affections of all such as 
 behold thy perfect and divine beauty! 
 
 37. On the .contrary, there ia nothing so ugly and de- 
 formed as sin; it is an hideous monster of hell, and a 
 frightful image of satan. I confess it sometimes disgui- 
 ses itself, and assumes a beautiful appeax'anee; but if 
 you lift up this borrowed mask, you shall perceive the 
 devil's terrible looks, and all the hprrours of the bot- 
 tomless pit. 
 
 S8. Christian souls, weigh in the balance of the sanc- 
 taary, the dreadful evils that sin has brought into the 
 world. ' It bath disiigured the image of G6d, and de- 
 faced the beauty of the creation. It hath put division 
 between heaven and earth, and hath lighted up a war 
 between God and man: It is a burden beneath the 
 weight of which the whole creation groaneth: for be- 
 cause of sin all creaturessigh, and are in travail until 
 moifj, Horn. viii. 
 
 29. It continues still its fatal effects; for it is sin that 
 grieves the Holy JSpirit, afflicts the angels, offends the 
 weak, hardens the %norant, and gives an occasion to the 
 
SOO tHE CHRISTfAN'S CONSOLATION. 
 
 enertiies 6f God to blaspheme his holy name, and to 
 tebg op an evil report of his gospel. It is this that gra^ 
 tifies the devil, rejoices hell, upholds the tottering walls 
 of Babylon, strengthens the kingdom of the prince of 
 darkness, an«l' causes him to work with efficacy in the 
 hearts of the children of disobedience, Ep. ii. 2. 
 
 30. Lift up your eyes to the x;ross of Jesus Christ and 
 you shall perceive of how execrable a nature sin is; since 
 neither in heaven^ nor on earthy could be found an of- 
 ferinlg capable to make expiation for it, and God Fath«*r 
 chose to punish it in the person of his only Sun, than to 
 leave it unpunished. Q how deep, how fOul, are the stains 
 of sij^s«elng that nothing but the blood of a Gdd can 
 wash them away. 
 
 Si. When you meditate upon our Lord's death and 
 passion, declaim not against Judas's treason, the fenvy 
 of the Pharisees, nor the people's mutiny; cry not out 
 against the impiety of Caiaphas, the injustice of Pilate, 
 Herod's scoflFs, nor the cruelty of the lloman soldiers; 
 but be aiigry with your own sins, and wax warm, with 
 an holy i^ndignatiun, against your own crimes and iiiiqui- - 
 ties. Say to yourselves, it is pur sins alone, and the sins 
 of those who resemble us, that have betrayed the inno- 
 cent blood, have bound the Loird of glory in moist igno- 
 minious band's, and delivered him into the hands of his 
 executioners. Our sins have crowned him mth thorns, 
 nailed him to the cross, and given him gall and vinegap 
 to drink, lu short, it is oui' sins that have pierced his 
 hands and feet, and opeined his sacred side. You would 
 detest the sight of the hangmau, that should have fas- 
 tened ^our father to the gallows, and would abhor to 
 kiss his bloody hands; how much more abominable shall 
 we appear to G&A and his holy angels, if we carets and 
 
THfi CHRISTIAN'S CONSOLATION. sal 
 
 fleligbt in sin? whereas we should be stirred up ngaiuat 
 it with an fcoly zeal, and an earnest thirst of revenge. 
 If.iiistead of nailing to the cross this execrable parricide, 
 and crushing to pieces this infernal monster, we feed and 
 cherish it in our bowels, we shall be guilty of crucify- 
 ing to ourselves the Son of God afresh, and putting him 
 to an open shame, Heb. vi. 6. It will be to tread him 
 «ndeT our feet, and to count the blood of the covenant, 
 wherewith we were sanctified, an unholy thing, Heb. 
 X. S9. -^ 4 ' 
 
 3S. Consider seriously the dreadful effects that sin 
 produces in yourselves. Have you never been se&sible 
 of the cruel and horrid torments of a poor soul ^ifkessed 
 and afflicted at the sight of his own crimes? Hoy^harp, 
 how piercing, are the stings of a conscience awakened 
 from a profane slumber? It is a pain and anguish that 
 cannot be expressed: it causes our head tb become wa- 
 ter, and our eyes a fountain of tears, Jer. ix. 1. It free- 
 zes our blood, discolours our skin, and cracks and breaks 
 all our bones. It is a commdn saying, that punishment 
 follows'sin close at the heels; but I will venture to main- 
 tain, that it always bears it compiiny, and that it is a 
 rack and torture which never leaves the guilty, ^f there 
 is no peace saith the Lord, unto the wicked, Is. xlviii. S3. 
 
 §3. On the contrary, there is no satisfation that may 
 be compared! to that of a good christian who loves God 
 sincerely, and worsliips him in spitit and in truth, John 
 iv. 24, There is no kind of delight equal to that of a 
 regenerate soul, that applies itself, to the utmost of its 
 power, to the works of piety and holiness. For peace of 
 soul, and quiet of conscience, are of more worth than 
 treasures, crowns, and sceptres. Therefore Solomon, 
 the wisest of men, tells us, that the good man's heart is 
 
 Gc 
 
SQS THE CHRISTIAN'S CONSOLATION. 
 
 a Continual feast, Prov. xv: and to teach us that there is 
 ftfithing like to this hidden manna, this celestial food, 
 that the world knoweth not, and these angelical and di- 
 vine pleasures, that, the holy apostle inform us, that it is 
 a joy unspeakable and' full qf glory, 1 Pet. i. 8; and a 
 peace of God, which passeth all understam.ding, Phil. 
 iv.-7. •"■ - .' . . 
 
 , 34. If there is any delight or pleasure that accompa- 
 nies vice, it is hut superficial, and passeth away as a 
 dream. For the tijumphing of the wicked is shorty and 
 the joy of the hypocrite but for a moment, Jpb xx. 5. — 
 There is always some thorn in tlie flesh, some secret un- 
 easines^jl-Even in laughter the heart is soprowW; and 
 the eira of that mirth is heaviness, Prov. xiv. 13. 
 
 35. But the holy joy, the celestial delight of one that 
 fears God, and worships him in integrity and purity 
 of life, is solid and lasting. It takes root in the very 
 bottom of our hearts, enters into our joints and marrow, 
 and disperses itself all over the inward, parts; neither 
 gibbets^ ner wheels, nor <the most cruel torments that 
 were ever invented, are able to pluck this joy from us; 
 but it comforts the soul in the midst of its greatest ago- 
 nies, and causes the broken bones to rejoice, Psal., li. 8. 
 
 36. Theworldlingsbecomeweary of their fondest de- 
 sires, and are afflicted at. their greatest success. They, 
 grow cloyed at length of their carnal pleasures, and all 
 their sweetness turns into bitterness; the delights of sin 
 pall upon their taste, and they vomit them up with ab- 
 horrence. This is what ISoph^^ould inculcate to. us, 
 when speaking of the wicked man, he saith, his'Tneatin 
 his bowels is turned, it is the gall ,ofasps within, him. 
 He hath swallowed down tiches, and he shall vomit them 
 up again: God shall jiast them out of his belly^ Job xx. 
 
THE CHRISTIAN'S CONSOLATION. SQS 
 
 37- On the contrary, those who apply themselves 
 with all their hearts to the fear and service of God, find 
 that his yoke is easy, and his burthen light, Matth. xi. 
 30. They take a pleasure in the ways of righteousness, 
 and run with an holy earnestness, towards the goal, the 
 pi*ize of their spiritual calling. The more they drink of 
 the waters of Siloah, the more they thirst. Their zeal 
 is, as it werej an holy fire, that never saith, it is enough, 
 Pro V. XXX. 16. As the prophet Moses, after he, had 
 abode forty days and forty nights, conversing with God 
 in his holy mountain, came down with a shining coun- 
 ^tetiance, and with the two tables of the law in his hands; 
 so a Christian sonl, that hath been lifted up to God in 
 fervent prayer, a^nd been conversing with him inTlevout 
 -meditation, cannot hide its heavenly joys, and its un- 
 speakable delights, but burns with an earnest desire to 
 glorify God, and to please him in every thing. When 
 the apostle St. Peter saw the transfiguration of our bles- 
 sed Saviour Jesus Christ upon Mount Tabor, he was 
 ravished and transported in such a manner, that he cri- 
 ed out, Lord it is good for us to be here; if thou wilt, 
 let us make here three tabernacles.] Thus the good 
 Christian, who is enlightened with the light from above, 
 is never weary in the company of his .God; if he should 
 live whole-ages, he would not believe that he had too 
 mnch time to serve his Creator, to adore his divine ||/Ia- 
 jesty, and to feast himself with the unspeakable plea- 
 sures of bis presence. As all the years of Jacob's ser- 
 vice seemed to him but a few days, because of the love 
 that he bore to Kachel, Gen. xxix; the days that we 
 spend in the service of God, will seem to be but a few 
 hours, or a few minutes, provided our love for God hn 
 ardent and sincere. 
 
204) THE t:HllISTIA;N'S CONSOLATION; 
 
 38. Kepresent t© yourselves the fekrfal curse that at- 
 tends the vv^ickedand [)r<iffaiie. They carry about them 
 everywhere the marks of God's anger and just revenge. 
 .They are th<j objects of public ha,tred> and are looked 
 upon, as execrable^ by alK ., Those who flatter and fawn 
 upon theift for some present advantage, abominate and 
 curse them in their hearts; and they who out of a servile 
 fear seem to honour, or rather to adore them in the face 
 of the, sun, would be exceeding joyful to dance upon 
 their graves, and would gladly erect a gallows to hang 
 them theretin. ' 
 
 S% It is otherwise with good men, they are honour- 
 ed both by God and man; and even those who are their 
 great^t enemies admire their virtues. Let us be never 
 so poor, 3.Bd Gonteinptible in the world, we, are rich aiid 
 noble enough if we fear God as we ought, ,sind obey his 
 holy will; for the fea^ of the Lord is our most precious 
 tre^^su^e, it is our crown, our diadeip, and our wreath of 
 triampfa. 
 
 40. T''^ wicked man is a constant terrour to, himself. 
 He trembles in the midst of his guards, and ilieth when 
 no man pursqeth, Prov. xxyiii. 1 . Every thing alarms and 
 gives him jealousy; he distrusts his best friendsr his 
 children are suspected by him, and even in the arms of 
 his dearest wife he slumbers with an unqt^iet spirit.' 
 
 41. It is not so with a good man: He walks every 
 were with ao upright countenance, and his heart rejoic- 
 eth in an unfeigned tranquility. For there is no bul- 
 wark like that of a good conscience; it is like a wall of 
 brass, that mocks the baitteries of the times and seasons. 
 He that feareth God shall come out of them all, Eccl.es. 
 vii. 18. The finger of God which hath planted in his; 
 soul the fear of his holy n^me, shall banish thence all 
 
Tf||g;f;ilRlSTlAN'S CONSOLATION. gQ,? 
 
 other apprehensions. He is like Mount 2ion whicli 
 caDpQ>|:.be removed. Psal. cxxv. 1. He shall not be afraid 
 of ^vil tidings; his heai^ is iixijd, trusting in the Lord, 
 Psdl. cxii. 7- In the midst of the greatest dangers, and 
 the most violent tempests, he saith with David, Tbe 
 l4prd is my light, and my salvation, whom shall I fear? 
 The Lord is the strength of my life, of whom shall I Imj 
 afraid? Psal.'xxvii. 1. Thou, Lord, art a shield for 
 me: my glory and the lifter up of mine head. 1 laid me 
 down and slept; 1 awaked, for the Lord sustained me. 
 I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people, that have 
 set themselves against me round about, Psal. iii. 3, 5, 6. 
 Though an host should encamp against me, my heart 
 shall not fear, Psal. xxvii. 3. 
 
 43. Let the wicked be ever so great and honorable, 
 and advanced to ever so high a pitch of glory, their 
 name shall rot for ever, Prov. x. 7- It is to no purpose 
 that tfeey erect magnificent trophies, fill whole volumes 
 with the story of their lives, and teach even the marblo 
 to publish their praise. For whatever method they may 
 take to immortalize their glory, their name will be al- 
 ways abominable to God and his holy angels; and man- 
 kind shall never remember it bat ^yith curses and de- 
 testation. These i^nfamous persons are like a lamp that 
 gives light for a time, but when it goes out,, yields a 
 most ungrat;eful smell; or they may be compared to cer- 
 tain demons, that never go out of any place without 
 leaving an intolerable; sleftch behind them. , , ■• 
 
 43. On the contrary^ the renown of the good shall 
 flourish for ever. Like the palm: tree, the more mea 
 endeavour to abase it, the more it sjjall rise up. Theif 
 names is engraven in heaven, itself, in the glorious tem- 
 ple of eternily. It shall be blossed for , ever by (jod and 
 
soft Tilli CHRISTIAN'S CONSOLAtlON. 
 
 his holy angels, and the example of their Christian 
 virtues shall serve as a pattern and model for posterity. 
 A faithful Christian, whose soul is sanctified by the 
 spirit of the Lord Jesus, is like the alabaster box of 
 ointment, which when it was broken over our Saviour's 
 head, shed forth a. precious liquid that perfumed all the 
 room, Mark xiv. For such an one lives after his death; 
 and when his body is broken and reduced to ashes,' his 
 good name spreads ~ abroad to the glory of God, and 
 thef edifica;tion of his church. M.arf_ Magdalen's perfume 
 scented only one chamber, arid soon passed away: but 
 the sweet perfame of an holy and innocent life, fills both 
 heaven a;nd earth with a grateful odour, and continues 
 for ever and ever. 
 
 44. I am of opinion, that another powerful motive 
 to withdraw us'from vice, and induce us to virtue, is 
 to represent to ourselves, at every moment, the excel- 
 lence and dignity of our calling ; and to take a delight 
 in beholding, with the eyes of our isoul, the white stone,, 
 whereon the nevi^ name is written, which no man know- 
 eth, saving he that receiVeth it, Mey. ii. 17> that is, the 
 noble and precious quality of being a cldld of God and 
 a believer, which he bestoweth upon none but those 
 whom he hath chosen from all eternity to partake of sal- 
 vation and the glory of his kingddm^ It is reported of 
 a certain young prince, that when he was upon the point 
 of abandoning himself to all manner of debaucery,. by 
 giving loose to his inclinations, a wise philosopher re- 
 claimed him, by only saying to him, Rememher, that 
 thou art son to a Mng. Thas yoU) O Christian souls, 
 when satari, the flesh, and the world, shall tempt you 
 to impure and unjust actions, or to any other sin, call 
 to mind that you are the children of the King of Kings^ 
 
•THE CHRISTIAN'S CONSOLATION. 207 
 
 and soil not the lustre of so rich a crown. And as our 
 blessed Saviour said unto him, who, instead of follow- 
 ing him immediately, was desirous to go first and bury 
 hif father, Let the dead hury their dead, Matth. viii. 
 23; so we likewise say unto you, devout souls, 
 who have freely consecrated yourselves unto God and 
 his service, leave these vain, these base employments, 
 and all these dead works; leave them to such as are dead 
 in their trespasses and sins. But for you,;behave ybtir- 
 selves agreeable to your heavenly calling, apply your- 
 selves to righteonsness and holiness, and to the prac* 
 tice of all other virtues, as those that are alive from 
 the dead, Kom. vi. 13. 
 
 45. We must also continually meditate upon the ho- 
 liness and purity of the place to which we are going, 
 and the expectation that we have there. For as Jesus 
 Christ has gone -to prepare a place for us in the pa- 
 lace of his heavenly Father, John xiv. 3; it is but just 
 and reasonable that we should prepare our souls for 
 SLUch holy and glorious mansions. There is no going to 
 heaven through the paths of hell; and any thing impure, 
 any thing that deftleth, shall in no wise enter into the 
 holy city, the New Jerusalem, Rev. xxi. 37. As in the 
 temple of Solomon, there was no way to the Holy of 
 Holies but through the sanctuary; so if we would enter 
 into the heavenly sanctuary, where Christ Jesus sits en- 
 throned, who is the true ark of the covenant, and the 
 true mercy-seat, it is absolutely accessary that we 
 should tread in the path of good works, which God 
 hath before ordained that wjs should walk in them, Eph. 
 ii. 10. It is upon this expectation that we have in hea- 
 ven, that St. Paul grounds his exhortation to piety and 
 the christian virtues. The grace o^.God, saifh he, that 
 
§08 THE CHRISTIAN'S CONSOLATION. 
 
 hringeih salvation,- hath appeared unto allm^n, teach- 
 iiig us that denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we 
 slmuld live soberly, righteously, and godly in this pre- 
 sent world: Looking for that Messed hope, and the glori 
 ous appearing of the great God, and our Saviour Jesus 
 thrist, who gave hiilkself for us, that he might redeem. 
 us from all iniquity, dpd j^urify unto himself a pecur 
 liar people/ zealous of good itorks, 'fit. ii. ii, IS, 13, 
 14'. Having therefore these promises^ let us cleanse our- 
 selves from allfilthiness of the flesh and spirit, per- 
 fecting holiness in the fear of God, 2 Cor. vii. i. St. 
 John employs the same argQitieift to persuade us to ho- 
 liness of life, Beloved, now are we the Kons of God, 
 and it doth not yet appear^ what we shall be, but we 
 know Mat when he shall appear, we shall be like him; 
 for we shall see him as he is. tlnd every man that hath 
 this hope in himpurifieth himself, even as he is pure. 
 1 John iii. S, 3. The apostle St Peter makes use of the 
 same consideration to kindle in our hearts this. pure 
 and celestial fire, We, saith he, according to his pro- 
 mise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein 
 dwelleth righteousness. Wherefore, beloved, seeing that 
 ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found 
 of him in peace, without spot, and blameless, S Pet iii. 
 13,' 14. 
 
 •J 3. You know, christians, that Ipod created our first 
 parents in his image; afler his likeness, before he bronght 
 tbem into the terrestrial paradise, Gen. i. !g6; therefore, 
 there is the strongest reason wfiy this divine image 
 should be re-iengraTOd, in' our souls, before we enter 
 into the celestial paradise: And without doobt, the apos- 
 tle hath a regard to this, when he saith to the Ephesians, 
 lie ye renewed in the spirit' of .your mind: and put ye 
 
THE CHRISTIAN'S CdNSOLAtJON. gfjg 
 
 on that new ihan, which after God is cteAt&A itt figh. 
 tebnis^fejjS; anil true holiness, chap.4:V. S3/34<. 
 ' ^. If the place where we are gdilg obliges us to ho- 
 liness of life, th6 quality of the persons with whoin 
 we hope to m^e our eternal abode requires it frdm us 
 nb less: for they shall be angels of light, add those 
 blessed saints who have whitened their g&rineBtts in the 
 blood of the Lamb, Rev* xit.Jtt is a glorious chiircli, 
 riot having spot or wrinkle, -orany such thing, ^ph* v. 
 S7, It is the spouse of the son of God, arMyed in fine 
 linen, clean and white; for the fine linen is the ^igh^ 
 teirasriess of saints, tlev. xix. 8. The ApOstte St, Paul 
 had the satne conaideMtion in bis Thoughts, t^hen hi 
 gat^, That we are felloW-fcitizefls With the Saiat^^ s(nd 
 of flie hdrtsehdld Of God, Elph. ii* 19. And tliAl oat cOB- 
 vetsation is in heaven, Phil. iil. SO. To weSn Ui from 
 the impure deeds of the flesh, and froM tbfc ptofatie 
 disposition of Esau, he Btetkes use of the sknie motive in 
 Heb. xii. Ye are come, saith he, unto Mount Ziotf, 
 and tiiito the city Of the living God, the heavenly Je- 
 I'fits'aletif, and to an innumerable cotspany Of iftgela, to 
 fhe geiAeral assembly And- church of the fitstbofA^ whi^fili 
 are written in heaven; aiid to the spiilfe Of jo^t ui€ti 
 made perfect. 
 
 48. As a child iti the wottib of its Molhet ttegms^ t& 
 live the same life, (that is, to discharge the ^&.m alfif* 
 mal ffiric'tions) as it does ifter it is cOirie into the ^^ort'd; 
 so likewise a (Christian OUght to live here iiplirtt eaaflfe' 
 in the same manher as he hopes to live ftii &Ht iH h^t- 
 ven. If we would live and ^eignvrtth Gjh^fe^ above ift 
 his kingdom, be iriust first live ^nd reign in diir heii-t* 
 here below. 
 
 49. The chief bappittlss of man consist! fiOt only in ^ 
 
 1)b 
 
210 THE CHRISTIAN'S CONSOLAtlON. 
 
 knowing the true God and Jesus Christ Whom he hatfe 
 sent, John xvii. 3; nor in that spiritiial peace, and hea- 
 venly joy, which the Holy Ghost sheds abroad in onr 
 hearts, Horn, v, 5; but it likewise consists in holiness 
 of life, Avitbont which no man shall see* th^ Lord, Heb. 
 xii. 14!, Therefore the Apostles speak thus to the Rov 
 mans o-f his time. What fruit had ye then iti those things 
 whereof ye are now ashamed; But now being made free 
 from sin, and becdme^i'vants to God, ye have your 
 fruit untd holiness, and the end everlasting life, Rom. 
 yi.',31,' ?3. ' , ^' ' ' 
 
 50. I am also of opinion, that it is a very good reme- 
 dy' against the debaucheries and corruptions of the age, 
 to abstain from the company and acquaintance of vicious 
 persons. For m he who toKcted any unclean thing, be- 
 came thereby nnclean, Lev. xi; and as those who con- 
 verse with persons infected with the plague, easily catch, 
 the infection; so evil communications corrupt good man- 
 ners, 1 Cor. XV. 33, 
 
 31. On the contrary, we should earnestly covet the 
 accj^uaintance of good men, and delight in the society of 
 those who, like the seraphims, excite and inflame one 
 another to glority God, and to sing forth his praise, Is. 
 vi. 3. We most frequent the company of such as We 
 wish., to resemble: for as JacobV sheep brought forth 
 lambs speckled and spotted, like the rod« upon which 
 they cast their eyes. Gen. xxx; so if We keep our 
 eyes fixed upon the bright examples of piety and virtue, 
 we shall find ourselves insensibly transformed into their 
 image and resemblance. We ought to delight here below 
 in their company with yvhom wei hope to live forever in 
 the highest heaven. 
 
 SS. The most powerful and' most effectual motive to 
 
TUE CHRISTIAN'S CONSOLATION. an 
 
 raduce VIS th« practice of piety and holiness, w to look 
 with the eyes.'bf our faith upon him who is invisible, 
 Heb. xi. and to repres.ent to ourselves thfe v^hole world 
 a$ a temple which be inhabits. Let the voice that Mo- 
 ses heard out the midst of the burning bush sound con- 
 tinually in our mental ears, Put Off thy shoes front off 
 thy feet, for 1^.e place whereoj^ tf^ou standest is holy 
 ground, Exod. iii. 3, Put^ofFhere thy base and earth- 
 ly affections, and renonnce thy infa-mous antl filthy.ltists; 
 for thou art always in my sight, who am of purer eyes 
 than to behold evil, Hab. i. 13; and the place where 
 thou standest is sanctified by my presence. Remember 
 that I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts, Rev. 
 ii. 2B; and that I know thy most sepret thoughts. Chris- 
 tian soul, imagine to thyself every moment, that, God 
 calls q.nto thee from his sanctuary, as he did hetctbfbre 
 unto Abraham, Walk before me, and be thou perfect, 
 Gen. xvii. 1. liet, therefore, the dread of this divine 
 majesty seize thee, and be always upon thee. When 
 Potiphar's wife tempted the chastity of Joseph, and ur- 
 ged him to defile himself with adultery, she saw nothihg 
 in the room but this object of her lust; but this holy man 
 beheld, between Mm and this immodest woman, a glo- 
 rious godhead, and an eye that penetrates into the pro- 
 foundeskiabyss, which caused him to cry out. How can 
 1 do this great wickedness and sin against God? Gen. 
 xxxix. 9. Thus, if our flesh tempts tis, and the wicked 
 and profane endeavour to entice us into their secret and 
 shameful retreats, to partake of their erimeis, let us re- 
 member God is every where; and that in whatsoever 
 place we hide ourselves, God hath an ear that hears us, 
 an eye that sees us, and an hand that writes dowQ all 
 our deeds, words, and thoughts. God is all eyejall ear, 
 
213 THE CHRISTIAN'S CONSOLATION. 
 
 ao^jiU hand. He §ees us as plainly under the dark 
 C(#|)i?iBg of th^ night? as at sun-rising. He discovers us 
 tjbroygh our fig-leaires, and beholds us under all our 
 roost fiUhtle disguises. He reads -our, most inward 
 tJ^Q^g^t^, and hears the silent language pf our hearts. — 
 He s^sirijh^th into the closets of our souls, and pursues 
 14s thrpiigh all the winding labyrinths of our conscienee. 
 In s^ wordj (ill things are iiajeei, mi op^ijted unify the 
 eifjBfi qfhifti wMh wJiQtn we have to do, Heb; iv. 13. An 
 Sinci^nt philosopher advised those who were lovers of 
 v4vtuej to chus^ to theroselyes some grave a^d virtupus 
 person, for their pattern and example, to have him al- 
 ways in, their thoughts, and to live as if they were al- 
 W|iys in his gressenc?. But we have no ©ecasion to rer 
 pr?,i|ent to oHps^lye^ a,ny such imaginary persons; for in 
 w^^tsofv^jr place we are, whatever we do or think, we 
 are always in the presence of the Holy of Holies, who 
 is hoth our witpess and our judge. This was David's 
 n^editation when he cried out, O Lord.' whither shall I 
 go. from thy Spirit? or whither s^hall 1 fiee from thi^ 
 jpresenfifi?- If I ascetnd up info heaven, thoy, art there: 
 iflmaJcemyiMin h,^U, behold, thou ant there: if I take 
 thff wings of the moi^ning, and dipell in the uttejpmosf 
 parts, of the sea: e^en there ^hall thy havtd lea^' me^ and 
 th^. vighiha'n^ shaU hol^ me. If I say, Sur.ely^l^ dark- 
 ness. sSiall mver me, even the night shaJlM light tAgut 
 mp. Tea, ike, ^qrknsss hidetfi nptfrqinthee, hut the nighty 
 shfnethas the ds,y: the darkness ai^d the light are both 
 alike- tQ thee,, Psal. cjtxxix. 7. &;c. 
 
 .^3. If l^q.tap and the world have ijft^najped us in their 
 nets, and. if w^ have becjn runfortun^t^ly lulled asleep 
 in, tjbe bosom of some deceitful pleasure; this considera- 
 tion aloEii?,^ thaiQodf fees and hears us, if snJBeiient t^. 
 
THE CIIRiSTIAN'S C0NS01.AXI0N. 313 
 
 awake us with an holy dread. Therefore let this alarm 
 of St. Paul's souiul continually in our csits, tiwake, 
 thou that sle&pest, and. arise from the dead, and Christ 
 shall give thee light, Eph. v. 14; and this other, 
 Swake to righteousness, and sin not, i Cor. xv. 3*. 
 C^tainly, if we are not more foolish than folly itself, 
 this voice, which thunders from, heaven, is able, not 
 only to ,awake us from the slumber of our sins, but also 
 to cause us to cry out, with the Patriarch 3 ncoh, Surely 
 the Lord is in this place, and I knew it not. How 
 dreadful is this place/ This is noneiother but the house 
 of God,*ahd this is the gate of heaven, Gen. xxviii. 16, 
 17. The appstlfc St. Peter, as soon as our Saviour 
 turned anA loo^eid upon him, went out of the high 
 priest's^ ball, and wept bitterly for hjs apostacy, Luke 
 xxii. Thus, if we could always but remember, that 
 God casts bis eyes continually upon us, we should im- 
 mediately abandon our vicious practices, and our hearts 
 would melt in tears of contrition. 
 
 54. They who have a powerful and malicious ene- 
 my, that is continually upon the watch, to spy out 
 soOiething or other whereof to accuse them before the 
 judge, that they may be condemned to lose their lives, 
 are always upon their guard, nor would they for the 
 whole VBorld let drop in their presence the least word, 
 or commit the least action, that might give them an ad- 
 vantage. Now, there is no enemy more powerful and 
 malicious than Satan, wlio watches us day and night;, 
 that he may have therewith, to; accuse us before God, 
 a.nd drag us into hell. For Avhich reason he is calkd, 
 liev. xii. The accuser of the brethren, which! aceuseth 
 thewt before God both day and nigld. He likewise 
 kefeps an exact register of all our idle words, and 
 
gl4 THE CHRISTIAN'S CONSOLATION. 
 
 wicked deeds to produce before the throne of GoA, 
 when tie book shall be opened, aiid God shall render 
 onto every one according to his works. Take good 
 befell, therefore, christians, of this dreadful accuser, of 
 this irreconcileable enemy to your salvation. Grive him 
 not cause to rejoice at your ruin, or to triumph at the 
 loss of your precious souls. To this the a[)ostle exhorts 
 us, in the' foiirth chapter of the Ephesians, v^lieu he 
 saith, JVeitJter give place to the deiHl, ver. 37- 
 
 55. And because it is sometimes necessary to restrain 
 ourselves with an holy fear, pulling ourselves out of 
 the fire, Jude 33; keep always in your minds, O reli- 
 gions souls, a short catalogue of the judgments which 
 God hath inflicted from time to time, upoti sinners. 
 KeSect upon what hath befallen the heavenly spirits 
 which kept not their first estate, and which are reserved 
 in everlasting chains under darkness, unto the judg- 
 ment of the great day, Jude 6; and say Unto yourself, 
 If God hath not spared the apostate angels, will he 
 spare maoj that rebels against hinr, and takes a plea- 
 sure in offending him? Think on the dreadful fall of 
 our first parents, who, although they were'fashioned by 
 God's own hand, and instructed immediately by him, 
 lost both themselves an/1 their posterity,' by listening to 
 the deceitful suggestions of the old' serpent, Gen. iii. 
 Cast your ey^s; upon the world of th6 ungodly whiclj' 
 was destroyed by the waters of the deluge, Gen. vii; 
 and upon the cities of Sodom, Gomdrrah, Admdi, and 
 Zebdim, upbn- .Ivbom the Lord rained from heaven, 
 thefire im\ brim-^tone of his hot displeasure, Gen. xix. 
 Look up n Pharaoii, iand the Egyptians, overthrown 
 with all their pW^le, in the Waves of the Red !;^ea, 
 Exod. xiv. Reihember the three tbousand men ^i^^ 
 
THE CHRISTIAN'S C0N3OLATIQN. ' gjg 
 
 Were stain by tlie swonls of the Levites, because of the 
 idolatry of the golden calf; Exod. xxxii; and the four 
 md twenty -thousand- swept away by the pestilence, 
 Ijcnause they went a whoring after Baal Peor, Numb. 
 XXV. Look with fear- upon the fiery serpents, in the 
 tvilderness, that cast their poison upon the murmurers 
 igainst God and his servants, Numb, xxi; upon the 
 sarth that opened its mouth to swallow Corah, Dathan, 
 and Abiram, Numb, xvi; upon the fire that came out 
 From the Lord, and devoured Nadab and Abihu, who 
 [jffered strangfc fire before him, Lev. x: upon tl»e beasts 
 hat came out of the wood and tope forty and two chil- 
 Iren which mocked Elisha, 2 Kings ii; upon the lion 
 ;bat slew the Prophet who disobeyed Grod's command, 
 ind. hearkened to a lying brother, i Kings xiii. In 
 short, cast ydur eyes with astopisbment upon Nebu- 
 chadnezzar, who did eat grass as oxen^j Dan. iv; upon 
 Jezebel ea.ten by dogs, S Kings ix; Herod devoured 
 >y worms, Acts xii; and the rich glutton burning in 
 the fames of hell, Luke xvi. 
 
 56. Above all things, meditate upon the last judg- 
 ment^ and represent to youriselyes this great <lay, in 
 which Ave must all appear before the judgment-seat of 
 Ohrist, that every one may receive the thin^. done in 
 liis body, siccording to that he hath done; whfethep^be 
 good or bad, 2 Cor v. 10. Remember, that in thiifer 
 fible day God will bring to light the bid<len thing^vja 
 darkness, the closest contrivances, and the most sebpS- 
 tboughts of the heart. Before iii^^yift^fi of fire, the 
 books shall be opened; not only G^^Eooki,. wherein 
 all our sins and iniquities- are written, imOwS the books 
 af our consciences, where we shall' ^behold the horrid 
 image of all our crimes and abominaijons. Ifl the day 
 
216 THE CTHRISTIAN'S CtJKSbLATldN. 
 
 of this glorious appearance, in wlifch the heaven^ shall 
 melt atvay^ the elements be dissolvecl, and the earth ancf 
 air its' works be consumed, with lire, every man shall 
 give an account of every idle word, MattK. xii. 36; 
 how much more then of (every sinful action, and pro- 
 fane discouse? 
 
 57- That we nifiy hot be confoumted nor ashamcdf 
 in this dreadful day, in which ffod will jiidgg the world 
 by that "Man whom he hath ofdarttfed, Acts. xvii. 31. 
 let us be' thoroughly p^rsuarfed, that it is notendd^b tti 
 abstain outwardly from sin, but we must also hate and 
 inwardly detest and abhor it. Foi* aS the leopard chan- 
 ges not his skin, nor his spots,' though confined in 
 chains, much leSS his cruel and rapacious nature, but 
 still continues a leopard; and as a thief, although in fef- 
 terS, and shut up in a duhgeop> reinaihs still a thief in his 
 heart; so such as abstain from the outward acts of siil, 
 only for fear of men, and the punishment of the laws,- 
 are nevei-theless vicious, and alidminable in the sight of 
 God and his holy angels, if, every- time they think upon' 
 their crimes, the.y arenot hioved with a true contritidn, 
 and abhor them not with all their hea,rts. The best way 
 to make our Conscience whole is to tear it in pieceJ with 
 the piercing sorrows of a true repentance. 
 
 58,. It is not enough that we abst^m'from such thoughts, 
 words and actions, as God forbids', but we must also 
 «pply ourselves to the practice of piety and virtue, 
 and in general,, ^of alt thte good works thki God requires.. 
 For as the praise' and honour of a gdod bowHian is nte' 
 ver bestowed upon one who hath no other merit than 
 that of not breaking his bow, Ms arrows, knd his qaiv^r^ 
 but upon him who aims aright, and hits the mark; and 
 as he is not - commended for a gbUd artist, who works 
 
TttBi CHRISTIAN'S CONSOLATION. gl7 
 
 hot amiss, becaiisa be does nothing at all, but he who 
 works well, and produces excellent pieces of work- 
 raanship; so he is not to be accounted a good and piou$ 
 Christian, who only aibstains from evil, and commits no 
 wilful sin, but he that doth good, and applies himself 
 to the practice of virtue. Every tree wThich bringeth not 
 forth good fruit, althongh it bringeth forth no evil fruMj 
 is hewn down, and cast into the Are; Matth. iii. 10. Our 
 Saviour cursed the fig-tree, not because \i blight forth 
 bad figs, but because it brjaught forth no figs at all, but 
 was altogether barren, Matth. xxi. The wicked servant 
 was cast into outer darkness, where there^is weeping 
 and gnashing of teeth; not beoause be had. lost or em- 
 bezzled his talent, but because he had not employed it 
 well, and turned it to his Lord's advantage, Matth. xxv. '' 
 Not only such shall be condemned to the everlasting 
 fire, prepared for the devil and his angels, who persecute 
 God's children here upon earth, snatch the bread out 
 of their mouths, and spill the blood of his martyrs, but 
 also such as have not dofiied his members, visited and 
 comforted them, and given them wherewith to eat and 
 drink,. Matth. xxv, la short, inq«ilre of the rich glutton, 
 how he comes to be condemned to hell, and wliy he is 
 tortured in the flames? he will not tell you, it is^because 
 he dispossessed another of his right, or because he com- 
 mitted murders, rapes, and other such horrid deeds, 
 but because he lived without charity, and had no comr 
 passion on the poor, Luke. xvi. 
 
 59. A.»d because God resfuires, that we should always 
 
 go forwards, and grow «m goo'liicss, until we come 
 
 info the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ, 
 
 Eph. iv. 1-3. We must frequeB^3?i^k«^i|:i^v(' of oiir 
 
 -past livesj and feel tlve,pulse of ofe3^;e^^iit%s'#H>vhefter 
 
gl8 THE CHRISTIAN 'S CONSOLATION; 
 
 they beat less fervent and violent than before, 
 the old man is upon the decline, and>how much we bav^ 
 gained upon our wicKed and depraved 4ac,linatioins. For 
 as those that swim against the stream, if they slack their 
 eiideavours but ever so little, are carried insensibly 
 downwards by the violence of the current; so if we em- 
 ploy not, all our strength to svi^ijn up to our heavenly 
 source, the torrent of our vices and evil custonis will 
 force us .diWn into the deep abyss of death and eternal 
 destruction. We must, theceCo(>& examine every day, 
 wtat progress we, have made in piety and holiness, and 
 whether, since the many years that God hath spoken 
 unto us, and vouchsafed us tlie knowledge of whit is 
 pleasing in his sight, we have more piety, zeal, charity, 
 and holiness than we had befoiie. We must imitate the 
 care of those who having transplanted some rare eas- 
 tern plant into this northern cliniate, have always their 
 eye upon it, and curiously observe every accident that 
 happens to it. We must propose to ourselves the ex- 
 ample of a faithful steward, w^ho having a greA^ account, 
 jto make up, often looks upon his memorandums and re- 
 glisters. An heathen , philosopher wjas thought, worthy 
 of the highest commendation, because he never laid him- 
 self dowji to sleep, till he had examined what progress 
 he had made, in philosophy and moral virtue; and shall 
 a Christian dare to go to his repose at night, till he hath 
 seriously inquired what improvements he hath made in 
 piety and the love of God? In short, by this means,, a 
 true Christian will never bf less alone than ^hen lie is 
 alone: for he will then entertain hiniself with bis God, 
 unbosom his. heart unto hiin, and his most secret thoughts. 
 He will enter into conversation with his soul, and ex- 
 amine his conscience with severly and rigour. He wil\ 
 
THE CHRISTIAN'S CONSOLATION. si 
 
 then look back upon his wicked deeds, tp lament thei 
 with the tears of d' sincere repentance; upon the mere 
 of God, to embrace it with a lively faith, and upo 
 God's commands, to walk ib them with an holy earnest 
 ness all the days of his life. 
 
 60. Among the directions that I ^m about to give t 
 him that desires to abandon vice, and to apply himsel 
 to the practice of virtue, I must not forget, that he shoul 
 take an e^ecial care never to indulge his carnal incli 
 nations, and sinful lusts, but rather to bridle and restraii 
 them. For when we grant them what they desire, w 
 are so far from extinguishing their feverish flames, am 
 infernal thirst, that we do but encourage and encreas 
 them the more. As he that loves money is never satis 
 fied with money, an<? as the highest honours are not sul 
 fipient to content the ambitious; so the voluptuous world 
 ling is never satisfied with the enjoyment of carnal plea 
 sures. It is a flaihe that immediately kindles another 
 and a fipe that never saith, It is enough, Prov, xxx. 16 
 "[fhese inordinate appetites are like the serpent, tba 
 stings the bosom in which it is warmed; or like the fier 
 furnace of Babylon, that burned up those who first heat 
 ed it, Dan. iii. SS: for such as encourage and feed thi 
 flames of their impure pleasures, kindle in their ^breast: 
 a fire that will at last devour and totally consume them 
 
 61, We must resist the first motions of the flesh, an( 
 with the shield of faith, quench the first fiery darts o 
 the devil, Epb. vi, 16, For as it is very easy to put ou 
 the first s[iarks of an iQcre9.sing fire^ which, if neglected 
 pight occasion a terrible conflagration; and as we car 
 easily pluck up with one haiid a ypungtree that has beei 
 planted but a few days; bul if we suffer it to take rootj 
 4nd to gather strength, we shall not be able to plijcki 
 
S^9 THIS CttRtStlAN'S CONSOLATIOTS. 
 
 up with both haads, but must be forced to have recourse 
 to the axe: thus, if we fesist sin in the beginning, we 
 . ihall easily overcome and subdue it; we shall extin- 
 g'ulsh Without difficulty, the first sparks of this strange 
 fire, and shall pluck up with ease this deadly plant that 
 blossoms bitterness. But if we suffer this infernal fire 
 to increase, all the water of the sea will not be able to 
 extinguish it; and if we give leave to this cursed plant 
 to grow, it will never be plucked up without m&ch la- 
 bour and Sorrow. Sin never begins as it ends, and dis- 
 covers not all its venom at once. As the child in its 
 mother's womb is not miade in a moment: so the mon- 
 ster of hell is fortned by degrees, one link of the devil's 
 chain drawing on another. When lust hast conceived', 
 it brildgeth forth »m. Jam. i. 15. From the thought 
 proceeds' the temptation; from the temptation, pleasure 
 and delight; from delight, consent; and after consent, 
 follows the d^ed, which begets the habit; whence the 
 sinner becomes hardened in sin. Thus the devil aggra- 
 vates the weight of his tyrannical yoke, and strengthens 
 the chains by which he drags us into eternal damna- 
 tion. 
 
 6S. As among the planets there is always one that 
 ruleth and causeth his influences to be felt upon earth, 
 more than thje .others: so among our vices and daring 
 sins there is always some one that predominftes, to 
 which we are by nature more inclined than to the reSt, 
 Of this, therefore, we*bught to take heed in an especial 
 manner. Here we obght to employ all our strength and 
 industry, for fear the devil should make use of it, as a 
 means to enter into our souls, and establish there his 
 tyranny. We must imitate, in this respect, the conduct 
 of a wise and brave captain, whoi having a place to de- 
 
THE CHRISTIAN'S CONSOLAtl€N. SS: 
 
 fend against a vigilant atid active enemy, fortifies thosi 
 posts that are natnrnlly the weakest, furuishes them witl 
 the best soldiers, and keeps there a strict and continua 
 watch. Wherefore take unto you, O Christian souls, th 
 ttrmour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in th 
 evil day, and having done all, to stand, Eph. vi. 13. 
 
 63. We must not neglect any sin, nor imagine ther( 
 are any so small and inconsiderable that God regard! 
 them not: For o little leaven leaveneth the whole lump 
 i Cor. V. 6; arid even a dead fly causeth the ointment o 
 the apothecary to send forth a stinking savour, £ccl. x 
 1. The least scratch may cause a violeht inflammation 
 and a little poison is sufficient to lay us in our graves 
 The devil cares not by what door he enters into oui 
 souls, nor by what tie he takes hold of our hearts 
 This cursed serpent slides through the least cranny 
 into our house, as well as tiirough the widest gate 
 Christian souls, give not place to the devil, Eph. iv 
 S7. but stop your ears to the voice of his charming, 
 Psal. Iriii. 
 
 64. We must not only avoid all manner of sin, antl 
 abstain from all appearance of evil, 1 Thess. v. S3; bul 
 for our better security in a matter of this great impor- 
 tance, and that we may not endanger our salvation, vv« 
 must take heed of all those things whereof our souls 
 are doftbtful, and about which our consciences are nol 
 yet satisfied. We must never ^ any thing but whal 
 we are fully persuaded is agreeable to Gotl, and pi-as- 
 ing in his sight: For whatsoever is not of faith is sin, 
 Kom. xiv.' 33. )^:^^. 
 
 65. As they who desire to stop tnfc 'current of a run- 
 ning water^ are wont to cut for it a new channel: so if 
 your vicious passions are too violent, y6u must divert 
 
2^2( THE CHRISTIAN'S CONSOLATION. 
 
 tli©jii, -by employing them upon new pbj,eGts. Are you 
 cholefic? be angry,, and sin not, Eph. tv. 86. Burn 
 with an holy indignation against your sins, and carnal 
 appetites, and dash in pieces those children of Babel. 
 Are you_ oppressed with melancholy or grief? let the 
 causes qf your sadness be your oflFences agaipst God, 
 and the gcandal you have given to his church. Are you 
 of a violent and. impatient temper?, remember to b'.'. of 
 the number of those who take the kingdom of heaven 
 by force, Matths xi. IS. .Are you inclined, to covetous- 
 ness? lay up for yourself the riches ami treasures of 
 heaven. Are you lifted up with ambitioui)' thoughts? 
 let your ambitioa;^ aim at an immortal throne, and an 
 iiiporruptible crown of glory. A^p you voluptuous, and 
 giveihto^our pleasurps? endeavour to enjoy the chaste 
 and ravishing delights of the Roly Spirit, and meditate 
 qontiaually upon the everlasting joys that are reserved 
 for you in heavfin. 
 
 ,66. Devout souls, who sigh and groan for your in- 
 firnyties,', and labour after perfection, apply yourselves 
 to lead an rf meditatp upon God's holy word with a re- 
 ligious attention, and before you enter upon this divine 
 lecture, say witili the royal prophet, fjovd, open thou 
 mine eyes, that J may behold tcpndwus things out of 
 thy law, 'Psa|^ cxix. 18. Intreat him, that he will please 
 to open your hearts, as he did Lydia's, Acts »vi. 14; 
 to receive this intori?tptible seed of your regeneration, 
 1 Pet. i. 23. that ye may become the; children of, obe- 
 dience : for in proportion as yoJi h^ar the Lord's voice, 
 you will find" your soul,f!i, inflamed with his lioiy Ipve. 
 WJien we behold a beautiful countenance, we become 
 not thereby more beautiful, nor do we take from it any 
 of its pjjcellent features: But WB all,, ^vith open face, he,' 
 
THE CHRISTIAN'S CONSOLATION. g3jl 
 
 holding as in a glass, the glory of the Lord, are changed 
 into the same image, from glory to glory, even as h^ 
 ttie Spirit of the Lord, 3 Cor. iii. 18. 
 
 67. Take a pltasure to meditate often upon God's 
 wonderful works, and to sing forth his praise. The 
 spiritual songs inspired by the Uoly Ghost, commonh 
 appease all the tumults of onr mind, and beget in U! 
 an holy, and celestial peace. As when Saul was trou 
 bled with an evil spirit, David plaiyed with his harp be 
 fore him, and by that means quieted his disturbed mind 
 so when hatred, anger, revenge, covetousness, an^bition 
 lust, or any other of our unruly passions, wliicfa an 
 as so many evil spirits, trouble and disturb our souls 
 we must seek a remedy from David's harp, and sini 
 unto the Lord psalms, hymhs, and spiritual songs, witi 
 grace Jii^our hearts, Col. iii. 1@. 
 
 68.' We must orefully attend all the public exerci 
 ses of devotion, and not forsake the assembling of out 
 sehes together, as the manner of some is, Heb. x. 2t 
 For where two or three aregath&red together in my netmi 
 saith ibe Lord, there 1 am in the midst of them, Mattl 
 xviii. 20. St. Thomas, who was not with the apostk 
 when Christ first appeared amongst them, lost the com 
 fort which they received of seeing him risen from tli 
 dead; and* if this merciful Redeemer had not had con 
 passion on him, he had perished forever in his unbelie 
 John XX. If, upon the day of Penticosrt, any of tb 
 followers of Christ had been absent from, the holy as 
 sembly of the faithful in Jerusalem, they had not see 
 the glorion* appearance of tlie Holy Ghost, Acts ii. Wh 
 knows biit by neglecting a sermon, we may, have log 
 some happy exhortation, seasoned with the salt oi" pie 
 ty» by which God might have brought our hearts to vt 
 
33i THE CHRISTIAN'S CONSOLATION. 
 
 pentaace? Instead of the fire that devoars us, perhaps 
 we might have felt a soft and lambent ilame kindled in 
 our souls, like that of the bush in Koreb, which burned 
 without being consumed Exod. iii; ahd at the breaking 
 up of the assembly, might have said, as the two deci- 
 ples of Christ going to Emmaus^ Did not our heart burn 
 within us, while he talked with us by the way, andwMle 
 he opened to us, the scriptures, Luke. xxiv. S3. 
 
 H9. ' We mu$t be zealous and constant in prayer, and 
 embracing our Lord and Saviour with the arms of faith 
 and repentance, must say unto him with Jacob, I will 
 not let thee go, except thou bless me, Gen. xxxii, S,6. 
 Ciiiefly we ought to apply ourselves with an holy fervoor, 
 to this divine exercise, when we feel the inward and 
 painful struggling of the flesh against the spirit, Qahxv. 
 We sitQnld imitate that pious and virtuous wp|^n,. v^ho 
 feeling two , Children straggling in her womb,* fell to 
 her prayers, and unburdened her sorrows in the bosom 
 of her heavenly Father, Gen. xxv. And as the Apos- 
 tle St. Feter^ when he began to sink in walking upon 
 the sea, cried saying, Lord save me/ Mattb. xiv. 30;. 
 so we, who Walk upon the dangerous sea of this #orld, 
 as soon as we find eurselves sinking into thevices of the 
 age, or as soon as the waves of bad examples, evil 
 customs, overwhelm us, let us cry oat, from the bottom 
 of our hearts, O Lord, send thine hand from above, and 
 deliver me from these waters of hell that carry me away, 
 Psal. cxliv.^7- Let thy strength be made perfect in my 
 weakness, 2 Cor. xii. 9; let thy Holy Spirit subdue 
 mi he; let heaven overcome earthy and let paradise lead 
 hell in trjumpbi If we make this prayer with a sincere 
 heart, God will hear us in his holy sanctuary. He will 
 quench th6 fire that burns us, stop the lion's mouth 
 
Tft& C HRISTIAN'S' CONSOLATION. S35 
 
 that is ready to devour us, rebuke the winds and stornis 
 thai th« devils have raised in our souls, and at his first 
 entrance into our ship, tossed up and down with fears 
 and apprehension^^ will restore peace and a blessed tran- 
 quility, and will carry us safe into the heaven of eter- 
 nal salvation. As Moses when he had been converging 
 with (Gfod^ came down from the mountain with a shin- 
 ing countenance, Exod. xxxiv; and as our Saviour, 
 when he was in prayer upon Mount Tabor, wa« tirans- 
 Sgdred, hi^ raiment becoming as white as the light, and 
 his face shining as the sun, ]!^[atth. xvii; so if we lift 
 np our hearts above all earthly and corruptible thi^gti^ 
 and seek Grod by prayer, with an holy earnestness and 
 zeal, he shall see our sOals clothed with holiness, and 
 full of shining light. 'They will be transformed into 
 the glorious image of the great Grod whom we adore: for 
 they looked unto Mm and were ligJite7iBd,Fs&\. xxxiv. 5. 
 70. To the end we may keep under this body, and 
 ]^ing it into subjection, 1 Cor. id. and that we may be' 
 able to subdue kll our sinful and dangerous inclinations, 
 it-is riecessary' that we should sometimes add fasting to 
 our prayers. We must not always expect the times ap- 
 pointed by the church upon solemn occasions, but we 
 must prfeseribe to ourselves a fast, according as we 
 see it is useful arid expedicait. For if this flesh kicks 
 against the pricks, and proves rebellious against^Gpd 
 and his holy laws, if ease aiid plenty encourage its im- 
 purities and insolence, let us deprive it ©f its food and 
 deficaciesj ami labour to mortify it by fastings and ab- 
 stinence, remembering what our ^viour JcsuB^Christ 
 saith in the gospel, that Uiere are some evil spkits that 
 are noita hit cast oiit^ Jit^. by prayer mdfastmj^. Mattlv 
 
aa8 THE CHRISTIAN'S COMSOLATlON. 
 
 yi. If at length, by the fervour a&d earnestoess i^ 
 our grayer, by austerfc fasting, by the bitter taars of re- 
 ]i6Titaride, and by the assfistance and blessing o^ the Ho<- 
 ly Spirit upon our devotions, we otitain of Almighty 
 God grace to subdue our sins, and mortify our lusts> we 
 must take heed that we fall not into a carnal security, 
 and becbne negligent of good works. Deceive not yrtur- 
 Selves, religioiis souls, and' suffer not yourselves to be 
 surprised; for many times ihe old man makes as if he 
 was deaid, that we may not offer to strike him the last 
 blow, and that he may have an opportunity to recover 
 himself, and to acquire new strength. There are always 
 undet tiie ashes'sdme sparks of an infernal fire, that are 
 Capable of lighting up new mischiefs. Vice is never so 
 entirely rooted oilt^ but there remains some string or 
 other in the heart that may sprout out again. This 
 source of iniquity is never so dry, but it may run afresh. 
 As in time of peace, men prepare new armour, and ex- 
 ercise themselves at tilts and tournaments; so during 
 the calm and rest of Our souls, we must prepatp armour 
 for our spiiitual warfare; and as it 4s not sufficitent tb 
 make ourselves masters of a fortress, and to^'di-ivc-out 
 the enemy's forces, but we must also watch liight and 
 day, and keep a strong and c&nstant guard, that we may 
 not suffer a fatal and shameful surprise; so when we 
 have 'Overcome the devil, and driven him out of oar 
 hiearts, we must be always upon the guard, and stop 
 every avenue, for fear this unclean spirit should return, 
 with seven other spirits more wicked than himself, hnd 
 our last statte he worse than ihe first f Matth.' xii. 4:5. 
 
 73. To these works of piety and devotion, in which 
 our minds cannot always be employed, We must remem- 
 ber to iadd a lawful calling; for idleness is the m()ther 
 
THE CHRISTIAN'S O0N«»IaATI0N. gg 
 
 if sure t©. tempt as to do evil. This is what befel Da 
 •wiil, the man after God's owa heart, when he gave waj 
 contrary to iiis usual custom, to aa unworthy indolence 
 wMlst he was gazing into liis neighboui-'s house, sata 
 seized the opportunity to enter into his heart, and, h 
 the assistance of an immodest object, inj|amt3d his -mti 
 vf,itb last. As the iron that is not used bjecomes rustj 
 as the standing water putri&es, and as the earth that i 
 not cultivated engenders insects and venomous stents 
 so a soul that is not employed is soon covered o>^r wit 
 the rust of vice. It is eiisily carried away by the corru| 
 tlons of age, and is apt to beg^and bring forth monsters 
 Therefore the prophet Ezekiel, examining the beginnio; 
 and first source of Sodom's sin, teljs us, Thai it wa 
 pride j fulness @f bread, and ahundance of idleness , Hzeli 
 xvi. 49. Xhrislians, if you desire to keep your soul 
 pure and undefiled, that the Holy Spirit may reign i 
 thipi, give no place to i\\p devil, Eph. iv» 37> T-'fit Mi 
 always #nd you busied in some lawful employment, am 
 let bir^ never see yoju at leisure, to assault you with hi 
 hellish temptations. %^^' 
 
 73. In the last place,' we must seriously think upo 
 death, and repre§e,Bt it always before our eyes. For a 
 a pilot, io direct and steer a ship aright, ought to be i 
 the stern, to sit there at the helm; so, to govern th 
 course of this life as we ought,, we must hare regard fc 
 our latter end, and must always Uveas if we were abou 
 to die, and to %reathe forth our last gasp. TJierefoj 
 this sentience is worthy to' be engraven, upon cedar, i 
 letters of gold. Whatsoever' thou takest in haM, remem 
 her ike end, and thou shalt never do amiss, Ecc. v-il. M 
 , Wonder no^: ChristiaH souls, if in this treatise, where 
 in I recomniend to you remedies against the ffeairs c 
 
gg THE CHRISTIAN'S CONSOLATION. 
 
 eatb, 1 ^ould have death itself be a remedy against 
 n, to which it owes all its terrors; for these things are 
 aited and linked tpgetber, or r^tlier tbey hold one an- 
 ther .by the hand: for as agood and holy life is the bes.t 
 Reparation for an happy death; so death is a powerful 
 lotive^to oblige us to live welL And indeed there is no 
 ne^ unless he is become brutish .and desperate, but at 
 ifc hour of death laments at the remembrance of bis for- 
 ter sinful life, and grieves that he hath not applied bim- 
 ilf raphe fear of God) and to ;th£ practice of Christian 
 ir^tues. If a malefactor, after be is condemned to die, 
 ad has heard the senteu|!e pro&ounced^against him, in- 
 ;ead of pra,yer and m>ciitance, by which such an one 
 I to dispose himself to go to God, should mind nothing 
 ut drinking and gaming,, every one would wonder at 
 im, as at a monster and a madman : so, if we refiect 
 s we ought, that death is certain and unavoidable, that 
 rod has pronounced the sentence in his just anger, s^tl 
 lat none shall be excepted, this will be suffici^t to re- 
 iU us from vice, and to persuade us to holiness, with^ 
 at which no man shall see the Lord, Heb. IS, 14!.— 
 .'herefore, wbetiever satan, the world, or our own flesh, 
 iitice us to any evil action,. let us think within ourselves, 
 ^'ould I have death o^'ertake roe while I am thus em- 
 Ipyed? Am 1 in a, fit disposition to go unto God, and 
 ) appear before bis tribunal? This is what Jesus the 
 ion of Syraeh had well considered, when -be pronoua- 
 ed this excellent sentence, >which I have alrpdy taken 
 fOtice ofj and which I could wish wa^-engraven in, the 
 eart of every Chx\siia.a; Remember the ^nd, and thou 
 halt never do amiss, Kcc^xiu S&, 
 We must therefore labour to live in the world with- 
 ut partaking of its cortiiptipns,, or jlefiliiig ourselves 
 
THE CHRISTIAN'S CONSOLATION. ^^- 2«^ 
 
 witliiis abominations. As fish preserves its sweetness 
 in the midst of the salt waves of the sea, anti as sheep 
 never learn to bark, or to rend each other, though dogs 
 iQ^^alWays with them; in the same manner, though our 
 conversation is in tlie tvorl'd, among tiie profane cluldrea 
 of this age, we mu* not imitate tlieir lewd tiiscoiifsfj < 
 their oaths, and blasphemies,' much less their \\icke<l and 
 abominable deeds. We ni^st live in the midst of tliem 
 as Lot in the city of Sodom, Joseph in Egypt, or Da- 
 niel in Babylon, Bhssea and holy is he that huth part 
 in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath 
 no power,' Rev. xx. 6. 
 
 When the patriarch Jacob, by God's command, went 
 to Bethel, he charged his wives, his children, and all 
 that were with hira, saying, Put aieay the strange gods 
 that are among you, and hecle^n, and change your gar- 
 ments, and let lis arise and go up to Bethel; and I will 
 make there- an altar unto God, iclio a'liswered me in the 
 day of my distress, and was tvith me in the way which I 
 went. And they gave unto Jacob all the strange gods 
 which were in th&ir M,nd, and he hid them under an oak 
 which was hy Shiechera,' Gen. xxxv. 2, 3, 4. Thus, be- 
 fore you go to tlie true Bethel, to the dwelling where 
 you sliall eat of the bread of the kingdom of heaven, 
 before you offer unto God the sacrifice of your souls, 
 you must, if yon arc true Christians, renounce sin, ami 
 all those wicked lasts j whereof ye have made idols un- 
 to yourselves. ' I would willingly advise yon to do as 
 Jacob did, to bury them" deep iu^'the earth. But you had 
 better represent to yourselves, that Almighty God calls 
 upo%you from leaven, salving, Trample underfoot all 
 Ikose abomiinabte vices, and all the^e carnal lusts, that 
 are to you as so many false c;v(!s u\. irh jion icovship.—^ 
 
230 THE CHRISTIAN'S CONSOLATION. 
 
 Put away from befire me thesis imager of jealous ff, 
 ichich provoJee me to jealousy, Ezek. viii. 3, and sane- 
 ^tify the temple of fny holiness. Cleanse your hands, ye 
 sinners, and purify ybur hearts f be double minded,. 
 James iv. 8. Put off, the old mafti, ivith his deeds; and 
 put ye ou that neiv man, which afwr God is created in 
 righteousness and true AoZJ^jess, Epli* iv. S3, S4. And 
 tlieii je shall be admitted ^o the holy temflle of my 
 gloryj to offer unto me, amongst the innumerable com- 
 pany of saints, the acceptabl^' incense of praise and 
 ■thanksgiving. 
 
 This is a duty so just- and necessary, that reason, 
 enlightened by grace, sees at first sight the justice and 
 necessity of it; nay, even the most wicked veretqhes 
 are constrained to give glory to God, and to pass upon 
 themselves the sentence of condemnation; they confess 
 that they owe this debt to the divine Majesty, but then 
 t'hey put off the f;ayment of it from day to day; and, 
 whenever you call Upon them, they are ready to request 
 a delay. They acknowledge their faults, the heinous- 
 ness of their crimes, and the necessity of repentance; 
 bat Ihey are always for deferring this repentance and 
 reformation of life. As when a sluggaj'd is awakened 
 out of his sleep, instead of leaving his bed, he requires^ 
 yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the 
 hajids to sleep, Pcov. xxiv. 33; so whenever death 
 l^ppears, the voluptuous are for desiring to enjoy their, 
 carnal delights a little longer. When the Lord's mes- 
 sengers are calling upon' us to repair the breaches which 
 the devil hath made la our souls, we are inclined to 
 answer them, as the Jews did the prophet Ha^gai, 
 The time is not come, the time that the Lpr^s house 
 shall be built, «hap. i. S. The young man cries that it 
 
THE GHRlSTIAlf'S CONSOLATION. 23 
 
 is not yet time to busy himself about wisdom and re 
 formation, and that when he comes to be old, he wil 
 repetit of the sins 6f his youth: and the old man put 
 off his repentance till the hour of his departure. Hi 
 desiga$ then to make a general confession of all hi 
 erimesv' to satisfy all his neighbours, and to restori 
 what he possesseth unjustly* In short, the greatest par 
 of mankind flatter themselves miserably in this impor 
 tant point, and are so extravagantly foolish as to ima 
 gine that when they have lived in sin and iniquity a,l 
 their lives, mis-spent God's blessings, and abused hi 
 grace, a tear, or a groan, in the article of death, wil 
 make a sufficient amends; and that God will IQ full^ 
 satisfied, if we cry t!ien with the prodigal sQn, Father 
 I ha/DB sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, Luki 
 XV. 24; or With the good thief. Lord, remember me 
 JLuke xxiii. 33. 
 
 I have many things to urge against this monstrou! 
 blindTiesHj this h:>rrid and fatal impiety. In the ffi-s 
 plaqe what reason have we to bfclieve, that God wil 
 wait foi our repentance, when we cannot endure that hi 
 should make us wait for the blessings of his providence 
 that he will hear our groans, and grant our prayers 
 when we will by no means give ear to his voice, noi 
 obey his repeated commands to turn unto him? - 
 
 Wretched man! wilt thou defer to glorify God til' 
 the moment that thy breath fails thee? Is it just and 
 reasonable that thou shoulde^t then begin to serve him 
 when thou art no longer a';!e to- serve the flesh, and tc 
 satisfy thy foolish lusts? 
 
 Ti|is great God, who commanded, during the sha- 
 dows and types of the Mosaical law, that the child refi 
 of Israel' should offer unto him theip fi'rst.Jjorn, and 
 
^33 THE CHUISTlAN'i CONSOLATION, 
 
 the fipsi fruits of their heritages, will fee pleased now, 
 in this bright snn-shine of the gospel, that thou shbuldst 
 fiffer tothe devil, and the world, the first fruitsi of thy 
 jontb, the strength and vigour of thy years, and that 
 thoa shouldlst reserve for him nothing but the- dregs 
 and rotteiiness of a feeble old aee? '^ 
 
 It is to mocfc both God arid man, to think of liyifl^ 
 well when our life is just departing from us; to lift up 
 our eyes to heaveSi^ when the earth sinks under our 
 feet; to restore other men's goods, when we can detain 
 them no longer; to renounce all thirst of revenge, wheni 
 we have no power of vengeance; to abstain from the 
 fdthy liists of the flesh, when, we are able to continue 
 in them no longer; to abhor theft, usury, rapine, and 
 extortion, when our shroud is preparing,, and death 
 hath fast hJpld on us. Such persons cannot be said to 
 leave sin, but rather sin to abandon them, as the ra-V 
 vens leave the tree tliat falls down M'ith age, ov that is 
 strack with thander. 
 
 By our reasonable delays, the malatly grows habit- 
 ual, and the cure becomes every day inore difficult. 
 For the more thou shalt be hardened in thy sins, atid 
 confirmed; in thine iniquities, the harder it will be for 
 thee to break and melt down thy obdurate heart. — 
 'f he deeper vice shaU have taken root in thy soul, the 
 more trouble thou shalt Und in plncldng it up. In short, 
 fee that gives the reins too much to his unlawful affec- 
 tiongy engrafts his vices into his nature, and cannot l>e 
 converted without a kind of miracle. 
 
 -Man's most difficult and most important work in 
 this world, is his conversjion to; God, Therefore,i^t is 
 to offend against common sense, to put it otf to such 
 a time as we shall be in the feeblest and weakest con- 
 
Tim CHRISTIAN'S COlS SOLATION. 23| 
 
 (Ulion; to a time when we shall have the most businesft 
 upon our hands, and be the least able to dispatch it 
 Doubtless he takes his measures entirely wrong, whc 
 puts off his praying to God, and his thoughts of heajven, 
 till he comes to lie upon his death-bed; for then we 
 know not whom to answer first. An account of worldly 
 afl&irs is required of us; we are then to make our lasl 
 will and testament; we call for a scrivener, and ar( 
 grieved to behold him; the visit of friends importum 
 us, and their absence gives no less uneasiness: paii] 
 seizes upon us; defluctions are ready to strangle us 
 fevers burn us, and disorder our minds; ph^iciani 
 overwhelm us with noisome, remedies; ever^moifet 
 alarms us, and silence is no less irksome to usv oui 
 parents and friends tot#ient us with their officious cares 
 our children, :and those we most love, melt, our heart 
 with tenderness, and their tears force ns to weep. Bu 
 the worst is, the devils are then most active. Thes! 
 infernal ravens fly about us, endeavouring to fright us 
 In short, it is then the priace of the powers of the al 
 stirs up against us his most furious stortus and tern 
 pests, to cause us to perish in the very havfen. In thi 
 midst of so many distractions, and so many thj^eatain; 
 Waves, it is exti-eme difficult t^ possess our souls ii 
 peace, to examine our consciences, to hear the voice o 
 Ood bidding us prepare for death, and keep ourselve; 
 from' being swallowed -up by its terrors. 
 
 Old age hath infirmities eno-igh, without defiling i 
 with the sins of youth. For oftentimes it causes mon 
 wounds in «.ir soul, than wrinkles in our skin. Whei 
 the body decays and grows weak, the lufets of tJ^p fiesl 
 fre<]faentiy become stronger: and many times when i 
 whitens the bead, it blackens the conscience. In a word 
 
 G G 
 
JB34 THE CHRISTIAN'S CONSOLATION. 
 
 th* iones of ®ld age? are weak enough, and suffieieatly 
 full of pain, iusomuoh that we need not burden them 
 still tiore, by overwhelming them with the sins com- 
 initted in the flower and strength of our age. 
 
 i^Gteover, we know not ai, what hour, rtor in what 
 manner, death will attack us, nor what favour we are 
 to expect at*its hands. PeAaps it will not give us the 
 liberty of speaking to our friends, or of examining our 
 conscience.s; for it sends not always a w'atrning to us, 
 such as thai brought by the prophet to >good king He- 
 zekiah, Set thine keuse in order for thou shalt die,f'Si 
 King^i^i. For as we have already taken notice, it 
 surpi^pth us in every ag^, at every time and place, 
 and in the midst of all manner of- employments. The 
 High-priest Eli, upon the hewng of unhappy news 
 fell down backward and brake his neck, 1 iSani. iv. 18. 
 Job's children thought of nothing but of solacing them- 
 selves in their feasts and jollity, when the house where 
 they were together, fell down and buried them under 
 its ruins. Job. i. But besides these eittraordinary ac- 
 cidents, how many are there, whose mouth death closes 
 in an instant, w;iihout sufiFering them to speak a word? 
 How many think tbeniselves in perfect healthy and yet 
 suddenly fall do^q in an apoplexy, or some other more 
 liasty disease, so that they are found dead, sooner than 
 tliey are known to be sick. 
 
 Besides, though we should retain a great share of 
 •strength, and could foresee the exact time of our death, 
 yet repentance is not at our comtoand. It is given us 
 from above, and is an especial favour of the Holy Spi- 
 rit. God works not miracles every day; he briogeth 
 not, at every moment water out of the rocks, Bxod, 
 xvii, and oii pyi of the flinty roclcs, Dent; xxxii, 13. 
 
TB*: CHRISTIAN'S CONSOI.ATION. 23i 
 
 He grants not the. grace to all sinneri? hardened in the| 
 sins, and confirmed in their apostacy, to turn again ,fi-or 
 tUiwr evil ways, and to be washed .with the tears of re 
 pentance. 
 
 If thou secst a thief repenting at the time of bis e:^ 
 ecution, it is a particular example ^hat abolished n> 
 the general rule* By this instance God designs t 
 cOimfort sinners who truly repent at the end of their days 
 and to certify them, that his arms ate always open t 
 receive them to .mercy. I confess^ that repentance, pre 
 vided it be real and ; sincere, never coQies too late; bn 
 I must also affirm, that it can never come too soon. It i 
 most certain, that whenever a sinner repents, God wil 
 shew him mercy; but that moment is. not in our pow 
 er. For one sinner that i;epents at the hour of death 
 there are thousands who die in their impenitency, am 
 to seek no other pxample but that which Mount tJalvar, 
 offers to us, if thou seest on one side of Christ a i>en 
 itept and believing thief, look on the other side, ani 
 thou shalt perceive a wretch, who having spent his da,y 
 in wicked uess and impiety, bm-ies himself as it wen 
 |n his sins, and expires in beWiing forth horrid bias 
 fphcmies and reproaches against the _king of glory. Mort 
 oyer, the good thief was converted at tl^e first momer 
 when Christ called upon him, and opened his ara 
 to embrace him. Therefore., to-day that ye hear th 
 voice of God, harden not your hearts, as in the day t 
 provocation, for fear that God should swear in his wrati 
 that ye shall not enter into his rest, PsaL xcv. 8. U 
 Now, at this very ipstant you read this, turn ye mi 
 the Lord your Qoi with all your, hearts, ani. he will hav 
 jiity and cow passion upon you Joel ii. 
 
 An opportunity once lost is not easily recQV«red.- 
 
 ThpfoiPnrf. nnintpi'o liav-P rpnrPSPTvtwl time With a SreJ 
 
§86 TiftE CHRISTIAN'S COxXSOLATIQN. 
 
 lock of hair on the forehead, bui alhbald behind. Ta 
 everything thefe is a season, Ecd. iii. 1. God hath 
 Vouch^fed us a' timei, and hath, reserved another for 
 himself; our time is when vve are invited to repentancSf 
 but God's time is when he sends abroad lits judgmeflits,' 
 and executes his just vengeance. During the space of 
 one hundred and twenty Jrears, Noah, an herald , of 
 righteousness, pre&chiff^ repentance' to the old wOrldj 
 this was their tiniiJ^ but when God's ■ ps(,tience, jnStl^ 
 jiroroked, was tUrhed into fury, wheft he sent the de- 
 luge of • waters that covered the face of the earth, this " 
 was God's time, and the day of his righteous ven- 
 geance. Gen. vi. 7- When Lot spake to his son-in- 
 law, to exhort them to go' out of Sodoni, this was the 
 time of their salvation and deliverance; but When flr§ 
 and brimstone overwhelmed aUd burned tliem aliVei, 
 their crieiS and gna^iing of teeth were as useless as their 
 scoffs and laughter had before been unjiist, Gen. xix. 
 When Esau was sellfng his' birth-right, that was the 
 time to think upon the true ni\(l heavenly blessing;' but 
 when he had actually sold it for a mess of pbttage, all 
 his sighs and tears were as fruitless as his gluttony had 
 been insatiable, and his hnttiour profane. Gen. xx:v. and 
 xxvii. Heb. xii. t6. When the Bridegroom was at the 
 door with the dew of her heavenly joys,' and the myrrh 
 of his eternal comforts, that was the brides time, and the 
 opportanity that was offered her to enjoy her holy and 
 unspeslkahle delights; but when she had delatyed a while, 
 unwilffifl; lb leave her couch, and put on her coat, he 
 was gone, and it was in vain that 'she sought him about 
 the city; for instead of the embraces bf her beloved, 
 she meets her eueftiies that be3.t ^nd wound her, Cant. v. 
 When poor liazarUs begged his bread at the rich man's 
 
^ TH# CHRISTIAN'S COI^SOLATIONi 237 
 
 gate- that was the time when this iqhuman wretch should 
 have turned to God, and shewed mei-cy to his fellow 
 cr($iiltures; but 'ivhen he was in hell, in the midst of ever- 
 laslfng flames, ft was in vain that he lifted up his eyes 
 to beaVen and soaght foj comfort, Luke xvi. When our 
 Saviour invited the Jews to believe in hitoi^ and wept 
 over Jerusalem that had killed the prophets, Matth. 
 xxiii. 37, that was the opportunity «if this unhappy na- 
 tion, that Av as the time of their salvation, and of God's 
 blii'ssing; but when they had obstinately rejected this 
 gteat God and Saviour, and desired that his blood 
 nii§;ht be upon them and their children God cast them 
 from before his fade,- and they are even to this day a 
 scorn and reproach amongst all the nations of the earth. 
 Finally, as it is to no purpose that a malefactor resolves 
 to amend his life, when the judge is at the door, and 
 the Serjeants have cau-glit him by the throat, or when he 
 is at the gallows, and the hangman ready to strangle 
 him; so it is too late to begin to think upon God, when 
 death seiaes upon us, and hell opens its jaws to devour 
 us. Miserable man! Why despiseth ihtiv, the riches of 
 God's goodness,' and forbearance, and long-suffering; 
 not Jentiiving that the goodness of God leadeth thee to fe- 
 pentanee? But after thy hardness and impenitent hearty 
 treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath, 
 and revelation of the^ righteous judgment of God} 
 who will render to every man according to his deeds, 
 Uom. ii. 4, 5, 6. '^ 
 
 Certainly our salvation is a matter of too muCh^im- 
 porfance to be neglected, our life too uncertain to admit 
 of delay, and our soul too precious to run the hazard of 
 losing it. Had we many souls, we might venture the h)4S 
 of one; but seeing that we have but oneonly, and that 
 if it he lost, all the riches and treasures of the world 
 
S538 THE tlimrSTIAN'S CONSOLATION'; 
 
 capKot redeem it, we sImuUl wat,ch,day and iilglit fm its 
 preservation. We should be seized with ati holy dread, 
 and carefully avoid whatsoever might castthis our pre- 
 cious soul iuto the second death, and everlas-tin^ dam- 
 
 This is what the Sayioiir of the world imltes and ex- 
 horts us to: Watch,sa.ithhe>,for ye know not what houv 
 your Lori doth came, Matth. xxiv^, 43. Watch and pray^ 
 that ye enter not int& temptation: the spirit indeed is 
 willing, hutth,efielsh igweak, Matth. xxvi. 41. and this 
 exhortation is so necessary, that be often repeats it, 
 Take ye heed, watcik and pray; for ye knofv n^t when 
 the time is, JVIark xiii. 33,. ^nd take heed to. yoitwelves^ 
 Ibs% at my time your hearts be ov&i^ha,rged ^itji, sur- 
 feiting and drunkenness, and cares of this: life, an4.so 
 that day comes upon you unawares. For as a snare shall 
 ip come on all them that dvpell on the face of the whole 
 earth. Watch ye therefore and pray always, tiiatyemfty 
 he accounted worthy to escape; all these things that shall 
 come to pass, amd to stand before the Son of^an, X<nke 
 xxi, ^4, 35, 36. , 
 
 ll'o awake us ;%om this spiritual lethargy and profane 
 sleep, our blessed Saviour brings the example of the 
 evil servant, Avhq said in his heart, My Lord delayeth 
 his coming; and therefore began to smite his fellow ser- 
 vants, and to eat? and drink with the drunken. Our Sa- 
 viour adds, Thutthe Lord of that servant shall come in 
 a day when he looketh not for him, and in an hour that 
 he is not aware of; and shall cut him,, asunder, and ap- 
 point him his portion with the hypoefites: thei'e shall be 
 weeping and gna^Jiing of teeth, Matth. xxi v. 48, &c. 
 To the same purpose is the parable of the foolish vir- 
 gins, who having fallen asleep witfeottt any oil in their 
 
THE CHEIST[AN'S CONSOLATION. 239 
 
 lamps! were so surprised at the Bridegroom's coming, 
 that tbej- could not enter into the marriage-chamber. It 
 was in vaki that they knocked at the gate, crying, Lord, 
 Lord, open to us! Tlie door would not be opened to 
 them; but they received for Answer, Verily I say untb 
 yen, Lknow you not, Matth. xxv. 
 , 1 am very sensible that the first and principal end of 
 all these exhortations, and paralnes, is to teach us bow 
 we should be prepared to expect the glorious coming of 
 our blessed Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ; but they 
 may very well be applied to death; for it hath pleased 
 God to keep secret from us, both the day in which he 
 will Call us to himself, and that of our Saviour's coming 
 to jiidgment, tfaat we may be equally prepared and dis- 
 posed both for the one and the other. As we shall be 
 found atttie hour of our death, so we shall be judged 
 in that great day, '4^ hen Christt shall come down from 
 heaven with the angels of liis power; and from that 
 judgment there shall be no appeal. ' 
 
 I^et us therefore lay .-. side the sin which doth so easi- 
 ly beset us, Heb. xii. 1, and break all the chains Of 
 our filthy lusts. Let us disarm death, and deprive it of 
 its venomous darts and piercing sting. Let us pluck 
 away the claws and teeth Of this furious beast, and ex- 
 tinguish all its fires, and it shall no longer be able to 
 terrify us. Let us live the life of sain ts> and God will 
 give us grace to die the death of the righteous, and that 
 our latter end may belike theirs. Let us live as we 
 shall wish we had lived at that instant wlien death shaLll 
 be upon ocr lips. Let us live as if we were to die every 
 hour, and as if we heard the voice of God from hea- 
 ven crying to us. Come and appear to judgment. 
 
 Aad when satan^ the world, and our own flesh, soIIt 
 
Si-Q THE CHRISTIAI^'S CONSOI.ATION: 
 
 citani) entice iis to evil, let us say^wHhin ourselves. Jj; 
 is thus that thou rewarJest the Lord thy GotJ and ac- 
 kj>owieclgest all the blessings and favours, that thou hast 
 rJBceivpd from his bountiCulJiand? fool! dost thou im- 
 agine that thou canst go lo heaven by walking in the 
 paths uf bell? If tbou wilfully casteth thyself into the 
 dfepth ,of sin, what assurance hast thou oi" rising again 
 by repentance? If thofi forsakest God, art tbpu not 
 afraid that God will forsake thee? Is it thus: that thoij 
 preparest thyself for death? Are these the arms with 
 ■which thou thinkest to encounter it? Art thou fit Id ap- 
 proach thetjiviijsB Majesty, and to appear before his tri- 
 bunal? The night is far spent, the day is at hand; lei 
 us therefore cast off. the work^ of darkness, and let u& 
 put on the armour of light, Rom. xiii. i%. Let us live 
 as children of God, and heirs of his kingdo'tii. Let us 
 be blameless, and shine as lights in tb^^world, Phil. ii. 
 15. Let our conversation be as citizens of heaven, from 
 whence also we look for the: Lord Jesus, Pbil. iii. 2Q, 
 Let us gO:to tjiis holy and heavenly Jerusalem, by the 
 way of good works, which God hath before ordained that 
 we should walk in them, Eph. ii. 10. In all our actions, 
 words, an,d thoughts, let there be enguaven. Holiness 
 unto the Lord, Zee. xiv. SO. Let us skew, by our deeds 
 that we reaTly; believe, with a holy constancy^ whatso-! 
 ever the. scriptures tells us of the evierlasting pains of 
 bell, and the unspeakable joys of heaven, Luke xiii. 
 Jls we have therefore opportunity, let us do good uv.to 
 all men, especially unto them who are of the household 
 of faith, Gal. vi. 10. Redeeming the time, because thi 
 "days are evil, Eph. v; 16. Let us not follow A<Iam's 
 example, who, for a frjuit, pleasant to the eye, and de- 
 sirable to the taste^ lost the paradise whieh God had 
 
THE CHRISTIAN'S CONSOLATION. 241 
 
 given him, Oen. iii. Let as not lose the eternal delights 
 that God hath prepared for us from the foundation of the 
 world, for a ntoment of carnal pleasured 
 
 Let us imita,te the wise virgins, and put oil in our 
 lamps betimes, lest they should go out, Matth. xxv. 
 Let us enrich our hearts with faith, hope, and charity, 
 and put on the robes of righteou^ess and true holiness. 
 As faithful servants of the living God, let us labour, 
 with an holy earnestness, to finish our task, Matth. 
 xxiv. Let us be steadfast, immoveable, always abound- 
 ing in the work of th? Lord, 1 Cor: xv. 58, that when 
 death shall appear, or rather, when th# Princei of Life 
 shall call us to himself, we may be ready to give him 
 an account of the tal^s committed to our charge, Matth. 
 XXV. and may be able to say to him in sincerity and 
 truth, I have finished the work which ihougavest me to 
 iOf John xvii. 4. Ihave fought a good fight, 1 have fin- 
 ished my course, I have kepi the faith, 2 '^im. ,iv, T'- 
 O most excellent Lord, I have nothing now to do, but to 
 receive from thy hand the crown of righteousness, which 
 thou has promised to all those that long for thy appear* 
 ance. I have nothing to do, but to enter into thy;glo- 
 rious rest, where thou embracest in thine infinite mercy 
 all dnch as overcome sin and death, and keep thy works 
 unto the end, Rev. ii. S6. , ; 
 
 Hh. 
 
2*e THE CHHrSTIAN'S^ CONSOIjATION, 
 
 ■) 
 
 PRAYER AND MEDITATION 
 
 i-onone who pi'ep&fe^ fof 8,6aih hy repentance and 
 holiiieis of life. 
 
 O GOD, who art the Holy of Holies, aad holiness 
 itself, it is 1^1 which broHght death into the world, and 
 it is siu alone which readei'is it terrible unto us. Bna' 
 ble me, thel^fore, 1 beseech thfte, with strength from 
 above, that I may deprive it betime* of its dreadful 
 arms, its fiery dariSj and its mortal poison. Since tbot^ 
 hast prepared for me thine h^i^yenly kingdom from the 
 foundation of thp world, grant m^ grace to employ th6' 
 residije of this uffe in purging my conscience from dead 
 works, and in sanctifying iny soul and body, that I 
 may be in readiness to enter into that holy abode into 
 which no impure thing can be admitted; and to seethy 
 glorious facts, which, withou^t h&liness, no man can be- 
 hold- O merciful Father, discover to my souV by the 
 light of thine holy spirit, the #formity of sin, and its, 
 dreadful consjequences; that I may abh«#i|nd detest it 
 as an infernal monster, Sa^a^^'s image, and a grievous 
 pollution, that hath defalced in our souls tlTy 'blesse^' 
 resemblance. Let ms look upon it as a cursed ^i^^ 
 which hath kindled thy wrath, atid consumed the world:^^ 
 as an insupportable burden under which the wholf 
 preation groans, and of which heaven and earth coiOr, 
 plain: as the execrable murderer of our first parei4s> 
 and of all men since the foundation of the wOrld; a^ 
 as tlie (a-iieifier of the Lord of'CHoi-y, and the sheddei* 
 of his precious*blood. w'ln short, that 1 may consi^'ir 
 it as our most d&ngerous enemy,, that arms thy ve" 
 geance against us, and strives continually to cast u 
 into the abyss of eternal torments. Grant likewisfey O 
 Father of merciesj that 1 may be truly sensilile of the 
 beauty of holinesis,. and the glory that shall crown it; 
 that I may be inflamed wiih its love,' and^ embrace ft 
 with all my affections; that I may look upon it as the 
 daughter of heaven,, as the image of thy beauty, and as, 
 a ray of thy glory; as a rich jewel stolen from us by 
 
THE CHRlSTIANf'S CONSOLATIQN. g4g 
 
 Satan; as the sublime perfection of which thy Son Je- 
 sus Clirist Is the pattern^ and as th« principal part of 
 that happiness ift^er which we aspire, and of which 
 thou wilt giv^ us the fUll enjoyment in thy holy para- 
 dise. O God of -'my salvation! how bitter are the fruits 
 9f sin! thou art witness to the cruel displeasures I feel^ 
 Ebir having served this infamous tyrant so long, and for 
 having sided so much with those carnal lust* which; 
 war against the soul. Thoii behold'est my sorrow for 
 having made no better use of tliat^ife which I received! 
 from thy singukr bounty, to fear and serve thee, ajid 
 to obey thy holy and divine commands. What shall I 
 plead in my defeuco, O governor of nations? I have 
 sinned against thee, and have done thiit whidi is abo- 
 minable in thy eyes, which are too pure to behold'^evil; 
 but L repent in dust and aslms. — My Biai •^present 
 themselves before- me both day and nightj^ and 1 look 
 upon, them with horror. O God, from wbjfese' sight jno- 
 thing is hid, thou seest that my greatest grief proce'eds' 
 from nw^ not being sufficiently grieved, and thit'my 
 most piercing aMiction is because I am not enoi^ a£ 
 flicted^. and because my repentance is not answerable to 
 the multit-ide and greatness of my sins. O God, who 
 triest the reins, and searche'st all things, thou knowest 
 the nature of my crimes, and what degree of repentance 
 is necessary to obtain pardon. Thou desirest not the 
 death of a sinner, but rather that he should turn from 
 his ways, and live. » Turn me, O Lord, and I shall be 
 turned. O Almighty God,, who bringest water out of 
 the hardest rocks, melt down my heart in tears of re- 
 p^^ance, such as may prove acceptable to thee, and 
 worthy to be put in thy bottles. ; Cleave this heart ctf 
 stone^ and break it in pieces, that thy living waters 
 Way enter in on every side. But rather take away this 
 evil heart, and give me a new one fashioned by thy 
 grace, an heart deeply engfaved with the rich features 
 Off thy likeness, ^ and shining with the pure lustre re- 
 fected from thy presence; an heart burning with zeal 
 for thy glory, and inflamed with thy love. O God of 
 micrciesJ who hast not ^ared the blood of *thine only 
 Son, to wash out the s»nteiice of mine eternal coftdem- 
 
«844 THE eHRISTlAN'S qONSOLATION. 
 
 -'!; 
 
 niitien, grant me, 1, beseech thee, thy holy spirit,, to 
 sanctify me, and make me a new creature, that I may 
 hear the ensigns and marks of thy children; and that 
 1 may shine in the world as a taper lighted by an hea- 
 venly fire, t/rucify this miserable flesh with all its 
 lusts- Let me live no longer, but let Christ live in me; 
 and graciously vouchsafe, that all the days 1 have to 
 come, 1 may pass in the faith of the Son of 6od, who 
 hath loved me, and hath given himself for nie, that he 
 might redeem and cleanse me from all my sins.- Be 
 thou the soul of my soul, the light of my understand- 
 ing, and the director of my life. Keign innie^and 
 possess roe in such a manner, that all my. affections, 
 words, and thoughts, m^y be sanctified by thy grace, 
 and tend only to thy glory. Let nve not only detest 
 all thingstf.vvhich I know to be displeasing to thee, but 
 likewise avoid all those in which I am not \yeJl Assured 
 thou takest, pleasure. That I may not only abhor the 
 defilement of vice, but that 1 may also hate a gai'iQent 
 spo%cl ^vith t^e least sin, and that I may abstain Jrodi all 
 ^p^^rance of evil. If the devil, the world, or my own 
 flesh, solicit and entice me to any sin, let me be seized • 
 with the awe of thy divine majesty; let death present 
 itself to my thoughts^ and restrain and stop me with an 
 holy fear. Let ine remember that 1 shall be the most 
 njisexable of all ci-eatures, if I should die offending ' 
 ''fhee, and bury myself in my sins; and let roe never 
 forget that- blessed and hdly is he that hath part in the 
 first resurrection: on such the second death hath no 
 power. Since thy grace, Vifhich is saving health to all 
 men, is so clearly revealed to me, grant that, renounc- ^ 
 ifig all impiety and worldly lusts, I may live soberjy, 
 righteously, and godly in this present life.— TJiat i 
 may jipply myself continually to whatsoever thiiigM 
 are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever 
 things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whats$t 
 ever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good 
 report, and in general, to. whatsoever things are virtuf 
 cius and worthy of praise. And, above all things, that 
 1 may be fervent in charity, and unwearied in fi;ood 
 \v orks, seeing tbon takest pleasure in such sacrifices;, 
 
THE CHRISTIAN'S CONSOLATION. S*g 
 
 an<l tljat clmrity covers a multitude of sins. O Lord, 
 the task wljich thoa hast set me is long, ami my life 
 short, neither know I at Avliat hour thou wilt knock at 
 the itl(Mm,of thine house. O God, whose tender mercies 
 are for ever, set my heart to love thy commands; and 
 then command what thou pleasest. VVork in me, with 
 efficacy, both to will and to do of thy good pleasure. 
 Grant me grace to be employed in thy work with so 
 
 ^ inoch diligence, fidelity, and earnestnesss, that I may 
 tiot be ashamed at thy coming. Give me the lamp of 
 
 "the sanctuary, lighted at the beams of the Sun of 
 
 ;jiHighteousness. Fill my heart with the precious and 
 divine oil of thy spirit, and clothe me with a robe of 
 holiness and light, that I may be ready to follow the 
 bridegrboiii into the marriage-chamber, and to sit down 
 together with the patriarchs, the prophets, the apostles, 
 the martyrs, &c. Let me live the life of the saints, an(J 
 die the death of the righteous, that I may be received 
 among the blessed into thy glorious rest: and that when 
 1 breathe forth the last siigh, thy holy Son Jesus may 
 receive and welcome my soul, with a Come, tooi and 
 
 faithful servant^ enter thou into the joy of thy Lord. 
 Amen. ,,- ' 
 
 CHAPTER XIL 
 
 The sixth remedy against the Fears of Death is, to rely 
 upon God's good providence. 
 
 HERE are some persons so stupid and. brutish, that 
 they never bestow a thought upon the great end of their 
 creation, and are not able to give jtny account wheftifcype 
 God hath sent them into the world; carnal and earthly 
 minds, who imiagtne that they Were created meirely for 
 .themselves, and who live as the brute beasts, only to 
 eat and to drink. Such are those mentioned by St. Paul, 
 
ti& THE CHRISTIAN'S CONSOLAT[ON. *' ^ 
 
 iphose Hod is their belly, and ichose end is destruction^ ' 
 Phil. iii. 19. But tliere are also others so wise and vrrTf 
 tuous, that they are cotitiniially, meditating upa;i tjtie fa- 
 vours they receive frpmlkeavijn, which thpy wiploy t0 
 t^plr right aij,d proper use; heavenly minds^ enlightened 
 from abqve, who consider with a true christian spirit, 
 that tliey ai-e not l)orn for tjiemselves, but for their coun- 
 try, their relations, and friends, and above all to serv^ 
 (Jod and his church. Therefore thty desire to live in 
 order to glorify their creator, and advance his kingdbiii> 
 This desire, when it is well governed, is certainly 
 very acceptable to Grod, as a sweet- smelling sacrifice.— 1 
 Such was David's pathetic wisb> in Psalm cxix. Let 
 my soul live, and it sliall/pmi'se thee. It was the same 
 holy zeal which forced so many bitter tears from King 
 Uezekiah in his dangerous illness, and caused him to 
 4ntreat so passionately to live yet longer in the world, 
 Thjs; wise and ritligious prince foresaw the dreadful 
 evils, the grievous confusion, and the abominable ido- 
 latries that were likely to prevail after his death, in the 
 kingdom of Judah. He was therefore very earnest to 
 glorify God upon earth, and \o accomplish the reforma- 
 tion which'^he had begun. He desired to have childrea 
 whom he might teach to fear God with a.11 their hearts', 
 and to serve hi^l according to his hply and divine will, 
 that he might cause piety to become hereditary in his 
 royal house. These pious breathings of his soul he^an- 
 infests in that divine hymQ, which he sung unto God af-r 
 tcr his niira.culous recovery. Behold, (saith he) for peac^ 
 I had great bitterness; but thou hast in love to my soul 
 delivered it from |;he pit of corruption: for thou hast cast 
 ^X^ my sins behind thy back. For the gtave cannot 
 praise thee, death cannot celebrate thee: they that g» 
 
%HE CHRISTIAN'S CONSOLATION. M^ 
 
 down into the pit cannot liope for thy truth. The liv- 
 itig, the living, he shall praise thee,' as I do this day: 
 the father to the children shall make known thy truth.— 
 The Lord was ready to save me: therefore-we tvill.sing 
 my songs all the days of our life in the bouse of the 
 Lord, Isaiah xixviii, 17, 18, 19, 30. Wb finil the same 
 holy ardour inflaming the heart of St. Paul; for wliiert 
 he considers himself, and the calamities of this life, an<l 
 looks Qp to the eternal happiness that reigns in heaven^ 
 he desires to depart out of this earthly tabernacle^ and 
 to be with Christ, which he knows to be far better, hnd. 
 the most for his advantage. But when he casts his ^yes 
 upon the church of Christ, his charity is so fervent foi" 
 the good of his brethern, that he prefers iheir comfort 
 and joy to his owh felicity and repose. It is, (saith he) 
 more needful for you that I abide in the flesh. And hav- 
 ing this confidence, I know that I shall abide and con- 
 tinue with you all, for your furtheraace and joy of faithj, 
 Phil. i. 2i, 25. ' 
 
 This desire of life, with an intention of glorifying 
 God, is in itself good and holy. But it is too apt to 
 transgress its bounds, and become vicious;' for vei'y of- 
 ten it mingles imperceptibly with the love of ourselves, 
 and, by that Means^ hinders us from meeting d^ath with 
 9, becoming resolutioo. 
 
 -For example, when a great princej inspired with an 
 hcroical virtue, is engaged in a war for the preservation* 
 of his subjects, and for the delivery of many afflicted 
 people from tjie oppressions of tyranny; if God blesses 
 his aims, and caoses his glorious designs to succeed, he 
 will be extremely mortified, if death, at that ins«ant,i 
 rjreaks in pieces his ^fi^ious arm, puts an end to lys 
 conquests; and tasts his crown to the ground. He will 
 
S48 THE CHRISTIAN'S CONSOLATION.1 
 
 complain within himself, must I now abandon my no- 
 ble and generous enterprise? must I stop in the midst 
 of such a glorious race? must death bury, with my bo- 
 dy, the expectations of so many brave pciople?' Alas! 
 I am afraid that all my trophies will vanish with my 
 breath. 1 have just cause to apMehend, that my fall 
 will draw after it that of' a multitude of poor people that 
 rely upon me; and that those chains of tyranny which I 
 have. begun to breafe, w'ill unite again, become stronger, 
 and more insupportable. O death! how, cruel is thy 
 strolie! by taking away my life, thou draggest my friends 
 to execution; and the arrowa tl^t thou strickest in ray 
 bosom pierce millions of inocent souls. 
 
 Likewise he that is promoted by his prince to the 
 rank of a vice-roy, or lieuteniint, or to the government 
 of some rich province, or place of importance, will be 
 sensibly grieved, if death comes to snatch him away in 
 the midst of his most urgent affairs; especially .if it be in 
 ti^bublesome times, and if he sees none of a suffi.cient.: 
 ability to succeed him. Must I quit so soon, will he 
 Say, this honourable eija[|iloyment? must I so qiiiekly 
 forsake my prince's service, and leave so many poor 
 people as sheep without a shepherd? O death! v^ow de- 
 testablte' art thou in delighting to bring all things into 
 confusion and trouble! 4 
 
 Thus the general of an army, who, with a true chris- 
 tian courage, carries on a successful war for the service 
 of his prince and country, cani^t but complain against, 
 death, when be comes'to subdaej^iimjbefore he hath to- 
 tally subdued and overcome his^ e^taies; especially Jf 
 the times are so unhappy, tha|ihe,knows of no one duly 
 qualified to succeed him in hi« high office. Must I leave, 
 will he sayj all my glorious desigris? m«st Ifprsake my 
 
*'rHll cAfef^IAK'S CONSOLAtroN. S49 
 
 faithM soldiere, and abandon them to the mercy of their 
 enemies, or to the capricious humour of an unexperi- 
 enced successot? death! fall of cruel feovy! wiltihou 
 so soon snatch this conquering s\vord out of my hand, 
 and cut off, with one blow of thy scythe, so many great 
 expectations? 
 
 In the same manner, he that is preferred to the high- 
 est officers Sf civil judicature, such as a president, a 
 counsellor, or any other chief magistrate, will doubtlesjt 
 irave his heart filled with bitternesSj if death comes aod 
 deprives him of his honours in the flower of his age; es* 
 piecially if he has reason to fear, that he shall leave 
 none to succeed him but men of corrupt principles, whi-; 
 ted walls. Acts xxiii. 3. Must l, will he say, les^ve so 
 soon this honourable office, in which I took so much de- 
 light? O inexorable death! wliy dost thou not suffer me 
 to wear my purple, till such tittie as I shall be weary to 
 bear it? why dost thou not permit me to sit upon this 
 venerable sfeat;, till I fall off through old age? 
 
 Likewise, a faithful minister of the gospel, who sees 
 the work of the Lord prosper in his hands, Satan, as 
 lightning fall from heaven, Luke x. 18. and Dagoa 
 brought upon his face to the gronnd, 1 Sam. v. will, 
 without doubt, be astonised at death's apfiroach, and 
 complain in this manner: Must I so soon leave the ex- 
 ercise of this holy function in which I placed my gri^t- 
 est delight? must 1 brekk*5ff from this sacred work, 
 by which I so happiiy*advanced the glory of God? I am 
 afraid that, after my departing, grievous wolves will 
 enter in among the Lord's flock, Acts xx. 29; and that 
 a terrible night of darkness will overshaddW our pos- 
 terity. ' 
 Thus the father of a iamiiy, who passionately loveis 
 
ggO TtiE CHRISTIAN'S CONSOLATION.**' 
 
 his wife and children, can never look upon death, but 
 he will feelall his bowels disturbed^ tind his heart rent 
 asunder wjth grief. > He will sigh out such expostula- 
 tions as these; Must 1 forsake a poor forlorn wife, drown- 
 ed in tears? must! abandon my^ tender-hearted parents^ 
 "whose life was bonfid up in mine, and who will find my 
 death art inconsolable affliction? must I leave my dear 
 children, whom I love as my soul? must I leave them 
 without a guide, and in danger, not only of losing the 
 small temporal imeans that I have provided for therti, 
 but also in danger of being overcome by the vifcious 
 customs of the age and enticied to idblatry and su- 
 perstition. 
 
 That we may be able to govern this violent passion, 
 than which perhaps there is none more predominaTit 
 in the mind of man, the best and most salutary course 
 we can take is, to learn betimes to rest all our con- 
 fidence upon the good providence of our heavenly Fa- 
 ther. Christian souls, meditate upon the excellent say- 
 ing in psal.xxxvii. ComUiit thy way unto the Lord: 
 trust also in him, and he shall brin^ it to pass; and up- 
 on that in psalm Iv. Cast thy burden upon the Lord^ and 
 lie shall sustain thee. Forget not likewise this blessed 
 exhortation of the Apostle St. Peter, Cast all your care 
 upon God, for he careth for you, 1 Pet. v. 7. En- 
 grave in your minds this comfortable maxim of St. 
 Paul, Jli things work tog^her fdr good to them that 
 love God, Rom. viii. S8. And .plant deeply in your 
 hearts the holy magnanimity of that great apostle, Ac- 
 cording to niy earnest expectation^ and my hope, that 
 in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that, with all bold- 
 ness, as alwa;ys, so now also, Christ sha,ll be magnifi- 
 ed in my body, whether it be by life or by death, PhiJ. 
 
"tHE CHRISTIAN'S epNSOLATION. ggi 
 
 Thou desirest to be instrumental in serving God and 
 the public. It is an excellent desire, and truly lauda- 
 ble: but it belongs to God to appoint the service that he 
 v?ill receive from thee, and that which thou must render 
 to thy neighbour. It belongs to him to prescribe to thee 
 thy tasks, and to set the bounds of thy course. He 
 knows what time be will employ thee, and how long 
 thouJiast to fight. Is thine eye evil, because thy God 
 is good and gracious to thee, and is pleased to shorten 
 thy fatigue and trouble? All such as cheerfully follow 
 the banner of the Lord of host*i, and withdraw not 
 themselves, till the signal of retreat is given by the 
 general of heaven and earth, shall enjoy a blessed vic- 
 tory, and obtain the honour of a triumph, as well the 
 novice just inroUed, as the old soldier, whose head is 
 grown white under his helmet. AiU such as labour faith- 
 fully ih the Lord's vineyard, shall receive from him an 
 eternal recompence, as well as he that continues but an 
 hour, as he that hath borne the burden and heat of the 
 day, JVlatth. xx. Whether thou hast gone but a few 
 steps in the paths of righteousness, or whether thou 
 hast walked in thein many yeai-s, thy God is so munifi- 
 cent'and liberal, (hat he will reward thee with an incor- 
 ruptible crown of glory. 
 
 Great princes, who pay to the King of Kings a reli- 
 gious homage, and seek your greatest glory in the cross 
 of Christ, submit yourselves, with an entire resignation, 
 to the divine will of your universal monarcli: for as the 
 lives of all men are disposed by his wise pAvidence, 
 so^ in a particular manner, he holds dear and precio^is 
 the lives of kings and princes, who are the sons df his 
 right hand Therefore, while it is expedient for his glo:- 
 ry, and their gnodj that they Should live upon earth, he 
 
I5i THE CHRISTIAN'S CONSOLATION. ' 
 
 p^keeth roaad about their sacred persons his holy an- 
 gels, and encompasseth them with a wall of fire. He> 
 uember, that as soon as the King of Jsrael was sed,ted 
 ipon \m thro&e, God commanded him to take in hand 
 lie book of his law, and to read therein all the days of 
 bis life, Dent, xvii. Ask from'him that wisdom and pru- 
 ilence that are requisite, to govern saefi a people, and 
 Iteseech bim^ to grant unto you that strength and virtue 
 that are necessary to support so weighty a burden. Let 
 the sword that he bath iutrusted in your bands, be em- 
 ployed to do justice uppn offend^JS^ and to protect the . 
 innoceftt, Bom. xiii. As yx)u are the living images of 
 God's sovereign authority over his creatures, endeavour 
 likewise after the glorious resemblance of his gooduess 
 and mercy, and imitate him, who raiseth the proud, but 
 giveth grace to the humble, James iv. 6. 1 Pet. v. 5.-^ 
 Behave -in such a manner, that your subjects may cher- 
 ish and honour you as their common father, obey and 
 serve you as their lord) and fear and respect you as their 
 king. Suffer not your heart, to be puffed up with pride, 
 when you behold the large countries which God hath 
 subjected to your command, and the people that he hath 
 put under your power and protection. But lift up your 
 eyes to the spacious heavens, tate a view of their vast 
 ext^t, and see how the whole- earth is no more than an 
 inconsiderable {mint, in comparison of them. And think 
 upon God, before whom all nations are as a drop of .a 
 bucket, and are counted as the small dust of the balance^ 
 Is. xl. 1#. Consider, that your subiects are creatures 
 that God bath made after bis own likeness, and redeem- 
 ed by tlie death of his Hon; and that after this life4he.y 
 are to reign with you for ever in heaven, llemember, 
 that the more God~ has intmsted to your charge, the 
 
THE CHRISTIAN'S CONSOLATION. ^$S 
 
 great!^ will be ihe account you must render tc^ him; and 
 th%tyou must one day appear before his awful tribunal, 
 without sceptre pr crown, like other wretched' sinners, 
 toamplore hi& mepcy. Search into yourselves, and ex- 
 amine what you are; your bodies are subject to wounds, 
 infirmities, and diseases, like that of the meanest of your 
 servants: your souls are affected, with the same passions, 
 and sla\ es to the same lusts. In short, you came into 
 the world in the same manner as the most miserable of 
 your subjects, and your departure &hall be like his. So 
 that if a croud of flatterers cry to you, as they did to 
 Herod, Ji is the voice of a 6od, and not of wan, Acts^ii. 
 S3. Hear what the true God speaks to you from heaven, 
 fhave said, ye are Gods; and all of you are cMlir^ nf , 
 the Moat High. But ye shall die like men, and fail like 
 0Be of the princes, Psal. Ixxxii, 6, 7- While God shall 
 preserve you in the woi'lil, employ your blood, sweat, 
 and all the strength and power that God IVith put into 
 your bands, for tlie good and advantage of your king- 
 (tom, and for the defence apd preservation of your peo- 
 ple that are sheltered nnder your wingss And if, in the 
 midst of your greatest and most flourishing prosperities, 
 death presents himself before your eyes, let fall the scep- 
 tre willingly, and, joining your hands together, adore 
 the King of the whole earth. Grieve not for the loss of . 
 worldly glory, which passeth away as the lightning, 
 seeing God hath promised you another,- that shall be 
 more lasting than the light of the sun: for if you can 
 but overcome death, and yourselves, he will grant you 
 lo sit witlf him in his throne, Kev. iii, Si, and willgivo 
 you a kingdom which cannot l)e moved, Heb, xii. S8. 
 
 Wise and religions princes, be not snxion? for the 
 things that s4kall happen after your decease. He by 
 
254 THE CHRISTIAN'S CONSOLATION. 
 
 ■whom kings reign, and princes decree justice, Pror. 
 viii. 15, is suflSciehtly able, out of the abundant tfea* 
 sures of "his goodness, to enrich your successor with all' 
 the graces and qualities that become a powerful prince. 
 It may be that he will bestow upon him more glory 
 and iiappiness than upon yourself. When Kihg David 
 had ended his mortal race, and God had taken him 
 into his rest, it seemed at first, that the loss of so good 
 a prince could not be repaired; but Go(d caused Solo- 
 mon to ascend his father's throne, and made him tho 
 wisest and most happy monarch iu the world. David 
 did. but remove God's ark; but Solomon built for it a 
 stately and magnificent temple. David was a type of 
 thegencounters and victories of the Son of God; but 
 Solomon tvas a lively image of his glorious triumphs, 
 and of that eternal peace with which he shall crown 
 his chosen in the kingdom of heaven. 
 
 What if%ou leave your children under age? .Be not 
 cast down, for God will preserve them, as the signet 
 upon his right hand, or as the apple of his eye. — Think 
 upon Josiah, who was but eight ^'ears of age when he 
 succeeded to the kingdom of Judah; and yet there ne- 
 ver was a prince more pious and devout, nor one that 
 merited more of the church of God, 2'Kings xxii. And, , 
 still further to strengthen your faith, and confirm your 
 glorious expectation, meditate upon the history, of Jo- 
 ash, who was but one year old when his father was 
 cruelly slain; and what wias still more ilipplorable, an 
 infernal fury, his own grand-mother, sought to destrbjr 
 him: but, in the mid^t of a multitude of unnatural tra- 
 gedies, God preser>'ed him alive by a miracle, and 
 placed him in a triumphant manner upon the throne of 
 his fathers; S Kings 3U. Seeing^ therefore, that su€h is 
 
THE CHRISTIAN'S CONSOLATION. 355, 
 
 the pleasure of him who gives and takes away crowns, 
 cbe^flUy leave thi« cocruptible and pei'ii^ing one, to 
 receive another that is incorruptible and immortal. 
 
 You also, who have the honour to represent kings 
 and princes, the noble governors of their provinces and 
 forts, remember* that this dignity comes not only front 
 the appointment of your masters but from God himself, 
 who holds in his hands the hearts of all the kings sljxiI 
 princes of the earth. Bememher what our Saviour said 
 to the governor of Judea, Thou couldest have nopoicer 
 at all against me, except it were given thee from above, 
 John xix. H. Let all the World acknowledge from 
 your behavi«;ur, that piety, towards God is the surest 
 pledge of loyalty to your prince. Take heed that yon 
 abuse not your authority to gratify your revenge, or to 
 content ydjr vanity or avarice. I*rotect not the guilty, 
 and oppress not the innocent; seeing you are E^ppointed 
 to execute wrath upon them that do evil, g,nd for the 
 praise of them that do good, Horn. xiii. Behave your- 
 selves as if you were always in the sight of your prince; 
 or rather behave yourselves as in the presence of al- 
 ,mignty God, before whom all things are naked and 
 open, and as if you were just going .to give him an ac- 
 count of. your stewardship. If, while you are thiis 
 happily employed in / the serviee of your prince and 
 country^ death comes to interrupt your prosperity, yield 
 yourselves without resistance to the wise conduct of 
 him Who is both your Sovereign Lord and theirs, to 
 whom you are subject here on earth. 
 
 Vex not your souls about what shall happen aftjer 
 your death; nor fondly imagine, that, there are none 
 worthy and able to succeed you, in your employments. 
 When God is ple9,sed to bless and favour kings, and 
 
t56 tHK CHRISTIAN'S CONSOLATIONi 
 
 to cause their kingdoms to flourish, he raiseth them up 
 faithful ministers, and wise counsellors: a« when he 
 gave a Joseph to PharaOh, '?©*# xli; an Eliakira to 
 Uezekiah, Is. xxii; and a Daniel to Nebuchadnezzar, 
 Dan. ii. When he pleaseth to search into his Inex- 
 haustible treasures, he never fails to fintl men after his 
 own heart, adorned with all the great qualities requi- 
 site for a worthy discharge of such a glorious employ; 
 In the mean while, if tliou ca,nst overcome Satan,' sin, 
 the world, and death, thuu shalt go and take possession 
 of a fur gi'eater and more lasting glory. He that hath 
 or his vesture, and on iiis thigh a name written, King 
 oflCings,^ and Lord of Lords, Rev. xix. 16. hath given 
 you an' unchjangeable promise in these divine words,^ 
 Me that overcemeth, and keepeth my works unto the end, 
 to him wiU I gi&e power over the nations, Sid he shall 
 rule them with a rod of iron. Rev. ii. 26, 27. 
 
 August Senators, wise Judges^ and you inferior Ma- 
 gistrates, have always before your eyes, and en§raV% 
 in the bottom of yo&r hearts, what Jehosaphat said to 
 the judges of his kingdom: 2'ake heed what ye da, for 
 yejudgknotforman, but for the Lord, who is witKydu 
 in the judgment. Wherefore now, let the fear of the 
 Lord be upon you, take heed and do M; for there is no 
 iniquity with the Lord our God, nor respect of persons, 
 nor taking of gifts^ S Chron. xix. 6,7. Wh^-nsoever 
 ye go to take yOur^seat in the assemblies of justice, re- 
 member^ that Ood presides in that place, and that he 
 sits there upon his throne, and every time that you give 
 a charge,, or pronounce a sentence, consider, that you 
 ail' in God's presence, and that be observes, not only 
 your words and actions, but likewise every motion of 
 yonr heart, and that he reads your most secret thoughts. 
 
TUE CHRISTIANAS C0\SO!.ATIUN, £57 
 
 Judge with the sawie Justice ajid eqalty with which jon 
 <lesii'e to he 'jii(<dge(|l« If ypii are teig|pt&il to pervert 
 juidgmeHt, t« misrepresent the tiHith, for to comi^U ^ny 
 act of injustice, either tliyoiigh &, ciilijinal coiuplalsance, 
 the expectation of worWly advanta^, oiribr filthy lu- 
 cre, remember it is tlie devii that tempts y««; and pray 
 to God to deliver you from tlie wicked otie. And that 
 jou may he the hetter able to restrain yourseives with 
 an holy fear, iMagioe that death summons y©u,io appear 
 in person; nay, di'ags yow, "before tlie sovfir^b judge of 
 the world, to give an account of all yftar action?, anti 
 the senteoces that you have given. But if deatli BUrpri- 
 •ses yoii while you are di«charging your office with all 
 tlue diligence and integritj', stay not till it forces you, 
 l)ut cheerfully put ^ff the robes of a judge, to take tho 
 iiahit of a suppliant and pray to God that he will not 
 lenter into Judgment with Ms servant, forjin his sight 
 shall no man living he justified, Psal. cxliii. %. 
 
 Let not the thoughts of what may happen after 
 your diseasa obstruct your Jioly and christian resolu- 
 tion. Tliere are persons enough io the world of abil- 
 ities sufficient to supply your place^; a«d God is able t© 
 raise ap others that we dream not iaf; as when he cre- 
 ated ill one day «evfenty elders in Israel, whom he en- 
 dowed with the giftis and ^'accs of his ^nril, Num- 
 ber, xi. He can bring foi-th frOiCa his treasures such 
 a.s will 1»e, no less righteoas and uncorrupt than youi'- 
 ■selves, and who, pei-haps, may . be enlightened with 
 greater wisdom aiid disOTetion. Come down, the'pefore, 
 willingly from, these seats of justice, so beset with 
 iborns, that if you truly fear God, you can never sit 
 upon thtim withour tr-embling, and go Avith boldness 
 , :* ,. K K. ■ 
 
258 THE CHRISTIAN'S QQNSOI^ATlON. 
 
 unto the throne of grace, fAa* ye may obtain mercy,,and 
 find grace to help in time of need, Heb., iv^ 16,. : 
 
 And as there may be as much real piety in the tent?. 
 of David as in the temple of Solomon, and as the sword 
 of Gideon and sword of the Lord is one, Judg. vii. 18. 
 I also address myself to, you, worthy generals, brave 
 captains, and generous commanders, unto whom kingSj 
 princes, and commonwealths, cpmmit the leading of 
 their armies* I speak notto you, profane segffprs, who 
 •Jaugb^at tlj&, sacred misteries, and arefol'. opiflion, that 
 all fear of Go# should be banished out pfydar troops, 
 and that the most pro^igate wretches make the best 
 soldiers, but I speak to you, t^ristian and religious souls, 
 "who, being commanders over men, forget not that you 
 arf the soldiers of Jesus Christ, who,; though you wear 
 at your sides a njaterial swoyd, neglected not the holy 
 use of the sword pf the Spirit, which is tl.u word of 
 God that dwells in your hearts, Eph. vi. 17. N?iitj[ier 
 speak I to you that enter into war,. with an intent only 
 to satisfy your revenge, ^ambition, or avarice; but 1 
 speak to you, braye and worthy captains, who have 
 purified your weapons in an heavenly, fire, who jWage 
 war only to procure a more lasting peace to the public, 
 and fight only to serve your prince and country; to you 
 who are the real bulwarks of states arid empires^ by 
 wjiose TS'igilance men sleep in security. , Let the whole 
 world see, by experience in your persons, that nothing 
 accords better with true courage than the fear of God. 
 Behave yourselves always as in the sight of your cre- 
 ator, who is ever present with you, and, accompanies 
 you in all your actions. B/emember tliat he commanded. to 
 put away all uncleanness from |he camp of^'Isr^el, be- 
 cause of his holy presence. Deut, X30ii. Jf you will 
 
THE CHRISTIAN'S CONSOLATION. §59 
 
 therefore draw dowa his bleissiiig on your persons and 
 designs, east out of your armies the uncleanness of 
 vice,-an(l punish, without pity, rapes, burnings, impie- 
 ty, and blasphetoy. Cause your soldiers to put in prac- 
 tice St. John the Baptist's most excellent lesson to the 
 military men of his time, who demanded of him what 
 they should do (0 be saved: Do violence^ says he, to no 
 ntav, neither accuse anyfalseli/, and be content with your 
 wages, hake in.iv. Live as lambs, and fight like lions, 
 spare, as much as possible^ the blood of your own sol- 
 diers; and when you shed that of your enemies, let it 
 be with regret; for they are God's creatures, and bear 
 after a sort his sacred image. Never confide in your 
 own valour and experience; but remember ^it is God 
 that gives courage, that strengthens the hand in the day 
 of batttle, and that causes fear and terrour to seize 
 which side he pleases. Keep always in view* David's 
 example; there never was a captain more"" courageous, 
 nor more ready to expose his life; and yet there never 
 was a person more zealous in prayeV to God, more re- 
 signed to his will, nor more careful to return him the 
 praises of all his advantages. If it happens, that death 
 comes to put a stop to your victories, or calls you away 
 in a time when your prudence and courage seem the 
 most necessary, be not astonished at it. Consider, that 
 by this means God offers yoii the occasion of a more 
 glorious victory, a more magnificent triumph: for the 
 victory over millions of mortal men, or'over the whole 
 world, is nothing in comparison to the victory over 
 death and hell. Inquire not, out of a sinful distrust of 
 providence . who shall succeed yoU in the conduct of 
 your army. He who is able, of the very stones to raise 
 up children unto Abraham, Matth. iii. 9, can also rais^ 
 
seer TlftE CHRISTIANAS CONSOLAtlON; 
 
 ifpirovi thence captains and soldiersv When he pieasetfe' 
 to humble the pride of bis ewemies^ and to delivep his 
 p'edple frdB» their, tytaniiy, he raiseth ttp Gidecmsy Jeph- 
 thah% ^atarpsans, and such like extmordiuary eomman- 
 dets. Wh^'kfittWs hat be will cause % genefal to suc- 
 ceed yejl, whOy if BC{t*of more courage' and) generosity^ 
 iftay perhaiw have' bette? fortune, and more glorious suc- 
 cess? When he took Moses to his rest, he set up Josh- 
 u[a in bis stead, whom: he endowed with a noble spirit 
 df wisdom and- courage. For one enemy that Moses 
 overcame, Joshua subdued his thousandsv Whereas^ 
 jUloses wandered tip and dovV^n the wilderuess, and on- 
 ly coasted aloBfg the land of Cannaan; Joshua brought 
 the cbildrea of Israel into that eharming country, and 
 gave them peeiteeabTe possession of it. Since, therefore, 
 it is God^s pleasure, leave to others the eare of temporal 
 tvarsy and go gather the pleasant and delieions Truitd of 
 that eternal peace which hath been purchased for yoii 
 by the blood of tb^ Son of God. 
 
 Faithful minister of Jesus Christ, shew an example 
 of that resignatiotiy which thou teachest to others. Let 
 not death cause thee to draw back. Thou art willing' to 
 glorify God upon earth;, consider my brother, that thou 
 wilt glorify him much better in heaven, with more zeal^ 
 and less interruptiom Whilst thou, continuest lu the fet- 
 ters of this sinful flesh, thy iniBistry must nieeds be al- 
 tendfed with many imperfections. Thou imaginest, that, 
 if it plefises God to prolong thy days, thou mayest be of 
 singular use to reform the world: but thou deceivest 
 thyself my brother; for the world is growa old in sin, 
 and jbhis age is hardened in iniquity. Preach to the people 
 as. long as thou wilt, it shall be as in the times of Noah, 
 the preacher of righteousness, when the long suffering' 
 
THE CHRISTIAN'S CONSOLATION. 36 i 
 
 of Grbd waited for the conversion of tlie (l>a|lR(l}ent^ 
 1 Pet. iii. SO. For aUfiesh hath corrupted his way up- 
 on the earth: and every imagination of the thoughts of 
 man's heart is only evil cmtintially, Cien. vi. 5, 13. Our' 
 tkoughts are perverse and rebellions from tiie craille; 
 and was not God to interpose by his almighty power, 
 and the virtue of his Holy Spirit, Ihey would grow 
 worse and vporse, until we drop, into the grave. If thou 
 afilict thy righteous squl ever so muchy and waste thyself 
 in exhorting the greatest sinners to fly from the wrath 
 to come, and the judgments of Grod that hang over their 
 guilty heads, thou wilt be mocked for thy pains, and 
 perhaps by tjf^' nearest relations, as Lot was by his sons- 
 inrlaw. Gen. xix. Though thou shouldest thunder out 
 the threatntngs of God''s law against the abominations 
 of Israel, with as much zeal as the Prophet I^iali^'^h^ii 
 sbalt be forced at last to acknowledge, I have laboured 
 iw^ain, I have spent my strength for nought. Is. xlix. 4. 
 Though thine eyes were a fountain 6f tears, and thou 
 sjiouldst spend the days and nights in callitfg upon the 
 stiperstilious and idolaters to forsake their false worship, 
 tfeou wouldst net be able to soften the hardness of their 
 hearts, nor overcSnve their obstinacy. They will say to 
 thee, as the Jews to the Prophet Jeremiah, JtS for the 
 word that thou hast spoken, wntg us id the name of the 
 Lord, we will not heajfTeen unto thee. But we- will 
 certainly do whatsoever thing goeth forth out of our 
 own mouthyto burn incence unto the qusen of heaven, and 
 to pour out drink-offerings unto her, as tte have done, w& 
 and our fathers, our kings and our princes, in the cities 
 ofJudah,. and in the streets of Jerusrdem^ for then had 
 we plenty of victuals., and mere well, and saw no eviU 
 J«r. xliv. 15..- ir. Thouirh thou wert the laoiiUi of God 
 
S62 THE CflRISTIAN'S CONSOLATION. 
 
 himself/mnd thy lips utterfcd the wisdom of etevoky, 
 thou wouldst find good carise to cry out, Who hath fte- 
 lieved our report?^ and to whom is the arm of the' Lord 
 revealed? Is. liii. 1. Jolm xii. 38. In short, as the ri- 
 vers of fresh water that run Continually into the sea can- 
 not alter its saline taste; thus thy holy and exemplary 
 life, thy learned and pious sermons, will not be able to 
 remedy the corruption of this ^wicked age, . nor to stop 
 the torrent, and prevent the overflotwihg of vice: for thy 
 labour and industry, if compared with the corruption of 
 ' the world are more inconsiderable tb^ln a drop of water 
 in comparison to the ocean; This cursed earth may be 
 watered with thy sweat and. tears, *tievert*less it will 
 bring forth nothing but thorns alnd briars, Hsb. vi. 8. — 
 The weeds which thou takest so much pains to pluck 
 u|^ •wfll teii^i: th^ skin, and draw blood from thy ha,nds. 
 Sff'^iihi, mither is he that plaiite^i any thing, neither 
 he ihatpa^er^th; but God that giveth the increase) i 
 Cor^ iii.7. ' ' 
 
 There is reason to fear, that by staying any longer 
 in this contagious air, thou mayest receive some impres- 
 sions of its malignancy, and be involved in the general 
 corruption; that by handling so many wounds and sores, 
 thou mayest sully the put ity of thy hands: ^nd that the 
 thorns of this cursed earth may pluck, off the wool of 
 thy meek and lamb-like life. ' - 
 
 But though tiiou shouldst havea thousEtnd times more 
 gifts and graces^ ^nd thy labours should bring far grea- 
 ter advantages to the.edification of the church, it belongs^ 
 jiot to thee to prescribe laws to thy God, but to obey his 
 will. Leave to him the di^ef care of his own household, 
 and put thy trijst.in his eternal providence. He hath 
 more interest in the preservation of the chiirch than thou 
 
Tm CHBISTIAN'S CONSOLATION. 263 
 
 canst pretend to, seeing it concerns the glory of bis lioly 
 najne, and tiie salvation of Ms dear children. If any 
 one provide not for his own, and especially for those of 
 his own house, he hath denied the faitli, and is worse 
 than an infidel, 1 Tim. v. 8. And shall God; who abi- 
 deth faitbful, who is the fountain of truth, and cannot de- 
 ny himself, S Tim. ii. 13, whose gifts and calling are 
 without repentance, Rom. xi. 29, abandon the care of 
 his church, which he ilpves with an everlastin^love, 
 Jer. xxxi. 3, and cherisbeth as the apple , of his eye? 
 Zecb. ii. 8. This Father of iflercies, who spared not his 
 oien Son, but delivered him up for. the chuvch, how 
 shall he not with him also freely give her, all thingsP 
 K,om. -viii. 33. He knows better than thou^ and all 
 the men in the world, what is proper and advav- 
 tagifous for his holy family, and for every member that 
 composes it. He knows how to provide for all its wants; 
 for his, wisdom is infinite^ and his providence no less to 
 be admired. 
 
 When this great God hath a design to punish his en- 
 emies, and to manifest liis justice, he hath always fit 
 agents ready, and. his quiver is never 'destitute of ar- 
 rows. As soon as he commands the angels that stand 
 before him to thrust in their sickles and reap, or to pour 
 out the vials of bis wrath upon the earth, these holy 
 spiritsfly with an unspeakable swiftness to execute'his 
 sacred pleasure, Rev. xiv. and xvi. Likewise, when 
 he intends to do good to Iiiis children, be finds in every 
 place the messengers of peace, and his hand is always 
 full of blessings. As the ocean of his wonderful mer- 
 cies can never be dried up, so the channels by which he 
 conveys them to us shall never fail. 
 
 The verv cause of thv affliction should servp in an- 
 
S(J4 THE CHRISTIAN'S CONSOLATION. 
 
 pease Ihy ^^ief, to chepish thy faithj and increasift thj 
 liopes: foF if thor art eudov, ed with extraordinary gifts, 
 this proceeds not from thy nature, nor thineindustry, 
 l»at from the favour and I-r»unty of God. Now, his hand 
 is not shortened, Is. 1.2, his power lessened, or the 
 fountain of his blessings and wonders dried up. He 
 that makes the fields white unto harvest, John iv. 35, 
 can send, into- it his reapers whensoever he pleaseth. 
 In tfeese latter times, in this old age of the world, as 
 well as ih the infancy of Ims church, he finds labourers 
 to work in his vineyard;* or rather, he forms atid fash- 
 ions them with the hand of his gface, and enables them 
 with his Holy Spitit; for it is he that hath made man^s 
 mouth, that maketh the dumb, and deaf, and the seeing, 
 .. nd the Idind, Exod. iv, 11, that calhth those things 
 which be-not, as though they ivei% Ylom. iv. 17. 
 
 When he, will have a tabernacle erected to himself, 
 he calls by naige a Bezaleel, and fills him vvith his spirit 
 in wisdom, and in understandingj and in knowledge, 
 and in all manner of Workmanship, Exod. xxxi. 2, $. 
 When he is pleased to deliver the children of Israel 
 from their liabylonish captivity, , and to build again the 
 temple of Jerusalem, he hath ^it his command a Cyrus, 
 a Darius, and an Artaxerxcs; he raises up a Zerub- 
 babel, and Ezra, and a Nehemiah. Thus, j when he 
 iulends to repair the breaches of his bouse, and to ad- 
 vance the kingdom of his blessed Son, he raises up 
 propei* servants, and bestdws upon them the necessary 
 graces for such a noble work. As he hath never left himself 
 without witness, in that he doth good; so he hath never 
 been without witnesses to declare his holy truth. , Out 
 of the mouth, of babes ■ and sucklings, he perfects his 
 praise, Mattli. xxi, 16; and as our Saviour told the 
 
Tr.E CHRISTIAN'S CONSOLATION. S65 
 
 4ews, If these should liald, their peace the stones wpvli 
 immediately cry out., Luke xix. 40. God will take the 
 pilars of the idol's te«iple to,siippoi't his church, rather 
 than suffer It to fall to ruin. He will change the wolves 
 h}to lambs, and die lambs into shepherds, rather than 
 his sheep shall want their pasture- He hathchosen the 
 weak things of the world, to confound the things ichick 
 are mighty; and base things of the world, q,nd things 
 which are despised, hath God cjioaen, yea, and fhiiigs 
 which are not, to bring to nought the things that are, 
 1 Cor. i, 37, 28. 
 
 God not only never leaves his church without some 
 testimony of his favour, some instrument of his grace; 
 but many times, wlieiii he removes one good thing from 
 us, it is in order to bestow upoa us something more rare 
 and excellent. This citusideration rejoiced the heart of 
 Joseph upon bis death-bed; as appears by what he said 
 to his brethrea, 1 die; and God wiU surely visit you, 
 and iring you out of this laud, unto the land which he 
 swars to Abraham, to Isagc, and to Jaca^, Gen. 1. 24. 
 And accordingly it came to pass : for i^^tead of a Jo- 
 seph, who had been the occasion of their boiadgage, 
 God raised up a Mcses, wIto delivered them wilSi a 
 strong hand, and stretched out arm. — God took «p 
 Elijah in a chariot of fire, but he gav« unto Elisha a 
 .double portion of bis master's spirit, and <;aused the 
 glory of bis miracles to sliiue forth, 2 Kifigs ii. Our 
 Lord and -Saviour, when be Iiad finisJied the great work 
 of our rcdem|»tio.n, as(DeHded i"*f» feeav'eii, a cleuid re- 
 ceiving him ^^} l@ itl»e ^tiiroine of ^lis .sjlory; -bttt «f!cord- 
 ing to his divine {woiHiiise, he bath n»t left us destitute, 
 ■butliatli sent us the Cqraftirter, that he may abide with 
 Msforevpx; even the Spirit of Truth, tchorh the world 
 
 1 . T 
 
266 THE CHRISTIAN'S CONSOLATION. 
 
 ^eefhnot, neither Jcnoweth, John, xiv. 16, 17- CliristV 
 bodily presence was pnjoyed but by a small niimbejr; 
 biit his Spirit is like a river that overflows on every 
 side, John vii. 38, — This divine Spirit is not only with 
 lis, but also within us, being shed. abroad in our hearts. 
 He seals us for the day of redemption, Eph. iv, 3,0^ 
 and is the earnest of our inheritance, until the full con- 
 summation of the glory reserved for us in h^iaven, iSph. 
 i. 14. Therefore, when this merciful Saviour saw his 
 ap6stles greatly afflicted for his legiving the world, he 
 speaks to them in this manner: Becanse I have, said 
 these things unto you, s6rrow hath filled your heart. 
 Nevertheless, 1 tell you the truth; it is expedient for 
 you that I go away: for if I go not a,way, the Com- 
 forter will not come ufato you; but if I depart, I will 
 send him unto you; John xvi. Bj 7- When St. Paul 
 ^topk his last farewfillof the elders and people of the 
 church of Ephesus, they all wept sore, sorrowing most 
 of all for the Word which he spake that they should 
 see his face no more, Actg x*. S7, 68. But to corafoft 
 them, he assures them, that jn heaven they have a Far- 
 ther aid protector, and such a shepherd as will never 
 forsake them; I commend you, says he, to God, and to 
 the word of his grace, which is able to build yoa up, 
 and to give you an inheritance among all them that 
 are sanctified, ver. 33. O man of God, lay up these 
 things in thy heart! If the Loud, who hath called thee 
 to the sacred function of the ministry, is pleased to con- 
 tinue thee in the world, labour with couraj^e in thy 
 holy employment, atid be not tired in the service of so 
 good a nt|ister, so merciful a Saviour; Fight the good 
 jight of faith, 1 Tim. vi. IS. Endure hardness q,s a 
 good sqUiel" of Je^us Christ, % Tiw, il. 3, Show not 
 
THE CHRISTIAN'S CONSOLATION. gfiy 
 
 r 
 
 a less earnest care for the Lqrd's sheep, than Jacob for 
 those of Laban. Hear -what this holy Patriarch pro- 
 fesses of himseir: ia>the day the jdrought, consumed 
 me; and the frost by night; and my sleep departed 
 from mine eyes, Gen. xxxi. 4. Jacob patiently en- 
 ilnred all this labour and distress, and the years of his 
 iservitude seemed unto him but a few days, for the love 
 he had to Rachel, («en. xxix. 30. ' In the same man- 
 ner, thou wilt joyfully endure all the fatigues of thine 
 office, and bear with patience all the hardships, if );hou 
 sincerely lovest the Lord J|esus, and his heavenly 
 bride; if thou ^espectest the salvation of souls, from 
 whom Jesus Christ hath suffered death; and if thoa 
 hast well weighed the excellency of thine own reward, 
 and the glory prepared for tliee, when thou shall have 
 finished the time .of thy painful service and severe trial. 
 For they that turn many to righteousness, shall shine '^ 
 as the stars for ever and ever, Dan. xii. 3. Jacob had 
 to do with an unfaithful and deceitful man; but God 
 is not a man that he should lie, neither the son of man 
 that he should repent, Numbers, xxiii. 19. Be tliou 
 'faithful unto dpath, and he will give thee a crown of 
 life, Kev. ii. 10. 
 
 If it be the Lord's pleasure to lessen this task; if, in- 
 stead of employing ihee in his vineyard, he will take 
 thee to drink of the new wine of his kingdom; if, when 
 thou thinkest to siow in tears, hg causes thee to reap 
 with songs of joy; if, instead of the contradiction which 
 thou sufferest fram sinners, he will grant to thee his 
 eternal consolations, and receive thee into the harmoni- 
 ous society of the church trium.phant, adore his good- 
 ness and Ills infinite mercy. Tjast thyself into ')is arms, 
 and resolve cheerfully to will what i; plea^ng to him. 
 
2681 THE CHRISTIAN'S CONSOLATION. 
 
 If, during thy abode m this valley of tears, God hattr 
 provided for thee, and thou hast found all thy joy, sa- 
 tisfaction, and comfort; in him, death will be thy advan- 
 tage; for in this same Saviour thou shalt find thy rest, 
 gldry, and eternal happiness. Meditate often upon these 
 excellent words of the Apostle, The elders which are 
 among you, I exhort, who am alsti an elder-j and a wit- 
 ness qfthie sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the 
 glory that shall be revealed. Feed theftodc of God which 
 is among you, talcing the oversight thereof, not by con- 
 straint, but willingly; nor for filthy lucre, but qf a' ready 
 mind; neither as being lords aver God's heritage, but 
 being ensamples to the flock. And when the chief Shep- 
 herd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of giory that 
 fadeth not away, 1 Pet. v. i, % 3, 4. 
 
 You also, who are afraid to leave behind you aU af- 
 flicted and desolate widow> tome and learn this lesson, 
 to rely upon the goodness and tender compassions of 
 the Father of Mercisss, who comforteth us in all our tri- 
 bulations, 2 Cor. i. •*; and is nigh unto all them that call 
 upon him, Psal. cxvl. 18. He favours the^idow in such 
 an especial manner, that he call& himse^' tjte judge of 
 the widows, Psal. Ixviii. 5; that is, the guardian of their 
 innocencej the protector of their right, and the severe 
 revenger of the wrohgs that are o&red them. There- 
 fore, in another place, he expressly tells us, that he es- 
 tablished the bord&r ofjhe widow, Prov. xv. 33. If Job 
 caused the widow's heart to sing for joy, Job xxix. 13; 
 how mucli more shall God fill her heart with ravisJiins: 
 delights, with the sweet and effectual consolations of his 
 Holy Spirit? I speak not of those foolish -widovvs wiio 
 mind nothing but worldly pleasures, and carnal pas- 
 tii»es, who run into all the fopperies of the age/ and are 
 
THE CHRISTIAN'S CONSOLATION. 269 
 
 dead whilst they live, 1 Tim. v. 6; but I speak of those 
 wise "widows^ who, being left desolate, trust in God, and 
 contiatie in supplicati^s and prayers night and day. 
 ' Otir grfeat God and merciful Lord haUi not' only de- 
 clared in general, that he is judge, the protector, and 
 coEiffoi'ter, of widows, but he hath also been pleased to 
 extend unto some bis most signal favours, and extraor- 
 dinary blessings. In the reign of King Ahab, wliile a 
 cruel famine pi-evailed in the land, God sent' the pro- 
 phet Elijah to a poor widow of Zarephath, who was 
 preparing hfJi'self to die with her son, as soon as they 
 had eaten up an handful of meal, and a little oil that 
 was left. But the holy Propliet comforted her with these 
 words: Thus saith the Lord God of Israel, The barrd 
 of meal shall not waste, neither shMl the cruise of oil 
 fail, until the day that the Lord sendeth rain upon the 
 earth, i Kings xvii. 14. Many poor widows have ex- 
 perienced the like miraClej for, by a secret benediction, 
 God hath caused' their provisions not to fail. Though 
 they have not enjoyed any extraordinary pjenty, this 
 all-wise purveyor hath furnished them with the necessa- 
 ries of life: so that n<*t only they and their child lenihave 
 subsisted in tiniies of die greatest scarcity, but they have 
 also had the honour of assisting God's prophets. Like 
 the poor widow mentioned' in the gospel, out of their 
 penury they have given alms, Luke xxi. 4, and their 
 nlites have bfeen more pleasing unto Gad than the trea- 
 sures of the rich. Moreover, when the Son of God was 
 in the world, he vs^as please(| to manifest the care and 
 tender concern he hath for widows: for when he nwt 
 nigh the gate of the city of Nain, a poor widow that we[»t 
 bitterly for her only son, who was carried out to be l»n- 
 ried, he had compassion on her, raised the young man to 
 
§70 ' THE CHRISTIAN'S CONSOLATION. 
 
 life again, and delivered him to his motlier, Lnfce vii. It 
 ■yvas also at the request of some devout widows that St. 
 Peter raised JDorcas,. Acts ix. r 
 i I must not forget in this place a most noble proVi- 
 deoce, proper to comfort e\ ery faithful servant of God. 
 The widow of one of the sons of the prophets, in the 
 bitterness of her soul, cried out unto Elisha, Thy ser^ 
 vant my husband is dead, and thou knowest that thy ser- 
 'cant did fear the Loi^; and the creditor is come to take 
 Mjitp him my two sons to be bondmen, 2 Hin^s iv. 1. Qod 
 who hears the cry of the afflicted, had compassion on this 
 poor nridow, and,. by the means of Elisha, miraculously 
 gave her wherewith to pay her debts, and to support her 
 family. By this glorious example, God assures his pro- 
 phets 6f the tender care he will take of their widovV^^s, 
 provided they walk id his fear, and continue in his ho- 
 ly covenant. 
 
 To conclude, both ancient and modern histories are 
 full of illustrious examples of wise aad^'virtuoas widows, 
 who hare discreetly governed' their families and upon 
 whom the blessing of God hath visibly rested.- , 
 
 God, who is so wonderful in all his works, not only 
 causeth fathers to provide for their children, but to some 
 he likewise gives in his mercy, such children as become 
 fathers to their fathers, and a blessing to their family, as 
 Joseph was to Jacob and his household. Such wise and 
 . virtuous children, knowing how necessary they are to 
 their parents, whom they -cherish and honour, may, out 
 of a blind affection for them, tremble at death, and say 
 unto it, in the language of the young man in. the gospel. 
 Suffer me first to go and bury my father, Matth. viii. 
 M. Let me alone a little longer in the world, suffer me 
 to live, and administer to the necessities of my aged pa- 
 
THE CHRISTIAN'S CONSOLATION. gyi 
 
 rents, till I have paid them tlie last duties, and closed 
 their eyeSi But hearken what the Lord saitli un^to thqe, 
 Let the dead bury their dead, follow^ thou me. Tjcave to 
 them that remain behind thee the cares of worldly con- 
 cerns; but do thou obey God's call. Thy charity to 
 others must not make thee cruel to thyself, and disobedi- 
 ent to God's command. Fear not to leave any earthly 
 friends to go to jjieet thy heavenly bride-groom, antfto 
 cast thyself into the arms of the Father of spirits. God 
 who hath given, or rather who hath lent thee antd them, 
 who caused them to subsist before thou wast born, can 
 feed and vbless them without thee. His mercy is notcon- 
 fined to "thy person nor industry. When our Lord' and 
 Saviour was upon the cross, sedng the blessed virgin^ 
 and the disciple whom he loved, he saith unto his mo- 
 ther, Woman, behold thy son; and io St. John, Behold 
 thy mother. And from that hour that disciple took her 
 unto his own home, John xix. 26, 27- In like manner, » 
 when God calls unto his eternal rest him who, like Jo- 
 seph, was the supporter of his family he provides for 
 them, in his adorab|e providence, some other way. ^In . 
 short, if Elkanah had reason to say to his wife, when 
 she wept because she had no child. Am not I better to 
 thee than ten sons? i Sam. i. 8, we may with much more 
 ^,stice affirm, that the grace of God, his divine assistance, 
 and the consolations of his Holy Spirit, are better to us 
 than ten thousand of the best and most dutiful children. 
 'Ihe stfongest passion, and that which seenpis the most 
 cr.pable to detain a Christian soul, is the aft'ection which 
 fathers and mothers bear to their childrcrl, especially 
 if they leave them in an age unable to help themselves. 
 But lest this natural passion should transport you beyond 
 
 the bounds of reasnn and nipi.v. nnnsidKr wf}] tlip nrn. 
 
S75 THE CHRISTIAN'S CONSOLATION; 
 
 niise Uii^t Gai] raatle to Abraham, I will be aG.od until 
 thee, and ta Ihij seed after thee. Gen. xvii, 7; and \yhat 
 St. Peter toM the .lews, 2%e pro7nise is unto you, and, 
 to your children, and to all that are afar off: even a,s many 
 as. the Lord our God shall mil, Acts ii, 19. Above 
 all, hear attentively, ,9H(.l engrave J n the bottom, of 
 your hearts, that which (iod spealjSjto you froin heaven 
 by the prophet .Terepiab, Lear:e thy fatherless chil- 
 dren, 1. will preserve them alive; andl^tthy widows 
 trust in me, chap. xlix. 11. ^ 
 
 God is the father of us all, but more especially lie is 
 the/father of the fatlierless, Psal, cxlvi. He hath com- 
 passion on them and provides for, all theiv wants. Thy 
 children are, nearer to him than to thee; for thou ar,t. but 
 amebic instrument which he made use of to bring them 
 into the world, but lie is the creator of their souls, the 
 maker of flieir bodies, and the redeemer of both. He 
 loves them with a greater and more lasting jove than 
 the best fSithers, and the most tender hearted mo- 
 thers: therefore he assures us by his holy prophet,, that 
 though a woman foTfiget her suckling child: that she 
 sliautd not have compassion orTthe son of her womh, 
 l/ethe will not forget us. Is. xljx. 15. So that all thpse 
 children that' fear Goil, and worship him may say with 
 David, When my father and my mother forsake me, 
 then the Lord will take W^ up, Psal. xxvii. 10. 
 
 If Jo^ had a tender care of the fatli^erless, Job xxxi. 
 17> 31. and Pharoah's daughter had compassion on the 
 tears of a strange infant, Exod. ii. 6, how much more 
 shall God, who is the Father of mercies, and the God 
 of all comfort, 3 Cor i. 3; have compassion on chil- 
 dren- whom he hath redeemed wiith the precious blood 
 of his only son? If he hears the young ravens when 
 
THE CHRIStlAN'S CONSOLiTION. gyS 
 
 th«y • cry, PsaL cxlvil 9,' how> mueh more will he hear 
 the-prafers, sighs, and tears, of the children of them 
 th&t' fear him? If he ^^lothes the gra^ss of the field, 
 which to-day is, jind to-morrow is cast into the oven, 
 shall he not much more cjothe your children, ye of 
 MttJe faith? Matth. vL 30. Behold the fowls of the air, 
 yOttp heavenly Father feedeth ih&m'- Are not you? chil- 
 dren much bettei- Jhaa they? ver. 36. la shor^ if God 
 hiui compassion ou Ishmael, Gen. xxi, 1% and on the 
 children of Nineveh, Jonah iv, il, how, much more 
 will he have i<espe5^ anto children that have been sanc- 
 iljfied to him from their Hjafher's womb? 
 
 Wheji our Lord and Saviour J«sus Christ was upon 
 earth, he took in his arms little cbildrfin that were 
 brougt^ unto him, laid his haBds upon them? and re- 
 commended them to God, his Father, Matth, xix. 14, 
 1@. How his love and tender compassion for them is 
 nottessened, but rather increased with his glory. There- 
 fore, if we offer him our children with all our hearts, he 
 will take them into his pKotectioB; and lay upon them 
 the hands of his gtace^ which he will^ never take from 
 them. In short, he that hath promised them the kingdom 
 of heaven, and his eternal felicities, will not withhold 
 &bm them the necessaries of this pre*sent life; 
 
 We can do nothing without God, but h« can do all 
 thiflgs without us. A great many iGihildrenj,:w ho are 
 brought up at home, under the eye, of their parents grow 
 ;debau(;Hed,_ and are ruined; whereas many, that are 
 forced out while young, or left orphans, become shining 
 patterns of piety and goodness. For example, Inlsaac'Sv 
 house, jathe presence of Ibis holy person, Ksaf became. 
 profane^nd ^^lutton, Geo. xxv5\yh€Peas Jacob, who 
 was'sipnt to a El-eat distance, ia all his flights and wm- 
 
274 f HE CHRISTIAN'S CONSOLATION. 
 
 flerings, had always before h'ls eyes the fear of his fa- 
 rther Isaac, Geti. xxki; that is, the Gwl wboni his fi^- 
 therfeiifed. lii Jacob's house,, Reuben defiled his fa- 
 ther'is bed, Gren. xxxv. S3; wJiereas Joseph, who was 
 .sjbld irittj Egypt to Potiphaf, chose rather to expose bim- 
 steif to a cruel pa&isl(QieQt, and even to death, than to 
 toiich his master's wjfe, 'Gfen, xxxix. David had the 
 unbappiiiiesg to see some of his children guilty of mur- 
 der and ineesJ; where&feJoash and Joslab^ who Avere 
 Ifeft 'brpbahs in their infancy, became Wise and virtuous 
 pTTti'ces, burning with zejtl for the service of God. How 
 many children ate there, who, notwithstanding"' all the 
 care and pains of their fathers, fiill into extreme misery? 
 How many are dragged from &teit parents' embraces to 
 an ignominous death? whereas others^ who are left 
 .'without parents, frieiids^ or any humuh assistance, not 
 only escape the greatest daflgers, but rise to the highest 
 boftours, and dignities; as Joseph in Egypt, and Da- 
 niel in Babylon. Likewise Esther, of a poor captive or- 
 phan, became a queen, and God ma^Te use of her and 
 ber ereiilit to deliver his people frofti Hamari's cofispifa- 
 cy, EstJier vH. We aec> CA'ery day, orphans blessed 
 by God in an extraordinary manner. Cast yOUr eyes 
 upon the children of the blessed martyrs, and yoo shall 
 find inaiiy whoia God hath made noble instances of his 
 special fnyOuR and that mercy which he hath promised 
 to«hew un^to thous^ands of them that love him and keep 
 his commandments. Thou shalt meet with many that 
 are a thotrsand times more prosperous than the children 
 of persecutors. Nay, thou shalt behold them with as- 
 tonishment, givin|f alms to the very children^ theia 
 that have plundered their houses. ' ' 
 
 So long a^ the breath of life remains in your nostrijs, 
 
THE CHRISTIAN'S CONSOLATION. ' 275 
 
 ' ,•/ ," >' " .'•■ 
 
 pxl^oBtyqur chiUlren to fear Gad, /tp serve hiaij, and 
 to' apply themselves witl) all thera*fiearts to the ej^rcis«^ 
 of gatUiiiess, which hath the' promise of the life thi^lit" 
 upw is, and of that which is to come, i Tin^c i^v'S' 
 Teach them U^Seek first the-MngttoTn ofGo(l,a0%i8 
 rfg<fiieou,sness and all these things s]iallie Horned unto:^ 
 them, Matth. vi. 33. - . 
 
 ■ Finally, though your life sheald he a thousand times 
 mora useful to your children than it really is, remetnbeir 
 w^hat our Lord and Saviour saith fleiAai lovetk son or 
 i&itghter move than me, is not worthy of me, Matth. x. 
 87- Heaven is more 'Excellent than earth. The salva- 
 tion and glory of our souls is to be preferred before all 
 the considerations of flesh and blood. It is not just, that 
 they to whom we have given tlie enjoyment of a tempo- 
 ral life, should hinder us from the fruition of life eter- 
 nal. Besixles, wjien we recommend them to God, vi'e 
 put them into the protection of a friend, who i^ wise to 
 know all their necessities; good to supjjjy them with 
 vi'hatever is needful; and almighty, to accomplish all 
 things that may' be far their advantage. 
 
 Let us ther-efore conclude, tliat it ig the dqty of a good 
 father, who hath tlie fear of God before his jeyes, npt to 
 resist death, nor to fly from it when the Lor«fe calls; but, 
 according to the example of the ancient patriarchs, he 
 ought to end his flays willingly, praising God, and e;^- 
 horting his childrcu to love, fear, and serve him with all 
 tjieir hearts, to perseverp in his holy coveijant, and to 
 prefer him to all4be rjcibes and honours upon earth. And 
 as when our Saviour lia4 blessed bis disjciples, a cloud 
 received him up into heaven, Luke xxiv; so when a good: 
 Christian shall have given his b'essingto hi| children, 
 he will shut his eyes to the world, and think upon no- 
 thing but the eternal and unspeakable joys of paradise. % 
 
S76 * THE CHRISTIAN'S tONSCaiATION. 
 
 If (jod calls us to himself in a time of public calamifiy 
 and di^resiS; and our beloved childrfen, weeping aboat 
 '^v bled, say unto hs, as Isaac unto Abraham, Myfathef, 
 HIiqU *e fire and the wood, hut ivhereis the l^Mbfiir. 
 abiiilmizoWerins:? fifem. xxii. 7. Godeanseth the instru- 
 itnent of hiis anger and just vengeance to appea? on every, 
 side. Wherever we cast our eyes, we see nothing but 
 ,fire and sword. The image of death, and horrid tor- 
 tures, terrify and affright us; desoktion stands in the 
 holy place^ the fire hath kid hold on the sanctuary, and 
 nothing appears to deliver us; the deluge is so univer- 
 sal, that like Noah's dove, we can find bo rest for the 
 sole of our feet, Gen. viii.'9. All our hope is^ that God 
 will stretch, Qut his hand, and receive us into that ark 
 which is above the heavens, and to; which yousr soul is 
 now departing. If our dear children speak to us in this 
 manner, let us put on the courage, constancy, and faith 
 of the Father ctf tlie Faithful, and return them this a»- 
 swer. My children, God tvill provide, Gen. xxii. S, It 
 is he that acts beyond probability and hope; that causetb 
 tjie dead to live; andcalleth thosethijtg» which be not, as 
 though they were, Rom. iy^ I7. He vi^ill send bis good 
 angels to administer to all your necessities. When you 
 shall he rdl9uced to the last extremity, ready to receive 
 the fatal stroke of death, God will sta.y the sword of his 
 justice, and will change your cries and tears into joy and 
 everlasting gladness. There will arise some holy and de- 
 vout soul, some lover of the public tranquility, that shall 
 bring to you the olive branch of peace . If God only 
 breathes, the tempest will cease, the winds be still, and 
 the overildwing waves that are ready todeyottryou shall 
 return to their former channels! Otherwise he will pre- 
 serve you by fiipacle in the mids^t of these terrible ea- 
 
THE CHRISTIAN'S COJSSOLATION. 277 
 
 lamities and horild cwnfi^ions. As Abpabam found a 
 ram caught in a thicket, ^en. xxii. 13; so in tlie midst of 
 the sharpest troubles, the most intricate and di^eaded dif- 
 ficultieis, you shall find unexpected comfort and help. — 
 And as the various colours of the beautiful rainbow appear 
 upon the cloud whence the storm and rain prftceed; thus, 
 ia the greatest afilictibns, God will give you precious 
 testimonies of his fatherly care and affection. The h^pe 
 which you have in God shall never make you ashamed, 
 because the love of God is shed abroad in your hearts, 
 by the holy ghost which is given unto you, Rom. v- 5-— 
 The hotter the fires shall bej the more and the greater 
 miracles they will bring forth. The higher the waters 
 of your deluge shall rise, thenearer they will approach 
 your souls unto God, and the nearer you will draw to 
 heaven, the place of our eternal rest. Therefore, be 
 comforted, my dear children, and assiire yourselves, that 
 by the favour of God's grace and fflercy, we shall spee- 
 tfily see one another again. I shall not return to you, 
 but you shall come to me, 3 Sam. xii. 33; for I go (0 
 that spacious and magnificent house, whither our Lord 
 and Saviour JesusXDhrlst i§ gone to prepare a place for 
 US; and where Ke^ill resceive iis all^ John xiv. 2, 3. I 
 ascend unto my I'ather and ffoiir Ifather, and to thy 0od 
 and your God, John x%. iy. 
 
278 THE CURIStiAN'S GOifSl-LATION. 
 
 ITATIOX 
 
 Foj' a Ming or Prince, who -preparies for dsatk^ % 
 relying upon Go(fs providence. 
 
 *KING of KittgSj and Lord bf , Lortla, who of thy 
 Special grace and. iiavour hast ordained me, upon earth, 
 a lively image, of thine omnipotence, a ray of thy glory: 
 siifftr me nob to be lifted up with pride On account of 
 the power and majesty wherewith thoU hast cloth&d 
 nie; and let me not imitate the vanity of that profane 
 monarch, who cried, Is not this great Babylon that 1 
 have huilt for the house of the kingdom, by the mighi 
 of my power, and for the honour -of my majesty f On 
 the cmtrary, grant that I may devoutly adore him by 
 whom 1 reign; and that 1 may prostrate my -heart be- 
 fore thy sovereigp and eternal throne^ at which I must 
 appear, not only as a man, to answer for my own par- 
 ticular actions) but also as a prince, to render an- ac- 
 count of ray administration, and the many thousand 
 souls whicji' thou hast committed to my charge. If al 
 any time the splendour of a crown dazzles me, or my 
 flaiterers cry out, 2'he voice of a God, tind not of a 
 man, let me remember my frail and corruptible nature, 
 tliat 1 came into the world like other men, and am sub- 
 ject to the same passions and infiipitiesj that deatL 
 \vill not spare me any more thannme nfean^gt of my 
 subjects, nor pay me any greater resfUct; that he will 
 lllter as boldly into my palace,, as into the tent of my 
 poorest soldier, or a shepherd's cottage; that he-will 
 break my sceptre with as much ease as his Sheep-hook; 
 tlmt he will trample andet; foot the pyecious jewels o! 
 my crown with as little ceremony as the flowers of the 
 fields jand that my life, as well as that of my vilest 
 slave, is but a breath in my nostrils, a wind that passes 
 away, a shadow that flies. O God of all fleshi so lon^ 
 as it shall please thee to continue me henl^below, reigi 
 in my heart and over my affectiops. Guide me by, th^ 
 holy spirit, and; idirect me by thine infinite y/idoii, 
 Since by thee kings reign, and, princes execute judg- 
 
THE CHRISTIAN'S CONSOLATION. 37^ 
 
 ni«nt, grant me thy grace, that I may have thee always 
 before mine eyes, and employ to thy glory, and the 
 advkneement of thy klBgdom, all the power and autho- 
 rity which I possess from thy bomity. Let me consid- 
 er my subjects as thy creatures, made by thee in Ihiile 
 image, -and as thy children whom thou hast redeemeil 
 with the blood of thine only Son. And whereas itiiath 
 seemed good in thine eyes to make so great a distinc- 
 tion between them and me, let me never forget the im- 
 mense (distance which there is between me, who am , 
 but dust and ashes, a worm, and less than nothing, and 
 thee, O great and living God! whose being is eternal, 
 and power infinite. When thou sayest to the richest 
 and most mighty monarchs of the earth, Sons of men 
 return! in ap instant they return from the ground from 
 whence they were taken; and with them vanish all 
 iheir de^p designs, all their great and glorious enter- 
 prizes. O Sovereign Potentate of the world! A\hen it 
 shall please thee to advertise me by aiiy^ one of thy 
 prophets, or otherwise to certify me by any visible token, 
 that it is thy good pleasure to take me from my king- 
 dom, (my principality,) instead of being afraid, or af- 
 flicting myself like an infidel prince, grant that I ma^ 
 show an heroic constancy, and a chrisliaa resignation 
 to thy holy and divine will. If with otle hand thou 
 writest the sentence of my death, with the other thou 
 shalt ehgra^ that irrevocable decree, 'in virtue whereof 
 I shall go to take jiossession of a life sovereignly hap- 
 py. O Almighty God! what are all the kingdoms from 
 Which thou takest, me, in comparison of the celestial 
 inheritance which thou hast prepared for nie from the 
 foundation of the world! Seeing, with respect to the 
 heavens, all the earth is no more than a point; what 
 are all the diadems . here belo\V? unstable -and perish- 
 ing, when compared to that incorruptible crown of glo- 
 ry which thou wilt give me at the end of my course^^ 
 O that I may lay aside with joy this regal purple, to 
 put on those precious robes of light and immortal|*y 
 vkliich shine forth in thy celestial pjfradise! that I may 
 cheerfully lay do^vn^ this transitory sceptre, to take up 
 tbose. everlasting palms which adorn tlie glorious han/is 
 
980 THE CHRISTIA^J'^: CONSOLATION. 
 
 of thy triumphant paints! O viQtorious prince 'of thft 
 kings of the earth! :from thee I received the govern- 
 ment of this my kingdom, (principality,) into thine 
 adorable hands I most wilUdtgiy resign it. Graciously: 
 ^ant that my successor may inherit the piety aitid zeal 
 which thqu hast kindled in my heart: or irather, O 
 inexhaustible source of blessings! grant that he may 
 surpass me in all things:^ that he may have none of my 
 defects, but may be adorned and enriched with all the: 
 Virtues which I want: that he may be clothCid witlt 
 Ihy most tixcellent gifts, and crowned with thy mo^t 
 precious favours. My King, and my God! thou hast 
 ^venVto n^e, as to David, the mau aftier thine own 
 heart, a sincere and earnest desire to rebuild thy tem- 
 ple, and to beautify thy church: but since it- huth not 
 seemed good in thine eyes, that 1 should advance this 
 glorious work, grarit'ihati my successor may be filled 
 with a wisdom like unto that of Soloinon; and that he 
 may be attended with the same prosperity, , glory, and 
 Iiappiness; that he may establish his throHe upon a. 
 solid piety: that during his reign, righteousness ahd 
 peace may kiss each other; that truth may flourish in 
 the earth, and charity shine forth from heaven; that 
 all his people may hless him; that he may have a^ ma-' 
 By guards as subjects, and as many citadels as hearts. 
 Bdt, 'aljove all, O merciful God! grant hini grace th?it 
 lie may rebuild *thy house, and tlat he iSiay raise -jt 
 to the utmost height of glory and happiness that it is 
 capable of attaining here below. Mean time, I will 
 go and glprify thee in the magBifieent palace of im- 
 mortality': I will cast my crown at the feet of the 
 Lamb,) and will worship him who liveth for ever and 
 ever. Amen, 
 
THE <CffiR3STIAN»S jC<MSOLATI©N. ^84 
 
 i'RATEli AN® MEDITATION * 
 
 For q, Viceroy or Governor^ 
 
 * ADORABLE Governor of tKe universe! since I haT« 
 *iibe honour to represent my prince, who is a, lively image 
 ^f thy Majesty, it is but giast that I pay thee a religious 
 P&mage. For I slioulfl not possess this power, w,as it 
 not given me from above, and if tbou, wibo art the King 
 ■of Kings, and who lioldest in thine hand the hearts of 
 princes, hadst not caused nie to fmd favour in their sig-ht. 
 Grant me thy gvace, t%at I may never forget, that t'he 
 people over whom 1 rul-e are not my slaves, but the sub- 
 jects of my prince: and what is more, thy creatures a«d 
 thy children: That itisiiot fcA-me todisppse of themas 
 1 will, or to follow the dictates of my passions, but to 
 (observe the orders whiel) I htfve received, and to obey 
 thy divine commands: That I may represent to myself 
 jny prince asalways present, and over'lookiiig all my ac- 
 tions: but especially that I may nev'ter forget tliat I#a.m 
 always befoiH) thy sacred eyes, which penetrate to. the 
 feottom of my iieatl, aijd fead my taost sfecret thoughts: 
 That I may renremtier, ^day and niglit, that I must give 
 :an account tofflyraa«ter of theadmilQistration"wlieriewith 
 lie bath intrasted me;; and4hat I must appear befor* thy 
 tribunal, wnere all disguise and evasion is in vaitt. If 
 ^rhile I thus discharge my office witb all the fidelity, 
 ililigenc^', and vigour, wlfereof I am •capable, death ^Iui!ll 
 come and call me from the world, mercifully grant tbat 
 I may not be afraid; but that I may quit these houonrs 
 witiiGut regret, seeing the government of a kingdott; or 
 an empire, or even over a thousand worlds, is nothing 
 "m comparison of tliat glory and exaltation which thou 
 bast prepared for me in heaven. Leithottheica^'ofwbat 
 may liappeii after my decease distiiiib tire peace aiid're- 
 pose oTmy «oul: for thou tan«t raise ^p ministers atid 
 gov^enwrs, wlro sliall be filled with the'^rlt of wisdom 
 arid |)rndence,and whose adniinistralion §imll be a;ifen- 
 ded with BUOceS'S and glory. Mean time, 1 «balVre(stf!!»p 
 ©ver from all my fatigues and kboai's; and af(,fer I s&all 
 
^3 THE CliRlSTIAJf'S CONSOLATION. # 
 
 b9.ve overcome Satati, the world, sin, antt d^a^hj ^"'^ 
 shall have kept thy wrarks unto the end, thoUjWilt put. 
 a palm into my hand, a crown upon my head,' and into, 
 my mquth the song of the blessed, in whose compiny I 
 shall sing praises and thanksgiving for ever and ever.' 
 Amen. 
 
 yRAYER AND MEDITATION 
 
 for the General of an Army, or any other superior 
 
 Officer. 
 
 O LORD of Hosits!. I have always believed that this 
 profession, which I have embraced for the service of my 
 prince and country, is not displeasing to thee. Thon 
 hast formerly given military laws to thy people, thou 
 hast not disdained to guide their armies, to march in theii 
 ca|np, and to order all their battles. Thouglr thy Son 
 is the King of peace, yet his first minister commands no( 
 soldiers to lay down their arms, but not only to be con- 
 tent with their wages, and to do violence to no man; am 
 his holy apostles teach us, that it is not to no purpose 
 that thou hast piit a swprd icto the hands^f kings ani 
 princes, who are the images of thy almigtl^ power anc 
 sovereign justice. Grant, that whenever lam at the hear 
 of my army (or company,) I may represent to ;!iyself mj 
 ptince as there in person, arid that I am to fight in hii 
 presence; but above all let me remember, that I am ii 
 fbe company of thy holy angels, and before thee, wh< 
 artiAe Prince of the Icings of the leartA, of all their peo 
 pie and ^n their armies. Let not the power which i 
 given nae of commanding others, cause me to neglec 
 that obedience which I owe to thee, my creator and m; 
 God. Let not my post as captain make me forget, that 
 am the soldier of Jesus Christ, -npjio inmghtepjisnesfliot 
 judge and make war. Let not the sword which.Iw'ea 
 at my side, liinder me from siVining my heart- with tK 
 
TJJE CHRISf lAll'S CONSOLATIUN. sg 
 
 '^han any tivo-edged sword, seeing it divides the soul, 
 Injf tJKvspirit, tlie joints and the marrow. With this 
 diviie^word, give me the breast-plate of righteousness, 
 ^elhelmet of salvation, and above all, the sfiield of faith, 
 ^chereicith to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. O 
 jny God, endue me with the strength and virtitiB qPthy 
 %Oly spirit, that I may be able to encounter all my spiri- 
 tual enemies and gain the victory over them. Give me 
 to overcome tlie world and sin, to conquer myself, my 
 ^assioQs, and evil, affections, to see hell routed, and Sa- 
 tan bruised under ifly feet. Finally, grant me the grace 
 to encounter death courageously, aiid to overcome it. 
 great and living God> I have no need of any one to re- 
 mind me of my mortality, seeing death is every day pre- 
 sent before mine eyes^ and that 1 march continually in 
 the midst of its envenomed darts. If it should attack me 
 in the beginning of my success, in the fiiHt dawn of my 
 glory, grant that I may fix my hopes upon a more glo- 
 iious victory, a more magnificent triumph, +han any 
 this world can boast, since to vanquish millions of men, 
 and to triumph over the whole earth, is nothing in com- 
 parison of our conquest over death, and our triumph 
 over hell. 0» if this inexorable death shall take me 
 away at a time when my life and services seem the most 
 useful to my prince and country, teach me to put my 
 tBtrst in thine adorable providence, which never vvants 
 either captjihs or soldiers. Thou shalt arise up more 
 virtuous and triumphant leaders; mean time, 1 shall en- 
 ter into that celestial peace which reigns in thy kingdom- 
 Lord Jesus, I shall reap the fruits of that blessed im- 
 mprtality which thou hast purchased for me by thine in- 
 comparable victories, thy most glorious sufferings, and 
 'shall sh^f in the magnificence of thine eternal triumphs. 
 Let death therefore, come when it will, 1 shall be al- 
 ways ready to say unto it with the Apostle, I have fought _ 
 a ^ood'isJit, I hav§ fintshed my course, 1 have kept 
 the. fcdth. Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of 
 righteousness, which the Lord the righteons judgfi shall 
 ^ve. me at that day. .AMrh:^^^ 
 
 ■:ift 
 
THE CHftISTI'AN'S*CONSOfiATIGfifl 
 
 SHAYEW Aliri> MEpiTATION 
 
 ' ' ■ >'■■ . ' '' ■ 
 
 jpbr a Jvdge or Magistrate. 
 
 ' SOVEBEl&N Judge of the woiidy who liasthoir- 
 oured me with thi» high- office^ and hast iiitrasted in mr 
 bands, the administcation. of justice, grant that I may 
 aevep forgpt that I am caviled thereto, not by men, but 
 by the«|j:. who briagest low, and liftest np, and who' 
 raiscst upj the poor oat of tiie dust, tot set them among 
 pi?inc«s. Enlighten me with thy divine Tight, and endue 
 me with that spirit of Wlsctom which thou formerly raa- 
 dest to rest upon thy servant Moses^ and the judges of 
 Israel. Grant me thy grace, that I may worthily^sup- 
 port the dig»i^ of mine office, and shew myself impein- 
 etrable to corruptioHi Let mine ears be always open to 
 the cry of the afflicted; butlet them be forever shut against 
 injustice, and the criminal voice of favour and affection- 
 Let me have n& respect tp persons, but do impartial 
 justice to every one, and let iiotliing deter me from con- 
 demning the guilty, and; clearing theiBHtJcent, Let nie 
 never be swayed either by my own passions or those of 
 others; but grant that T in^y be afaithflil interpreter bf 
 thy laws and ordinances^ ^very time I sit to judge thy 
 people, let me re meiBbeirf that them presid^t in the as-. 
 sembly of the judges, land that thou see&ttbe very b(ittp,t)i 
 of their hearts. Let me never forget, that aftep liavif?g 
 judged others,! shall bejudged myself, and thatnothin,!^ 
 can withstand the decrees of thine adorable counsel. If 
 at any time the coDsidecation« of ftesh and blood have 
 the power to tempt me, let me remember my latter end, 
 that 1 may be restrained by an holy.d*>ead. j^et me re- 
 present it to myself, as bringing me^ summons to ap- 
 pear in person before thy tribuiB>kl, where 1 must give an 
 account,.' not only of my words and actions,' but also of 
 my most secret thoughts, and every wilful errour of opin- 
 ion. O Lord, thou hast eyes whicih penetrate the deep- 
 est ahy^ss, an ear which, hears the silent voice of the heart, 
 ahdjan hand which arresits the criminal vvhereevpr he 
 
•PAE CHRIsflAN'S CONSOLATJON. gg^ 
 
 goes. When I think of that glorious throne, round which 
 the ininisters of thy justice fly by thousands, I should 
 tremblfe with fear, if iif^ that sits thereon was not mins 
 a|l|PGate as well as judgte; if he had not paid my ransom, 
 jj^nd was not ascended up into heaven, to make interces- 
 sion, and prepare a place for me. Grant therefore, that 
 Ijiiay part without reluctance from the vain and transi- 
 tmy honours of this world, seeing thou prejjarest for mes 
 L^n high' a more excellent dignity, which is eternal and 
 pinchangeable. Let me cheerfully put off those rtihes^ 
 which breed nothing but moths and cares to tqrwent my 
 heart, and let me put on, with transports of joy, those 
 robes of light and glory which will render me sovereign- 
 ly happy. Let me descend with pleasure from this judg- 
 ment-seat, seeing the Lord Jesus hath promised, that to 
 ihem that overcome be will grant to sit with him in his 
 throne. Thou wilt mereifnlly raise in my -stead prudent 
 and uncorrupt jiulges, who shall judge the people in 
 righteousness and trath. Mean time, I shall reap the 
 sweet and pleasant fruits of thine eternal mercies, Which 
 thou hast manifested in thine only Son, who hath pur- 
 chased for us, and is made unto ns, wisdom, righteous- 
 pess, sanetiflcation, and redemption, timen. 
 
 ^ FRAYER ANJ) MEOITJtTION / 
 
 JFor a Minister of God's icord,wha beholds the approach 
 of death with aiii.h&ly joy. 
 
 GKEAT Shepherd am] Bishop of our souls! lean 
 never enough acknowledge, nor sufficiently admire, the 
 graces and favours which tho:i hast bestowed upon me. 
 Thirfii hast invested me with an office, wherewith the 
 angels of heaven think themselves honoured, and which 
 thou madesjt thy sacred employment in the days of thy 
 flesh. It hath pleased thee to make me one of the shep- 
 herds of thy flock, and to intrust in mine hands the care 
 of^rhat thou holdest the most dear and precious in this 
 world, namely, of thy church, which thou hast so loved, 
 
2fe6 THE CHRIST1AN*S (TONSOLATION. 
 
 that thou gavest thyself fot- it, and hast redeemed it 
 with thine own blood. But alas, my Lord and itfy 
 God! who Is sufficient for thfese things? The lilfice is 
 exceeding weighty and painful, and as for me, I am 
 weakness and infirmity itself. The world , hates and 
 cruelly persecutes us; and the devil, like a roaring lioh, 
 walks eoratinually round about us, seekingjto devo^ 
 both the sliepherds and the flock. Even in thine heri- 
 tage, how often do I eat the fruit of bitterness^ and 
 drink the water of affliction? I meet with brambles unM^ 
 thorns without number, but with few flowers. They 
 who ought to encourage me in the midst of so many 
 difficulties, weaken my hands, and afflict my heart; 
 and that which should yield me the greatest joy and 
 consolation, is become my greatest grief and most pierc- 
 ing torment. O merciful Lord, so long as it shall' 
 please thee to preserve me in this mortal lifej and to 
 continue to me the honour of thy holy ministry, make 
 thy strength perfect in my weakness, and accojnpli $h 
 thyself the work which thou commandest thy servant. 
 Open the door to the gospel of thy grace, and grant 
 that all the earth may learn to serve and worship thee 
 in spirit and in truth. Cast down imaginations, and 
 f.very hi.ii,h thing that exalteth itself against thee, and 
 Iw'ing into captivity every thought to thy obedience. 
 Let the world be confounded,: with all its deceits; and 
 l^t it never have tife ^power either to terrify me by its 
 threats, or to corrupt rae by its promises. Let Sataii 
 IS lightning fall from heaven, and' let him be for ever 
 diut up in the bottomless pit. Stop the mouth of all 
 false prophets* and let truth be every where victorious 
 ind triumphant over lies. Mercifully grant, that we 
 ■nay see thy flock increase in number; but, above all 
 :hings» that it may increase in grace, and thy heavenly 
 jenwliction. Let me never forget,. that the sheep over 
 vhora I have the honour to be shepherd, are not pine> 
 leither any man's living, but tliidej O Lord Jesus) wlio 
 ikst created them by thine infinite power, redeemed 
 hem by thy sovereign -miercy, and offei-ed thyself a 
 villing sacrifice, do deliver them out of the paw of the 
 •ear. and out of the naw of the infernal lion. Let mfe 
 
V TliE CHRISTIAN'S CONSOLATION. 287 
 
 remember that 1 must soon appear before thy glorious 
 lace, and render an account of my ministry. Lord, 
 who knowest all things, and from whom ildfhilig is hid^ 
 thou seest the bottom of my heart, and leadest my most 
 secret ti>ioughts. Thou knowest with what fidelity and 
 pUfection I liave employed myself in thy service. 1 
 have led thy sheep to feed on the sweet herbage of thy 
 divine pastures; and hav^ given them to drink of the 
 ^*vaters sprin^ng up into eternal life. My conscience 
 beareth me witness both before thee, and in the pre- 
 sence of thy holy angels, that I have advanced nothing, 
 either by word of mouth, or by writing, but what I 
 believe to be entirely conformable to the sacred oracles 
 of thy prophetsy apostVes, apd evangelists. 1 have 
 drawn from the treasure of thy holy scriptures things 
 both new and old, for tlie adornment of thy house, and 
 the edification of those that dwell therein. 1 have la- 
 boured day and night to accomplish whatever thou haftt 
 put into my .heart for thy glory, the advancement of 
 thy kingdom, and the consolation of thy children. In 
 the mpst difficult encounters, I have taken counsel nei- 
 ther of flesh nor of blood, but have preferred the hon- 
 our of thine almighty name, and the manifestation ot 
 thy truth, to all earthly advantages, and every particu- 
 lar interest of my own. 1 have esteemed as nothing all 
 the riches ^f the world, and all the' honours of the age, 
 in comparison of this celestial treasure, this light of 
 life, which thou hast placed in me, as in an earthen 
 ▼esse.1, that glory may be given to thee alone, who art 
 the author of every good and perfect work. My be- 
 loved meat, my most delicious drink, has been to do 
 thy will, and to finish thy work. 1 have taken a peculiar 
 pleasure in prpnouncing the decrees of thine adorable 
 wisdom, and in revealing the mysteries of thy kirigddiir. 
 I ha1?e<-s*y!ropathized in all the evils and misfortuttes of 
 thy members, and I have not been sparing to them of 
 those consolations wherewith thou hast comforted me 
 in all my affiictiions, and wherewith thou hast sustained 
 and strengthened me in all ray encounters.*^ Thy law 
 is within my heart, and thy gospel is engraved by the 
 f nger of thy holy spirit. Thpu hast feindle4 JJi we a, 
 
^88 THE CHRISTIAN'S GONfeOLATION; 
 
 sincere desire to save Souls^ and to bring them to the ; 
 kiogdom of thy glory. O Lord, who seest all flie secret 
 iCorners of the heart, thou knowest whether I can say 
 with thy .prophc<t. The %ml oftjiyhouse hath eaten" me 
 up: or with thy holy apostle, th^ttthe care tif thy church 
 Cftmeth upon me daily. But in all tliese things 1 pre- 
 tertd not to stand justified. So far from relying upon my 
 own righteousnessj and being pufted up with an opin- 
 ion of my own merits, T confess myself to be a poor,'mi- 
 tsRrable sinner ; and with all humility, beg pardon for 
 the, notorious defects wherewith I have dishonoured thy 
 service. My charity has not been sufficiently pure, nor 
 my zeal enough inflamed. I have sometimes been too 
 indulgent, and at other times too severe in reprehending 
 vice; and 1 have not been as 1 ought, a pattern to thjf 
 flock in all sorts of good works. The love of myselF 
 bath , insensibly mingled itself with that love which I 
 tiv.e to thee alone; and I iiave not sei'ved thee purely for 
 tliine own sake, and because of thy divine perfections, 
 but likewise in hopes of that reward which thou hast 
 promised to thy faithful servants, when thou shalt give 
 to every one his hire. 1 have been too sensible of the 
 injuries ofiered to my person, especially when I have 
 seen sinister interpretations put upon ray best actions, 
 and my most charitable cares repaid with ingratitude. 
 I have not always possessed my soul in pa,tien.e, inor 
 have I been master of all that meekness, forbearance, 
 and humility, of which thou left, wheji, here on earth, 
 such a shining example for our imitation. O Lord, if 
 thou shouldst deal with mc according tothe rlgaiir of thy 
 justice, and require of me those souls which hav& per- 
 ished, either through ray negligence or evil example, 
 1 should be altogether covered with shame and confa- 
 aion, and should soQ,n see myself with the wicked servant, 
 in the furnace of fire, where tliere is weeping and gnash- 
 ing of teeth. But, all-gracious Lord ! thou art good- 
 ness, mercy ,^and charity itself. 'I'hou acceptest the en- 
 deavour for.the effect, tije will for the deed, and hast al- 
 ways thine arms open, to receive to mercy thy poor ser- 
 vants who mourn for their sins, and prostrate themselves 
 
THE CHRISTIAN'S CONSOLATION. 289 
 
 rable Saviour, how rich art thou in mercy! 'Ehou art 
 always ready to lift up the light of thy countenance upoQ 
 all those that call ujioa thee, and that draw near unto 
 thee with a true and serious repentance;. Even while I 
 am, pouring out my soul before thee^ I know that thmi 
 hast already heard me, and that the contrition of my 
 heart, and the voice of ray mourning are acceptable un- 
 to thee. Thotj strengthenest my faith, raisest my hopes, 
 and fillest my soul with sweet and unspeakable tokens of 
 thy love. Tfaou makest me taste the salvation which I 
 have so often pronounced to others. 1 feel the liand of thy 
 grace which draws me unto thee, ; and I see the opfening, 
 to receive me, the gates of that, delightful paradise, to 
 which I havehatl the happiness to guide so many goqd 
 and pious souls, who. now rest in the bosom of thy glo- 
 ry; insomuch that thou givest me boldness to cry out 
 with thy holy iLpnstXe, 1 know that G<oA will he merciful 
 unto me, and will preserve me unto his heavenly Mng^ 
 dom., merciful and gracious Lord, I find my heart 
 grown langui<l, and my strength consumed; but thou 
 art the i-ock of my heart, and my portion forever, I 
 see death present before mine eyes; but instead of afflic- 
 ting or terrifying, it comforts and rejoices me; for it 
 comes to put an end to this miserable life, which is no- 
 thing l)ut a state of infirmity, a kind of death. Itcomes[ 
 to put an end to labours which have no intermission, and 
 to free me from a chain of anguish and grief. Kejoice, 
 th^yefore, my soul and see the rest which the Lord pre- 
 pares for thee. Behold the blessed time, when I shall 
 BO more be exposed to the heat of the day, nor the in- 
 clemency of the night, but shall rest for ever under 
 the shaxlpw'of the tree of life, and satisfy myself with its 
 precious frtiifcs. 1 shall no longer. bear the contradiction 
 of sinnerfe, nor have the enemies of lliy truth and my, 
 own lust's to encountei"; but shall live forever with thy 
 angels, and triumph with thy saints. 1 shall no longer 
 be employed in crying out against the impenitency of 
 the woikl, in weeping for the sins which disfigure the 
 face of thy church, in complaining; of the injustice and 
 
S00 THE CHRISTIAN'S CONSOLATION. ;, 
 
 *- ' . ' 
 
 mfi/thegeneral assembly and church of the first-born 
 ^tehieh are written in heaven, Lord in wtips^ hands is 
 a po\ver infinite, and, treasures inex%stible/^rive frnni'' 
 thy sheep-fold all ravening wolves and hireli«p| atid 
 raise up to thy church faithfilj shepherds, inflametF jvitil 
 ^ purer and more feryervt zeal than ours; endue them 
 v/iih a more rich abundance of thy graces, and crown 
 their labours with . more happy success. Mean time I 
 Shall go to serve thee in heaven, in a more e?tcellent ahd 
 gloriQus ministry, where I shall meet with no opposition 
 of resistance; and where weariness and grief shall be 
 litrangers to me. I shall enter into the joy of my Lord, 
 and receive from his merciful Jiand ap incorruptible 
 jprown of glory and immortality. I shall follow the 
 X)A|nb wheresoever he goes; arid he himself ,shall b^ 
 my shepherd. He, shall lead me to the fi«untains of liv- 
 ing ieater, and shall wipe away all tears from mine eyes. 
 Amen. 
 
 FBAYER AND MEDlTATfON 
 
 yor the Father of a Family. 
 
 FATHER of elernity! I return thee my hearty 
 thanks, for that thon, hast been pleased to make me an 
 instrunient of bringing children info the world, out of 
 whose qiquth thou perfectest praise; * who serve thee 
 here beloVir,.and sliaU worship thee for ever in he%en, 
 wUh ten tboHsands of thy angels. So long as I have 
 been with them in this world, I have nourished and 
 brought them up in thy loye an,d fear. I have given 
 them ,to suqk from their infancy the milk of liiety; and 
 as they have, become more advanced in years, 1 have 
 taught them io Walk in thy ways, and to obey thy holy 
 commandments. 1 have endeavoured to Set them a good 
 example, and to be unto them a guide, apd a shining 
 light. Now, therefore, that I am about to return onto 
 thee, the author of iny life, and only fountain of my 
 felicity, into thy sacred bands I commit thert, beseech- 
 
THE CHRISTIAN'S CGUSOLAIION. S91 
 
 jg thee to look upon them with eyes of love. They 
 le tKhie, O liprd! thine imag« and thy workmanship, 
 liis body, ^vhich is so wonderfully ajiul fearfully 
 lade,, was formed and fashioned by thy divine hands;' 
 tid tins soul which enlightens and animates it, is the 
 F*th of thy mouth, a ray of thy glorious countenancei 
 'hou hast promised to be our Grod, and the (rod of our 
 !ed iifter us. Thy great and preoious promises were 
 ade to us an^l to our children. heavenly Fatter/^ 
 my, not that thqu shbiddst take them oat of the wd^Wj 
 it that thou, wouldst protect them front evil; that thou 
 ouldst keep them under the shadow of thy wings, and 
 reserve them from all the miseries and calamities wit^ 
 hich thou threatenest the earth, because of the wick- 
 luess that reigns therein: or, if thou chastenest them,, 
 :t it be with the rod of men, and With the stripes of 
 le children. of men; but let not tiiy mercy and thy fa- 
 terly kindness depart froin them. Let the iire of afflic- 
 jn render their faith more pure, their life more holy, 
 id their zeal more ardent: let it raise them up to thee, 
 id thy eternal happiness. Almighty Father! thou 
 sest that the age is altogether turned aside after vani- 
 ; that all the earth hath corrupted its ways: and that 
 Ceis- every where triumphant. Thou kuo west, that 
 le nature of these poor children i« frail, and of itself 
 clined to evil; mercifully gritnt them the necessary 
 itidutes and preservatives against this general defec- 
 3n, this universal corruption. Let not the malice of 
 e World gain upqn their a!ffiBfctit)ii4, nor 8atan seduce 
 em,. nor evil communications, corrupt their good man- 
 srs. Give them understanding to know thee, an heart 
 love thee, and affections to emb^'iies and unite them- 
 Ives for ever with thee. Let thy holy angels guard 
 em day and night, thy providence defend them, thy, 
 ord instruct them, thy promises comfort them, and tljy 
 oly Spirit regenerate them, and renew in them thine 
 lage. Give them neither poverty nor riches, but their 
 lily and netJessary bread; and, above all, that breaij 
 hich came down from heaven, and giveth life (into 
 
 p. world; flriH mahc Ihftim faatfl thp, h-Ravehlv ffift. and 
 
292 THE CHRISTIAN'S CQNSOLATION. 
 
 Jove> inflapie them with thy charity, ^nd adorn thed 
 M^ith all Gbristian virtues. But ahbve all, sanctify then 
 hiy thy Holy Spirit, and make them new creatures' 
 
 Tlonfirm them for ever iii thy holy covenant^ and gran 
 that they may leave oit to their posterity, as a precious 
 inheritance; so t&at thou mayest be glorified iu nvylfa 
 Biiily from generation to generation, to the end of ages 
 
 : Grant that neither the vrorhj, nor hell may be able t( 
 pliick them out'of , thy hand; and that nothing may se 
 parate them from the loye which thou hast manifested t( 
 them in Jesus Christ thy Son. Let not death atfright, 
 but rather rejoicfe and comfort, them, seeing it is the en- 
 trance into the house of their heavenly Father, and the 
 gate of Tliy paradise. Whatever changes happen to them 
 in this life, grant that th^y may always keep their eyes 
 fixed upon thee, who art the same yestprday, to-day, afnii 
 for ever. ' Let them never foi-giet wtet tbej owe to thj 
 bounty, from which they have received life and beiiig 
 they prefer the glei^ of thy name, the purity of thy ser- 
 vice, and the hope ef- thy kingdom, to all the glory, 
 honours^ f riches, and pleasures of the world. O^ (iotji 
 the creator and father of their sOuls, rather let them 
 suflfef a thoiisaiid deaths, or'reduce them to their primi- 
 tJA'e nothings than abandon them to vice, error, and su- 
 perstition, whjcb give unto the creature the hfinour and 
 glory that belo;ng to the creator, O Almighty and ever- 
 merciful God! I will not .say nnto thee, as Ksau to Isaac, 
 after he had Idessed Jacoby Hast thou but oneilp.ssing 
 my fatherP for 1 know that thou hast an ocean of them, 
 an inexhaustible source; bnt I besieech thee, wjtli all 
 the earnestness and zeal whereof 1 am capjible, thai 
 thou bless my dear children with all the choicest and 
 most excellent blessings of heaven and earth.- Lead 
 th<im in thy hand, bear them npOn thy wings, engrave 
 ihem in thy heart, and let them be as dear to thee as the 
 apple of thine eye.^ Let thy fear be always before their 
 eyes, let them love thee with all theiir heart, serve thee 
 with air their might, and glorify thee both in prosperity 
 and adversity, iti life and in death; as Jesns Christ tiiy 
 
 ' Son is gain to them, whether they live, or whether they 
 die. Mean time |. will Issave the world without regret. 
 
TI|E CHRISTIAN'S C0NS01>ATI0N. ggg 
 
 and my chiWr^n ivithout distrust in thy providence. I 
 ascend) vt^ith an holy joy, unto th«e, who art my God 
 dvd their "Goi, "my Father and theit Father; and 4, 
 trust in thy great and eternal mercies, that we shall 
 one day see each other again in thy bosom, where we 
 shan be admitted to the contemplation of thy face, which 
 is fullness .of joy for evermore. »3me«. 
 
 CHAPTER XIII. 
 
 The first:Consolations against the Fears of Death, God 
 will not forsake us in our dying agonies; 
 
 Mj 
 
 ^AN is by nature sensible of pain, and abhors suf- 
 fering. Now, most persons are persuaded, that it is im- 
 possible to die, without enduring great torment; therefore 
 they are afraid of death, not so much for its own sake as 
 for the evils that accompany it. 
 
 To banish out of the mind these ill-grounded fears 
 and panic terrors, let us consider, in the first place, that 
 death is not so frightful and full of pain, as is commonly 
 imagined. The Holy Ghost calls it a sleep, and the 
 Heathens themselves have styled sleep: death's cousins 
 german, and the image of frozen death. Now, sleep 
 steals insensibly upon ns; it gently charms our senses, 
 and, with iiivisible fetters, softly binds and puts a stop 
 to OHr most active faculties; so that, although we fall 
 asleep every night, we know not how this happens to 
 us. It is recorded of Socrates, one of the most famous 
 of the ancient Heathens, that halftig di-ank poison, in 
 obedience to the decree of the Athenian judges, when he 
 felt the venom benumbins: his senses, and d^ath cree|)ine 
 
8^4 THE CHRISTIAN'S GONSOLAT^)!*. 
 
 coaatetiance, That he had never 9tvallciwed dny thing 
 ftbre Uelicieus in Ms lifei No sleep can be ijpiiaginei^ 
 "linore sweet than the death of the ancient patriarchs. 'Ph^ 
 holy scripture tells us, That when Jacob had made av 
 end of commtinding^ his sons, he gathered up his feet inti 
 the bed, and yielded up the ghost, Gfia..x\ix. 33, To th^ 
 same purpose, it is said of king David, that whe^ hf 
 bad exhorted his son Solomon to fear God, and ti). do 
 justice, he slept with his fathers, i Kings ii. 10. God 
 extends the same mercy to many in these latter days, 
 who die in discoursing of him, and calling upoB his fe©- 
 ly name. Their souls are not plucked frojn them by vio- 
 lence, but bid a willing adieu to the earth, and fly intc 
 heaven with an holy cheerfulness. The .separatioi* o1 
 such souls happens without pain, gt^iefj or bitterness.— 
 They are like a taper, tltat, without being disturbed bj 
 any blast of wind, expires of its own accord, when the 
 wax that kept it alive, and nourished its flame, is totally 
 spent. If you see some racked and tortured upon theii 
 death-bed, with sharp and e^fquisite pains, these are no^l 
 properly the pains of death^ but the last struggles and 
 convulsions of life; for I cannot believe, that the moment 
 of the separation of the soul from the body we feel anj 
 pain; because at that instant the senses are lulled asleep, 
 and our body has no more strength nor vigour to opposj 
 the soul'^ departure. 
 
 Death is so far from being so fiighlful and full of patD 
 as we commonly iMiagine, tliat, on the contrary, it is the 
 very thing that puts^an end to ?ill our pain, and stops th« 
 course of our misel'i^s; and I am persuaded, that the 
 diseases'ihat usually, bring us to our graves, are not so 
 grievous and full of pain;,!) as many others that we enr 
 dur» whil&t Wr 1m^ siiich as tlip, ernnt. for nxa:m.t>le. the 
 
im CHRISTIAN'S' CONSOLATION. SQg 
 
 stone in the kidneys, or a cancer in the breast. Fof these 
 »l"'e a rick on which we are hourly tortured, a wild beast 
 that gnaws ns continually, and a fire that consumes us 
 without int^kiiission. 
 
 But supposing that our death-bed pains should be far 
 more sensible, and that we should have reason to charge 
 them all upon death; yet we have no colour from thence 
 to fly from it, or to abhor its approaches. We might 
 with as much reason curse the hour of our birth, and 
 weep for our victdries; seeing thei-e is no birth without 
 pain, nor victoty without contendiflg. The fairest and 
 most flourishing laurels are watered with blood and 
 swea:t. 
 
 The most excellent things are the most diflicnlt in 
 their Attainment; and as one nail drives out another, to 
 use a vulgar proverb, so one evil is commonly a remedy 
 to many other evils. Nay, we ourselves seek, as some 
 good thing, that evil that frees from any violent pain that 
 we can hardly bear. To be healed of our distempers 
 We swallow bitter potions, that offend our taste, and tor- 
 ment our bowels; to be freed from the stone, we endure 
 a moist painful cutting; and to hinder a gangrene from 
 spreading to our heart, we sufi^, with patience, a legor 
 an arm to be cut off. Therefoi'e, though death should 
 be a thousand times more bitter, mote painful and cru6l, 
 than it is commonly represented; yet we ought to em- 
 brace it cheerfully, because it delivers us, nqt only from 
 one disease, or one particular pain, but in general from 
 all our complaints. Physic is not always Effectual to 
 expel the humour that afflicts us. When one stone is 
 extracted from the bladder, many times othfers grow 
 therein that are worse. Th^ surgeon's hand, let it be 
 ever so skilful, answers not always to the patieot's ex- 
 
S96 tHE CHRIStlAlif'S boi^OLATIOI«i. 
 
 pfcctatjbn; instead of reiinpvihg' his pain, it sometimes 
 iticreaseth it. But the operation of death is certain and 
 infallible, and the success always happy to a christian 
 soul. 
 
 That I may administer some comfort to thee in the 
 midst of thy sharp pains and afflictions, my brother, or 
 my sister, know that these things happen not to thee by 
 accident, but thefy are appointed tfieie by (Bod, whose 
 dispensations are various, according to Iiis wisdon^. As- 
 cribe not thy disease to the influence of the stars, or to 
 blind chance; hut lift' up thine eyes to him who hath 
 stretched out the heavens and appointed the seiisons^ 
 whois the author and disposer of thy life. We need 
 not tempt (Jdd,'^ as the Philistines of old, and require 
 from him a miracle, to know if it'is his hand that hath 
 smote us, o? whether our wound« are a'chaucei that hath 
 happened unto Us, 1 Sam. vi. For God assures us. That 
 hemaketh sore, a%d bindeth up: he wourtdethand his 
 hands make whole, Job v. 18; Jlffiiciicin cometh not 
 forth out of the dust, neither doth "^troiible spring out of 
 the ground, vers. 6. who is he that saith, atid it com- 
 eth to pass, when the Lord commandeth it not? Out of 
 the mputh of the Most High proceedeth not evil and 
 good?. Llm. iii; 37, 38; Shall there be evil in a city, and 
 the Lord hath not done it? Amos iii. 6; that is to. sayj, 
 shall there be any sickness, or affliction, whicb is not 
 overruled and directed by:his adorable providence? 
 
 This meditation will prevent our murmuring in ihe 
 midst of our greatest troubles and most racking pain: it 
 will cause us io s^-y vi\\hJim\^, I was dumb, I opened 
 not my mouth, because ,tJidu didst it, Psal. xxxix. 9; 
 Or, If we open our lips,, it iWill be to say, with' a bles- 
 sed servant of (xod, Lorn, thou troublest me/ but it is 
 
•CHE CHRtSTIAN'S CONSOLATION. 39^ 
 
 enough for me thatlknow it i^ thy hmd. This physic 
 i« marvelously bittei-; but, O great physician of my 
 SQuland body! 1 wili^rink it up with joy, seeing thou 
 hast prescribed it. Shall we receive good at the hand of 
 God, and shall we not receive evil? Job. ii. 10. Shall 
 w-ejpomftiai-:! of a disease with which he visits us for a 
 few days, instead of blessing iiim, andiSiving glory to 
 Lis holy name, fos? the health which v,'e have enjoyed 
 «o many years? In^a woimIj though our soul should be 
 afflictedeven to death, and oar agoiiy should be so great, 
 ihat drops pf blood should issue; out of our body, yet 
 must we lift up otir eyes to heaven and say with our Lord 
 and Savioar, t'other ifthoubewillhig, remove this cup 
 from me.- Nevertheless, n«t my vciM, but thine be donSf 
 LukfC xxii. 4S. 
 
 TIte-same consideration will preserve us from falling 
 1$ito despair, q.nd from fancying that we shall be swal~ 
 lowed up in out own sorrows. For since it is God that 
 tSispenses- l)@th evil a-nd good, and that he is faithful 
 aud just, <that is to say, a God «f, truth and mercy, /ie 
 wUl not suffer us to he tempted (that is afflid-ed) ahove 
 that we are a6Z«; ivitwill withthe temptation also males 
 away to escape that ice maybe uhle te heor it, 1 Cor. 
 X. Ig. He kindles not all his fury, stirs not up all his 
 wrath, Psai Ixxviii. 88, and employs not the whole 
 strength of his arm. But when his fiary is hottest, he 
 vememhers to have pity and cornpassion on the aMcl^dj, 
 Hah, iii. 2; for he knoweth our frame: Herem^^r- 
 eth that we are but dust and ashe^, Psal. ciiL 1# Gen. 
 Kviii. 27. He pemembereth that we are but flesh; *th^t 
 is to say, weakuess itself, a wind that passeth away, 
 andcometb not asjain, Psal. IxxvHL 39- He proportions 
 ins DjNtstiseme|tg, ©ot according to our crimes, bat accor- 
 
 P P ' ' ■ :: 
 
2Si8 THE CHRISTIAN'S CONSOLATION. 
 
 ding to bur great weakness. Therefore, when God speak* 
 of David's Son, the true and; Kvely image of the bbiy- 
 . s^d with which he hath concluded an eternal cove- 
 riant, be Saith, If he commit iniquity, I mil chasten him 
 l^ith the rod of men, and with the stripes of the chiUrev, 
 of men; But my mercy shall not depart away from ^'m, 
 3 Sam. vii. 14, 15. And St* Paul, speaking in general 
 of the afflictions with , which God visits his children, 
 styles tlieiFn, 1;emptations common teaman, 1 Cor. x. 13, 
 to assure us, that they shall never surpass the strength 
 of our frail arid feeble natucei. m. 
 
 The^wise and experienced physician prescribes nei- 
 ther physic nor bleeding to the patient, until he hath first 
 examined his pulse, and learned thei-eby the strength of 
 his constitution: and shall not God, Avho is wisdom it- 
 self, and hath made all thingS' by weight and measure, 
 who knows the temper of our §ouls, who searcheth our' 
 reigns, and sees our very heart, proportion his reme- 
 dies to ipur weakness: He that inflicted puuishtocnt.# 
 upon Babylon by measure, and numbers the vials of 
 his wrath which be pours Upon the seat of the beast, how 
 inu6h more shall he measure the rods, and weigh 
 the afflictions, with Avhich he efaastise» his cliildreti? 
 bow much more shall he number their sighs and tears? 
 This consideration comforted King David, O God, said 
 he, thpufellest myicanderings,put l^^^my tears into 
 thy^hpttle: are theynotinthy booJcPtVs^: \iv.8. 
 
 Netwithstanding the flesh is of a contrary opinion I 
 am persuaded; that piir diseases ought to be looked np- 
 pn as our most gentle and favourable afflictions. This 
 was David's persuasion: for when he Was offered three 
 punishments, and bid tq dinse one of them, either war, 
 famine, or the pestilence, which is the mpst hated, and 
 
TW CHRISTIAN'S CONSOLAXroN. ggg 
 
 dreadful of all distempers, he chose (he pestilence. The 
 reason which he gives for this choice should he for ever 
 engraved ia , the bottom of our hearts, Let utt fall now 
 saith he to the prophet Gad, into the hand of the Loipd, 
 fin" his mercies are great; and let me not fall into tJie 
 hand of man, 2 Sam. xxiv. 14. 
 
 The evils wherewith the Lord visits us are expres- 
 sions of his love and fatherly care: for the judgment, 
 that is, his chastisements, begin at his own house, 1 Pet. 
 iv. 17; and, among all his servants, he chastises them 
 most severely whom he loves the most tenderly. There- 
 fore he tells the angel of the church of Laodicea, ^ 
 many as I love, Iretnke and chasten, Rev. iii. 19. The 
 most terrible affliction that can befal us in this world; 
 is never to be afflicted; and the mostdreadful temptation, 
 is never to be tempted, Tlie apostle to the Hebrews 
 speaks most excellently upon this subject: Forget not, 
 saith he, the e?^bortation which speaketh unto you as un- 
 to children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of 
 tlie Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him. For 
 whom the Lord loveth, he chastencth, and snourgeth 
 every son whom he receireth. If ye endure chastening, 
 God dealeth with you as with sons: For what son is he 
 whom the father chasteneth not: But if you be without 
 chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye 
 bastards, and not sons, chap. xii. S, 6, 7, 8- 
 
 Ml things work together for good, to them that love 
 God, Rom. viii. S8. The diseases of body arc the me- 
 dicine of the soul. The pains which rack thy flesh are 
 meant to instruct thy conscience. God will have thee- 
 sigh for thy sins, water thy coUch with^^' tears, Psal. 
 vi. 6, and abhor the remembrance of th^ipt life, which 
 hathilirought all this e«l upon thee. J^e would bring 
 
300 THK CHRISTIAN'S CONSOLATI^; 
 
 thyflesli into subjection^ mortify thy lu^ts, and make the6 
 ||artake of his holiness. If it please God in thi» manneir 
 to sanctify his chastisements unto thee, thou wilt one 
 day ay out with David. It is good for me that I have 
 heen afflicted: that Imight learn thy statutes. Before I 
 was afflicted, Iwentastray: hut now have I kept thy teori^, 
 Psal. cxix. 71, 67. ' "^ 
 
 Although our Lord and Saviour was the only Son, 
 and the beloved of the' father, yet learned he obedienc«i^ ' 
 by the things wiiich he suffered, Heb. v. 8. God hath 
 predestinated thee to be confirmed to the image 'of his 
 Son, that he might be the first born among many breth- 
 ren, Rom. viii. S9. He would arm thee with an holy 
 constancy, and teach thee to possess thy soul in patience, 
 Luke xxi. 19. Therefore he causeth thee to see with 
 thy eyes, and feel with thy hands. That all flesh is as 
 grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass, 
 1 Pet. i. 34-. Heteabheththee to humbliB thyself under 
 his mighty hand,' that he may exult thee in due time,i 
 Pet. V. 6. 
 
 V/hen God intended to bring the cluldren of Israel out 
 of Egypt, he caused the yoke of their bondages to be- 
 come more, grievous and intolei*able, Exod. i. and v. 
 ;For the same reason, God sends thee this mip of bitter- 
 ness, because he would breed in, thee a loathing of the 
 woi'ld, and all its vain delights; and that thou mayest 
 only think upon heaven,^ and its eternal happiness. He 
 chastens thee, that thou mayest not be condemned with 
 the world, 1 Gor. xi. 32/ He punishes thy flesh; tliat 
 thy spirit may be saved, 1 Cor. v. 5. ■ 
 
 As gold i&M|d in the fire, so the Lord casts us into 
 the flames dJ^Bp-ction, to make trial of our faith, which 
 is more precious than fine gold-^ 1 PlL i. 7. Therofoi*e 
 
, THE CHRISTIAN'S CONSOLATION. got 
 
 let us .glorify God, even in the midst of tl'ibnlations, 
 Knowing that tribulations, worketh fatience; and pa- 
 tience experience, and experience hope; and hope ' 
 maketh riot ashamed, because the love of God is shed 
 tbroad in our hearts, by the Holy Ghost whidi is 
 given unto us, Kom. v. 3, 4!^ 5. 
 
 God will kindle again thy langaishing zeal, renew 
 the ardour of thy prayers, and give them wings to fly 
 to his gracious acceptance. Tell me not that thy dis- 
 temper is an heavy burden that hinders thy soul from 
 lifting itself towards heaven, and that thy grievou» 
 pains dry up the moisture of thy tongue, and cause thy 
 lips to cleave together; for I mean not the pra,yers 
 composed by art, but the holy affections, and earnest 
 sighs and groans, of a soul overwhelmed with trouble. 
 One groan wrung from us by a sense of our misery,,or 
 a single tear that flows from a penitent heart, is far 
 more acceptable to him than a. prayer of forty hours 
 that comes from an hypocritica mouth. 
 
 When the prophet Moses saw himself inclosed be- 
 tween Pharaoh's army, and the Red Sea, hfe was so 
 troubled and perplexed, that he coidd not open his 
 .tQouth; but God heard the voice of his heart, antl an- 
 swered his silent cry, £xod. xiv. King Hezekiah 
 chkttered like a crane ot a swUUow, and mourned as a 
 dove, Is. xxktiii. 14; yet God had a respect to his 
 groans and tears and heard him in his holy sanctuary. 
 The siglw of Jonah in the whale's belly, ascended 
 through the depths of the sea, and mounted op to the 
 sacred habitation of God's glory, .lonah ii. The. cries 
 of Jesus GbriiSi; expiring upon the cross, have pierced 
 through the bosom of the Father, and have moved tlie 
 bowels of his everlasting mercies, Matth. xxvii. In- 
 
aQj| THE CHRISTIAN'S COUSOLATiaNi 
 
 t, 0od,hath been p]i0ased to promise cpiic^rtyng ft^ 
 )iis cbildreu "in genferal, Before they, pgll^ 1 vbill an$wer:f: 
 imi whil^ they are yet speaking, I will hear,, Is. \xy:. 
 S*. Therefore tlie royal pppliet says not only, That 
 God heari\ the cry, but, That, he h^mm the desire of 
 the hui^blej that he prepares jth^r heart, and saves 
 them, Ps^l,. X. 17'and cxIy.,19. And. hetrce the apostle 
 8t. Paul, speat^ing of,tliat spirit that Siupports, us un- 
 d^r all our weaknesses, and teachethus to pray, saith^ 
 Th0t it meth Sn our hearts, Mba Father; and |hat 
 it , maketh intercession for us, with. gl^oaning? which 
 cannot be uttered, M,om. viii. id;, ^j^i, ' 
 
 T^^ie coui'agei, my brother, or my sister, and. be not 
 dis|iiayed. Thou st^st a narrow passage, a way all 
 beset with thorns and briars; bui it is,[ heaven's gate, 
 and the way that leads to patadise; for we must af 
 Bet^essity pass through a vale of tears, before wp can 
 come to the city, of thg, livi^^g, God. We must^^i^T0^^4» 
 much tribulation enter into the Jcingdom of God, Acts 
 xiv. 33. jBlessed ure they that mourn: for tkeyshalt 
 be coniforted, pisiUb,. v. -l. Blessed is the manth^t en- 
 dureth temptatipxpi for w^pahe ist3:;iedjhe shallreceive 
 the crown of life, which the I^ord: hatji promised to them 
 thoLt love him, James i. 12. , 
 
 . The I^ord sends , the?' this affl:ictici% this severe trial, 
 not only for thine own good,^ and, the advancement of 
 thy own salvation, but also for the benefit- and edifica- 
 tion of lother;^. With a most admirable wisdom,, he 
 preserves the communion of sain^, and so disposftl^j of 
 eVfiy one, that we, all contribute to the building, of his 
 tabernacle. To one he; gives riches, that be may be 
 bountiful in alms. To another wisdom, th^the may 
 ia$triict the igdora^^ and comfort the afflictiK4> :>'Hoia^ 
 
TH* CHRISTIAN'S CONSOLATION. 303 
 
 b^ raises to great hotioUrs and' dignities, that they may 
 protect the innocent, and deliver the oppressed: and 
 others he visits with desperate evils, and long and 
 grievous diseases; or else he deprives them of their 
 mi>st needful senses, as their eye-sigM, or their hear- 
 ing, that they may edify their neighbours by an holy 
 constancy and christian patience. The ashes of Job 
 have more lustre and true splendor than all the gold 
 and precious stones in the world. It is many ages 
 since he endured great and most terrible calamities; 
 nevertheless, bis patient;e is still proposed to us for our 
 imitation, and to the end of the world will a;lways in- 
 struct the church of God, James v. 14. By tbe severity 
 of the evils which thou endurest, God teaches thee to 
 pwt on the bowels of mercy and compassion: for as he 
 commanded the children of Israel, that tbey should not 
 oppress a stranger, because they themselves had been 
 strangers in the land of Egypt, !Exod. xxiii. 9; so he 
 sends to thee afflictions, that thou ntaybst pity the afflict- 
 ed, and suffer with them as members of the same body. 
 We have an example of this in Jesus Chiist our head: 
 for though the chief end of his sufferings was to redeem 
 us, and to reconcile us to God the Father; nevertlieless 
 the Holy Ghost assures us. That he was in all points 
 temfted Kke as we are, yet without sin; that he might 
 be merciful, and touched with the feeling of our injir- 
 mitim, Heb. ii. 17, and iv. 5. 
 
 Fjpally, the affliction under which thou groanest is 
 sent to thpp, not only fbr thy salvation, and the edifica- 
 tion of thy neighbours, but also for the glory pf the 
 great and living God, who formed and fashioned thee. 
 For we may say of every malady that happens to good' 
 ineB, as Christ said of that of Lazarus, This sick^e^s 
 
80* THE CHRISTIAN'S CONSOLATION. 
 
 i* jtof untoik>ath, but for the glory bf Gu^cthat the 8m 
 of God might be glorified Hiereby, John xi, 4i 
 
 Thou mayest be severe to thyself, but thou* must be 
 charitable to others^ and jutlge candidly of thy brother's 
 affliction. When thou aft in pain and trouble think 
 seriously upon thy sins, and turn unto GoJ with thy| 
 ,whole. heart; but when thoii seest others confined to a 
 bed of languishing, coBclude riot from thence, with Da- 
 vid's .e;{»einies, that it is because they have committed^* 
 son*e tswermous crime, Psal. xli; rather imagine,, that it 
 may be a mparis which God emphjys to declare his 
 power, and that the faith and piety of the sick person 
 may appear in their fall lustre. This divine lesson is 
 taught us by the Saviour of the world; for when his 
 apostles, seeiiig a man \vhich was blind from Ms birth, 
 aiskcd him, «aying. Master who did sin, this man or 
 liis parents, that he was born blind? our Lord answered 
 them: Neither hath this man sinned, nor hv- parents: 
 but that the works of Grod should be made manifest in 
 liiro, John ix- S, 3. Not that these persons were, ab- 
 solutely speakingr srithdut sin; for there is none that 
 daetkgood, no, not one, Psal. xiv. 3; but the meaning 
 iis, that thejy^were not guilty of any notorious sin, any 
 such honid crime, as had drawn down the vengeance 
 ©f heaven upon them. It was God's good j)lea:sijtre that 
 tJiis poor man should be bom with this natural imper- 
 fection, that he might- make- him an example of MS 
 mercy, and declare in hira his alralglity power; and 
 tliat our Saviour, by giving him'his sight, might make 
 it appear, that he is the true God, which forms th« eye^ 
 Psal. xciv. 9. The true light, which lighteth every man 
 that Cometh into the world, John i. 9. Likewise, w'len 
 some came 9.iid tQld this gre^Jt God and Sii^e^our what 
 
THE CHRISTIAN'S CONSOLATIolf. 305 
 
 lud liappeBed to the Galileans, whose blood Pilate had 
 mingled with tlieir sacrifices, his answer was, Suppose 
 ye that these Galileans were sinners above all the Ga- 
 iitoans, becanse they suffered such things? I tell you, 
 nay, but except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish. 
 Or those eighteen upon whom the tower in Siloc fell, 
 and slew them, think ye that they were sinners above 
 all men that dwelt ia Jenisalera? 1 tell you, nay; but 
 pXcept ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish, Ldike 
 i^iii. S, &C. - - 
 
 God is doubly glorified by the evils atad calamities 
 with which he visits his children. For first he justifies 
 tli,em before all the world, from the calumnies which 
 are thrown upon them^ and makes apparent the since- 
 rity of ihcir love, and their onfcigt^l-ubedience. Satan 
 accuselh as, that wc serve God merely for the advanta- 
 ges which we receive in thi« life, and because he hedges 
 us in on every side, by his providence. Job i. For this 
 reason, God removes from us every thing that is pleasing 
 and delightful to the flesh: he gives us the bread of adver- 
 sity, a.nd the water of afflKliott, Is. xxx. SO. He caijseth 
 a full cup of bitterness to be wrung out to ns, and chas- 
 tens i',8 e?very morning, Psal. lx*iii. 10, 14. By these 
 grievous trials, he stops the mouth of tlie accuser of our 
 biiethren, which accuseth them bpjbre God dayaHintghtf 
 liffv. xii. 10. "He declares to all the enemies of Iris glo- 
 ry and our salvation, that we pul our whole trust in God 
 akine, and in his unchangeable |9foiBise«, and not in the 
 flutward tokens which he ^ves of hi§ favour. He man- 
 ifests to all the wurld, tliat the anchor of our hope is not 
 fixed here lielow, but thai: it hath laid hold upon heaven, 
 wjieiher the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, 
 Heb. vL 26. 
 
30B ttm CHRISTIAN'S CONSbLATlOli. 
 
 As God is glorified in our afilictions, he is no fes'^ 
 hoad'ured by our deliveriance; If the land of Judea had 
 not abounded with such as was deafj dumb, lame, blind, 
 decrepid, and possessed with devils; if JEneas h*d not 
 b^en sick of a palsy, and kept his bed eight years, Acts 
 ix. i3^ if a poor woman bad not been diseased with an 
 iriue of blood twelve years, Matth. ix. §0; if anolbei^ 
 tiad not, for eighteen years, had a spirit of infirmily>\;,« 
 which bowed her tocether; Luke xiii. 11: if the sick of 
 the palsy had not been lying in his bed for thirty-eight 
 years, John v. 5; if the daughter of Jairus had not been 
 dead, Matth. ix; if the widow's son of the city of Nain 
 had not been carrying to the grave, Luke vii, in short, if 
 Lazarus had hot lain in the grave four days, John xi. 
 17; the divine glois^^pf the miracles of our Lord and Sa- 
 viour JesusChrist had notshone abroad, (o the enlighten- 
 ing the whole world. Likewise, in these latter days, 
 our desperate diseases and unexpected recoveries, when 
 liumap skill avails nothing, declare to the most senseless 
 souls, that it is God ^\one tdho maJcetk sore, and bindeth 
 upi Job V. 18, who hringeth down to the grate^ andbring' 
 ethup, i Sam. ii. 6. 
 
 God's deliverances of his children are of two sorts: 
 fer he either takes away the burden thnt oppresses us, 
 or else iie stretclietli forth his mercifiiT hand, and helps 
 ufe to bear it: either he removes the evil from us, and pa- 
 cifies our affliction, or he strengthens us with power and 
 courage, and arms us with such a patieuce and generous 
 i-esblntion as is necessary to support it. Of this we have 
 an illustrious example in the apostle St. Paul, lest he 
 should he exalted above measure through the abundance 
 pf his revelations, God gave him a thorn in the flesh, an4 , 
 permitted the messenger of Satan to {jguffet Him, and tq 
 
THE CHRtSTIAN'S C01SS03LATION. 3{^ 
 
 ijl^easc the bittt^rness and sharpueiss of jhis malady. Frar 
 this tiling, this holy man besought the Lord often that it 
 niigbt depart from him; nevertheless the Jjord would 
 not take away tliis thorn from his flesli, nor drive away 
 this messenger of Satan' that buffeted him: but he der 
 livered- bini in a more glorious and illustrious manner; 
 for be strengthened him with his Holy Spirit, t^riched 
 him with bis grace, caused the po^yer of Gbrist to rest 
 upon liim, and made his strength perlect in bis servant's 
 weakness; insomuch that this great apostle, ravished 
 and transported with joy, fj."ies out, in the midst of bis 
 sharp affliction, I take pleasure in infirfnities, in re- 
 proaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses, 
 for Christ's sake; for when 1 am weak, then am I strong, 
 ^ Cor. xii, 10. 1 can do all things through Christ, which 
 S^trengtheneth me, Phil. iv. 13. 'fhe same also appears 
 in the holy mpr'yr St. Stephen. His death wa^ the most 
 cruj^l and most painful that, can possibly be imagineil; 
 nevertheless "God gave him such powerful consolation.^:, 
 and filled Jjis soul with such joy, that his face shone as it 
 hadbeen the face of an angel, A.ct«vi. 15. To this purpose 
 we must likewise understand the words of the apostle 
 to the Hebrews, where he saith. That Jesus Christ hav- 
 ing offered up prayers and. supplications, with strong 
 prying and tears unto him, that was able to save him 
 from death, was heard tn that he feared, Heb. v. 7- — 
 J'or he was not exempted from afflictions and sufferings; 
 but he endured them courageously, and was in all things 
 more than conqueror. He drank ,np the very dregs fif 
 the cup of, {(^od's wrath; but by bis almighty power bf 
 , overcame the ?treiigth of the poison. His heavenly Fa- 
 ther took him not down froin 4he cross; but lie hath er-, 
 escted upon it his glprious trophies; and that qross hath 
 
308 THE GHRISTIAN'S CONSOLATION. 
 
 been as his^ triumphant chariot. Therefore, when yon 
 see a christian bear up in the midst of a paiitfui visita- 
 tion, sind overcome it by a religious constancy, wlio, in- 
 steiiLd Qf mourning; rejoiceth, andxjwnforts himself in hia 
 agonies, yon may assuredly conclude, that such an one 
 is strengthened from above, that the Spirit of God up- 
 holds him; and that^ his strength is. made perfect in his 
 serviint's vf eakness. This is the most miraculous and 
 most excellent of all deliverances. 
 
 'Soihe, I .know, approve such diacoarses very weM in 
 their ordinary afflictions, and receive the^se consolations 
 with a gi^at tleal of composure; bat as soon as any ex- 
 traordinary and violent evils seizes upon them, tbey lose 
 f|]L patience^ they murmur against God, and complain 
 that h& chastises them with too much rigour. Nay, sonifs 
 proceed so far as to curse, with Job, Ibe day of their; 
 birth. Job iii; and, giving a loose to despair; cry' oi}t 
 with Cain, Mypunishment is greater than I can hear. 
 Gen. iv. 13. Miserable man! wilt thou imitate those 
 barbarians, who curse the sun when it scorches them, 
 and shoot theii* arro\Ys against heaven when it thunders? 
 Unhappy wretch! what will it avail thee to defy thy 
 Creator? what advantage wilt thou reap from the blas- 
 phemies which thou belchest forth, against the Son of 
 Kighteousness? Miserable worm of the earth, less than 
 the.dust, contemptible as nothing! wilt thou undertake 
 to ight against God, to. pluck him from his throne, and 
 to break the invincible arm of his power? Dost thoii 
 imagine, by offending and outraging thy judge, to stop 
 the hand of his vengeance! Wilt thou quench the fire of 
 his wrath by spitting in bis face? Believest thou, that he 
 will stretch forth his band to deliver thee, that be will 
 ©pen it to increase thy blessings, whilst, thy mouth is 
 
THE CHRISTIAN'S CONSOLATION. gQg 
 
 isltedwith blasphemies against him, who is thy Sover- 
 
 , Leiid an ear to my advice; I heseeeb thee, my friend, 
 lad 1 will help thee out of this labyrinth, wherein thoa 
 ipt unhappily bewildered; and, with God's assistance, 
 m\\ cause thee to understand, that thou eomplainest 
 wrongfully against him, who does all things by weight 
 md measure. 
 
 1. Revolve in thy mind the whole course of thy Jife, 
 ind consider seriously how many wicked actions thou 
 last committed, either throilgh inadvertency, or on set: 
 mrpose, h«»w man j^ words have' escaped thy mouth, an i 
 low many thoughts have been fostered in thy heart 
 igaitist the commands of Altnighty God. Consider, ;nrith 
 tttentipn, the number and heinousnesis of thy sins, and 
 hou shalt find, that God's punishments are gen^e and 
 nild, when compat'ed with thy offences; and that for one 
 vound or bitter pang which thou feelest, thou hast d*- 
 lerVed millions; insomuch that thou wilt confess, with 
 he prophet Daniel, Lord, rigbtecmsness belougetH 
 iij|o thee, but unto ns confusion of face, Daii. ix. 7; and 
 vilt cry out, with David, Innumerable evils have cpm- 
 mssed me about, mine iniquities liave taken hold dpon 
 ae: they are more tlian the hairs of mine head. Psalm 
 di 12. There is no soundness in my flesh, befcause of 
 hine anger: neither is there any rest in my bones, be- 
 cause of my sin, Psal. xi^xviii. S. ,r 
 
 §. Consider how many persons there are in the worldj 
 jettpr perhsips and moijs pioustban thee, who yet suffer ~ 
 fl^arper and longer evils, and have less comfort and as- 
 listance. If thou coinpat'e!^ thy condition with theirs, 
 hou wilt find, that God is partial to thee, and that fae' 
 irsjats thee with great lenity. 
 
310 THE CHRISTIAN'S GONSOIiATION. 
 
 3. Ctist thine eye^ apoB the death of thy LomI and 
 Saviour,\vho being just and innocent, suffered for us un- 
 just and abominable sinners, 1 Pet. iii. 18. Thy pangs 
 lire grieyons, I confess; bnt those which thy merciful 
 Kedeemer endured for thee were a thousand times more 
 intolerable^ witnes'^ his cries^ his tears, and: the drops of 
 
 , blood which issued from his sacred body^ Luke xxii; 
 witness that earnest pra:yer which be repeated thrice up- 
 on lys bended knees, O my Father-, if it "be possible, let 
 this cup pass from nze, Matth. xxvi. 39| and. witness 
 that lamentable voice upon the cross. My God, my God, 
 ii&hy hast thumfovsdkeTt inef M.dXi)!\i xxv'ii. ^. 
 
 4. Weigh in the equal balance of the sanctuary all 
 the evils which thou hast endured in this life, wrih/the 
 pains of hell which thouh^st justly merited; thou wilt 
 quickly conclude, that all thy sufferings ai-e nothing in 
 comparison to the borpible torments of that lake of fire, 
 where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth. If thou 
 art so sensible of the transitory pa!ins of this life, consi- 
 der how much thou art obliged to the goodness of God, 
 who bath graciously pardoned all thine offeneesr^and re- 
 deemed thee from the everlasting horvours of the life to 
 come. *' > 
 
 !i. Thou must imitate those wlio,/ having their sight 
 dazzled With looking too intensely upon extraordiniary 
 glaring colours, turn off their eyes to a less offensive ob- 
 ject. Instead of always handling thy wounds, and con- 
 tinually meditating upon the evili that afflict thee; re- 
 volve in thy mind the goodness of God, and all the fa- 
 vours he has vouchsafed to shew thee from tba time of 
 thy conception until now. I give the leave ,to put in one 
 side of the balance, »ll thy crosses, misfortunes? dis- 
 eases, pains, and sorrows, upon conditibu that, iutli^ 
 
im CHRISTIAN'S CONSOLATION. $il 
 
 other 4(Ie, thou wilt tast all the mercies, favours, bles- 
 
 •gSj and deliverances, which thou hast received from 
 iven. Thou bewailest thy misery, and complainest 
 o^y condition. Thou believest, that th^ languishingUfe 
 is the most miserable upon the earth; insomuc^.i that thou 
 canst willingly cry out, with the prophet Jeremiah, Is it 
 nothing to you, all ye that pass by? Behold and se«, if 
 there be any sorrow, like unto my sorrow, which is 
 done unto me, wherewith the Lord hath affli<^ted me, in 
 the day of his fierce anger, Lam. i. 13, But though 
 there should be nothing else but only this, that (rod 
 hath honoured thee with the knowledge of his sacred 
 will, enriched thee with the graces of his holy Spirit, 
 and sown in thy heart the seeds of eternal life, and the 
 blessed hopes of seeing bis face in glory, thou oughtest 
 to look upon thyself as one of the happiest creatures 
 under the sun. 
 
 Lastly, thou rtiust meditate, with a religious serious- 
 ness, upon the joys and eternal happiness of paradise. 
 For I reckon with the Apostle, That the sufferivgs of 
 this present time are not vcorthtf to he compared with the 
 glory whic^shatl betemaledin us, Mum. -viii. 18. When 
 we cast pur eyes upon the earth alone, ve judge it to be 
 of an unmeasurable extent. Our sight is lost and be- 
 wildered in the contemplation of so many cities, pro- 
 vinces, and kingdoms; but whenwe compare it with the 
 vast dittientions of heaven, we find it to be but a point. 
 So, when we reckon up the houTs, days, weeks, months 
 and years, of our sufferings, the time appears very long: 
 but when we compare all these pojrtions of time with 
 eternity, they seem but a momeiit. Though we should 
 have been pltinged in the very abyss of misery am! 
 ©Mortuue; from the very first moment of our en- 
 
31S THE CHRISTIAN'S CONSOLATION. 
 
 traiice ioto^the world uBtil the last of our going out, ne- 
 vertheless we should have snfficient reason to say, wl||| 
 St. :paal. Our light ajiictions, which is butfornwm^W 
 workethfor us afar more exceeding and eternal iv^jfj^ht 
 of glory; irhile we hole not at iheJthings which aresem^ 
 hut at the things which are not seen: for the things which 
 are seen are temporal; but the things which are riot seen 
 are eternal, S Cor. iv. 17, 18. 
 
 The only Source of all our consolation is God's gra- . 
 cioas promise to help us in time of need. Engrave 
 in the bottom of jt)ur hearts these divine sayings, When 
 he that hath set his love upon me sb^ll call upon me, 
 
 1 will answer him: Twill be with him in trouble, I will 
 deliver him, and honour him, Psal. xci. 15. The Lord 
 Ipoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptation^,' 
 
 2 Pet. ii. 9. He is rich unto st.ll that call upon him Rom. 
 X. 12. He is nigh unto all them that call, upon him, to 
 all that call upon him in truth, Psal. cxlv. 18. He fulfils 
 the desires of the humble, he hears their cry, verse 19. 
 Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the Lord 
 deli ver«th him oat of them all, Psal. xxxiv. 19. Call 
 "upon me, saith he, in the day of trouble; X will de- 
 liver thee, and'thou shalt glorify me, Psal. 1. 1^. 
 
 When a poor subject is visited and caressfed by his 
 prince in the time of his sickness, he looks upon it as 
 a great favour and a singular happiness. And when, 
 in the midst of our most grievous a£,«riies, we happen 
 to oast our eye upon a dear friend, whom we earnestly 
 wished to see, we are wont to say, Methinlcs 1 feel 
 no pain, now I havq the satisfaction, of your company. 
 Now th^ teuderaess of (ttocI's love accompanies the 
 glory of his majesty. He is the Father of mercies, and 
 the God of all comfort, who eomfortethus in all our 
 
THE CHRISTIAN'S COiSSOLAtlON. 318 
 
 trihulati&n^2 Cor. i. 8, 4. He is that bosom friend who 
 ]oveth at all times, as it were a brother who is born 
 for adversity, Prov. xvii. 17. He is at once the King 
 of Kings, and our most cordial friend. -He enters into 
 the honse of mourning, Eccl. vii. and is nigh unto 
 everj broken heart and cnntrit« spirit, PsaL, xxxir. 18. 
 The lower our «state is, the more he rtmembereth us,' 
 PsaJ. ckxxvi. 23. / 
 
 Notwitlistahding -the misbehaviour of our childreu, 
 we cannot bear to see tliem ia distress, but are moved 
 With cum|>assion, and strive to comfort them to the best 
 t)f oiir ability; an/l shall t"hy God, whoJtJves the* 
 more cordially, and with a more unalterable love than 
 the best of falhers, or the most tender- hearted mother, 
 foi;saJce thee in the day of affliction? This merciful and 
 compassionate Fattier, who took thee into his protqc- 
 iion when tl^ou easiest into the world, who hath been 
 thy God froiu thy laolUer s belly, Psal. xxii. 10, and 
 hath administered to all ttiy necessities; shall he refuse 
 thee his gracious succour in this thy utmost extremity? 
 He who. perfectetl praise out of thy mouth when thou 
 ^idst suck at thy mother's breast, Psal- viii. %. Matth. 
 xxi. 16, who hath crowned thy youthful days with his 
 iljvine blessinars, wiU not cast thee off in the time of 
 old aajB. He will not forsake thee la the last moments 
 of thy life, when thy vigofur is coasiiiacd, and thy 
 strength faileth, Psal. Ixxi. 9- 
 
 When we, ^ about to assist our sick or wounded 
 friends, we labtiHr, by all possible means, to lessen 
 their 5 ai/i. We exert all our skill, and discover our 
 most excellent secrets; at least we endeavour to make 
 them sensible by. our officious cares, our sighs and tears, 
 itfiat w« have a quick feeling of their anguish. Their' 
 
 1i. n 
 
Sljl 1; THE CHRISTIAN'S ICbNSQLATION. 
 
 cries and groans are so many darts or daggers tjiat stal 
 us to the heart. Likewise our merciM Goa is moved 
 wi^h (Compassion at 6m- safferings; When he sees us 
 racked with crnel pains, his boiwels yiearn, his heart is 
 tnrned within' him, his lepentings are kindled. Hosea 
 xi. 8, and his love towards (ife js inflamed afres^h. /j; 
 all our affiictions he is a^icUd, Is. Ixiii. 9; and lt,e^tha, 
 toucheth us, toticheih the apple of his eye, Zecli. ii. 8 
 He weeps and groans for our toi-mei)<;,4^ and is touch et 
 mth the feeling of our ivfirmities, ileb. iv.^Ji.^. Ht 
 binds up onr bruises, and pouris his balm into om 
 woundg, Jer. xxx. He J|4%leth the broken heart, Psal 
 cxlvii. 3, and causeth the broken bodies to rejoice 
 Psal. li. 8., He, pours liis good ointment upon oui 
 couch^ and comforts us , with his s'rt'eeft savour, Cant, i, 
 If a pestilenlial fever hath seized upon you, this hear 
 venly pbysfcian can give you some cardial waters, somt 
 powerful antidote to keep the poison froio the heart. 
 The hand of his grace is a sovereign remedy to pre- 
 serve thy soul from the venom of the old serpent., He 
 will apply to thy head, thy stomach, or rather tp tlij 
 heart, not adead, bleeding, pigeon, but the living anc 
 quickening virtue of his- holy Spirit. Only, discovei 
 to him the afflicted and diseased part, and he wil 
 anoint it with the oil of joy and gladness, that shall 
 penetrate into thy joints and thy very marrow. If tjioi 
 feelest thyself weak or fainting, thou needest only saj 
 to him, as the Spouse in the Canticles, Stay me wntj 
 flaggonS, ch&it. ii. 3, and he will notfa'il to pres^jnt n»t( 
 thee tbe new \yiue of his kingdoml If thou art thirs- 
 ty, ask of him jlritik, and he will give thee of fJiai 
 water, v,'hfii*eof whosoever drinketh, shall never thirst 
 i(}hn iv, i^'i 
 
THE CHRISTIAN'S CONSOLATION. 3ig 
 
 Therefore my brother, or my sister, cast |(hysetf xrpon 
 God, For his power is equal to his love, and he knows 
 better than thyself, or we can, what is proper and &k- 
 pedient for thee, InMlis due time he will cause thy 
 pains to cease, and will take his thorn from thy fleshi 
 Either he will drive from thee the spirit of infirmity 
 that afflicts thecj or else he will make his strength per- 
 fect in thy weakness. He will endue thee with so' 
 much patience, arm thee with' such constancy, and fill 
 thee wdth such extraordinary joy and .consolation, that 
 every one shall visibly perceive that Cirod himself is 
 thy helper, and that his strength sustains thee. O hdw 
 sweet and pleasant is God's assistance to a Christian 
 sonl! it brings with it such Vast and precious delights; 
 it causeth such undeniable testimonies of our adoption 
 to shipe forth; it gives us such a transporting earnest 
 of our celestial inheritance, such a ravishing foretaste 
 of paradise, that St. Paul prefers it nOt only to all the 
 riches, pleasures, and honours of the world, but also to 
 liis being caught up to the third heaven, wivere he h;eard . 
 unspeakable word% which it is not lawfuj for a man to 
 utter, 2 Cor. xii. 4. 
 
 If the sufferings of Chris^ abound in us, so our con- 
 solation also aboundeth by Christ, 3 Cer. i. 5. For- as 
 God commands wine to be given to Mm, thaiis efun 
 ^e'avg heart, thatke may drink and remeinher his misery 
 no more, Vtov. xxxi. 6, 7; so he administers the most 
 cordial and powerful consolations to the greatest evils. 
 It is- on this occasion that he displays his Almighty arm, 
 and pours out the rich a,bundance of his graces. When, 
 thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burnt; 
 neither shall the flame kindle upon thee, 1^- xliii. 3. For 
 as tire Bon of God was in the fiery furnaGe, with I)i- 
 
3JL8 THE OHBISTIAN'S CO^•SOLATION. 
 
 nJePa tIireftj|<»n^aDidmin Babylon, Dan. iii. S5, sola 
 the, most buraiog fever, the post scorching pains, he 
 will refresh thy soul, and thou shalt be like a tcatered, 
 gtird^n, and like a spring of watery whose witters fail not. 
 Is. Iviii. 11. Whatever flood beats against thee> what- 
 ever deflactiorf endeavours to choke thiee, thoo mayesl 
 say with the royal prophet, I have set the lard altba$p 
 hefortmei b0aitse he is at my right hand, I shall not oe 
 mffovAf Psftl. xvi. 8. Though I walk through the naUef 
 of the shadow cf death; ihon^h 1 have no help nor assis- 
 tance in the world, and though there remains no more 
 strength or vigour in my body, I will fear no evil, far 
 than, aiod) a,Tt with we, thy rod and thy staff they 
 : comfort me, Ps!al. xxiii. 4^ 
 
 <prod will not only draw near to thy sijpk^bed, but he 
 will embrace thy person. He will kiss thee with the 
 kisses of his moiith, Cant. i. Si and thou shalt suck and 
 be satisjied with the breasts of hi^ consolations, Isa. Ixvi. 
 11, As one whom his mother comfortetk, SQ shall he eom^ 
 fort thee, Isia. Ixvi. 13, and will caress thete with such ten- 
 derness, that thou mayest say with the spouse in the Cant, 
 His left handis under my head, and his right hand doth 
 embrace me, chap. ii. 6. wi|b his gi?acious hand be will 
 wipe away thy cold sweats; he will receive thy sighs 
 into his bosom; atid will put thy tears into his bottle. 
 Psal. Ivi. 8: and as when the Lord and Saviour Jesus 
 Christ, was in his grievous agony, and drops "f bloo^ 
 fell froBi his sacred body, there appeared an angel unto 
 him from heaven, strengthei^ing-him, Luke xxii. 43; so 
 in thy greatest and most difficult encounters,.' aQ,d when 
 thou «hiiXt be struggling with death itself, bi^ faithful 
 tninisters and ambassadors, those angels of his right 
 h^nd, shall visit thee to supply thee with spiritual ,^com- 
 fortsj and if these shall he wanting, he will send unto 
 
THE CHRISTIAN'S CONSOLATION. gfy 
 
 the« some of those spirits of light that Wait before bis 
 glorioas throne. O gracious God, if we could but per- 
 ceive the things that are of themselves invisible; and 
 if thou wouldst but give us eyes,, like to those of thy holy 
 prophet, S Kings vi, we should see legions of these 
 heavenly spirits, flyiiig about in the houses of muarning, 
 to assist and comfort the faithful soul. 
 
 Filially, as the sun by its light, and the strength of 
 its beams, drives away the thickest clouds, and cheers, 
 with the brightness of its coontenanc'e, the whole face of 
 nature; so Jesus Christ, the trufe Son of righteousness, 
 with healing in his wings, Malachi iv. 3, chases away 
 our most cloudy sorrow. By tlie light of his grace, and 
 tlie influence of his holy Spirit, \\& dispells our most 
 sensible griefs, and fills us with a jo^ unspeakable, and 
 full of glory, 1 Pet. i. 8, and with the peace of God, 
 tekich passeth all understanding, Phil. iv. 7- 
 
 PEAYEH ANO MEDITATION 
 
 . For a sick person who prepares for Death. 
 
 O ALVIIOHTY and merciful Godl who fortuest the 
 light, and createst darkness, and dealest out good and 
 evil according to thy wise providence, 1 acknowledgi? 
 that it is thy hand which confine^ me to this bed of in- 
 firmity, and that it is rather the corruption of my man- 
 ners, than any distempeied habit of body, which hath 
 brought tills sickness upon me. Instead wf'complaining 
 qf thy justice, I adore tiiy goodness, and thy wondeifufc 
 wisdom which shines forth in all things. O l^o'^lsk how 
 mild are thy chastisements compared to my offlences! 
 How wretchedly have 1 abused thy favours, and what a 
 miserable use have I itiade of Ihat health which JL re- 
 ceived from thee, in wliom welive^ move, a«d have our 
 
31& THE CHRISTIAN'S CONSOLATION/ 
 
 being. I have had mofe lovfe and affection fdr the things 
 of this worhl, and for thfe satisfaction ^f this rpiserahle\, 
 fiesij, than for the glory of thy holy name, and the sal-' 
 vation of my soul. Therefore all the night make I my 
 bed to sWitli, I vvn'er my Couch with mjT tears. O Gpdj. 
 from whom nothing Is hid, thou" knowest that these are 
 not the tears of anguish or indignation, but those of a 
 sincere repentaiice, for having offended so good a, Fa;/ 
 ther, so merpiful a L6rdi Even in this my ciiastisement 
 1 feel the effects off'lh^ compassion, and discoveil the" 
 bowels of thine adbrible love. Tliou rehnkest me not 
 in thine anger, neither correctesf; me in thy fury. ,Thou 
 punishest me not as a judge, but as a fa,ther; arid even 
 this chastening is a token of thy love, and of thy fatherly, 
 care: For whom thou loveM thou chasteneth, andscou^g- 
 tfst every son whom thou recewest. So thktifwe be witK^' 
 out chastisement, whereof (ill arepartifkehsj then are we 
 bastards and not sons. Though tjiis chastening for the 
 present seemeth exceeding painful and grievous, never- 
 t?ieless it sliali one day yield me the peaceable fruits of 
 righteousness. And ns honey was at the end of Jona- 
 than's rod, which strengthened him and enlightened his 
 eyes; so after having felt thy rod, I sliall taste, the sweet 
 comforts and unspeakable joys of thy Holy 8pir;t, and 
 my understanding shall be altogether enlightened, if) 
 alrnighty and all- wise God! who bringest light out of 
 darkness, ai^d makest all things work together for gootf 
 toi them that love thee, ordei' this sickness as it pleaseth 
 thee, provided it he for thy glory and, my salvation. — , 
 Thou seest'my ^miction and my low estate; and know- 
 est hetter what is good for i;ie than I, myself. O A1-' 
 mighty God! I know that thou canst do all thlngs;J/tott' 
 rfiakesti^sore, and bindest up: thoti moundest, and th§ 
 bands make yi^le: thou bringest ddijsn to the grave, and, 
 bringest up. Thouhealest at thy pleasure, the most des-l 
 perate^ distempers; thou quiclienest the dead, and callest 
 those things which be not as thou they \v ere. O incom- 
 parable Physiciart! thou qanst not only send down thy 
 hlpssing upon the medicine ad njinistered to' us, but if 
 thou saycst the word, I shall be jierfectly healed. If, 
 for reasons best known unto thee, it is thy pleasure that 
 
THE CHRISTIAN'S CONSOLATION. 319 
 
 this ray sicknpss continue; take not from me, Lord, 
 tby fatherly care, but re^ilble the comforts of thy Spirit. 
 Arm me with a truly christian spirit, and endue me with 
 a'eoostancy worthy the profession of thy holy name. — 
 'tfbou art the great physician of both soul and body. I 
 bflseech thee, O my God! if it is not thy pleasure tp take 
 this thorn from my flesh, to free me from this infiviaity 
 that afflicts my body, at least pluck from my heart all 
 the cares and fears that gnaw and consume it. Fill my 
 soul with thy peace, joy, love, and celestial consolations. 
 While my body stoop's to the earth, and I am deprived 
 of the society of men, let my heart mount up (o the high- 
 est heaven, and let it be my whole delight to converse 
 with thee. I jiave spent but too much time upon world- 
 ly aflfairs, which are nothing but vanity and vexation of 
 spipt. Grant me the grace to employ this j-espite which 
 thoii givest me, in thinking upon my sins, to implore thy 
 pardon with a sincere i^pentance; upon thy great and 
 eternal mercies, to emU-ace them with a true and lively 
 .faith; andupod thy glorious kingdom, to aspire after it 
 with an holy earnestness and christian joy; so that I 
 may be able to say wfjth the man aftej; thine own heart, 
 JHy soiil is satisfied as with inarrow and fatness; "-'^^^ 
 mouth pradsetk thee icith joyful lifs: when Iremelfmm 
 thee vpoh my bed, and meditate on thee in the, night 
 walches. My sickness seems of a long and tedipus con- 
 tinuatice; but alas, O Lord! my sins have been of a much 
 Icffiiger; and, all the pain and. evil under which f groan, 
 aire nothing in toiiipaH^onof the joy and. happiness which 
 I?iftof)6for in heaven." Though all ray llffe were One con- 
 tinual sickness^ yet it is but a moment in respjict of cter- 
 niUt; Sim; this light affliction, whi|{) is but for a moment, 
 / woFketh for us an exceeding and eternal weight of glo- 
 ry, far more excellent than all things. O Lord, grant 
 til at the sickness and pain which afflict this body, may 
 serve as physic for my soul. "and as a spur to excite me 
 to piety, and all christian virtues. Let tliem tearh me to 
 renounce the world, a.n| nfty lusts, a'tjd to resign myselr. 
 entirely to thy holy and divine will. As Jesus phrist 
 is gain to me, wltetheir I life or whether I die, grapt thiit- 
 I may bp e(j(ial)^ disjjiosfei to glorify thee eithex" by lift 
 
320 THE CHRISTIAN'S CONSOLATION. 
 
 or by deatbi If it is thy good pleasure that I recover, 
 Jet it fee t« lead a better and mflre godly life, in the fear 
 flf thy name, and obedience to ttiy divine coniimands. — i. 
 Apd as the wife's mother of thy holy apostle, being 
 tiealed of the fever, arose and administered to the [iOrd 
 Jesus^ «o, if tfaou dfiUverestt me from ray infirmity, aqd 
 ' raisest me from this bed of sickness, let it he to glqrify 
 thee, and to serve thee to the last moment of my life, — 
 But if it pleaseth thee to remove me from the world, be-' 
 hold^ ] am ready, O God to do thy will, and to obey 
 thee without resistance. My soul is already loosed from 
 this languishing body, and altogether disposed to follow 
 thee. It grieves me not to.see this poor body feeble and 
 emaciate, like a worn out garment, because thou prepar- 
 est for it a robe of an immortal lieauty. It sees without 
 concern, this, earthly tenement fall to ruin, because it 
 liath an boiiseitt heaven, , whose builder and founder thok 
 art. I have a long time looked upon this bed as an image 
 of the grave, in which my body must shortly be laid; 
 iiD^ upon death, as some: friendly hand, which breaks 
 asunder the last link of this, chain of misery. It will put 
 an end to ray , pain, and ehase away all my caref!; and 
 will bring me out of this wretched tabernacle which fa.lls 
 /into rottenness, into the glorious palace of imjnortality, 
 where thou dwellest, and where I shall glorify thee for- 
 ever, with millions of angels and jilessed saints. Amen. 
 
 VBAYER AND MEDITATION 
 
 Por a SicJc Pefsottfjfho labours under violent pains*, . 
 
 O FATHER pf mercies, <and God -of all comfort, 
 have compassion on mel Thou seest irie labour under 
 the most exqutsitis pains, which consume my strength, 
 and bruise my bones. Thy arrows pierce me on every 
 side, the poison whereof drialct4.th up my spirit. Thou 
 tendesf me in thy fury, and thy terrors set themselves 
 in array against ra^ . D^ep calleth unto deep, at the 
 noisBof thj watsr-^puts: all tky ii'aves wn$tJiy billom 
 
THE CHRISTIAN'S CONSOLATION. 331' 
 
 are gone over me. Thou hast given me days oi^ afflic- 
 tion anil anguisPi, and niglits of torture and groaning. 
 I am as a miEin upon a rack, or in a fiery furnace. I 
 "feel a fire that devours, a \vori?i that gnaws, and arro.vs 
 which pierce me to the lieart. O how horrid and abo- 
 minable must my sins appear, seeing thou ehastisest 
 toe with so much rigour! F(tr thou art mercy itsulf, 
 and it is not willingly that tjiuu afflictest the children 
 of men. O good Ood! what am 1 in respect of thee? 
 Wilt thou employ the strength of thine invincihle arm 
 against a leaf driven to and fro? and wilt thou pursue 
 the dry stubble to everlasting burnings? wilt tliou emp- 
 ty thy quiver Upon a miserable worm tif the earth? and 
 wilt thou launch all thy thunders against a grain of 
 dust? O Almighty (lod, 1 am not an object worthy of 
 thine anger, tliat the fierceness of thy fury should burn 
 for ever against me! Remember that 1 am but flesh, a 
 •wind that passeth aWay and cnmeth not again: or ra- 
 thesv, O Lord, remember that I am tijy child, and that 
 then hast redeemed me with the bhjod of thine only 
 Son. O my God! it is not possible for me to forbear 
 my complaints, to stifle my groans, and to stop (he tor- 
 rent of my tears. My soul is weary of this languishing 
 life, or rather of this cruel death; for is there any jjain 
 like to my pain? or any anguish like to my iiagaiiih? 
 If the prophet Jonah, for only the withering of the 
 gourd under which he sat, and the beating of the sun 
 iipon his head, could cry out, It is better for me to die 
 than-to live; how much more cause hare 1 to use that 
 language, whQse moisture is turned into the drougiit of 
 summer, and who feel a fire in my bones, and a burning 
 within my bowels, which consumes me day and night. 
 Thine almighty and merciful arm, which delivered me 
 out of bell, cannot it draw me out of this pit? Thou 
 <lelivcredst thy children out of the fiery furnacej Canst 
 not thou qnench the fury of this fire that devours me? 
 O Lord! keep the door of my lips, that I may utter 
 nothing centrary to the respect due to thy divine Ma- 
 ; jesty, To thee, O Almighty God! belongeth righteoHS- 
 ness, but to me shame and confusion of face. Were thie 
 mils wherewith thou ehastisest me tea thousand time* 
 
iriore grievous; was it possible this miserable nature 
 eould bear them; or evea wast tbouto cast me head-* 
 long, without pity, into the lake of fire and brimstone,, 
 which burneth for ever, I should have no cause to com- 
 plain of thy severity. My aflBlctions are great, hut they 
 are nothing in comparison of my sins and iniquities. 
 My pains are violent, but what ars they when com- 
 pared to the bitter agony qf my blessed Saviour? or 
 what- are my cold sweats compared to the drops of 
 blood which fell from his sacred body? My torment.i^ 
 cruel, bsut it is nothing when wi?ighed with the glory 
 which shall be revealed in all those who worship thee, 
 and continue in thy obedience until the end, yhouldst 
 ^thou kill me, Lord, yet will I hope iiithee; for, thou 
 afflictest me, to the end I may riot perish with the 
 world; and thou wilt that my flesh be destroyed, that 
 my soul maybe saved. Bruise me, 0,Lord, and tread 
 me under thy feet, provided I iflay become wheat for 
 thy garner, and n^ew wine'Ifor thy kingdom. Tear me 
 in pieces, or burn me in this temporal life, provided 
 thou wilt be favourable to me in the life everlasting.- 
 Let this cup pass from me, that T may drink no more 
 of its unspeakable bitterness; nevertheless, O heavenly 
 iKather, not g.s I will, but as thou wilt. Take this 
 thorn from my flesh; or rather give me grace to bear 
 its inexpressible anguish. O God of mercies! thbu seest 
 that my spirit indeed is willing, but my flesh is weak, 
 and my afflictions are heavier than the sand of the sea; 
 but thou quickenest the dead, thou maji^est thy strength 
 perfect in my greatest weakness. Therefore, instead 
 of crying out with Cain in despairj My punishment is 
 greater thim lean bear, 1 will say with thy holy Apos- 
 tle, J caw do all things through Christ iffhich strength^ 
 eveth ine. Lord! rebuke me nut in thine anger, neir. , 
 iher ehasten >mein thy hot displeasure; Correct m.e,- 
 hut with judgment, lest thou bring me to nothing. 
 When thou didst wrestle with Jacob, thou enduedst tliy 
 servant, with the strength of thy spirit. O GodI- wJio 
 art merciful and |l3istj proportion thy chastisements to j 
 niy great weakness. Let, no temptation take me, but 
 such as is comtnen to -man, an^ i^ith the temptatidn ah 
 
THE CHRISTIAN'S CONSOLATION. SS3 
 
 80 make a .way to escape, that 1 may be able to bear it. 
 Let neitlier death, nor life, nor anguish, nor torment, 
 separate me from thy love, or pluck me out of thy hand. 
 {) Lord, abandon me not, that I may never depart from 
 theft; but grant me a spirit of fortitude, patience, and 
 constant-y; and make me in all things more than con- 
 queror tlirough thy Son Jesus Christ. Gracious God! 
 have compassion on thy servant^ or rather thy child. 
 Awake thy zeal, and the sounding of thy bowels which 
 are restrained towards me. To strengthen me in this 
 conflict, send me those good angels which comforted 
 thy dear Son on the night of his bitter agony. Put an 
 pnd to this night of my affliction; or rather, in the 
 midst of this darkness, grant me to see the sweet and 
 ravishing dawning of thy grace. Heal my grievous 
 wounds, or pour into them the pleasant and- effectual 
 balm of thy comfort. My flesh and ray heart fail; but do 
 thou lx)ok upon me with an eye of love, and take me to 
 the arms of thine eternp,! mercy. Show, that in all my 
 afflictions thou art afflicted, and thatthou sympathizest 
 in my pain. Take my sweat and my tears, and put 
 tliem into thy bottles. O good God! thou seest that my 
 strength is consumed, and that my spirit. faints. Spare 
 not thy cordial and most precious remedies. Give me 
 the wine of thy most powerful consolations to revive 
 my heart; let the hand of thy grace be as a sovereign 
 application to fortify it, and drive thence the venom. 
 And let tiiy holy Spirit, the true Dove, rest upon my 
 head, and rejoice my soul. O living God! thou seest 
 that I am ready to expire: O give toe of that living 
 water, of which whosoever drinketh hath eternal life.~ 
 My friends bear a patt in my sufferings, and weep over 
 my miseries, without being able to help me: but thy 
 presence is help and salvation. O njy, Godl either 
 deliver me from this sea of affliction in which I am 
 plunged, or guide me through tbe depths thereof, to 
 that inheritance which thou hast prepared for me from 
 the foundation of the world. Quench these raging fires 
 wbici burn aiid, consume me; or grant th^t they may 
 liftjhe up into beaven, and serve for my triumphant 
 chariot. Lord! X should bfe without understanding, 
 
pt iMhCUKlSl IAIN'S uu;\&uji::iiiui\. 
 
 and exceodina; cruel to myself, shonkl I be afi-aid of 
 death; sirice/U will put an end to my torment, breatt 
 tiie last link of this chain of mifeei^, wipe all tears from 
 mine eyes, and drive away all the cares and fears that 
 ^naw my heart. O my God! when sh^l my cries, my 
 groans, and my sighs, be changed into songs of praise 
 and triumph! Wiieri shall 1 st'e myself in the glorious 
 company , of tlie blessed,, which came out of great tri- 
 bulation, and have washed their robes, and made them 
 white in the blood of the Lamb; Draw me, I will run 
 ifter, thee, and will serve thee day and iiiglit in thy 
 ietnple. Jimen. 
 
 C5EAPTER XIV. 
 
 Tim Second Consolation against the Fears of death is, 
 to look upon God as a merciful JFathsii', and to relf' 
 upon his injinite goodness. , 
 
 _!_ HEHE is no child of an ingennous nature, but 
 arnestly desires to see his Father's face, aOd especial- 
 y the face of a good and kind father. A great prince's 
 on, who hath been brought up in a straitge barbarous 
 ountry, rejoiceth when his father sends for him to be 
 lear his person, and to partake of the glory and dignity 
 f his empire. Far from being troubled, or seeking any 
 iretehce to delay his depar^qriB, he embraceth, with 
 ransports of joy, the messenger of such glad tidings, 
 le thinks of toothing but hastening his journey; and if 
 le conld borrow Wings, he would fly with an unspeak- 
 ble swifiness, to his father's palace. 
 
THE CHRISTIAN'S CONSOLATKJi?. ggff 
 
 Now we are the children of the living God, vv^hose 
 throne is heaiven, and the earth His footstool, Isa. Ixvi. 
 i. For our faith, that embraces Jesus Christ as our Sa- 
 viour and Redeemer, considers God,^^a8 our God and 
 Father. For to as many as received this well- beloved of 
 the Father to them gave he power to becofne the sons of 
 God, even to them thai heliered on his name, John i. IS. 
 So that we have just capse to be ravished with an holy 
 admiration, and to cry out with the Apostle St. John, 
 Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowedr 
 upon us, that we should be called the sons of God, 1 
 John, iii. 1. • 
 
 We were by nature the chirdi^en of wrath, even as 
 others. JBut God who is rich in mercy, Eph. ii. 3, 4. 
 hath predestined us to the adoption of children by Jesus 
 Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure, of his 
 will, Eph. i. 5; and he graciously gives us infallible 
 assurance of this free adoption: for because we are son^, 
 Godhath sent forth the $pirit of hisson into our heartigy 
 crying Mba, t'other, Gal. iv. 6. This spirit beareth 
 witness with our spirit, that we are the children of 
 God. And if children, then heirs, heirs of God, and 
 joint beirs with Christ; if so be that we sufifer with him, 
 that we may be also glorified together, Rom. viii. Ifi, V^. 
 God hath not only adopted us by Jesus Christ to him- 
 self, but that we may be truly his chikTren, he hath re- 
 generated us by an incorruptible seed, 1 Pet. i. S3. We 
 are noiborn of blood, nor of the -will of th^ flesh, nor 
 of the will of man, hut of God, 3phh i. 13. His infinite 
 goodness moved him at first to create ns, and his iucom- 
 .prehensible love h&th inclined him to reform on r beings, 
 and to re-engrave in our hearts his diviiie image. Of his 
 own will begat he us, with the word of truth, that we 
 
8g6 THiCHRIStlAN'S CCrfrSdLATtOjr. 
 
 sbeuld be a kitjd of first fraits of his creatures, James 
 i. 18. Blessed be the God aitd Father of bur Lord Je- 
 isus Christ> which according to his abundant irtbrcy, hath 
 begotten us again unto a lively hope, by the resurrec- 
 tion of JesUs Christ from the dead. To an inheritance^ 
 incorruptible, and undeflled, and that fadeth not away, 
 reserved in heaven for us, 1 Pet. i. 3, 4'. 
 
 Now although we are the children of God, and the 
 presumptive heirs of his crown, yet our^lory and dignity 
 a^e not conspicuous during the years of our earthly pil- 
 grimage. Our heavenly Father suffers us to live here in a 
 contemptible and despised estate, fftat we may be ex- 
 ercised in humility, and sigh the more earnestly after 
 celestial inheritance. As in the obscurity of a very dark 
 night, men tread under foot peatls, diamonds, sceptres, 
 and crowns, as well as dirt, dust, and aslies, so during 
 the gross ignorance that reigtis in the! world, the childreiti 
 of God, the most precious jewels of his crown, are es- 
 teemed no better than the filth and scum of the earth. 
 Tills consideration canseth St. John to say, Belovei, 
 now. ave wn. the sonstff God, and it doth not yet appear 
 What ice shall be', btd we know, that when he shall ap' 
 pear, ice shall be like hifn: fur we shall see him as he is, 
 I John iii.S. As David -sent and brought Absalom out 
 of the land of the Philistines, and gave him leave to 
 dwell in thfi land, of Jerusalem, but for the space of two 
 years would not suffer him to enter his royal palace, or 
 to see his face, S Sam. xiv; thus God hath brought us 
 from under the power of Satan, and the tyranny of hell} 
 he hath received us into his church, Which is, as it were, 
 an holy Jerusalem, where he gives us a foretaste of our 
 peace and reeonciliation; but be defers, for a time, our 
 reception into the mc^iMi'Ui palace Hf his glbry, and 
 
THE CHRISTIAN'S COISSOLATION. 337 
 
 oar admissisn to his divine providence, where there is 
 fujness of joy, and pleasures for evermore, Psal. xvi. 11. 
 Whilst we are at homein tlie body, we are absent from 
 the l^ord, S Cor. v. 6; and it is only by hope that we 
 are saved, Rom. viii. S4. But wBen we are absent from 
 the body, we shall be present with the Lord, and shall 
 enter into the actual fruition of his inheritaiace. In a 
 word, while we dwell here below, we see the image of 
 our heavenly Father, and behold his glory as in a 
 glass, a Cor. iii. 18. But when he shall admit us to 
 approach his throne, we shall see him face to face> 1 
 Cor. xiii. 12, shall" be changed into his image, 2 Cor. iii. 
 18. and satisfied with his likeness, Psal. xviii. id, 
 t;rf Let death be ever so frightful and ill favoured, it is 
 the messenger of our heavenly Father; and if we have 
 but the courage to wrench open its fingers, and to look 
 into its iron hand, we shall find there letters full of love, 
 by which this Father of mercies calls us to the parti- 
 cipation of his eternal happiness. Death not only in- 
 vites us to God, but it is as it were a ship, by which we 
 pass this tempestuous sea of the world, to go to our Re- 
 deemer, who expects us at the desired haven. It is like 
 Elijah'sxhariot of fire, that carried him up to heaven, 
 a Kings ii. 11. If death covers our eyes with one hand, 
 and deprives us of the light of the sun, with the other, 
 it rends in pieces the veil that hinders us from seeing 
 the rich beauties of the heavenly sanctuary, and disco- 
 vers to us the glorious f;ice of the father of lights. If 
 with one hand it digs a grave for our bodies, with 
 the other it- tings open for our souls the gates of the 
 heavenly Jerusalem, and ushers them into the marriage- 
 chamber. 
 
 'I lanefore death should be so far from frighting us, 
 
328 THE CHRISTIAN'S CONSOLATION, 
 
 that we should ralb&r be glad of its amval, and resolve 
 io follow it with an holy cheerfulness. We should not 
 only go to God With transports of joy, when he is plear- 
 'sed to call us to behold his face, and to eat the bread of 
 'bis kingdom;, Luke xiv. 15; but we should long with 
 Impatience for his glorious presence, and sigh after that 
 blessed day, when he shall put us into his bosom, and 
 satisfy us with his delights. A true believer will break 
 out, on this occasion, into David's holy rapture, Jts the 
 hart panteth after the WtaieT-hrooks, so ptmt^th mf soul 
 after thee O God. My soul thirsteth for God, for the 
 living God: when shall I come and*appear before God? 
 Psal. xlii. 1, S5. 
 
 I know that this great God, before whom we arc to' 
 appear, is clothed with glory and majestyj and dv/elleth 
 in the light which no man can appribq;db unto, i 'Fim. vi. 
 16. I know that he is seated on a throfle like the fiery 
 flame, whose wheels are as burning fir'e; that thousand 
 thousands ministers unto him, and ten thousand times 
 ten thousand stand before him, Dan. vii. 9, 10. I know 
 that the earth is burnt at his presence, the sea and the 
 rivers dried up, that the mountains quake, the hills melt, 
 that the rocks are thrown dowti, the pillars of heaven 
 sliaken, and that the seraphims cover their faces with 
 their wings, Nahu mi. Is. vi; But be not terrifie'd, be- 
 lieving souls, at this glorious majesty, this royal pomp; 
 for it is accompanied with tenderness and paternal love. 
 Hound about the throne of God there is a rainbow, in 
 sight like Unto an emerald, Rev. iv. 3, to signify that 
 God is reconciled to us, and that his covenant of peace is 
 for ever^ As out of this magnificent throne proceed thun- 
 ders and thundcifbolts, that fright the worldly-minded, 
 •aod £ast down (he ppoud; so from tbepCe likewise pro- 
 
THE CHRISTIAN'S CONSOLATIUN. 3®9 
 
 cepi] such gentle lightnings, sUeli lambent flames, as ce- 
 joice onr sMiuls, and guide them to their celestial inheri- 
 tance» We are related to God by a nearer tie than the 
 angels and seraphims; for we are not only his creatures 
 and servants, but also his chiidren,^and the members of 
 his Son; nay, we are one with him, Johq xvii. 11. Let 
 us thercfore^§;iue thanks unto the Father, which hath 
 made us meet to he, partakers of the inheritance of the 
 saints in light, Col, i. 12. ^ ^ 
 
 Let, us go with an holy boldness up' to Mount Sion; 
 for there are no sign qf God's wrath, or his just ven- 
 geaijee, to be seen, > We shall fl.nd there no bounds set, 
 to keep us at a distance from God, Exod. xix, but bands 
 of love to draw and unite us unto hip, Hoi^ea xi;4. In- 
 stead of the fire that affrightS: and devours, we shall per- 
 ceive a mild pleasing flame, which burns without con- 
 suming, and which brings comfort, not feaj?. We shall 
 not find there a lawgiver who will drive us from him, 
 and teri-ifyais with his thunders; but we shall meet a 
 loving Father, who opens bis arms and his bosom to em- 
 brace us. In short, we shall not hear there the dreadful 
 sound of the trumpet, that splitteth the rocks asunde^r, 
 tliatbreaketh the cedars, and maketh the.hinds to calve, 
 Psal. xxix. 5, 9; but we shall hear a sweet and melo- 
 dious voice, that will quiet our trembling consciences, 
 raise our drooping hopess, and fill us with peace aqd 
 eternal consolation. 
 
 I acknowledge that. God is jus|, but he is still more 
 merciful, Ji,nd; mercy rejoiceth against judgment, James 
 ij. 13. His justice is like the gre9.t mountains, but his 
 mercies are as a great deep, Psal. xxxvi. 6.-^Theref«Fe 
 Moses, who had a nearer sight of God than any Jiting 
 man, cannot bes satisfied with extolling his mercy, .and 
 
aSO THE CHRISTIAN'S CONSOLATION. 
 
 the overflowing riches of his lovie: for once that be 
 names him just, he styles him ftve or siic times, met': 
 ciful and gracious, long-sufferirig, and abundant iw 
 gC'idness and truth, Exod. xx\iv. 6; nay, even the 
 word righteous or fust^ which he malies use of, fre- 
 quently si^^nifies, in the holy language, merciful, gra- 
 cious, and loving. God holds in his hand the sword of 
 justice, but he is girded and clbthed with mercy, as 
 with a garment. In short, (irod is not only merciful 
 and loving, but he is metey and love itself, 1 John iv. 
 8. His compassion surpasses that of the best of fa- 
 ther's, or the most tender-hearted mother, as he himself 
 declares by his prophet: Can a woman forget her suck- 
 ling child, that she would not have compassion oh the 
 soli of her womb? yea, they may forget, yet will I not 
 forget thee. Behold I have graven tbee tipon the palms 
 of my hands, Is. xlix. 16, yea in the bottom of my 
 heart. These fatherly compassions appeas^ his hot dis- 
 pleasure, and force him to let fall the sword of justic^y 
 as he tells us iii Hosea, Uo'w shall 1 make thee as Ad- 
 mah? How shall 1 set thee as Zeboim? mine heart is 
 turned within me, my repentings are kindled together. 
 I will not execHte the fiejcceness of mine atiger, chap, 
 li. 8. Therefore David had good reason to say with 
 an holy confidence, Wheii my father and my mother 
 farsakiR me, then the Lord will take me wp, Psal, xxvii, . 
 10. Though all love and mercy were banished out of 
 the earth, aii^ all natural affections should be totally 
 estinguished, yet ray God will not forsake me while I 
 live, and at. the hour of death he will receive me into 
 -his bosom, and cover me with his wings. 
 
 Ghristiaif souls, let not the sad remembrance of your 
 si'us and former failings iisconrage you; for when we' 
 
THE CHRISTIAN'S GONSOLATION. f 3S1, 
 
 ai»pear before the throne of God, we must not rely upon 
 «ur own righteousness, nor be puffed up with an opin- 
 ion of our own merits, but.we must place .all our confi- 
 dence, all our hope, in the mercy of God alonej pr, to 
 speak with th* prophet Daniel, We do not present our 
 supplications before thee, O God for our righteousness- 
 es, but for thy. great mercies, chap. ix. .18. The compas- 
 sions of God are our merits. Till God shall want met- 
 cy, we can never want m^rit. Now the compassions of 
 God fail not; they are new every morning, great is his 
 ftdtltfulntis! Lam. lii. 23. As I live, saith the Lord 
 God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, 
 but that the wicked should turn from his way and live> 
 !]^ek. xxxiii. 11. 1, even I am he that blotteth out 
 thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not re- 
 member thy sins. Is. xliii. 35. Though your sins and 
 iniquities appear before you with all the defortnity and 
 ugliness of hell, yet be not swallowed up qf grief, nor 
 cast yourselves into despair; let us rather say with the 
 prophet Jeremiah, Wherefore dpth a living man com- 
 plain, a . man for the punishment of his sins? liet ns 
 search and try our ways, and turn again to the-Lord. 
 Let us lift up our heart with our hands unto God iri 
 the heavens, Lam. iii. 39^ 40, 41; or with holy Micah> 
 Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, 
 and passeth by the trans^ession of the remnant of his 
 heritage? he retaineth not his anger for ever, becaui© 
 be deighteth in mercy. He will turn again, he will 
 have' compassion upon us: he will subdue our iniqui^ 
 ties: and tiion wilt cast all theif sins into the depths of 
 the sea, chap. mi. 18, 19. Let us comfort ourselvei 
 with these words of the prpphet Daniel, ,.To the Lord 
 
33g THE CHBflSTIAN'B COiNSOi-ATlUiN: 
 
 owr God he^ng mercies ani forgiv^nesseSf though we 
 have rebellti against Mm, chap. ix.''9. 
 
 Tell me not again, I know that God is goqd and 
 merciful, but my sins are too many to believe that he 
 will pardon and have ihercy upon me. After all my 
 repeated vows, my sighs, my groans attd tears, I havei 
 returned to mine - iniquities, as the dog is turned to his 
 own vomit again> o,nd the sow that was washed, to her 
 wallowing in the mire, 2 Pet. ii.S2.y But, wretched 
 sinner, learn for thy comfort, that tliougl) thy sins 
 should be as many as the sand on the sea-snore, or as 
 the stars in the firmament of heaven,, yet if thou sin- 
 cerely repenteth of them with a contrite heart, 'CJod will 
 bloit them out as a cloud, Isa., xliv. S3, and will ctet 
 them into the depths of the sea,.Micah vli, 19: ^ 'hy 
 brother shall trespass against thiE;e,'and afterwards con- 
 fesses his fault, the Lord commands that thou shalt fur- 
 give him, not only „until seven times, but until seventy 
 times seven, Matth. xviii. S3; how much more reason 
 hast thou, to hope, that God, who is goodness and 
 mercy itself, will pardon «thee more sins, and ofteneif 
 Therefore, instead of cohtinually probing thy wounds, 
 receive the precious balm of his divine consolations,^ 
 and say with the royal prophet. Bless the Lord, my 
 soul;, and all that is within me, bless his holy name. 
 Bless the Lord, my son!,, and forget not all his ben-' 
 efits. Who forgiveth all thin*, iniquities: who heaU 
 eth all Jpjy diseises: who crowneth' thee with loving^ 
 kindness and tender mercies.' The Lprd is mercifust' 
 and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy. 
 He will noti always chide> neither will he keep his an- 
 ger for ever. , He hath not dealt with us after our sinsc 
 ^pr rewarded us according to our iniquities. For as thp 
 
THE CHRISTIAN'S CONSOLAI^ION. 333 
 
 heaven is hva;h above the earth, so great is his mercy 
 towi^'ri them that fear him. As far as the east is from 
 the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions 
 from us. Like as a father pittieth bis children; so the 
 Lord pitieth them that fear him, Psal. ciii. 
 ' Answer me not, that your ^ins are so heinous and 
 abominable, that you cannot, hope for a jiardon. Thnu^h 
 
 "they are as high as the loftiest mountains, if thou aft re- 
 ally sensible of their weight, and sighest and groanest 
 beneath thy biitden, God's infinite mercy, like a deluge, 
 s^ll cover and wash them aWay^ Like a torrent, it 
 shall transport them out of thy sight. For where sin 
 hath abounded, provided a true repentance succeeds, the 
 gracte of God doth much more abound, H-m. v. SO.— 
 Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white 
 as snow; though they be red like crimso^'i, they shall be 
 as wool, Is. i. 18. All the offences that you have com- 
 mitted since you have been in thfe world, are finite and 
 limited, but God'l mercy is infinite. ^ If thou. Lord, 
 sliouldst mark iniquity; O Lord, who shaWnitand'? But 
 there is forgiveness ivith tkee, that than iiiayest be feared, 
 Psal.'Cxxx. 3, 4. -^ 
 
 0&that covereth his siris, shall not prosper: hut ivho- 
 soconfesseth andforsaketh them^ shall have mercy, Prov. 
 xxviiii 13; and it is certaiu^there is no sinner, \ti him 
 be ever so guilty, that shall setekwod's mt^rcy by a h'l* 
 repentance, but shall obtain his requeist. l)avirt had de-, 
 
 * filed hiniself with an infamous adultery, and had em - 
 brued his hands in the innocent blood of one of his most 
 faithful servants; but as soon as he presented biniself 
 before God with a 'broken and conirite heart, Psal. li. 
 If, this merciful creator "washed this wretched sinner 
 ffpp^ all his iniquity at the f0Hjitain of hi^ ^;tert)$l laer- 
 
334 XMIS UHKISTIAJN'S yONSOLATIOW. 
 
 cy. He made him whiter than snow, and cM^ed t^ 
 %0Be8 which he had brokei^ to rejoice; therefore he cri- 
 ''©th out, tsaid, I will confess my transgpessians unto the 
 JjOi'd; and thou fargavest th^ iniquity of my sin, Psal^ 
 xxxii. 5. King- Mauasseh gave bitoserlj' up to in(;haat- 
 Inents and witcltaraft, atid to the most gross and ahomi- 
 na.ble idolatries, Chron.xxxiii; nevertheless, he no soon- 
 er humbled^imseilf in his fetters, than his sighs and 
 groans found a gracious reception at the thrpne of ;God< 
 The poor publican, <in the gospel, cast down M'ith lli« 
 weight of his sins, would not lift up so much as his ^ipes 
 mito heaven, hut smote upon .his breast, saying, , God be 
 merciful to rne a sinner, Lu^e xviii. 13; but God lock- 
 ed upon him witii an eye of mercy, and stretched oat 
 T'nto him his gracious hand; so that he went down to his 
 house JHstified. The penitent Magdalen, being struck 
 vi^ith horror at her own sinful and wicked life, came and 
 cast herself at our feJaviour's feet, washing tbemwitli her 
 tears, and wipij^g them with the haiifs of her head; btjst 
 Christ soo^aisedhet up, with these comfortable words. 
 Thy sins are forgiven thee. Thy faith hath saved th€e; 
 go in peace, Luke vii, 48, 30. St.. Peter, by a frailty 
 that should cause the best of Christians to tremble for 
 fear, denied his Loj'd and Master three times, even , to 
 enrsftig and swearing, M%tth. xxvi. Lukexxii; but thia: 
 merciful God immediHely looked U'poa him with an eye. 
 of compassion, and gave him grace to weep bitterly foB 
 the commission of so tool a fact. At the same time that* 
 St. Peter poured forth his tears before God, there is no 
 doubt but Go^ poured into his heart the oil of joy and 
 . gladness, and that he powerfully S'upported him by his 
 holy Spirit. Therefore, though your sins are ever so 
 gr-eat ami enorinous, if yoar souliS are really wrung v»fith 
 
mt CHRISTIAN'S aafJSOLATlON. ggg 
 
 sorrow, if your hearts are truly toncliecl with contrition, 
 if you shed the tears of repentance, if you are heartily 
 grieved that you ^.re not sufiRciently afflicted for your 
 sins, and in such a frame ofmind prostrate yourselves 
 hefore your heavenly Father,: he will raise you up again 
 by his infinite mercy. He will cast all yodr sins and, 
 transgressions behind him, and will cry unto you, by his 
 holy Spirit in your hearts, Myson.at my Ulaughfer, //ly 
 mns are forgiven thee, Luke vii. 48. He will fill you* 
 souls with a joy unspeakable, and will cause yoii to sin^ 
 with the Psalmist, Bksmiis he ^^ose transgression is 
 forgiven, whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man unto 
 tchom the Lord imputethnot iniquity^ and in whose spirit 
 there is no guile, Psal. xxxii. 1, 3. *' 
 
 Finally, think not it is too late to repent, and that 
 when death is upon your lips, it is no longer time to 
 have recourse to the mercy of God. As repentance can- 
 not come too soon, because we know not at what hour 
 God will call us; so it can never come too late: for at 
 what season soever the poOr sinner melts into tears of 
 repentance, provided his repentunce be real, and that 
 his tears proceed from the heart, God will always have 
 the arms of his mercy ready to receive him. The thief 
 that was crucified at our Saviour's side, was at the last 
 gasp when he was converted, and when he preferred this 
 excellent petition, Lord, remember me when thou earnest 
 into thyleingdom, Lukexxiii. 42. Nevertheless this kind 
 and merciful Saviour, not only granted his request, but 
 gave him the greatest of all consolations, Verily, 1 sdy 
 unto thee, To-day shalt thou be with me in paradise. In 
 like manner, although thou art at the point of death, 
 •yet since God .speaks to thee, and awakens thy coh^sti" 
 ence, it i»an infallible fll^n^. that he takes pity on th«« 
 
SS© THE CHRISTIAN'S CONSOLATION. 
 
 aHtli»thli.t he woiilHtnot have thy soul a cast-avpiay. He 
 oipens-ftrthee his heaven full of light and* gloi'y, and 
 offers to thee his paradise, with ^M it| imuiortal delights* 
 Botibt not, pMitent siuiier, hut now is the accepted 'time? 
 the day of solvation, and of ©od's good pleasijire, 3 Cor. 
 vi. 2. Sjnce God thus graeiou^ljy draws near unto thee, 
 thou mayest with freedofEB dravr near to him: and since 
 he knoicks afcthe door of«thy heart; it is an Infallible tori 
 ken, that h«s would have thee knoGk at the door of hi^ 
 mercy, kttd that he certainly intends to open it unto theei 
 In Shorty at what holiir soeverive gftto &pd, and present 
 oui^selves before his throne, he [folds out to us the gol- 
 den 'scp^te 6f his imercy, and assures us of Ms love.--r^ 
 Let us therefore come boldly unto ihe ithron^- of grace, 
 that we may phtain me¥cy, and fit^i grace to hel'pin time 
 of need, Hefc. iv. 16. ' ^ 
 
 To procur&^this grace and seasonable, help, at a time 
 so pressing. weNliave no Occasion t6 make long^pr^yers; 
 nor is it necessary they, sliould be composed wi4h the art 
 and industry of human wisdom; We need only pray* tp 
 God as our Father, and weep in hi« bosonaj call our- 
 selves his children; and lay our hearts opeii before him. 
 That alone is sufflcieht to move his Compassion, and; to 
 inflame his love; to appease his anger, aiid to d^aw down 
 upon us his choicest Mes Ags. The propfeet Isaia,h, thei,| 
 most eloquent of alimen, seeks no otheu argumejitsti*' 
 wfest the thunder frbm thehands of 'his creator, and to 
 move the bowels of his mercy, Look down, (saith he,) 
 from'heavehj and behold ; from the habitation of ; thy hov 
 liness> and of thy glory: where is thy zeal attd thy - 
 strength, the^teding of thy bowels, and of thy mercies 
 towards me?, are they restraified? Doubtless thou art 
 our Father, though Abrah^ini be igjaoraiit of m, and fo- 
 
THE CHRISTIAN'S CONSOLATION. MJl 
 
 rael acknowledge us not: tltou, O Lord, art our Fathei^ 
 orn- Redeemer, thy name is- from everlasting, Is. Ixiii. 
 15,16. Likiewise after Jiayipg made this confession. We 
 are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousness 
 are as filthy rags, aDd we all do fade as a leaf; and oiir 
 iiiiquities, like the Wind, have taken us away. And 
 there is none that call«th upon thy name, thatstirretb up 
 hJBfiself to take hold of thee; for thou hast hid thy face 
 from us, and bast consumed its, because of. our iniqui-.> 
 tiei^ he ailds, But now, O Lord, thou art our Father: 
 we are tlie clay, and tbou our potter, and we sill are the 
 work of thy hand. Be not wroth, very sore, O Lord, 
 neither remember iniquity for ever: behold, see, we be- 
 seech thee, we are all thy people, chap. Ijiiv. 6,, 7> 8, 0. 
 By this dear and engaging name of Father, the prodi- 
 gal son persuades himself, that h« shall be able to move 
 his father to compassion, and to touch his heart: I will 
 arise, says he, and go to my father ^ and will say unto him, 
 Father, I have sinned against heaven, and. before thee, 
 and am no more worthy to he calledihy son; make me as ' 
 one of thy hired serviantSf Luke xv. 18, 19. Thus^ tbciu^ft 
 we have forsaken the house ©four heavenly Fa,tber, mis- 
 spent, the riches of his grace, and lived a-Hltfay and 
 profane life; nevertheless, if we are touched with a se- 
 rious and true repentance, and say unto him, from the 
 bottom of our hearts. Father, Ihave sinned against hea- 
 ven, and before thee, and am no more worthy to be call- 
 ed thy son, he will not remember the sins of our youth, 
 Psal. XXV. 7; but will cleanse us from all our secret faults, 
 Psal. xix. iS; nay, he will blot out all our wilful and 
 presumptuous sins. He will not only receive us, wherj 
 we cast eurselyes at his feet, into the arms bf hii 
 oiercy but he will run to meet us, and embrace u« aa 
 
 Vv 
 
J38 THE CHRISTIAN'S CONSOLATIONS 
 
 lish dear children, Luke xv. 30. He will-Mss us with 
 he blessed kisses of his fatherly love, and will give us 
 lis holy Spirit, the true ser,> of our pardon, Eph. i. 13, 
 ihat we may be assured of being received into the glo- 
 ious liberty, and admitted to all the privileges of- his 
 children, Rom. viii. SI. He will shoe our feet with the 
 preparation of the gospel of peace, Kph. A'i. 15 j and 
 will vouchsafe us all the precious evidences of our en- 
 ire and perfect reGonciliation. He will clothe us here 
 below with ihe Tobes of righteousness and holiness, and 
 in heaven he will add to us those of immortality and 
 gloK^. In this life he will give us' a foretaste of his de- 
 lights; and in that whichis to come, he will lead us in- 
 to the marriage-chamber, and will cause us to sit down 
 with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and with all the first- 
 born, which are written in heaven, Heb. xii. S3., Not 
 riuly all murmuring and envying shall be banished from 
 this celestial abode, but there shall be joy for the con- 
 version of poor sinners, and for theif' admittance into 
 the kingdom of heaven. To these spiritual I'ejoicings, 
 God himself shall invite all his awgels of light, and the 
 glorified spirits, saying unto them, It is meet that «7^ 
 should be gladi for these, my children, were dead, and 
 were lost, and are found, Luke. xv. 33. 
 
 Let the slaves of Satan tremble, if they please, at i 
 the approaches of death, and let them look upon God| 
 with terror, as a severejudge. As for Us, Me have not 
 received the spirit of bondage again4o fear; but we have 
 received the spirit of adoption, whereby we cv^i'Mbaf 
 Father, Rom. viii. 19. Let the sons and daugl»ters of 
 Adam, who have no otl\,er being than what they derive 
 from his corrupt nature, fly from God's presence: as for 
 us, who are regenerated by the Spirit of the secoud 
 
THi CHRISTUN'S CONSOLATION. 339, 
 
 Ad^ywe will draw near to kirn with an holy boldnesai 
 «e will not say as Adam, tremhling and terrified with 
 the horror of his crime, I heard thy voice, and 1 hid 
 myself. Gen. iii, 10; hut having learned, in the school 
 of the prophet, that we must obey God in all things, 
 we will say unto him with Samuel, iSpeafc, Lord, for 
 thy. servant heareth, 1 Sam. iii. 10; or rather, O my 
 God, and heavenly father, speak when thou- pleasest^ 
 fttr thy servant is* ready and resolved to obey thy com- 
 mands. Yv'e will not stay till God shall call the fourth 
 time, a« that holy man, who, because of his tender years, 
 could not distinguish between God's voice and that of 
 man; but we will have our ears always open to his di- 
 vine orders; at the first signal, we will be ready to follow 
 liim, as the children of Isj-ael, who decamped at his mo- 
 tion. And as when the Levites stopped, and set down 
 tlje-ark in its place, Moses cried, Meturn, O Lord, un- 
 to the many thousands of Israel, Numb. x. 36; .likewise, 
 you:, believing soH^^wliom God . hath chosen for his 
 ark and temple, as soon as you shall perceive that this 
 all-wise conductor will put an .end to your painful jour- 
 ney; that is to say as soon as you feel the least symp- 
 tom of death, say, with an holy cheerfulness, Rejoice, 
 O my soul, the time of thy freedom, and of thine eter- 
 nal rest, is at hand: Behold the messenger of good n«ws! 
 here is death that will usher me into the palace of my 
 heavenly Father! Father^ the hour is come, glorify thy 
 Son^ that thy Son also may glorify thee, John xvii. 1. 
 
 When the hour was come, that our Lord Jesus 
 Christ was to pass out of this world to the Father, he 
 said to his disciples who were troubled for his depar- 
 ture, If ye loved me, ye would rejoice, because I sadd^l 
 go unto the Fathm".; for my Father is greater than T, 
 
UO TliE ClIRiSTlAN'S CONSOLATION. 
 
 John xiv. 38v Cliiistkir Souls speak in this manner at 
 the hoar of your departure. If such as are about yoil, 
 weep and lament, if they eraleavour to ensnare your 
 heart, and to stop you by the considerations of .flesh 
 and bloody say unto them, Why are you grieved at my 
 deliverance, and at the end of all my deliverance, and 
 at the end of all my miseriesFvvhy will you retard my 
 glory and happiness? how cruel is your love! bow 
 blind your affections? Certainly, if ye loved me as ye 
 raght, ye would prefer mine infinite satisfaction, the 
 !iccomplishDient of all my bappi«ess^ to the small ad- 
 (rantages that ye can receive from my abode with yon. 
 Ye would consider, tb»t the least spark of that joy 
 which 1 shall feel in my heavenly Father's house, is a 
 thousand times more worth than all the pleasures of 
 the earth, all the honours of the age, and all the pomp 
 and glory of the worl(l.^^My friends, or rather mine 
 enemies, let me go; for I go unto my Father, John 
 x.vi. 10. 1 go to behoM his face, in wh(>se presence is 
 fulness of joy, P«al. xvi. 11. I go t6 take possession 
 of the inheritance prepased for me from the foundation 
 of the world, Mattb. xxv. ^< 
 
 PRAYEB AND MEDITATION 
 
 J<ihr a Faithful Soul, that comforts itself against the 
 Fears of Oedih, hy relying upon the fatherly mer- 
 cies of Goii 
 
 MY Creator and my God! I perceive that mj.. dis- 
 solution drawetb near, and that death hatb alreiidy laid 
 hold on me. It summoneth me to appear beifci^e thy 
 tribunal, and terrifies me with the remembrance of my 
 
THB CHllISTIAN'S CONSOLATION. SM 
 
 sifts^ of wliicb it presents a most frightful image to my 
 view. O Almighty God! when 1 think what 1 am, and 
 what thflu art, 1 remain altogether confused, and the; 
 sight of thy <livine Majesty iills me with fear: for i am 
 hut dnst and ashes, more ificonsiderable ' than nothing; 
 but thou art infinite in thy being and thy glory; heaven 
 is thy throne, and earth is thy footstool. I am sur- 
 rounded with thick darkness, and thou dwellest in the 
 light which no man can approach unto. Polluted as I 
 am with sins, how shall 1. dare to approach thee, who 
 art the Holy of Holies, and holiness itself? bow shall 
 I, who am but ehaft'and dry strubble, stand before tliy 
 everlasting burnings?^ O God of gods! if thou wast 
 seated as Judge, upon thy magnificent throne, where 
 thousand thousands minister unto thee, and ten thou- 
 sands times ten thousands stand before thee; if i saw 
 thee armed with thunder, and the fires which Surround 
 thee were like those on Mount Sinai, 1 should' not on- 
 ly be afraid, and altogether confounded, but 1 should 
 fall into the most horrid despair; instead of presenting 
 myself before thee, I should iiide myself like Adam, 
 and should endeavour to conceal myself from thine 
 eyes, which are too pure to behold evil: I should' say, 
 with Moses, I exceedingly fear arid quake; \ should 
 cry out with the prophet I saiah^ Wp i» me, for I am 
 undone, because lama man ofiinclean lips, and Idicell 
 in the midst of a people of uridean lips; and I should 
 be jpapved to say, with thy holy apostle. Depart from 
 me,for I am a sinful man, Lord. But merciful God! 
 1 see round about thy glorious throne a rainbow of an 
 immortal colour; 1 see the blessed tokens of my peace, 
 and eternal reconciliation with thee; therefore I come 
 boldly, as unto a throne of grace, that 1 may obtain 
 mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. Though 
 thou art clothed with majesty and crowned with glory, 
 thou boldest out to me the golden sceptre of thine in^ 
 finite Majesty. Thou hast laid aside the arms of thy 
 just yengea,nce, and hast put on the bowels of love and 
 eompassion, I hear no more that terrible thunder, 
 which causeth the earth to quake, which breaketb the 
 cedws^ and maketh the hinds to calve; but I hear with 
 
34,3 THE CHRISTIAN'S CONSOJ-ATION. 
 
 transports, a still; small voice, which re-assures mjr 
 tyemhling conscience, raiseth up my son], cast down 
 by grief and despair, and gives me certain hopes of 
 Ihe glory and happiness of thy heavenly paradise. I 
 see no more that dreadful fire which devours sinners; 
 but I feel -tlie soft and pleasing flames of thy love, 
 which rejoiceth and comfort me, and whiqh, far , from, 
 consuming me with the captains and soldiers of Aha- 
 ziah, carry me up into heaven with the prophet Elijah. 
 The spirit which thoa hast given me is not a spirit of 
 bondage^ to be again in fear, but a spirit of adoption^ 
 whereby I cry, Mba, Wather. This spirit beareth 
 \titness with my spirit, that I am thy child,, tby heir, 
 and joint heir with thy blessed Son J esns Christ If, 
 when I was thine enemy, and the slave of Satan, thou 
 didst reconcile me to thyself by the blood of this thy 
 beloved Son, now that 1 am thy^hild, wilt thou refuse 
 me thine heritage? O my God and heavenly Father! 
 I know that I have sinned exceedingly against thee, 
 and that, if thou shouldst examine me according to the 
 rigour of thy justice, I could have nothing to plead in 
 my defence, nur any-thing to expect but the everlasting 
 Sre prepared for the devil and his angelsv Butj O Lord! 
 hou desirest not the death of a sinner, but that he 
 iurn from his way and live; for thus thou hast sworn 
 >y thyself, nor vvilt thou repent. I confess, that my 
 sins are without number, and their deformity is day 
 ind night before me; but O Lord, where sin hath 
 ibounded, thy grace and mercy doth much more 
 ibound; iand though my sins were as scarlet, thou shalt 
 nake them as white as snow. Thou shalt be moved 
 owards me with the same compassion wherewith a 
 ather is moved towards his child, and shalt remove 
 ny transgressions from me, as far as the east is from 
 he west. , Why art thou cast down, O my soul, and 
 vhy art thou disquieted within me? Return unto thy 
 est, O my soul, for the Lord hath dealt bouhtifully 
 vith thee, and hath prepared for thee a perfect and 
 ;ternal happiness. Wha^, 1 hear is not the call of 
 leath, but the- voice of my heavenly Father, who calls 
 ue. and commands me to come unto him: therefore, haW 
 
THE CHRISTIAN'S COMSOLATION. 343 
 
 wretched a sinner soever 1 am, I will come .and pros- 
 trate myself at thy feet, and say unto thee, with the 
 prodigal son, Father I have sinned against heaven, and 
 before thee, and am no more worthy to be called thy son. 
 © my Father and my God! thou hast given me the fair- 
 est portion of thine inheritance, 'the richest treasure of 
 thy hlessings; but l-ain gone astray from thee, and have 
 miserably aliused thy favours. I have abandoned myself 
 to all the follies of the world, and the flesh, ami evil con- 
 versations have corrupted my manners; insomuch that 
 from the sole of the foot even unto the heady there is no 
 soundness in me. In this wretched estate, I intreat pardon 
 of my jmlge, or rather, with all my stml, I implore thy 
 fathei;ly mercies. O divine flames! O inexhaustible sonrce 
 of charity! O (rocly whfjsurpasseth in goodness the best of 
 fathers, and the most tender mothers! I see thy bowelis 
 moved, thy compassion awakened, and thy armsopen- 
 jed to receive me: nay, thou art not only ready to receive 
 me to mercy, but thou comest thyself to meet me; and, far 
 more 'cind than the father of the prodigal, comest to seek 
 me in my filthy and most unclean abode, tg save me 
 from my wretcheilness and distress. unparalleled goo^l 
 ness! there is nothing which I may not hope from thy 
 fatherly tenderness. Thou shalt embrace me with the 
 ajms of thy inflaite mercy, and kiss me with a kis« of 
 charity and low.. To assvn-e me, tijat 1 am received into 
 the full liberty" of thy children, thou shall piit a ring 
 upon my hand; or rather, thou shall put in my heart a 
 white stone, whereon thou shalt write the new name of 
 elect iin(\ faithful, \v\i\ch no man knoweth, saving he 
 that receiveth it. Thou shalt shoe my feet witli the pre- 
 paration of the gospel of peace; or rather, tliou shalt 
 shed al)ri^ad in my soul the peace of God, which pas- 
 setb all understanding. Thou shalt give me tbe fine 
 linen, clean and white, which is the rigli|eonsness of 
 saints, and shalt clothe me with the Son of Kighteousr 
 ness. Th9u shalt conduct me into thy house, or rather 
 thy palace, wi^ere, instead of killing the fatted calf, 
 we will celebrate the marriage of the Lamb slaiu from 
 the foundation of tlie world. There we shalLmeet with 
 the angels and blessed spirits, and, in general) Mith all 
 
8i4 THE CHRISTIANAS CONSOLATION, 
 
 the first-born, whose narofis are written in heaven, who, 
 instead of murmuring or repining, will be ravished w\t|i 
 joy, and adere this infinite mercy which thou hast mau- 
 ifested'tp us poor miserable sinners, who, by an incom-* 
 prebensible charity, have beeti made thy childFen, and 
 iieirs of thy kingdom. O charity! worthy the perpet- 
 ual admiration of heaven and earth! We were all lost: 
 but now we are all found again in God: we were al 1 dead, 
 but by death alone is the entrance into true life: , m e 
 were in extreme misery, but by this very misery we 
 are brought to perfect happiness. O God! un'o thee I 
 commit the keeping of my soul, as unto a faitliiiil crea- 
 tor. O heavenly Father! into thy hands 1 commend 
 my spirit. Amen. 
 
 CHAPTER XV. 
 
 I ^ / 
 
 The, ThirdrConsolation against the Fears of Death is, 
 to'meditate continually upon the death and passion of 
 out' Lord Jesus GJirist, and to rely upon the merits 
 of his cross. 
 
 If we dedre t6 die in peace, or With a quiet con- 
 icience, we must always meditate' upon the death and 
 lassion of our Lord Jesus Christ, and rely Upon i\w 
 nerits of his cross. For the death of this Prince of 
 uiife is the model of ours, a fountain of joy and comfort 
 believing souls. 
 
 1. By looking upon this perfect example, the admira- 
 ion of men and angels, we learn to endure, with ^n 
 loly constancy, all the evils and pains that ai;tenil upon 
 leath. For though the torments of our blessed isiaviour 
 
THE CHRISTIAN'S CONSOLATION. Sig 
 
 tv«re extreme, .insomuch that his soul was exceeding soiv 
 rowful, even uato death, MattU. xxvi.SS; and though 
 his sweat was as it Were great drops of blood falling 
 4owii to the ground, Luke xxii. -M, through the vio- 
 lence of his agony; yet not the least murmur, the least 
 impatient word, proceeded out of his sacred lips. Jirf 
 was brought as a lumbiv the slaughter; and as sheep be ' 
 ^re.Jien shearers is dumb, so he opejied not his mouth, 
 is. liii, 7- 
 
 S. Moreover we learn, that the last hours of ourlifei 
 must' be eraplo'jed in fervent and colitinual prayers to 
 Ood, seeing this helaved of, the Father offered up unto 
 him prayprs and supplications, with strong crying and 
 tears, as unt&him that was able to save him from death, 
 Heb. v. 7- In the bosom of his heavenly Father, he . 
 pours out all his sorrows, and three limes he prefers tliis 
 request, O my Father, if it be possible, let th{» cup pass 
 from me, Matth* xxvi. 39. 
 
 3. We likewise learn to present ourselves before the 
 divine Majesty with all humility, and to resign ourselves 
 entirely to his adorable providence, since he .whoihought 
 it not r<0bberf/ to he equal vaith God, jPhil, ii. 6, whom 
 millions of angels and seraphims, continually worship, 
 was not ashamed to fair upon his knees three times to 
 the ground, and to submit his pure antl holy Will to (hat 
 oft his heavenly Father; for after heiiaxl prayed, O my 
 Father, if it be possible, let this eup pass from me, he 
 adds, nevertheless, not as I will, but as thou wilt, Matth«^ 
 xxvi, 39. 
 
 4. If an excessive sorrow, or any bther^ malignant 
 iinmour, seizes upon our minds, and hinders us fronji 
 seeing the heavens open, and God stretching out hia 
 arjgas to receive us into his rest, let us imagine, that tijjs 
 
^40 THE OrtRIStlAN'S CONSOLATION; 
 
 merciful Lbrd speaks to us as he did, to his thtiee ajiostu'S, 
 "who slept when he was in his agOny, What, could. yendt 
 icatch with me one hour? Matth. xxvi. 40. My derft* 
 cfaildlren, it is no time for yoa to slumber and sleep with 
 the foolish virgins; trim your lamps^ and put on the gar- 
 ments of light, that ye may follow your heavenly Bride^ 
 groom, and enter with him into the marriage chamher, 
 Matth^xxv. 
 
 , 5. God requires us, at all times^ to do as much good 
 to our friends as we are able, anti to express the most 
 tender and cordial aflfection to those who are related to 
 Us by the ties of nature and piety; but more especially 
 at the hbur of d^th, we are bound to the ffractice of tliis 
 religious duty. Jesus Chirist himself hath set us a niowt 
 excellent example: for when he wias nailed to the cross, 
 and ready to yield up his soul iiito the hands of his 
 heavenly Father, he expressed a tender care of, his ho- 
 ly and blessed mother, saying to the disciple whom he 
 loved, j&*on, behold thy mother, and to her, Woman^f be- 
 hold thf son, John xix. S6, sy. **• 
 
 6. But we must not only^ do good to our friends, and 
 extend the bpweljs of our kindness to them, we must also 
 fdrgiv« our greatest enemifes, evtn those that persecute 
 us with the most inveterate malice. By this means we 
 shall follow the blessed footsteps of our merciful Sa^ 
 ¥iour, who prayed for them that criiciiied him, and mock- 
 ed him: Father, said he, forgitie th^m, for they know 
 •not what they do, Luke xxiii, 34. ' 
 
 f. By the cross of ./esus Christ, we learn to put, our 
 trust in the goodness of God in our sharpest pangs, and 
 to embrace him as our most loving Father and Redeem- 
 pr, even when he seems to discover to ns a, countenance 
 foU of severity and wrath. For this eternal Son of Gdd, 
 
THE DHRISTIAN'S CONSOLATION; 34f 
 
 ify bis most violent and cruel agpnies, whep his heaven- 
 ly Father witlulrew from him his aid, with-hpld the ef- 
 fects of his grace, the expressions of his Lave, and the 
 {iomft^j-ts of his divine Spirit; yet looked upon him as 
 his Ciod, and preiys to him with an holy assurance, re- 
 peating; these pathfetic words, My God! my God! 
 
 8. Jf we would die willin,2;ly, and. leave these infirm 
 ho(]ies with an holy cheerfulness, when the time is come 
 tiiat we rnast go to the Father of spirits, we puigl^t to re- 
 Uiemher yur Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, with what 
 cjQnstancy he prepared himself for death, and with what 
 willingness he commended his unspotted soul into the 
 hands of jBod his Father, when he required it. JSToman 
 tiA^tfi it from me, says he, but 1 lay it down of myself: 
 I have power to Imiit down, and I have power to take it 
 a^^airi,. This commandment have Ireceivedofmy Father. 
 John -}(.. 18; This, drew from his sacred' lips these diving 
 words, Lo, I come to da thy will, God, Heb. x. 9; and 
 fjir t^is reason, when be gave up the ghost,,he pried with 
 a loud voice, Luke xxiii. 40;. to shew that his precious 
 soul was not taken from him by violence, but that he 
 oiTered it up a willing sacripiCe. * 
 
 J" 9. From this excellent portrait ^f Christ crucified, we 
 also lairn vi^hat shoiil^h^ ^e last words, or at least the 
 last tli04)ghts, of a dying heliever: for if God grants us 
 the use of our tongfies till the Ust moment, we cajj^not 
 end our lives better tha.n with this comfortable expres- 
 sion used by our Savioijr upon the cross, Famer, into 
 thy h^ands J commend my. spirit, Luke xxjli. 46. But if 
 we cannot moye our lips, nor prpnounce these words^ 
 we ought to fevolve thefn inwardly it> pur paiiwls, an4 
 pE^riQMDce ttiem in opr h^^ril^^' 
 
 40. By looking with attep^ipn upon t,h,e dea^h jii^ 
 
gig THE CHRISTIAN'S c6NSOLATI03^ 
 
 passion of our Lord Jesas Christ, we shall easily eom- 
 prehend how stricfly we are eng*rged" to yield up our 
 souls unto God,' whenever he is pleased to call for them; 
 for his blessed death is the price, the ransom that he>;bath 
 paid for them. Now, if it be' reasonable to rehder to 
 every one that which belongs to liira, especially that 
 which he hath bought with ag^eat^rice; and if it would 
 be the most flagrant injustice to refuse to any man that 
 which he hath purchased With the blood of bis beloved, 
 his only son, with what face can we refuse our souls unto 
 God, since they belong to him, not only as he is their ma- 
 ker, who created the m in his own image, but also as he 
 is their Redeemer, who hath purchased them .with" the*' 
 blood of his only Son, in whom, from all eternity, he is 
 well-pleased! We must not therefor^ait, likebad pay- 
 masters, or the unjust possessors of other men's, goods, , 
 till our souls are plucked from us by violence; but rather 
 like the good and righteous debtor, we must return them 
 willingly in^his hands, who hath paid for them an in* 
 finite and inestimatile ransom. This was the sentiment of 
 the man after God's own'heairt, when he cried, Into thine 
 Hani 1 commit my spirit; thou hast redeemed me, O 
 Lord God of truth, FsaX.xxxi. 5. 
 
 11. From the death and passion of this glorioljs Re- 
 deemer, we not only learn our duty; it is likewise the 
 souBGe of all our hope, our joy; and if I may be allowed 
 the expre|sion, it is in the bowels of this dead lion, that 
 we find our sweetest and most ravishing consolktions.'^ 
 This High-priest, who bears us upon his bneast in, jiis 
 heavenly sanctuary, or rather in his h^art, will not for- 
 sake us in the day of our distress, nor leave us a preyto 
 the fears and pangs of death. For since he hath encoun- 
 tered with this cruel eueray, hatli felt its sting, its bor- 
 
' TrtE CHRISTIAN'S consolation; 34,^" 
 
 rors and paias, and hath in all paints , been tempted like 
 as we orpy yet without sin, Heb. iv. 15, he is merciful 
 aad faithful to have compaSsstan.oa our infirmities, and 
 no less able to succour us io our temptations, and to 
 make us in all things more than conquerors. 
 
 13. Believins; souls, Consider \Yith me this noble 
 transport of St. Paul, Blessed be God, even the Father 
 of our Lord Jesus Christy the father of mercies, and the 
 God of all comfort: who comfovteth us in all our tribula- 
 tion, that we may be able to comfort therri which are iii 
 any trouble, 2 tlor. i. 3, 4. These excellent words may 
 very well be applied to oar Lord Jesus (/hrist/ whom 
 the Holy Ghost calls, the Apostle and High-priest of our 
 profession, Heb. iii. 1. For the consolations which he 
 received from God in the time of his greatest angijish, 
 are a precious earnest, and infallible assurahce, of God's 
 future help in our need. When in his agony, his sodl 
 was exceeding Borrowfdl even unto death, there appear- 
 ed an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him, 
 Luke xxii. 43; so liktewise, when we shall be engaged 
 in the conflict of death, when it shall endeavour to fill 
 our souls with fear and sadness, he shall send to us, to 
 be our comforter, one of his, good angels that stand at 
 his right hand, 1 mea,a the faithful teachers, of his holy 
 word; or else he will send from heaven one of those 
 blessed spirits that wait about his throne, and fly to the 
 assistance of the faithful. The Holy Ghost himself, the 
 comforter of afflicted souls, the true oil of gladness, will 
 banish all sorrow from out hearts, and inspire us with 
 unspeakable joys. He will not forsake us, till he hath 
 brought us to the blissful source of everlasting consola- 
 tions. " 
 
 13. The deliverance of our Lord and Saviour is, in 
 
*®0> THE CHBlSriAN^S CONSOLATIUN. 
 
 oMe respects, an iniage, and assured token of our owBy 
 i^ieh we are to expect from find's mercy and almighty 
 ower. For whereas , St. Paul saith* that thfs Highr. 
 iriest, in the days of his flesh, when he hadtiffemi up 
 rayers and supplitations, with strong crying' and 
 mrs,' tCnto him that was able io save him from death, 
 'as heard in thai he feared^ Heb. v. 7; we are not to 
 nderstand by thfese words, that God exempted him 
 ■Oto death; but that he gave him tire power to swallow 
 p death in victory, to triumph over the grave, and, 
 y the bitter agonies of a shameful death, to enter into 
 le glory and delights of paradise. Thus, When iu our 
 peatest distress, our dying agonies, we call upon ©od 
 ith an holy earnestness, and pour in|o his bosom the 
 ars of a sincere repentaucei, he hears us from his 
 inctuary, and delivers us from death; not by^exempt- 
 g HS frolm dying, but by making us pass througti 
 sath to life, throtjgh misery to bliss. 
 
 14. In order to be fully persuaded, that Gad' will 
 )t refuSB us the joys and consolations of his Spirit, 
 at he will make us more than conquerors over death, 
 id will raise us to' the height of glory and eternal 
 ippiness, we need only cast our eyes upon this gfeafc' 
 od And Saviour: for sittce he that gives much will 
 »l refuse little, God that spar'ed not Mi^ own Son, hlit 
 Miiered him up for us all; how shall he not with him 
 sofreeiy give, us all mingsP Kora. viii. 33. St. Piaul 
 Eiches us to make use of this argument, which is as 
 sar as the sun at noon day. 
 iS(. At the death of our Lord Jesus Christ, the vail 
 
 the temple was rent in twain, from the top to the 
 ittom: heaven was opened, and paradise given to a 
 initent thief. This is to show us, thait we have th 
 
THE CHRISTIAN'S CONSOLATION. Ssl 
 
 liberty to enter itvto the holiest by the blood of Jesujs, 
 6y,a neic and Mvi^g "u^y Which he hath consecrated for 
 us, through the vail, that is to say, hisfiesh, Heb. x. 
 19, 20; and to assure us, that this merciful Savid^ur 
 }i|ith his arms always ;oiJeh to receive us to mercy, and 
 that he refuseth not the glory of, heaven, and deliglUs 
 of paradise, to the greatest sinners, who repeatj,and fly 
 to his eteraal uiercios, and infinite merit. 
 
 16. The death of this great God and Saviour is the 
 payment of all our debts, and the blotting out of all 
 our offences; the cure of all our complaints, and our 
 deliverance from all our miseries. It hath vanquished 
 Satan, triumphed over hell, and swallowed up death 
 eternal. This precious death hath purchased for us 
 heaven, with all its ireasuresj and hath merited: for us 
 paradise, with all its pleasures and delights. Nay, even 
 before we arte received into paradise, it plants paradise 
 in our hearts, and fills them with a divine peace, and a 
 joy unspeakable, and full of glory. 
 
 17. The cross of the Lord of Glory is like the wood 
 which Moses cast into the waters of Marah, Exod. 
 XV. S5; for it takes away from the, corporeal death of 
 God's children all its bitterness, and makes us taste 
 therein an ioexpreshilde sweetness, wliich rejoices our 
 souls. It is like tiie salt which ^he prophet Elisha cast* 
 into the waters of Jericho to heal them, that they might 
 render the land fruit&il, 3 Kings ii; for it causeth death 
 to become wholesome to us, and to produce in us an . 
 abundant crop of divine comforts. I may also compare 
 it to the meal east by the same prophet into the pot, of 
 which the sons of the prophets cried out, thou man. 
 of God, theve is d^ath in the pot, 2 Kings iv; for it 
 U the destruction of death itself, seeing it deprives it 
 
^5^ THE CHRISTIAN'S CONSOLATION- 
 
 of its mortal poison, and causeth us to taste Ih^rein a^ 
 s^petness jtltogetlier angelic. 1 raay also^ say of this 
 glorious cross, that it is .the tree of knoivledgc of goo^ -. 
 i)%d evil; seeing it acquaints us with the dread Cul -evils 
 riom which we are dfilivered, and the great be neiits 
 purchased for us by its infinite merits. J may lil^ewise 
 affirm it to be the, true tree of life; since all those who 
 put, forth the hand of faith, pluck of its fruits, e^t there- 
 of,, and live for eyer, John vi. Know ye not believing 
 souls, that this is the mysterious ladder th£i.t the pat- 
 riai'ch Jacob saw in his dream? for it unites heaven 
 with eartU, sin|ul man with (rod. It pleased the Father, 
 f having made peace through the blood of the cross of 
 his S«d)s by him to reconcile all things unto himself, 
 whether they, be things in earth, or things in heaven, 
 Col. i. 19, 3Q. By this blessed cross, the good angels 
 Lome down tp our assistance, and all the mercies ami 
 blessings of Gfqd descend u,pon us; and by this we as- 
 cend up to the heaven of heavens, land, eternal happi- 
 ness. At the foot of this divine cross our soul rests in 
 security, and finds that peace of God which passeth all 
 understanding, Phil. iv. 7. It is like the golden scep- 
 tre which King Ah asucnis held out to Queen Esther, 
 Esther v.jS; for if we touch this precious crossvvith 
 (he hand of faith; and embrace it with a contrite hea,rt, 
 we shall obtain of the King of Kings,. not only the half 
 hut the whole,* of his kingdom, with all its riches and 
 delights. . , 
 
 18. Moses's rod was changed, into a serpent, as well 
 a« those of Pharaoh's magicia.ns; but this serpent. svyal- 
 bwed up all the others, Exod. vii. I'hus the death of 
 our Lord Jesus Christ had- its fear, its sorrow, and its 
 agony, Matth, xxyi; but his (ear. swallows up all our 
 
THE CHRISTIAN'S CONSOLATION. 353* 
 
 ./- 
 
 fears, and causes us to come bolflly t6 the throne of 
 grace; his sorrow drives away all ouV sorrows, and 
 fills us with joy and eternal comfort; and his &gony 
 swells our hearts with triumph. The trouble and griev- 
 ous conflicts of his spirit give repose and everlasiing 
 ptate to our consciences. His bloody sweat dries up 
 all our tears; his groans put an ictld to our groans; and 
 his loud cries cause us to sing songs of triumph. The 
 bands of this gloriouSrSaviour have purchased for us 
 full liberty; and in his condemnation we are acquitted. 
 He tasted vinegar and gall, and drank, ieven to the 
 dregs, the cup of God's wrath, and just vengeance, that 
 he might give us to drink of the iaexhadstible river of 
 his delights. Whei* he cried oat, in the bitterness of 
 his soul, JHy God, my Gdd, why hast thott forsaken me? 
 Matth. xxiv. 46, it was to the jend that God should 
 lifevcr forsake us, but, in all our distresses, should af- 
 foi'd us his almighty help, and fatherly assistance". He 
 bowed his bead to raise our hopes; and^finallyj died to 
 deliver them, who througfef fear of death, were all their 
 lifetime subject to a severe and cruel bondage, Heb. ii. 
 15. 80 that they who tremble and are afraid of the ap- 
 proaches of deafh, have not yet felt, the power and virtue 
 of the cross of Christ: they tread under foot the blood 
 of the Son of God; and, a^ mucJi as in ihdxa. lies, de- 
 stroy fhe fruit and efficacy of his blessed death. 
 
 19, Think well upon these things, believing souls, 
 and engrave in the bottom of your hearts this divine 
 lesson, that death is not to be feared, except where it 
 is accompanied by the wrslth of God, and the curse of 
 the law, And armed with our own sins and iniquities:* 
 where the devil follows it, as a roaring lion, seeking to 
 devour us; and Ipll opens its infmial throat to swallow 
 
334 THE CHRISTIAN'S CONSOLATION, 
 
 US np. But tbey w4ip place tkeir confidence -and hope 
 in the death and passion of the Saviour of the world, 
 and embrace his cruSs, are exempt from all its fears, 
 and impenetrable to all its darts. 
 
 SO. Be not dismayed, therefore, thristian souls, at 
 the isightof the Almighty Judge of the universe, seeing 
 we have such an. excejlent Mediator between God and 
 men, the Man Christ Jcsus^ tcho gave himself ja rdnkim 
 for all, i Tim. ii. 5, 6. He hath disarmed the justice of 
 God, and stopped the course of his vengeance: foi" God 
 hath fore-ordaiued him to bea prepitiation through faith 
 in his blood, Hom. iii. 25, The Father judgeth no man; 
 but hath committed all judgment a^jthp. felon; John v. 
 23; that is^ as he is the Son of M»nj There is nmc- no 
 condemnation to them which are in Christ, Rom. viii, 1. 
 Even he: that believethon him'hath everlasting lifeyand 
 shall not come into condemnation; but is parsed fro^m 
 death unto l^e, John v. 24*. , 
 
 21. Be no more afraid of the thundep and lightning 
 of Mount -§ina:i; and trci^|ilie no more with hoxror at 
 hearing this dreadful sentence, Cursed behe that confirm- 
 ^th not ctllthewprds qffftisZaipforfo^AejH, Deut, xxvii. 
 ^6. For though the sacred^hands of Jesus Christ were 
 fastened and nailed to the cross, yet they have taken 
 a.way the thunderbolts, and armsjpf the divine "fury. 
 The precious blood which flowed* from the wounds of 
 this blessed Redeemer, hath quenched those devouring 
 flames, those everlasting burnin^;^'. .As at the' time of 
 his delorous passion, he expressed a care, of his belov- 
 ed apostles, saying to the ofiBcers who came to feiike 
 him. If ye seek me, let these go their waif, John xviii, 
 8. Even so, at this day, he takes care of. all those that 
 i^plieve in his name, and putting them under the shadgw 
 
THE CHRISTIAN'S CONSOLATION. 353 
 
 of 'his cross, presents himself in their stead to divine 
 justice, saying, Since thon hast laid hold on me, as 
 tiieir surety, and hast prosecuted me with so much ri- 
 gour; since 1 have made ample sa:tisfaction for all their 
 $ins and iniquities, and have tasted for them all the bit- 
 terness of the most cruel death, Jeave them the liberty 
 whicli hath been purchased for them at so dear a rate, 
 and suffer t|,iem to pass through death to the enjoyment 
 itf that blessed immortality, which is the price of my 
 blood, and the fruit of my victories. This merciful Sa- 
 viour hath, of his own accord, placed himself in our 
 stead, sind hatii born for us all the ptinishments due to 
 our iniquities. He hath been scourged with the rod of 
 Moses, pierced through by the darts . of the law, and 
 made a curse fur us; for it is written. Cursed is every 
 one that hangeth on a tree, Gal. iii. 13. We 'are not 
 duly redeemed by him from the ciu-se of the law, but we 
 are blessed in him with all spiritual blessings i^ heaven- 
 ly places, Eph. i. 3. Being without Christj we ave aliens 
 from the commonwealth of Israel, having no hope aiid 
 being without God in the world. Sut now we who sbme- 
 tinies were afar off, are made nigh, by the blood ofChnstf 
 Eph. ii. IS, IS-WVe have access, with confidence, by 
 faith in thi^ {trfedous bl^d, Eph, iii. IS; and come boldly 
 iatheWirone ofgrac6,4:hat we may obtain mercy, and find 
 gr^0 to help, in time of need, Heb. iv. ,16. Rejoice, 
 thetef^'pe, (ihristian souls, for ye are not come unto the 
 moiint that might be touched, and that burned with fire, 
 nor unto blsiekness, and darkness, and teidpest, and the 
 sbflfrit of ft, trumpet, and the voice af words, which voice 
 they that hkartf, intreated that the word'should not be 
 spdfcen to thterir Any iHittL IJut ye are come unto Mount 
 fcJion, and untothel«i(y of the living God, the heaveiily 
 
SSfi THE CHRISTIAN'? CONSOLATIOU. 
 
 .T«rnsa1ein, antl to an innnineraWe company of angel^ 
 to the general assembly awl church of the first-born, 
 which are written in heaven, anil to God the j^dge of 
 all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect; and to 
 Jesus the Mediator ^f the new covenant, and to the 
 blood of sprinkling, that spealjeth better things than 
 that of Abel, Heb. xii. 18, 1», SS, Sa, 34«. For the 
 blood of Abel cried for vengea,ace^gainst bjs pwn bro- 
 ther; bat the blood of Jesus Christ pronounces mercy, 
 pardon, and forgiveness, even to them that were his en- 
 emies in their mind by wicked worka, Col. i. ^1. If 
 therefore when we were enemies, we were reconciled to 
 Gpd by the death of his son: mnch *mpre being reconcil- 
 ed, we shall bP saved by his life, Rom. v. 10. 
 
 23. Fear notlhe devil, nor ali^he pewers of hell; for 
 according as it was foretold by the most ancient of «r-, 
 acles. The seed of th% woman shall. bruise theserpenfs 
 head. Gen. iii. 15. The Lord of glory, having spoiled, 
 principalities, and powers, hath m,ade a shew of them 
 openly, triumphing over them in his cross, Col. ij. 15. 
 Through death he hath, destroyed him th^t had the pow'- 
 er of death, that is, the devil, Heb. ii. i% and liath 
 crushed in pieces the red difaggon which swallowed up 
 , ^vfiole nations and people, Revu jxii. As the children of 
 Israel, when bitten by fiery serpents. in the wilderness, 
 were healed by looking upon the^a,z,en serpeiit which 
 Moses set up, Numb, xxi; so when ye. feel in, your 
 sonls the venomous s^nd mortal bite of the old serpent, 
 casttl^ey^s of your faith npon Christ crucified, and 
 ye shall not perish, Johu iii. 14>^ 15. As the angel wjiich 
 smote all the Jfii'st-born of the land of ]ijgypt,:t^had iio 
 power to. hurt those of the children of Israel, who had 
 struck the linteljjnd the two side-posts of their dcfors 
 
THE CHBISTIAN'S C0N8G1.A'WPN. 3.ff 
 
 witU the bjood of the paschal Lamb, Exod. xii; evei^ 
 so the devil, wlio destroys the children of this World, 
 hath no power over those who have sprinkled their hearts 
 and consciences with the blood of the Lamb withol^l 
 hlemish and without spot, 1 Pet. i. 19. And as Pha- 
 raoh and all his hosts were swallowed up and over- 
 whelmed in the waters of the Reid Sea> throngh which 
 the children of Israel passed safely into the promised 
 knd; E^od. xiv; thus Sataq and all |i9 angels, have j 
 been drowned in the precious sea of our Lord and Sa- » 
 vioui''s blood, who hath consequences for us a new and 
 living way to the heavenly Canaan, Heb. x. SO. Ilc- 
 joice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them! for the ac- 
 cuser of his brethren is cast down; which accused them 
 before God day and night. And they overcame him by 
 th& blood of. the liamb, Rev. xii. 9, 10, It. JJelieving 
 souls, resist the devil, and he will flee from you, James 
 iv. 7- Though he ^alketh round about you, as a roar- 
 ing lion seeking to devour you, 1 Pet. v. 8j yet be 
 not afraid of Jbis roaring nor his infevnal thrqat; for he 
 hath been overcome by the Lion of the Tribe of Judah, 
 Rev. y. 5, and is bound with a chain, whose length ha 
 cannot exceed, and which he shall never be able to 
 break. Take the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be 
 able to quench j^ll the fiery darts'of the wicked, Eph 
 vi; 16, and say unto him with a resolute and undaunted 
 courage. Get thee^^liehind me, Satan, for thou hast no 
 part in me; I belong to the Lord J^sus, who hath paid 
 my ransom, bought me with his blood, and sealed me 
 ^ith his Holy Spirit. T|te gat^s of hell shall never pre- 
 vail against them who are built upon the rock of eter- 
 nity, Matth. xvi, 18, 
 
 g3. Let not your sins cast you headlong into the gulf 
 
398 THE CHarSTIAN'S CONSOLATION. 
 
 cf£ despair, artd cause you to let go the anchor of yoiii 
 hope, Heb.'vi. 19. For Kod so lovM the world, thath( 
 gave his only begotten Soil: that whosoever believeth ii 
 him, shouM not perish, but have everlasting life, Joht 
 iii. if). They that be whole need not a physiciah, bu 
 thiey that are sick, Matth- ix. 1,2. Our Lord came not t( 
 call the righteou^s, that is to say, i^ose who are pnffet 
 up with a vain opiniotl of their own righteousness, bn 
 sinners to repenj^ance; such as acknowledge dnd detesi 
 their own unworthinessjj;- Those s^icred arms which h( 
 stretched out opoQ the cross, are still open to receive 
 you to mercy; and from the heaven of heavens where ht 
 inhabits^ these gracious words still sound in the ears o 
 your heart, Come unto me all ye that labour, and art 
 hemoy ladan, and I will give yon rest, Matth. xi. S8.^ 
 This mer'ciful Lord came to seek the sheep that wen 
 gone astray, to save to that which was lostj Math, xviii 
 It; and to redeem his people from their sins, Math. i. 31 
 As by one man sin enterfed into the world, and death b; 
 6in: and so death passed uprfn all men, for that all havi 
 sinned, Rom. v. 13; so by the obedience of one we ge 
 the victory over death, and obtain the free gift of righ 
 teousness and immortality. This is the Lamb of (rod. 
 which taketh away the sin of the world, John i. 29, and 
 maketh entire satisfaction for all out offences. For as 
 the ram which was caught in the thicket by his boms 
 was otfered up to God for a bdrnt-dSering in the steac 
 of Issiac, Gjen; xxii. i3; so this true Lamb of G6d, y^iiidt 
 Was nailed to tiie ci'o^s, hath been offered up for us, ar 
 offering and a Sacrifice to Oqd-fbr a sweet-smellittg sa 
 votir^ Eph. v. Z, He hath bori^e our sins in his own bo 
 dy on the tree,, and by his stripes we are heaTefl|H Pet 
 ii. S4j. He bath'bbrne otiv griefs; and cartied.tlur sor- 
 
THE CHRISTIAN'S CONSOLATION. ggg 
 
 Tovis: the chaatisemer^t of our peace was upon him, Isa. 
 liii. 4, 5. As under the law ,the sins and transgressions 
 oi the people wei'e put upon the head of the scape-goaj; 
 Azaz^l, Lev. xvi. thus God hath made him to be sin for 
 us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righ- 
 teousness of God in him, 2 Cpr. v. 31. Through bis 
 name, whosoever believeth, in him shall receive remis- 
 (Sion of sins, Acts x. 43. Instead, therefore, of falling 
 into d^espair as Cain, Ahitophel, and Jn das, let us cry 
 out with King David, Blessed is he whose transgression 
 is forgiven, whose sia is covered. Blessed is the man 
 unto whom the Lord imputetlxnot iniquity, Psal. xxxii. 
 1, S; and with the apostle St. Paul, Who shall lay any 
 thing to the cllj|rge of God's elect? It is God that josti- 
 fieth: who is he that condemneth? It'is Christ that died. 
 Kom. ifiii. 33j 34. Embracing this crucifiod Redeemer, 
 let us say with the blessed virgin. My soul doth mag- 
 nify the Lord, and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my 
 Saviour, Lnke i. 46, 47; and sing with the triumphant 
 saints, Unto him that loved us, and washed us fronj our 
 sins in his own bload, and hath made us kings and- 
 priests unto God and his Father; to him be gloi'y and 
 dominion for ever and ever. Amen. 
 
 S4. If the multitude of your sins astonishes you, re- 
 member, Christian souls, that it is not said, that the 
 blood of our Lord Jesus cleansetli us from only part of 
 onr sins; but in general^ Tf^^ confess our sins, God is 
 faithful 'and just, that is to say, true and merciful, t& 
 forgive us our sins: and that the Mood of Jesus Christ 
 his Son cleanseth us from all sin, i John i. 9, 7« I^ 
 wbatsoevar number, therefore, your sins "appear before 
 yon, drown thj^m all, as so many monsters of hell, iii 
 the blood of your Hedpemcr. Emhtace this divine Sa- 
 
36© THE CHRISTIAN'S CONSOLATION, 
 
 viottr with the arms of faith and repentance; wrap ydiiH 
 sfelves in death; lean lipon his cross,- and jest yourselves 
 undee the shadow of his all-powerful intercessioti. * 
 SiS. If the heiHOusness of your offences fill yoi# with 
 fear and terror, lay hold on the horns of this divi'Ae al- 
 tar, land all the powers of hell sheAl not be able to ptill 
 you from thence. Comfort yourselves, ye sinners; for 
 there is no spot so ugly and deep, bui the blood of Je- 
 sas Christ is able to thrash it away; no crime so abomi- 
 nable, which cannot be expiated by the sacrifice of this 
 Lamb without blemish, 1 Peter 1. 19, which taketh away 
 the sin of the world, John i. S9. Thy sins, ofVhat na- 
 ture soever they be, have their bounds and limits; but 
 tliehierit of thy Kedeemer is infinite, and its efficacy 
 eteimal. It was on purpose to encourage tliee, that 
 in <fa|is dying indments he manifested the greatest rich- 
 es x>¥ his grace to a niisefdble <thief, who suffered ' 
 justly for his crimes, Luke Ixiii. As soon as he 
 saw him touched with repentance, he changed his pain- 
 ful arid ignominious cross into a paradise of glory and 
 happiness; and filled his soul with the sweet consolations 
 'of his Holy Spirit. This merciful Redeemer is the same 
 yd^ferday, and to-day, and for ever, Heb. Xxiii. 8. Thiere- 
 foitie how great and vile a sinner soever thou art, if thott 
 betyailest thy vileness, and art pierced with the sorrows 
 of a sincere repentance, thou hast no occasion to^despair. 
 ilfaw near, with all humility, to the cross of thy Sa- 
 vibur, and wash thyself in the blood which flows from 
 his sacred wounds. All the impotent persons that went 
 down into the pool of Bethesda, were madfe whole, of ' 
 whatsoever disfedse they had, John v. 4. In the same 
 manner, all the spilitqally impotent, With whatsoever 
 liiiiease they are afticted, find their cure in this diviiie 
 
THE CHRISTIAN'S CONSOLATltilN. mi 
 
 pM)}. There ia no occasion for theth to wait till an an< 
 gel come xTown fronn heaven, to dispose this pool to v?ork 
 this miraculiDus eflFect; for the blood- of Jesus Christ is 
 ^always new and living, of the same virtue, Heb. x. We 
 need not fear that others should step iu'before us, or that 
 the rauUitude should hinder us; for millions of worlds 
 may be made whole here in the same moment. Say not 
 that you have no man to put you into this healing pool; 
 for the Ijord will at no time refuse you this divine fa- 
 vour. Though you had been confined.to your bed for 
 thirty^ and eight years, as the poor paralytic, or evefi < 
 was you nailed ik, a cro6s, as tlie thief of whom I have 
 been speaking, yet that would not hinder you front 
 plunging yourself into this precious pool, and partaking 
 of its inestimable benefits. It not only washes^away all 
 our fllthiuess, and cures all our diseases; but it quickens 
 the dead, and renders the living immortal. Wlioever 
 thou art that washest thyself in this precious blood, thda' 
 naayest cry out with the apostle of the Gentiles, This is 
 A faithful saying, that Christ Jesus came int^ the world 
 to saV« sinners, of whom 1 am chief. Howbeit I obtain- 
 ed mercy, 1 Tim. i. 15, 16. The Lord shall deliver me 
 from every evil work^ and will preserve me unto his 
 heavenly hingdom; to whom be glory for ever and ever. 
 Smen. STim.iv. 18, v. 
 
 S6. By this time you perceive, believing soul, that 
 death is no longer to be feared, since all its darts ara 
 broke, its arms destroyed, land all its spoils nailed to 
 the cross of Jesus Christ. ITou may there behold the 
 claws of tbif ol^aion, the paws of this devouring bear, 
 the teeth and poison of this infernal serpent, and th« 
 head of this monstrous dragon. You may there see 
 d«pih swalldwef JUD in victory, and the Pduce oiV iiU«) 
 
ieading it iti Mutnpii. Follow therefore the tHuitipiiiu 
 fcjlr oi this gloHoH^ Redeemer, singidg, O deaiUf ibMri 
 is thy siirig? grave, iSehere U th^ victory? jTAfe stin^ 
 bfdedih t* sin, and ihe strekgtk bfain is the lam. Bui 
 thanks he to God^ ^Aich giveth us th6 victory, through 
 bur Lotd Jesus ChHsi, i Cor. xv. 93j 36, 57» 
 
 27. Cohse^uiehtlyj if ferod dpptoaehfes yoii under ihei 
 Vaii 6f dkath) ybii must bdt be afraid, rior ferideavoiir td 
 hide ^Bfatsfeivfes from thbse piercing eyfeS to Which thii 
 darkness and thfe light are both Alike, l*sal. cxxxix. 
 IS. Thbugh of ourselves we are poor atid misierablej 
 knd wrfetbhedj and blind, iind nakcd^ "Rev. iiii I7, yet 
 we have something to tover iiS Which is fir bettier thaii 
 fig-lieaVfes: foi: we have the leaves of the tree of life^ 
 Which are for the healing of the nations. Rev. xxiii 2j 
 TiieSfe leaves Which hetfer fddej not only hidfe odr na- 
 kedii^s^j but adbirri iis. They dry an everlasting right- 
 eousness^ Dan. ix. si; the perfect rightedugnSSs of 
 Jesus Chtist) jl'Ao of God is made unto us wisdom, and 
 righfebusness, and sanctification, and redempUafi, i 
 fcbh i; SO. They are the Lord Jesus himsfclfj who is 
 biall^d^ 4'/ife L6rd of our righi'souskess, iet. xxxiiii l6s 
 They are the jirecious garhilEiits of salvatiouj the magni- 
 Hcent rdbe of righteousness, IsA; \kh it), ahd the divine 
 broidfeted work (Ezek; xvi. 10, 13.) spoken of Iby the 
 prophets. They are the mahiage-robe made white in 
 the bldod of the Lamb, Rev. vii. 14, and thfe fine white 
 Unebj Which is the righteousness of saints^ Rev; Six. 8i 
 Finally, they not only cover and adoi'n iisj but heal us 
 bf all out diseases, and vender us imm#tai; 
 
 S8. If ye present yourselves before ybut heav*riiy 
 Father, in this sweet-smelling raiment of Jesus Christ 
 ^bur eldest brotherj or ratiier^ if ye put on the Lo^d 
 
THE ClfBISTIAN'S CONSOLATIQIf, f0 
 
 lesus himself, ye shall not only obtain tlie fipst tm^ 
 iDQigt iftjjceDeiit hlpssingi hut ye ishajl cntef jntb ^of^^ 
 jsestfion of that incorruptible inhpritanpp wbiclj he featl^ 
 prepared fqp ft^; fpom thfj fipufldation qf ifhe wocid: 
 f^l* tha wagM of aim is death: but the gift of 0pd in 
 ffbnul lip, fhfffti'^^ -r^SM? P^rjl? 9^t ^V^t Rfll- 
 
 fhm, ^ . 
 
 PRAVEH AlfP MEDITATION 
 
 or 
 
 9ueh a9 fortify themaelvea against the feoTa ef 
 'i-Deathf by meditating upon the dipift^fi'fifi 
 of our Zor4 Jepus fJhrist. 
 
 M^kGlFVh Saviour! y^ho, pf thing own accolrd, 
 took upon thee our mortal flesh, jto qipsr it a tsapri^e 
 untp &qd, help mine iuflrniUy, and $trengthiiiji that 
 faith and hop^ which thbp hast 1{.indl,ed in my hearty 
 i see death thvpa|(iii|ng m«, and ppenine |ts it^fernaf 
 throat to swallow J^e i|p$ bUt tq obtain ppe^oj^ from 
 these terrors, I cast myself at the foot of th^ ci?o$8, ahtt 
 lay hold oi^ th^ hortis of th|ne Vttar, 1. pilt^nge myself 
 in thy prepipus blood, piit on t^y right^onst^ess, and 
 wrap mys^if up in thy death. divine Befleemer! I 
 know that ihou wast seLzed with' fear.and angi^ishi at 
 ihe approach of death; tfP thine agon|^ was $0 violent, 
 that drops of blood fell frpm thy sacked bo^j; and that 
 anffl^s came i^owii froni he&veq td comfort thee: wbere^- 
 as lHy blessed martyr^ wftnt to death and torment 'yvith 
 an holy j^, as jfco a dflicjioiis feast, or ^. pompous tri- 
 umph^ Thou didst i^ay with loud cries find tears, tq 
 j^ delivered hovf^ jdeath, and that this cup might pas^ 
 
 torn tbee> th;4| tbi^u mightest nqt taste of its bitteMess. 
 ut, Lw^ % death wa^ qi^ite of a ditffer«inf naturi^ 
 jffom mine, or that odf tHy blessed ttartyrs. Thy de^tb 
 Wm tp W»P atqueineht fjor l^e sin* p{\%^ W^olf ii^fUf 
 
16* THE CHRISTIAN'S CONSOLATION; 
 
 vjiereas outs is not to satisfy "the justice of God, bitt 
 tet we may reap the fruits of his etern^ compassions. 
 Thou badst tlje heavy arm of his vengeance to sustain,, 
 lud the fierce burnihgs of his wratli kindled agaihst bur 
 niquities, which thoa didst wiHinglpt^e upon thee, 
 ^dt instead of this consuming fire winch tb#l hast 
 [uenched jvith thine, own blood, we discover nothing 
 Hit the soft and ranibent flames of love. Instead pf this 
 •evengirig arm, whose weight thou hast borne, we see 
 he arms of mercy open ,to receive us. Thy death, O 
 iiordt W3.S armed -with our sins and- iniquities, and 
 vith all the terrors of hell: but now those weapons of 
 leath are nailed to thy cross, and are the trophies and) 
 iternal monuments of thy glory. Thou, wast hot only 
 ixposed to tbe cruel darts of death, bat-also to all the 
 lorrid thundgrs, and dreadful curses of the law. Thou 
 last shielded us froni these thunders with thy precious 
 )ody, and hast redeemed us from this terrib,le curse, 
 )eing made a curse for us. Gal. iii. 13. Thou badst 
 lot gnly death to encounter, but also him to destroy 
 .vho had the power of death, andi to. break down the 
 ^ates of hell. 'I'hou hadst principalities and powers to 
 spoil, and to make a show of them openly, triumphing 
 jver them in thy cyos^. Col. ii. 15. O incomparable 
 Saviqur! how marvfellous are thy worksl how worthy 
 ;he perpetual admiration of m^d and angels! Thou 
 liast drank, even to the dregs, the cup of God's wrath, 
 that yve, may be excused tasting its^bitterness; and hast 
 taken upon thee all the punishment due to our sins and 
 jftences, that they may noll|| visited upon us. Thy 
 FJolent pii)>M appease my Aguish, thy bruises and 
 [leep wou'ipttl|iji?ire my cure and my health. Thy fears 
 encourage me,' and thy sharp agonies swell my heart 
 with transport. Thy?^ loud «ries still my conscience, and 
 thy bloody sweat dries up all my teafg. Thy afflic|i5ii 
 comforts rae, thy sorrow gives me joy, and the bitter- 
 ness of thy soul is my sweet ponsolation. Thy deatR 
 i? my victory, and thy cross my triumph. I will no 
 more be flfraid qf death, since jthou hast died to obtain 
 for me life and immortality, O glorious and merciftil 
 Lord! the kingdom of heaven belongs to tbee by a doU' 
 
THE CHRISTIAN'S CONSOLATION. 30^ 
 
 me right: as thou art the only Son of God, and the heir 
 of all tilings, and as tho«*hast [rarchased it to thyself 
 by the infinite merit of thy sufferings. Contented with 
 one of these claims, thou hast made over to me the 
 ofcfcer, to, the end 1 may possess this heavenly king', 
 dom as the fruit of- thy deatti, and the price of tliy 
 blood. In thee, Lord, do I put my trust, let me 
 never be put to .confusion, Psal. Ixxi. 1. 1 know that 
 pothing that defileth, or that wocketh abomination, 
 ehall enter into thy holy Jerusalem; but thy blood 
 dliall wash me from all my sins, and make me whiter 
 than snow. O victorious Lord! how wonderful and 
 precious, is thy death! It is the payment of all our 
 deb].s, the atonement of all our offenceS) and the van^ 
 som of the whole w^j^ld. It is our peace with God, 
 our re-union with heaven, and our reconciliation with 
 the angels of light. It is the deatli of death itself, pnd 
 the destruction of hell. It hath not only delivered mo 
 from th? pit of eternal damnation, and the ijifinite tor- 
 ments of hell; but it hath purchased for me heaveu 
 with all its glory, and paradise with all its delights. 
 We admire David for cutting off Goliath's head with 
 his own sword; but shall we not rather admire thee^ 
 victorious and triumphant son of Da.vid! who, by 
 death hath svt^allowed Up death in victory? We extoj 
 Samson, for destroying, at his death, a few of his ene^ 
 mies; but shall we net rather extol thee, O Almighty 
 Son of Righteousness! who, by thy death, bath de- 
 stroyed all the enemies of our salvation, and amongsit 
 the r^t death itself. The patriarch ' .Tacob slept in se^ 
 curit;^t the foot of that mysterious ladder, whp^e top 
 reached to heaven, Gun. xxjviii. But, O my Lord, and 
 my God! I shall rest much more secure, and find mnph 
 sweeter repose at the foot of thy blessed cross, seeing 
 by that I have free access to the Katherj^ whom thou 
 bast rendered propitious to me; and can ^me boldly 
 unto the throne of grace, that 1 may obtairt mercy, and 
 jijid grace to h^lp in time of need, Heb. iv, 16. O Lord 
 Jesus! 1 not only discover in thy cross the fountain of 
 my sweetest consolations, and my greatest joys, a^id 
 most aspiring hopes; but I learn from it the vfof to die 
 
nm THE cimisTiAN'S consolation; 
 
 jfl thy farour; and behold there, in their most excellent 
 fefeauty, all those virtues wbRyh ought to accompany njy 
 $dul jvt its departure from the body. O Lord! who arl^ 
 perCeqtion itself, find ha^t set me so rich a pattern, to 
 the end I may tr^ad in thy blessed steps, grantme the 
 gr^e to manifest ti} all my relatidns and friends, who 
 are witnesses of this tny last conflict, th2|.t holy and 
 eordial affectilon, and all those tendernesses, wherewith 
 I see thy bow,els moved towards me. Grant that I ma;|^ 
 forgive, According to thy' example^ all mine eneniiel^ 
 ^ftd even pfay unto (rod for all tbdse who hSVe cruelly 
 persecuted: me; and that iij my sharpiest, agonies, I 
 ^i|,y imitate thy itteekness^ .patience, and heroic con-r 
 stancy. Inflame me with that ardent zeal whiph hath 
 paten thee up, and kindle in my. soul that fervent cpar^ 
 }ty which hath Consumed thy burnt^oflfering. Lo, I 
 eofite to do thy will, ifiy God! Fsal, xl, 7, 8^ My 
 soul is not mine o^q, but thine, who art the faithful 
 Creator and mer^ful Baviour thereof; since thou hast 
 paid its ransom> washed and. made it white in thy 
 blood, clothed it with thy righteousness; and putit intp 
 ft condition to entef ifito the heavenly sanctuary, and 
 fit) appear befqre the face of the Father of .{^ightsj dis-r 
 fwise of it acotfrdiAg to thy , good plep,$nie, sweel 
 ^esuis! Whd halt wtltingly suffered » shameful death 
 for ta^, a pobF Iftaisei^le sinner, graclcMsly grant that 
 J tt4y live and<reign fof ever with thee; and that I 
 may \it always r^dy to siiy unto thee, from the bot? 
 jtotti of my heattj into thy hand 1 commend my ^mril^ 
 thou hMt fedeemed\nef O.liOTd: Qqd of tVHth^m^fAt 
 
27ife Pburih f^orid^tdfion i^gainst the PeAifs qf Death i^ 
 to meditate ujpon$ur Lord JesHs Christ in kig ifepiU!' 
 threi 
 
 M.T is m hatur&liar >iiahkin4 ^ ithW the pa.\^, thai 
 few pt^rsons can pass through A church-yard without 
 dread, not only they whb inakie theitr abud^ beiiefttk 
 ^Ided iroofs in stately palabes) but also they who reside 
 in poblr tott^l^s, tvr in desert baVes; they who are shut 
 up in-dark durtgetihs^ Ani eVeh ihey who have no^, othei' 
 covering but the sky^ cannot withoiit horror, Jr^dectthdt 
 this wretched body must go into the bowels of the earthy 
 and lie down in a hoiisom^ grave. 
 
 To banish from our mittds this daiigerOtl^ appreh^tl- 
 ^ion and grot^dless fear, we must (ion$ider,. with a reli' 
 ^ou]8 attention, that we Ought not to slbhor the earth> 
 Weing it is the matter of \^hi'ch our bodied w^re formed^ 
 kud that itis) as it were, the tnothei' ftoiil whence w^ 
 proceed. 
 
 We niUst also reiheid^foteif, that it is the tidt'versal rnl^ 
 bf na,tui^, with respect to compounded bodied, that 
 \Bvery pirt ihUst tetut-h to itd first principle. Therefore as 
 the soulHsceiids up to its sdurde> ind returns unto God 
 who g&,ve it> Eccili kii. % it is no Wonder if the body re^ 
 Ixirnsto theiBatth> &oni wh'ende it Wa,s takeli, according 
 to the irreVTicable senteaci6 ^l^iU^QiEiied by, God in thtb 
 Earthly ^4radis^, Bust theii aiifAnd ^ntoduitshdt thovL 
 Wturn, Geh. iii. 19. Nitodemiis i^ig[uired of Our Lorit- 
 testis Christ; Itow can a midn be born when he ii oldP 
 ^% he enter the second time into his mother''^ woM^ 
 
1868 TUB OHRtSTIAN»S COMpLATIOJlJ 
 
 imdbehornP John iii. 4. As gross and extravagant as 
 tins iraaginatioii appears,, it is, in some measure, verifi- 
 e^4|^oti this occasion; ft»r we musst efiter a second time 
 into the womb of the earth, our common mother, that 
 WC! may be born again, and pass into anothe;^ life. 
 
 Jesus the Son of Sirachhad the same thought, when 
 he expressed himself in this manner in the 40th chapter 
 of his book of Wisdom, othcrwiseipsalled Ecclesiasti- 
 eus, GrMLttratail is created for RV&ryman, and an beef 
 vy yoke isiipen the son's of MtLm^from the day that they 
 go outof thmv mdtker^s leomh, till the day that they tB' 
 tarn to the mother of ail things, VQr?<i i. 
 . We shall find it for our advantage to meditate often 
 upon tliose beautiful images which St; Paul hatk set 
 before out eyes, in the 15th chapter of his first epistle 
 to the Corinthians; and to remember, that it is with our 
 bodies as witH the seed which is cast into the earth, 
 that it,may bring forth: Tmujbol) that which thou soje- 
 ^st is not quickened except -it Me, '4 Coi*. Jiy, 36. It 
 cannot loutish without it rots. Naturalists inform us, 
 that the corruption of one thing is the generation of an- 
 other: but upon this occasion we may affirm, that the 
 «orrnption of this miserable body, contributes to its own 
 generation. You that weep for your friends, and kindred, 
 >vhen you see them laid in the grave, remember the i 
 words of the royal prophet, They that so^ in tears shall 
 reap in joy, Psal; cxxvi. 5. 
 
 Remember that ^eatb is the way of all the earth, 
 Josh, xxiii, 14) atod that the grave is thehouse appoint- 
 ed by God for all living, Job xxx. 33. So that to be 
 unwilling to enter into it, is to desire Almighty Gfod to 
 grant us a lodging by oursel'ves, to change the course of 
 liature; and to create for us a naw worlds. 
 
THE CHRISTIAN'S CONSOLATION. 369 
 
 The grave is not only the ha^e appointed fov allliv- 
 ii)g, it is also the bed vvliere they rest sifter their painful 
 and laborious race. Therefore the prophet Isaiah, speak- 
 ing of the death of the rightaous, saith, They shall enter 
 into peace f they shall rest in their beds, chap. Ivii. S: 
 that is with regafd to the blessed estate of their souls, 
 Hhey shall enter into that great and eternal peace that 
 reigns in heaven: but with respect ^o their bodies, they 
 shall rest in their beds. 
 
 For the same reason, the places set apart to bury the 
 dead were anciently called dormitories, or sleeping-pla- 
 ces, to teach us, that they lie there asleep, in expecta- 
 tion of that great day when God shall awaken them with 
 the sound of the Archangel's trumpet. 
 
 Therefore when the patriarch Jacob was ready, to, 
 yield up his soul unto God, he commanded his son Jo- 
 seph, saying Bury me not, I pray thee in Egypt. But 
 Iwill lie with my fathers, Gen. xlvii, 29, 50. — Holy Job 
 speaks in the same manner, I shall sleep in the dust, 
 chap. vii. 31. And God himself, says to lus servant 
 Moses, Thou sJialt sleep with thy fathers. Dent. xxxi. 
 16; and to King David, When thy days shall be fulfilled, 
 and thou shalt sleep with thy fathers^ 2 Sam. vii. IS.-r 
 And the prophet Daniel, speaking in general of all'those 
 who have died since the creation of the world, sayp, 
 They sUejp in the dust of the earth} chap. xii. 2. 
 
 In partipular, take notice, Christian souls, that when 
 God sp&ke to Jkjoses oat of the midst of the burning 
 bush, he said unto him, I am the God of Abraham, the 
 God of Isaac, andthe God of Jacoif'ExoA. iii. 6. These 
 patriarchs had. been dead jnany ages; nevertheless (liod 
 calls himself their God. Now, God is not the God of the 
 dead, but of the living, Matth. xxii. 3S. These holy men 
 ' 3A 
 
Sfd THE CHRISTIAN'S CONSOLATION. 
 
 were flot dead in resp^ of theif souls, ''seeing those are 
 fthifl&rtal, and bound up by God in the bundle of life.— 
 liifeeftdsip their bodi^s^ properly speaking, were not dead, 
 but slept in their graves. As our Saviour said of Jairus's 
 d«u^iiter> 'the maid is mt dead but sleefetk, Matth/ix. 
 S4; and of LaZarusjOwr /nen<? Lazarus sleepeth, Joha 
 xi. 11'. V 
 
 Moreovei> wft may truly say, that the condition of 
 our bodies in that state which we call death, is far bet- 
 ter, and more, easy, than that of our ordinary sleep; for 
 dhring the latter We' are often disturbedv We labour and 
 sw^at; nor are the richest and most magniSceilt couches 
 exeiapt from these evils: whereas in the grave our bo- 
 dies are incapable of suffering, and secure from all the 
 Attacks of pain. They enjoy a perfect sleep, an iindis* 
 turbed repose. ' 
 
 The greatest princes,' the most superb mOnarchs, afre, 
 constrained to enter, one after the other, into this housib 
 appoint'ed by God for all living; and to repose them- 
 selves upon that bed which he hath pi*eparedfor all the 
 children of Adam. The sacred HiStoryj aftier having 
 given us an iaccount of thte reigns of the kitigs of Ju- 
 dah and of Israel, ^dds ai the cl6se of each, atid M 
 slept trithhisfatken*^. Let us bie evtr so poor and mise- 
 rable, we shall enter into this dwelling of kings, and 
 lay ourselves down in thh siatne bed. Therefore when 
 Job complains, thi-ough the extremity of his grief, that 
 he had not^ died immediately after he was born, he saySj 
 For now should I have lain still, died been qytiet, I should 
 have slept: thev hadlbeen at rest; witkhings and coun- 
 sellors of the. earth, which built desolate places for them- 
 selves; or with princes that had gold, who filled their 
 iottses uJzfA sifeer, chap. iii. 13, 41, 15. ,' 
 
tifE CHRISTIAN'S CONSaLATION. Sfi 
 
 It is in this bouse, and upon this bed, that the patpiarpliai 
 and prophets rest, the apostles, evangelists, martyrs, 
 and ia general, all the faithful who have lived in all 
 ages of the world; as it is recoirded of St. St«|:lien', 
 that when he had commended his spirit into the handiSi 
 of the- Lord Jesus, he fell' asleep, Acts vii. QO. There- 
 fore St. Paul, reproving the Corinthians, and represent- 
 ing to them that Hod had visited them, with divers dis- 
 eases, and with death, because they had profaned the 
 Lord's supper, tells them. For this cause many are 
 weak auinekly among you, av4 many sh&p, 1 Cor. xi. 
 30; and speaking in general of those who, are de^d in 
 the Lord, he says, they sleep in Jesus, I Thess. iv. 14; 
 and he styles them, they wMdh are fallen asle^jp, i Cor. 
 XV. 18. Now what are we better, or nobler than the 
 saints of paradise, to expect that our bodies should be 
 treated more favourably than theirs? - ' 
 
 But there is nothing more capable of re(||oving this 
 horror of the grave, than the consideration of our Lord 
 and Saviour Jesus Christ, who entered into it like' other 
 men, ^tid rested in it for a season. He hath sanctifipd it 
 by his divine presefnce, and hath Mled it with celestial 
 odQui's. He bath made it the object of our wishes, and 
 t^e cause of all our glory; for there is no sulij'gdt but 
 ^inks it an honour to lodge inlhe same palace where 
 bis prince has lodged before, m^ to lie do^^n upon the 
 bed where he had taken his t^t, though he 'had remain- 
 ed there but an hour, era momettt, O 'Messed sepuiehre! 
 where death and Ml'e, diSgracft, and glory are found to- . 
 gether; nay, what is more, the Prince of life, the foun- 
 tain of honour and happiness. 
 
 Christian souls, who desire td banish from your minds 
 all fears of dsath and apprehensions of the grave, look 
 
37S T|IE CHRISTIAN'S CONSOLATION. 
 
 upon the sepulchre with the same eye, as j? you behold 
 Jtesus Christ, the King of Glory, the Prince of yoar 
 salvation, still remaining there. The patriarch Jacob, 
 when he heard the false report of his sow Joseph's death, 
 refused to be comforted, and cried out in tlie bitterness 
 of his soul, I will gp down into the grave, unto j^iy sort) 
 mourning. Gen. xxxvii. 33. But the certain tidings of 
 the death and burial of our true Jos&ph, fills us full of 
 Hnspeakable gladness, and causes us to cry out, in a 
 different manner, I will go down into the grave unto my 
 fatherf with an holy joy. The prophet Elijah raised 
 to life a child, which was carried up into the loft, where 
 he abode,, arid laid upon his bed: for having stretched 
 himself upon the dead body, the soul that was departed 
 came again, 1 Kings xvii. sa. And the prophet Elisha 
 raised another in the same manner, by lying upon the 
 child, and putting. his mouth upon his mouth, and his 
 eyes upon ^is eyes, and his hand? upon his hands, 2 
 Kings iv. 34). But, belieting soul, God works for thee 
 this day/ a far more wonderful miracle: for the. resur- 
 rection and the life proceed from our great Prophet, 
 dead and stretched out in his grave. If we go down 
 into this holy sepulchre, if we stretch ourselves ijpon 
 this precious and heavenly bqdy, if we embrace it with 
 a true and Uvely faith, and a sin^^re repentance, he 
 will not only raise us up again, but will cause us to be- 
 come immortal. For whereas he was pleased to enter 
 into the state and condition of the dead, it was to pur- 
 chase for us a blessed and glorious immortality. 
 
THil^ CHRISTIAN'S CONSOLATION. 8^ 
 
 PRAYER AND MEDITATION* 
 
 JFor a Christian, who strengthens himself against ih&, 
 horrors of the grave, liy looking wpon our Lotd Jesu9 
 Christ laid in his sepulchre' 
 
 ADORABLE Mediator between God and man! thou 
 art trod immortal, and yet hast Touchsafed to iake upon 
 thee our mortal nature,. to die for me a miserable sinner, 
 and to remain for a time in the state of the dead, that 
 thou mightest purchase for me a blessed immortality, 
 (rive me grace to meditate as 1 ought upon thy sacred 
 body, wound up in linen cloatbs, and laid in the sepul- 
 chre: for by this means, O sweet Jesus! I shall no lon- 
 ger have the grave in abhorrence^ but shall look with a 
 stedfast fountenahce, while the pit is digging, into 
 which I must enter .when thou shalt appoint. For the 
 servant is not greater than his master; nor is it -for the 
 creature to prefer itself above the creator. Since I e|c- 
 pect to share in thy glory and exaltatioun it is but just 
 and reasonable that I partake in thy disgl-aces and abase- 
 ment. My reasoTi, enlightened by thy holy Spirit., con* 
 vinces me, that I must be wrapped up in thy darkness, 
 and; rejnain, like thee, for a season, in the valley of th& 
 shadow of death, since I hope to be clothed, one day, 
 with thy light, and crowned with thy life, I shall not 
 only look upon the grave without lear, but I shall con- 
 Siiderit with an holy joy, since thou hast honoured it 
 with ihy divine preseuee, and perfumed it with celestial 
 odours, I shall look upon it with the same eyes ias I 
 should if thou wast still remaining there, my Lord, and 
 my God, and I was to lie down by thee. A dead man 
 revived upon touching the bones of thy prophet, SjK-ings 
 xiii. Slj but I not only touch thee, Prince of pro- 
 phets! I embrace thee by faith, as dead for my sins, and 
 as restitig in the grave for my salvation. Therefore thou 
 shalt make me feel thy divine power; thou shalt sow 
 in me the seed of immortality, and lift up my hopes to 
 heaven. During its abode he^re bfelow, my souV shall 
 
Sy^ TtlE CHRtSTIAN'S CONSOLATION. 
 
 have part in the first resurrectionv and one (By, thisi in- 
 iBrm body shall be clothed with newness of life. If my 
 resurrection be not so sudden and speedy as,.tha.t of thtt 
 ^dead man raised by the prophet, it shall be far more 
 fjorioqs and lasting; that t may bless thee with all thy 
 saints, and praise thee for ever with thine inheritance. 
 Jimen. 
 
 CHAPTER XVI!, ^ 
 
 The Fifth Consolation against the Fears of limihi is 
 to Meditate Upon the I'esurrection of our Lovd Jesu^ 
 Christ. •' 
 
 j^S there is nothing more grievous and insupport- 
 able thati to behold a prOud imperious ^nemy, Who is 
 always defying uS, yet always victorious, and whom no 
 one ca^i overcofie; so there is nothing jioore capable of 
 transporting us witli joy and comfort, than to see such 
 a pride cast down^ and to triumph over such an enemy. 
 It was this made the children of Israel, who had groan- 
 ed a long time under the cruel tyranny of PhaPaoh, sing 
 with so much, exultation their. song of triumph and 
 thanksgiving, when God destiroyed that wicked tyrant, 
 and buried him and his host in the Waters of the Red 
 Siea, Kxod. XV. For the same reason, when the great 
 dragon, that old serpent called the Devil and Satan, 
 which.deceiveth the whole world, was overcome And 
 cast down from heaven into the earth, a loiid voice of 
 jubilee was beard in paradise^ saying, J\/'ow is come 
 salvation and strength, and the kingdom of pur Gad, ani 
 ihe power of his Christ: for the accuser of owrjlitethrm, 
 is' cast down, wMch accuseth l^em befor4[ our God 
 
Tm CHRISTIAN'S' CONSOLATION. 375 
 
 diuy and night. Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye 
 that dtcell in them, Hev. xii. 10, 13. * 
 
 From hetiCe we are to infer, christian souls, that as 
 it hath been a most , setisible affliction to us, to behold 
 deatb tyranizing over all the world, and shutting up 
 in its {prison's, kings and princes, patriarchs, prophets, 
 apostles, and martyrs, and in general all the children 
 of Adam, of every rank and condition; so it is a great 
 comfort and unspeakable joy fot us, to behold ibis 
 cruel and proud enemy overcome, and disarmed; and 
 to see our Lord Jesus Christ marching out of its strung 
 hold, laden with its spoils. Therefore rejoice, ye hea- 
 vens, and ye that dwell in them, for the murderer of 
 our brethren is swallowed up in victory. 
 
 As we are members of this victorious and trium- 
 phant Chief, we ourselves have a share in this honour 
 and gloryi In his person wfe are the conquerors over 
 death, and are able to say with the apostle, that God 
 hath quickened us together with Christ, and hath rais- ■■ 
 ed us up together^ Kph. ii. 5, 6. ;. 
 
 This Prince of Life hath not only loosed the [lains of ' 
 d@ath. Acts ii. 24, and.broke all his chains, but he hath 
 led it away captive, and subjected it to his heavenly em- 
 X^fe- He hath an absolute power over it, as he himself 
 declares in these divine words, I am he that liveth, and 
 was dead; und behold I am alive for evermore, Amen; 
 and have the keys of hell and of decith, iRevJ i. 18. 
 
 If this invmcible Lord, when he was in the prison 
 of deaths eommanded over death itself; if he broke in 
 pieces its irt*n bars, and its braien gates;, if he caused 
 the dead to arise^ and go into the holy city; now that 
 he is out of the sepulchre victorious and triumphant, 
 will he Mot exercise an uucontroulable powar over this 
 
876 THE CHRISTIAN'S CONSOLATION. 
 
 dreadful enemy, whom he liath vanquished aud brought 
 under by his almighty arm. 
 
 O Death! fret and foam with rage and fnry as long 
 as thou wilt! these eyes behold thee fast bound to the' 
 triumphal car of Jesus Christ my Saviour; and 1 am 
 certain^ that thou canst attempt nothing without his 
 leave, and that thou canst not go a step unless he 
 lengthens thy chain. 
 
 As Josbuai; when he had overcome the kings of the, 
 Canaanites, called for his captains, and said unto them. 
 Come near, put your feet upon the necks of these kings: 
 fear not, nor be dismayed. Josh. x. 34, 35: thus you, 
 Christian souls, imagine to yourselves, that our divine 
 Joshua,, who hath overcome death, calls lintb you from 
 heaven, saying, Tread upon this wretched tyrant with 
 boldness: fear,,not, nor be dismaypd. 
 
 The children of Israel, who trembled at the threats 
 of Goliath, laid •^ aside all their apprehensions, when 
 they saw biro fall by a stone from David's sling, so 
 that the most timorous could have freely put their feet 
 upon his neck, 1 Sam. xvii; and shall not you, chris- 
 tians, banish from your hearts all fear and dread of 
 death, now yoii see it overthrown at the feet of our 
 true David, the great Shepherd and, Bishop of our 
 soUls? for though it opens its jawis, and vomits out 
 flames of fire, it hath, nevertheless, received its fatal 
 wound, and is at thfe last gasp. * ' 
 
 As th^ armour-bearer of Jonathan, the son of king 
 Saul, slew those which fell before his master, i Sam. 
 xiv. 13; thus we need only pursue the ^glorious vic- 
 tories of the Son of the King of Kings; or rather we 
 need only gather up the sweet and pleas^t fruits of 
 his conquei^, foi' this prince of life, who hatjb'dvercome 
 
THK CHWSTIAN'S CONSOLATION. ^f 
 
 fleatli for us^ will complete his conquest over it in n4 
 WjtU those very weapons with which he hatharmeii us. 
 in short, to speak properly, there is no death for such 
 ST* are incorporalerl in Jesus Christ by a true and lively 
 fiitii; For tthosoener liveth, andbeJieveth in Mm, shall 
 vererdlp; and hp< tkat believeth in him, though he were 
 dead, yet phall he live^ John xi. 25, S6. 
 
 PRAYEK AND MEDITAl'IOX 
 
 For a Believer, who arms hirnself against thefedri of 
 death, by meditating upon the resurrection of our Lord 
 Jesus Christ. 
 
 LORD Jesus! who hast been fully declared the Soft 
 of God with power, by the resurrection from the dead, 
 who livest for ever and ever, strengthen me in my weak- 
 ness, comfort me in my sorrow, and drive from my soul 
 all fears and apprehensions of death. Adorable Saviour! 
 1 have no longer any thing to dread from this proud and 
 cruel enemy, seeing thou hast loosed its pains, broken 
 in pieces all its fetters, and hast Overcome deafh atid 
 the grave. O glorious and triumphant Monarch! shall I 
 tremble before a discomfited and disarmed enemy, whom 
 I see lying und^r thy feet, and chained to thy triumphal 
 chariot?! fteed only follow the sacred footsteps of ^i^y 
 victory, and gather its noble fi'Uits. If, when ttffc wast 
 shut up in the prison of death, thou wast able tomake it' 
 sensible of thy power, to brin^ down its prid,e, and to 
 carry away its prisoners, what may t not, expect from 
 thy victoribiisf' and almighty a'i-ni,' nb\v thM mst tm 
 keys of death and of hell? O riiOslfflifghty and i6'crcifiilj 
 'LordI tholi hast not only overcoMeidedth for ™me, biifl 
 thou yviit also overcome itiiyime, whoam thy cliild,.aiij^ 
 the sheep Withy pasture, virhose ransom thou hast paW*, 
 Thou art noMiy ril^ri fto'^' thW «fead, but tM mm 
 
 3B 
 
^78 THE CHRISTIAN'S CONSOLATION. 
 
 resurrection and the life, John xt. 2&; thmi art the 
 Prince of Life, the fountain of glory and immortality: 
 so that whosoemer liveth, andbelieveth in thee, shall ne- 
 ver die; and he that believeth iv> thee, thuugh her were 
 dead, yet shall he live. It seems an admirable action 
 in Samson, that when he had slept' till midnight, he 
 rose up, took the gate's of the city Gaza upon his shoul- 
 ders, and carried them to the top of an high mountaiii, 
 Judge xvi; but who would not admire thee, .0 invinci- 
 ble Nazarite! who having sle|)t till the third day, in 
 the bowels of the earth, rose ag!\in by thy own divini^ 
 pbwer, carried away the gates of hel!, and hast made 
 them become the gates of heaven, the entrance into the 
 celestial paradise! Let me die, sincfc my Redeemer liveth, 
 and will conduct me through death into an happy life,. 
 purchased for me with his most precious blood, and se.- 
 cured to me by his glorix)u« resurrection. Amev. 
 
 CHAPTER XVIll. 
 
 The Sixth Consolatipii against the Fears of Death, is 
 the ascension of Jesus Christ, into heavei^, and his 
 sitting down at the right hand of God, 
 
 Lis indeed a great joy and comfort to behold a proud 
 anS'^cralll enemy overcome and disarmed, and ourselves 
 freed, by that means, from the yoke of an insupport- 
 able tyranny, but our joy would be turned into grief, 
 our comfort iflto the most bitter affliction, if at the same 
 time we beheld the author of our deliverance^ drowned 
 in his own blood, and expiring in the moment of his 
 victory, iTo render our satisfaction compljg|^ it is ne- 
 cessary that his triumphs should be lastn|^and that 
 
THE CHRISnAN'S CONSOLATION. 379- 
 
 lie slicKikl be advanced to the height of glory mA sove- 
 reign power. Now there is no euemy more cruel, more 
 lyraniiical, and formidable than death. We have beheld 
 it disarmed upon the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, 
 and- entirely vaiiquished and subdued by his resurrec- 
 tion; but if with the eye of faith we look a little .higher,, 
 to the glorious ascension of our divine Saviour, we 
 shall see this same death bound to his triumpiant chari- 
 otj and this conquering Redeemer exalted above thp 
 highest heavens, and sitting in glory at the right hand 
 of &od. We shall see him invested with an almighty* 
 power, adored by- all creatures, and exercising a sove- 
 reign dominion, not oiiiy over the angels of light, and 
 the celestial spirits that surrounded his magnificent 
 throne, but likewise over the world, death, the dexil, 
 and hell: for because he became obedient unto death, 
 even the, death of the cross, therefore God also hath 
 highly exalted him, and given him a name which is 
 above any name; that at the name of Jesus every knee 
 should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, 
 and things under the earth; and that every tongue should 
 confess, that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God 
 the Father,. Phil. ii. 8, 9, 10, 41. 
 
 Every soldier shares not in the triumph of his 
 general, and all subjects taste not of their prince's happi- 
 ness; but as we are the brethren of our Lord Jesus 
 Christ, and the members of his body, we have a sha,re 
 in his triumph, and in the glory of his empire. There- 
 fore the apostle; St. Paul tells us, that our life, that is to 
 say, our glory and eternal felicity, is hid with t'hrist 
 in God, Cfll. iii. 3; and again, in more express words 
 that God, who is rich in mercy, hath made us sit to- 
 gether in heavenly places la Christ Jesus, Eph, ii. 6. 
 
380 TBli qilHISTIAJS'S CONSOLA rioN. 
 
 TTiiis glorious Savloui: is goue, to take |);osscs&idu of 
 the kingdom of heaven, not only in liis own^ name, but 
 ^Iso in ours. Thus he assures his l^oly apostles, and 
 mth^tt^ all true believers, in my ^<Vther's house are 
 many ma^nsiop'f ; ^ gp to pl-epare a place for y.au, Jphn 
 xiv. S. In the same manner he speaks in that admirable 
 prayer, in which ^e cpqsecratp^ himself to God,^or the 
 "great work of oyj* redemption, Father I will that they 
 also ^hom thpi^.bfst given me, be \vith me where I am, 
 that they v^a,^ behold my glory wljich thou hast given 
 me, John 3i:vii. S4. Therefore the, apostle to the He^ 
 brews gives us this sti,'ong consolatiou, that. Jesus Christ 
 is eritered for us into heaven as our forerunner, Heb. 
 vi. SO.' , ' -, ' . , , ,.^i^,. - ^ 
 
 As the high priest of the Jews went into tlie eai;tli.ly 
 sanctuary^ to present himself before God for the people, 
 Heb. ix; so aur Lord Jesus, Chi;ist is entered into the 
 heavenly sanctuary, to appear for us in the presence of 
 God. The high; priest of the Jews bare upon his breast 
 and shoulders the names of the twelve tribes of Jsrael; 
 but Jesiis Christ hath engravenus in his heart, accor- 
 ding to the song of t^e' Spouse in the Cantijcles, Set, me 
 as li seal upon thine heart, as a- seal upon thine arm; 
 for love is strong as death, chap,, viii. 6. To conclude, the 
 high priest of the Jews laid aside tl^e names of the twelve 
 tribes with, his sficerdotal garment; but neither death, 
 nor life, nor things present, nor things tQ come, shall be 
 ^ble to sepjirate us from, tlje love of Qpd whj^gh is in 
 Christ Jesus our Lord, Rom. viii. 38, 39. 
 
 The royal crown that was set upon Esthev's head 
 caused her not to forget her people, and; her father's 
 house. She was exceedingly griev^^ ^ov H^ttm's con- 
 spiracy, ajid the decree vyhijpk he had obtaiflH^oteln 
 
THE CHRISTIAN'S CONSOLATION. ggjL 
 
 king Ahasjieirus's name anid siealed with his ring, Esther 
 iv. Thus I can truly aifirm, that the glory to which 
 our Lord Jesus Christ is exal,ted hath not Qiade him for-^ 
 get the people whom hfe hath purchased with his pre- 
 cious blood. He is not unmindful of the contiqual ma- 
 chinations of Satan, nor of the sentence of death pro- 
 nounced against us by the great monarch of the world, 
 and confirmed by his seal. Though his glorious head 
 is crowned with a rainbow, l^is merciful heart is infia' 
 med with lt)Ve. 
 
 On that glorious thfone, where thousand thousands' 
 n\inister unto him, and tea thousand times ten thousand 
 stand before him, l)an. vii. 10, he is wt ashamed to caM 
 %B brethren) Heb. ii. 11, and to entreat God for us. 
 He. if. able also to, save them to the uttermost that come- 
 unto Cfod by Mm, seeing he ever liveth to malceinter^ 
 eessiqn for them, Heb. vii. S5. If bifS Father always 
 heg^d him, even when he was in his greatest abases 
 ment, can we imagine, that his intercession will be 
 fruitless, now he is ascended up into the highest glory. 
 From this e^^alted, state, he befeoldsi all our encoun-r 
 iers and our skirmishes with death. He sees all thQ 
 - enemies that assault us, and the dangers tp which we 
 are exposed. He knows the deep m.alice and crafty 
 violence of the enemies of our salvation;, and sees all 
 the darts which they let fly against us. Therefore ha 
 covers ug with his shield, and will not suffer us to be 
 tempted abo^e what we are able, 1 Gor. x. 13. His 
 strejgigthiia made perfect in our weakness, 2 Cor. xii. S&j 
 and he mak^i^s- us in all., things more than conquerors, 
 Kom. viii. 37. He not- only keeps. his eye continually 
 upon his sheep, bijt he keep^ them in his hwd, sind none 
 is able tpj pluck then* oiit of it, John x. SQi 
 
38^ THE GHRFSTIAN'S CONSOLATION. 
 
 Iff when he was upon earth, in his grievous agony, att 
 the bare word of his mouth, at his saying, I avt he. his 
 enemies went baclcward, and fell to the ground, Jloha 
 xviii. 6; and if, whe6 he was in the prisons of de^t'h, lie 
 forced it to obey him; now that he is exalted above the 
 highest heavens, in the glory of his triumph, shall he 
 jiot have a sovereign power over death, the world, and 
 ^ell?. 
 
 If, when he walked upon the waters, he cried to his 
 apostles, Be of good cheer, it is I, be not afraid, Matth. 
 xiv. 37; how much rather will be speak to us in this 
 ' manner, now he sits upon a thrDne that cannot be sha- 
 ken? Christian soul, that tremblest at the approaches of 
 deathj imagine, that the Lord Jesus, crowned with glo- 
 ry, calls to thee from heaven, Fear not, it is 1 that call 
 thee, and stretch out my arms to receive thee; I that am! 
 thy Saviour and-Redeemer, who have washed away all 
 thy siiis with my blood, and have redeemed thee, fnom 
 the curse of the law, and eternal damnation; 1 who have 
 disarmed God's justice, vanquished hell, br6ken the ser- 
 pent's head, and swallowed up death in victory; who 
 have purchased for thee the glories of heaven, and the 
 delights of paradise; who have trod under foot the world, 
 and all its powers; who am worshipped by all the church 
 triumphant in heaven, and by legions of angels thatfy 
 about my throne. Some of these I will send to guard 
 thee; and when thou shalt leave that body, in which 
 thou now livest as' a stranger, they shall bear thy soul 
 upon thy wings, to this magnificent abode of immortality, 
 whither' I am come to. prepare a place for thee. 
 
 Without doubt, if the anchor of our hope is entered 
 into that within the vail, that is to say, into h&^^^hi- 
 ther thefbrerujiiner is for us entered, even Jesm Christ, 
 
THE CHRISTIAN'S CONSOLATION. 383 
 
 Heb. vi. 19, SO, we shall not fear the most qoatrary 
 winds, the most raging storms, raised against us by the 
 prince of the power of- the air, that now worketh in the 
 cliildren of disobedience, Eph. ii. 2; we shall tread un- 
 der foot All the billows of this boisterous sea, andthrongh 
 these swelling waves shall safely come to our divine Je- 
 sus. If at any time we begin to sink, and our soul is 
 seized with fear, this Almighty Lord, who hath not on- 
 ly saved himself, but is also the Saviour of his church, 
 will say to us, as to St. Peter, O thou </ little faith, 
 wherefore didst thou doubt- Mtitili. xiy. 31. Knowest 
 thoa not, that I command the winds, rebuke the waves, 
 and still the tempest, that I have the keys of hell and of 
 death? Rev; i. 18. 
 
 When a person, in his way to a place of rest and hap- 
 piness, which he earnestly desires to arrive at, is to go 
 through a painful and thorny passage, he takes ilew 
 courage, if he sees before him a powerful friend, who 
 stretches out his arm to assis t him. Now it is not pos- 
 sible for us to arrive at the glories of heaven, and the 
 joys of paradise, except through the passage of death; 
 a painful and grievous passage to flesh and blood! But 
 Jesus Christ, who loves us unto the end, John xiii, 1, 
 hath gone this way before us. He is ascended from this 
 world unto the Father, to his God, and to our Gqd,> 
 John XX. 17; and that we may go where he is, he hath 
 not only sent us bis light and his truth to lead us,.Fsal. 
 xliii. 3, his rod and his staff to comfort us, Psal. xxiii. 
 4, but he also stretched out his almighty hand, to cause 
 us to pass from death unto life: Where I am, saith he, 
 there shall also n^y servant &e, John xii. S6. 
 
 When the apostles were in the way going up to Jeru- 
 salem; and our liovA Jtssus Christ went befqre them, they 
 
gS4 THE CHRISTIAN'S CONSOLXtlON 
 
 were amazed", &s tliey foUowedy a»tl were afraid, Mat'k 
 X. 32; but we that go up to the hekvetfly JferuMem, antl 
 tread in the footsteps of this mighty Saviour, ought to 
 he full of holy boldness, and christian confidence. 
 
 Our knowledge that this great God and SaViour; 
 reigns triumphant in heaven, and that he commands in 
 the earth, the sea, and the great deep, teacher us, that 
 Vve should not only submit to death without fear, bat 
 that' we should embrace it with an holy joy; for who 
 would not rejoice to enter into the glorious palace of im- 
 itiortality; where we shall see, liot only the patriarchs, 
 prophets, apostles, martyrs, the holy and blessed virgin, 
 with all the saints of paradise, but Where we shall alstt' 
 see face to face our great God and Saviour Jesus Christ, 
 wbotni so manv kings and prophets have desired to see 
 and hear, Luke x. 34. Whilst we are at' home in the 
 body, we are absent from this victorious Lord; thierefbi'e 
 w-e are willing rather to be absent from the body, and 
 to be present with the Lordj, S Cor. v. 6, 8. This con-, 
 sideration caused the holy apostle to cry out, T have a 
 deWrH to depart, and to he with Christ, which i^far bet- 
 ter, Phil. i. 23. 
 
 The Queen of Sheba left her kingdom, and came 
 from a fdr country, to see king Solomon, who was but 
 a type of Christ, and had but a fai'iit ray of his wisdom 
 and glory, 1 Kings x;- and is there stay treaisure on 
 earth, any honour or pleasure in life, that we Would not 
 lea<t(6 with transport to go and seg our liord and Sa- 
 viofli!' Wtieia he wasitt Ws iufancy, thfc shep(h6rds tisft 
 tbeirflocksy and hasted to B'ethleheitt to look upott hiinf, 
 Luke ii. The wise ijaen cllttie froto the esist to wotstiip 
 him, MattM ii; «tnd was lie nnW upon earthy iftf" tliat 
 e^Hutey we should roiti from the utmost eji^of tM 
 
THE CHRlSTi AN'P GONSOLATION. 385 
 
 ^ 
 
 wovld, and part with all our dearest enjoyments^ to see 
 hiiKi^ But the little town of Bethlehem is nothing in 
 comparison of the heavenly Jerusalem; and what would 
 be the sight of oar JLord Jesus Chrisit in swaddling 
 cloaths, lying in a manger, or in the arms of his blessed 
 mother, in comparison of seeing him clothed with light, 
 crowned wifli glory, and sitting at the ifight hand of 
 God the Father, upon a magnificent throng; worshipped 
 by all the angels and glorified spirits? If the father of 
 the faithful rejoiced and was glad to see, in spirit, the 
 day of the Lord, John viii. 56; if, when the spouse in 
 the Canticles heard him at her door, her bowels wera 
 moved for him, ehap. v. 4; and if old Simeon was ra- 
 vished above measure, when he held Christ in his arms, 
 Luke ii; how much more shall we be ravished and 
 transported with admiration and joy, when we shall 
 behold him, as be now is, in his highest glory and state, 
 and shall embrace him for ever and ever? When St. 
 Stephen saw the heavens opened, and Jesus Christ 
 standing on the right hand of .God, Acts vii. 56, his 
 face became shining as it had been the face of an angel. 
 Acts vi, 15; with wha;t rays of glory then shall we be 
 crowned, when we shall enter into this palace of light, 
 and behold forever, face to face, this blessed Redeemer? 
 When the pairiarch, Jacob heard that his son Jbs^h, 
 whom he tenderly loved, and for whom he had shed 
 so manyltfiftrs, was still alive,, and governor over all the 
 land' of Egypt, he earnestly desired to see again this 
 dear son, and to be a witness of his glory: It is enough, 
 said he, Joseph my son is yet aliy^e: I will go and see 
 Mm befpre 1 die, Gen. xlv. Is. And you, believing 
 souls, who hear this day, that your true Joseph; whom- 
 you passionately love, lives and reigns in heaven,, whey* 
 
 3C 
 
g|^' TkE OHlilStAN% CD^S0L5\TT0N. 
 
 he is WdiTsilppfed by all tbe glorified spirits, rlo y«" nd* 
 ardently 'desire to sfee his face, and to behold his gld^, 
 and the/inaa;niflcence of his trinmph?,The patriarch Ja- 
 CtSh was feeble thT'oiigh agfej and bowed down with sor- 
 row, but hrs spirit revived wbeii lie saw the waggom 
 which Joseph had sjentto carry him: thus you mychris- 
 'tian brethren, whose bodies old age or sickness Tiath 
 bowed down,' and whose hearts care and "sorrdw hath 
 undermined, do not yoii find yoiirselves streagthened, 
 do not" you feel yourselves sensibly revived, when deatt 
 d^aws near, and you pereeive, with the eyes of faith, 
 the horses and chariots of fire which Dhfist hath sfentto 
 convey you to the paradise of bis gloryf Joseph^ receiv- 
 ed his father and brethren with teal's of joy, and all the 
 bouse of Pharaoh rang with acclamations of gladhessf; 
 ■with what tenderness then will Christ eftibrace us? what 
 yejoicing will there be in hieaven at your arrival? The 
 tons;ues of angels alope can e^tpf ess a joy so uttspeak-> ; 
 able and full of glory. Joseph fed his father and^his 
 brietbiren,! but he never imparted to them any portion of 
 liis authority and gloiyj whfereas our Lord Jesus C/brist, 
 who excels Joseph as miich in power and niagniflcenfee,? 
 lis in love and compassion, shall not only feed us with 
 the bread of his kin'gdoiu, and ^^^e us to drink of the : 
 river of his pleasuresj but he will also ^ake us parta- ' 
 kers of his glory, and magnifiegnc^tofbis empire, as h« 
 promised to his holy apostles; I ftpfomt unto you a 
 Mvs^om, as My Father hath appointed unto me, Luke 
 xxii. 29. To him that overcometk^ill T grant to sit witfk 
 Twe in myihrorte, evev,0,s I also overcame^ and am set 
 down un^ triy 'Father in Ms throne, Rev, iii. Si . B« 
 ihoufditkfM unto death, and I will give thee a crown of 
 $(«v, ii, id, Joseph's bretHtreD, ' QotwIlislaiidlQg 
 
bis- greattiess, became skves; but Jesus Ohrist will 
 place upon each of our heads a crown of pure gold. Jo- 
 seph could not |jreserve bis brethren from deatli; they 
 allxUecl one after an.df'her, and he also, in his turn, gave 
 up the ghost: but. Jesu« Christ, being raised from the 
 dead, dieth no more; death hath no more dominion ovef 
 him, Slom. vi. 9. He is not only alive for evermore, ut 
 will likewise cause us all to become immortal, Where- 
 as then Jacob desired to live, that he might go down 
 into Egypt to see his son Joseph, we should ardentljr 
 desire to die, that we may ascend up into lieaveti, there 
 io behold our Lord Jesus Christ,, who is bpth our lea- 
 ther and Redeemer. When Jacob embraced again this 
 wonderful and beloved son, he cried out, in the trans- 
 port of his joy, Now let me die, since I have seen thy 
 face, becaHs"fe ,thou art yet a,live: on the contrary, when 
 we shall embr^pe Christ in bis glory, and shall behold 
 the light of his countenance, we shall say unto him, ia 
 a jdifferent manner, My Lord, and my ^od, since I 
 now see £hee ali^ve, and reigning in heaven^ I shall also 
 live and reign with thee for ever and ever. lAmen* 
 
 
 PBAYBR AND MEttlTATIOlf 
 
 iPbf a Betieving Saul, ivMch arms itself against iM 
 Fears of death, by metitaiing ore the glorious ascelt^ 
 sion of Jesus Christ into heap^'n, and his sitting 
 down at the right hmd of Goi. 
 
 O HOLY ^^nd divine Saviour! to stren^heii myself 
 against the fears of^d^ath, I have already looked qpp]i^ 
 tihy noble cotiicts smcl glorious victory; thai;; V^ ji^ 
 may be. perfect aijtd accoinpUshed^ grant me thp^rafce, 
 that I may ajiso b^pll;:%;il^api$ceQi I|i9j^j^.^^^:^ 
 
3^ THE CHRISTIAN'S CONSOLAlfON. 
 
 thou hast fought for me, and.madaiine partaker of the 
 fruit of thy victories, grant that I may also share in the 
 honour of thy triumph. As thou h^st suffered for aiy 
 offences, and art arisen again for my justitication, "so 
 thou hast ascended up itittf^.heaven to prepare a place 
 for Die, Thou art willing T ^ould h^ aduiitted into 
 thy divine palace, that ,1 should be where thou art, and 
 tjiat I should behold thy glory, which thoo hast .enjoy 
 ed with God the Father, befoiHi the ioundation of the 
 world. sweet and merciful Lord! what reason have 
 1 to fear going to heaven, since thou art seated there 
 in the highest glory and happiiiess, and stretehest out 
 thy arms to receive me? May 1 not rather expect to be 
 glorified in thy kingdom, sincethou bestowest upon all 
 them that serve thee, immortal crowns and sceptres? O 
 Almighty God and Saviour! thy throne is surrounded 
 Tvfth iniinite majesty and splendor; nevertheless I will 
 come boldly unto it| forasmuch as it is a throne o£ love 
 and mercy, unto which every penitent siiiner may draw 
 near. Round aboi^t this glorious throne, 1 see a rain- 
 bow, in sight like unto an emerald, which assures me, 
 that thy covenant is everlasting. Though thy; glory 
 and majesty are increased, yet thy love for me, ahd thy 
 tender com^jassions, are not diminished. Theu art the 
 same yesterday, and to-day, and for ever. Thou hast 
 voychsafed,, for my salvation,, torlie in a manger, and 
 to he nailed to across. Thou hast laid down thy life 
 for my ransom, and hast shed thy precious blood to 
 wash and cleanse me from my sins, and to mark me 
 out the way to thine heavenly sanctuary. In the midst 
 of all that glorious .light wherewith thou art clothed, 
 thou art not ashamed to acknowled|!;e me thy brothr'r, 
 (thy sister,) and for a member of. thy mystipal body. 
 It is for my sake that thou appearest before thy hea- 
 venly Father, and tllat thou offerest up prayers and 
 supplications unto him. O adorable J.Ord! It is in thy 
 power to give me the things whtQl^ thoh hast merited 
 by thy' suffering^^and which thou requestest for, me by 
 thy prayefs and intercession; for a,ll power is given 
 ~iinto thefc in heaven and inearth. O Sovereign Mon- 
 areh of the world! hast not thou made us this grfeat and 
 
THE CHRISTIAN'S CONSOLATION. 380 
 
 pred'kws promise, J, if I be lifted up from the earth, 
 will irate all men unto me? John xii. 33; and is it not 
 for us that thon hast prayed in this transporting manner, 
 Father 1 will that they also whom thou hast given me, he 
 with me, where lam, that they maf behold my glory which 
 thou hast given meP John xvii. 24. Hince, therefore, them 
 hast been lifted up from this miserable earth, to reiga 
 ;and ':iiiniph in heaven, draw my soill unto thee, O mer- 
 ciful Redeemer! and deliver it from this vale of tears and 
 misery. Causfe it to hear at the time of its departure theise 
 words of joy and eternal comfort. Verily I say unto thee. 
 To dayshalt thou be with me in Paradise,, Ltuke xxiih' 
 43. Lord Jesiis draw^me with the cords of thy love and 
 iiiercy, and 1 will run after thee. And seeing I must 5f 
 necessity pass through death to come unto thee, the Prince 
 of Life and immortality; grant me thy grace, that 1 may 
 look ,upon> it in the same manner as the prophet Blijah 
 did upon the fiery chariot that took him up into heaven; 
 or as Jacob did upon the waggons that carried him into 
 Egypt, where liTS sou was governor over the land, 
 ^f his holy patriarch, in a transport of joy, cried 'olit', ^ 
 Let me see my son Joseph, and tjien let me die! but, ra- 
 vishing witj^ a joy unspeakable and full of glory, t 
 will cry »ut, in a different manner, Let me die, that I 
 may behold my true Joseph, the soul of my soul, the 
 light of my life, the author of all my glory and happi- 
 ness! O sweet Jesu$! grant that 1 may freely and wil- 
 lingly, leave this wretched and infirm dwelling, to enter 
 into thy celestial palace, an«l to behold the divine splen- 
 ilor of thine inSninite Majestyi O King of kings, anil 
 Lord of lords! when shall 1 bear that eternal wisdom 
 that flows from thy lips? when shall I See thee seatifd 
 upon the. throne of thy glory, where thousand thousands 
 minister unto thee, and ten thousand times ten thousand' 
 stand before thee? When shall 1 enter into the glorious 
 company of the blessed saints, that sing forth thy praises, 
 and cast at thyfeet their precious Crowfls? O victorious 
 Monarch! who art now in thy kingdom, crowned with 
 perfect gtory^and happiniigss,' forget not thy servant, be 
 not iinmindfuf of thy son, (or daughter,) wliois poor and 
 despised, overwhelmect with sorrow, anil in the ithgwish 
 
af ihUh. Let hot tire songs of the holy angels, anrf 
 lUa praises of all the glorified spirits, hindef thee from 
 feteuing tomy :rfg1is( and groans. O almighty and mer- 
 ;iful Lord! look Hpon nie with an eye' of loye, and reach 
 )tft uiito me thy helping hand. Send to my assistance 
 Pne ahgels 6f light,; tb [Protect me frf>m the angels of 
 ^irkness, that endeavour to destt-o^ me, and to drag me 
 leadlong into hell. Let tjiose glorious spirits th,'!,i; fly 
 it thy conimand, deliver me out of the paws of death 
 tnd bejti' the lipon their \Vihgs to thy bo*50iTi, t see the 
 ifcaVeni bperied, aind the Soil of Mari standing on the 
 Igbt hand of God. Lord Jesas, receive my spirit. 
 
 GH AFTER XiX. 
 
 rha Seventh .Consolation asiMnst the Ftars of Death 
 is, oKP strict and inse^ra,bj,e ujaion wim Jesus Chri^ 
 through the Holy Spirit, and the fir si-fruits, of ouf 
 Wessed irhtnorfulity. " ♦. 
 
 UpUR Lord Jesus Christ not pnl^, lives aM,triainpj[js 
 a heaven, but it is f^m him our life,, qur glory, and 
 ►ur blessed* immortality, proceed;. For «» ^he Father 
 ath life in himself ; so hath he given to the Son to have 
 Ife in himself; and as the Fathej" rcf-ipeth up the dea^ i 
 nd quicke^eth them; even so the son guickeneth whajn 
 ewill, John V. SI, ,?6; so that we may not only say 
 titd hiin, with, St. peter,1"hoa hast the woyds of eter!^ 
 lal lifeji John vi.,.^8, but also, with the ^-oyai prophet, 
 ^ith thee is t|]|e^onntaiii of life; in thy light shall we 
 ee light, Psal. xxxvi. 9. Therefore all those thfit are 
 nited to^ and ymtpot&ieCk 1^1% this Princis of Lif^jik 
 
•Hji CHRISTIANAS CQlf^^ATION. S% 
 
 partake of th^ /ulness of tljp holy Spipt, which is to 
 him-ward, whtpreby^bey-beeoflie J^appy and itnmjoFtal. 
 Now, by the goodness and nietcy of ©od, we are^^qt 
 only made' partakers of Christ's death and paeliqiQ, but 
 we are aiso united to, and incorporated with h|)i>» lltt^ 
 Bot only have the greatjand precious p sopf ses of a ^lor 
 rious immortality, which "he hath purchased for Ui$; J^t 
 we receive the first fruit, the foretaste of it. 
 
 The high and lofty One that inhabiteth fl^en»|ityir|B^ 
 'vives the spirit of the hpmble, Is, Mi. 15?- and dff ejjlr 
 in our hearts by faith, Eiph. 4ii. 17- He sheds inte ou^- 
 soul bis holy and quickening Spirit, for heca<i«e w^ 
 are sons, God hath sent forth 4he Spirit #f his l^op 
 Into our hearte, crying ^Ua, Father, Gral. iv. B. Mow 
 If any man have not the 8pirit of Christ, he is none ,ojF 
 his, Rom. viii. 9. By the means of this Spirit, He 
 dwells in ne, and we in him; we j)ec(»ne n^embeSsof 
 
 1 
 his foody, and can boast, that we are M' his fleshy aoity^f 
 
 his bones, Eph. v. BQ 
 
 All things* the most strictly unMed by natujr,e or art, 
 
 ftre made use of to repr-esent ;o us this admirable junion 
 
 which w« enjoy with Christ, bythe.meanp of fois Spirit 
 
 that qriickeneth us, John vi. 63. flehce are Kfe^^iyied 
 
 ithese Expressions of the holy apostlfisi Wehme put on 
 
 the Lord Jesug Christ, Rom. xiii. 14. Gal.' iii. S>f. Tp 
 
 whomr eoming, us unto a liviing:«tme,Ai^UoweM indeed 
 
 ^fmen, hut chosen of GMmii pmaiiom) i^eeSg/o, as lipe,- 
 
 Iff 'Stones, meibiiiltwp a spiritual house., i Pief.ai. % 6. 
 
 i*'or the same reason oiirr ■Savionr tel}- «s, tha*tbeis#BB 
 
 feue \ine, aadtfaat we are te brandhes, .Jiftfen scv; Asd 
 
 Mt. Fanlasflwes ^ih&iif me haim bfien pMnM'^^Mi' 
 
 in iheUk0m8s of his deA, ■we^allks dko intM Uke^ 
 
 ness of his f'^sttrhetion, Rom. vi. 5. * 
 
3S3 THE ^HRIgTIAN^TdONBOLAtlOlf; 
 
 ToBXpfest to U5, that the band' of this sacred unit 
 
 is'itfve,' out Loi'd Jesus Christ is\ vepresediM^ as oi 
 
 brather,<our Mker, and our bridegroom. A-Ccordiag 
 
 th<e ajpdstle tells ue>,iThiat ke is not itsfhamea to eatl i 
 
 ^thren, sdyiiigf I will ^^tlMrfe thy name ufitp tnfhret 
 
 ^fen> Heb. K, 11, 13; and elsewhere. That ^od hath prede 
 
 tinatei ustobeeoiifdftnBdtotke'infugeofhisSon, th 
 
 he might ^e the firsi^rn among mdnybi^e't^'i'^^Ro] 
 
 yiiL S9; and after his resurrection, our Lord him«t 
 
 '^eskks thus to Maxy M$.^^klfaBi fl ouch nie mt,' for 
 
 am^not yet astenied to niy Fathh^; hut go to myi'hihpe 
 
 and say unto ikipM^I ascend unto my Father an^ fot 
 
 Father^ and to liiy God dni your. Goi^ JohTixKi 17.- 
 
 Lifeewise tiiis glorious Kedeemfir, showing hiaiself 
 
 to God with air thef elect, saith, Behold I. and. the ch 
 
 d^m which thou hast givienmefllGb.n. 13; aitfl, spea 
 
 in^ohis church by the mouth of the prophet Hqsea^ ] 
 
 m€kes her this promise, Twill betrofhihee itnto mef 
 
 ever, yea, ' J Mil betrpflk thee unto me inrighteousnei 
 
 and in jndgeAm^ and inlavingrMndaitss^and in me 
 
 cies, chap. ii.'19'. Hence the church is often called 
 
 the Revelatiohs/ the .)Bnie>^^ the Lamb's Wife; and 
 
 the Canticles, the spirituar union bet'Wixt Christ and h 
 
 chnrch is all along represented by the allegory of 
 
 marriage. , ' 
 
 . And'becau^ the meat. and drink wliich we take f 
 
 our nourishment, unites with the body in such a ma 
 
 neras'tp become one substance with it, Jesus Chri 
 
 asgnrel us^ T^athis flesh is meat indeed, arid his blo( 
 
 lis drink indejed; that heis thle true bread which cat 
 
 down from hea,ven, which gltfeth life unto ttiewOrl 
 
 and that if aily man eat of this bread, ke shall life t 
 
 ever, John vi. 
 
T»E CHRISTiAN'S CONSOLATION. 39^ 
 
 fiut^ among all the similitudes employed. to repveseat 
 to us oar union with Jesus Christ by his holy Spirit 
 that qulckeneth us, there is none more frequently made 
 use of in holy scripture, than that of the Imman bodyj 
 nor indeed is there any more prftper: for as all the 
 Spirits that give life Jiud motion to the body proceed 
 from the head, and tlie members die as soon as sepa- 
 rated from it; in like manner,^ the Spirit that quicken- 
 eth us, aiid maketb us become new creatures, proceeds 
 from Jesiis Christ; so that every one that sepanateP 
 himself from this head^ falls into death and eternal 
 destruction. ' And as there are many members, which 
 nevertheless make up but one body, because they are 
 all animated with the same Spirit, and are kept alive 
 by the same head; so there are many members belong- 
 ing to Christ's mystical body, some fighting the goad 
 fight xtpoh earth, and others glorilied in heaven; never- 
 theless they make up only one mystical and s|>Iritual 
 body, forasmuch as they are all quickened by the same 
 Spirit, and receive their celestial influences froni t!ie 
 sameilead. This is what St. Paul expressly teacheth 
 us in tliese divine Wordis, Vnv as the body is one, and 
 hath many members, and all. tiie niemiiers of that one 
 body, being many, are one body; sa alao is Christ. 
 For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one Iiody, 
 whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond 
 or iVet^; and have liecn'all made to dritik into one Spi- 
 rit, 1 Cor. xii. 1?, 13. Finally, because the sa»mc Spirit 
 tlvat is in our Lord, as in the head and fountain, and 
 in the church in general, as in the body quickened and 
 moved, is also in every member: the holy apostle is 
 not satisfied with calling by the name of Christ, this 
 
 hrecious body, composed of Christ and his churchy but 
 
 3B 
 
80,^ Tm CHHIST lAjSf'S, CONSOLATIOIS. 
 
 he tells us moreover, with respect to every belie vet. in 
 t)|y?ticular, That he that is joinedunto the iMrd, is ong. 
 B^irit, iCor. vi. 47. 
 
 , These, and all other representations of the same na^ 
 tiire, however lively^ and noble^ they may appear, are 
 Utiit dark shadows and imperfect images of our union 
 witli Jesus Christ hy his holy Spirit that quickeijelJi 
 us. For the richest and most magnificent garments can- 
 JiQt keep o;fiF diseases, nor hinder the corruption of the 
 body which they invest. There is no fouadatipu, though 
 ever so firm and well settled,, fehat can secure the house 
 built uponit.frpm the breaches of time. Although the 
 i^ap mounts up.from the root cijf ^he, ylne, and circulates 
 into the twigs ami branches, they wither at last, and 
 a.}:e cast into the, fire. The rarest, meats, and the most 
 exquisite drinks, cannot make our bodies immortal* 
 Death snatches, everyday, the brother from the bro- 
 ther, the father from the child, an.d tha wife from the 
 hushatid. A stroke of the sjvord can sepajate the head 
 from the healthiest and most vigorous body; nay, with-^ 
 out any such violence, thci head. dies, as well as^he 
 body; and the spirits that proceed from it are so far 
 frpm hindering the corruption of the members, that they 
 corrupt of themselves, and disappear. In short, the 
 strictest unions of natupe and art, are dissolved by tijnej; 
 F*nd. every thing. under the sun is subject, to vanity and 
 inconstancy, iEcql.. i. But the Spirit of our Lord- Jesiis 
 Christ is the principle of an eternal, life, the seed of ,au 
 incorruptible gloCyi whosoever is united to him by tliis 
 Spirit, nothing c?iu sepacatei him from Christ, neither 
 life, nor deaths nor the world, nor hell, nor things pre- 
 sent, northings to come, Rom, viii. 88. Therefore, 
 , when our bks&ed B^viour couM find nothing upon 
 
tHE CHRISTIAN'S CONSOJiATlON. gfg 
 
 \, ■ - 
 earth, nor amongst all the creatures, worthy and able to 
 
 represent this perfect and inseparable Union, he seeks 
 an image above the highest heavens, in that unehadge- 
 aWe union, which was, which is, and which ever shall 
 be, betweeh him and God the Father; as we may see 
 in his excellent prayer, John xvii. Father, I pray foir 
 them which shall believe oh cie: that they- all may be 
 one, as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee; that they 
 also may be one in us, even as we are one. 
 
 Tremble not, therefore, Ghristian souls, nor be dis- 
 mayed; for all the three persons of the most holy, most 
 glorious, and most adorable Trinity, are engaged for 
 your salvation, and eternal happiness. The Father, by 
 his infinite wisdoto, hath found out a means to reconci^d 
 us to himself, to satisfy the rigour Of his justice, and t6 
 declare the riches of his unparalleled mercies;, the Son 
 hath purchased for ns this great salvation, by ottering 
 himself up a willing sacrifice opon the cross, and by 
 shedding his most precious blood for the remisslrta of 
 our sins; and the holy Spirit, by uniting us with this our 
 High Priest, niakes Us partaikers of the infiuite merits of 
 his sufferings. This is the true hyssop that sprinkles the 
 rfivitfe blood of the l^mb without spot or bleriiist, to- 
 tbfe ctetoSittg of oui* souls, Heb. xii, S4. It is this Spirit 
 th^t gives us the white stone^ wherein tlie new trafite of 
 M^ct atid BeMever is Written, which no man knovi^fetfe, 
 ssEVlng he thiait pfeceiVetfc it, Hev. ii, 17, He gives us to 
 eit 6f tfee hidden mmM, thiefood of angels, which the 
 WoM ktfoWdti! nbt, John xlv>. 17. It is instead of a: 
 preoi^s rift^y by wMih &m heavenly Bridegi'oom 
 jfligBts fo as Ms cbr^ugal fikh. It is the seal of thte liv- 
 ing ^6S fhut^als to us^ the cdVenant of graC^, aotl all 
 the promises of glory aiftl happiness made to nsi iii th%;* 
 
396 THE CHRISTIAN'S CONSOLATION. 
 
 gpspel; as the apostle tells iis, Having believed in the 
 gospel of our salvation, we are scaled Tvith the holy 
 Spirit of proTBise^ Eph. i. 13; therefore h^ exhorts us, 
 Grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are seal- 
 ed unto the day of redemption, Kph. iv. 30. Finally, 
 this is the Spirit that beareth witness with -our spirit,tliat 
 we arc the children of God: And if children, then heirs: 
 heirs of God> and joint heirs with Ciirist, lloni. viii. 
 
 16, ir. 
 
 Think not, Christian souls, that I intend to persuade 
 yon, that this holy Spirit of our Lord Jesus sjijall come 
 and whisper in your ear, or call unto you from within, 
 that you are the children of God, as some extravagjtnt 
 enthusiasts imagine. The witness that he hears with 
 our spirits is a real and eifectual witness, if I may say 
 so: for by regenera^ng. us, and milking us becoine new 
 creatures, he gives ns a greater and more certain assur- 
 ance of our adoption, than if he declared from heaven, 
 Thou art my child, and thy name is written in the book 
 of life. As the seal imprints its image in the wax^ thus 
 the Spirit of our Lord Jesus imprints4q» our souls the 
 image of its holiness, and of all its divine virtues^ NoWr,, 
 $s the figure that remains upoju the wax enables ns to 
 pass & ,sme judgment what manner of ^eal made , the 
 itnprei^sloip); so when you find ithe image of God engrav- 
 ed in your hearts^ acknowledge the finger of God, and 
 the power, of his Jioly Spirit: for no one can bear this 
 blessed image, ^except he be the child of God. The liol^ 
 Spirit, tbat engraves.it in our souls,, kindles there the 
 flames of seraphic love, and gives us tongues of fire. — 
 He causes us to speak to God with boldness as unto 
 our Father; and to lift up our eyes to heaven with an 
 fcoly joy, as unto our iuherita,nce; v 
 
THK CHRISTIAN'S CONSOLATION. 397 
 
 All the possessions of thi^ life are subject to<ig,put»e- 
 rltblt; accidents, and we are sure to lose them at last.^- 
 Riches make themselves wings, they fly away as an eagle 
 towards heaven, Proy, xxiii. 5: honours vanish like 
 sinoke tbatis driven by the wind: and pleasures haste 
 away as a torrent; or, like rivers of the sweetest water, 
 they end at lasj. in a sea of bitterness. But if, by chance, 
 these vanities continue with the worldlings so long as they* 
 live, yet when they die, they shall carry nothing away: 
 their glory shall iipt descend after theni, Psal. xlix. 17, 
 and. their foolish delight shall vanish with their breath. 
 But deatii has no power over this spirit of life, which is 
 our true treasure and glory, and our only constant de- 
 light. ,' 
 
 Nay, even that true and lively faith, that embraceth 
 Jesus Christ as its. Saviour, shall ceas^; and hope, that 
 looketh at things to come, shall one day be abolished. 
 Whrle we are in this eaiijnly pilgrinlage, we walk by 
 faitlf^riot by fight, 2 Cor. v. 7; and while we are toss- 
 ed up and down upon the troubled sea of this world, we 
 have: need of the anchor of our hope, and to wait with 
 patience the fulfilling of what we hope for. But when 
 we shall arrive at our heavenly country, we shall neither 
 need staff to support us^ nor shield toidefehd us, against 
 the fiery darts of the devil. When we shall fenter into 
 the heaven of eternity, this anchor will no longer be of 
 tt^e to us; for our hope shall be changed into a perfect 
 fruition. When we shall be in paradise, we shall not 
 need wings to carry us up to God, but only to fly about 
 his throne, as the serapjiimsj Is. vi. In short, w& shall 
 not want a glass tp behold his glory, for we shall see> 
 liim face to face, 1 Cor. xiii. 13. AH that we believe a 
 prespnt, without seeing, we shall then see and believe 
 
29B WE CHRISTIAN'S CONigGLATlON 
 
 m> more. But as for the Spirit of the liord Jesus, ivhqm 
 the world cannot rticeive, because it seeth Aim not, nei- 
 tJiep Mumethhim, John xiv. 17, it is not giveu us for fi 
 time, but to dwell in us- for ever. As the humanity which 
 our Lord Jesus leak from among us is not cast ofiF, nor 
 ever will be^ fclHi* tip spirit which he hath given us shall 
 never be taken from us. The humanity which our bles- 
 sed Saviour wnrlied-personally to the godhead, is become 
 glorious by that «tepn;al union; but the Spirit which he 
 hath urtited to our spu'its, by this union of grace, is ike 
 source of sll ater glory and happiness. 
 ' This spirit of life is nOt only the seal of the promises 
 of God,, but al'sO asn earnest of that incorruptible inheri- 
 tance reserved in heaven for us, i Pet. i. 4. This St. 
 Paul teacheth us in the first chapter of his epistle to the 
 Eiphesiiaus: ! for after having said, Ye were sealed with 
 the Holy Spirit of promise, tie adds, w/fic/l is the earnest 
 of our inheritance, until the ¥ilj^mption of the purchased 
 possession^ unto the praise of his gldry. This Holy 
 Spirit being the; seal Of the living Cfod, makes him the 
 earnest of our inheriliance: for that heavenly image 
 which he imprints in our souls shall he part of the glb- 
 ry with Whifch'-Tve shall b& crowned in paradise. There- 
 fore the wisdom of God, that raianifes*8; itself in every 
 thing, calls not this Spirit a pMge^ but an eavn^'iit; foi' 
 though both the OMje and the other is given to ensure thfe 
 fulfilling of promises, yet Ohere is fcfeis difference between 
 them, that men comtnonly Cake back flgain the thin^g 
 pledged, when that which was protiiiised is performed^ 
 but th« earliest always rethains, and is part of the sutii 
 to be paid. As therefore the eairnest Whiieh is.given is 
 never raken away, hut men add to it the remaibdter df 
 the muk psOTuisedf thus out SaviouT never takes awtfy 
 
THE CHRISTIAN'S COfiT^OtATUON. 399 
 
 tjeom his elect the Spirit of adoptioB;, whicli he hath once 
 hesto«red upon them: but he in^r^asBd its graces and 
 advantages until he hath raised them to the 'highest glo* 
 ry, and most divine 'happiness, thfit they can hope ov 
 expect. 
 
 It is in this case as with the suQ, which as soon as it 
 appears above the horizon, incrpogeth in splendor more 
 and more, until it ascends up to the merluiian; or, as 
 with the brooks and rivers, which the farther they run, 
 the fuller they grow, until tliey come to the sea. There- 
 fore our Lord and Saviour, speaking of this hpirit of 
 grace, which s^ch as believe in him receivey tells the 
 Jews, He that believeth on me, oyit of his belly shall 
 flow rivers of living wafer, John/ vii. 38; and to the 
 woman of Samaria he saitb. Whosoever shall drink of 
 the water that T. shall give him, sball never thipst; but 
 the water that I shall give him, shall be in him a well 
 of water, springing up iijto everlasting life? Johin iv. 14. 
 This was sometime shewn; in a vision to the prophet 
 JE/zekiel, under the ioislge of waters that ran down from 
 the sanctuary; for at first they reached no higher than 
 the prophet's ancles; afterwards they rose up to his 
 knees, and then to his loins; and at last they incr©i\,sed 
 in such a manner, that they became a greiat torrent, a 
 deep river which could not be passed, and which ran 
 into the sea, chap, xlvii. 
 
 As David, in the beginning of his royalty, ruled over 
 no more than one tribe, but afterwards enlarged the bore • 
 ders of his kingdoms, and reignefl over all the twelve 
 . trihes of Israel, so that the small portion of tlic kingdom 
 which he at first possessed was noi taken from him, but 
 increased, and made greater, S SJam. ii. 5; thus it is 
 with u^' even in this lifejf We have a small pa*t^ of the 
 
400 THK CHRISTIAN'S CONSOLATIoN: 
 
 kmgdbm of .heaven intrusted in our bands; bt, if I in ay 
 so sayi we have now some jewels of that intott'il'iiitiMlt 
 crown vihicli is promised hereaftet.- This part shjill 
 not foe taken from us; this brigli't beam of our future 
 glory shall never be extinguished; but in the life to 
 come, we shall possess as far as we are able, the whole 
 extent of this kingdom, and shall be' clothed with all 
 the light and splendor of the heavenly glofy. - 
 • But as there is no comparisdn so exactly just, but 
 what is deficient in some respfects; so hci'e is a notable 
 difference: for the tribe of Judah was the noblest and 
 richest part of the -Kingdoiil Of David; but that pjirt 
 which our souls enjoy at ]#egent,* Of the happiness^^ and 
 glory of the kingdom 6f^ heaven, is but a drop of wa- 
 ter in comparison of the ocfoan,- or as a weak ray of 
 light, when compared with the sun. Therefore the 
 apostle St. Paul, who had been cauglit up to the third 
 heaven, S Cor. xii. 3, and who knew belter than any 
 man in the world what were the joys : and glories of 
 that place, Avhen he^^eaks of this Spirit of adoption 
 which God sends into pur hearts, calls it the first fruits 
 of the Spirit, Rom. v|ii. S3; to teach us, that there is 
 as gi-eat a diflFerence Ijetweetl <he measure of Hie gifts 
 and graces which wc( received here belovf, and the 
 o,^flawiitg abundance that we shall receive in heaven, 
 as b»tween a few ears of coif'n and the entire harvest 
 of :a field. It is like the cluster of grapes wliicli was 
 •brought to the children of Israel in the wilderness, 
 when compared tOijihose innumerable quantities^ with 
 which the land of CSanaan abounded. It is only some 
 small crumbs of that heavenly bread with which we 
 shall be satisfied in the kingdom of God; or, as it were, 
 afew drops of that new tv^ine which we shall drink- 
 for ever in the heavenly Jerusalem. 
 
THE CHRISTIAN'S CONSOI^ATION. 401 
 
 • 
 
 By tiiis lime you perceive, believing souls, tfeat. the 
 approaches of death ought not to affright yoii, siace 
 you feve within yourselves the principles of everhst- 
 ioglife, and the seeds of a glorious immortality, which 
 cannot be taken from you. Jesus Chrijst not only waits 
 for you at the haven, and stretches out his arms to re-, 
 ceive you into his rest, but he himself is also with you, 
 and will render the way more easy and pleasant to thia 
 new world, where righteousness dwells. He will work 
 {niracles for your sakes; and if you believe, you shall 
 see tlie glory of God, John xi. 40. We not only tread 
 in the footsteps of this our true and heavenly Joshua, 
 but we pass over with him, ^.a^d he passeth over with 
 us. We are not like the children of Israel that passed 
 over Jordan, whilst the priests stood with the ark in 
 the midst of the river. Josh.' iii. i7- But we may be 
 compared to ihose priests themselves that bare the ark 
 of the covenant, and Causedr the waters to return back 
 /to their place: for we are a royal priesthood, 1 P^t. ii. 
 9, and bear in our souls the Lord Jesus, in whom divel- 
 leth ali the fulness of the Godhead badUy, Col. ii. 9, 
 and in whom are hid all the tveaBures of wisdom and 
 knowledge, verse 3. In short, our souls return to God, 
 the fountain from whence they came. I^et, therefore, 
 that hea,venly voice which was heard in the holy il^d, 
 sound continually in your hearts, Fear not for I have 
 redeemed thee: I am tliy God and thy Saviour. When 
 thou^assest thrwigh the waters, I wilt be with thee; 
 and through the rivers, they shall H«t overflow thepi 
 when thou'walkest througii the fire, thou shalt not be! 
 hurnt; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee, Isfl. 
 xliii. i, 2; and say, with the man after God's own 
 lieart, Though I wdk through the vciUei/ of the shadow 
 • 3 E . ' 
 
403 THE CHRISTIAN'S CONSOLATION. 
 
 ofdedtkfl icill pat no evil; fat iKgii art with me, tUy 
 rod and thy staff they comfort me, Fsstl. xxirt. 4. 
 
 It seeilis the primitive Christians had a design to 
 paint to us this truth, by the embitmatiGal figiire o,f a 
 ^iant-like man, wading through the sea with a staff in 
 his hand, and a i:;hi1d j(][)iDn iiis slioulderj For this gi an' 
 is the emblem of a christian, who lifts up his hopes as 
 high as heaven; the sea signifies the dangJEfrsof this 
 \*'orld, and the terrors of death;: t!ic stafl' represents 
 faith, that support us in our passage through death to 
 fife, leaning upon which we wWship thfe living God that 
 Hade heaven and earth: and the child is an invaige of 
 Christ; thiarefore hie that bears him is called Ckristo- 
 pherusi that is to say, he that bears Christ. 
 
 If Caesar could not endure to se6 his pilot tremble' iu 
 a furious tempest at sea, because he was. in the boat, 
 how much less reason have we to be afraid, who carry 
 in our hearts the gteat Emperor of the world, the hope 
 and consolation of Israel! Caesat was as much in dan«'' 
 ger to suffer shipwreck as his pilot; but our Lord Jesus 
 Christ hath all the winds a;t his commands He can still 
 the most troubled sea; and, by the most terrible death, 
 he can bring us safe to the haven of eternal rest, to a 
 most happy and glorious liffer 
 
 When David addressed himself to fight with Goliah, 
 he spoke thus to that drcadftil Philistine, I come to thee 
 in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of 
 Israel, i 8am. xvii. 4S. But you, Christians, when yon 
 are to encounter with death, may say to it, not only, T 
 come to thee in the name of him who hath "legions of 
 angels at his service, who commands all the armies of , 
 heaven; hut I come to thee clothed with his armour, 
 strengthened by his holy Spirit, and assisted by bii4' 
 
THE CHRISTIAN'S COFSOLATiON. 4iQ| 
 
 sell iR, parsoa. For Jesus Christ wha hath overcome 
 death for us, will also overcome it by us. We ar^ the 
 lively stones (1 Peter ii. S.) which he hath chosen of 
 his wonderful grace s^nd mercy, to bring down a&d sub- 
 due, once more, this proud insulting enemy, which 
 makes all that live in the world' tb tremble, and covers 
 their faces with shame and confusion. 
 * We have seen a Hamson breaking in pieces, with an 
 admirable strength, the ropes with which he had been 
 bound by the Fhilistinej, and rending a young lion, in 
 whose carcase, a few days after, he found honey which 
 was most pleasant to the taste, Judges xiv, and xvi.^- 
 With much more ease shall we, who are strengthened 
 with the spirit of the Lord Jesus, of whom Samson was 
 but a type, break in pieces all the cords and chains of 
 death. We shall fend the body of this old iipn, and 
 when we shall have searched into his bowels with a se- 
 vtous and frequent meditation, we shall find there the 
 sweetest and most ravishing isomforts. 
 
 As when the prophet Klijah was, taken up into hea- 
 ven in a chariot of fire, he let fall his mantle, with which 
 £lisha divided the waters of Jordan, so that he went 
 over on dry ground, 2 Kings ii; thus our Sayiour Jesus 
 Christ being ascended up above the clouds, to the throne 
 of his glory, hath covered us with the robe of bis ngh- 
 teousness, Is. Ixi. 10, and hath strengthened us with his 
 holy Spirit, that we might pass in safi»ty through the 
 turbulent sea of this world, and that through deathwe 
 might enter into life immortal. 
 
 And as the d^ath of our Lord Jesus Christ sepamted 
 his soul from his body, although his holy and innocent 
 soul, his pure and immaculate body, remained always 
 unitbd personally to his divinitys. in, the same manner, 
 
404 Tm eilRISTlAN'S CONSOI.ATlOi; 
 
 the beli&ver'g^death divides, fpr a timcj his soul fi'om his 
 bodyj but if can never sepatate it fpom the sfirit of tlie 
 Lord Jesus, which is the soul of our souls, such a di' 
 viae and immortal flame, as can never be extinguished. 
 
 When the High-priest of the Jews put off his priest- 
 ly pruaments, he, at the same lime^ put off his breast- 
 plate, whfiFeon the names of the twelve tribes Of Israel 
 were engraved, Exod. xxviii. ?1. Mow, not only oul" ' 
 names are written in the Lamb's book of life, Rev. xiii. 
 and our picture, imprinted upon tlie palms of his hands 
 with the blood, pf the everlasting covenant, but we are 
 as a seal upon his heart, Cant. viii. 6j so that we cannot 
 be separated ff om him, any more than his heart can be 
 taken from him. His love is sirqng#r than death; tlie- 
 coak thereof are coals of fire, which hath a most vehe- 
 Ment flame.' , • 
 
 Whereas> then, Ruth the Moabjtes^rsaid unto Naomi 
 her inotherrin-law, JS*oughthv$ 4eath shall part tkm<and 
 me, Ruth i. 17; we can say unto our Lord and Saviour, 
 who is our father, brother, and husband, not only death 
 shall never be able to, separate u^ from thee, b4it it shall 
 bjing us nearer to thee, and cause us to rest in thy bo- 
 som, where we shall be for ever satisied with the de- 
 lights of thy paradise, ' 
 
 Therefore, believing souls, be no longer afraid c^ 
 death) seeing you are invulnerable to all its dart«, hav- 
 ing been dipt all over in the river that springs up to 
 eternal Ufe. The spirit of the JLqvd Jesus that i^ in 
 you, is the spirit of life, the seed of; immortality, and 
 the, only fountaiu of glbiy. and hap|>iness^ If the! breath 
 ofH;he prophet Elijah raised ,d dea,d body to life, i 
 Kings xvii. S3,, how much , more shall the spirit and 
 breath of the Father and the Soa be abl© to pyeserys 
 
THE CHRISTIAN'S CONSOLATION. 405 
 
 yoar, spiritaal life? Had death the power to^ slap the 
 b^litli of the almighty^ to extinguish the rays that flow 
 from his divine countenance, and to dry up the rivers 
 of? living water that issue out of his throne> >t might 
 then be ahle to destroy you, or to make you miserable; . 
 but so long as Jesus Christ shall be the author and 
 well-spring of light, life, glory, and immortality, and 
 iiis holy Spirit shall be victorious and triumphant over 
 death and hell, you may assure yourselves of being 
 everlastingly happy, and may sing witli the Fsalmist, 
 I shall not die bat live, and declare the works of the 
 fjord, Ps. cxviii. 17. \, 
 
 You are not only certain of this everlasting glory 
 and happiness; you ;are not only eate^ed into posses-, 
 sion of it by your faith and hope, but you begin already 
 to enjoy it and its ffi'st fruits; /or he that believeth ou 
 Jesus Christ, is passed from death unto life, John v, 
 24. He that hath the Son of God hath eterval life, 
 i John v. 12. As the prophet Moses, when he was in 
 the wilderness, not only saw the land of Canaan afar 
 off, but tasted of its fruits; thus we not only behold a^far 
 off, with the eye of faith, our celestial inheritance, but 
 we taste at present, and relish some of its sacred de- 
 lights. And as the fruits brought by the spies were of' 
 the same kind with those that the children of Israel 
 fed upon in the promised land; in ,like manner, the 
 frai^ which \ye taste in this world, to us no other th^n 
 a wilderness, are fruits of the tree of life, with which 
 we shaU be fully satisfied in heaven. For the grace 
 that God bestows upon as here below, by his holy 
 Spirit, is' the beginning of that glory wherewith he 
 shall crown us above. The same light that shines 
 upon our souls on earth, shall enlighten them for ever 
 
40e THE CHRIStAN'S CO^S0I:,AtmN. 
 
 in Tieaven: bat whereas at pt-esfciit, we look upon i( 
 through a mist darkly, we shall ttiea liehol'd it clearl^f'^ 
 wijthout any vail 6r obscurity. The ^ame holiness that 
 adorns at present our souls, shall still be their orna- 
 ment and gloiry: only thea it shall appear without spot 
 or blemish. That same peace of conscience that is now 
 the joy of our hearts, the deliglit of our senses, shall 
 still remain with us; but then it shall not suffer the 
 least interrliption. In sliort, , the same Jesus that is 
 yconceived iti our hearts, and that is formed and grows 
 up in us by degrees, shall thert appear in a perfect 
 stature, which shall want no increase. 
 
 As it is with the sea; it runs info tlie rivers before 
 the rivers can run into the sea: in like manner, Grod 
 comes to us before we go to him; and lieaveu enters 
 into our souls before we can enter into heaven. 
 
 Aged Simeon waited patiently for death; but as soon 
 as he had seen the Saviour of the ^vorld, and embraced 
 bim^ he ran joyfully to mee^ it; he thought upon no- 
 thing but his final dcparturfe, and prayed unto God., 
 with an holy earnestness, to receive him unto his glo- 
 rious rest. What then oxisM to be the frame and dig- 
 position of thy soul; O Christian, since tkoU beholdest, 
 'Avitli the eyes of faith,' this blessed Redeemer, not 
 wrapped up. in swaddling clptheSj* but clothed with 
 light, and crowned with glory, life is not in thine 
 arms, but in thine heart: thou hast not received him 
 i,lo part with him {(gain preseUtly, 'but to be united td 
 him for eve-r, and' to be incorporated into his mystical 
 body. Since, therefore, death brings thee nearer to thy 
 Kedeemei^, perfects this blessed uhioU, and casts thee 
 into the vei;y fountain \)f life, instead of being seized 
 with fear, and troubled at its approach^ it is then thi>i» 
 
THE. CHRISTIAN'S CONSOLATION. 4,07 
 
 slioultlst rejoice, and be. transported with raptures of 
 divine gladness. We should meet death with a cheer- 
 ful countenance, or rather the Lord Jesus the Prince 
 of mercy and life, who having vouchsafed thee a sight 
 of his salvation, graciously intends to take thee into his 
 rest, and to receive thee into that glorious peace, which 
 reigns above in heaven. 
 
 I'KAYEK AND M5DITAT10X 
 
 For a Christian Boul, which strengthens itself against 
 
 the Tears of Death, bi/ meditating upon our strict 
 
 and inseparable unirfn with Jesus Christ by his Holy 
 
 Spirit, arid upon the first fruits of our blessed im- 
 
 ^mortalitif. 
 
 ALMIGHTY andmercifnl Lord! the Sun .of 
 Righteousness, and l^ountfiin of living waters! drive' 
 avvay from me the dark shadows of death, and qUejnch 
 all thr^ fires that it kindles in:jiny sonl. Thou hast not 
 only died for me, hut thou art pleased to live in me, ti 
 the end I may one day, live for ever with thee. Thou 
 hast not only diftfl for me, hut thou art pleased 'to live 
 in me, to the (end I may one day, live for- ever vvitli 
 theo. Thou hast not only chosen me, of (hy pure mer- 
 cy, to be (hy brother (tiiy sister) "anil thy child, l)ut 
 tliou hast made me a member of thy mystical body, 
 flesh of thy flesh, bone of tliy bone, and hast caiieed 
 me to partake of thy Holy Spirit. God hath given tliec 
 the spirit without measure, that of t!iy fulness we might 
 nil receive, and. grape for grace, John i. 1(5. By the 
 menns of this blessed and infinite Spivit that dwells iu 
 my soul, I am united to tbee in a hearer and more per- 
 fect manner, than the tree is to the root from which it 
 spring';, or the child to ils mother Ihit iwurisheth it in 
 hev w<im'>. or the members of the human h(^ are to 
 the head that animates tlidm. The ties tharuuite '.sie 
 
408 TriB CHRISTIAN'S- consolation: 
 
 unto th^e, yO glorioas Saviour! are more lasting than 
 tlic heavens and earih. A§, nothing can ploek me out 
 of thy hand, so nothing can banish me out of thy heart. 
 Whether I live or ^ie, 1 am thine, my Lord arid my 
 God, and nothing can separate me from thy love. — 
 Death can take me out of the world, and< ^tatcK me 
 from the embraces of my dearest friends; but it can 
 never separate me from thy Holy Spirit, the soul of 
 my soul, and the light of my life, which cannot be put 
 out by all the envious blasts of the prince of darkness: 
 on the contrary, it will bring me nearer to behold thy 
 face, to rest in thy bosoi]^, and will unite me witli thee 
 for ever. Lord, to wl*|m shall I go? Thou hast the 
 words of eternal life. Thou art the fnexh^ustible foun- 
 tain of wisdom, my hope, my treasure, my glory, and 
 mine only happiness. O faithful antl unexceptionabk 
 witness! I should be worse than an infidel, should I 
 call in question my salvation and thy glory, since lyjie 
 Father hath not spared thee for me, though thou art 
 bis only beloved Son, the brightness of his glory, and 
 the express image of his person. Since thou, O merci- 
 ful Redeemer! hast willingly suffered a shameful death 
 upon the cross, and shed thy precious blood to wash 
 away my sins, and satisfy for my offences, and since 
 thy Holy Spiwt is come into my heart, to sprinkle-it 
 witb that precious blood, and to seal me for the day 
 of redemption. O glorious Spirit of my Saviour, that 
 I'ests upon me, although thou shouldest tna,ble hie to 
 speak with the tongues of angels, I eoaUl not sufficient- 
 ly ex press, the wonderful operations that thou producest 
 in my soul. 'Ihou kindJest there an htily fire, which 
 li^c that of thy altar, never dies. Thou forraest in me 
 a white stone, wherein is a new name written, which 
 no man knoweth^ saving he that receiveth it. 'I'hou 
 givest me to eat ot that hidden manual that food of an- 
 gels, which the worldknoweth not. Thou bearest wit- 
 ness with my spirit, that I am a child and heir of God, 
 and joint-heir v^ith Jesus Christ the King of Kings: 
 and thou not only sealest unto me. the pardon of my 
 sii!S, buWhou purgestmy conscience from dead works 
 to sei^ the living Godj Heb. ix. 14. Thdu not only 
 
THE CHRISTIAN'S CONSOLATION. 40*^ 
 
 causest me to cry Abba, Father, but imprintest in mf 
 heart the glorious image of this heavenly Father. Thou 
 art both the seal of my adoption^ and the earnest uf 
 tnfne incorruptible inheritance, prepared for me in 
 heaven. Thou hast not only given me certain hopes of 
 a glorious and eternal life, but thou hast already begun 
 it in my soul, granting me a foretaste of it. Thou both 
 causest me to behold the light of thy grace, and maketit 
 it enlighten my understanding. Thou not only" vouch* 
 tafest me the favour of beholding from thi*s valley off 
 tears thine heavenly kingdom, but givest me to taste of 
 its fruits. I am not yet come to the fountains of water 
 springing up into everlasting life, but 1 taste the streams 
 and rivers that flow through my heart. 1 aln not yet 
 in thy holy paradise but thou hast caused^paradise to 
 be in me. Thou hast filled me with a joy unspeak- 
 able and full of glory, and hast .bestowed upon me the 
 p^acs of God that passeth all understanding. O living 
 and quickening Spirit, which the world knoweth not! 
 thou strengthenest me in such a {Bann«r, that death 
 shall no longer be able to make me afraid. Thou ivdni 
 united me for ever to it.e Prince of Life, and art in me 
 a, seed of immortality, a principle of glory, and an inex- 
 haustible source of happiness. Thou aj"t in nietoxlweU 
 with me for ever; therefore thou shalt till up in lue tli* 
 measure of thy most signal favours. My Mth, bot-ae 
 upon thy wings, hath got a sight of the kingdoui pre- 
 pared for me from the foundation of the world; but short- 
 ly I shall see with mine eyejs thp inexpressible beauties 
 of that celestial country, thai, flovys with the milk of the 
 jpurest and sincer est joys, and witli the honey of the 
 sweetest and most exalted consolatiouis. Thou hast given 
 roe a foretaste of the fruits of the tree of lif«; but w-tien 
 1 come into thy paradise, 1 «hal| be for ever fille^l with 
 its delicious fruits. Thou hast already caused some drops 
 of thy heavenly dew to fall upon my heart; !)ut then 
 tliou wilt make me drink of the rivers of thy immortal 
 delights. At present, in ray painftil passa^ in the midst 
 of my gi'oans aijd tears, I gather a few eafs; b,ut when I 
 come to my celestial inheritance, I shall reap my band^s 
 full with songs of triumph. Here upon earth I see God^ 
 
Mn THE CHRISTIAN'S CONSOLATION^. 
 
 as id % glassj darkly; but in heaveB I shallljeholi^him 
 f^ce to faef,' and sball be satisfied with his likeness;' 
 My Lord and m^' prod!, who by the infinite merits of thy 
 death hast purchased for us this spirit of life, and hast set 
 upon my soul such an authentic s^aj of my salvation, such 
 a precious earnest of thine eternal bliss, 1 feel iu me the 
 f#iotions and endeavoturs of this new man that struggles 
 to leave this. body of darkness and death, to entpr ittlo 
 the light of the living, tdrd Jesus! since thou hast made 
 me a partaker of thy -holy Spirit, enlightened me with 
 thy heavenly light, caused, me to know the way of life, 
 and hast given me to taste of the heavenly gift, and of 
 the poiwers of the life to Come; since thou hast v(*ttch-: 
 safed to tne the first-fruits of thy glory, and 1 already 
 feel heaven.in my soul; since I behold thee with the 
 eyes«of my faith, embrace thee with all my affectionsj 
 and that thou dwellest iu my heart, perfect in me the 
 work of thy grace, and crown me with thy glory. Lord, 
 now lettest thou thy sermnt depart in'feuce. according 
 to thy tpordf for mine eyesh^ve seen iky salvation. Amen. 
 
 I - - - 
 
 CHAPTER XX. 
 
 The Eighth Consolation. Death delivers us from all 
 the miseries ithich we daily suffer. , "-'' 
 
 ■ I HERB are certain pictures with two faces; the one 
 side represents most frightful and hideous objects, thp 
 other the most beautiful and pleasing that can be ima- 
 gined. This is the tine image of death; and in this man- 
 ner it ought to be painted. For we may consider it. as a 
 skeleton, with a fearful Countenance, and »iron hands, 
 that ravish froto us our pdssession.s and. honours, tear 
 us from ourselves, and di-ag our bodies into a loathsome 
 sepulchre. If we.lpok upon death in this view, we can,- 
 Bipt but tremble and fear. But we may also look upqii 
 
THE CHRISTIAN'S CONSOLATION. m 
 
 it as a |iowerful' deliverer, that unlooses all our fetters, 
 breaks onr chains, and lifts up our souls to the highest 
 glory and haj^piness. If we consider it m this light, 
 there is nothing move lovely than death, nothing more 
 worthy our admir^on. 
 
 1 have hitherto endeavoured to show how a believer 
 shall fortify and' comfort himself against the fears of 
 death: but now mypen attempts a nobler theme, and 
 with tlie assistance of heaven, T shall undertake to prove, 
 not only that death is to be expected without appriehen- 
 sion, but thg,t it is to be embraced with an holy joy; that 
 is to be des^jgd, not feared. To speak properly, I shall 
 offer no m@re consolations against the fears of d,eath; 
 for I hope to make it appear, that death itself is to be 
 looked upon as the greatest of all consolations. 
 
 To attain my purpose, I shall give you a picture in 
 miniature of all the dreadful miseries and misfortunes 
 from which death delivers us; and then 1 shall endea- 
 vour to paint in lively colours, or rather I shall faintly 
 chalk out to you, the blessedness and glory into which 
 it ushers us. 
 
 Man's life and misery are twin-sisters. They are 
 born at the same time in all the children of Adam; they 
 also die together at the same instant in true bBlievers. 
 Man begins his life weeping and crying, and ends it 
 with sighjS and groans. We come into the world all 
 (SBVered with blood, and we go out of it covered with 
 the coid sweat of death. If a child cries not as soon as 
 it is born, we judge it to be dead; and when a sick per- 
 son ceases to groan and complain, we say, that he is de- 
 parting. So that our crying is a token of life, and the 
 end of our groans an, infallible sign of our deatbw-^ 
 Wretched man! how miserable is ihy condition! Thy 
 
^^ THE CHRISTIAN'S CONSOLATION 
 
 Ufist friends vejoice at Uiy cpyihg, ami they weep when 
 tbau ceasest tosigh aud la.in'ent.< 
 
 All the ces#©f our time, between the cradle and the 
 g«ave, is no hafipier: it is but £).coot-inaed chain of mi- 
 sery, a mixture of different pains, a succession of ev,ils, 
 and a sea of bitterness. As one wave pushes on another, 
 so one evil is no sooner gone, but anfltber folio wsrand 
 threatens lis. Deep calleth ynto deep, .and all manner 
 of waves an<l billbws pass over us continually, Psal. xlii. 
 7. Man is bornMnta trouble, as the sparks fiy upwards, 
 •Tob v. 7; and as the wisest of kings tftljs Us, gill h,if 
 days are sorroies, and his traveil grief; ma, his 'heairt 
 taketh not rest in the night, Epcl- ii. ^. ."SEbere are no 
 )iousesbiii where the messengers of ill news often meet 
 together, as at that of Job, chap. i» 
 
 By G«)d''s upchangeable ftppointpetit tbe days succeed 
 the night's, and divide the year into two equal parts: 
 for if the nightp are longer in one season, they are so 
 Biflc^ the 4ihoi'ter isixinother. But the nights of our af- 
 flictions ai-e so long, that they seem to endure whole 
 ages; whereas the days of our prosperity are 50 very 
 sboH^ that they pass away in a moment; so that we have 
 reason to say with the prophet Moses,, Our siremgth is 
 labour atid sorrow; Jfor it is sooiii cut off, and we Jly 
 away-, I^rI. x-c. 10. 
 
 It w<»(ild be as ea«y a task to nu ruber the stars in the . 
 firmament, or to ooaat adl the grains of sand upon iitie 
 sea^sifaore, as to enuiDerate exactly all the evils that be- 
 fal m, either as wen belonging to a civil society, or as 
 members of God's ohu«cb, and, his adopted children.-^ 
 , Tbe patriairch J#cob couoplajiied, that the days of the 
 years of his life had been few and evil, Gen. xlvii. 9; 
 but ours are so eyi|, |feat they cannot be too few. 
 
THE CHRISTIAN'S CONSOLATION. U9i 
 
 I should cotnpose many vpjumes, if I shfuilcl under- 
 take to describe particularly all the infirmities and dis- 
 eases that undermine the body; ^iH the sharp pains, the 
 cruel agonies that rack and. torm^ejit it. 
 
 But the most languishing sicknesses, the most acflte 
 pains that afflict and disturb the body, are Qothing i^ 
 comparison of that extreme sadness, that mortal anguish; 
 that seizes upon the mind, and fills it full of gall and 
 bitterness. I believe there is no man upon earth that can 
 boast of having passed a single day. without some di^r 
 pleasure either visible or concealed; for we either feel 
 present evils, that strike through our hearts as so many 
 daggers, or the remembrance of former griefs troubles 
 us, or else the fears of future mischiefs vex and con- 
 sume us. I may justly say, that tlie devil bin|self is Aiot 
 so cruel to his own person as we are to ours; for this 
 wicked spirit cares not to be tormented belS'ore the time, 
 Matth. viii. S9; whereas we anticipate our evils by un- 
 quiet apprehensions, and wilful vexations that prey up- 
 on the mind. The fear of misery makes us doubly mise- 
 rable, and the apprehension of imaginary evils cause lus 
 to feel a real affliction and undissembl^d pain. 
 
 When we consider any man's life, we only Iqok at 
 that part of it which affects us with admiration and de- 
 light; we consider the nobility of his birth, the vfiriety 
 of his pleasures, the multitude of his riches, the lustre 
 of his honours, the glory of his victories, and the pomp 
 ©f his triQinphs; but scarce any person takes notice (»f 
 his miseries and afflictions, or if some are observed? 
 they are only such as are obvious to every one's eye, s^s 
 public dis^nces, the loss of a battle, the degradt^tjon 
 from an office, banishments, imprisonments, and such 
 like accidentf. JBut he^ides th^sie calamities which ar? 
 
M% TiiE chMstian's consolation. 
 
 visible to all the world, arid the cotntnon motives of the 
 Condolement of our friends, tliere are many secret evils 
 that are far more painful: our dearest friends discover 
 not always our most sensible wounds, to pour into them 
 their healing balm; they see not our deepest sorrows, 
 much less do they think of applying to them the need- 
 ful consolations. 
 
 When yon behold players strutting upon the stage, 
 and hear them spealuflg in the persons of kings and 
 princes, you little think, that under their magnificent 
 and costly attire, they hide 'many filthy rags,^ and soKie- 
 tinles vermin that sting them to the quick. Thus when 
 you cast your eyes tipoo the rithes, glory, pompj and 
 iiagmficence of worldly men, you discover not the can'- 
 ker that gnaws their hearts, the sewet fire that devburs 
 them. Some there are that laugh before corapariy, arid 
 put on a mefry countenance, who, in private, are full 
 of despair, sigh, rend their hair, a:nd pour. forth tears 
 of blood. Some feed themselves before the world with 
 the most delicious meats, and driak the noblest wines, 
 biit inwardly their meat is poison, and their drink gall. 
 This was the consideration of the wisest of kings, 
 when- he cried, / said of laiigHter', it is mad: and of 
 ndrtli, what doth it? Eccl. ii. 3: 
 
 As poverty and a mean - estate are never without 
 sorrow and care, so riches and honour are never with- 
 out fear arid inquietude;' and as there is no flame so 
 pure, but what emits some smoke, no rose so beautiful 
 but has its prickles, so there is no conditioti so splen- 
 did and glorious, no prosperity so flourishing, butliath 
 its troubles arid, &hATp uneasinesses. Every man upon 
 earth (without exception) bears^^is cross, or, in other 
 w'brds, hath a thorn in his flesh. The moth sticks to 
 
THE CHRISTIAN'S CONSOLATION. 415 
 
 the McliBststufFs, the worm gets .into tjie heatt of the 
 faicest flowers and fi-uits, aijd the thunder-bolt beats 
 down the loftiest oaks, the highest steeples, and the 
 proudest palaces. Thus care rand grief eat up the 
 flower of the greatest prosperity, and, -the noblest dig^ 
 nitieis are Subject to the most terrible downfalls.. The 
 richest crowns east all their splendour and glory out- 
 wardly, but inwardly they weigli heavy upon the heads 
 of such as wear them. 4- great Prince foi^nd his so in-, 
 supportable, that he cried out, O crown/ if thy weight 
 was k^Gmn, none would lif lathee from the ground. .-^It 
 is not without cause, that such as are passionately fond 
 of the world, and sufier^iemselves to be carried away 
 by ckroal delights, are in perpetual fear, for 'they are 
 exposed to the most -imminent danger. If their eyes 
 were open, they ■flfpuld see a iiaked sword always 
 hanging over their heads by a single hair. As in that 
 image which Nebuchadnezzar saw in his dream, thisj." 
 head that was of fine gold, was as easily broken as the 
 feet that were of, clay, and became as the chaff which 
 the wind carrieth away, Dan. ii. 35; so the most hon- 
 ourable, the richest, and tlie most glorious estate, is 
 subject to the same accidents a* the lowest, the poorest, 
 and the most wretched. Where are the riches and 
 treasures that are notiu danger of poverty? where 
 rides that pride that carries not shame behind il!P is 
 there any gi-andeur in the world secure against the 
 blasts of envy? Is there any taper wliich a sadden rain 
 cannot extinguish? Christian souls, tfike notice of the 
 fruits which the world gives to its servants and chil- 
 dren, and yqu,jhall find lliat fhey are like certain ap- 
 ples of America, of an. excellent beauty and a delicious 
 smell; but within full of- rank; poison, that infallibly 
 
4lg THfi CHUISTIAN'S CONSOLATION. 
 
 kills isiich as unadvisedly eat of tbem. There is no 
 sweet so "great vtpoh earth but hath a mixture of ^»t- 
 tevueBs; no joy so pure and lasting, but is often iutet- 
 taptM by sighs and fears. The most exquisite plea- 
 iui-es have an ait of grifcf, and a groaning accent. 
 Even in kughter the heart is sorrowful, and the end 
 of that mii'th is hea^Htiess, Prov. xiv 13; therefore the 
 wisest of pdpces, after he had considered witb atteti' 
 tiiBn all things that pass in the world, and had tasted 
 all the delights of life, concludes with this confession, 
 tJiave s6en all the worJcs^at are ddne awrfe**' the sun, 
 and hehiM M is vanity and vexation of spirit. Vanity 
 of vanities, all is vanity, Eccl.*i. 2, 14. 
 
 It is nnt needful that I should enter liere into a par- 
 ticular detail of all the sad and calamitous accidents to 
 which a man is subject in this life, and which are able 
 totivettUrn his most prosperous and JSoUrishing estate. 
 •Whoever thou art that i^eadest this, tefolve carefully 
 in thy ttiind the whole course of thy life, and weigh' 
 in the balance of the sanctuary all the good antl evil 
 which thou ha^t experienced. In one scale put all the 
 advantages of the flesh, and whatsoev^^ "brings thee 
 any pleasure or content, and in the oth^all thy cares, 
 griefs, disap|)ointments, and disgraces. ' If thy evils 
 iin.d miseries weigh not down the balance, esteem it a 
 p^otligy, a kind of miracle, yet boast not ne^-prtheless. 
 Remember what one of the seven wise men of Greece 
 said to a baugiity prince, who was dazzled with the 
 glory of his empire, and made dfunk with prosperities, 
 ^rhat no one can be called happy befare thp houf of 
 Ms death. Remember, that some who had attained to a 
 greater degfee of happiness than thou hast, have fallen 
 into a most Wl-etchfed state on a sudden. He who lately 
 
THE CHFHSTIAN'S CONSQIATiON. 417 
 
 abouadetl in wealth ami plenty, is reduced to. the most 
 abject poverty: he who luid whole armies at, hi^ com- 
 iniuid, is forsaken of aU the world; and he who had 
 pjinces for his vassals, is. forced to obey a slave. Some 
 that fed daintily, are glad to eat the bread of affliction, 
 agdto quench their thirst with tears. Some who lately 
 flourished in palaces, adoraed ^ith gold and azure,|a,re 
 now rotting in a loathsome dungeon. Some are dragpfd 
 frt^i|jthe|j.' magnificent dwellings to the most infamous 
 death. The ricbe^'t and noblest crowns have not pro- 
 tected the ^ost august heads: 
 
 But supposing it possible that thou shouldst pass 
 through this life without feeling aliy alteration, in thine 
 health, without suffering any loss of thy goods or change 
 of thy happy condition, a greater flirity than the strange 
 bird called the PhcBuix; hast thou no children, relations, 
 or friends, whom thou tenderly lovest, and whom thou 
 art bound in duty to love? 'Are these persons without 
 afflictions? are they not every day liable to them? cer- 
 tainly, unless thou hast an heart as insensible as marble 
 or steel, unless thou hast laid aside all natural affections, 
 thou must needs have a quick feeling of all the evils and 
 disgraces that^appen to them in this life, and when 
 death snatches them away, it rends t\\^ heart, and tears 
 out thy very bowels. ^ 
 
 Nay, should it happen, {which is impossible to imagine) 
 that nothing afflicts thee either in. |hine own person, or 
 in thy dearer part, thy relations and friends, and that 
 all such as share thy affections, enjoy a perfect and flour^ 
 isbing prosperity, like those countries of the new worli^ 
 which are always covered with flowers and fruits; yet 
 cast thine eyes upon the face of the earth, and thoU shalt 
 there behold so many evils* and mlamitiesy that if thou 
 
 3G 
 
4jtfe THE CitUIS'nAN'S CONSOLAl'jON. 
 
 hast any sense of i humanity, tboii must dissolve into 
 •tfears..-#' ^ , 
 
 Go# commanded the prophet Jeremiah to take tiie 
 cap of his fury to seveM nations, one after another, 
 Jcr. XXV. Bat now iivshoulfl seem that he gives this cup 
 to them all at oMce; for where is that people or nation 
 thM can boast of .never having drank of it, or of not her 
 lug in.danger to drihk? Some have dirank it up to th^ 
 very dregs, others have taken large draughts^ and^me 
 h&ve its bitterness still upon their lips. . ' 
 
 Our Saviour caused hit bdoV^d disciple to see two 
 angels, who had ekch of them in his hand' a sharp sic- 
 M^> to reap the harvest, and to gather thei gr^i^pesj @,ev. 
 Sciv. afterwards he showed to him seven more, who had 
 in their hands goldtn vials full of the wrath of Grot! , 
 which they poured upon the earth to plague and punish 
 the inhabitants thereof, ReV. xv. But at present, the 
 hbly angels Sfeem to appear in legions to reap aind gather 
 mankind, and to transport them to the threshing-^iooc 
 and wirie■^tess^ of God's awakened vengeance. The ' 
 wMh of @G)d seems no longer to be measured out by 
 Vials or 'cnpSj but it overflows as a great river, as an un- 
 fathomable sea. In short, the deluge tȣ, evils that co- 
 vers the face of tl;p'earth, is so universal, thaithe doves, 
 I mean the innocent and meek, that love peaccj can find 
 no )pe§t for the soles of thear feet. i^i^ 
 
 If thou hast ally sense of humanity, the least spark of 
 Christian zeal and^c|(arity, thou canst not behold, with^ 
 out a very! great sorrow, the deplorable state of Christ^s 
 church upon earth; for it is like Noah's ark inihe?pidst 
 of the waters, like the bush on Mount Horeb surround- 
 ed with flames; like the prophet Daniel in the lion's den, 
 and like hi^ 60iftira<BioQS in' the fiery lu^aee; so; that it 
 
THE CHRISTIAN'S CONSOLATION. 419 
 
 may justly cry oat with th6 ancient J emsaleni; It (9 no- 
 thing to you, all ye that pass byp heholdand see, if there 
 be any sorrow like unto my sorrow, whicfi is done unto 
 md, wherewith the Lord hath affiictedme, in the day qf 
 his fierce anger/ Lam. i. 13. Q blessed cliiirch of God, 
 thuu hast be^n persecuted from thine infancy until now! 
 Frpparc, therefore, lliyself to suffer much piorg jiji this 
 old age of the world. The devil persecutes thee \vith 
 so much the more wrath and fury, because he knowejj^ 
 thut he hath hut a short time, Rev, xii. 13; ami th&t he 
 must soon be shut up in tiie 'bottpmlei^s pit. 
 
 In this case to mourn is not o,nly lawful, but coomiaa- 
 dc^d; for God calls to girding with sackcloth, 1$. ^xii. 
 13. He would have us grieve for the aflictipn of J^osepb) 
 Amos vi. 6; to weep with them that weep, Rom. xii. 1@; 
 and to remember them that are in bonds, as ^oujid with 
 ^em,; and them which suffer adversity ash/sing ourselves 
 also in the bgdy, Heb. xxiii. 3. 
 
 We have too much reason to apply to the iVfOrW, and 
 to the worldlings, David's exclamatjjQn, Wo is me. thai 
 I sojourn in Mesech, that I dwell in the tmfs ofKe4Wf 
 My soul hath long dwfilt with him that hat^i^ pmce, 
 Psal. Gxx. 5,46. The prophet Jeremiah had neyer SQ 
 much cause to lament, and to wi^h tho^t his head wjere 
 waters, and bis eyes ,a foan tain. of tears, thg^t :he mi%ht 
 weep day ?ind night, Jer. ix. 1; and thp prophet fe3.ia,h 
 had n^ver so iiin^ reason to cry qut, in t|ie:agonypf bis 
 soul, LooJe (fieay from me, IwiU fpejep ^f<3?frfjfe Moi^ 
 not to comfort me; Mcause of the spoiling ofth^Amsht^ 
 of my people, chap. |txi. i. ^ 
 
 It is nfl(t,.the6efore, \fithioat jcause, th^t tbe .p?^*<rfj§r 
 tells us. That, the day ifdeathi9ib0tterM>'m,tydm-^ 
 em^s Urth, Bcci mi. 1:. for eur t>|rt*ijC8.i48fif *ni \^M^m> 
 
4S0 THE CHRISTAN'S CONSCJLATIQN. . 
 
 and^«atli di-ies all our tears; our birth discovers to us as 
 large, theatre, upon which all kinds of tragedies are act- 
 ed, deiath draws the eoirtain, and puts ah end to all such 
 ixloody spectacles; our birth casts us into the fire and 
 bitter water of direrS afflictions, amJ death pulls us oat 
 of that fire and bitterness. Finally, since our life is but 
 a chain of misery, and that death breaks in pUces the last 
 link; since life^is a continual warfare, and death the. 
 victory; it is rtiost certain, that death is not to be fearM 
 as an evi«l or misfortune, but rather to be desired as a 
 blessing and advantage. 
 
 It is recorded of the Thracians, that tliey buried their 
 dead with expressions of joy; and the inhabitants of the 
 Fortunate Island sang and danced at the funeral^ of 
 their dearest friends. I shall not make any observations 
 on the extravagant customs of these barbarous people, 
 who were without hope and Without (rod in the world. 
 Such cannot fear death too much; for if it frees them 
 from a few temporary evils it casts them headlong into 
 an abyss of endless torment. Death is an happinesi^, 
 and brings with it a solid joy and comfort; but it is when 
 we die in God's favour/ and in the faith #f our Lord 
 Jesus Christ. V 
 
 God hath bome.ample testimony tothe happiness M 
 hid children's death, that it is to be desired; for he of* 
 tentimes shortens the days of those whom he favours 
 and esteems the most. Thus, because he found some 
 good thing in the person of Abijah, the eldest son«f 
 3erohoam king of Isra,eli he took him away in the flower 
 of his age, 1 Kings xiy. 13. He granted the satae fa- 
 vour to 'Jobiah, king of Judah,pne of the most religious 
 and zealous princes in the world, as he had declared to 
 'hiin by HuMiih' the prophetess, Biho% I will gatiter 
 
THE CHRISTIAN'S C0NS0LA1[0N. ^ 4gl 
 
 thee unto thy fathers, and thou shdlt he gathered into thy 
 grave in peace, and thine eyes shall no\ see all the evil 
 which 1 will bring upon this plane, 3 Kings xxii. 30.— r 
 Without loubt, they are at all times, blessed which die 
 in the Lord, that they may rest from their labours, Rev. 
 xiv. 13; bnt I esteem them doubly hajipy which die, or 
 ratlier which cease to die, in these miserable titties, so 
 fall of disorder and confusion. 
 
 Would you not laugh at a workman that should grieve 
 at his task being finished,, and the painful labour of the 
 day nver? or at a traveller that should lament to see the 
 end of his journey, after having travelled all day thrpagh 
 briars and brambles, scorched by the burning heat of 
 the sun, or pinched by the cold of a severe winter? or at 
 one that, having been tossed by the waves of a tempes- 
 tuous sefty should weep at coming into the port, to see 
 himself safe from the danger of shipwfeck? Wi-etched 
 nian! who art afflicted and terrified at the approach of 
 death, thou art far more foolish and extravagant than 
 those of whom we speak; for the most painful labours 
 of the workman, the grievous fatigues of the most wea- 
 risome journey, and the swelling waves of the most 
 troubled sea, are nothing in comparison of the labours, 
 misery, and troubles, of this laiiguishing life. 
 
 You would not only think it folly and extravagance, 
 but the very height of madness, in a prisoner thai 
 should sorrow^ibr being delivered out of bis noisome 
 dungeon; or in a galley-slave that should be angry 
 Ai being freed from his cbainsj or in an offender that 
 should mouth whien he is taken down from^the rack. 
 What think ye? Is ^Mre less^'madness audi extrava- 
 gance in yoursei^^,''%hen ye sorrow to see death de- 
 liver your souls :from this ihisjerable body^ wherein it 
 
43^ TH^ CHRISTIAN'S CONSOLATION. 
 
 is impiisoae^^ disifeissing it from the slavisli ein^)loy- 
 ments of this unhappy age^ more grievous aad intole- 
 rable than that of the>gallies, and fi-eeing your souls 
 from those bitter agonies, which are far more painful 
 and racking than the most cruel tortures. 
 
 The patriarch Noah, when he went out of the ai'k: 
 tliat rested upon the mountains of Ararat, had hot so 
 much reason to prr.ise God, and to offer up. unto him 
 th% sacrifice of thank^ivitag, ks we have, vvhen he is 
 pleased to put an end to this deluge of evils and ca- 
 lamities, and to cause this ioating life, or rather 'this 
 living death, to rest upon Mount Sion. 
 
 The children of Israel sang songs, of thanksgiving 
 when they came out of Egypt, and saw themselves 
 delivered from a bitter and cruel bondage, wherein 
 they had been employed in gathering of stubble, and 
 burning of brick/ £xod. xv; but we have much more 
 reason to rejoice, and to sing songs of triumph, whea 
 dea:th takes' us out of the world, where wespffera, 
 kind of bondage, labouijihg: in a thousand vanities, and 
 enduringthe scorching heat of ten thousand afflictions 
 tbat consume us. 
 
 Thoa burnest with indignation, becaiise some of 
 those inconstftiit people murmured to return (^ain into 
 Egypt; when they were upon the borders of the pTQnii- 
 sed land: but father barn with indignation against il^y 
 own flesh, if it murmurs to return iij^pfae world when 
 thou art at the entrance of thy celestial Canaan. Jo- 
 seph rejoiced wheni the king of Egypt sent to fetch him 
 put of Mson, pen. xli; and have we not far greater 
 cause to oe joyful when God sends for our souls out, of 
 the prison of tibis world, and causetfa them to leave the 
 hody, wMchHo thera is a kind of d^i^eon? 
 
THE QHRISTIAN'S CONSOLATION. 4^^ 
 
 *^If, therefore, il^be without, itnpati^ce or murmuring, 
 1 conceive we have a mucli ^troVjger reason than the 
 prophet Jonahj|p cry out, O Lord, take lieseech thee, 
 my life from me; for it is. better for me tq die than to 
 live, Jonah iv. 3; or to say with the prophet Elijah, J^ 
 is enough, now, O Lord, take away my life, 1 Kings 
 xix. 4. Such a soul ma,y, in an holy transport, safely 
 breathe forth the prayer of I)avid, the man after God's 
 own heart, Bring my soul out of prison, that I may praise 
 thy name: the righteous shall compass me about; for thou 
 shalt deal bountifully with me, Psal. cxHi. 7. 
 
 PRAYER AND MEDITATION 
 
 For a Christian, who dothforts himself with the conside- 
 ration, that death delivers us from all the evils which 
 reign in the worfd, and under which we groan. 
 
 O ADORABLE Prince of my salvation! thou hast 
 hitherto ^tre^gth^lied me against allfears of death; and 
 now I hearfi^ neseech thee to afford me such gracft, 
 that, instiead of terAfying and aflfticting me, death iiiay 
 comfort and rejoice 'me. Let me not follow the example 
 of thy people Israel, who forgetting their former cruel 
 bondage, and minding, only the plenty and pleasures of 
 !^gypt, murmured to return back from the borders qf 
 danaan. On the contrary, grant that I may banish from 
 my heart the vain pleasures of the world, and all the 
 deceitful lusts of the flesh; and that 1 may so mind the 
 la:bours and miseries of this present state, that as a 
 workman gla^^ly sees fight put an end to his toil, or as 
 a traveller, either by sea or land, willingly enters the 
 haven or inn*where he is to rest, I may look upon death 
 in the same joyful manner; and the rather, becaus% of 
 the horrid disQfders that reign in tbe world, the deluge 
 of vice that overwhelms the earth, the rivers of blood 
 
tms THE CHRISTIAN'S CONSOLATION. 
 
 iiat flow oil ftveiy sidej and the fji'e and s\yord tliat 
 iireatett an<i devour us. Tlis lamentable stale of thy 
 listressed church chiefly affects me; tbfe^is likfe a sma.ll 
 )oat in the aidst of a, tempestuous sejRFready to sink, 
 vas it not for thy powerful protection, who commandest 
 he winds and the waves; or like the three children iix 
 he fiery furnace, in danger to be consumed, didst, thou 
 iot restrain the fury of the flames; of like a Daniel in 
 he midst of hungry lions, 'which would devour it in 
 in instant, didst thod not stop their tnouths.; O'ioy.; 
 Tod! when wilt thou put thy sealupon mine ey^s, that, 
 [ may no linger- behold such bloody tfagedies? when 
 vilt thou stretch out thine hand from on high, and lift 
 ne out of this dreadful, gulf? when wilt thou' send thy 
 loly angels to 'delivet me from the fire of these afflic- 
 ions? apd wheA shall 1 no longer behold th^ nationi 
 aade drunk with t4e cup of thy fury? when shall I 
 ease from seeing thy church bowed clown beneath the 
 might of its cross? and when shair I no lontger hear 
 he lamentations of thy spouse, the cries of thy ch'il- 
 iTen, the groans of thy servants and prisoners, and the 
 aourning of thine inheritance? my heavenly Father, 
 ly only hopel vrjhen wilt thou free me from this chain 
 f sorrows? wben wilt thou deliver me from the storms 
 nd tempests of. this eurageA sea? when shall my soul 
 e delivered from the cares and fears that oppress it? 
 nd when shall my body be no longer a prey to the 
 iekness and racking pains that consume itf*. Lord! 
 lou knowest all thij^gs: thou kilowest that I am in 
 le world as in a prison, and that my soul dwells in 
 lis wretched body as, in a dungeon. Lift up the 'light 
 f thy countenance upon thy servant, and smite me 
 ith the hand of efacej to wake- me from my slumber^ 
 lause my chains*|o fall oflF, open the gates of this dark 
 rison, and grant that I may follow joyfully the goou 
 igel that shall bring me oiit of this tedious captivity, 
 ito a place where I shall never more be exposed to 
 le assaull:s of Satan and the world, jvhich endeavour 
 I destroy me, that they may triumpli in my ruin, 
 'hen when! find myself in the streets of thy heavenly 
 arusalem, I shall know of a surety, that thou hast 
 
THE CHRISTIAN'S CONSt)LATION. 4,35 
 
 ilBlivered me, and will for eyer magnify thy holy aa4j 
 wonderful works in the assembly and qhurch of thei 
 first-born, which triqmph in heaven; where past sor- 
 rows shall no more| be remembered; where thprie is 
 neither crying,, nor pain, nor hunger, nor thirst; and 
 where the heats, of affliction shall not light on us: for 
 the Lamb which is in' the midst of the throne shall feed 
 us, and shall lead us unto living fountains of waters, 
 and shall wipe away all tears from our eyes. Amm. 
 
 CHAPTER XXl* 
 
 The J^inth Consolation. Death' deMvers, us from sin, 
 which, we see veigning^ in the world, and from the 
 remains of our owjn, corruption. ^\ 
 
 Vt hen God sent his angels from heaven to bring 
 Xot out , of Sodom, and secure him from, the flames^ 
 with which he ^as about to destroy that abominable 
 city, this good man's wife could not forbear looking 
 back; but she was punished the same moment, by be- 
 ing turned into a pillar of salt, the emblem of that holy 
 prudence which this tragical example recomnfends to 
 posterity, G«n. xix. That which made this unhappy 
 woman break the angeFs express command, was her 
 Iringing after the pleasures atul rich abundance of that 
 (?ountry from ^hichshe was departing, without once 
 reflecting upon the horrid abominations with which it 
 was dcsfiled, and the crying sins, which had brought 
 God's anger and jusjt vengeance upon the wicked in- 
 habitants. Thus, whe;n God is pleased to take us out 
 of tlie world, and to secure us from the feeling of his 
 dreadful judgments, that which causes us to lo6k ,^k, 
 and hinders us from following the angels that God 
 
 3H 
 
436 THE CHkISTIA^"'S CONSOLATIOI^. 
 
 feends to Ipad us up, to the mountain of ouy salvation, 
 is GUI' thinking apon nothing' but the riches, honoaif* 
 . 9nd pleasures, of this miserable wbrld, instead of con- 
 sidering the initjuities that reigti Kere below, and vvitli 
 which we are ourselves defiled, while we continue in 
 Jhis sinful flesh. 
 
 if 4phristikn souls, ' will y-ou prepare yourselves with an 
 holy readiness to go to God? is it your desire that 
 death should comfort and rcSjoice your hearts, instead of 
 afflicting them? cast your eyes iipon the dreadful vices 
 ihat feign in the world, under the burden 6^ which the 
 whole creation giroans. O good Grid! in what an age 
 are we born? An age like that of Noah; for all flesh 
 hath corrupted Ms way upon the eiai-th, Gen. vi. 13; 
 arid notlnng but a deluge of fire is able 'to purge it.— 
 There never was more injustice, perfidiousriess, treach- 
 ery, dejiauchery, insplerice, and envy; never more van- 
 ity, luxury, , prijle, cruelty, blasphemy^ impiety, and 
 atheism. "We may justly apply to our days, what the 
 j]yop?)Pt Rosea says of the corruption of his time. There 
 is notiruth^ nar mercy, vor knowledge of God in the land. 
 By swearing, and lying, and hilling, and stealing, and 
 committing adultery, they break but, andMood tokdketh 
 blood, Hos. iv.l, ^. Therwore wef have good cause ;to 
 Prefer Da,vid's prayer. Help, Lord, ibr the godly man 
 c^aseth; for the faithful fail from '^niing' the children of 
 men. They speak vanity every one with hid neighbour! 
 with flattering lips, and 'With a double hearty do tjiey 
 speak, Psal. xii. 1, 2. widfced world! a world over- 
 flowing with iniquity, a sink oftincleahness, k fiery fur- 
 nace, belchinig out flames from the bottomless pit, and 
 choked with the s.moke of bell. But sin not, only reigns 
 in this miserable world, it also defaces*^ the ibeauty of 
 
THE CHRISTIAN'S CONSOLATION. 437 
 
 the church, and wakes dreadful havock among those 
 that bftar the glorious name; of Christians. They were 
 anciently to be discerned from the rest of the wOrM b^ 
 their speech, conversation, and behaviour; but the devil 
 iiaths blotted out this divine character, defaced this hea- 
 Aenly iiuiige, taken away this noble distinction, aiid re- 
 uioved tliis precious land-mark. We can say to few 
 Christians of our age, as was said to the apostle St. 
 Petei', Thy speech ^iicrayeth thee^ Matth. xxvi, fB; 
 niir what tbe patriarch Isaac said to one of his sons, 
 The voice^s Jacob's voice, hjtit the hands are the hands 
 of Esau, Gen. xxvii. 23: For they have both the voice 
 and hands of profane Esau; they speak and live like 
 him; they publish their crimes with| i front of brads^ 
 and seek their glory in their shame. The'air is infect- 
 ed with their profane and unclean language, their im* 
 pu dent lies, fearful oaths, and grievous blasphemies; 
 and the earth is defiled witli their horrid sins, and de^ 
 testable iniquities. Covetousness, ambition^ lust, and 
 all manner of vices, have ascended the throne, and ty- 
 rannize with an uncontrolled dominion. They who 
 have in their mouths ^he holy name of the Lord Jesus, 
 and make profession of ^reading in his sacred footsteps, 
 give us cause to renew Sts Paul's lamentation, and to 
 cry out with him, Many walk,' of whom I ha;¥e told yoii 
 often, and now tell you even Weeping, that they are the 
 enemies of the cross of Christ; whose end is destruc- 
 tion, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is their 
 shame, who tnind earthlv things, Phil, iii 18., ld> ' 
 If We would seek in J^ese days for the christian vir- 
 tues, where shall we md faith, hopej and charM? 
 Where shall we meet withbighljeousness, fidelity, holi- 
 
 thfr] 
 
 'ness, innocence, goodness^^eekn^ss, hiiiailitjr^ pitience; 
 
438 THE CHRISTIAN'S CONSOLATION. 
 
 pi^y, and devotion? you daughters of heaven what is 
 become of you? We cannot see any more your angeli- 
 cal countenances. We are so far from beholding the 
 deliglitful beams of your divine presence, .that yve can- 
 not spy out your footsteps upon earth. You m ay fjiferor 
 by understaltd,^ Christians, that the Son of God is at 
 hand; for iniquity a.bounds, charity grows cold, and 
 there is no more faith upon earth. 
 
 In the midst of such a vvoefgl corruption, who of us 
 afflicts his soul, as righteous liOt? Who-weeps day and 
 night, as David, a man after God's own heaft? Where 
 can we spy out the fountains of tear's of the proi)het 
 Jeremiah? Or, the confusion of the face of Daniel? Or,. 
 the zeal of Mos.f and Phinehas, and of St. Paul? If 
 the angel , of Gp^, that went through the midst of Jeru- 
 salem, did takea review in our days of the inhabitants 
 of this land, I am afraid he would not find many mark- 
 ed with the letter- tauj, nor any weeping and sighing 
 for the abominations that are anoug^t us. For evil and 
 wickedness are become familiar to us, by the means of 
 an universal infection. Our continual conversation with 
 the vicious, accustoms u^ to their heinous crimes, and 
 to their impious discourses;i|,as we are accustomed by 
 degrees ta breathe in an unwholesome air without aver- 
 sion, a»d|o hear the |earful downfall of the cataracts 
 of the riv^i- ]Nfile without repugnancy. 
 
 But we are so far'tfrom grieving at thie universal 
 inundation of vice in^tlie world, that we ourselves are, 
 carried away with the iniipetflbs torrent of corruption. 
 Sin gets upon us iiisen^My, Jpd overcomes us; so that 
 the wttrld i^ not n^l^e to Jifc, Souse mentioned by God 
 ia the iivth at Jievlticidpbr it is not only ijfBctel 
 with an incomilocL.ioas lepi^ipiy, but it infects allsa^ 
 
THE CHRISTIAN'S CONSOLATION 4S9 
 
 as dwell therein. The men of the world have an easier 
 ta^k to teach lis their vice, than we have to teach and 
 persuade .them to virtue^ as a pestiferous body maj!;; 
 spread the infection, and give it to a thousand who are 
 soiind; whereas, a thousand jn perfect .health cannot 
 heal one infected with the plague: So that, as under the 
 ceremonial law the clean vessel *sanctiiied not the dfefil- 
 edj but the defied infected, by its approaches, such as 
 were clean; evil companies corrupt good manr^i;^, and 
 the flames of the most burning zeal are extinguished by 
 the coldness of the aglB. As lambs cannot feed ajnong 
 briars and thorns, without leaving behind them some of 
 their wool: likewise the haFmless and meek souls can- 
 not live amongst so much cozenage and malice, without 
 losing something of their innocence, and christian sim- 
 plicity. * - 
 Who is it among-st us that can say, with a safe con- 
 science, that the wortdjs crucified to him, and that he is 
 crucified to the wujfld? Gral. y\, or, who is it that lives 
 in the world without being guilty of its sins, as the fish 
 drinks oiF the sea- water, and receive^ nothing. of its bit- 
 terness? Psal. xxvi. Who can converse in the courts 
 of princes, as Joseph in Egypt, as Daniel in Babylon^ or 
 as the Queen Kstherinthe court of Ahasuerus? Is there 
 any that can justly say, that lie hath washed his hands in 
 innocence, and purified his conscience from all dead 
 works to serve the living God? Heb. ix. Who can speak 
 in this manner, I have purified my hearty lamsi^leanfrom 
 my sin? Prov. ^x. In tftth, If we sayweAavs no sin, 
 we deceive oursilves, an^he truth is not in us, 1 Jtj]^*i i. 
 We ha,ve'good( reason tobreajk out into the prophieii, :l^- 
 lab's exclamatioja, when he 'saw God sitting upon bis 
 throne, Wo is me! for lam Undone, because. I ami a man 
 
4^^ THE CHRISTIAN'S CONSOLATION. 
 
 ,, "■ , .'* , /' ■ 
 
 offflndeanlipsyandldjveU in, the nddist of /people ofuiir 
 
 "dean lips, Is. vi. Or we <inay fay witU !lie same ; pro- 
 '■■:'^^% MroniL the ^p^e of the foot, unto the crown of the 
 Wead, ihire is no whQlepart. Not only the soul&' that are 
 fixed 00 theyear|:h> but sucli as mount up to heaven by 
 fervent |irayers, and devout meditations, liave good cause 
 to acknoiwlfcd^sje theijr ionperfections^ and to ask forgive- 
 ness. If any fancy himself to be perfectly whole^ and 
 freefrapg^ all infection, let him Ipok into his conscience, 
 and seriously examine it, and it will happen to lum as 
 to Moses; when be put his hand into liis bQso'iai,.he toolc 
 itiout again as white as snow, a,ll covered With leprosy, 
 Exod. iv. Where, is there a christian, that feelsno lavV 
 cemmanding in hfs members, aud strvggling again'st the 
 law of his mind? Who is there, tliat, finds not by expe- 
 Tience the truth of St,./ Paul's saying, Thefiesh lusteth 
 agdinst the Spirit, and we Spirit against the flesh, and 
 these are contfciry the one to the other, so that, ye cannbt 
 do the things that 'ye would? Rpm. yii., Gal. y. Without 
 dodbt, such as know not;, nor ever have felt, the bitter 
 and yehemient strugglings of their carnal lusts that war 
 against the soul, 3 Pet. i. Qannqt cq'uceiye what it is to 
 deny themselves, to put oW the old man with his deeds, to 
 ervfiify the flesh with its affections ayidfllthy lusts, Eph. 
 iv. Such^know riot what it is, to mortify our members, 
 to cut off Sat right feet and right hands, and to pluck out '* 
 our right eyes, Matth. x, that is to say, to destroy, and 
 by an holy violei;ice> to give a drea,dful ^ound to all our 
 Bra^sh paMons, and yiciois affections, when tliey 
 s^pld seem^to us as dear afiS as useful as pur b^nds 
 andl^ety and as teadi^r as our(i-ight^eyes, Col. iii. Hat. y. 
 U tHese cursed affections .could bat declare their 
 sanies, they would say as't|i,e evil spirits of the gospf]^ 
 
THt C HRISTI4.N' S CONSOLATIiON. 4)31 
 
 Our name is legion; for. we are many. As that devil 
 that possessed the lunatic, mentioned by 'St. Matthew^ 
 cast him sometimes into thejite^at piker times into the 
 iiokter; thus these carnal lUsts labour to cast us, sonlili 
 times into the flames of ambitie^ or into the burning 
 heat of coi^&tou&ness, or to hurry us headlong infC^^e 
 gulf of unlawful delights, or into the mud of filthy and* 
 carnal pleasures. Furthermore, they break the chains 
 and ties with which we imagine" to stop their fui'y; they 
 war and fight against us by day and ;by nighty and at 
 e^very moment they return to chargei us home, and fe- 
 new the combat. Every where they assault us, and have 
 no more respect for temples and houses of prayer, than 
 for common and public places. As ^atan had once the 
 boldness to encounter with Joshua the High-ptiesi be- 
 forie the angel of God; likewise these -cursed lusts are 
 so impudent as to attempt us in the most religious as- 
 semblies, atid the devQUtest congFegatiqiBs^ as well as 
 where we ar^ engaged in the most hellish and debauch- 
 ed companies of the world. * ^ ' 
 But these lusts, that wsir.against the soiil, are as sab- 
 
 tleand malicious, as they are cruel apdUbstiaate: When 
 'l|hey perceive us upon our guard, and see that there is 
 nothing to be got, they conceal their weapdns and their 
 fire, but it is with a design to surprise and burn us when 
 we are least aware. As there-are certain creatures that 
 counterfeit the dead, that pniin mighjt spare their labdhr 
 to kill them: likewise this tr^cherous flesh appears of 
 its own aqpord as dead, tbat we might spare it, arid not 
 totally deprive it of life. If then we leave it in peace 
 and quiet, it recovers its strength and vigour, and'as- 
 eaults us afresh With its poisonous darts. Wlien^we ima- 
 gine, that we have cut np'( his Wretched plant by the root, 
 
43B THE CHRISTIAI^^S GON,SOLATION. 
 
 it grows, and breaks f&rth lata bitterness. Whcii.w 
 jtfaink, tBat we h^veput out this fiue with,, the; tears < 
 our repentance, it kindles again, arid bui^sts forth in 
 |ierGe^ames. As soon as we have cut the cunning se 
 pent to pieces with the sharp knife of true repentance, 
 gets together, and when it seems tobave lost all stre^ng 
 and heat, it recovers aga.in in our breasts, and wouni 
 us to the very heart. In short,, as, the evil, Spirit, mei 
 tioned bjour Saviour in the gospel, ^hen he was di 
 Yen oiit of one house, waited for a good opportunity , 
 return; which as soon as he peixeived, he tfflok un 
 himself seven other spirits worse than hjlmself, so th 
 the last condition of that man was worse than the fin 
 Mark xii, thus after an afflicting fast, and fervent pra 
 ers; after a torrent of contrite^, tears; when we Imagii 
 that we have^isast out of our heartis the most dangero 
 lusts; if we begin to .relent, and to open'to. them t! 
 door, they burst in again upon us with more fwy, A] 
 render the sequel of our life far ftiore bitter and unple 
 
 But if you had hot so many sins, and your lusts we 
 not so violentj'^when the old man should, not have 
 much strength it^ur members, and the tetnptatio 
 -ishould not ovenpome us so often; iellme, I pray, chr 
 tian souls, in what virtue do you excel? Have yflu.i 
 the beauty, the^lory and perfection, that God requirt 
 Is your holiness without the least. spot or blemish?, 
 your innocence as white as snow, and as bright as t 
 light? Is your zeial as hot and burning as that of the s 
 raphims? , Is your charity sincere, without paint or d 
 giiise, as that of Christ, who gave his life for you? 1 
 you love God for his name-sake, or because of his, e 
 cellent perfections? Do you love him with all your liea 
 
THE CHRISTIAN'S CONSOLATION. . 433 
 
 with all your strength, and with all your thrHiglitsi' Da 
 yovt love him more than you love yourselves, op any 
 thing in the world? I)o you hate all things that he hates? 
 A.nd do yon carefully abstain from every thingjhat dis- 
 |)leaseth him? Do you love your neighbour in 'God, and 
 Tor the sake of that good God whose imtge he bears? 
 Do you love him as you love yaurselveis, without hypo- 
 crisy or disguise? Do you never deal otherwise, with 
 others, than you would have them deal with you? And 
 lo you perform to them the same good offices that you 
 tf^'oiild have them perform to you, if they were in the 
 same condition as you ares at present? Do you shine in 
 ihe midst of the dark night of this age, as so many ta- 
 pers lighted with the beams of the sun of righteousness? 
 Phil. ii. Do you live as citizens of heaven, and as fel' 
 iovv -citizens of the saints, and as the children of God? 
 Phil. i. 5. Or as such as expect the blessed hope and 
 appearing of the glory of the great God and Saviour Je- 
 ms Christ? Tit. ii. Is your heart in heaven, where 
 jraur treasure should be, and your glory and happiness? 
 Ind do you walk as persons that ascend up by the 
 ^teps and degjree of piety to the heavenly Jerusalem? 
 Do you go from faith to faith, from hope to hope? And 
 Jo you make evety day some new progress in holiness? 
 Do yoU never grieve the holy Spirit, by whom you have 
 l>een sealed for the day of redeniption? Are you im- ' 
 moveable, abounding always in the work of the Lord? 
 EiplieSi iv. And do you endeavfrnr to bcS found in him, 
 trithoui spot or bleni>iah, i» peacfe? 1 Cot, xv. 2 Pet, ii. 
 TeU me, duvettt souls, vrhether you be not as the fiire 
 and Kghi? V&t as there iS no flam* so pare, but hath its 
 3RM)ke, no star so bitt^tt, bat disappears at the rising of 
 be m^, s& tlmt is no life^ so holy »t»d ha*raleM> bat 
 
 31 
 
434 • THE CHRISTIAN'S CONSOLATIoK 
 
 haHi its imperfeciionsj and cannot abide tUe sight of a 
 impartial God> and the exact inquisition of his jdstict 
 When we have well prayed and wept, Hind begged foi 
 ^iveaess, God hath bestowed upon us a new h^art an 
 a riew spirit: After all, we have need that he should en 
 lighten us afrlih with the gracious beams of his divin 
 CQiintenance, that he should \&kd us by the hand, diret 
 us by "his wisdom, and accomplish his virtue fey our in 
 firmities. 
 
 Examine seriously, my dear friends, to what exerpi 
 ses of devotion you are most inclined, and what seen 
 motions you feel in your soulll Who is it that hath th 
 greatest share inydur heart and affection? What thought 
 Ml you asleep, and what are those that awake you 
 ^hat do you think upon, for the most part? ujpon Goi 
 andihis glory, or upon the world and its vanities? iipoi 
 heaven and its excellencies, or upon the iai?lh and it 
 riches? upon paradise' and its immortal delights^ or upoi 
 th|, flesh and its base satisfactions? acid when you medi 
 late upon divine things, are you certain that you per 
 form it with a religious attention, with an inward deligh 
 that ravishes and comfort's poor souls! and when you t)f 
 fer any prayers to God, do you discharge this duty witi 
 humility and an holy zeal? are your hearts atid affec 
 tions carried up to heaven before you lift up thither 
 ward your eyes and hands? are your oraisons like th 
 perfume of the saints that come out of golden phialsi 
 are they like the incenee of the ancient Israelites, tha 
 smoked upon an altar, burning with a celestial fire? I)( 
 they thus "proceed from a soul pdrified by faith, which ii 
 more precious than, fine gold? Do they come from ai 
 heart that is inflamed witli a zeal that never dies, auc 
 that ascends continaally on high,? J^q you bestow youi 
 
THE CHRISTIAN'S CONSOLATION. 4S3 
 
 „fK- - . 
 
 ' alms with that earnest and fervent charity that God. re-' 
 qiMfes of you? Do you open your bowels to your bre- 
 thren, before you open to them your pui-se? And' do you 
 livstow your hearts upon the poor before you bestow 
 your money. ^ 
 
 And for the public devotions that you owe to God, 
 pray tell me wtth what humility and respect they ire 
 performed: Do you call your delight the days dei^icstt^d, 
 to his glory, and to the celebration of his holy myste- 
 ries? Jsa. Iviii. Or dp you look upon them as trouble- ' 
 soine? Do not they cause you to complain in yourselves, 
 as those profane Jews spoken of by Malachi, behold 
 lakat a.weariness is it!\M&\. h Do you go up to the 
 house of God with the voice of melody, and transports of 
 joy? Psal. xli. or do yoH go up thither out of custom in 
 a careless manner? When Jacob went «p to Bethjet^to 
 offer sacrifices,, he buried utider ground all the gods of 
 gold and silver, that were in his family. Gen. liii. — 
 Likewise you religious souls, when you intend to go 
 up to offer your spiritual sacrifices in the true Bethel, 
 where God bestows, in i^ch plenty his bread from hea- 
 ven that gives life to the world; do you not forget to bu- 
 ry all your earthly cares, your carnal lusts? Or else, do 
 yon nourish in your hearts all those false gods, of whom 
 the world js so fond? Do you look upon the holy assem- 
 blies with an unconcerned eye? Or do ypu behold them 
 with reverence and respect, as the living images of that 
 glorious church, gathered together before God's majes- 
 tic throne, which wo^-ship him day and night in his ho- 
 ly teinple? Aire those divi^ie psalms that are there sung, , 
 only upon- your tiBngues? Or do you sing them with yojjr 
 hearts to the Lofd? Do you think upon the angel's 
 songs, and the ^y spirit's hajlelujahs, with sjielld 
 
;3fi THE CHRISTIAN'S CONSOLATION. 
 
 rattsports of jov? Is the word of God only an airy 
 Dund, that strik^l'your ears, or doth it reach your con- 
 ciences? Col. iii. Doth not your heart burn within yon, 
 i^hile God spea|$s by the ministry of his servanfsj sand 
 ipens to you hisJioly scriptures? Rev. xix. Doth this 
 leart of your's burn with an heavenly fire, or with rest- 
 ess impatier^ce, to see the end of yonr'^Uevotions, that 
 :o.u njight return tq your domestic affairs, to your 
 i^orldly delights, or to your carnal pastimes?- Luka xiv; 
 )oth your soul'thirstfor God, for4he strong and living 
 Sod? Psal., xliii. And is the performing of the holy will 
 if your heavenly Father become your meat and your 
 inly delight? John iv. Psal. ciii. In short, do you fly 
 Ls swift as the.bl^ed angels, when your great God 
 \3^ Saviour offers; to you an occasion of advancing his 
 kingdom, of comforting his chosen, smd edifying the 
 tmls for whom be died? When Abraham offered unto 
 3rod many beasts in sacrifice, a flight of birds came, and 
 ighted upon his dead off^irifn^. Gen. xv. Thiis, wlieh 
 ve present unto G&d the sacrifices of praise and thanks- 
 ^vtng, and intend to mHltiply the acts of oor devotion s> 
 I great number of vain and idle thoaghts come to inter- 
 'upt us. Abrabam flighted away those ^troablesonte 
 mAsi bat it is not always in our bo*©p t» drive away 
 r»m our minds these intruding thoughts th^at disturb ns 
 n our devotion. When we wJH lift up owrselves uwiio' 
 Sod, and dfaW near to his sacpedi throne, our hearts are 
 ar BMiffe dull and heavy than ever Meses'^ hands w«pe; 
 io that tl^y ^11 d<own again ii& the earth, and mind 
 iarihly flyings. We mt!S&, therefore, that our Dhief- 
 ytiesi i^onld hold th8m< up: And fac<^eiwece' it i^ ne- 
 cessary that th«y sheuM be pei^iHned' with) the sweet 
 jdcars of Ms mosi Irefy sacrlfioest; Exod. xvii. 
 
THE CHRISTIAN'S CONSOLATION, 437 
 
 If David, a man after God's own heart, iiitrcats that 
 he would be pleased to sanctily the words of his mouth, 
 and the meditations of his heart, I*sal. xy. if the pro- 
 phet Daniel, whom the Holy Spirit styles a man great- 
 ly beloved, Dan. ix, who spent the days and nights in 
 devotion, seeks how to make his prayers accept^le to 
 God; if the propliet Isaiah had need that his lips should 
 be purified with a burning fcoal taken ffora the altar, 
 Isa. vi. Wlio will wonder if the meditations of the de- 
 voufest souls he so often interrupted? If their prayers 
 be so cold and luke warm, who can think it strange, that 
 we are not able td pray as we ought? Kom. viii. And 
 that we had- need io desire G^d's Holy Spirit of prayer 
 and supplication, who prays and intercedes for us with 
 sighs and groans which cannot be expressed, Zecn. 
 xiiK Rom. viii. 
 
 That which afflicts most the true believers, is, that 
 when they imagine that they have attained to some kind 
 of perfection ia the exercises of piety, they find many 
 times, to their unspeakable sorrow, that they are but 
 beginners, and that they have made no progress at all. 
 For as the stone cast into the air falls down of its own 
 accord, by reason of its natural weight; and as the water 
 often heated, beconies as often cold .and frozen, because 
 cold is a property belonging to it; likewise our souls, 
 that mount up tij God ia holy medi'ta,tions, ami zealous ^ 
 prayers, fall down again, to these earthly vanities; they 
 become cold and heavy; for these are their natural pro- 
 perties. If God refused the sacrifices of such beasts as 
 were Iftih&ani sickly, how will he accept of us,'- ot our 
 dteveiiiens', 'A he should treat us with severity, who are 
 faint in his service,^ and cannot walk in his ways without 
 Iralting and sttraribiing every moment? For these ccnsid- 
 
438 THE ^CHRISTIAN'S CONSOLATION. 
 
 er.ifions I may apply to the spiritual joy, -vvlial was said 
 of (he earthly and worldly mirtb, Joy is cut aff'h^isadnpss, 
 Is. Ixv*- For when we have fCilt in our breasts tJiis nn- 
 speakable joy of, the Ilofly Ghosit, and it begins after- 
 wards to abate, it seems to ns as if it had taken its flight 
 toiileiif.cn, as the smoke of Manabh's sacrifice; tben^as 
 great a sorrow seizeth upon our souls; therefore we may 
 complain and crv out as David. Will the Lord cp.st me 
 off- for ever, and will he be favourable no more? Is his 
 mercy clean gone- fqr ever? Doth bis promise fail for 
 evermore? Hath Goil forgotten to be gracious? Hath 
 lie in his anger shut up. his tender mercie?? Psal. Ixxv. 
 And pray in the language^jpf Isaiah, Lord, awaken thf, 
 jealousy, and the stirring of thy bowels that are shut up 
 to n^e. Finally, if after all the exercises of devotion, if 
 after a serious and settled, meditation upon God's holy 
 word if/after fasting and mortification^ and prayers and 
 tears, and a constant atlendande: in the duties of reli-. 
 gioB, we find any good progress in piety, we may then 
 also perceive vice to proceed out of our mbst glorious 
 virtues, and perfectest graces. For as the moth enters 
 soonest into the richest stuffs and cloths; thus pride 
 creeps into t^e noblest souls, arid breeds in the most 
 enlightened understandings. As a primiitive doctor i)f 
 the christian church hath very well observed, all vices 
 are begot by corruption, and by other vices; only pride 
 and presumption proceed front virtdei O how hard a 
 task is it for a man enabled with gifts "and perfections 
 that, raise him above the vulgar, not to be puffed up 
 with pside, nor deceived with a fond conceit of him- 
 self! As the beautiful bird looks upon and admires the 
 dainty and various colours of its wings; thus we behold 
 and admire ourselves, we are in love with our own 
 
THE CHRISTIAN'S CONSOLATION. 439, 
 
 beauty, and idQlize our virtues. Therefore as the nurse 
 leaves the' child sonwtiines to its legs, and sulfers it to 
 fall, that it might know its own strength, and learn to 
 hold fast by the hand^. thus God withdraws from us 
 the a^ssistance of his grace to humble us, and to cause 
 us to implore most earnestly the help, and favourable 
 Succours of his Holy Spirit. — Whe^ St. Peter felt the 
 sacred flames of that hely zeal that was kindled in his 
 heart, and that sincere love that he had for Christ, he 
 rejoiced, and imagined himself to be strong enough to 
 resist all the powers of h.ell, and to frustrate all the fiery 
 darts of the devil. This good opinion that he had of 
 himself, and of his own ability, transports him to tliat 
 confidence, as to contradict our Saviour Christ, and to 
 protest, Although all should be offendifd in thee/ yet will 
 inot be offended; though I should die with thee, yet will 
 I not deny thee. This was he that trembled at the voice 
 of a damsel, whose U\\ and apoAtacy was as remarka- 
 ble as his confidence was great; so that he? who thinl:- 
 eth he standeth, should take heed lest !iefalI,K.om. xi. 
 
 There it, no good-natured child, but is vexed to live 
 amongst .sHch as curse and reproach its parents; and if 
 it should happen to be concerned unawares in the of- 
 fence, or to occasion the death of him from whom it had 
 its being, it will feel an eternal displeasure. Now, it is 
 certain, that whilst we live in this world, we must spend 
 our time amongst those that blaspheme the holy name 
 of God, and abuse the glory of his eternal Godhead. — 
 Moreover, vice and corraption are so universal, that we 
 ourselves' oflfend this father of mercies and compassions; 
 we add sin to sin, apd complete the measure of our ini- 
 quities. > . 
 
 Let us therefore conclude frofo hetice, believing souls, 
 
|4b THE CHRISTIAIS'S COI^SOLA riUiV; 
 
 hat de^lh is not to be feared as aa evil, or a calamity, 
 iat tha|pt is ratber.,desicablp as an advantage, and a 
 blessing. Fer seeing lliat it is to be longed for, because 
 t frees ns from all the mischiefs and sufferings of the 
 B'orld; we are rather to seek it with God^s good lest've, 
 )ecause it closeth our eyes, and conveys out of our sight 
 1.11 the sins and* aboiininations that are in the world; and 
 >ecaase it stops our ears, and finders us from hearing 
 he impieties, and the filthy discourses, that infect the 
 lir. Since death is to be embraced with joy, because it 
 leliver» our bodies from the diseases that torment them, 
 md our minds from the cares and displeasures that vex 
 md afflict them, it deserves to be welcomed with grea- 
 er expresslbns of gladness, because it delivers us from 
 .11 remains of sin, and puts a period to our natural cor- 
 utiopn: So that it is to be esteemed, and looked upon, 
 ,s the death and destruction of the old man, rather than 
 lie death of a true believer. 
 
 Samson rejoiced in his death, because he knew, that 
 [i ^fdying, his mortal enemies,. should die also, and be 
 iestroyed with hira. We have more cause to rejoice at 
 ur death, and to give God thanks at that time; since 
 a our dying, or rather in passing from death to life, we 
 nay see the destruction of all the dangerous enenvies of 
 lur salvation, who are more dreadful to us than the Phi- 
 istines were to Samson. All the most cruel and bar- 
 arous men of the world are not so much to be feared,^, 
 s the lusts of our filthy flesh, that put out the eyes of 
 ur understanding tlmt cause us to be the deviPs sport, 
 nd to worship many false gods. 
 
 We comiponly run out with haste from a plaice in- 
 icted with the plaj|ue: And should we not ma^e as 
 ruch speed by oar vows :«.nd pra.yers, to get out of the 
 
THE CHRISTIAN'* CONSOLATION. 441 
 
 world, since vice is so infectious and universal all over 
 it, that so many thousand souls are therewitb miis/elrably 
 spoiled; since the vj^orld is a Babylon, where all manner 
 of debauchery, vice, and folly, are mixed together; where 
 injustice and impiety reign? have you not greater cause 
 to be transported with joy, when God delivers us from 
 our woeful captivity,, than the children of Israel ha,d, 
 when it pleaseth him to call them out of Babylon? 
 Should they not singi to him^ when the Lord brought 
 them back, and restored them to Sion, who came from 
 their captivity, we were as those that drea^; then our 
 mtintbs were full of laughter, and our t6l%ues with 
 songs of triumph? 
 
 In short, as the Lord Jesus, when he had restored 
 liazarus to life, and taken him out of his grave, had 
 compassion on him, and could not see him any longer 
 wrapped up in his winding sheet, and tied with a nap- 
 kin; therefore he commanded, Loose Mm and let him go: 
 Thus this merciful Lord, who hath made us to be par- 
 takers of the first resurrection, and called our souls out 
 of the noisome grave of our lusts, is moved with com- 
 passion for us, when he sees these wretched souls drag 
 about them the relicts of sin, and some remains of that 
 corruption in which they were wrapped. Therefore he 
 will cause them to hear his sweet and comfortable voice. 
 Loose them., and let them go. Let them go to the eter- 
 nal mansions, to the city of the living God, tO; the hea- 
 venly Jerusalem, to the glorious companies, of angelsj 
 and to the church and congregation of the' first-born, 
 whose names are written ija heaven. 
 
 -^ aK 
 
44» THE CHRISTAN'S CONSOLATION. 
 
 PBAYER AND MEUITATION 
 
 Wor a true Christian, who comforts himself with this 
 C&nsiieration, Thai Heath shall deliver Mm from 
 hin, that reigns so much in the Waring and from all 
 
 , remains of his wretched Gorrn^^tion. . 
 
 . O MOST gracious high-priest, holy, innocent^ sepa- 
 rated from sinners, sxalted above all heavens, who art 
 pow shining in light and glory; look upon me from thy 
 sanctuary and have compassion on my wretched state. 
 Thou und^standest well the cause of my grief, O Lord, 
 who seatchest thte heart, and readest my most secfet 
 thoughts, that I grieve to see so much injustice and im- 
 piety reigning this day in the world; to see vice and 
 wickedness defa^cing thy holy church. But that which 
 chiefly increaseth -my pain and aggravates my displea- 
 sure is, to find myself guilty, and spotted with the gen- 
 eral corruption, and my flesh waring and sti-uggling 
 against the Spirit. The lu^ts of the flesh not only dis- ' 
 turb me, but they get many times the victory, and insult 
 over imine infirmities. Sin appears to me, not only in 
 all its hellish deformity, sn that I am thereby ashamed 
 of myself; but I also acknowledge, ta the praise of thy 
 grace, that all that is best in me, cannot endure an ex- 
 act inquisition of ttiy justice. Ala§, my God! How im- 
 perfect is my piety! Hov\^ languishing is my devotion! I 
 worship thee too much for custom, and in a very slight 
 manner. I often praise thee with my tongne, and hon- 
 our thee with my lips, whilst my heart is far from thee. 
 The love I bear to thee is not pure and fervent; and my 
 charity, instead of being burning is quite cold, or luke- 
 warm. 1 have not a sufficient trust upon thy promises, 
 and upon thy fatherly care; my hope is not settled, it , 
 doth not fill mysoHl with heavenly joys and comforts. 
 Thine eyes, Q Lord, that see all the secret closets of 
 my heartj and pierce into the depths, are too holy and 
 pure to pass over th« sight of evils, and to approve of 
 t^e ill-favoured features qf satan, yet imprinted in me. 
 
f HE CHRISTIAN'S ^^SOLATION, 441 
 
 TPliOU discoverest notapily my sins, iniquities, and al 
 my evil deeds, bat thou also beholtjest all the spots ant 
 iflaperfeetions of my best performances, an^ of my mos 
 gtorious acts. My Lord, and my Grod, 1 am not onl; 
 grieved to see so much sin in the world, in the church 
 and in myself, but I am also troubled, that I have no 
 grief enough; that my soul is not sufficiently vexed, a 
 tliat of riglUeons Lot; that the zeal of thine house dptl 
 not eat me up, as it did the man after tiiine own hear! 
 that mine eyes are not become a well-spring of tears a 
 those of the prophet; that I am not heartily concerae'i 
 for thy church, as thine holy apostle; and that I do no 
 sigh and cr^, as the servants whom thoUididst marl 
 with the letter tan. wonderful Lord! Since it is th; 
 pleasure, wherefore do I not embrace thee with a livel; 
 faith, and a sincere repentance? Wherefore do t no 
 strive by prayers and supplications, to obtain from the 
 thy most precious blessings, an inward change of my 
 self and spirit, that I may heartily love, fear, and ador 
 thee as thoii deservest? O Lord, I ftnd that thou has 
 not iorsaken me, but iiast commissioned death to cq,Q 
 vey me out of this troublesome and sorrowful abode, t 
 destroy all my mortal enemies, my, sins and lusts, ani 
 advance me to the freedom of thy children. I am nc 
 disturbed at the approacli of so great a benefactor tha 
 rejoiceth my heart, and causeth me to embrace and wel 
 come its arrival as thy messenger, sent^to draw me ou 
 of this Egypt of cruelty and oppression, out of this Ba 
 bylon of vice and abomination. 1 am ready. Lord 
 when wilt thou free me from these chains and fetters o 
 mortality, to ascend up to my Grod and Saviour, whoi 
 ready to embrace me? Dispatiih to me some @f tfey bles 
 sed angels who may carry me up to thy holy mount^n 
 to thine heprenly Jerusalem, to thy gloriaus paradise 
 where no impurity can be admitted, no serpent to se 
 duce us,»nor temptations to prevail iipoh lis. where! 
 shall never offend thee, nor grieve 'thy Holy Spirit 
 whereby I am sealed to the day of redemption. ta} 
 ,^od! I am weary to bear thy holy name so often bias 
 phemed; and tp see so much impiety «^nd wickddneis] 
 reigning every wher? in the vs^drld. Haste iiiy depar 
 
4rt4 THE CHRISTIAN'S Cbl^SOLATION. 
 
 ture hence, and the accomplishment of all the glorious 
 promises of salvation to thy church and peoj^e; when 1 
 shall behold thy face continually, love thee \i»^th a per- 
 fect love, and vvorship thee withpat disturbance in the 
 society of the glorided spirits and holy angels; wlien J 
 shall 6ing forth thy praises in heaven, be clothed with 
 the white robes of thy holy martyrs, and with the sera- 
 phims attend upon thy magnificent throne. O my God! 
 grant that thy holy zeal, kindled in my soul#ma.> serve 
 me as a fiery chariot, and a sacred flame, to carry and 
 hasten me up to thy celestial palace, where thou haSt 
 prepared for me an eternal mansion and arblessed inhe- 
 ritance, dmen. ^ 
 
 CHAPTER XXIl. 
 
 . Th^ Tenth Consolation is, the Glory an& Happiness of 
 our Souls at their departure out of the body. 
 
 J_F there were neitheir- punishment nor torment after 
 this life to.be feared, the wicked and unbelievers,' who 
 prosper in the world, might justly esteem themselves 
 the happiest of i(,ll men. . And if there were neither glo- 
 ry nor rewards to be ^expected after death, the right- 
 eous and the faithful, who drink here below, cups full 
 of bitterness and sorrow, would be the most miserable 
 of all creatures. The condition of the beasts' would ap* 
 pear more happy than theirs; fbr they enjoy in quiet 
 and peace, all the pleasures that their animal nature is 
 able to relish. They are not tormented by so many 
 diseases as vex our bodies; neither do know the cares 
 and displeasures that consume add fret our minds. 
 They grieve not for ' the time past, nor trouble them- 
 selves with any apprehensions of fhe tiiae to eome^ 
 They never feel the fierce assaults > of lust: TThey are 
 
THE CHRISTIAN'S CONSOLATIOJ^. 44,5 
 
 gnorant of many of those passions that torment and do- 
 niueer over our souls. All- their pains and sufferings 
 r'anish with their breath; so that when they are dead, 
 heir sufferings have an end. If we make our eyes the 
 udges of these things, we may say, The accident that 
 lappens to men and beasts is the same accident; as the 
 leath of one, so is the death of the other. But if we 
 learch and examine farther, we shall find more differ- 
 mce than between heaven and earth, between light and 
 larkness: For it is true, that the death of beasts deli- 
 vers them from the sense of all evils, but doth not in- 
 roduce them into any real happiness. When it piits an 
 iad to their misery, it puts a period to their being, and 
 
 all that pleasure and content, which they formerly en- 
 oyed; for they die without any hopes of living again. , 
 
 If we look to the wicked and unbelievers, we shall 
 ind, that death deprives them not only of their honours^ 
 icfaes, and of all their pleasures, and carnal eiijoy- 
 nents, but puts out their taper in the blackest dark- 
 less, and all their greatest delights are lost in a vast 
 >ea qf bitterness. If death looseth them from the chain 
 )f misery, untovvhich all the children of Adam are tied, 
 f it frees their bodies from the pain of any temporal 
 ivils, it casts their souls into* eternal torments. But for 
 :he virtuous and believing christians, if death is so great 
 
 1 friend to them, because it delivers them from many 
 svils and miseries, it is a greater friend, in regard it 
 speris to them the gate that leads to an endless glory| 
 md happiness. 
 
 The Son of Go8had a designi_to persuade us of this 
 truth, in that remarkable .parable pf the xvith of St, 
 Luke's gospel. For at one hand he shews a rich rai- 
 
44i6 THE CHRISTIAN'S CONSOLATION. 
 
 ser^clothed in purple and iinl linen, feeding upon dain- 
 ties, and liYitig in mucli splendour, and magnificence; 
 and at the otiier he discovers to us a poor wretch, nam- 
 ed Lazarus, all covered with sores, lying at the rich 
 man's gate, intreating that he might share with the dogs 
 in the cramhs that fell from the rich man's table. The 
 dogs had compassion on him and licked his sores. At 
 last the poor man died, and "was canie«,l by the angels 
 into }4!bra;ham's bosom. O wonderful change! He that 
 was lately a companion scarce good enough for dogs, 
 now solaces himself in the arigel^s einbraces. , He that 
 jvas lying at the gate of a proud and unmerciful wretch, 
 is admitted into tile glorious palace of immortality, and 
 reposes himself in the bosom of a charitable and rich 
 Abraham, where he is satisfied with the bread of the 
 living God, and drinks of the rivers of his pleasures. — 
 The rich man died d,lso; but whilst his body was laid 
 in the earth with state and honour, the devils dragged 
 bis soul into hell, and cast it into a fire that burns con- 
 tinually, and that nothing is able to extinguish. There^ 
 fore our Saviour represents this damned soul crying out 
 of hell fire, father Abraham, have pity upon me, arid 
 send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in 
 water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in these 
 flames. In the next verse our Lord shews, how all 
 the complaints of the damned are fruitless, and their 
 tortures remediless. He ma.kes Abraham return an an- 
 swer to this wretched son. My son remember, that thou 
 in thy life-time receivedst thy good ^ings, and likewise 
 Lazarus evil things; but now he is comforted and thou 
 art tormented. ^ ' / 
 
 The heathens have looked upon death as the end of 
 all their afflictions and saffefi^s; but they have n&ver 
 
THE CHRISTIAN'S CONSOLATION. 447 
 
 tAsted of the powers of the life to com&j^^they have ne-' 
 ver had any assurance of fature glory and happiness. — ■ 
 The spiritual joys, and celestial xomforts, God keeps 
 for them th^t fear him', and worship him in spirit and in 
 truth. These precious riches, and divine excellencies, 
 are only discoverable to the faithful, chiefly since the 
 time in which Christ our S|tviour hath brdught life and 
 immortality to light, through the gospel. Hitherto I 
 hare given you, a short survey, of the calamities that at- 
 tend upon us is this mortal state; I have essayed to 
 present to you all the comforts that we may gather from 
 thence, to, strengthen a believing soul> and enable it to 
 withstand and endure all the encounters with which it 
 is assaulted in this valley of tears. At present I intend 
 to describe its future happiness, when it is separated 
 from <the body, and introduced into heaven. I shall as 
 far as I am able, discover to you that glory and bliss 
 which our souls eajoy, in expectation of the great mcrn 
 of the resurrection. You mast not think to see here any 
 perfect limige of our celestial paradise, or any magnifi- 
 cent draught of the Mvantagessreserved for us there. It 
 would be as difficult to task as ,to paint the sun in its 
 splendour, or to measure the waters of the sea. t cannot 
 find words to express my thoughhi; all my conceptions 
 are far below a happiness so perfeiit, and a glory so 
 sublime. I shall think that I have done enough, if lean 
 but represent to you some few beams of so great alight, 
 if I can but shew some drops of that ocean of heavenly 
 pleasures, in which we shall swim for all eternity. 
 
 I shall not deliver any thing from my own fancy, nor 
 offer to speak of that which I have never learned from 
 the great doctor of our souls. I shall not engage my- 
 self in vain speculations, jffiiore At to please and puff up 
 
448 |HE CHRISTIAN'S CONSOLATION, 
 
 the carious wi^, thanto comfort a;nd rejoice the devou 
 mnls, or satisfy i^uch as hunger and thirst after rigWe 
 ousness. One word from the mputh of the Lord is bet 
 ter, and far more vy^orth than all the reasonings of hu 
 man wisdom, than all the subtilifcies of philosophy, thai 
 all the argiiings and conclusions of, the most refined ant 
 eloquent sages. Tn this i^cription I shall not seel 
 mine own gloryj iior the applauses of the world, ,biit th« 
 glory of my God and the instructions of souls which h« 
 hath purchased with his blood. I desire to be under 
 stood of the weakest capacities as well as/of the learned 
 I hope that such as know the language of Canp,an, sucl 
 as have tasted of the good word of Grod, and of the pow 
 ers of the life to come, will not mistake me. For othiers 
 Avho have ilot been accustomed to the relish of spiritua 
 things, to whom the language of God's Holy Spirit is 
 insipid and unsufferable; if they are not moved nor be^ 
 uefited by this treatise,,! dare say it is none of my fault 
 butiheirs. Therefore, aS the wise men, when they tra- 
 velled to Bethlehem, is^here Jesus Clirist was lying ir 
 a manger, took the star of the east for their guide; S( 
 we, who are marching to our true Bethlehem, whert 
 our great God and Saviour is sitting upon the. throne ol 
 his glory, will follow no other guidance, but that divint 
 light which comes down from heaven. And as it is im- 
 .possible to number all the stars that shine in the hea- 
 vens, for which reason we reduce them to certain figures 
 and constellations; thus we will not undettake to shew 
 you every particular of our private meditations,i upon 
 this rich and divine subject; but we will discourse tc 
 you of the chief heads, leaving the rest, to ygar pious 
 thoughts, and the information of God's Holy Spirit. 
 Whosoever thou art that tet embmceth Chtistj 
 
Sm CHRISTIAN'S yONSUL^Tll^ ^^ 
 
 deal} aod crucified, by faith aiad repii^^^ce, i^nd ktiqw- 
 est thyself muled to him^and incoi-popa,i^d iutp his i^y^T 
 tical hady, )-ejp&mbe;r to praise ting jiiei;^i*w^ J^wd? ^J^d 
 rejoice in teis ss^lvatipti. Lgj^rn to ftdmire ,^& saper^e?- 
 cellent riches of tiie treasures of hjs gii^jjp^, apd sfpiyusiy 
 consider how magrnficeut andjlibwal )ie Jsi tp thee, ¥i}\' 
 he intends not only to deWvertbee from aU t^e sjiifputig* 
 and calanities that 9^^t thec); but h^ will alsp I'f^^e 
 thee np to the highest and most tran&cendeftt felijci^y.-^ 
 He will not only dvaw thee put of th@ deep ^hj!^ ^C 
 death, and eternal d{&pnq,ti(w,hu'i b^ will t|),.^e thf'^ ^P 
 to the enjoyment of thi^ii: >st blessed life, asd iwswrtal 
 glory. Hfc will not only remove thee from this wretchexl 
 wilderness, where thou ar^ toj^pented with hunger ^nd 
 thirst, and exposed to the scQ?chipg hfia^t of a l)UrQi||g 
 sun, in poigQDO})s biting? of the fiery serpents, but be 
 wifl iatodppe thee into the celestial C^m^n, where the 
 milk and h©ney of the pure^ joys, and most solid PQJPt 
 forts flowii^ abundance, and yiiere thoa shalt for javef 
 repose thyself, under the refreshing shadow of the tree 
 , of life. He will not only deliver thee ffoiji the p^ptiyjjty 
 qf this misemUe world, which is a true J^abyl^oq, ffill i^ 
 »U maaner of aboKninations; but he will lea4~ thee intp 
 his holy Jerupa|ye»j, and carry thf e thither upon ^is «irnvs; 
 not with an intent tba,t thpu §honl4 build and repair it with 
 cost %nd}»boUV» thiftt thgp shpuldst behold the gloripusa^d 
 ma§»i6ceRt*ti!iijc<tsr#i;§,t-jeaFed ap h^kw alone fjro^ th^ 
 creation^ the wopW, Rptl tha«t thw payost he etepn^l;]? 
 «iajis£fd with Jfeii ^yerflpwing pl#n.ty- He wJU n«t only'' 
 pine* off ftom tfeftB *he fllthy Tags ^f m apd carrjuptitnij, 
 but he w91 cl9iJb«;|bee with a gajf^efl^ flf light, pf per- 
 feet n^tepusnes^ f^B^ hpUnes*. Jle will flojt only wipe 
 away all itsmfwm ^^m^ «y«S} i»«it ^ wiU pnt wtft thy 
 
 r, 8 L 
 
-ipii T^K CHRlStlAN'Ss CONSOLATIONi 
 
 mouth songs o^raise and thanksgiving.. He will not 
 only break the fetters from thj feet, but he • will plaee^ 
 upon thy head a crown of pure gold. He will not only 
 draw thee out of a bkck and noisome dungeon, but he 
 will; place thee upon a .throne of glory and magnificence. ■ 
 He will not only extinguish all the carnal Idsts that war 
 against thee, and put an eticd to all,j_.thy troublesome 
 combats, but he calls thee to the fruition of eternal peace 
 and celeitig,! triumph. In shdrt, God will not only se- 
 parate^thee from the acq^uaintance of sinful and debauch- 
 ed men, but he will cause thee to enter in amongst the 
 ^ousands of angels, and( admit tbeie to the vision of his 
 glorious fa<;ei. '^# , 
 
 •'When a compoundedfeijhittg comes to be dissolved 
 ev^py part returns to its figs|i.principle: Thus, when man 
 dies,, his body returns to dust, from whence it is taken, 
 and the soul returns to God that gave iti As the bird, 
 when its cage is broken, flies away into the air, to seek 
 ijts liberty and plea'sure;. thus when this body is broken 
 to pieces by death, the soul flies above the heavens,, 
 whiere it meets with rest and happiness: Or, as it; ia» 
 when the net is torn, the fish falls into the water, whie^^ 
 it lives, and enjoys all its|i|elights; so when death comes 
 to break the strings of this wretched body, the soul en- 
 ters into the river of living water> and into an Qceaii of 
 heavenly die^Hghts: Finally, as the dea|h of ourSavioup 
 Christ rent in pieces the veil of, the earthly sanctuary, 
 and discovered all its wonderful mysteries; thus the death 
 of a, believer rends the veil of this infirm and sinful flesh, 
 and gives us a sight of the rich treasuries and magnifi^ 
 cent excellencies of the heivenly sanifetuary. You,;Chris- 
 tians whoni God^lills to his gloviejis rest, who may ex-^ 
 press the gt^tuesisr of vour futufi haDmness? It is mn^ 
 
THE CHRISTIAN'S CONSOLATION. 4&4 
 
 {lossible to form a right idea of it. Tl^l^ien your whole 
 lives should have been nothing else but a continuation ol 
 misery, and a chain of calamities; you have now just cause 
 to comfort yourselves, and rejoice in God with unspeak- 
 able joy.- For when all things are reckoned up, the suf- 
 ferings of this present time are not worthy to he coin- 
 pared ycith the glory which shall be revealed in us. You 
 can lose nothing in this life, but God will restore it to 
 you an hundred times more in his kingdom; -1-,'iides. 
 there is no com[>arison between the advantages of the 
 life to come, and of ihis mortal state or being. Grieve 
 not, believing souls, to forsake an earth overspread with 
 d^irkness, full of misery, and all infected with sin, since 
 thy God proposeth to receive thee into, new heavens, all 
 enlightened with a divine light, and enriched with end- 
 less felicities, where righteousness and holiness sit up- 
 on the throne. Grieve not for thy separation from the 
 most pious and regenerated societies, since thou art to 
 be admitted into the companies of the glorified saints, 
 and blessed martyrs who have washed and whitened 
 their garments in the sacred blood of the Lamb; since 
 thou art from hen0^orth to be reckoned in the number, 
 and of the sooi^l^yliif ;the angels of light, and of the glo- 
 rious cherubims^'%a?et not to leave behind thee the holy 
 congregations of the militant church, for thou art going 
 afiace to the glorious congregation of the church triumh- 
 ing; and in a few moments thon shalt find thyself ampngst 
 the thousands of angels and_ saints that worship God 
 day and Bight, and adore him who lives for ever. If 
 God bast bestowed upon thee worldly riches, leave them 
 without regret or displeasure; for thou art going to pos- 
 sess inestimaM;^; treasures, which shall never be taken 
 from thee. If ||t^ art advajiced to worldly hqnours. 
 
433 TrtI: tjJl&iStlAN'S COaV^OLATIOK. 
 
 c^iidfr tliy piirplfe atid srarlfit 'W'itlitigly of l^in^ owft 
 accdrd^ iToi' (jfoil will ^bo'rtly clothe thee with an incoti- 
 ceivalilfe |;i6i*y tJiat sliall tievef cban^^e. Wheh thou 
 shbuidesl b6 raised up 16 tUe highest and most splfendid 
 iSi^nitie's, wheti thou sbotildest fertjoy a great, a flourish- 
 ing kingdohij c6ine dowii frbtn thy throne with joy, and 
 let fall thy sfceptre, and thy crown; for God calls thee 
 to sit upon a throne that can nevet* be shaken, to an in- 
 (^Orirujptiolte ctOwto, and to endless tri']mj)h3. 
 
 Can thei^e be afty town so rich,, so j^reat and noble, 
 that thou inayest- justly grieve to forsake it, at that time 
 when God intends to make thefc a.citizen with the glo- 
 rified saints of the JTeriisalem above; whBl'B' neither cry-' 
 irig nor iat)our, heithet fear nor grief, neither |rt)M^^ 
 nor want, shall never come near thee; Where all the ift- 
 habitants are kings, and possess inestimable richfcs? Is 
 there any dwelling so bfeautiful and maghi'ftfcetit that 
 should cause thee to depart but of it With sorrow? for 
 God will lead thee into his owii palace, all built with fine 
 gold, and precious stories, where he himself is the light, 
 and thfe lamb is the sun. Art thou delighted in the en- 
 joyment of some pleasant inherita|ce^ere on earth? 
 then consider that all the mheritaneaijff^' 'the earth are 
 ifotMng in comparison of that incorruptible inheritahbe 
 which God keeps foi" thee in heaven, and hath pfepafed 
 since the creation of the world, llast thou a pleaiiMf 
 garden, or a rich fieldl' biit what are all the gardens of 
 the wotld, in respect bt the heavfenly paradise, where 
 the tree of life grows, that brings forth its fruits every 
 month of the year, and where tl^e river of living watfer, 
 as ttansparfelii asii^ystat, runs coirtihiaafty? 
 
 What reason hast thou, christian soul, to '^HeTe, 
 /^'hen thda Iforsak'est the pleasures of 'the worn, ^hat 
 
THE CftmSTTAN'iiilT^SOTil/TrON 
 
 fhoH enjoyest with the chiMi'en of the eatth, of the de- 
 rr*hts of the body, which are co'mmoti to thfte With the 
 ?mi*e beasts; since God will Satisfy thee with his tttO<!t 
 precious delights? Kof iti the blessed vision of his 
 face, thon shalt meet with fulness of joy. Hast thou 
 any friends t)rtj |^l4? }M it not ttouble thee to leaVe 
 th*!fH: fot, iwstj^^wllje friend h^re below, \thom thou 
 fawiest to !)e rearShS sincere, thou hast thousands in 
 heaven, who will receive thefc into the eternal tnansion.», 
 and eln brace theft as their companion, and the partaker 
 of Ihe same glory and happiness. Hast thou any pa^ 
 rents ot relations? 1 9upp^,^e thfey are not burthensorae 
 to thee, and that thou rftfceivest fnuch mote' pleasure sand 
 aS^tance from th^em, tha!i g;rief atid ingratitude; yet 
 thoM liast a spiritual parehtagfe ift hekven and eternal 
 relations. Thou hast in the mansioti-house lof thy hep,- 
 venly Father, a gfreat number of brothers and sisters, 
 with whoitn thou shalt livfe in a blessed unity, as mem- 
 bers oif one body, govetbed by the same spirit, and in- 
 flamed with the samefi^al. 
 
 Thou husband, whom death snatcheth away frOfti thy 
 helovfed Wife, feeriou'sly consider, that (rod will unitp. 
 th*c to hiftiself by an inseparahlte union, and that he 
 ;i^*|>Oseth to take up to ^im s0m6 (iat<t of thyself, .that 
 Aiy cxpectttlfitn^ fhy hopes, and afltectioh!*, itiigiit be 
 Do^ In b^vm aflfl IhBti al-ft* O WOtnfln! whoto death 
 pltidks'out of thfe *!tnhra'ceft of 4hy d*kr awd lovihg hm- 
 ^k&A, teineWber that thtrti \\n^ a liusband n^so in h«ia- 
 vett, y^'hb hath tsjjtrtised 1fl»ee tb Mm^Mi&fmet ifl right- 
 '«)t(Sflcilv in MiBt'ey, mi^ Wflapftisslwr; a hasbaM always 
 Mbg ftini^oHreiim; * bn*hj(ifia, i**1k) lovBSthee with *h 
 et<iWiailotte, '^hatis i^ttwigev thafi d^t%; Whose i^ettteas 
 ate Mamtrd fbf *ile* hi m^ ft wattti^, 'th«t tb^ \i^||k' e^ 
 
454 TkE CHRtSTIMp CONSOLATIdNs 
 
 ,{ilf-lhe sea's and rivers is WtabliB to extinguish; a liug- 
 feand whd blears with all thine infirrijities, anil; hath re- 
 deemed> thee from all thy sins; a, husband who hath not 
 spkred for thee his ^M'ecipus blood, tfeat he might procuve 
 for thee the glory and halppih'isss ' of his kingdom; who 
 invites thee to his heiavenly nuptial^gJp,ving prepared* 
 and appointed for thee a room ihl|l^Hp;iteting-cham- 
 ber, where thousands of glorified 'Ifra^^ sJiall sitj and 
 t|iere the melodious harmonjr'i)f angels shall be beard; a 
 husband, wht) calls to thee, rsacheth out to thee his' 
 hand,' who opens his bosom to receive thee. ]f thou 
 h^lst found any [Satisfaction And pleasure in the compa- 
 tiy of that person, whom God hath given thee for an as- 
 sistant and mate, jiidge from thence, what angelic de~ 
 flights thou shall meet vv^ith in the ravishing embraees o|^ 
 thy heavenly spouse.' The most pleasant marriage 
 days are gone as a shadow; but the day, whiph shall 
 bring thee to the celestial bridegroom, shall never de- 
 part nor darken, and the heavenly contentments shall 
 abide and epntinfne with thee forever, without the least 
 distaste. 
 
 You beloved and loving children, who are yet in the 
 bo^om of a good father, or of ia tender-heatted mother, 
 suffer death patiently to remove you far fram them, and 
 depavt with joy to that good God, that will receive you 
 as his children, satisfy your souls with the milk of his 
 most blessed consolations, and will make you bis heiris> 
 and co-heirs^ with his son Jesus Christ; say to Mm. as 
 the holy prophet, '^R^!e;i 7wy/e*Acr and my mojthef shall 
 forsake me^ yet the Lord mllreempi&me, Isa. Ixvi. Rom. 
 viii. Fsal, xxviii. And you, faithers and mothers, that 
 have a tender aM|tion for your children, if d«ath takes 
 ^em jDut of your sight, and deprives yoa of the eiomfbrt 
 
THE CHRISTIAN'S CONSOLATION. I #gg 
 
 r theiv company, grieve not as those whp have no hope, 
 or when they should be ever so accomplished, when 
 ^ should always have given you pleasure and di- 
 ^rti^ementy what are all these pitiful delights that pass 
 (iray in a moment, and change oftentimes into bitter- 
 ;ss and sorrow, if compared with the eternal pleasures 
 hich we shall enjoy in the coatempla|.ion of God's 
 urions face, and in afamiliar s^oijuaiTitMife with his 
 iyine wisdom? You shall not return to them, but they 
 lali in their time go to you. So that you shall short- 
 ' see one another Jn the dwelling of the father of spi- 
 ts, Matlii xxVii. Death separates you for a white; 
 at the author of your life will bring you together for 
 irer.: 
 
 Finally, of what agev and condition soever you be, 
 yott perceive the breath of your life to stop, never 
 rieve nor murmur at it. For if death separates you 
 om yourselves, it brings you nearer to God, your chief 
 Bod; and, instead of a wretched jind perishing life, it 
 ill promote you to the fruition of an eternal and ever 
 ippy one. 
 
 If we had Jived in the days when our Lord was om 
 itth, there is none of us but wouM.have looked upon, 
 
 as a siignlar happiness and honour to have been ad- 
 itted with Peter, James, and John, when they went up to 
 le mount Tabor, to be eye-witnesses of our Saviour's 
 ■atitt|Mtation. A far greater honor and happirtess death 
 1 efldravouring to procure you; it will usher you up to 
 iountSion,it will transport you above the heavens, 
 rhere you Hall behold more excellent wonders,; than 
 rev the apostles beheld «?«» ™'o""* Tabor. For you 
 liall not onlf see this glorious Saviour whiter than 
 
fSli THfi CHRIS riAN'S g(^NS(?I.ATlW. 
 
 mww, and ;teighter tkm the sun, -but .y«i> youisfjvei? 
 ghall life tBan^figup^ with hi Hij m4 clothed with mi &%"' 
 ceeding great gloyj,: The holy aposU/iss saw Uut two 
 prophe-tsj but you sUaU seg «U the ppopiiets, *n4 41 th^ 
 patnarchs, apostles, confessors, H»artyr§»,the holy a^il 
 blessed virgiii,, aqd in geaeFal.aU the^^jrits that rpigff 
 and triumph in heaven. The apostles bad ^ sight of 
 tliis glopy of our Saviour, as of a flai^b of Ughtnitigj. it 
 continued with them t>ut a moment; for soon after tjj|f 
 eame down fpom thait holy mountain, an4 were agai« ex.. 
 posed to the same tejmjplations,!^ before^ an4^f siliijad 
 by the same calamities,, It will be otherwise-, with|.thpe;, 
 Christian sowl, thou art %iBg up tp heaven, fr^j^ 
 whence thou shalt never descend, till the great day of 
 the glori(i](Os resurrection of our bodies. Tbou shalt n^t 
 be assaulted any more byany tenvptations- Thou sJbftW 
 have no more enemies to overcome. UPr bitterness t9 di- 
 gest. Thou art going to reaji and enjoy Uie tde§i§g4 
 fruits of thy Saviour's victories, and to be eternally s.a- 
 tis-fied with the celestial pleaSfves th,at are at the right 
 baud of the God of mercies. 
 
 We are ready to conclude the apostle John was high- 
 ly favoured of the jiioj-d, when there was a view given- 
 hiraofthe new Jwusalem. But grei^eijjg tj^ privi- 
 lege, p Chi'istianj at and after d-eath! What St- John 
 saw whik in this world was but in a visi<>n; but God 
 ^ill (iiseover the same to thee in reality -and truth.— 
 Christ is as it were saying to hh j^edeemed, comej my 
 friend^! aad I will sljipw yon Uie ma^ificent and sump- 
 tHOBs city* the heavenly p^lace^ with Myihe glorious 
 state and sm-pri^ng splendor of my kingdom!. Come, 
 and I will display hf^fore your eyes the immense trea- 
 sures, and matchless crowns, I have to dispose of! 
 
THE CHRISTIAN'S CONSOLATION. 457 
 
 Coiticj and 1 will shew you the. ■pare river ofvpatpr of 
 life, clear as crystal proceeding out of tlie throne/. Rev. 
 xxii. 1. Come and i will discover to ypu tlie infinitiB 
 satisfactioufi^^and eternal delit^hts. belonging to the 
 frttare state, not in meje vision Or ecstasy, nor in an holy 
 iavishment of the mind, or in any prophetic eleva.tioa of 
 the soul, but by a real fruition, and continued contem- 
 plation of them, in a light infinitely superi^ir to that of 
 the suoj oj^' ■:' ' • 'ilW-iiS.y , 
 
 Those who now suffer with Christ, shall hereafter 
 reign with him: they that are faithful unto death, to them 
 will he give a crown of life, and will causjti them to fe- 
 ceive a kingdom that cannot be moved, Heb. xii. 28.-^ 
 Jesus will unveil his lovely face, and will scatter those 
 clouds that conceal his glory; he will cause the rays' to 
 break forth with a cheering brighitness; will render his 
 redeemed people conformable to himself; will make 
 them happy in his presence, where there is fulness of 
 jay, and pleasures, ov&r&owiog for evermore, Psal. xvi. , 
 11. Thus dear Christians, you may plainly perceive, 
 that death, however' dreadful and ill-favoured it may 
 seeini> yet, as David said of Ahim^az, :come^A with good 
 i^dings, and may not unfitly be compared to the chariot 
 of fire which conveyed the good prophet Elijah to 
 heaven. 
 
 From these intimations. We easily conclude with the 
 wisest x>f men. That the day of death is better than the 
 day. of one's birth, Eccl. vii. 1. By our natural birth, we 
 becoiiieiinhabitaivts of a miserably wicked world; bat 
 by death' Ch^tians are removed to the celestial para- 
 dise, a place of perfect purity; and everlasting delight. 
 Our birth exposes Us to a vast variety of evils and Ene- 
 mies; but Christ, through desTthj gives to Christians a. 
 
 3M 
 
4M fftfi CHRISTIAN'S CONSOLATIOlir. 
 
 cofiol^Mte' 'n^Mey, and will ttiak^ thetti more than con- 
 <giaeroi*iS. Ovtv birthis attended with Weeping and tearsf 
 the death of the believer will issue in songs of joy. Our 
 birth bdngg ai^ int<y the Hght of tMs eWorld; but death 
 lands ihm better part of the Christian in a purer lights 
 that is everlasting. In eobseiquence of our birth, we 
 live here an animal and Sensual lifSj; of a transient con- 
 tinuance; but dearth iliakes way for onr living a life tru- 
 ly pure and spiritual, which shall continue for ever. In 
 a word, om birth casts us into the arnns of death; but 
 d^atfa dispatches the imiiiortal %frit to hint witb^ wbonr 
 is the fountaiti of liffe, Psal. xxxVi. 9. 
 
 The apoglM Paul accounted death to be his gain; and 
 thl^ lirlfttitivc Christians cduld flo* approve of surviving 
 persons afflictitiig them for the de^aj'tare of bfelievei^ h^ 
 d^ath, ifiasmUbh as this was the day of their re$st and 
 dellverattce, their glory ahd bapj^tess. Decency upon 
 such an oecasi^li is worthy of regard; but these wor- 
 thies Were against pei^@ns cMMng thetnselyes with at- 
 tire of sable hue^ aUd cairrying S<^ns of sadness, for the 
 sake «l thi^e that are clothed in white and »lfinii»g 
 robes of glory atid iitiiiort^li^. Thty considered the 
 present life as one cotithiued death, and looked upott 
 death as the beginning of a real llf«; and agcee&Me here- 
 unto, they called the annual return of that day whereon 
 a taartyr suffered death, tk^ day of his natimi^. Fi'om 
 hence procWcided the songs of praise which were nSually 
 sung to pei^etuate - their memories. 
 
 I neeid not call optfn the serioiis r^der to note the 
 mighty ^iflbrence between the death of "^d's- people 
 and that of the Wtck'ed; it is as great as that between 
 Hght and darkd«Si, i(e«V^ and hell. Hence Balaam 
 llad $Qod ikhs&n to &^#the one, and dreads the others 
 
THE GHRISTLA^'S GONSOLAI^lClN. 4,39 
 
 atjfd we have all need to pray in his language, Jtet nfe 
 die the deuth of%e fighteous, and let my last end he like 
 &is,.Num. xxiiii. 10. 
 
 It has~ been already remarked in this i«£atise, how 
 Adrian, one o£ the heathen emferors, made the follow-. 
 ifl$; address to his soul, My little soul, my little darli^gi 
 hmtess dud (Simpanien of my body, thou artgc^g to wan- 
 der uf and do lev in cold, obscure, and fearful places; 
 ^ou sholt never delight thyself in jesting, as thou, 
 hast been wont; thoushalt never give me any merepas^ 
 Mme. But when death dissolves thi^ earthly taberjiaclfi, 
 theChristiau may address the departing spirit in a diSt- 
 rent manner. *' O my soul, pleasant hostess, and hear 
 venly companion of this frail body, thou canst not wan- 
 der out of thy way; for thou hast a 'sure and faithful 
 gdide. The angels will bear thae on tbmr. wings,, and 
 convey thee to a noble palace, gloriously illuminated, 
 and enriched with'^he most ravishing delists. Thou 
 hast for ever done with sin, sorrow and grief, wblch 
 have so frequently broken in upon thee in -^is world^ 
 noihiag now remains but scenes of iminterrupted joy, 
 with songs <of pradse aod thaaks^viag to God and to fh^ 
 Lambyfram the holy angels, widthe gpiriisfff just men 
 madepmfect. 
 
 Hew great is the gjory and happiness mMeh chrk- 
 tiajie may "Justly ^ixpeet-from tihdr Grod and ^vimft, 
 who hath infinite power, mercy, and goodness, and bftl^ 
 given his own life for theirs, which is an indisputable 
 ^r«o^ ihst aM his imparfedipins are empl«^ed for tbriaar 
 welfare! St. Paul, when on his journey to J^erusal^ 
 where he was baund and impiri|oneid> »u4 ^W Wifepnce 
 he was to l^ conv«yed to Kame, tt^ite to g^if^ ^oA/^ 
 iofUa IfOsA And ma*t6r, JM»if4M^ lyeptlQJ" MiOj awI 
 
460 7''^^^ CH^^I^'^^^N'S CONiOLATION. 
 
 they woirM have tlissuaded him from going; but wlnt 
 replied the apostle hereunto? What mean yowtowee'p^ 
 and to break my heart? Acts xxi. 13; so, Christians, da 
 your companions and attendants seek' to dissuade you 
 fpom thinking of your departure? would they reconcile 
 yofl to this woridy the customs of it, and your continu- 
 ance in it?,.^say to them, " What mean you, ray friends! 
 ■would you stop me from ^oirig to the heavenly-Jerusa- 
 lem, at the entrance of which, I shall cast off all the 
 fetters and chains of mortality? when and where I shall 
 finally leave all my sins, my sufferings, and sorrows, 
 and enter into the greatest glory with the best of com- 
 pany." Perhaps from hence they may be induced to saj'y 
 The will of the Lord be done. 
 
 The christian may moreover reply to those who dis- 
 cover this unseasonable concern. If your love be real 
 and sincere, you will surely prefejyny highest felicity 
 to the small satisfaction you ntight find in my company 
 and conversation in this world. Consider also^ in my 
 heavenly Fatber's house and presence, every moment 
 will furnish out to me niore real joy and pleasure thaa 
 I Could hope for herein a thousand ages. All the-pomp 
 and splendor of this world, all its glory ami state, its 
 riches and treasures, its honours and de1ights> are no 
 more, when compared with foturer felicity, than a fesv 
 drops of water to a boundless ocean, or a flash of light- 
 niing to the rays of the. sun, when it shines in its meri- 
 dian brightness: And is it re.-^sonable that your/ -pas- 
 sionate fondness for me should hinder me of all tliis 
 happiness? ■»' 
 
 Suppbsae you and J were bound and imprisoae^d in 
 some dark dungeon, would you irot rather behald me 
 at some distftnce in the enjoyment of fnll liberty and de- 
 
THE CHRIStlAN'S CONSOLATION. 461 
 
 lighf, than that I should continue j^^oav companion un- 
 der misery and confinement? Let it not be suggijstedj 
 that we shall never behold each other no more; for can 
 any christian doubt of> or disbelieve, the declared pur- 
 pose of heaven to gather the saints together? Psal. 1. 5, 
 Matth. xxiv. 3. The ..separation occasipned^ by death 
 is but momentary; for the Prince of Life will unite us 
 together for ever in his Father's house, whither he is 
 gone to prepare a place for us; and this future meeting 
 in. the heavenly palace, when meditated upon by f^iith, 
 may go far towards dispelling this gloomy darkness and 
 distress of mind, which is wont to arise under a sense 
 of separation. By lane^uage like this, surviving Chrisr 
 tlan friends may be so wrought upon, as to be<hold your 
 translation into heaven with a tolerable composure uf 
 spirit. 
 
 If it happen otherwise with some Christians, who, 
 in their departure, are attended with such whose love 
 is blind, whosie minds are weak, and their passions 
 strong, and seem so unreasonable as to resist the ap- 
 pointment of heaven, and to oppose God's promoting to 
 'happiness the heirs of salvation; as it has a tendency 
 to excite the reluctancies; of nature in the dying believ- 
 er, he must endeavour to overcotae them by the strength 
 of divine grace, and the assistance of the Holy Spirit. 
 He must imitate St. Piter, who at his Lord's transfii- 
 guration, forgot .his own family, with all hi? other en- 
 joyments in this worl4, arid, in a transport of jojr cried 
 oat. Lord, it is goodfo^s to be heret It is truly good 
 to be with Christ, andjo behold his glory/ And, certain 
 it is, if the mind is raised up to heaven, ^nd the soul by 
 faith can behold Jssus shining in all his glory, and sur- 
 roanded with seraphic spirits, incessantly sounding his 
 
46S THE CHRrSTlAN»S CONSOLATION. 
 
 praise, this |»Fevious appt-ebension of the world to cdtt^ 
 will reoiler the Christian forgetful of the perisbing plea- 
 sures and enjoyments of the present world, which the 
 af^ctions have been but too much devoted unto in time 
 j»ast. Hence, in an holy ec^tacy, the Christian cries 
 out, with St. Thorans, My Lord and my God! with the 
 church, larti sick of lobe; and with the holy psalmist, 
 Whomhave linheaten butthee^ and there is nofte'upon 
 eavth T desire besides thee? &c. 
 
 In the presence of the Lord there is so much liglit, 
 life, and love, that the believeF's meditations hereupon 
 are^^culiarly sweet and ravishing to the mind! In- 
 deed, the well-instructed Christian will not say with 
 the apostTe Peter, Let iis build tabernacles, as knowing, 
 when he is arrived at this enjoyment of Jesns, which 
 we are now treating of, he is' no longer'to live the Iffe 
 of a sijjijourner, or that of a soldier; he will see, with the 
 eye of faith, a palace prepared before time began, and 
 will aspire after the possession of it; Will attend with 
 pleasure to that sovereign eoraraaod, Of 6m, ye the gates 
 that the vi^teous may enter in; and will rejoicse in hope 
 of that entrance which shall be administered 'obnnddnUyt 
 Isaiah xxvL 2. 3 Pet. i. 11. W- 
 
 My Christian friends, shall the poor Pagans, who 
 never tasted of the heavenly gift, who were never par- 
 takers of the Holy &host, the good word of 6odj and the 
 powers- of^worM to come; shail th% Haa^hen, I say, 
 who h^d no such hope, an^ w^ie without God in the 
 world,, meet death with conra^ an<l will yon, with ali 
 ysuiir' superioar advantages' about ydu, tiie foretastes ei^ 
 bajppiness, and the fcn-ese^a beams of glory hr^afeing ' 
 IWfch, ^ill hespa^ concerning your departare from tMs 
 1ir«rld? Shall « ^aeea, who bad «o o^er light to di- 
 
THE CftRlSTIAN'S CONSOLATION. 46^ 
 
 rect bim than that of nature, and nothing better to sup- 
 port him than his own philosophy, cheerfully submit to 
 death, and comfort his friends weeping around him; 
 and shall Ohristiaiis, who have been trained up under 
 the tuition of e;ternal wisdom, shudder at tbi^* thought el 
 their departure! Is it p«^^sible that such who embtace by 
 faith the glories and felicities prepared for them in a fu- 
 ture Hfe^ should not be able to look updn death wil^ 
 courage and resolution; yea to leave the world with ex* 
 pressions of joy? 
 
 Shall a 8oicrates cheerfully drink up the poisonous 
 pi/tion which w&s prepared for himP aad shall the 
 Chrjstiail, animated by the Spirit of God, interested in 
 the precious pto{ilises> and Who has received the earnest 
 d the heavenly inheritance-y shrink uniier the apprehen- 
 sions of sufferings and dfeath? lOhere be any thing 
 bitter and distasteful in th^ cup, Christian, consider, 
 it bears no comparison With that which Christ drank 
 for Uiee; nay, suppose it were poisonoas, yet thou bast 
 proper and povlrerful antidotes prepared, lieipember, 
 thou art going to drt^k forever of the watet of life in 
 the heavenly kingdom, where the first taste of the |)iire 
 streada t^ll remove all thy maladies^ and make ibec for- 
 get ^1 past complaints. Wlten death enters into the 
 beuses of Christlnnis, it meanliy becolaes such to aba^- 
 Ab& tliefl^elveift to sorroW^ since they have an intere&t 
 in GUriiN:^ who was cm^Bsed; but is new reigning, and 
 triiHuptniag !n h«ate% and wiU theie receive bis re- 
 deemed ones to lamself. , . -^i - 
 
 Moreov^, sinee so many persona of different ag^!>, 
 4texe3> And dresinistaiices in life, bave desired death, 
 efiily to be free from earthly evils and cakaiiti^;. Itath 
 not tbe CteriMftaa taSnitely greater reaso%f to desai^ 
 
464i THK CHRISTIAN'S CONSOLATION. 
 
 death, (when it shall please the Aliuighty,) that he may 
 eujdy the happy advantages of the heavenly life? ffo?t> 
 excellent is thy loving leindness, O God/ therefore the 
 children of men put their trust under the shadow of thy 
 wings, 'they shall be abundantly satisfied with the fat- 
 ness of thy house; and thou shalt make them drink of the 
 river of thy pleasures; for with thee is the foufitain of 
 life; in' thy light shall we see light, Psal. xxxvi. 7> 
 8,9. 
 
 If, agreeable to our profession, we know the Lord; 
 if wfc passionately desire to- enjoy angelical delights, and 
 to taste of those divine pleasures which proceed from the 
 heavenly throne, should we not be induced hereijy to 
 use the expressions of the Psalmist, .As the hartpanteth 
 after the water broohs, so pavieth my soul after thee {) 
 God, Psal. xlii. 1. O God, thou art my God; early will 
 Iseek'the^; my soul thi'rsteth for thee, myfiesh longeth 
 for thee- in a dry and thirsty land, where no water i$, 
 Psal. Ixiii. i. Hpw am,idhle are thy tabernacles^ OLord 
 of hosts! My soul longeth, yea even fainteth, for the 
 courts'ofthe Lord: my heart and my flesh crieth out for 
 the living God! Psal. Ixxxiv. 1,,S. 
 
 O believer, Iiovk vastly greafcis the difference between 
 the earthly Jerusalem, which David so earnestly desir- 
 ed should be restored to, and the heavenly city, in- 
 to wjiich thy God will receive *^thee! What comparison 
 is tliCre between the little stream of SJtiiloh, and the ca- 
 pacious river of -the celestial paradise? What a vast 
 disproportion between the material' tabernacle, the mer- 
 cy-seat covered with gold, upon.vvhich the figured che- 
 rubims stretched their wings, and the true tabernacle 
 which the Lord pitched, and hot man; Jesus Christ the 
 true arJeofthecoveMtit, containing all the treasures of 
 
THii CHUisti AN'S "l'ONs5laT1oN 463 
 
 wifi^inandw^ifli'dge, in whose saCTed person dwelk 
 all thefultnessoJ^heGodltead bodily,-a.n(im whose pre- 
 sence the real seraphiins vail their faces >vith theit 
 wings? Heb. viii. 3, Col. ii. 3, 9, Is. vi, 3, 3. How 
 conta«ipul)le were all the oblatians and of|;ei'i«gs^ of the 
 Israelites, in cbmjfkrison of tlie spiritual sacrifices of- 
 fered by the saints with holy fervour ; nd charity, which 
 are alwjiysi^ accejitaUe to Gud 6j/ Jesus Christ? 1 Pet, 
 ii. 3. 
 
 , Now, consider, if there *be this difference betweem 
 the tintes. and the sacrifices of the law, and those of the 
 gospel here on earth, how infinitely greater is the dif- 
 ferericp bett^een 'arth and heaven! If David accounted 
 it a happiness to be a door-keeper in the house, of God 
 ;^elow4 what sujierior happiness will the Christian en- 
 joy^ when receivted into celestial and everlasting Jiabi- 
 tations/ The holy Jesus hath made tins gracious pro- 
 misiEi, Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in fht 
 tepple of my God, and he shall go nd more out, Rev. iii, 
 12. If the Levites, and others, praising God, was 
 so spii'itually enteiiaining to the saints of old*,' *how 
 much more will the' harmonious hymns of heaven be 
 so, when sounded by the celestial choir, singing the 
 song of !^Ioses and of the Lamb! 
 
 When the shepherds fei&ard but a few riotes of the an- 
 gels song of praise to God i»t the Redeemer's birth, 
 they were filled with joy, and cheerfully left their flocks 
 to seek the Saviour, even in liis humble state, wrapt in 
 swaddling doaiks, and lying in a manger^ and shall the 
 spirits of God's chilcSfen reluctantly leave this lower 
 world to dwell with this Jesus, now exalted at the Fa- 
 ther's right hand; and so much as seem unwilling t® 
 
 31^ ' 
 
466 THE CHRISTIAN'S CONSOLATION. 
 
 ,l<<!'^ 
 
 »joiE with thousands of angels that-sqrrou|d the thi;one, 
 Und are incessantly praising him who silteth^upQn it? 
 
 Zaicctieus ascended a sycamore tr# to obtain a sight 
 of Jesas as he passed by in his state ,of abasement; 
 shoiild not the Christian beii'n earnest to soar above the 
 heavens to see this Lord, and be for ever with him in 
 his glorious elevation? Now* s,alva,l«ioin and joy does 
 enter into the houses and hearts" where Christ vouch- 
 safes, his gracious visits: but hereafter, wl^en the saints 
 arrive at that Rede.en^er's palace, they will enter into 
 thejoy and glory of their Lord. 
 
 ' we account highly of Jacob's happiness in Bethel, 
 as visitedW God' there,, Gen. xxviii.'; iS, S(^ bjit.more 
 fiappy isthe soul of the Christian in this after-state; and 
 tvith much ;^ore reason may such an one say, Tfeis is 
 none oth^r but the house of God, and this is the gft"^ of 
 ft«aMe^,,rerse'l?'. The holy patriai-ch saw heaven open- 
 ed!' but was not then admitted there- into; but at death 
 he'dyen is opened to receive the spirits of theredeeWd, 
 there to dwell for ever. Jacob saw the angels of G<M 
 ascendihg'and descending upon the ladder, while he 
 was left' iielow; but at deaths the angels assist and se- 
 cure the departing spirits ascent to< heaven by Jesus 
 ChVist, the true spiritual ladder. Jacob beheld the Lord 
 standing above this ladder, biit was himself, after thijS, 
 to goto Fad'an-Aram, to encounter many difficulties in 
 tb$ 'Service of Latian, to meet with; unkind treatment, 
 fr&m tumi, to facehis brother Esau; and to wrestle with 
 the A-linigWy; whereas the Christian, at his depar|:ure, 
 id liappily krrived at the eiid of bis race, the last period 
 of his pilgrimageil^s done with difficulties of every;: 
 tind; frailfies |nd fears will be kpown no more; httt.a« 
 iayarktile &ceo6 of felic^ity succeed for ever. " 
 
THE CHRISTIAN'S CONSOLATION. 467 
 
 Moses was passionately desirout that God would 
 shew to him his glory, Exod. xxxiii. 18; and slibuld 
 not the Christian be desirous of this sight? Where this 
 desire is found, it shall in due time be fully gratified: 
 for God will guide with his counsel, and afterward re- 
 ceive his to glory; he will shew them the path of life, 
 and bring them into his presence, where there is fulness , 
 of joy; he will abundantly satisfy them with the fainess 
 of his house and cause them to drink of the river of his 
 pleasures, Psal. Ixxiii. 21, xvi. 11, xxxvi. 8. 
 
 If the Christian's faith and assurance were but pro- 
 portionate to heaven's glory and happiness, with what 
 ecstacy of joy would he leave this world to possess the 
 heavenly inheritance purchased by Jesus Christ! Let 
 me farther ask, "Why should the Christian fear, or his 
 faith, be wanting? When Jonathan had tasted a little 
 honey, his eyes were enlightened, 1 Sam. xiv. 39; so 
 ihe believer, having tasted of that honey which is found 
 in the Rock of Christ, his understanding is enlightened 
 also, which may relieve under the apprehensions of 
 death, and cause the Christian not barely to expect 
 God's salvation, but to rejoice in the views of it, and de- 
 clare with David, 1 was glai when they said unto me, 
 Come let us go up to the house of the Lord, Psal. cxxiu 
 1, this upper and better house of our heavenly Fat&er. 
 
 In this frame of spirit the Christian may not only joofc^ 
 for, expect with patience, and embrace with joy, the tid- 
 ings of this glorious salvation, but be hasting unto the 
 coming of the day of God, (S'Pet. iii. is!) when he 
 shall behold his heavenly Father's face, delightfully 
 dwell in his presence, and drink for ever of the water 
 of life at the fountain head. Joseph, when called to the 
 royal palace, hastily went out of prlsoiiyaad prepared 
 
^gg THE CHRISTIAN'S COJsSOLATrOW-^ 
 
 j^. . . , , .... 
 
 fejmself tp stand before Pharaoh,^, (fien. xTi. 14:) amf 
 Bath not the h'elieving soul much greater reason to mak& 
 ftaste in itS; preparation to leave the prison of the jbwdy^ 
 to asjCend to the heavenly palace^ to appear in the pre- 
 sence of the King of Kings, and be advance(J[ to the 
 highest honours?. Such honours indeed as irifinilel'y ex-~ 
 eel all the pomp antT pageantry of the princes of tbi* 
 worlds 
 
 Bartimeus readily cast away his garment, to come to 
 Jestis virilh the greater speed when tafed by him, .Vjaifc 
 X. 50; apd should not the spiriH^f a Ghristian willingly 
 leave this bpdy,. (whick is but like a troublesome gar- 
 ment,) and repair to Cbrist the Saviour, to be cured pf 
 all .(jfiseasesj-tlie remains of spiritual d^ijiness, and to ■ 
 dwell in light inaccessible to the mortal body? 1 Tira.> 
 Ti. 16; gTorious liglit, in which the righteous shall shine^ 
 as the stars for ever and everl Dan. xii. 3. Let the be- 
 lieving spirit, then, willingly cast off this spotted gar- 
 meiit of the flesh, in orde^ to be clothed, with li^t and 
 glory. The prophet Elijah let fall hfs mantle^ and wa* 
 surrounded with a celestial splendor; so the ChristiaQy. 
 when he ^th cast off this frail body, will be happily en- 
 
 - eompassed with heavenly flames, in which he will as- 
 cend tp heaven, and bear some likeness to that God' 
 who cover^ himself with light os^witR a garment. 
 
 Joshua the high-priest was claJ with, filthy garments^ 
 But command was giyjn to those in waiting, Take away 
 ihe^thj/gf^m.6ntfromliim; I will clothe thee with change: 
 ofraameni^Mt them sefafair mitre uponhis heai, Zechr^ 
 iii. % 5-., This^^pjes not unaptly represent the Christian'r 
 case, whose body is oppressed by labour, attended with 
 pains, vvho bears abpal bim the relicks of the old many'; 
 
 -Wi0od calls, Its ifeivere;, Xrom his heayeMly sauotuaEyy, ■ 
 
THE CHRISTIAN'S CONSOLATION. ^^g 
 
 in this language: " Take away from him this over- 
 worn, or at best defiled garment, and clothe him witli 
 i^Aqred ornaments, proper to the royal priest-hood: array 
 himjiu fine linen, clean and white,- (the ephod of r^h't-i 
 eousness:) place an incorruptible crown dpon his head, 
 and put a golden vial into his hand, that he may offer 
 up for ever the roost pleading porfumes, in company 
 with the gloiiBus and glorified ones who are under the 
 beavenly altar. , 
 
 If, after this, the Christian pan yet doubt of the cer- 
 tain felicity and. glory of such who die in the Lord, let 
 him well attend to what St. Paul hath said, who was 
 himself caught up into the third heaven, where he both 
 heard and saw things unutterable, S Cor. xii. 1, 4; And 
 we know, says he, that if our earthly house of this ta- 
 berhacle were dissolved^ we have a building, of God,, an 
 bouse not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For 
 in this we groan earnestly, desiring to be clothed upon 
 with our house -which is from heave», &c. For we that 
 are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for 
 that we would be" unclothed, but clothed upon, that 
 mortality might be swallowed up of life, 3 Cor. v.' 4^ 
 2, 4. And to what is said elsewhere. Blessed are the 
 ^ad which die iu the Loct(; from henceforth; yea, saitli 
 the Spirit, that they may rest from t^fr labours, and 
 th&ir works do follow them, Rev. xiy, 13. 
 
 It were to be wished we hads^^t-other word than 
 that of death, by which to express the hapjiy change 
 that Christians make when they leave this miseWible 
 world. It is with small propriety a person can be said 
 to die when he leaves an uncertain world filled with vani- 
 ty and vexation, and enters into another that abides for 
 ever, where all felicity does abound; when he exchanges 
 
-70 THE CHRISTIAN'S CONSOLATION* 
 
 abouj* for rest, war far peace, pain for pleasure, and 
 o^row for joy. 
 
 Ohristiao, revolve, over in thy mind thy spiritual be- 
 ;ilj.ning, and thy happy end; consider well, what thou 
 ,i^, from whence thou proceedestj and whithferthoU go-. 
 ist. The renewed soul is of a celestig,! and immortal 
 lature, a beam of glory, nay the image rof the creator. — 
 t is pure, without spot or blemish, sjs- wa^shed in thft 
 ilood of the Lamb, and sanctified by the Spirit &f God: 
 iiereby the nobler part is fitted and disposed to enter in- 
 9 the holy city, and the fruition of eternal gldl-y. Such ' 
 lave fought a good fight, have finished their course, halve 
 :ept the faith; and there is laid up for them a crown of 
 ighteonsnesi, which the Lord the righteous judge, will 
 hea assuredly give unto them. 
 
 Go then, O ibdieving soul, with joy iand gladness to 
 he great Godf' who *€alls thee, and to the precious me- 
 liatoi", who i$ ready ko embrj),ce. and receive thee: go 
 heei'fijfly info the glorious company of angels and hap- 
 ly spirits, to be arrayed like them, witli robes of light, 
 nd wear the immortal crown which the king of glory 
 las provided for thee: go and stay thy hunger witli the 
 iread of life, and allay thy thirst with the crystal stream 
 f the piire river of the water of life, proceeding out of 
 he throne of God and the Lamb, llev. Xxii. J; .go^nd 
 lehoM the amiable face of the Father of lights, be far.r 
 her transformed intoiiis glorious image, and fee foreveJ" < 
 lappy in the divine resemblance. 
 
 O (jhr!gtian,seest thou not the heavens opened, and, 
 he son of man standing at the right hand of 6od ready. 
 D receivil^ thy; spirit into His glorious rest? Seest'thou 
 lot the holy angels coming to, transport thee frcwntbis 
 wretched lyorld? Art thou not ali%ady encompqissi^d 
 
THE, CnaiSTIAN'S CONSOLATION. 47: 
 
 .about .with heavenly gu,ard8? Dost thou not relish th 
 sweetness of opm'adise? Is not heaven begun in th; 
 fae^pt? Canst ihou not hear the'melody of glorified »j^i 
 rits in theh* hymns of praise? Dost thou not know tha 
 jt^ful voice sounding in thine ear, : Verily I say unt 
 thee, this day shalt thou be with me in paradise: Com 
 ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom pfepq:reii 
 for you before the foundation of the world: Well done 
 ^opd and faithful servant, enter into the joy of thy Lord 
 Dost not the Christian feel himself raised above al 
 earthly things, and flying upon th0 wings of faith ant 
 love to the very throne of glory? Can he not, nnde 
 these me4itatiQnsj cast himself into the arms of God 
 and the bosom of Jesus^ there to rest forever in the ful 
 enjoyment of those good things WhiGh eye hath no 
 seen, nor the ear heard, neither have entered itito th 
 heart of man, but which yet God hath certainly prepa 
 fed for them, that love him? 1 Cor. ii. 3. 
 
 PKAYEKfAND MEDITATION 
 
 Of a, Christian, whose spirit if prepared by gra,ce to lean 
 
 the body, andisrComfo^dWUh the thought andhopt 
 
 of the after state > 
 
 M) ALMIGHTY God! the alone author of my be 
 
 i^; and the sdvereign.Lqrd'of my liffe, Ihqu see'st ai 
 
 the secret motions and dispositions of my spifituarpart 
 
 thou, knowesi that I have wholly resigned myself int( 
 
 thy hands, to be formed' and fitted, for thee wr ail'tlii 
 
 pleasure, then would I say, Sp6.dk, Lord, for thy ser 
 
 pliant heareth; fiere- lam, and Idelfght tb do thy Will 
 
 O God. , As the T'sfaelites waited for thy order, before 
 
 they 4?emoved their camp; so am I' waiting for tbji' com 
 
 maod to leaver this .earthly tabernacle| aiid as thb gold- 
 
4-7^ THE eHRlS TAN'S COMSOLATlON. 
 
 en cherubs were always upon their feety with thtsic 
 Win^s stretched out, aail their faces towards:iflie mercjif^ 
 seat; ip* like manner,^ l^wou Id always be in a fit posture 
 to kke my flight to the true mercy-seat, (to the blessed 
 ^esus, who is the propitiation for my sitis,) vvhenever 
 it shall please th«e to pat forth thy hand to deliver me 
 from all my troubles, and the dark night of present af- 
 fliction's. .1 am. as heartily .disposed to , relinqnish the 
 filthy rags of my own rightebusnessj and to leave this 
 mantle of the flesh behind, as were Elijah, or Barti- 
 meus, to leave theirs; that so I might ascend, as in a 
 chariot of fire, to the heavenly state, and dweir with Je- 
 sus^ who is, the light- and glory of it I^am. not con- 
 cerned that I must quit this earthly tabernacle? for than 
 balst made me meet ^or the inheritance of the saints in 
 light. Jiet iUy body return to tfre earth as it was^ since 
 1 have hope, tlwoagh grace, my sp;irit (that better, -tKlt^ 
 Immortal part) will return to my Gqd, who gave it. I 
 doubt hot its gracious reception with thee, my Saviour, 
 since thou hast premised a crown of rest andJife to all 
 who are fai^ful unto deatti, and continue- persevering 
 in thy faith and fear. The rewards of immortality are 
 sure to such as fight nnd^ thy banner against sin, Sa- 
 tan, and the worlds Through thy power and favour! 
 have already vanquished these enemies of my salvation, 
 and liave now no other to contend with, but the last 
 enemy, death; and by thy grace, I. hope htere to eon- 
 qaer. Strengthen me, O Lord, by thy holy Spirit, 
 hereunto, and give me clear views of^ and an easy jpa:s- 
 sa^ge unto thy eternal kingdom and glory. ^ O my God! 
 1 tiHjst in thy fatherly goodness, and unchangeable a|| 
 fection, together vvith the precious promise's thou haW 
 made, and the near relatiou thou hast taken me>in unto 
 thyself: thy faithfulness stands fast for evermore; and. 
 thou hast said, /mi'ZZ never Uave thee, ilor forsake thee^ 
 Send thy good angels at the hour of deatli, and, give 
 ttjem charge to 'Carry my departing spirit to thle realms 
 of light, and introduce me into th0 heavenly kingdom,, 
 tvhere I shall see thy salvation in its glory: I foi^ to. 
 be with thee in thy^'feavenly Jerusalem, tp.eiitejr^ thine' 
 boly sanctuary, and to join with" thefblessed sociefy who 
 
THE CHRISTIAN'S CONSOLATION. 473 
 
 minister before thy tlirone. I feel the effects of thy 
 grace in the separatiun of my affections from the world, 
 aud the fixing of my thoughts ' and hopes on thee, my 
 Gml; receive me into thy magn ficent palace, admit me 
 to dw«ll in thy pvesence, and to behold the face of my 
 glofified liedeemer. Speak, O Lord, to my soutj in 
 language answerable to its Ipngings; and in the time of 
 my departure, let me hear these comfortable words, 
 This day shalt iJiou he with me in paradise. I am sen- 
 sible, that in thy presence tliere is joy, peace, and hap- 
 piness, in perfection; I have already the foretastes of 
 heavenly pleasure; and am persuaded they exceed all 
 we can say or think. I see, as it were, the heavens 
 opened, and my Lord Jesus ready to embrace me. Into 
 thy hands I commit my spirit, for thou hast redeeraedi 
 tae, O Lord God of truthl Am&n. 
 
 CHAPTER XXm. 
 
 TAe Eleventh Consolation. The glorious resurrection 
 of our bodies. 
 
 \t hen God created the angels, he made them of 
 a nature altogether spiritual and heavenly, and that 
 hath no affinity with matter. 1 know very well, that 
 these Messed spirits have sometimes appeared in human 
 bodies, as to the ancient patriarchs. But thfc^were 
 bodies formed by God after an extraordinary ana mi- 
 raculous manner^ nor were the angels iii them^ as the 
 human soul is in the body which it informs and ani- 
 mates, but only as the pilot is in the ship which he gov- 
 ems. Therefore, as soon as Jhey had accomplishe4^| 
 tlie work about which they were employed by Gody: 
 they left those bodies without the least prejudice, as the 
 pilot goes out of the shi^, when he hath brought it to 
 
 the desired havea. All the happiness of these glorious 
 
 5 
 
47* THE CHRISTIAN'S CONSOLATION. 
 
 spirits consists in tins, that God hath confirmed them 
 in his graciB and'lbve, and hath admitted thiem for ever 
 to the contemplation of his face. It is not so with our 
 souls; for although they are of a spiritual and liearenly 
 nature, God hath not created them, to be alone ani se- 
 parate from all matter^ but to live in the pleasing com- 
 pany of these elemental bodies^ which he hath fashioned 
 in the most wonderful manner. When he creates, an 
 human soul, and conveys it into an organized body, it 
 18- not'that it should be there as water in a vessel, or as 
 a king in his palace; it lives not there as an assisting 
 form, or as the external cause o^ the bodyfst operations; 
 but it is united to it by. a much stricter union, and serves 
 as an essential form. It is thg principle of our life, the 
 internal cause of motion, sense, and understanding. So 
 that, properly speakings man is-neither of a pure spiri- 
 tual nature, as the celestial intelligences, nor a simple 
 body, as the sun and stars. Therefore, if our soul dib- 
 sires to depart out of this earthly tabernacle, it is not 
 outof any- hatred that We bear to it,. considered in itself, ' 
 and in its own. nature: For no man ever yet hated his 
 gwnifleafi; hnt.nonrisheth and: cherisheth it^ Eph.'v.39; 
 but by accideat; and, because of the vanity and ^corrup- 
 tion, to ^ich. sin hath made us subject, Rom. viii, we 
 desi^io. depart, to go to a place where righteousness 
 and true holiness rjeigq, and to be. with, the Lord Jesus 
 Christ, and. to dwell in his presenqe, Phil. i. It4sthere- 
 Tore. a self-eyident truth, that unless the. body partakes 
 of the same haippiness as the soul, man cannot- be said 
 to. bjB absolutely and perfectly happy. I con£es^j|it 
 is^a, great joy for us to know, that ipAen our. earfftJy ' 
 house ofihia taierrfaele.is.dis^oivedf me shaUhe.cloMed 
 upan with owrhdUSB, whichis from heaven, S Cor. y. 
 
THE CHRISTIAN'S CONSOLATION. 4^ 
 
 whitber we shall go to behold the face of the Father of 
 lights; But this holy joy is dashed with sorrow, this 
 heavenly sweetness is mingled with bitterness, when we 
 consider the lamentaible estate of our poor body,. aban- 
 doned to the earth, and to worms: for it must be a most 
 hateful sight to see that body rotting, and turning to 
 ashes, that was not only oUr pavilion, our palace, but also 
 a dear loved part of -.us. Therefore, that our joy maty 
 be perfect and full; we must comfort ourselves with this 
 sweet and pleasing reflection, that the ruin and desola- ' 
 tion which we deplone will not be for ever: but that, as 
 our body is pulled down by death, it shall one day be 
 rebuilt by the resurrection. 
 
 This i^s one of the noblest and most exCellfent myste^ 
 ries of the Christian religion, and one of its most glori- 
 ous advantages. The wisdom of tlie worM, with all 
 its boasted lights, and the heathen pibilosfitpfay, iwith all 
 its rare subtilties, could never attain to the knowledge 
 of this saving and comfortable doctrine. Accordingly 
 we find, that St. Paul, when he stood in Ihe midst of 
 Mars-hill, and preached to the leaiiied Athenians, wa« 
 heard with adwiration, until he began >td spea& of ithe 
 resurrection ef the dead; but as soon as he ^»eiibd his 
 mouth upon that subject, they mocked him. Acts xvli. 3@. 
 But notwithstanding human reason cannot peve'ddvei 
 this glorious mystery, while it a-emains in -the ■profonnfl 
 darkness of nataral ignorraEce; y«t as sdbn tas >it as en- 
 lightened with the light of grace, it dnseoveits fcll its ricJi 
 beauties, and iacknciwlediges the justice land necefiaty , 
 of it. '^ 
 
 *^'ipst, ^ince tewsasds and puaishiBeflts *»ight to il*ar 
 a proportion to him wfa<»^nilsiees:aittd ^ew^aWds^ weiiiuiist 
 ef tteeessity beKeve ^^mmmaetvm «f the fccsay, ifttjier- 
 
176 THE CHRISTIAN'S CONSOLATION. 
 
 wise the pains of the oire could not be extreiie, nor the 
 happiness of the other absolute and pierfect. 
 
 Secondly, As. when a person is executed for high 
 treason, men are wont to fasten to the gibbet, or to burn 
 in the fire, the arms, or instruments, with" which he had 
 assaulted or offended his prince; in the same manner, 
 the bodies of the wicked and profane, and, in a word^ 
 of all those that, commit treason against God's divine 
 Majesty, ought to be punished :^th their souls internal- 
 ly in hell-fire, because they have lieen the instruments 
 employed in offending their creatojc. x 
 
 Thirdly, The body is not olily the instrument which 
 the wicked man makes use of to offend against God, 
 but it is also the spur and goad which hurries him on 
 to sin; for its humours irritate, inflame, and excite him 
 to evil actions. For example, itS: sanguine constitution 
 makes him luxurious, and inclines him to all ihe filthi- 
 ness of the flesh; its choler drives him to violence and 
 fury; and its melancholy prompts him to the most hor- 
 rid and diabolical crimes. So that if the adviser ami 
 encourager of any notorious villany is to be punished as 
 well as the actor, it beloiigs to God's justice. to inflict 
 uponthe body, as well as upon the soul, eternal punish- 
 ments. 
 
 Foarthly, To every thing there is a; season and a 
 time to every purpose under the heavep, Eccl. iii. 1. As 
 the bodies of the wicked and reprobate have received 
 their goM things, and their pleasure m this life, so they 
 must receive their pains and torments in that whicb^s 
 to come. Lake xyi. 3@. 
 
 Fifthly, But to consider those reasons whfe have a 
 relation to the faithful, and which are the pillars and 
 foundation of onffaitti aud hope, Jesus Christ is no less 
 
THE CHRISTIAN'S CONSOLATION. 477 
 
 powerful to save us, than Adam was to destroy us.-^' 
 Now Adam hath Ipst both soul and body; therefore Je- 
 sus Christ must needs save and redeem both the one and 
 the olher, and consequently the body must rise again, 
 that it may partake of this salvation and redemption. 
 
 Sixthly, As we have boryie the image of the first man 
 icMch is of the earth, earthbj; ice shall also bear the 
 image of the second man, ichich is the* Lord from hea- 
 ven, 1 Cor. xvi 4'7, 49. Now we bear not this glori- 
 ous image during the course of this life; therefore we' 
 must bear it, in; that which is to come. 
 
 " Seventhly, God4^th not made a covenant with only 
 one part of a man, but with the whole man, as he is 
 composed of soul and body; therefore the body must 
 needs rise again,^ that it may partake of the glory and 
 happiness which aVe promised to us by this holy and di- 
 vine covenant. 
 
 Eighthly^ God is not only called the Father of Spi- 
 rits, Heb. xii«*9, and'the God of the spirits of all flesh, 
 Numb, ivi, 23; but he styles himself in general, the,^ 
 God of Mraham, and of his seed. Gen., xvii. 7- He is 
 not only the God of the soul, or the God oE tlie body 
 jalone, but he is the God ofihe entire person of believ- 
 ers. Whence it necessarily follows, that the bodies of 
 such as are dead are not utterly destFoyed, but that 
 God shall jraise them up again. ^ With this argument 
 Christ istopped the mouths of the Sadducees, who de- 
 nied the resurrection: As touching the resurrection of 
 the dead, said he, Have ye not read that which was spo- 
 ken unto you, by God saying, Tarn the God ofMrahan,) 
 and the God of Isaac, and the God of Japoh. God is 
 not the God dfthe dead, hut ofihe living, Matthew xxii. 
 31, 33; Exod. iii. 6. 
 
■178 THE. CHRISTIAN'S CON^OLATIOlSr. 
 
 NintUly, Ciod hatli adopted us by Jesus Christ to 
 Iiiiaself, accordipg tothegood pleasure of his will, Eph. 
 1. V, to make us heirs of 'his kingdom, and joint-heirs 
 with his son, Horn. viii. I7. From hence ^e may ga- 
 ther an assured hope of the resurrection: for wiien'this 
 iFather of mercies shall behold our bodies lying in the 
 dust, lie will take compassion upoii them, and will say. 
 These are the bodies of my children, the members of 
 my dear son; it is not just that I leave them for eve^: in 
 this state of ignominy a:nd corruption, nor will my fa- 
 therly tenderness iewards them suffer it. It was doubt- 
 less this consideration that causediifft apostle to tall the 
 redemption of our bodies by the name of adoption; for 
 by that he assures its, that God will bWng out of theit 
 graves the bodies of all them whom he hath adopted; 
 andtliat our resurrectiori is the effect and neefessar^" 
 consequence frf our adoption. Finally, our Saviour 
 himself speaks of it as the same thing', to be the child of 
 Ood, and the child of the resurriefctibn, ITufce xx.'SG. 
 
 Tenthlj, Death considered in itself, asiti« kits own 
 nature, is the Wages of sin, Rom. vi. 33, and the pun- 
 ishment of our crimes. Now, since Jesus C4irist hath 
 paid these wages for vls, and made satisfactlt)n for our 
 sins, nailing them to his cross, it follows that death, with 
 respect to believers, is to, be destroyed, and consequent- 
 ly that tlieir bodied must needs rise again. 
 
 Eleventhly, 8t, Paul tells us, that Jesus Christ is the 
 Saviour of the body, Eph. V. 33. Now the mystical- 
 body of this great God and Savioaf, coasists not only 
 in the infinite number of souls Which he hath purchased, 
 but also ,ia the assembly of all those bodies that have 
 been the companions of these blessed souls: theittS(i^0 
 as he hath saved our fsouls from the spiritual death ani 
 
THE CHRISTIAN'S QONSOLATIUN. 4.79 
 
 eternal riatnnation, lie must also save our bodies from 
 the corporal death, and ransom them from the power of 
 the grave ji 
 
 Twelfthly, If dea,th was to detain our boodles for ever 
 inthe^ave, it could not be said, properly speaking, 
 tha|; our Saviour hath swallowed up dearth in victory, 1 
 Cor. XV. 5% and that he is the destruction of tlie grave, 
 Hosea xUI: 14<) since dearth and the grave would remain 
 .victorious, and triumph forever over these miserable bo- 
 dies. 
 
 Thirteenthly, Our :Saviour hath suffered both in liis 
 body and soul, and by that means hath fully purchased tu 
 himself,* oth our souls and bodies, accor^ng tothe apos- 
 tle?s excellent saying. Ye fire baught with aprice: theve- 
 fore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which 
 are God's, i Cor. vi. 20. Hence it follpws,^that if our bo- 
 dies were to remain for ever under the empire of deatli, > 
 this glorious Saviour would be defrauded of part of that 
 which he hath(.purchased'by the infinite merit of his suf- 
 ferings. 
 
 FouEteenthly, the Holy Ghost hath sanctified our bo- 
 dies, and made them his temples, as St. Paul expressly 
 teacheth us in these divine words, Know ye not that ye 
 are t\^ temple of Goi^ aMd that the Spirit of God dicell- 
 eth inyouP' 1 Cor. iii. 16. Front hence the resurrection 
 of the body follows as a necessary consequeace: For 
 can we imagine that God will suffer the temple of his 
 holiness to lie in perpjetaal ruin in desolation? Will hu 
 not rebuild the, pavilion of his glory cast down by death? 
 
 Fifteenthly, God bath pred«stlaaited us to be conform- 
 ed to <the image of his So% that he might be the &st- 
 born among many brethren, Rom: v. iii. 29. Now the 
 soul and bodyof |his well-beloved of the Father, that 
 
180 THE CHRISTIAN'S CONSOLAIIOJ). 
 
 were sepavatetl by death', have been iiaited again by the 
 resurrection, and received into heaven: therefore our 
 souls, that depart out of this world to enter nnto para- 
 disfe, must return again to join their bodies, that "we may 
 be received up into heaven., both in soul and body. AM 
 fhe difference between us and our triumphant captain, 
 is, that this pcecious body neither was, ngr could be, 
 subject te corruption, because of liis glory, and the per- 
 sonal union of his humanity with the Godhead: whereas 
 the most part of all other bodies suffer corruption, and 
 moulder into dust. ' 
 
 Sixteenthly, We ha,ve the same Holy Spirit and di- 
 vine virtue di»^eUing in us, though not in an e^al mea- 
 sure or degree,- which was in our Ldrd Jesus Christ, and 
 was the efficient cause of his resurrection: whence it fol- 
 Itsws, that it will produce in lis the same effect, and al^ 
 so raise oftr bodies from the grave- The apostle makes 
 use of this argument in the 8th chapter of the Uomans, 
 j[f the spirit, of Mm that raised uj) Jesus from the dead 
 dwellin you: he that raiseth up Christ from, the dead, 
 shall also quicken your mortal bodies, by his spirit that 
 dwelleth in yo tt, verse H . 
 
 Sevcriteenthly, A dead body revived upon tondvin|; 
 the l)ones of the prdphet Elisha, S Kings xiii. 31; how 
 much greater reason have we to hope for the resurrection 
 of our bodies, since we not only touch Jesus Christ, 
 dead and risen againj, but are become members of bis 
 body, of his flesh, and of his bones! Eph. v. 30. I am, 
 saith he, the resurrection and the life; he that believeth 
 in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And 
 whosoever li vet h, and believeth in me, shall never die, 
 John xi. 35, 36. - '*'■• 
 
 Eighteenthly, Ged ,hath sealed our bodies with his 
 
THE CHRISTIAN'S CONSOLATION. 48i; 
 
 * 
 
 «»WB sigiiet; h© hath impritited upon fhem the mafks of 
 liis loye, and hath given tljem visible- and jpalfiable as- 
 surances ofci^eir future blessedness. Unaer ihe 01^ 
 ^'estamentftftelievetaJbore th« seal of God?s covenant in 
 #ifiirfle^b; for circumcision w'^s the sejil of thj^iaghte- 
 ousness that is by faith, Rom. iv. 11, and of the hope of 
 abli^ed inimortaiity. '^Tliey also^at tbe flesh of the 
 J>asclia4 lamb, which w&s a type of lesus Christ,' the 
 tme Lamb of GoA;, which taJceth away the sin of the 
 l(?{^Z(f, John i. 29. Likewise, tinder the new covenant 
 God consecrates our bodies to himself by the wat«rs of 
 baptism; . and assures them of the glorious; yesurrection 
 Iby the bread and wine of the Lord's supper. "For if by» 
 eating-|his l»read, and.driqfcing this wine, we ea^ and clrink 
 spiritually, the flesh and blood of Jesus Christ, it is an 
 infallible assurance, that this divine Saviour will raisfi' 
 us up again at the last day, as he Mmself promiseth,,; 
 
 Jf^hoafi eateth my flesh, and drinJceth my Mood, hath eter- 
 nal Kfe, and I will raise him at the last day,. John vi. 54. 
 Nineteenthly, The body of a believer partakes of the 
 «uffering8, of Christ; it endures mgjiy evils for the pro- 
 les^oaof his holy naige, and it is often expesigd to the 
 most cruel and shameful torments^therefor,e it is but just, 
 that it shoijld also paftal^ of his^ triumphs, glory, and 
 e^rnal happiness; For it is a faithful saying; if we he 
 dead with Mm, w& shall also'live With Mm; if we suffer, 
 we shall alsd feign with him'^2 Tim. ii. 11, 13. We 
 always bear ahput in the body the dying of the Lord Je- 
 *MS, that.the l^e also, ofJesas might he made ■manifest in 
 our body, & Cor. iv. iO. f ■■ : 
 
 ;i,Twend€thly, God makes , nothing in vain; he bestows 
 upon us no useless desires; but God hath kindled im us 
 an earnest longiii^to have this w-^etched body deMVwed 
 ' .3P ' ,^'. 
 
TfM C H BISTI AN'S C0NS0S.ATJOJS. 
 
 &om thp misery aad corruptipn, unto whidh. sin Iui||i 
 btoughtjifeinto subjection) ^ad to b&hb;Id it clothedwUli 
 M6ry and ilftnOrtality. This is what,tb,e apostle rep re- 
 seiits to us> in a most pathetic maj}per> in the 8th chap- 
 ter ofrthe Romans; for havi'bg tuld us, Xhat the crem. 
 tore was made eulfl'eff to vanity, not willingly, but by 
 reason of himWho hath sobjecfed the same in hope;; be- 
 cause tbiB. creature Itself also shall be ^eliyered from tjie 
 bondage of corruptioA* into thte glorious liberty of, tjte 
 children of God; he adds, For We know, tliaj; the whole 
 preation'groaneth and travalleth in pain.tj>gether,until^ 
 now; and not, only they but. ourselves also, whichi have 
 ithe first-fruits of the Spirit, even We ourselvis groan 
 within ourselves, waititig for.,^he adoption, to Wit^ the , 
 redemption of diur body-j verse @0, Si, Sf, aa. ^ 
 
 .iJLai^tly, SirtcQ whatsoever God hath appointed in his ■ 
 eternial counsel, must be fulfilled in time, and all tbij^^ 
 in the vrc^rid' attain those cod's for which he made them; 
 ahd i^inee tt^ cteated our soiil^ not to be alone, but to 
 MVe iti tlie company. and 'f$llovfr«hip: 6f the body; it &!?■ 
 lows, that this body) ,which is cast down by de%th, must 
 «eed be raised again at th^ f^surreQtieii, that tl^E: sooil 
 . i&ay rettirn to it, and dwell with it for ever. . , 
 
 To maintain that the.lre^^lietiDn of ^i^ body i* im- , 
 ^ossible^ is the most extravagant Atheism: It is impii-. 
 dently denying tl|e. infinite poW&r of God> and the sacred 
 history of the world'* ereiati^iu For fiaiCe*' things im 
 in their operations as they are in their najtares, whoevep, 
 confesses a Gtid, wh6se being is infinite, must of neces- ;; 
 sity acknowledge him to baVe a power adequate to that 
 
 bklng; and consequently^ that this Almighity God may^ 
 without diffic^lt^) raise the dead. If thou bi^ie!V|pt, that 
 ^Q^ h^leith ihos^. 0m^ wkkh ke not, cks, M$b^ thef, 
 
tHE CHaiStIAN»8 C«NSdt AtlON. 490 
 
 4&er»j Rom. iv. J7, wfty caQs|'t))oa ndtjielieve, th^t this 
 "same God will also call Uie tilings that have been alveetiy 
 to restore to theia ttiiit being which they b9.d b^fove'' re- 
 ceived from his alinjghty ham}? If thou helievgst, that 
 God •fashioned Eve oat of one of AdA^n's rihs, th^.* 
 he made Adam ol the dai§tv^n4 that he created/ that dust 
 -oat of ioothingj cajist thou not ais i^gadily belisyi^ t1ai»t 
 God is ablr, iu the day 'of the resurrection, to build «g«.ia 
 •thy bod ^of that dust into which it is reduced by denth? 
 If thou believest th^t God breathed into Adam's npstrils 
 the breath of life, that he created thy soul, and infusfid it 
 into thy body, whefe4t never was before,, ho«( cansi ih'O'^ 
 call in q.uestion im power of returning, one day, the same 
 soul into the same body^ where it fQrpi@r|.y ni^'d^ its 
 abode? In short, ifi thou believest th:at ith@ Spirit ^f G(m|, 
 &y moving upon the face of thg waters, imth caused ^ 
 many beautifal and lioble a'eatures to 9^peat!, a&d tha^t 
 he made the ligtet l0 shine out of darkness, canst thflji 
 not be persuaded, that ifcis Holy ;8i^iriit can lilj;e5yi|| 
 di^lay hif power 9iTOHig the graves, %ad that be (^a^. 
 ,bjpwi,g thy b»iy oat (^Ma d^rk shadows 0f (jp^thd iojl^ 
 the light of the l^vitk^^ .y 
 
 It i^'seen, .*iRery dajv^iWt a new ^ae is evec^.4iejat 
 of the I^U^rials of anoldbiUildinig; and c^ast tf^ofi tbioJk 
 it strai^, that the sovereigp; Architect, wh^ hyhis ^ord 
 alone biuU the greait world^^'Should gajther together ;a]il: the 
 old materials of. thi'slittd&wjorld, to m;^^ a <ke^v bui^^ 
 ing, fulV-jof gpac& and beaafy;? Th* fo0«dier c!Hi jrestoijs 
 his broH^n image, thaiigb Jl^be redoiped jto dwst; m^ 
 shall not^od be able U> Ttsb0^ ma^ereale^ iji bi^^ws 
 ^Image, alter, his l&eoBss, to Jblfr <|^i^ltive e)$tat«? Iin a 
 word, let tJNj dSfearity appear ever eo great, r^iaemfcer, ; 
 ^0 mfS/ii Gabrieil tojd iUie ble»^se!d 
 
\3i THE GH11IST»1AN'S eONSOLATI©]Sr, 
 
 irgin, With God nothing shall Veim'possiMe, Luke r, 
 
 I know very -well it is a maxipi hi ;]^hj1osopby,''JPVo7W 
 mvatiov *of the habit thA^ is. no return; that is to ^ay, 
 rhen once we are deprived of apy naturally facal'ty, i* 
 s never to be redavel-edj But this raaxinfis sliaiAeful- 
 y abused, wben brought by the prtifane to opfrose the 
 loctrine of the resurrection. With respect to nakjral 
 .n^,,8ee®i^dary causes, it is certainly true; forAe natu-" 
 al faculties, being once lost, can nw'er be reeayered by 
 ininan means. When the ^ight, fpr example, is total- 
 y extinguisfaed, it cannot be lighted up a second time at , 
 he fire of natuFe; and' when a mm is dead, it is not poss- 
 ible for all the creatures in the world to restore him to 
 ifci But nothingiiB able to limit the power of an infl- 
 ate agent. He that fopted the^eye, Pisal. xciv. 9, in 
 vhom we live, and move, and have our being, Acts xvii. 
 !8, Caifti,Ot he open the eyes of a man* born blind, and 
 estore life to a dead corpse? J^hn ix. This same pbi- 
 osophy, from which they fetch ^beir maxigts, openly 
 iietilares, l.%at God can daalltf^ngs that imply no con- 
 raiiction. Now there is no contradiction in affirming, 
 hat God can restore life to him .that hath last it: and 
 hat what is thrown down by death, sha^: be, built again 
 ly the r^urre^tion. 
 
 To the end this resurrection of our bodies may appeatr 
 ess strange^ • God hath been .pleased to giw. us many 
 in^tges and types 'of it in nature. I am . persu3,ded, ' 
 christian soals^ that you will not be displeased) if I set 
 efore your eyes some of the cliief. 
 
 i. As when the sun goes down,' and the earth i^i eov-; 
 red with the dark. shades of night, man's declini|ig and 
 be daiikness of the grave is j^pres^ted; so whm- ihis 
 
TlfE CHRISTTIAN'S CONSOLATION ^ 4,85 
 
 Tiing of the stars rises, and' ushers in the -day, there is a 
 beautiful and perfect imagje of the resu'i*tfectioT). 
 
 • 2. When the moon looses all her light arid splendor, 
 which she borrows from the sun, and covers herself Witli 
 a'vail'of darkness, it is the intake of death, and represents 
 to us that vail which it draws over our eyes; but when, 
 by reason of the ^un's aspect^ it resuriies its former 
 briglitupss and glory,* if discovers to us, in. some mea- 
 sure that which sball happen to our bodies, when the 
 Sun of Righteousness shall dart upon them the rays of 
 bis countenance. ' # ' , • 
 
 3. Spring, summer, and autumn, «pass awaty, succes- 
 sively, and Winter tepWents to us the horrours of tiie 
 grave; Rut when the sun begins' again his race, and 
 clothes the esA-th with new verdures, we have a most 
 lively picture of the res:Urrection. 
 
 '4. Thelrees that are in winter without flowers, fruit, 
 or leaves, discoA'ers to us the most hideous and fright- 
 ful aspect of death, that strips man's body of every thing 
 that is beautiful and charming. But when the same 
 trees' flourish ag'ainij*and are adorned with fresh lea^^s 
 and fruit, they put us in niind of the blessed resurrection 
 of our bodies. 
 
 5; -The seeds that corrupt and perish in the earth, 
 are a lively image of thfc body's corrupting and perish- 
 ing in the grave; but when these seeds appear above 
 gfound and flourish, thejr adniii:ably well pxprsss to us 
 the blessed state of our bodies rising again to new life 
 and new beauty. Thi^ similitude the Son of Go*d him- 
 self recoTQineiids tq^ us, Except a corn ofwhefltfall into 
 the ground and die, it^abideth alone: but, if it die,, it, 
 bHngeth forth §iuch fruit. J»hn xii. S4: and the apos- 
 tle St. Paul insists at large upon this comparison; whence 
 
4^^^ THIS UimiSTiAN'S CONSOLATION. 
 
 he takes occasfsa to cry out against the gtupidity of thOis& 
 Avho will .hot believe. thit a dead Cody can be restored 
 iM, life, Tlioufoolf that ztkichikou sowest is notquickeiu 
 ew except it die, 1. Cor. -xv. 36. 
 
 6. What is still moi'e ^hderful, there are cfertafti 
 l)Iants which rise a,gaiB out of th«ir awfl ashes. For ex- 
 a-mple, if ydia biit'n mug- wort, and fast the ashes upon 
 thetsatthj^u'shall see the same h^rbg^"i)w againas hath 
 i»een fotiiM by the experience of many: "^ The ^at^ls 
 reported of a kind^bf palm-tree; and becaast in tli4 
 Gieeli tongue the same won! sigaifies both a palm and 
 a pheenix, this experiment liath giren bccasipti to the 
 fable of the phoenix, a bi^rd that is said to revive again 
 out of its own ns^Fl■®iv^ and a.«he«. Who can deny but 
 that-this is; an excelle«t iniage itf the i*esuferection^of'our 
 hollies? 
 
 7. There are also severa] iosecis that represent to as 
 death and tlte.r&surreetMai; a:9 'th«<sijlliir worms;' for vfh&& 
 these littfe crea*«i*res have S^tti^eidi their work; and spun 
 «ut that silk of whiSh the robe|^ stately ornaments «f 
 kings and princes are i*fl^^ttey#iBi^y themselves in a 
 tomb of their own raisl^gj afer w'&h' they become like 
 to a small bean, under whdste skin a white butterfly is 
 formed. , The same is «^serv^' of flie catterpiUars; for 
 vvhen they s^em te be more than deatlj ttiey creep out of 
 their little sepuJ&Iu!«s in th^ form of baitei^ef;, of isacb 
 various and eicb colofltii, that they t^sr^' jthe beWMSiri 
 insomuch that misbiif curious pec^as fif^erve themr iti . 
 their cabinets,, amoog their choice^ i^ii^es. 
 
 8. Among the he^| ^.Iso, some ^em to be dead for 
 several mont^B of^thJB^yedr, heing withtHit sense or mo"- 
 &»a; bat afterwai>d8 tbey^awake^ or rafher, th»y b^m 
 totlive.a.gatQ, and toitxiQ^« about as mibre. 
 
THE CHRISTIAN'S CONS^LAl'li*!}. #87 
 
 9. But we neqd go no farthei; tliau oui'selves, to ftnil 
 an image of deatb, and of the resiii-recti,uu. Fur is^tbece 
 aay ihiiig that can represent death niorp^perfectly than 
 oar sleep, that stupiiies our senses,.^ puts a stop to th% 
 faiu;tions of the inind^ and restrains onr most active fa- 
 cullies; Insjomuch that we; have eyes vvifth«ut seeing^ 
 ears without hearing, af nose that cannot smell, and a 
 body without feeling? On the contrary, when a person 
 comes to awake, to open his eyes, to move and to:act, 
 what can bC;. a more lively linage of the resurr&fctiott? 
 
 1 might likewise add ie the^ images of tkathandthe 
 resurrelWon, thje severgil changes and re^volutjons that 
 happen to Tije states jind empires of the wArld. Fo» 
 sometini«s they appear -as dead and buried, a^d tben 
 they ■ rise agaip fFnm their ruins, and break forth froilli 
 their obscurity, as by a glorisus resurrection. But I ra- 
 ther cfause to consider-only those types of them which 
 ai*e todie^ipKind in th« church of God. * 
 
 l.-*1^oa%)|i>nd his femjly, (in whom the whole church 
 of 6od <(fti t^t time was comprehended) remained in thd 
 ai-k as 4ia.aiQ0atiQg coffin, the space of one hundred dnd 
 fifty days; 'bnt after the delu^, (rod commanded them 
 to cqme o|it,Ijof ihe ark.^J In the same mqihner, when our 
 'bodies'. aita^IjKa.ve lain in the grave so many years or 
 as£^Q4<.:in hii^ wisdom hath appointed, he wilt 
 ^iit^ii^m thence by bis infinite power, and wlU 
 
 S. The chiidi«n of larael went down into Egjff^l, 
 and dwelt.tbere abont two hundred y^ars, as in a Mnd 
 of sepulcht-e; but God delivered ihem at length, and 
 br'CHiight them again into tbe laAdof Caima'B, as by a 
 blessed resnrret^ion. " 
 
 \M, The Ked S^ea inb whioh this pe^j^e entered; and 
 
4|J» THb1cHRISTIAN«S CONtSGLATtQN. 
 
 in which Pharaoh vvas.swallowiid widh all his host, is 
 Ijkewise a, lively image ^f the ^rave, and the miracu- 
 lous power wJiich Qoii employed to cause his people to 
 pas? through this dreadful sea, and to bring them, out 
 of its depths; she\y|;to the blindest undeijstanding, that 
 omnipotence, which (Jod will one day manifest in bring 
 ing us out <)f th^ depths.of deatfejJhat we may sing the 
 song of Moses, and the song of the Lamb.,, , . 
 
 4. .W:hen the ark of the covenant was tjiken .captive 
 liy the Philistines, and shut up in the house of Dagoti,, 
 it was a type of our boijy which God, hath chosen for, 
 his ark, and >\;.hich must remain Jbr a season^ udller the 
 empire of death, as it were in. Satan's prison.^ But the 
 Philistines sending, back' this ark, and the children of 
 Isr^l receiving it with shbutS;of joy, is ,an express. rer 
 preseata.tion of that which ^shall happen to the body, 
 when -God shall -compel death to open all its prisons, 
 and'release* all Us prisoners,,^ to the gueat jwy of all the 
 iuhaljitamts of the jeelcstial Canaan. 
 
 5. Babylon, where the church* of Israel r&majned 
 cajltive seventy v years, is also a symbolieal repifcsenta- 
 tion of the grave, wher^ our miserable bodies are to 
 continue, as it were, in captivity. Hence, by a bej^ati- 
 ful figure, the prophet sHyles it & pit 'i^hein&in is no wa- 
 ter, Zechi ix. 14. But the deliverance of Israel from 
 the Babylonish captivity is a glorious type' of our resur- 
 rection; therefore the holy men •of God in speaking of 
 it,, use such images as have a respect to the resurrec- 
 tion of the bodyj Isa. xxvi. , 
 
 6. HolomonV temple, that was destroyed by Nebu- 
 chadnezzar, amd lay many years in ruin and desolation, 
 is another type of the bodies of believers, destroyed by 
 the devil, and .remaining for ^ tltae in the dust: But the 
 
THE eHRIStlAN'S CONSOLATION. 489 
 
 Jews returning from Babylon," their rearing up the walls 
 of! the temple, and building it again, represents, to us 
 the resurrection of our bodies, the temples of the living 
 God. Our Saviour himself had an eye to this allusion, 
 when he said to the Jews, Destroy this temple, and in 
 three ddlfs I will raise it up; for his beloved disciple 
 expressly tells us. That he spake of the temple of his 
 body, John ii. 19. 31. 
 
 ' 7. You may find types and images of the same thing 
 in- the persons of many of the faithful, as in Joseph, 
 Daniel^ and Jonah. For as the prison of Egypt, the 
 lion's den, and the whale's bellyj represent the grave; 
 so PharJloh's sending and fetching Joseph out of prison, 
 Sarius's causing Daniel to be taken out of the lion's 
 denj and God's commatiding the whale to vomit out Jo- 
 nah upon the dry land, are beautiful images of ttle re- 
 su|;f eetion. 
 
 ,8. But among all the types in the Old Testament hy 
 which a resurrection is figured out to us, there is none 
 more express than that in the 37th chapter of Ezekiel. 
 That the children of Israel might not question the pow- 
 er of God to deliver them from the Babylonish captivi- 
 ty; he set before the eyes of his prophet the resurrec- 
 tion from the dead. He carried him into an open val- 
 ley full of dry bones; but at God's command these bones 
 came togeth*er, bone to* his bone; ia an instant the si>- 
 news and the flesh came up upon theni, and the skin cov- 
 ered them above; a spirit breathed from the four_winds 
 upon these slain, and the breath came into them, and 
 they lived, and stood up upon their feet, an exce^ing 
 great army. 
 
 But God hath not only |||iBted out the resurrection 
 by many illusttiiaus types and figures, he hath likewise 
 
 3 Q 
 
490 TliE CHRiSTAN'S COMSOLATION. 
 
 expressly feetold it by lil^ holy projlitsts. Isaiiah speaks 
 of it in a most exalted manner: Thy deai men shall live, 
 together with my dead body they shall avi0e: awake and 
 singf ye that dwell in dust: for thy dew is as the dew of 
 $erhs, and the eatth shall cast out the dead, l9a.xxvi. 
 19, and nothing can be more clear than the- prophecy of 
 the prophet Daniel, ^wrf many of them that sleep in the 
 %ust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, 
 and some to shame and everlastivg conhmpt, chap. 
 xii.iS. , 
 
 To witness their hopes of a blessed resurrection, the 
 patriarchs were very careful of their tombs. Abraham^ 
 the father of the faithful, had no inheritance in'*the lattd 
 of Canaan; yet he was very desirouis to buy a burying^ 
 place for himself and family. Gen. xxiii. When Jacob 
 lay upon his death-bed, he commandedrhis son Joseph, 
 saying, JDeal kindly and truly with mej bury me not, I 
 pt'ay thee, in Egypt f but I will lie with my fathers, and 
 thou shalt carry me out of Egypt, and bury me in their 
 burying place, Oen. x\vn. S9, 30v And when Joseph 
 was ready to yield up his soul unto God, he took an 
 oath of his brethren, saying, God wilt surely visit you, 
 and ye shall carry up my bones frorn hence. Gen. 1, 25. 
 
 AH the faithful of the Old Testament have openly 
 declared their expectation of this glorious resurrection . 
 from the dead. Witness this ''remarkable passage of 
 Job: I know that &iy Redeemer liveth, and that he shall 
 stand at the latter day upon the earth; And though af- 
 ter my skin,' worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh 
 shall I see God: whom I shall see for myself, and mine 
 eyes shall behold^ and not another, chap. xix. 3£f, @6, 
 S7; and these excellent words of I)a,vid, I wiW behold 
 thy face in righteousness; I shall be satisfiBdj, when I 
 imiake with thy likeness, Fs, xvii. Id. 
 
THE CHRlStIAN*S C6f*SOi.iinolSr. 4,91 
 
 ;.^hose blessed martyrs mentioned in the book of 
 l^pssbees, were well instructed in tMs school; and 
 hence they derived the courage to offer their bodies so 
 cheerfully to death and the most exquisite tortures.-i^ 
 With what an holy baldness does 6n% of them speak to 
 King Antiochus, the most cruel of all tyrants, who 
 Would have forced him to violate the law of the Lo/d 
 his God? Thou like afwry takest us out of this present 
 life, but the King of the world shall taise.us up, who 
 have died for his laws, unto everlasting life^ chap. vii. 
 9. Another, animated ^ith an holy zeal, and an heroic 
 courage, puts out bis tongue, and holds forth h^ 
 hands, to b^ cut off, saying, These I had from heaven f 
 and for his law I dispisethem; and from him I hope to 
 receive them again, vers. 11. A third j despising the 
 tyrants threats and* promises, expired with this beau ti» 
 ful sentence, It is good, being put to death by men, io 
 look for hope from God, to he raised up again by him> 
 verse 14. But nothing appears more admirable than 
 the mother of these iillustrious children, when speaking 
 to the seventh the youngest of^all, she uses these words: 
 I cannot tell how you came into my w'cimb: for I neither 
 gave yon breath nor life, neith«i^ was it I that formed 
 fhe members of every one of you: But doubtless the 
 creator of the world, who formed the generation of man, 
 and,found out the be^ning of all things, will also of 
 his own mercy give you breath and life again, as you 
 now regard your own selves fqr his law's sake, verse 
 23, S3. J 
 
 Martha, thevsister of Bazarus, was Well acquamted 
 with this comfortable doctrine, as appears from whU sh» 
 says to our Saviou?, I kmw that my brother shall rise 
 again in the remrrecfmi^at the last day, Sohnxi. Sri; and 
 
492 THE CHRISTIAN'S CONSOLATION. 
 
 the Pharisees themselves made opejiifdrofessiofl to believ® 
 the rcjsafrection frojp the dead, in which thejE were con- 
 trary to the Sadducees, who denied both the resiirrec- 
 tion of the body, and the immortality of the; soul; 
 Therefore when St. Paul was to answer before the 
 Jews tribunal, where the one part ^ere Sadducees and 
 th,e other Pharisfees, he divides them by crying out, J 
 am a Pharisee, the son of 'a PhariseB; of the hopea$4 
 rem£!pve0>oin of the dead am I called in qvtesfi&n^ Acts 
 xxiii, 6. And when he makes his apology before l^'elix 
 the governour, he speaks in this manner: After the way 
 phich tfeey call heresy, so worship, Ii tHe Godff my 
 'fathers, believing all things \!^liieh are written in the 
 law arid the prophets: and have hope towai'is God, 
 wWph they themselves also allow, that there shall be a , 
 resurrection of the dead, both of the jujst and unjust, ^ 
 Acts xxiv. 14, 15. , ■ 
 
 As the Jews have forsaken God, so God hath forsa-- 
 ken them, and given them over to a reptobate sense.— 
 For setting ^side the infinite merits of the death and 
 passion of Jesus Ohrist, they vainly persuade them- 
 selves that their sins are expiated by their own deaths; 
 iiotwithstanding|the grievous corruptions thAt have crept 
 into their doctrines; they die 'in hopes one^day, to rise 
 again. For this reason^ they car»fully wash their dead 
 bodies;, and' give them honoulrable burialj and yfihtaa. 
 thisy )iaYe thus laid them in the ground, they bow them- 
 selves three titnes towards the fiarth, and east, Mehiiiiil 
 them grass newly plucked up; intimating thereby that 
 the body which they have. Jfcaid in the earth, shall one 
 daylrise again^^ptd flourish.' Accordingly, while they 
 perform the ceremony of jsthrowing the grass, they sing 
 these words of the prophet Isaiah, Yow banes shaft 
 fiourish like an herb, Is. Ixvi. 14. 
 
THE CHRISTIAN'S CONSOLA'ripJ^. 493 
 
 BIrt this article of the FtsiiviFectiQi© ;of ^^e dead, which 
 is found io some few passages of the* Okl Testament, 
 itio he se,eu almost in every page of the New; andlthe 
 testimonies concerning it are so, plain and express, that 
 it is not possible to reject this wholesome <locU'ine, 
 without abjuring, at the same lime, the Chriittian reli- 
 gion, and giving the lie to the Holy Ghos|,,t ..,< 
 * That our faith may be every way established, Griiid. 
 has been pleased, not only to publish the* resurrection 
 from the dead by his prophets and apostles, and to dis- 
 cover to us many excellent, images, and symlwlical re- 
 presentations, of it; but to give ns an undeniable testimo- 
 ny of his power, he hath raised several from the ideaiil. 
 In the Old Testament, he raised up two children, one 
 at the prayer of the prophet El^ah, 1 Kings xvii. S^, 
 the other at tljat of Elijah, 2. Kings iv; likewise , tlie 
 'dead body, which" being le.t down into Elisha's sepul- 
 chre, revived upon touching his bones, S Kings xiii. Si. 
 During our Saviour's aboicle upon earth, he raised to 
 life (the daughter rf Jairu^ that was dead, Matth. ix; 
 the widow's son of Nain, who was carrying out upon 
 his bier to the grave, Luke vii; and. Lazarus, who had 
 lain in the sepulchre four days ,wbose body began to 
 stink, John xi. When this merciful Saviour yielded up 
 the ghost upon the cross, the graves leere opened, and 
 many bodies of saint^/mhich slept^ arose, and came oUt 
 of the graves after his reswrrection, and ivent into' the 
 holy city, and appeared unto many, Matth. xxvii, Sj2^ 
 53. After his ascension, be raised from the dead Dor- 
 cas, a charitable widow, at the prayer of St. Peteir, and 
 to coiafort the [xjor widpws that wept, Acts ix; and a 
 yoking man, named Eutychus, whom he restoi-ed to lifp 
 at the prayer of St. Paul, that the congregation of^ the 
 
494 THE CHRISTIAN'S CONSOLATION. 
 
 faithful inight be comforted, who were troubled at his 
 fell and sudden death, Acts XX. - 
 
 But, chiefly, we have the example' of our Lofd'j. who 
 raised himself up by his own divine power. This glo- 
 rious instance not only strikes us with admiration, but 
 it "also si^itles our faith, and nourishes our.h%es. The 
 resurrection of other persons shows what God can do, 
 but that of Christ declares to us what he will do^ and 
 is a precious earnest of our future resurreetiori. It is 
 not possible for us to -belieipi as we ought, that Jesus 
 Christ is risen from the dead, without beli'eving. lat the 
 same time that he will one day raise us up. ^iThis St. 
 Paul, endeavours to enforce: If we believe that Jesus di- 
 ed, and rose again, even so'them also tpMchsleeji ill Je- 
 sus, will God bring with Mm, 1 Thess. iv. 1'4!. As the 
 head is, so shall be the; members. As the first fruits 
 are, so will be the harvest. Tins is what the same 
 apostle teaches (is in the l&th chapter of his first epistle 
 to the Cori'nthiains, in these excellent words: JSTow is 
 Christ risen from the dead, and becgme thefii^st fruits 
 of them that slepti =For sinee^ by man came deathj, by 
 man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in 
 Adam all die, even so i% Christ shall all he made alive. 
 But every man vn his own order.- 'Christ i 
 afterwards they that are Christ's at his coming. 
 
 Against this holy and divine' doctpne some object^ 
 
 that there are bodies consumed by Sre ^nd reduced to 
 
 w - 
 ashes. But. what follows from hence? Whetherr the 
 
 body moulders intt) dust, or is turnfld to ashes, the pow- 
 er of 'God is equally able to restore them tb their. pids- 
 tine ' forms. Since certain herbs, being burned, rise 
 again out of their own- ashes by a natural inclitia^pn, as 
 we have already ol^served; and since the industry c^ 
 
THE CHRISTIAN'S CONSOLATION. 495 
 
 art can make transparent. bodies (of an exquisite beauty) 
 froHi melted ashes; shall noti&odiwho is iiifinitely above 
 all the powers of nature created by him, apd all arts 
 and sciences of which he is the auth.or> be a-ble from our 
 ashes to compose a beautiful and perfect body?* 
 
 They alledge that a great number of bodies have betn 
 swallowed up by the sea/ and buried in its waves. I 
 acknowledge this to be true; But I affirm, that the hand 
 of God is no less powerful to raise up a body froin the 
 depths of the sea, than from the bowels of the earth. — • 
 He who hath Nset bounds to this great ocean Psal. civ. 
 9, that saith to the deep, Be Ary^and I will dry up thy 
 rivers, Isa. xliv. 37, hath he not an absolute command 
 over it? cannot he oblige it to restore those bodies that 
 have I^Ib committed to its keeping, as when he spake 
 unto the fish that had swallowed up Jonah^ and it vo- 
 mited him out upon the dry land? Jonahii. 10. 
 
 Again they tell us, that many bodies have been de- 
 voured by^wild beasts, and have not only b,ecome their 
 food, •h^been convgrted into their substance; This ob- 
 jection is of little weight; for when a human body shall 
 have passed through the bowels of all the beasts in the 
 world, and; been changed a thousand and a thousand 
 times in their substance, yet this cannot hinder God 
 from restoring it entire at the day of the resurrection; 
 for those animals shall >never rise again; therefore it- 
 will be unnecessary to inquire what becomes of them 
 when the body shall reassume that* which they have 
 devoured and converted into their own substance. 
 
 The most plausible objection is that concerning; the 
 Anthropophagi or man-eaters; for it js knowb that in 
 the Indies there are savages so barbarous, as to feed 
 upon human fleshy and to esteem it as one of their great- 
 
as THE CHIIISTIAN'S CONSOLATION. 
 
 st tlateti)^J*" Some may answer, that Siicli kiml of i«- 
 lUnianities are not. oudinary, and that these wretched 
 ndians, who ]i\'B without hope and 'without Gtod in the 
 ?orkI, never practise ihis horrid excessf/but in cases of 
 (Ecessity, or wken they would wreck their diabolical 
 3venge upon their enemies. Btit those who have'^yen 
 s the history of this ne\r woridj relate, that ia si&tM 
 I'ovinces, tliere were formerly safiigeis sp' cruel m& 
 ihuman, as not only to devour the fle^ of their ene- 
 liesj whom they sa'6i'ificed totheir idols, but also of the^ir 
 wii people, which they sold rO^-tfly in their shambles, 
 'he same ^historians tell us, that others of these barlja- 
 )us nations were so impiously mist'ikiBn,J^s- to> aCto#t 
 
 an act of piety to their parents and friends, "to give 
 lem a sepulchre in their own stDma@lis. M#eo'fi^p 
 iey tell ns, that, even at this day, there are somfe'WMij 
 ke so maay mad dogs, feted upon childfeny and hunt 
 Fter men, as we do after Wild Ma^ts of the field. 
 
 Supposing these relations true,*ifius"l*dei^4the*ea; 
 er to obset-ve, that there kre two kinds off parts' that 
 )mpose the human body, ^he one solid^ as the bdnes 
 id nerves, which; are -^p essential to itjUhat witlilftlt 
 lera it ^ould not be a true body; the other stdventitious,' 
 3 the fluids, which serve it merely for ftjdd' and iio'iir- 
 liment. !Now I affl"rift^ that wlieh it happens, that men 
 ied' upon their. ovvn kind, God so orders 4tJ*^by his wori- 
 erful proViden(]e,^that thie essential iitid Solid parts' of 
 te one never ehters into the substance of fhe sPlid;parts 
 r the other. At the great day of th^vesurrectiott'^'thesB 
 adies sliall re-assume all their essential and solid parts, 
 ithout which they would not be true bodiesf htrt ilifey 
 ill have no occasion for the adventitious or fluid pat-ts, 
 ich as the blood and juices, for then they shall have 
 
THE CHRISTIAN'S CONSOLATION. 
 
 497 
 
 ho more iuward heat to consume tliem^ no more hunger 
 and thirst. Therefore they shall have no more need of 
 meat or drink, or of aaiy other thing Whatsoever that ad- 
 ministers nourishment. Let metals be ever so much 
 singled, the goldsmith separates them with ease: lu the 
 same ilatiner, let our human bodies be ever so much 
 blended togetlier, God will be able to separate them one 
 froai the other. When the goldsmith would separate 
 his metals, he casts them into the melting-pot, and cans- 
 eth them to pass through the fire; but God, who can do 
 all things of himself, hath no need of the fire or the 
 melting-pot; since by his word, or at the twinkling of an 
 eye, he can cause this separation to be made, a,nd ren- 
 der to each body that which is essential and necessary 
 to it. In a word, if the difficulty was far greater than it 
 is, and the solution of it not so easy to be found, that 
 should not lessen our faith,- or cause us to doubt of the 
 resurrection of the body. When question^ arise con- 
 ceriiing matters that the holy scriptar(ji%ath not express^ 
 ly declared and decided, or that cannot be drawn from 
 it by any necessary and evident Consequencejlt is lawful 
 to dispute either for or against such things; but when 
 they concern such truths, as this sacred writ iQsgiired of 
 God plaitily and clearly sets forth, our faith must learn 
 her duty, to submit to Alifiighty God, and believe that 
 there is nothing impossible with him. Now this doc- 
 trine of the resurrection of the dead is so expressly and 
 clea'ily revealed in the holy Scripture, that it seems as 
 visible as the sun-beams at noon-day. 
 
 The richittess of this subjeqt naturally gives birth to 
 a great many important questions; an answer to which 
 may help to set it in a clearer light. First, it is asked, 
 By whom, and % whose power this resurrection shall 
 
 3 II 
 
f 90 TH3B C tMSTIAN'S CONSOLATION. 
 
 he e^cted? The scripture itself gives occasioo to tldi 
 inquiry;' for sometimes it ascribBs it to God ti}« Fathes, 
 as in Jolln tk. S. The Fkth&r THi&eih up the^ iefiil, im4 
 gmekemth i^etn, vers. M; sometimes to the Soa^ as^iQ 
 FhiUIpiaas ch. B. Jesus Christ $hall change ourtiUebor 
 ^y, aceoriing to the working wJi»ve:by he is ableeiienie 
 gubatte all things unto himse% vers. SI; and sobietimi^s 
 to the Soly Ghost, as ia liomaiis da. 8. Ifthm spirit 
 of him that raised up Jesus from the ieadg iweil imi/gi^^ 
 he that raised up Christ fram theieoi, shdlal^qu/ick-, 
 en ysur mortal bodiM, hyMs Sp^^ihat dwelleth m yoUf 
 vers. 11. Bat this dill^iiltj is easily 'solved; for all tli« 
 eacternal works ef God, tbat cooQerD tbe creataras, ar« 
 common to tfa« three petrsoQft of the most hbiy, most glo" 
 riops, and most adpra^^ Trmity; so that w« shall ri^e 
 again by the infinite ^wer of the Father, Son, and Ho- 
 ly Ghost. Nevertheless the resar-reotian is.more pwtir 
 cularly ascrihed to the Hon, as he is judge of the -qi^ab; 
 and the deadj iniwM^h quality fi^l power is §ivea !J»tOi 
 him in heaven an* id earth, Matth. xxviii, IS, 
 
 Second, Some inquire &UFther, when this resBrreetiof* 
 shall be? I answer, that it shall be in the dajr whipl^ 
 God hath appolnted,4n ihe which he shall jadgethe w^rld 
 in pghteoQsness, by that man w4}om he hath ordainedft 
 Acts xvii. 81. Yon arenot to expect, Gtmstian soulsj 
 that I shonld tell you precisely the d«y when ihis shall 
 ha^pei^ fw it belongs not to us ^ know ^e times and 
 Reasons wfaidi God hath reserved to hin»Bl£^ Jt is ixa^ 
 we see that most part' of the protpbeoies are already, ful- 
 filled; so that we may say in geneeal, Th& hor^ is at 
 "hand, Phil. iv. 3) now is out salvatioia nearer than ie^eia- 
 we, ieUevei, Kom. xiii. 11. Nerertheless, I cannot un- 
 dertake to point Dtit to you thii; glopous day> nor to tell 
 you the year, nor even the, age when it shall be. There 
 
THE (5B8IStIAN»SCIMfSOLATIdlff. 49JJ 
 
 W^nb man upon earth) hot angel in heaven^ thai is able 
 to speak of it with at}j certainty. This is whkt Jesus 
 Christ «ititt&self infonits us^ Biitaftaqf iag and hoitr 
 i^fttoweOt no man, no) not tM an^ls of heaven, hut 
 my Jf other .only, Matth. xxiv. 36; and whereas our 
 Lord adds, neiiher the Son; Mark.xiiii 3S, we must un- 
 derstand this to he spoken of himself a» he was a 
 man during his abode in this world: for as he is God^ 
 he knows all things from all ete^Tqity^ and even as he is 
 manj he knows all things in that state of glory to which 
 lie is 6xalted| but he hath hid from us the time of his 
 coming, that We m#.y expect hiin at evefy moment: ThuH 
 he tedls his holy jifiostles, Watch therefore, for ye know 
 not what hour yoi^r Lord doth eome. But know thia^ 
 that if the good man of the house had known in what 
 watcli the thief Would come,. he would have watched, 
 iand wonld not have safered l^s house to be broken 
 np, Matth. xxiv. 43, 49. He writes in the same man- 
 ner to the angd of the church of Sardis, Remember 
 tiierefore how thou hast rect^ved and beard,^ and hold 
 •fastjr.aiidttepeitt. If iberefdre tbou sbalt not watch, I 
 VtWill come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know 
 'what hour I will come upon thee, Rev. itL 3. The 
 ^primitive Christians were well acquainted with this doc^ 
 4rine, as we m^ty confilttds from that pstsisagft of St. 
 -Paali But of the times and the s&asons^ bvethreQ; ye 
 hav6 no need that 1 wvit6 ante you| iat you yourselves 
 iBnowyptif^ctlyf that the day of the Lord so cometh as 
 ft thi^ in the ty^t} for when they shall say peace and 
 g^fet^; then Aidden destraction cometh upon themy as 
 ijmta)i opev a woman with childy and they sh^ll not 
 js«»pe, 1 Th^si. y. 1,^, 8, The time of the cpduuf 
 of ibe JS09 el MaB^»» l^«&«d to the* d^yd oC Noftb; for 
 
600 THE CHRISTIAN'S CGNSOLATIONi • 
 
 as thB inhabitants of the^ve^rld, bef^ra the dekge, wei*» 
 eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, 
 insensible of the flood till it came and )toold*iihem all 
 way; so will it be at Christ's second coming* * See 
 Matth. xxiv^ 37, 38, 30. ' 
 
 . Solomon hath observed, Thathape deferred .maketk 
 the heartsick, Prov. xiii. IS;- but the lively hope of 
 the resurrection is an exception to this. For, admitting 
 it may yet be delayed.for several thousands years, it can 
 little affect those who die in the' Lord. Their bodies, 
 in the grave have an undisturbed repose, and are as 
 free from impatieflce as a man in a souiid sleepV~aiid 
 their souls, in their separate state, are with the Lord, 
 2 Cor. V. 8, and doubtless do enjoy, so much feli- 
 city, as effectually excludes every uneasy passtioo, every 
 kind of disquietude. St.. Peter tells us, That athQU- 
 sand years with the Lord are but as one day^^Pet iji. 8i 
 Perhaps we may conclude in like manner, f espe#tltig 
 liuman spirits inparadise,: that a thousand years in that 
 happy state, are to them but as one day.in the present 
 world, and that numbers of years pass off with gree^erl 
 (seeming), celerity^ to the perfected spirits above, thanf 
 moments to such, who live in t^e midst of troubles be^l 
 low. 
 
 Third, Some make it a matter of inquiry, Where 
 this resurrection shall take place? The extravagant con- 
 ceits of the Jews have given rise to this question, inas- 
 much as many qf-them hold, that the dead will b%raised 
 only in the land of Canaan, and that the bodies of those 
 Jews who die and a.Fe deposited In different parts of the 
 world, make their way through the secret caverns of the 
 globeji till they artive at the Holy ;]^and: and moreover> 
 that they shall feel more Qr l$9s;paia in their passage^^^ 
 
THEf CHRISTIAN'S CONSOLATION^ 501 
 
 according to the purity or pollution of their lives. It is 
 needless to spend time in refuting such groundless and 
 iapertinent opinions; but it may give us an occasion to 
 acknowledge the just judgment of heaven upon this un- 
 happy people, who have rejected, with an hellish obsti- 
 nacy, the great and only Saviour of sinners; inasmuch 
 as they received not the love of the truth, that they 
 ^Blight be saved, they are left under strong delusions, 
 and to believe lies, 2 Thess. ii. 10, H. As Christians, 
 taught by the Spirit in the scriptures^, we believe, where- 
 ever the body is foandat that day, there shall it be rais- 
 ed again, whether in tbie earth or the seas. Rev. xx. 13. 
 
 Fourth, Some farther inquii^. What shall rise from 
 the grave? To this it may be replied. The same body 
 that falls by death, shall be the subject of the resurrec- 
 tion. Should the Almighty form a new body, and unite 
 it to the soul, this could not, with any propriety, be 
 called a resurrection, but rather a new creation; neither 
 shall the soul at that time take such a body as its own, 
 inasmuch as things only alike, are not the same, how 
 remarkable soever that likeness may be. The very same 
 hbdy, which the soul animated during ij;s abode here, 
 shall then be raised and fashioned anew. As in the 
 spiritual resurrection, the Lord does not create a new 
 soul, but quickens and sanctifies that which before was 
 dead in trespasses and sins; so in this corporeal resur- 
 rection, God does not make another body, but bestows 
 a renewed life upon that which lay under the power of 
 death. ' * 
 
 When our Saviour rofse from the deadr he did not 
 form for'himself a hew body, but his soul assumed and 
 re^animated the tame he had laid down; in like man- 
 ner, at the gttneral resdvrettion, he will ^ot create new 
 
503 "fHE bpmiStltAN'S CONSOLATfOI*. ^ ' 
 
 bodies for the childrfetn of men, Mt restoi-e life to tliose 
 bodies that bad been lodged in tlie silent grave. This 
 eagdmmt seem^ to be nnmswevtMei iitasmoch as the ce- 
 sof rectlon of 3esm Ohrist k not only the effldent or mei-i- 
 torious cause of the resoh^ction of tlie d^ad, but it is 
 also the pattern or model, or (as the schoolmen pbraiiie 
 it) the exemplai^ cause of this glorious privilege. But 
 there is little need of arguments where the scriptures ' 
 are clear and express. 8t. Paul, ;fteastitig on this sub- 
 ject, says, That the Lord Jesus Christ shall dhm^e our 
 vile body, that it may he fashioned like imtff his glorious 
 body, Phil. iii. 20, SI; and elsewhere, l^is corruptibU 
 must put on incorrikption, end this mortal must put on 
 immortality, A Cor. xv. S3- We read als'6 Of the lifi,' 
 of Jesus being made manifest in our body, &c. Cor. 
 iv. lOj 11; and holy Job^ in an eariy day, having fijlook 
 to the tesurrectioB, spkke oi'seeing €fbdin hisfleghf dnd 
 with his eyes, &c. Job xix. 86: nay, irt some eopies; ;of 
 the creed, called the Apostld'S, and partienlady the cO'^ 
 py of Aqaila, it is not only, I belieje tb^ resurrection 
 of the flesh, but I believe the resurrection of this flesh. 
 Fifth, Some inquire^ Whether the bodied of the wick- 
 ed shall i-ise from the dead, as well as those of the" 
 rigiitequs? Some, among the Jewsy who ^ligMl in 
 whimsical notions, conceive, that the resuweetioii does 
 regard the'just only, and that others have no past in ift; 
 and to str'engthen this false opinion, they alnise tlHisa 
 words or sacred scriptoi-e, The wicked shall n^t stmii 
 in the judgment, rior sifters in the congregation Of the 
 ti^teouSfPsal. i. &. Nay, th^ are so besotted With 
 pride, and a high conceit of tbein^elves^ that thoj^ iiiiik-> 
 gine none are dgbfieOiis btit thoile f^ tfaeif &w)m nation; 
 that ndne are pleasing fo 6krd; or i»haIL sbfflre lA Ute re 
 
1?HE CHRISTIAN'S CpNSOI^ATIQN. gof 
 
 save the Israelites: ^ut^ bl^s^d be God, we 
 wkfi^^xe: ChrtstiaHs are better iostructedj, m^ we fii-mlj 
 i^lieve evifsrj individual of Adam's posterity, living and 
 dying io lie iliffemnf; parts of the world, from the be- 
 ginniog of time Iq its last period; shall be raised from 
 ithe dead at the last day. . 
 
 St. Paul seems it^ery positive^ that there shall be ar^ 
 mvrection i^h of the just and of the unjust, Acts xxiv, 
 15. And the FsaJmist in the passage AhQve cited, ad' 
 vaaces nQthlng j^aiiisj: this everlasting truth: he does 
 ^otsay, the wicked shall n^t rise again, hut, that tiiey 
 shall not ,s(aQ4 in tfae judgmeut, &c; i. e. not be able 
 to bear up, uiHider it, or abide in it, but will sink an(i fall 
 ufide? the dreadful sentence «f the righteous judge, 
 highly displeased with their mnmeroiis iaiquities. Bu^ 
 t{^ mayvupt bp amiss farther to observe^ though all, Vrith- 
 out e^q^p^(i%, will be raised from the dead, ^et there 
 will be a. ji?^arkable di&ireuce between the ri^teous 
 mA oik/^Wf as |o 41^ wamier iu which it will be deue, 
 The -wicked will be dram putipf the grave as capir 
 tal. cc^snaials out t>f tlie 4iHi.geon, to receive seutence of 
 ^eath; but theXord Jesus mllxais^ believers with this 
 view, that thisir bodies as weU as their souls« may luive 
 ghare in tb^ precious fruits of reclejuiplioji, Chris, 
 tians sure calied the children yoif the resurrection, as none 
 hjitJipse .shall fi^Ri;*!*^^®^^^^ blessing? and benefits 
 (wi«equent tberemitoi^ 
 
 Sixth, Some perhaps may farther inquire. After what 
 manner this resnrriBfll^ wiU ^ brought about? From 
 saxcetl script^cB we learn^ tbat; ithe lUtrd Jesus Chirist 
 win d&se&f^ rfijoHi heaven with ipower and great glory, 
 joying u^jri^s -of m^^ fip4 saints attending, prece 
 ii^ Tty the archj^ngel loMndiug itl»e toump of God; for 
 j^be trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised, 
 
SOi THE CHRISTIAN'S iCQTf SOLATION. 
 
 1 Thess. iii 13, w, 16. 1 Cor. xv. 53. At the sountl- 
 iug of the silver trumpet in the Jewish jubilee, the pri- 
 sons were opened, and the prisoners set free^i in like 
 manner, at the sound of the last trumpet, all/the pidsons 
 of death will be broke open, and all the bodies of the 
 dead delivered at that day. TAe sea will give up the 
 dead that are in it, and death and hell deliv&r up the 
 dead which are in them. The beloved Lazarus in the 
 gpaye, hearing the voice of Jesus calling him by his 
 name, and bidding him come forth, presently objeyed; 
 and no sooner ^hall the powerful voice of Jesus sound 
 through the territories ^jof the dead, but all shall arise 
 and stand .before him: For the hour is coming, in the 
 which all that are in their graves shall hear Ms voice, 
 and shall come forth, John v.M8,.W. 
 
 Seventh, It may be asked, With what stature of body 
 shall the dead arii^e?" Some are ready to conclude they 
 shall rise again in the same stature in which they depart- 
 ed this life: this conclusion they draw from St* John's vi- 
 sionary description of the last judgtaent: J saw the 
 dead, small and great, stand before God,' &c. Rev. xx. 
 13. Others again believe that aU the righteous shall 
 rise again in perfect stature, and like to the Lord Je- 
 sus; this they endeavour to prove by a passage of St. 
 Paul, Tilt we all comp to the unity of the faith, and of 
 the knowledge of the son of God, unto a perfect- man, 
 unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, 
 Eph. iv.13. ' 
 
 As this particular (with many more) does but remote- 
 ly relate to everlasting felicity, it the less concerns us 
 to pry into it; and as the scriptures are silent concern- 
 ing this, it behoves us to think and speak of it with 
 caution. I hardly believe we shall rise agajn in the 
 
THE CHKISTIAN'S CONSOLATION. 5Q3 
 
 same stature of body in which, we die. , The other opi- 
 nion, That all the saints shall rise from the dead in sta- 
 ture, like to Christ's, and in that respect bear his image 
 in (;heir bodies, carries in it nothing contrary to piety: 
 but surely this cannot be proved frcim the-?words of St. 
 I%,ul aliove recited; since the. whole' tenor of his dis- 
 course does evidently discover, that he intends not tiie 
 iStature of the body, but of the soul, consisting in ktaow- 
 lodge, holiness, &c. - , 
 
 It is highly probable, the righteous shall rise again, 
 in what may be called a perfect statpre of body, with- 
 out deficiency or infirmity. The beauty and perfection 
 of the outward frame largely contributes to the glory 
 and majesty of the body, and without which we cannot 
 be said to be perfectly happy. . This kind of perfection 
 is agreeable to the command and dominion which the 
 Lord will give j;o his saints over the other creatures in 
 aud after the resurrection. Were those who die in the, 
 state of childhood to rise again in the same stature, and 
 ,$iich who depart hence in old age to leave their graves 
 with their bodies feeble and infirm as laid down, in ei- 
 ther case,- how is it consistent with the glory and perfec- 
 tion of the after-state, where Qothiqg will be wanting, 
 nothing amiss? 
 
 The promised land was a type of the celestial Ca- 
 naan; and itis not without good reason we are repeat- 
 edly informed, that none of those who took possession 
 of the Holy Land were aged persons, except Joshua 
 aad Caleb, the rest not exceeding sixty years. Perhaps 
 we might also'^pply to the Jerusalem above, what is 
 .spokeii by the prophet respecting Jerusalem below, 
 There shall he no more thence an infant of days^ nor an 
 
 old man tliat Jiaih not filled his days, \s. Ixv. 30. 
 
 3 8 
 
506 THE CHRISTAN'S CONSOLATION. 
 
 Itipleased the all-wise creator , to )forni our first pa- 
 rents in perfect stature, ,aud put theiri in possession of 
 the terrestrial paradise; and it may be supposed, he 
 will raise up the righteous in like manner, and introduce 
 them into the celestial one. The body of a child in the 
 present state is many years before it does arrwe.^a 
 manly stature, but in the resurrection the Lord may af- 
 fect this as in a/moment. What is spoken by St> John 
 in the passage before mentioned, respecting the (Jead, 
 small and great, standing before God, Kev. xx. IS, 
 seems to have no regard to, the size or bigness of the 
 body, but to the state aj^d condition of the persons spo- 
 ken of, intimating, that kings and princes, with their 
 subjects and slaves^ must all appear in that awful day, 
 according to what St. Paul declares, We must all ap- 
 pear bp/ore thejuigment-seat of Christfthat every ope 
 may receivp. the things done in his body, kc. 2 Cor. v. 40. 
 
 Eighth, Some may be disposed farther to inquire, 
 What bodies the wicked shall have at and afteir the re- 
 surrection; If we consider the smoke of the bottomless 
 pit, the fury of the infernal flames, with the violent tor- 
 ments which the wicked shall suffer, perhaps we might 
 conclude they shall appear ill fs^Voured, deformed, and 
 dreadful to behold; that there will appear, in their guil- 
 ty looks, and ghastly conntenant^s, the image of Satan, 
 and the furies of hell. But be this as it will, the bodies 
 of the wicked will be imm9rta,l, and their immortality a 
 miserable one; that it had been better for them not to 
 have been, or even to have been as the beasts that perish, 
 rather thap thus live to die eternally, be ever dying, yet 
 never dead; plunged into miseries so great as to be in- 
 expressible, and for their cotitinuance eternall^^n these 
 exqiusite sufferings! seeking death, or to be reduced to 
 
THE CHRtSTIAN'S CONSOLATION. 507 
 
 Rotlilnfg; but in vain, for death will fly from them, and 
 they left in the extremity of anguish, to the never-dying 
 worm, and unqiienchable Are. O miserable bodies, and 
 yet more miserable souls! thus cast down into hell, 
 where the devils will discharge all their artillery, exert 
 all their fury, and take pleasure in tormenting to all 
 eternity. ' 
 
 Ninth, Some may be disposed more particularly to 
 inquire concerning the qualities of the bodies of believ- 
 ers after the resurrection. As to the substance of their 
 bodies, it will probably be the same as in this life, real 
 human bodies, not imaginary ones. In the resurrection, 
 the bodies of the faithful, lik« that of their Saviour, will 
 be attended with glorious qualities, which they*had not 
 before; but the realfty and true nature of their bodies 
 will probably remain, upon which account they might 
 ufse the language of the risen Redeemer, Handle me, 
 and see, for ^ spirit liath not fiesh and banes as ye see 
 me have, Luke xxiv. 39. As the soul does continue 
 essentially the same, when perfectly freed' from sin, cor- 
 ruption and every vicious inclination; so it is likely the 
 body will remain the same, as to its essential parts, 
 though wonderfully changed with regard to its qualities. 
 Cbn-uption and mortality will then be for ever cast off, 
 with sickness, pain, and every other inconvenience 
 which did attend it during this life. In a word, all bo'^ 
 dily imperfections will be removed, all defieiences made 
 up, and the bodies of the saints rendered perfect and 
 beautiful, without spot or blemish. 
 
 Our Saviour ili the gospel, ipon different occasions, 
 does indeed advise his followers, if the eye offend, pluck 
 it out; if the hand or the foot offend, cut it off; and as- 
 signs a good reason for this, iPis better to enter into life 
 
^08 THE CHRISTIAN'S CONSOIiATION. 
 
 halt or maimed, than with a perfect body to suffer ever- 
 lasting misery f Matth. v. 39, 30. xviii. 8, 9. Bat these 
 passages are manifestly figurative; and by them our 
 Lord would instruct us, that for his sake we must deny 
 ourselves our irregular and importunate lusts; and he 
 seems to ground his manner of speaking; upon this sup- 
 position, " That if it were possible to enter into heaven 
 with .a maimed and mutilated: body, it were better so to 
 enjoy the happiness.tbereof, than with a whole body to 
 endure the tormehts of hell." But it cannot from hence 
 be inferred, that any of the) righteous shall rise from 
 their graves with bodiesi imperfect in any part, and es- 
 pecially as that seems inconsistent with perfect felicity. 
 Moreover, as the very being' of sin, as to them, will be 
 entirely abolished^ no part of the phnishmetjt of sin can 
 well be supposed to kbide. 
 
 It must be acknowledged, there have been, and still 
 are some who bold, that the martyrs will beat on their 
 bodies the scars and other tokens of their sufferings for 
 Christ, inlike manner as the Saviour himself, after bis 
 resurrection^ could shew the print of the nails iu his hands , 
 and feet,fand of the spear in his late wounded side; they 
 farther consider the Martyrs as a comparable to soldiers 
 who have acted with, bravery in the field of battle, who 
 have received wounds in the service of their king and 
 country, the marks of, whictL they esteem honourable and 
 f;lorious; and remaining proofs of their intrepidity and 
 courage. But however plausible this sort of reasoning 
 may seem, we date not assert it will be so, since sacred 
 scripture as td this is silent. The martyrs are set forth 
 as arrayed in robes, washed and whitened in' the blood 
 of the Lamb; and although they are said to have come 
 out of giieat tribulntioQ; yet no mention is made pf jany 
 
THE CHRISTIAN'S CONSOLATION. 509 
 
 remaining marks of their preceding sufferings. See Rev. 
 vii. 13, 14. 
 
 Our Saviour was pleased to preserve tiie abovcvraen- 
 tioned marks on his new-raised bt)dy, perhaps for that 
 end and purpose already answered by them, viz. the re- 
 moving unbelief from his doubting apostles; or perhaps 
 for some future purpose, of which we have nothing cer- 
 tain to say; but surely from this instance nothing can be 
 concluded respecting any similar marks in the bodies Of 
 any of his followers. Thus much we may safely say, 
 either the bodies of the martyrs will have no such scars, 
 &c. as are contended for, or, if any a|: all, not such as 
 shall introduce deformity in the body, or deprive it of 
 any part required to render it perfect. Perfection of 
 body seems necessary to perfect felicity. 
 
 In the resurrection, the bodies of believers will be 
 freed from various inftrmities, which attended our first 
 parents in the state *f innocence. They were subject 
 to hnnger> thirst, weariness, and the like; and conse- 
 quently, in need of meat, drink, sleep, &c. And though 
 they might safely depend upon the protection of God, 
 while they continued in their integrity, yet in themselves 
 they were liable to iiijury by fire or sword, and, to be 
 greatly annoyed even by the scorching rays of the sun: 
 but the bodies of the kaints at that day, and for ever, 
 will be secure from pain, weariness, and every kind of 
 violence; theif shall hunger and thirst no more, neither 
 shall the sun light on them, or any heat. See liev. vii. 
 16, 17; xxi. 4. 
 
 It is probable^ that the glotified body will possess all 
 the beauties and perfections it is capable of, and that 
 these will never change or fade, nor shall anf*'accident 
 be able to destroy or diminish them. The longer con- 
 
510 THE CHRISTIAN'S CONSOLATION; 
 
 cnivable duration shall not impress upon this body any 
 evidence of age, but it will always appear youthful, 
 healthful, and in the height of beauty; on which account 
 it may be conipared to a precious stone^that retainetb 
 all its lustre without any allay, or the sun that shineth 
 ia all its brightness, yet suffers no sensible abatement 
 (if its light and heat; ? 'v >. 
 
 -These, bodies, when raised and glorified, will have 
 cast off every gross quality, by>eason of wliich they are 
 now trending to the earth, but'then shall moaiit and move 
 with greater celerity than the eagle, when seeking af- 
 ter, or hastening to the prey. Ther body, in its present 
 state, is, of the earth, earthy, and sown in the grave a 
 jsatiiral body: but it will be raised from thencie a spiri- 
 Insil one, not changed inti^a spirit; it will bo a body 
 sliil made up of its proper parts, yet spiritual; because 
 freed from its earthly qualities, will live no more an ani- 
 mnl life, or need any longer the ptespnt supports of it, 
 any more than the angels in heaven do. 
 
 •lesus Christ, forty days after his resurrection, ascen- 
 ded up towards heaven in a cloud; butsareiy this cloud 
 could not be necijsary to support, or any way assist him 
 in his ascent. When in his sta^i of humiliation, and 
 his body resembling our own, he then vralked upon the 
 waves of the sea; and could it have been matter of won- 
 der, if after the resurrection-change, he had been' seen 
 walking irpon the wings of the wind? If any created as- 
 sistaiuie liad been needful to our Saviour's ascent, he 
 had, legions of angels at conimand. This cloud, then, 
 is rather to be considered as an evidence of his divine 
 Majesty and magnificence. It hath pleased the Lord 
 on varid#s occasions, to discover himself to his people 
 as attended with a cloud; and this in scripture is called 
 
TilE CHRISTIAN'S CONSOLATION. gn 
 
 the glory of the Lord, Exod. xl. '34, 35. This was the 
 visible token of the divine presence, Exod. xiii. ai and 
 xxix. 16'. 1 Kings^ viii. iO. And upon the whole, wo 
 may consider the cloud attending our Saviour's ascen- 
 sion, as a chariot of state in which the King of Kings 
 rode in triumph to glory. 
 
 The resurrection-bodies of the saints, will, it is sup- 
 posed, shine with excelling lustre: not only discovering 
 a splendor in their countenance or' face, (like that of 
 Mbses when he had been in the holy mount. w.}th his 
 maker) but in their whole^ody, like the trae diamond 
 which casts abroad its lustre on every side. It is said 
 of Cbi'ist at his transfiguration, 2Viat his raiment was 
 ichite as the lightj Matth. xvii. S. . In Uke manner, our 
 bodies, which are but as a covering to the soul, will it is 
 thought, appear pellucid and transparent; heuce compar- 
 ed by the prophet to the brightness of the firmament, 
 and of the stars, and by our Lord, to the lustre of the 
 sun itself. See Dan. xii. 3. Matth.* xiii. 43. 
 
 These bodies at the resurrection will be immortal and 
 incorruptible^ will abide both as to their being and their 
 glory. They will be rendered, more dnrable than -the 
 visible heavens^ or any ..part of their furniture, the sun, 
 the moon, or the stars. The psalmist hath observed, 
 that the heavens shall perish, and all of them shall wax 
 .old like a garment, kd PsaL cji. 25, 2Q,> And St. ]Peter 
 speaks, of their passing away with a great noise, S Pet. 
 iii. 7ji 10. But the new formed body will abide for 
 ever, the mortal will put on inilmortality, the children of 
 the resurrection can die no more, for death will be svvalr 
 lowed up in victory, Luke xx. 3ft, 1 Cor. xv. 54. The 
 Old and New Tcst^™ent furnish us with instances of 
 some that were raised from the dead; but they hereby 
 
513 THE CHRISTIAN'S CONSOLATION. 
 
 became subject to death and corruptiou a secondtime. 
 How happily different will it be with believers in that 
 day, when mortality shall be swalloweti up of life, and 
 all join in those joyfal interrogatories, death where ig 
 iky sting, grave where is thy victory? ^he sting of 
 death is sin, and the strength of sin isihelawi but thanks 
 he to God who giveth us the victory: through our Lord 
 Jesus Christ, &c. See 3 Gor. v. 4. 1 Cop. xv. 55, 
 S6, 57. 
 
 In a word, and to carry this matter to the happiest 
 height, the bodies of belicfVers at the resurrection will 
 resemble that of the Saviour himself.. As St. Paul is 
 professedly treating on this subject; he may very fairly 
 be supposed to ptjiat at this particular in the following 
 words: The first man i« of the earth, earthy; the second 
 man is the Lord from heaven.- As is the earthy, such 
 are they also that are earthy; and as is the heavenly, 
 such ai^e they also that are heavenly. And as we have 
 iorne the image of /the earthy, we shall also bear the 
 image of the heavenly, 1 Cor. xv. 47, 48, 49. And 
 more plainly still in another epistle, We look for the 
 Saviour (from heaven) the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall 
 change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto 
 his glorious body, &c. Phil. iii. SO, SI. 
 
 When the temple of Jerusalem was building a second 
 time, on the reti/rn from the Babylonish captivity, the 
 ancient persons, who had seen the former house in its 
 glory, wept aloud, on thinking hon^ far short this latter 
 house would fall, in porut*t)f splendor and magnificence, 
 of that Which had been destroyed. See Ezra iii^ , 
 IS; Hag. ii. 3. But when the second temple of the body 
 is erected, nothing will be heard among the children of 
 God, but sounds of triumph and joy; and suclbwho have 
 
THE CIIRISTIAN'i^ONSOLATMN. gig 
 
 by faith, and meditallon seeu atid considered thiis hou*e 
 (tbe body) in its former glory and ianocent s,tAte, will 
 llftve no csase to lament the entrance of sin, and conse- 
 quent destrnction.by death, as it will be universally ac- 
 vknowleilged, The glory qfthis Iffitm house is g'he&iBr, 
 hv gte&ter, Mm that of the former^ and all this by the 
 appearance, presence, and power of thB Lord Jesus, 
 Hag. ii. 9. 
 
 < j|g|(wa.we close this subject, it may not be improper 
 to take some notice of such who shall be found alive at 
 Christ's second comings and whose bodies will not be 
 lodged in the silent grave. Of these the apostle speaks 
 very particularly: Behold I will shew you a mystery; 
 we shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed in a 
 ipoment, in the twinkling of an eye> at the last trump, 
 (for the trumpet shall- sound,) and the dead shall be 
 raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed, 1 Cor. 
 XV. 51, 52. And in another epistle, For this we say 
 unto you by the word of the Lord, th^t we which are' 
 alive and remain uttto the coming of the Lord, shall not 
 prevent them that ^are Asleep: for (be Lord himself shall 
 descend from heaven with a shottt, with the voice of the 
 archs^ngel, a^d with the trump of God; avd the dead 
 in Christ shall rise first; then w$ which at/alive and re-, 
 main shall be cangbt up togei|ier w'lt^ them in thfe 
 douds, to meet the Lord in the air: and io shall we evel- 
 be with the Lord; wherefore, oomfbrt one another with 
 these words, 1 Thess^ iv. 19, 18. / 
 
 Indeed the apostle,^wiiting tp the Hebrews, say«,'/e 
 
 is appointed untqjfnen once ttl die. If this, passage be 
 
 taken in its most obvious sense, the generiil rule must 
 
 be supposed to admit of som^ exceptions; but pfrbapfe 
 
 it may intimat% that this chakge will' bft a kitid of fl^tb^ 
 
SH THE CHRISTI|M^'S CONSOLATION; 
 
 at least equivalent to itj^and the like glorious qualities 
 will take place upon the bodies of believers then found 
 alive, as Upon those which are then raised from the 
 grave; so no difference will appear between the one 
 and the other, but all equally made meet to partake of 
 eternal felicity. The bodies of the wicked also will be 
 changed' at the resurrection, and rendered like to those 
 of the same character baled out of their graves, all alike 
 immortal, to take their part in eternal misery. 
 
 O happy believer in the Lord J qsus! whatever the 
 present condition of the body may be, take, homs to 
 thyself the special consblations this subject does natu- 
 rally afford th^e. It is grievous that the body is iio- 
 perfect as to any of its members, or deficient ita any 
 partioulae sense, common to mankind, whether soi born, 
 or it be brought on by disease, accident? <&.c. cheer;ti|» 
 under the thought, that this body will hereafter appear 
 in. full perfection, and so abide for ever. Does age add 
 sickness destroy the strength and beauty of" the outer 
 frame? consider tbe resurrection will furnish thee with 
 renewed vigour, ad(>rn thee with perfect beauty, jind 
 be attended ^th eternal glory. .. v 
 
 The body, thongh laid in the grave, will not be lost 
 
 ^there, but fcund with great advantage at the resurrec- 
 tion. As the patriarch Joseph, when leaving this world, 
 commanded his brethren concerning his bones; so Jesus 
 will give bis sacred commands eon©eming4he bodiesfof 
 believers, and the different pa^ts^of them that they may 
 be delivered from the grave,, that house of bondage and 
 corruption, and safely conveyed to the celestial Ganaaa. 
 When the tabernadle of old was taken in pieces, the 
 Jiigh-priest committed the several parts of it to the 
 
 ^M|« of the Lfyi|^, and ttothingwas wanting when 
 
THfi CHRISTIAN'S CONSdLAflON. 515 
 
 they catne to set it up again; "so the Saviour and high- 
 priest of his people, will take propter care that no part of 
 the earthly tabernacle, which he hath sanctified for him- 
 self, be then missing, but that the whole be produced 
 and erected anew, and with greater glory than ever. 
 
 Who would not readily lay aside his over worn gar- 
 ments at nigbt, if certain of being clad with rich and 
 royal attire in the morning? Who would not cheerfully 
 lay himself down to sleep in his bed, could he safely 
 depend upon waking and rising again with renewed 
 health, vigour, and beauty? Who would not joyfully 
 relinquish a mean and miserable cottage for a season^ 
 that so it might be adorned with all the glory and 
 magnificence of a splendid palace? O believer, comfort 
 thyself in the Lord Jesus, and contentedly cast off at 
 death this garment, the body which is incommodious 
 and troublesome on several accounts in its present state^ 
 assuring thyself thou shalt receive this same garment 
 again abundantly bettered and beajitified, rendered white 
 as the snow,- and illustrious as the light. Let it not con- 
 cern thee, that the earthly tabernacle will shortly be 
 taken down; for the Lord will build it up again, yea, 
 convert it into a temple that shall stand for ever in all 
 its glory. What though the several senses suffer decays, 
 and the ^es in particular will soon be closed, no more 
 to behold the light bielow? grieve not at this, ijiasmuch 
 as these eyes will be formed anew with additional 
 heauty, and with them thou wilt behold the king in his 
 glory, and behold him for thyself; or as the Psalmist 
 expresses the same thing, behold his fa6e in righteous- 
 ness when awaking with hi» likeness, Job xix. 37; 
 Psal. xvii. is. The ears now, it may be, are almost 
 deaf, and will soon be entirely stoppe(i; but hereafter 
 
fJl6 TW^ PHRISTIAN'S CONSOLATION. 
 
 tki^: shall heai?, with everlftsftiog deMght, the ha.i^ttioni't' 
 ous songs of saints att^ of atige^. - Tlie tongue, which 
 now faulters thfoagh weakness, and in a little time 
 w4]i'»p^ak no more, shall then be formed anew', and 
 tuned for praiae, joining in the melodious hallelujah's 
 of the bleased above. The hands, now weak, shall 
 then be made strong to receive, and for ever retain, 
 immortal palms of victory. With the feebk feet, now 
 scarce sufficient to support the body,.thaa wilt then 
 follow the Lamb to the realms of glory, and travel the 
 sti^eets of the heavenly Jerasalem. In a word, the 
 whole body, though laid in the grave, and turned into 
 dost, shall then, arise, and shine as the sun in the fir-: 
 mament, and in its fullest splendor. ^^ 
 
 What hath the Christian to desire more? At death, 
 the soul goes to God, to Christ, to angels, to the spi- 
 rits afjust mm made perfect, to. share in their felicities. 
 The body indeed ia lodged in the grave; but here it 
 will be attended with; a quiet repose, at the end of 
 which it shall rise again. The Lotd will publish the 
 grand jubilee, the prisons of death will all be opened^ 
 and the prisoners set free. The trumpet shall sound, 
 and the dead in Christ be raised incorruptible, immor- 
 tal, and glorious. The Christian may humbly say. My 
 hemrt ia glaA/my glory for tongue J rejoiced, myjlesh 
 ftlsa sh(dl rest in hope^ for the Lord will not leave it al- 
 ways in the grave, or suffer it to abide under the power 
 of corruption; he will show me the path of life, andl 
 admit me to hispresenee, where i\i6,T» mifutness ofjo^^ 
 and pleasure fm ewgrmoTO, Psal. xvi. 9, 10, 11. , 
 
 Then, let not the actiiod and sensible approach of 
 death disturb the quiet of thy mind^ shake thy foUU 
 and confide^e m G^, or dBve thee, from hop% that 
 
THE CHRISTIAN'S C0NSOX.ATI0N. giyv 
 
 dnchorDf the soul both sure and stedfast, siQce fixed in 
 heaven, where Jesue as the forerunner is for thee en- 
 tered. Coipfort thyself with the words of holy Job, 
 I know that my Redeemer liveth, and that he shall 
 stand at the latter day upon the earth. And though, 
 after my skin, worms desti-oy this body, yet in my flesh 
 shall I see God: whom I shall see for myself, and 
 mine eyes shall behold, and not another, though my 
 reins be consumed within me. Job, six. S5, 26, 37. 
 And with the words of St. Paul, we look for the Sa- 
 viour from heaven, even the Lord Jesus Christ, who 
 shall change our vile, body, that it may be fashioned 
 like to his glorious body, aceordiug' to the working 
 whereby he is able even to subdue all things to himself, 
 Phil. iii. 20, 21. 
 
 PRAYER AND MEDITATION 
 
 Of a true Believer, prepared to leave this world, and 
 has hope iri a glorious Resurrection to eternal felicity. 
 
 O INFINITE and everlasting Saviour, thou Son of 
 God! by whom all things were created, and ^without 
 whom vyas notmny thing made that was made; thou hast 
 not only formed our spirits, and fashioned our bodied, 
 but when both were miserably lost, corrupted and ruin- 
 ed by sin, hast redeemed us by thy blood, and renewed 
 us by thy Spirit and grace. The frail body is but an 
 earthen vessel; yet thou hast furnished it with a pecu- 
 liar treasure, ordained it to be the temple of the Holy ' 
 Ghost, an habitation of God through the Spirit^ and 
 will make it meet to partake with the spul of the eter- 
 nal bappiQess of thy heavenly kingdom. I find my na- 
 tural strength failing, and the body to be dying daily, 
 and am persuaded it $oon will return to thci dust; but 
 this is my comfort, while the outward frame suffers, de- 
 
518 THE GHRISTIAN'S CONSOLATION. 
 
 caysj, the inward man is renewed day by dky; and 
 though thffl,. body falls by death,_and io dishonourj^ thou 
 wijt raise it up again jn glory. Uiffitult as this may 
 seem to sense, it cannot be so to thee my Lord and 'my 
 God;^ for all power is thine in heaven and on earthy and 
 thou raisest and quickenest whom thoil wilt: out of the 
 dust thou formedst the human body at the beginning; 
 llnd though by death it be reduced^ tp ils former staite, 
 lliou art able of its dust to form it again at ttie end of 
 lime. Thou, O Lord, hast created my soul, and infu- 
 sed it nnto the body; and though they are separated by 
 death for a season, thou wilt command them togethier 
 again, and render that union happy for, ever. O glori- 
 ous Prince of life; thou hast encountered ' the enemy 
 death, overcome the king of terrors, disarmed and strip- 
 ped him of his terrible array. Thou hast submitted to 
 the stroke of death to answer the most valuable ends; 
 but are returned to life, liyest for ev^r, and bast the, 
 1<eys of hell and, of death; who openest and none can 
 shut, hast power to kill and maH' alive at thy pleasure. 
 Thou, O JesUs, art the resurrection tind the life, art able 
 and willing to deliver thi^ body from the power of 
 death,, to awaltgthe sleeping dust with the sound of the 
 Archa,ngel's trumpet, according to thy word. ' I hope to 
 see the glorious day when thou wilt appear in triumph, 
 attended with holy angels, proclaimiBg liberty to all thy 
 captives under the power of death, and restoring to 
 them all spiritual and eternal blessings which theyliad 
 forfeited by sin. Earth and sea shall readily surrender 
 their dead, in obedience to thy cdmr)iands. O omnipo- 
 tent Word, that brought the heavens and the earth into 
 being! thtou wilt cause thy voice to be heard in the grave, 
 the dead shall hear it, and march out to meet thee at 
 thy judgment-seat. Then shall we arise, not wrapt, in 
 our grave-clothes, (as Lazarus heretofote,) nor with any 
 relicks of infirmity about us; but with'bbdies perfect, glo- 
 rious, and^abundaritly beautiful, fashioned like unto thy 
 own. This corruptible shalbput on . incorruption, this 
 mortal shall put oh immortality, atidjinherit eternal life. 
 Sure 1 am, my Kedeemer \yill come in the clouds of 
 heaven; and mine eyes shall behold him iu his glory. — 
 
THE UUKISTlAN'S CONSOLATION, giy 
 
 WUh'tlese eaps shall I hear the awful sound of the, ait- 
 ^(}l"s truinpet, aud the songs of the blessed a|;teuj.la^t,H 
 of Christ at his com ng; with my tongue 1 hope to praise. 
 him; with my (now) dying arms to embrace my Saviour; 
 and with my feet, to follow him complete in person, to 
 his heavenly kingdom. - 
 
 O Lord, I am ready to leave the world, my depar- 
 ture is nigh at hand; flesh and heart art failing me, and 
 death stands waiting for his comniission to strike the 
 fatal blow; but notwithstanding all the diffictilties Sind 
 abjections that ignorance and unbelief are ready to start, 
 I km persuaded.^ shall rise again from the grave, to be- 
 hold thy majesty^ and to share in thy glory. Amen. 
 
 CHAPTJER XXIY. 
 
 The Twelfth Consolation. The destruction of death, 
 and the eternal and most happy life which we shhU 
 enjoy both in soul and body after the resurrection. 
 
 H 
 
 .AVING treated thus largely of tilie happiness pre- 
 pared for our souls at their departure out of this life, 
 and of theglorious resurrection promised to our bodies, 
 when-Jesas Christ shall come down from heaven in his 
 glory to judge the quick and the dead; it shall seem 
 Miat we have nothing more to say^ but as Moses, after 
 he had made the ark of shittim-wood, an<l had overlaid 
 it with pure gold, mad« upon it a crown of gold lounjcl 
 about it, Exod. xxv: in the same manner, having repre- 
 sented to you the incorruptiofl and future glory of the 
 body, which ,may be looked upon as a' sacred ark; where 
 God will inhabit for ever^'and having shewn you, .that 
 by his almighty and gracious power, it shairbecon\ej 
 more incori'uptible than ishittiin-wood, and more glorious 
 
Sm THE C HRIS TUN'S CONSOLATION'S. 
 
 than pure gold; 1 will now, by God's ,^ssistaace,:niake 
 upon it a crown more precious than tlie fiaest goM^ and 
 richer than all the jewels in the world; that i?, to crown 
 this work, and to make it as compile as I can,.! in- 
 tend to draw as perfect a picture as my infirmities will 
 give me leave, of eternal glory, and happiness which we 
 hope to enjoy both in soul and body, after the resurrec- 
 tion. But, first, it will be necessary, that; 1 should say 
 something^ of the entire and linaldestEpction of all our 
 enemies, and that I should shew you oiir; triumphant 
 conqQest over death. 
 
 When Jesus Christ shall come to judge the world in 
 righteousness, A.cts xvii. 31; he shall qit upon a glori- 
 ous and most splendid throne, of which Solomon's mag- 
 nificent throne was but a shadow and an imperfect type. 
 He shall send bi^ angels with a great sound of a trumj 
 pet, and they shall' gather together his elect from the 
 four winds, from one end of heayen to the other, Matth. 
 xxiv. The sight of this glorious Saviour shall then fill 
 iis witli an unsp^eakable joy, and cause us to cry, out 
 with an holy rapture, Lo, this is our God, tee have i&ait- 
 ed for him, and he will save us: this is the Lord, we have 
 itsait^fur Kim, we t^illhe gladaridrejoiceinhis salvation, 
 Isa. XXV. 9. But all the kindreds of theearth, when they 
 shall behold this triumphant King coming in the clouds 
 of heaven, with power and great a;l6ry, shall lament and 
 smite their breasts in despair, andsay to the mountains 
 and rocks, Fallon us, and hide usfromiheface,ofhim 
 that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the 
 Lamb; for the great day of his wrath is cotne^ and who 
 shall be able to stand? Rev. vi. 16, 17- 
 
 Thep tlie Lord sha,ll bring to light the bidden things 
 of dark!ie»4 and sba^U make, manifest the cAu^gels of 
 
THE CHRISTIAN'S CONSOLATION. 5M 
 
 the heart, with all its most secret devices, 1 Cor. iv. S. 
 The hooks shall be opened, not only ihose of our own 
 guilty cotllSciences, where Satan's image attd4ee4 sliall 
 affright us, but also those wherein dod himaelf hniAi 
 'written with bis own ffim^r, all our ^Lotions, words, jiml 
 dfest hidden thoughts; aa(f according to the reoor^J of 
 these books shall ;all men be judged. TPhis is what St. 
 John tells us in the 30th ctiapter' of the ReVdations: 
 I saw, saith he, a great white throne, amd him tha/t sat on 
 it, from whose f^ee the earth amd the heavens ^i away, 
 ani there wasfomid wo ptaoejbr them. > And I saw the 
 dsad, small amd great, stand befere &od; and the books 
 were opened; and another book was opened, mhich is the 
 book of life; and the dead werejwdgedeut of those thin^gs 
 which were written in the books, accsrding to ih^ir 
 ,^orks. With whom St. Paiil agrees:* We must all tip- 
 pear before the juigme-nt-seat of Christ, that every one 
 may receive the things done in hiiihody,-aec0rdingJo that 
 he hath done, whether it he good or bad, 2 Cor. v. 10. 
 
 Therje are three sorts of persons who shall appear be- 
 fore this glorious tribunal. First, iSaeh as^ever had 
 any other tutor but na.tur«, and^who haye been aq[uaint- 
 ed with no other works of God, but those of his creation 
 and pro^'idence, in whioh, nevertheless, 'he left not him- 
 self without witness, in that he did good. Acts xiv, if. 
 Secondly, Such as have been fjartakers of his reveiikd 
 will, who have been taught by the Taw w'bat works are 
 pleasing or displeasing to God; who havelikewise 'heard 
 of a Messiah from their ancient prophets, and have seen 
 his portraiture in the types and shadows of .Vloses's or- 
 dinances. Jbd, lastly, those to whom the grace of Cod, 
 that%ringeth'salvation to a;ll men, liath plainly appeared, 
 Titus ii. H'5 and before whose leyes our Lord and )da- 
 
 ,3U 
 
533 THE .CHRISTIAN'S CONSOLATION. 
 
 viour Jesus .Christ bath brought life and iminort'^ity to 
 light through th& gospel, 3 Tim. i. 10. There are none 
 of all these persons, if tbey have liv«d in hnpiety and 
 debauchery, and are dead in impeniteiicy, that shall be 
 able to excuse themselves in this dreadful day of judg- 
 ment; but the one sort shalf be deenjed more guilty thlm 
 the otbers, and therefore'shall be condemned to greater 
 punishments. ■ ' 
 
 The knowledge wherewith God hath enlightened the 
 soul of man, hath beea very much obscured by the prince 
 of darkness: but yet it is not so to^lly extinguished, 
 but that some rays still remain; and the law which God 
 hath w;xitten in his heart> is not so utterly defaced, but 
 that some lines are still visible.: Wh^ce it comes to 
 pass, that no man living can boast, that he hath done all 
 the good which his conscience was convinced he ought 
 to perform, nor that-he ha, th abstained from all the evil 
 actions from which it dissuaded'him. They who haW 
 lived and are dead, without any law of God revealed to 
 them, fihfill be judged, without the law, and shall be con- 
 demned f^ havingitaken pleasure in extinguishing the re- 
 main^f tneir natural li^ht, and in stifling the. good and 
 reasonable dictatespf their consciences; for having abused 
 the favours of heaven, ami filled themselves with Gad's 
 good creatures, without returning him due thanks; and 
 because they have not meditated as they ought upon the 
 many magnificent and noble works of nature, nor learn- 
 ed by that means to know God, who llias imprinted upon 
 them such .evident marks of his ete^^nal power and God- 
 head; or becausf! that when they kijew God, they glo- 
 rified him not as God, -Rom, i. 31, This S||Paul teach^ 
 ^th us in these ea^c^llent words; As many as havejsin- 
 i[ied Mrithputs la,W; shall also perish without law: t'w 
 
^ THE CHRISTIAN'S CONSOLATION. 5g3 
 
 t^«en the Gentiles, wljich have not the law, do by nature 
 tlte tiling^ contained in the Jaw, these ,1iaving not the. 
 law, are a law unto' themselves; which shew the work 
 of tlie law written in their hearts, their conscience also 
 bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while ac- 
 cusing, or else excusing one another: In the day when 
 God shall judge the secrets of tnen by Jesus Christ ac- 
 cording to my gospel, Rom. ii. 13, 14, 15, 16, 
 .' They that profess to know the law shall be judged 
 by the law; and as they have already heard .the thun- 
 ders of Mount Sinai^ so they shall one day feel the 
 thunder-bolts. They shall know^by dreadful experi- 
 ehcCj what it is to rebel against jB-od, and to draw 
 down upqn their guilty heads the terrible curses of his 
 law: Cursed be he that confirmeth not all the words of 
 this lam to do them, Deut. xxvii. 36. Gal. iii. 10. There 
 i$ no doubt but that the Jews hardened in iniquity, unto 
 whom Moses and the prophets addressed so many no- 
 ble, but vain, exhortations to a godly life, shall be pun- 
 ished in a much more severe manner than thosig poor sa- 
 vages who have never heard the voice of God, who are 
 aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers 
 from the covenant of promise, having no hope, and being 
 without God in the world, Eph. ii. 13. For that servant 
 ithich knew Ms Lord's will, and prepared net himself, 
 neither did according to hi^ will, shall be beaten with 
 many stripest But he that knew, nqt, and did commit 
 things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes, - 
 Luke xii, 47, .48. 
 
 , But there are no people ip thjB world, who haye cause 
 to expect a more rigorous sentence, and more dreadful 
 punishments, than wioked Christians, who jprpfess to 
 know God, and believe in Jesus Christ, yet deny him 
 
gti , tWE eHHl^lAN'9 COilSOLATlON.^ 
 
 ;*♦ 
 
 by <lh€ir wtpfeg, and triitMp'Te' utideir foot the rtciies'of his 
 graces. For can we imagiti^; that such as have had the* 
 gospel preached' smong them, who have seen Jesus 
 Christ ibtucified, as it were, before their eyes, and yet 
 hate prcrfifed' nothing by this glorious advantage; caa 
 we imrrgine, I sAj} that such shall not be punis^hed in 
 anotlier manner than the bare auditors of Moses, who 
 never saw the Messiah but afar off, and in the shadows 
 ^n'd ceremonies "of the law? 'Observe^ I pray, the inspir- 
 ed words'^of the "apostle to Hhe Hebrewi^. He that des- 
 fiised Moses's law, died without mercy, under two or 
 three witncis'ses^^ of how m;uch sorer punishfiient, sup- 
 pose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who have troddien 
 under foot the Son of God', and hath counted -the blood 
 of the: covenant wherewith he was sanctiiHed an unholy 
 thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace? 
 For we know Mni that hath said. Vengeance belongeth 
 unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. It is a fear- 
 ful' thi#g''to fall into ihe hands of the living God, Heb. 
 X. SB, &c. Therefore, wheh St. Paul speaks of such 
 as obey not the gospel of Christ, he saith, TRey shall be 
 punisAed with evevtasting destruetion from the presence 
 of the Lord, and from the glory of his power, 2 Thess. 
 i. 9. And our Saviour teacheth us, with his own sacred 
 Mps, that such as reject so great a salvation shall be 
 punished more grievbusly than the most abominable sin- 
 ners unto whom it was never revealed. Therefore, when 
 he sends forth his apdsttes to* preach the gospel of his 
 kingdom, he says tiuto then^, Whosoever shdll not re- 
 ceive ydti, ntii" h^ar' your words; when ye depart ofit of 
 thathome^or cityiS,aTee off ihe dust of your feet. Verity 
 I say unto you, it shall be more tolerable fdr the land of 
 Sodom and Gfomorr&h, in the dayofjjiigment, thanfo^ 
 
THE CHRISTIAN'S CONSOLATi«)iN^. 533 
 
 that dty, Matth. x. 14, 15. Lifcemse, where he re- 
 proaches the incredulity and impenitency of those citieg 
 which did not believe, and which were not converted 
 by the light of hisgospelj and the glory of his miracle's, 
 be cries out, Wo unto thee Choraziu; wo unto thee 
 Bethsaida: for if the mighty works which were done 
 in you, had been done in Tyre and Sidon, ihey would 
 have repented loug. ago in sackcloth and ashes. But I 
 say nnto you, it shall be more tolerable for^ Tyte and 
 Sidon at the day of judgment than for you. And thou 
 Capernaum, which art exalted unto heaven,, shall be 
 brought d&wn to hell: for if the mighty works which 
 have been done in thee, had been done in l^odom, it 
 would have remained to this day. But 1 say lunto you, ' 
 that it shall be more tolerable for the land of jSodom, in 
 the day of judgment than for the^, Matt^. xi. 2i, &c./ 
 
 The sovereign judge of the world shall place at his 
 left hand all those wicked souls which ha ve lived without 
 the fear of God, and without expressing charity to the 
 members of his mystical body, and shall pronounce unto 
 them this dreadful sentence^ Depart from me, ye curspd, 
 into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil afid his angels. 
 For I was an hundred, and ye gave me no meat: I was 
 thirsty, and ye gave me no drink: I was a stranger, and 
 ye took me not in; nalked and yecloth®d me not; sick, 
 and in prison, and ye visited me not.. Verily I say unto 
 you, inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of 
 these, ye did it not to me, Matth. xxv. 41, &c. But 
 AS for the faithful, w^ luve witnessed their faith, by 
 a good and holy life, and by works of charity and 
 mercy, he will place thenr at his right hand, and in the 
 presence of God, and all his holy angels, will say unto 
 them, Come, y& blessed of iny Father, inherit the kingt 
 
5?6 THE CHRISTIAN'S CONSOLATION. 
 
 (lom prepaj^M for you from the fourwlatiou of the vvorUj 
 F.or 1 was an huagred, and ye gave me meat: 1 was 
 thirsty, and ye gave me drink: .1 was a stranger, and 
 y& took me in: naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick* 
 and, ye visited me: 1 was in prison, and ye came unto 
 me. Verily I say unto you, inasmuch as ye have done 
 it unto one jgif the least of these my brethreo> ye have 
 done it unto me, IVlatth, xxv. 34', :&c, , 
 
 It is Qiade a question, wbat-sign shaH immediately 
 procede ov accompany the coming of Christ into the' 
 worW; and this, is occasioned/l)y our Saviour himself, 
 "vvho, speaking of the things which are to happen about 
 the time gf his glorious appearance, saith. That the sun 
 ■shaUhe darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, 
 and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the 
 h$^wns ^hall he shalcem,iandthen shall appeur the sign of 
 the Son of Man in heaven,, M&tih. xxiv, Si)j 30, &c. 
 
 Some imagine, that this sign of the. Son of Man is 
 the sign of the cross which will appear in the air. This 
 opinion in itself is innocent; but in regard that it hath 
 no foundation in Sicnpture, Iishall not stay to consider it. 
 Others believe, that it shall be that fire with which Jesus 
 .Christ shall burn the eartli, dissolve the elements, and 
 punish unbelievers. This persuasion is founded upon 
 St. Paul's, wordf to the Thessialonians: It is a righteous 
 thing wit^ God to recompense tribulation to thpm that 
 iroubl^you;andto you who are troubled^ rest tcith us^ 
 when the Lord Jesus shaU he revealed from heaven, wiihA 
 his mighty angels, in fl(wnin^^J^, taleim,g vengeance on 
 them that Icnovs not jErod, and that obey not the gospel of 
 our Lord Je^us Christ,. 2 Thess. i. fi, 7> 8.^- Others af- 
 lirpi, that this sign of the, Sou of Man is notHitig but the 
 body of Jesus Christ luring the prirtt'of the nails in his 
 
■^^lE CHRISTIAN'S CONSOLATION. 527 
 
 s 
 
 l^andf and feet> aud the wotindof the spear ia his side. 
 This they ground upon tliese words, in Rev. i. 7. ^Be- 
 hold, he Cometh with clouds, and enery eye ^kall see him, 
 and they: also uihieh pierced him. And again, there are 
 others who take it in a more natural sense, and jbelieve, 
 tlia,t we must not expect any particular sign, but that 
 we must understand by this sign of the Soii of Man, all 
 those things whiclisjitll declare the end of tlie< wofid, 
 and the coming of Jesus Christ to judge the quick and 
 thedead. If we take it in this sense, there will be an ex- 
 cellent allusion, and an admirable agreement to that 
 which is commonly prac.trsed,«^\^en...kings and princes 
 make their public "ntryjnto aqy grea,t city; for their 
 coming is proclaimed by the sound of a trumpet, and 
 by all the ensigns of majesty that usually precede or ac- 
 company it. In the same manner, the. glorious coming 
 of Jesus Christ shall be made known to all by the 
 sound of the arch-angel's trumpet, and by tbe signs and 
 wonderful changes wliich shall suddenly happen in the 
 heavens. This last Qpinion is very probable; nor arc 
 any of the former contrary to the unity of faith: there- 
 fore, in a matter indififerent, not clearly decided by' the 
 word_;of God, we leave to every pious soutthe liberty 
 tp chnse that which it lijies besi. , 
 
 It is also inquired, whether the souls of the damned 
 go down tq hell immediately after their egress out of 
 the body, and are tormented in an unquenchable flame, 
 ■whose heat is never diminished^ as the Christian reli- 
 gion teacheth us, and as we may understand by the pa- 
 rable of the riph, glutton? does it not follow that these 
 wretches aje already judged? how is it then, tliat the 
 Son of God wJU judge them again at the last day, {(,nd 
 pondeoin them to an everlasting fit'e? preparec^ |br the 
 
S28 THE CHRI&TiAN'S CON.SOLATION, 
 
 devil and his angels? 1 answer, Vivst, That it is no aV 
 surdity' to say, that one sentence may be pronounced 
 twice: on the contrary, it is usual amongst men to read 
 the sentence of doom to4he prisoner, before he is taken 
 out of prison; which sentence Is , afterwards pablifthed 
 in the audience of the people at the time of execution. 
 So when the souls of the wicked depart out of their 
 wretched bodies, God pronounces to them the sentence 
 of their condemnation: but when Jesus Christ, shall sit 
 upon the throne of his glory, he shall publish the same 
 sentence in the hearing, of all themenof the world, and 
 of a,ll the angels oi h#a%n. Secondly, That sentence 
 was never pronounced but to ithe soul; but then it shall 
 bejpronounced to both soul and body, and both together 
 shall be ca^t into everlasting fire, from whence they shall 
 jiever b& released. fp? 
 
 From hence you may understand. Christian souls, 
 that there are three degrees df punishments or tprments 
 to the wicked. For in this life they have a worm that 
 pceys upon their heart,^ and a kind of hell that racks 
 their guilty consfe^enees. At their going out of the world, 
 their souls are plunged headlong into eternal flames, 
 where they sufifer unspeakable torture. Their bodies in 
 the mean tiiue are insensible in their graves, as the bo- 
 dies of the righteous. But at this last and dreadful day 
 of J4idgHient, as the graves shall restore all the dead bo- 
 dies, hell, which is the place appointerd; for the punish- 
 ment of the damned, shall <give up all the souls that are 
 tormented in its flames; and these cursed souls shall be 
 again united to their miserable bodies, to suffer the 
 pangs of an eternal deaths Thus they shall he-G&^, 
 body and soul, into the bottomless pitj^^ where there is 
 4v>eepiBg and ,gnas'h|Bg of tei^th; Matth. xxv; at the sam« 
 
THE CHRISTIAN'S CONSOLATION. ggg 
 
 timet,' the beast/. the false prophet, anil all llie enemies of 
 God and his Churehi shall be cast alive into the lake of 
 fire burnii^ with brimstone^ which is the Second death, 
 Kev. six. W, 31. 
 
 • And as wben the criminals are all executed, it is 
 usual to punish the executioners for their own crime; so 
 when God Almighty shall have cast all the damned into 
 eternal torments; the devils and infernal furies shall be sent- 
 after them, as it is written, The devil that deceived the 
 nations was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where 
 the beast and the fidse prophet are, and shall be tormejit- 
 ed day and night, for ever and ever, Rev. xx. 10. What 
 adreadfnl sight will it be to have continually before 
 our eyes these roaring lions, these tremendous dragons 
 foaming with rage, and vomiting out floods of fire and 
 flames! yet what a joyful spectacle will it be to God's 
 children', to behold all these iufernal furies fast bound 
 in chains, which they shall never be able to break, and 
 ^hut up in a bottomless pit, out of which they can never 
 escape! 
 
 Our Lord shall cast into this lake of fire anid brim- 
 stone, and shut up in this bottomless pitj not only the 
 devil and his angels, the beast and the false prophetj > 
 add, in general, all wicked and unbelieving souls, but 
 he shall also cast therein death and the grave, or rather, 
 be shall abolish them for ever. For as Jpshua, agree- 
 ably to what we hali"e already remarked, when he had 
 conquered and subdued the kings of tiie-Amorites, put 
 them tfot to death until he had overcome all the rest of 
 his enemies; so our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, our 
 true Joshua, hath encountered with death upon the 
 cross, and overcome it by his resurrection, yet he will 
 
 not entirely destroy it until the last day, when he shall 
 
 3X 
 
030* THE CHRISTIAN'S CONSOLAtlONi 
 
 come to judge the world. Then to crown all his glori- 
 ous victories, he shall destroy this kst enemy, this de- 
 stroyer of bis brethren, and of his members, so that 
 death shall be no more. It shall be no more for the wick- 
 ed; they shall seek it in vain, to deliver them from their 
 torments. It shall fly from them as a shMow that de- 
 parts, aiid is no more found. Much less shall it be fot 
 God's childreQ, it shall never again interrupt thfeir rest 
 arid happiness; • 
 
 If the old serpent could enter into the celestial para-; 
 dis%^ we might fear bis temptations and fiery ddi-ts; and 
 if death continued to reignj we should have reason to 
 fear coming again under its empire; but so far shall it 
 be from retaihing the least' dominion, that it shall be at- 
 terly abolished, and all the living shall become immor- 
 tal. And although our blessed Red,eemer will not de- 
 stroy the beings nor take away the malice of the devil;, 
 yet with regard to us, he shall be as if he was not; for 
 }ie shall never be able to break his chains^ or to escape v 
 out of his prison; and between him and us ther6 shall 
 be gulfs fixed that can never be passed. So Miat as Mo- 
 ses, when h<B looked back upon Pharaoh and the Kgyp« 
 tians, said to the children of lisrad, who were affrighted 
 at their pursuit. Stand still, and see the salyation of tbie 
 Lt>rd> which he will show to you to-day; for the Ilgyp- 
 tians, , whom ye have seen tO'd&y, y^ shall see them 
 again n*t more for ever, Exod. kiv. 13^' likewise, wh^ 
 I think upon Satan, and all Ms infernal host that pur- 
 sue you, I cannot help crying out, Take bourage, Chris>- 
 tian souls, and with the eyes of yout faith sefe the salva- 
 tion of the Lotd; for these hellish furies that have per' 
 ip6GUted you so long, ahall soon be out of a condition (o 
 lii(irt you, or to giv^ you any farther a| 
 
THE CHRISTIAN'S CONSOLATION. 531 
 
 God is going to drown them in the Red Sea of his 
 wrath, and to seal them up for ever in the bdttopless 
 pit of Ms just revenge. For as in the heaAre.nly para- 
 dise, there shall be neither pain, nor sorrow, nor gtiefy 
 nor crying, nor sighs heard; so there s.hall be neither 
 any fear or fright, or the least alarm, bat we shall live 
 there in perfect peace, and a settled tranquility for «v.er. 
 
 ].t is recorded of the Macedonians, that they wept fof 
 joy, when they beheld their king, Alexaadei' the Great 
 seated on the throne of Darius, and trampling under his 
 feet the pride and empire of the Persians. But how 
 tcansportiog, how full will our joy be, when we shall 
 behold Jesus Christ, our sovereign monarch, sitting upr 
 On the throne of God, and trampling und^ Ms &et the 
 pomp of the world, crusMng the great dragon, and bruis' 
 ing all the tyrannical powers of bell? The glory of Al- 
 exander vanished with his breath, and all his trophies 
 were thrown down by death; but our Lord shall triumpU 
 over death Itself, and the last act of his eternal justice 
 shall be ihe destruction of that murderer from the be- 
 ginning. 
 
 As then there shall be no more enemiei^ to encounter^ 
 nor jiy\la to ^fear, .neither shall there be a.ny advantages 
 to te.desked, nor honours to be expected; for God will 
 admit us to an in^haustible ocean of the most divine' 
 pleasures, and raise us up to the highest pitch of glor^ 
 that our nature «haUbe capable of. This bappiuesS and 
 glory shall be infinite with respect to its duraiiotf; It 
 shall not ihe like the pomp^and magnificence of this 
 world, i^hichipasses awjayin an instant; nor li^^ 40 the 
 idiioing of ftlasesi's fac^ which .Vanished 1 Wit^ Ms life; 
 nor '.like >tbe transfiguration upon 'Mouint Tt^bor, which 
 80Qu>di8a|ipe9.pd; £ar iWhen it i^iiM:ifaiave iSoiiitiQaed as 
 
933 THE CHRISTIAN'S CONSOLATION. 
 
 many tiillioBS of ages as there are «tars ia the flrma- 
 ment, it shall thea but begin and appear in its rising; so 
 that when we shall be upon this glorious mountaia of 
 light and splendor, we shall Mve more reason, and a 
 greater prospect of success, than St. Peter had upon 
 Mount Tabor; to cry oat, Lord it is good for us to be 
 here, Matth. xvii. 4. 
 
 There is no place so pleasant and delightful, but at 
 last one grows weary of it; nor company so amiable 
 and sweet, buti becomes tedious in time; nor pleasure 
 so transporting jyid charming, but at length gives adis^ 
 gust. The greatest persons on earth sigh under the bur- 
 den of their grandeur, and are (dazzled at the brightness 
 of their own glory. When nothing afflicts them, they 
 are afflicted of their- own accord, and their most magni- 
 ficent triumphs fatigue and importune them. Oftentimes 
 their hearts groan in the midst of the greatest acclama- 
 tions, and most general applause. They think them- 
 selves more unhappy than those who envy their seeming 
 happiness; for all is not gold that glitters; the most 
 beautiful roses are not withoutr their prickles, and many 
 timies they hide venomous i serpents. . 
 
 As the glory and happiheispt of paradise is infinite in 
 '"regard of its duration^ so it is also in respect of its dig- 
 nity and excellence. For there God will not only sa- 
 tisfyall our desires, and crown all our hopes, but he 
 will likewise give us above all that we can either ask 
 or tKlnk. , ' 
 
 Shall I undertake to point out to you this transcend- 
 ent glol^ and perfect happiness? Ht. Paul, speaking of 
 these gospel-^niysteries, tells us, .That they, are Mings 
 which eyeTiathnot seen f nor ear heard^nei^er^hape they 
 6%terei into the heart of moMyi Cor. -ii. 9* If so much 
 
THE CHRISTIAN'S CONSOLATION. ggjg 
 
 hath been spoken of the doutririe that reveals this great 
 glory and consummate happiness, how we are able fo 
 compreliend that glory, andliappiness itself? Therefeite 
 the same Apostle tells us, in another^ place, That God 
 worJc'eth in us by his power, and doth exceeding aburir 
 dantly ahoVBi aU that we ash or think, Eph. iii. 20. I 
 cannot boast with having talked with God face to face, 
 as Moses, Numb. xii. 8; nor of having been caught Op 
 to the third heaven, as St. Paul, S Cor. xii. 3. God 
 hath not carried me up, as St. John, to the New Jeru- 
 salem, Kev. xxi. 10; neither hath he delivered to me, 
 as to his holy angel, a golden reed, to measure that glo- 
 rious city, Rev. xxi. 15. >■ But when [ should have eft- 
 joyed this divine colloquy, these heavenly transports,' 
 and these ravi^shing elevations; when I shdnld have 
 walked about, and taken a full view of the celestial Je- 
 rusalem; when I should have beep in the' company .of 
 the seraphims that fly about God's throne; whien 1 should 
 ha^ beheld God, as he is, face to face: although l 
 were the most eloquent of all men, and spoke with the 
 tongue of angels, and had in my hand the pencil of an 
 archangel, I should not dare to undertake to represent 
 this exceeding glory, nor to point out to you the bright- 
 ness of that heavenly light> whereof the least beam is 
 able to dazzle me. St. Paul, who was near the foun- 
 tain of this living light, who had beheld the riches and 
 glory of paraclise; confessed that they are things un- 
 speakable, which it is not lawful for a man to utter, 3 
 Cor. xii. 4. 
 
 But as those who cannot look directly at thp sun, 
 without having their eyes pained and dazzled by its 
 excessive brightness, can' nevertheless contempyte its 
 Itfitre in the water^ or in a linking- glass; so, not being 
 
53* THE CHRISTIAN'S GONSOLATION. 
 
 able to behold the divine splendor that shines abroad ia 
 the celestial paradise^' we shall consider those images 
 tod representations of it, which God Mniself hath been 
 pleaiied to express to us in his holy word, wh«, ii},.tfals 
 particular, hath dealt with us as a father deals with his 
 fydiing children, who prattles with them, and describes 
 to them the light of the sun with a black coal^ or as the 
 astrologers, who represent the heavenly constellations 
 by the figures of birds, four-footed beasts, and' creeping 
 things. , 
 
 ^Wov as noticing can enter, into the understanding Jbut 
 by the door of the seusej, therefore spiritual and ceies- 
 tlax things are represented to us under the shadows of 
 such corporeal and earthly things as we .love the most 
 passionately: and because there is no one thing beve be- 
 low that can express to us all ih^. glory and happiness 
 of paradise, jso many perfections not beiing to be found 
 in any one object| therefore the Holy Ghost assembles 
 together all the graces, virtues, and, rich exQellenfeies, 
 that are found dispersed in na^ture, and borrows its 
 ideas and images from those things that are the rarest, 
 and most glorious^ and that gives us the greaie^t plea- 
 sure and satisfaction. 
 
 To begin with the word ifcself. Paradise: This sig- 
 nifies a pleasant- and delightful ga^rdfen, and is made 
 use of to express to us the joys and happii^&ss pjf the 
 life to come, and to assure us, that we shall reeove^^ 
 through Jesus Christ, what we have lost through 
 Adam. Oar' Lord and Saviour, who is boiinljy atsilij^ 
 shall bestow upon us another Eden, another gatrden 
 of delights^ watered with Jiving watei^, in the midst of 
 which is the tree of life, that jielda her fruits every 
 .month, !Rey. xxl. S. Instead of an «avtb}y peradise|r 
 
THE CHRISTIAN'S CONSOLATION. 535 
 
 subject to cliange, we shall find an heavenly and an un- 
 cklB.iigeabl& paradise. The eartbity paradise is no more 
 t« be seen, (some are of opinion, that it was swallowed 
 up and destroyed by the waters of the delnge;) but the 
 heavenly paradise can never be hurt by the fiercest 
 flsiMes, nor by the ittost impetuous waves. It is above 
 all winds, storms, and tempests; therefore St. Peter 
 tells us, that it is an inheritance incorruptible and un- 
 defiled, and that fadeth not away, 1 Pet. i. 4. It hath 
 no need of an elemental water; for it is every where 
 watered by a pare river of water of life proceeding 
 oufof the throne of God, and of the Lamb, Rev. xxi. 1; 
 and whereas cherubims, and a fiaming sword, kept the 
 way of the tree of life, in the earthly paradise, to hinder ' 
 Adam from drawing near it, and from gathering of its 
 fruits, Gren. iii. 24;, whole legions of angels and cherU- 
 bims will carry us upon their wings to the true tree of 
 life in the midst of the heavenly paradise; and Jesus 
 Christ himself, the prince of all the angelsj and of all 
 the cherubims and seraphims, hath promised to admit 
 us to taste of its delicious fruits, by these blessed words, 
 To hiin that overeometk will I give to eat of the tree 
 (^ life, vbhich is in the midtt of the paradise of God, 
 Rev. ii. f. 
 
 As it is customary for men to haVe an high esteem 
 of b^aiutiful and lapge cities, whereof the buildings are 
 stately^ aind the infaabitaDts numerous; and as the Jews, 
 ia particaalar, were wont to glory in Jerusalem, and to 
 call it, T^ey^mtiion of beauty, the joy of the whole 
 eafi^, Lam. it. IS. Psal. xlviii. 3; therefore the Holy 
 Ghost Tibpresetrts to us the glory and happiness of par- 
 adise ander the figUTe of a city, which he also names 
 J^Ctisakau. This comparison is used by, the apostle, 
 
536 THE CHR[STlA>f'S CON^SOlATION. 
 
 in the 11th chapter of the Hebrievvs: for, after having 
 talked of the patriarch*iA.I>i'aham, and told us, That by 
 faith he hath sojourned in the land of promise^ as in a 
 strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and 
 Jacob, the heirs with him of the saifle promise, vers. 9, 
 he adds, For he looked for a city which hath fotinda- 
 tions, whose biiilder and maker is God, vers. 10; and a 
 little after, Wherefore God is not ashamed to bte called 
 their God: for he hath prepared for them a city, vers. 
 16; and in the 12th chapter of the same epistle, speaks' 
 ing to believers, he says, Ye are coiile unto Mount^i- 
 on, and flnto the city of the living God, the heavOTly 
 Jerusalem, Vers. SS; and elsewhere, Here have we no 
 continuing city, but we seek one to come, chap. xiii. 14). 
 But God hath been pleased, not only to describe to 
 iis our future paradise under the general idea of a city, 
 and of a Jerusalem; he hath also discovered to us its 
 heavenly beauty, its glory and magnificence. A richer 
 and more excellent picture cannot be conceived by th& 
 most luxuriant imagination than that which St. John 
 hath given us of this New Jerusalem, who himself had 
 been a spectator of it, and had beheld all its rarities 
 and wonders. For when the angel, who had in his 
 hand a golden reed to measure this glorious city,' had 
 said unto him. Come hither I will show thee the bride, 
 the Lamb's wife, Rev. xxi. 9, he immediately carried 
 him away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain, 
 and showed Jiim that great city, the holy Jerusalem 
 descending oiit of heaven from God, arrayed as a bride 
 adorned for her husband, having the glory of God and 
 bis light. ,. This faithful witness assures us, that its , 
 buildings, and the greets of this triumphant city, are 
 all of pure gold^. as it were kausparent glass; its foun- 
 
THE CHRISTIA^I'S CONSOLAT|0?«. g^ 
 
 daliso^ are of, precious stones; iU twelve gates aye 
 twelve pearls, at f^acljt of which stands an angel (>f 
 God. This holy city hath no need of the sun, neither 
 of the moon to shine in it: fiar the glory pf God en- 
 lightens it, and the Lamb is th^' light thei^eof. There 
 is no temple therein: for the Lord God Almigttty anA 
 the Laml), are the temple of it; 
 
 It i^ our delighi to dw^li in fine and stately bpiiSef, 
 and jn rich and magnificent palaces; therefore paradise 
 is represented tc us as an house and a palace which 
 God hath built vvith his own hands. This is the|)ic- 
 tn«e which ,the royal prophet sets before us in the 63th 
 Psalm, when he ppeak^ of God's house, and of the 
 courts of his holy temple, vers. 4. Likewise, the apos- 
 tle, in the iitb chapter of the second epktle to the Corin- 
 thians, when he saitb, For we know, that if our earthly 
 house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a build- 
 ing of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in 
 the heavens, vers. 1; and our Saviour himself, when l»e 
 was ready to leave the world, copiforts his apostles with 
 these blessed words, In my father's house are many 
 mansions; I go to prepare a place for you, John xiv, % 
 And Bt. John heard a great voice out of heaven, saying, 
 Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will 
 dwell with theni, and they shall be his people, MnM 
 God himself shg.ll be ipifh them, and be their G%^, 
 Kev. ^xi. 3. 
 
 There are few persons but what desire to be rich; 
 and there are some that esteem it their chief happin^Pf. 
 Therefore the Holy Spirit . represents the joys pf He^- 
 yen under the similitude pf riches an^ treasures. Qur 
 Biaviofir himself speaks of it after this manner in t^ 
 6th chapter of hi^ gpspel accor(}ing to St. B|{itthew, 
 
 3 Y 
 
538 THE CHRISTIAN'S CONSOLATION. 
 
 Lay not up for yoursehves treasures upon earth, where 
 moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break 
 through and steal. But lay up for yourselves treasures 
 in heaven, where neither moth nqr rust 4oth corf'^ipt, 
 and where thieves do not hreak through nor stenl, vers. 
 19, 30- And the Holy Ghost hath the same in view, 
 when describing heaven, he makes mention of gold? 
 tpearls; and precious stones. 
 
 And because merl are, for the most part, very ambi- 
 tions after honours, titles, and dignities; and beca!use 
 there is nothing in the world that dazzles the eye' wjth 
 more lustre than scepttfes and crownsj therefore, the glo- 
 ry of heaven is expressed by a kingdom by thrones, 
 crowns, and triumphs. It is thus our Saviour speaks of 
 it to his apostlf^, Ye are tKey which have continued 
 with me in my temptations, and T appoint unto you a 
 Mngdom, as my Father hath appointed unto me, Luke 
 -ixxii. 28, 39; and to his church in general. Fear not, 
 little ilock; for it i^ your Father's good pleasure to give 
 you the kingdom, Luke xii. 32; and we are assured, 
 that at the last day, he will express himself in this 
 manner. Come ye blessed of my Father inherit the Mng- 
 dom preparedfor you from the foundation of the world, 
 Matth XXV. 34<; to the angel of the church in Smyroa, 
 and conseqneutly to all the faithful, this blessed #ayi' 
 our maketh this rich and glorioiis premise, Be thou 
 faithful unto death, and 1 will give thee a crown of life, 
 Bev. ii. 10; and until the angel of the church of the 
 Laodiceans^ To him that overcometh will I grant to sit 
 with me in my throne, even as I alsp overcame, and am 
 set down with my Father in hi| throne, Rev. iii. SI; 
 and St Paul tells us, that we run to obtain an incorrap- 
 tible crown, 1 Cor; ix. S5; and When he saw himself at 
 
THE CHRISTIAN'S CONSOLATION. 639 
 
 (he end of his coarse, he cries out, J have fought a good 
 jBght, 1 have fiuished my course, I have kept the faith. 
 Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righte- 
 ousness, which the Lord the righteous Judge shall give 
 me at that day; and not to me only, but unto them also 
 that love his appearing, S Tim. iv. 7; 8; and St. James 
 uses the same metaphorical language, Blessed is the 
 man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he 
 shall receive the crown of life witich the Lord ha,th pro- 
 mised to them that l^ye him, chap. i. IS. Finally, we 
 read, that the glorififid saints ha^e palms iu their hands, 
 and OD their heads crowns of gold; and that in, their 
 song of praise they speak thus to our Saviour: Thou 
 hast redeemed us to God by thy blood, out of every 
 kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; and hast 
 made us unto God> kings and priests, and we shall 
 reign on the earth, Rev. v. 9, 10. 
 
 Most persons of distinction in the world delight, in 
 gorgeous apparel, and some even perfume their gar- 
 ments; therefore the Holy Ghost, in condescension to 
 this weaknes^^ ptomiseth us in heaven robes more fra- 
 grant than the perfumes of Arabia; a garfhent whiter 
 than the snow, and brighter than light itself. And So- 
 lomon> when he considers his Spouse as the type of the 
 cl^urch; after saying, The Kings daughter is all glori- 
 ous utithin, adds, her doafhing is of wrought gpU. 
 She shall be brought unto the king in raiment of needle- 
 work, Psal. xlv. 13, 14; and God himself speaking of 
 the glbry of his church, which he begins now^ and will 
 perfect hereafter, saith, that he hath decked her with 
 gold and silver, and pfecious ornaments, ?ind thai he 
 hath clothed her with fine linen, and silk, and broidered 
 Mvwk, Ezek. xvi; therefor^: she cries out, I will greatly 
 
040 TliE CHRISTIAN'S CONSOLA'flON. 
 
 rejoice iu the Lord;- my soul shaU be, joyful in my Cfod; 
 for Be hath clothled nre with the garBifelttts of salvation, 
 be hath covered mt with a 'robe of righteousness^^ as a 
 bridegrot)in decketh himself with orna;ments> and as a 
 bride adorneth hierself with her jewels, Is*.' lii. 10. 
 Take notice of those that statid before the thtone of 
 &od, and before the Lamb, and serve hita day and 
 idght in his fek^lfe, yon shall find them cldthed with 
 loiig rob%s, made White ih f hfc blood of the Latob, Rev. 
 Vii. Ca,st yonr eyes upon that glOrtoiiS w'oman, who is 
 the type and figijiffc of the church, and yott shall see her 
 tlothei with the siin, and upon her h&ai d crbitm of 
 iieelve stars, Kev. kii. 1. In a wdi'd, hearken to fhe 
 song of the gbrified Mnts, and ;^6u sliaM hear them 
 Isaying one to another, Lei; us be glad atid t^(ii(X, and 
 give hohonrtothe Lord our Gofd, for the matria^e of 
 the Lamb is come, and his wife halh made herself rea^- 
 dy, and to her was granted, tha,t she^hould be k'ri?ayed 
 in fine linen, clean and whiite; for th6 i&tte linen is i&$ 
 righteousness of saints. Rev. xix. )f, 8. 
 
 Men commonly love gdod bheer, ttA delight in genr 
 erons entenainments; thtoefore ^e %ysiof heaven a¥fe 
 I'epresc^nted to us nlider the sfiihilitude df de^^idils 
 meats, and exquisite driuks, df siimJJtuoUfi'feast^jt ap^ 
 magnificent banquets. In -this manWer^ the royal pfro' 
 phet speaks of them in the ^th Fsalin, How exfeelleut 
 is thy lovingjkindness, 6 Lord! therefore the children 
 of men put their trust uud'ef the 'shadoiv of thy wiu^. 
 They shall be abundatitly satisfied trith ^;he fatness of 
 ihy house: and thou shalt make them drink of the river 
 of thy pleasures/ ver. 7? 8; and in Psal. Ixv. ^. Blessed 
 is the man whom thou chusest, and causeth to appi^ach 
 untg thee, that he maty dwell |u thy courts: wft ishall bte 
 
THE CHRISTIAN'S CONSOLATIQN. SH 
 
 satisfied with the goodness of thy house, even of thy 
 holy temple. The prophet Isaiah tises the same figure: 
 In this mountain shall the t.ord of Hosts make unto all 
 people a feast of fat things, a feast of wines on the lees, 
 of fat things full of marrow, of wines on the lees yveM 
 refined, chap. xxv. 6. This consideration likewise 
 caused a doctor in the gospel to cry out, Blessed is hs 
 that shall eat bread in Ike Icin^dvm of God, Ltike xiv. 
 15; and our Saviour himself saith, That many shall 
 come from the east and west, arad shall sit down with 
 AbrabatQ, and Isaa'c, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heu- 
 ven, Matth. viii. 11. King Ahasuerus's feast coritin'ued 
 an hundred and fourscore days, Esther i. 4; fcut the 
 feast which we shall celebrate in heaven, and which 
 hath been prepared from t!he foundation of the world, 
 shall cotstinue tln-oa^ all eternity. 
 
 Of all feai^s, sireh as, are for snuptial solemnities are 
 usually the most -splendid, especially when they are 
 for the kings and primces of the earth; the rejoicitigs 
 oh soch occasions being tiie greatest and most extra- 
 ordinary: therefore the happiness of heaven is figurexl 
 to us by a marriage. Our Saviour himself makes use of 
 this compapis«ih in the 33d chap, of his gospel accord-* 
 4ng to -iSt. Maitthew: The kingdom of heaven, saith be, 
 isiiJee unto ft Devtmn king whidh made a marriage far 
 hismn, vers.®. This caused the glorified church to cry 
 out'in >th€ above-mentioned triumphant manner, Let Os 
 be glad' ikd rejoice, and give honour to the Lord our 
 "God: for the marriage 'of the Lamb is come,'*Rev. xix. 
 7. Finally, the Holy Ghost hath commanded us to 
 write down and engrave these words in the temple of 
 Bteroitfy, Messed are they ithich are called to the mar- 
 riuge-Mf^eP-ofthe iLainh) Rev. xix. 9, 
 
543 THE CHRISTIAN'S COIfSOLATION. 
 
 Many perscfns take a great delight in music and ate 
 even ravished with the sweet harmony of ifee concordina; 
 sounds; therefore the Hoi T^ Spirit, to inculcate to its 
 that heaven abounds in all manner of pleasutes, not on- 
 ly tells us, that in that blessed abode, there are millions 
 of angels and glorified saints, but als6 represents them 
 as standing aboat the throne of God, and singiiag forth 
 his divine praise; and even acquaints os witi^omewhat 
 of the substance of their celestial hymtis. The prophet 
 Isaiah; speaking of those wonderful seraphims, that fly 
 rouhd about God's glorious 'Ihrone^ informs us, that 
 one cries unto another, and says, Holy, holy, holy, is 
 the Lord of Hosts, t|ie whole earth is full of his glory, 
 Is. vi. 3; and the apostle St. John,' describiog to us 
 those triumphant saints that stand before this magnifi- 
 cent throne, tells us, that they play upon their harps, 
 and sing a new and most excellent song; that they have 
 always in their mouths the song of Modes and the song 
 of the Lamb, aa^ that heaven* resounds with their sa- 
 cred hallelujah, or allelujah; which signifies praise to 
 God, or celebrate the praises of God. 
 
 There is no one of an ingenuous nature, but loves 
 peace and rest; for which reasan, the glory and happi- 
 ness of paradise is represented to us under this lovely 
 and pleasing idea, as in the 4th chap, of the Hebrews, 
 We which havehetieved do enter into rest, as he said, 
 I have sworn, if they shaU enter into my rest, Psal. 
 xcv. 11. For if Jesils had given theito rest, then would 
 he not afterwards spoken of aiiother'day. There re- 
 maineth therefore a rest to the people of God: for he 
 that is entered- into his rest, he also hath ceased from 
 his own works, as God did from his. Let os labour 
 therefore to enter into that rest. This caused old 
 
THE CHRISTIAN'S CONSOLATION. tm 
 
 Simeoa to cry out, Lord, now httest thou thy servant 
 depart in peace, Luke ii. 39. Finally, the holy city is 
 called Jerusalem, which signifies the vision of peace; 
 and God bimselL makes it this rich promise, Behold, I 
 will extend pea^ to her like d river, Is. lx;vi. IS. If 
 the peace which God grants to believing souls in this 
 life passeth all understanding, Phil. iv. 7j whajf will be 
 the full enjoyment of this eternal peace in the kingdom 
 of heaven? Neither the tongues of men nor angels ar& 
 able to express its dignity and excellence. 
 
 Lastly, Because men are lovers of, pleasure, recrea^ 
 tion, and pomp, and seek, for the most part, to drive 
 away care, and to enjoy themselves; the happiness of 
 paradise is represented to us by pleasures, rejoicings, 
 and eternal triumphs, as in Psal. xxxvi. 8, Tkon shalt 
 make them drink of the Hvev, of thy pleasures; and in 
 ^saL cxxvi. 5, Ttiey that sow in tears shall reap in joy. 
 And God himself, speaking of that, most blessed time, 
 saith by bis prophet, Behold, I createi new heavens, and' 
 a new earth;, and the. former shall not be remembered, 
 nor come into mind. But be you glad afid rejoice for 
 ever in that which I create; for behold, I create Jeru- 
 salem a rejoicing, and her people a joy. Is. Ixv. 17, 18. 
 Therefore, when the Holy Ghost represents to us the 
 state of the glorified saints, be not only declares, that 
 God shall wipe away all tears from, their eyes, and 
 that tb^ere shall be no more' death, nor crying, nor pain, 
 and that sorrow and mourning shall flee away; but he 
 also^dds, that in their mouths' there shall be songs of 
 praise, and upon their heads everlasting joy, as a pre- 
 cious crown, , which shall never be taken from them, 
 Kev. xxi; Is. li. For this cat^se they so earnestly ex- 
 cite and animal^ one another to this glorious and tri- 
 
544! THE CWRISTIAN'S CONSOLATION. 
 
 umphant joy, in the aljove quoted words, Let us be glad, 
 and rejoite, dkdgive honour to the Lord our God,. Rev. 
 
 All oiir senses shall partake in thege heavenly and 
 ever-during pleasures; Our eyes sMll behold, with 
 transports of joy, the sacred countienance of our Re- 
 deemer^ the riches and wonderful beauties of his palacef 
 the glory and magnificen.ce of Ms kingdom. Our ears 
 shall be ravished wiEh the musicf^of the blessed saipts, 
 the sweet melody of angels, and the unspeakable har- 
 mony of the church triumphant. Our smelling shall re- 
 joice in the sweet perfumes of the bride-gi-oom,, Cant. i. 
 whose garments smell of myrrh, PsaL xlv. 8, and in the 
 grateful odours of his vine always blooming, Cant. ii. 
 Our taste shall be satisfied with the bread of a!ngels, the 
 hidden manna, the fruits of th« tree of life, the waters 
 springing up into everlasting life, and tl}& new wine of 
 the kingdom of heaven. Our arms shall embrace the 
 Saviour pi the world, and our.ffiet shall walk about the 
 s'treets of the golden city, the heavenly Jerusalem, and 
 we shall follow the Lamb> whithersoever he goeth, Rev. 
 xiv. 4.". "■■ . 
 
 .Althougli I speak to you in this manner, I persuade 
 myself Christian souls, that you plainly perceive, that 
 both these expressions, ^nd all others of the same na- 
 ture, are not to bib understood according to the letter; 
 they are but dark shadows and impepfect imager of the 
 good things of the life to come. ¥|BU .have not forgdt; 
 what I before quoted from the apostle, T/ia^ eye^hath 
 not seen, nbr ear heard, neither have entevted imo the 
 heart of man, the things; which God hat^ prepiirgdfar 
 them thatlSve him, i C{>r. ii. 9; and that this great God^ 
 whose treasures are imnhsxistibhiothin us ea^oeedingly 
 
THE CHRISTIAN'S CONSOLATION. g^S 
 
 ahimiantly, above all that we ask ortMnk, Eph. iii. SO. 
 So that when you sst before you every thing that is the 
 most beautiful, the most lovely, the most glorious, and 
 the most pompous in the world, you must confess with- 
 in yourselves, without doubt, the happiness of heaven is 
 infinitely above all this. It is so far above all earthly 
 enjoyments, and so much surpasses the most elevated 
 thoughts and conceptions of man, that it is utteirly im- 
 possible to describe it in its proper colours, or to paint 
 it. to the imagination as it really is, , ."* 
 
 Expect not, therefore. Christian souls, tb meet in \i&^ 
 ven with a paradise resembling your gardens; nor with 
 flowers like to those that enamel and adorn your par- 
 terres; nor with fruits like to them that hang upon yout 
 trees: assurl yourselves, that God will show you things 
 infinitely more pleasing and delightful, and more per- 
 manent. Fancy, not to find there a city built like ours^ 
 which shall really be enriched with silver and gold> 
 pearls and precious stones; but hope for somethinig more 
 noble- and magnificent, than all the richest and most 
 stately cities in the world, where God will cause you to 
 see, not only the beauty of silver, the purity of gold, the 
 whiteness of pearls, and the bright lustre of precious 
 stones, but also, something far more beautiful and pure^ 
 a more perfect white, a greater brightiiess, and a more 
 ravishing lustre. Think not to receive any material 
 xrowii, or to sit upon thrones like to those of the kings 
 jind princes of the earth, but aspire after something 
 more glorious, and which cannot be shaken. 
 
 , I am also persuaded, Christian friends, that you ex- 
 pect not in heaven to find tables' covered as those of the 
 rich men of the wotldy nor to pamper yourselves with 
 fe^gts; like thode prepared for the nuptials of. earthly 
 
 3 Z 
 
546 THE CHRISTIAN'S GOKgOLATION; 
 
 prince. Without lipubt your faith hath in view some- 
 thing more ^lorions aod magnificent; your soul hungers 
 for more «x<^uisite meats, and thirsts for more deUcious, 
 ddnk^ you are too well instructed to think to live in 
 beiiven an animal and sensual life; such a gross and 
 earbal conceit is only fit for the ' imaginary paradise of 
 the impostor Mahomet. 
 
 In this life that we live upon earth, there are two 
 things that manifestly prove our natural infirmity. T^e 
 ^first is our eating and diinkiog,, which are absolutely 
 Beeessaty to teake up the breaches caused by labour, and 
 the natural heat that spend and feed upon the radical 
 moisture, which serves as oil to maintain the lanip of life. 
 The other is marriage, instituted by (lod for the preser- 
 vation of the human race. But in paradise our life shall 
 be altogether angelica1> spiritual, and heavenly. Our 
 bodies shall mo longer be subject to corruption or alter- 
 ation, and shall hav^ no more want of food than the 
 «taiFs, and the other celestial bodies. Accordingly the 
 Holy Spirit expressly tells us, That we shall hunger no 
 .more, neither thirst any more, neither shall the swa 
 light on us, nor any heat, Rev. vii. 16. That is to say, 
 as we shall no longer lie under a necessity to eat and 
 drink^ so the most scorching heats, and the fiercest flames 
 shall hdve no power to hurt our bodies, when they shall 
 Ibave putoffall jseosual and earthly qualities, and shall 
 be clothed with light and glory. Lifcewiie, there shall 
 be DO need ©f ^propagating the S)pedes, or .of multiply- 
 ing persons by marriage; for 'besidesi, that we shall be 
 free from the. passions of fle^ha,nid blood, the number of 
 the elect shall be comple^ (be cotugregatiAn of tjie 
 saints shall be fall, ^aindtlmbttilding of the church shall 
 l)e:|nxlectly accompMied. 1l?feerefoKe<ieur SaYioiiir Jesus 
 
THE G^RI&TIAN'S CONSOLATION. 5fJJ 
 
 Christ tells us, l^hat in the kingdom of heaven, they nei- 
 ther marry, nor are given in marriage, hut are as the 
 angels of God in heaven, Matth. xxii. BO. We shall 
 «i^oy the light of their understanding, the sunetiiy of 
 ihisir wills, and the parity of their affections. 
 
 When the l^ueea of Sheba saw all the glory wad 
 magnificence of king Solomon, and heard the wisdom 
 of his discourses, she was ravished with admiration, 
 and said to this great prince. It was a ti-ue rep#t that I 
 heard in mine own land, of thy aets and of thy wisdom. 
 Bowbeit, I believed not the words, until I came and 
 mine eyes had seen it: behold the half was not told me: 
 thy wisdom and prosperity exceedeth the fame which I 
 heard. Happy are thy men, happy are these thy ser- 
 vants^ which stand constantly before thee, and that hear 
 thy wisdom, 1 Kings x. 6, 7? §• I am persuaded, be- 
 lieving souls, that something like to this shall happen 
 to ourselves, when we shall come to the heavenly JerU'^ 
 salem, and shall behold our Lord Jesus Christ in person, 
 of whom Solomon was but a type and figure, having bnt 
 a small spark of his glory, a faint ray of his infinite wis- 
 dom. Then ravished with more than human adtniration 
 and as it were ti^nsported out of ourselves, we shall 
 say to this peaceable king,, who is crowned with an 
 heavenly rainbow, O triumphant Monarch! all that I 
 have heard, all that I ever ima^tied of thy^wisdom 
 and g^y, the rich beauties and precious delights of 
 thy paradise is more than true: it is not the thousandth 
 part of that which I see this day. Blessed are th0y that 
 dwell inthyiwuse, they will be still praising thee, Psal* 
 Ixxxiv. "1. Blessed are 4hey that behold thy gl«ifpiotts 
 fece, an«J that hear the words of the divine wisdom! The 
 ^ueeaof Shpba, after a«bort stay in ;SolooBimV.couirt, 
 
048 THE CHRISTIAN'S GONSOI^TION, 
 
 returned into her own coaatry; -but^lieu weliave once 
 entered into the glory and happiness of paradise, we 
 shall nev%F depart fifom thence; we shall hehcdd, con- 
 tinaally this glorions King of Kings, and shall heak,- 
 with perpetual transports, the divine words of his ador- 
 able wisdom; we shall not only be with him for ever 
 and ever, but we shall always be in hifti; and he in us. 
 
 To take from our minds all carnal aud worldly ideas, 
 the glory and happiness of paradise is represeinted' to 
 us by the image and similitude of light, as in the ISth 
 chapter of the revelation of the ^ropfeet Daniel, vers. S. 
 They that be wise shall shine as thehrightness of th& fir- 
 mament, and they that turn many to righteousness, as 
 th^ stars for ever and ever. And in Matth. xiii. 43, our 
 Saviour expressly saith. That the righteous shall shine 
 forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. 
 
 Finally, It is promised to us, as the bighest glory 
 and happiness of heaven, that we shall stand before the 
 throne of Hod, that we shall sit with Jesus Christ upon' 
 liis throne, and that we shall see his face. St. John, in 
 Kev. xxii, 3,% speaks in this manner; where, decribing^ 
 the new Jerusalem, he tells us, That the throne of£hi 
 and of the Lamh are in it, and his servants shall serve, 
 him, and they shall see his face, unit his name shall be in 
 their foreheads. 
 
 When we look upon the sun, our faces became not 
 brighter, nor more luminousi; nay, many times eur eyes, 
 are dazzled thereby, our skin becomes darker, and more 
 swarthy; but when we look upon God in his love and 
 grace, we are altogether lightened, Psal. xxxiv. 5, and 
 become bright and shining. We have an instance of this 
 in the prophet Moses, when he came down- froni the 
 {loly monotain; the skin of his fade sboney so that the 
 
THE CHRISTIAN'S CONSOLATION. 549 
 
 children of Israel vvere afraid to come nigh him^ Exod. 
 xxxiv. 30. If therefore this faithful servant over God's 
 house had such a shining countenance, by his continu- 
 ing with God upon an earthly mountain, during the 
 jpace of forty days and Coi"ty nights, and by a sight of 
 some small expressions of his glory; what, think ye, 
 will be our .light,„and the brightness of our counte- 
 nances, when we shall be exalted above the highest 
 heavens, to converse with God, and to behold" his face 
 forty thousand millions of ages? and yet that shall be 
 but the beginning of this most blessed contemplation 
 which shall never end. 
 
 When we cast our eyes upon a beautiful person, we 
 become neither more beautiful nor more happy; nothing 
 but an unjprofitable idea remains, and many times that 
 also quickly vanishes. But when we look upon God, 
 we shall become like him; and in this divine likeness, 
 we shall find the fulness of joy, of happiness, and glory. 
 This ish what the royal prophet teaches us in Psal. xvi. 
 
 God! in thy ^presence is fulness of joy, at thy right 
 hand there are pleasures for evermore, vers. Id; and in 
 Psal. xviii mis forme, I will behold thy face in right- 
 eousvess: I shall be. satisfied when I awake, with thy 
 likeness, vers. 15; and the beloved disciple of the Be- 
 loved of the Father, whose writings breathe seraphic 
 love, gives us the same assurance: Beloved, saith he, 
 now are we the sons of G&d, and it doth not yet appear 
 what we shall be: but we know, thai; when he shall ap- 
 pear, ice shall be like him: firr we shall see him as he is, 
 
 1 John iii. 3. 
 
 You see, therefore, Christian souls, to what an ex- 
 alted state of glory and happiness we have a right to 
 pretend. For in heaven, God will not only make us 
 
55C> THE UHRISTIA-N'S COISSOLATIONj 
 
 sMie forth as the sun and the stars, and cloth© us with 
 the brightness of the glorified saints and angels; bu4 he 
 also proinises to make us liikeito himself. H% shall not 
 only satisfy us with the fatness of his house, cause us 
 |o drink of the rivers of his pleasures, fill us with bis 
 riches, enlighten us with his brightness^ clothe us with 
 his honours, and crown us with his glory? but he him- 
 self will become our meat and our drink, our treasare, 
 our sun, and our glory: and if I may so speak, to satis- 
 fy and make us completely happy, God will, as it werfe, 
 dissolve himself into rivers anS seas of divine and un- 
 s^peakalile pleasures. Eut that I may not be misunder- 
 stood by too bold a metaphor, it shall suffice me to say 
 with St. Paul, That God will be all in all, 1 Obr. xv. 
 gS, that is to say, he will dwell and make his abode itt 
 us, in respact to his essence; and will cause us to feel 
 in us his glorious presence^ in as great a measure as a 
 finite and Hmited nature, such as purs, is capable of. 
 What the Jews fabled concerning the mannn, which 
 their fathers fed on in the wilderness, may be justly ap* 
 plied to Almighty God, as he intends to communicate 
 himself to us in heaven. There is no taste but shall be 
 sati«fied, no desire but shall be fulfilled: nay, we may 
 go farther; for he shall not only be our n^eat and our 
 drink, but, as we have already observed, our light, 
 and our clothing, and all that we can ask or imagine. 
 In a word, we shall enjoy in him b&yond all that we 
 can think or desire. 
 
 The knowledge of spiritual and heavenly things, 
 wliich we attain to here below, is like the light at day- 
 break; but that which we shall enjoy hereafter^ shall be 
 like that of tfie sun when it shines in its %ll strength; 
 ©r, to speak in the words of the Apostle, JVow ive know 
 
THE CHllISTIAN'S CONSOLATION. @51, 
 
 in part, and we prophesy in part. But when that whith 
 is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be 
 ione awag. For now we see throus;h a glass darkly, 
 but then face to face, 1 Cor, xiii, 9, 10, IS. Whilst 
 we cantipue in this life, God discovers tp us only the 
 i^kirts of his wisdom, and but a little portion is heard 
 of him, Job xxvi. i4t. But in the life to come, he shall 
 reveal to us the depth of his glorious mysteries, ii^hick 
 the angels desire to look into, 1 Pet. i. 13, and shall be 
 to our understandings as a sun, to chase away all mists; 
 an1d to enlighten them for ever. At present, our will 
 hath -its ImpeFfections, and oftentimes rebels against 
 God; but then it shall be perfectly sanctified and re- 
 formed, according to the image of God. It shall be 
 iijiflamed with his zeal, and burn with his charity. It 
 shall sigh after nothing but his glory, and wish for no- 
 thing but a conformity to his holy will. It shall not on- 
 ly obey him without resistance or reluctance, but shall 
 fly with a sacred ardour, and be all on fire, to execute 
 his divine commands. Whilst we remain inthe fetters 
 of this infirm and sinful flesh, there is alvflH^ome filth 
 and impurity in our affections; but when wFshall come 
 to the state of glory, God will sanctify them in such a 
 manner by his presence, that they shall be more pure 
 than the stars or the sun-beams; they shall be nothing 
 but celestial fii'cs, and flames of divine love, proceeding 
 from tiie face of God himself. In a word, this being of 
 beings, who is perfection itself, this origin of ail beauty, 
 this object so exceeding glorious arid lovely> shall rav- 
 ish U9 in such a manner, that our understanding shall 
 be continuallf employed in beholding him; our wilts 
 and affections in loving and embracing him; and all the 
 facilities of our .souls, in uniting ourselves to him, and 
 being transformed into l^ likeness. 
 
533 THE CHRISTIAN'S CONSOLATION. 
 
 It shall be after tliis manaer, that vve shall he made 
 partakers of the divine nature, (for we- must not imagine 
 that we shall be made partakers of the essence of God 
 itself; tbi* this divine essence is indiyisible, and uncoin- 
 mtinicable to the creature; so-that nothing can possess 
 it that is Hot Grod.) God who is holy, shall' imprint in 
 our souls the image of his holiness, and of all his ador- 
 able perfections; and shewing himself to us as he is, he 
 win cause us to become like him, by the=^ irradiation of 
 his fijlorious countenance. > ? 
 
 It may be you will inquire^^ Whether w6 shall sSe 
 God, and how we shall behold him? .This question is 
 too richand^^nsiderable not to be examined witli an 
 holy apd'relM^s attention; and I am persuaded, 
 Christiau frieiil^, tliat you will not be displeased, not 
 hnly to htar ihy. opinion, but that of the holy jscripturfes, 
 from whence we? draw all our instructions, as from their 
 only fountain.' ^' ' 
 
 Softie scruple not to affirm, that God cannot be seen 
 either in UwsJife;*Or in that which' i« to come; and it 
 must be oHRsed, thattlieir reasons are very strong 
 and weighty. For, first, God is, in visible in his nature; 
 and this quality is often ascribed to him by the sicred', 
 writers: As in Hebrews xi, where the apostle saith, 
 That Moses, hj faith, Sato him who is invisible^ vers. 
 27; and in the 1st chapter of the first epistle to Timothy » 
 JYbw %ntb thk King etei^nal, immortal, invisible, the only 
 wise God, he honour and glory^for ever and ever, ^men, 
 vers. 17. Secondly, we read in thd SSd'chapter'^of 
 Exodus, that when Moses said Unto God, Ibfiseech thee} 
 shew me tky glory, God answered him, Thou canst not 
 see my face: forth^re shall no man seei me^ and. live,'— 
 Thirdly, St. John, ia the Ist chapter of his gospel, hath 
 
Tnt CHRISTIAN'S CONSOLATION. ggg 
 
 these words: No man hath seen God at any time; the 
 only begotten Sc-i, which is in the bosOin 0f the Father,, 
 he hath declared him, vers. 18. Lastly, the apost)4@'St. 
 Paul seems to remove all doubt; for, not content with 
 saying, That God only hath immortality, dwelling in 
 the light which no man can approach linto, whom no 
 man hath seen, he adds, nor can see, 1 Tim. vi. 16.- 
 
 Others, on the contrary, teach us, that God may be 
 seen in this life, but that in the life to come he shall be 
 seen more perfectly. What confirms them in this opinion 
 is, first, That God himself, by his Holy Spirit, hath be- 
 got in the hearts of all his children an earnest desire of 
 seeing his face;' and that in, this contemplation t^ey 
 place their greatest happines^ and gloi*y. Such is the 
 earnest wish. of the man after God's own heart, in the 4:th, 
 Psalm, There be i^any that say, who will show us any 
 good? Lord lift thou- up the light of thy countenance up- 
 on us, vers. 6; and in Psalm xlii. My soul thirsteth for 
 God, for the living God: W hen shall I come and apr 
 pear before God! vtrs. S. Such also is the desire of the 
 prophet Asaph in Psalm Ixxx. Cause thy face to shi^e 
 and we shall be saved, vers. 7- Secondly, we have heard 
 David eay, I will behold thy face in righteousllefes; I 
 shall be satisfied with thy likeness. Psalm xvii. 16; and 
 St. Paul assures us, That we shall see God face to face, 
 1 Cor. xiii. 42; and St. John, That we shall see God 
 as be is, 1 John iii. S. Thirdly, in the 121h chapter of 
 Numbers,- God spake these words to Aaron and Miri- 
 am, who had raurmuredlagainst their brother Moses, If 
 there be a prophet among you, I the Lord will make 
 myself known unto him in a vision, and will speak unto 
 him in a dream. My servant Moses is net so, who is 
 faithfnl in all mine house. With him will I speak mouth 
 
 4 A 
 
554 T«E giiRISTIAN'S CONSOLATION. 
 
 ta. mo.iitlji, ev?n appufetitly, and not in. dark speeches; 
 4^!d tlie sJiii9i'litud,e,of t;lie,iiOrd shall he. behold. Liistly, 
 ^e ha,ve keai;di ^h? voice Proaj heavea, which, desmbing^ : 
 ^, us^^he, ble^ed- estate uf the gJoriSed, expFcssly 
 saith, That, they.shfiU see the face of Gnii IJ^ev. xxii. 4. 
 If it is lawful for me to attempt this high meditation, 
 which is above th^ capacity of men and angels, I will 
 <|?plare to yoiLin a fevv words, how it -may be said that 
 ^e shall see (rod, and in what scns^ it is impossible to 
 beholfl him. But, first, we miigt lay down two or tht;ee 
 di^tifictiops, w^hich beijig vv?U undeBstoodl, will remove 
 tlie prinqijljaX^iffisulties. 
 
 First, vod, may b^ considered in three several re- 
 sp(^cts^ Ist^ ^s he is in hii|i>s.elf^ and in hi^ proper es- 
 sence. It. is in. this respect, tliatiour. souls Ipng fur him,: 
 cjesire to,appr,QaQh him^ a^nd to-be united to him, as to 
 their sovereign good, apd the inexhaustible fountain of 
 glofy, and happiness. 3dly> As he manifests himself 
 lierp on earth, t^icertain signs and. tokens of>bi$ favou- 
 rable, presence. And 3dly, Ag he shall imwfisst hiiii- 
 selfnn he.a,ven by the toagniicejit syjnholsa,nd. glorious 
 marks of his, divine preseuce, 
 
 H.ec/},ndly, We must distinguisb the seve^ral '-.inda of 
 sigl^t: for, tbere,,is a sight oftthe body, whiclj^ only sees 
 thiotse objects, wjie^ppff the images and species are with- 
 in the'reach and, capacity* of the eyersight; as, for exam- 
 ple, lighl; an,d ;cplours. Th^re is alsa a »igN; of the.an> 
 derstanding, ^hich sees apd< h^bojlds thij|ig« that, are at 
 a distance fro^ our; s^PiS^s,, as tbtti spM^al.aud in.risir 
 'ble substance?, apditjiCiesseHliajl forms of bodies. There . 
 is.likewis^ the,- sight oj^ faith, wjyich' riseih'yi@t, higher 
 tb^n^ tluit of tbis und^fst^ndins, eyeia;, while w@ malqe oar. 
 it^fle. hjBfe, b^Qjy; amdj bsiing eftligbten®i by God's 
 
THE CHRISTIAN*^ CONSfiHiATlOI*. 535 
 
 grace, sees and belioltls t|^n§s which the eye of the bo- 
 dy never saw, and the understandings ot sertsiial and 
 carnal men can never comprehend, as iHe itty §tdpp(s bf 
 the Christian religion, and the [ilbwer^ of the wdilfl td 
 come. n 
 
 JLastly, We must distinguish ihe kn&wlcflgCf of the 
 andet-standiiis;; for stfmetimes it is bbsturfe artfl cbnJ^iitslsd^ 
 and at other times clear and distittct. Agaift^ thst wfeifch 
 is the most clear arid distitict is bf two scfrts. This bt* 
 haih bounds fiiid limits prbpbttioned to its sijbjfect; Ihit 
 is to say, to the reach sind capacity bf the ttni^erslaftcfiag: 
 The other is absdute, and of the same extfeflt as it's ob"- 
 jectj that is to say, as the thing itself,- it IMi the finder- 
 standing conceiveis and belMds. 
 
 Godi as he. is in' himself, and in his own es^en'ce> hath 
 never beeor seen by the eye of the body, and never shall 
 be seen, either in Ms liffe^ br iiif that which is to come; 
 &p God is a Spirit, John iv. S4,' and of an i'nVisible n'a- 
 ture; and in this Sense it is the apostle t^Hs us, tliat 
 God dWelleth in th% light «^hich' iio mail' can approa'ch 
 "^unto, whbm no man hath seetf or can see, i- Tinii. V'l. f6^ 
 But this God of mercies, who' of hiinSelf is invisible, de- 
 lights to show hiniself to His cteahire^ by several wafys. 
 First, God shows himself, in ^onie m^'^'syre tb all 
 men, in the'works of the creatiob^ of the world. Frtf as 
 St. Paul saith in the l^t dha^iter of his episile to tlie 
 Romans', The invisible tilings of God froih tlib creatibh 
 of the world are clearl;» seen, b^iiig' urideMbbd'by the 
 things that' are madfc, evert his eternal piiwer anil'Gorl- 
 head, vers. 20. Particulai*ly, he hath bferi plea^ijil'to 
 givfe us light; which is,a9 it wt;ife, lii^;^UlL^st dstugliter, 
 thefli'St of all' visible ptbd'tictibiis, ahd .hfe image and 
 resedlbkiice of hitBself. l^br'as therbjs' libtbiag iribre 
 
36 THE CHRISTIANS CONSOLATION. 
 
 img,le, purer, aad more beautiful, than' tlwi ligjat; so 
 bere is nothing visible in the creation thaji better repre- 
 ents this great God, who is a being most| nncompound- 
 d, most pure ajid most beautiful, the Father of lights, 
 nd the true sun of our souls. 
 
 Secondljr, Crod shows Jiimself by all the works of; 
 is adorable providence, and chiefly in his extraordinary 
 nd miraculous opecfitions. For when men perceive 
 rorks which surpass all the ordinary strength of nature, 
 ley are forced to acknowledge,,, that they proceed im- 
 ledjl&tely from an infinite power. As Pharaoh's magi- 
 ian's, when they found that, by all their magical ^.rts, 
 ley were not able to counterfeit Moses's miracle, cried 
 ut, this is the finger of God, Exod. yiii. 1,9. , •,! 
 
 Thirdly, Gpd reveals himself to us in his holy and 
 ivine word, which is, as it were, a beautiful and per- 
 5ct mirror, wherein we may see his image, and the 
 ri^^htness of his glory. This was St. Paul's thoiiight, 
 'hen he saith, that we all with open face, beholding, as 
 1 a gla!ss, the glory of the Lord, are changed into the 
 ime ioiiage, from glory tq glory, even as by the Spirit 
 f the Lord, 3 Got. iii. 18. 
 
 Fourthly, God showed himself to the church of Is- 
 lel by the qlrk, the sign and ordinary tokeii.«if his pre: 
 snce. Ui^ spoke to his people from the midst of 
 is two golden eherubims, and delivered to them his or- 
 cles. He was also pleased to reveal himself to them 
 1 divers representations; particularly in the cloud, and 
 le pillar of fire which. came down micacuilously from 
 eaven. Hence it is,. that tjbesign talking the. name of 
 le thing^ signified, the ark, is sometimes styled God; 
 s in that passage w'here David saith. My soul thivsUth 
 TT God, for the living God: w^en shall Icom^, and ap- 
 ear before GodP Psal. Ixii 2. 
 
TH& eHRISTIAN'S CONSOIiATION. 557 
 
 Fifthly. God maiiifest«?dliiBiself to tlte patriarchs and 
 prophets in dreams atod visions, by extasies, transports, 
 and prophietical elevations. In this manner he appear- 
 ed to the patriarch' Jacob at Bethel; for wlien it is saidy 
 that the Lord stood upon that mystibal ladder set upon 
 the earth, whose top reached to heaven, G«n. xxviii. 
 without doubt it is meant, that he gave some sign and 
 testimony of his presence. The prophet Isaiah, speaks 
 ing of his glorious vision, makes no diiBculty to say, 1 
 saw the'Lord sitting u'pori a throiie, high arid lifted up, 
 and his train filkd the temple. Above it stood tjie se- 
 raphims; each one had six wings: with twain he cover- 
 ed his face, und with twain he covered his feet, and 
 with twain he did fly. And one cried unto another, 
 and said. Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts, the 
 whole earth is full of his glory. Arid the posts of the 
 door moVed at the vqjice of hirii that cried, and the house 
 was filled with smtike,-chap. vi. And theptfophetMica- 
 iah, declaring hi« vision, saith, I saw the Lord sitting 
 on histhrone, aiKd all the host of heaven standing by him, 
 on his right hand and on his left, 1 Kings xxii. 19. 
 And the prophet Daniel, describing one of his visions, 
 speaks in the same manner: I beheld, till the throned 
 were cast down, and the ancient of days did sit, whose 
 garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head 
 like the pure wool: his throne was like the fiery flame, 
 and his wheels as burning fire. A fiery stream issued, 
 and came forth from before him: Thousand thousands 
 ministered rinto him, and ten thousand times ten thou- 
 sand stood before him, chap. vii. '9, 10. 
 
 Sixthly, God showed himself to Moses in a manner 
 altogether particular, not only when he appeareil to him 
 in Horeb, and spoke to him from tlip midst of the flame 
 
SS8 THE CHRISTIAN'S CONSOLATION. 
 
 of the bimiing busltji but imu-e especially when he show^ 
 ed himself to him in the holy monntaiti^; and for the space 
 tif forty^^ys and forty nights, converged with him famt- 
 liarly, as a friend with his friend. For at that timfe he 
 set before his eyed such glorious and magnificent tokens 
 of his presence, that it was in some measure the samfc 
 thing as if be ha.d seen God himself. God gave him 
 more light and knowledge of his. gloryvthan he ever 
 vouchsafed to any other of his prophets, and talked with 
 Mm in a mbre familiar manner, than to any other per- 
 son that ever lived, it is because of the glm-y of these 
 extraordinary tokens of his preseneef the brighine^ of 
 that light which beamed into Moses's iSoul, and the ho" 
 ly familiarity of thi^ divine colloquy, that God spMks 
 of it in those w.ords which we quoted in the 13th 
 chapter of the book of Xiimbers: For .we must Udt utv- 
 derstand that passage in a literal lense, that Mose» ac- 
 tually saw God himself, and that with the eyes of the 
 body he beheld his essence, which i« altogeA^r invisi- 
 ble; but the meaning is, that no person ever saw, with 
 the eyes of the body, such glorious tokens of the Godv 
 head; mo person ever conversed so familiarly witli God; 
 and that no person ever hild such a clear antl distinct 
 knowledge of his sovereign glory And divin« majesty. 
 
 Seventhly, God hath often a-ppeared to men in an 
 human shape, and hath given them such evident testimo- 
 tiies of his sacred pteseujce, that such as have seen the 
 image, make no scruple to aflirm. thtct they have seen 
 God. It is in this manner that the patriarch Jacob 
 speaks, after h? had wrestled w!^' an hu!man body, 
 moved, not only by an angel, who was the formal as- 
 sistant, but by G(^ himself^ who was the iirsf mover, 
 and displayed there his divine influeucd, / h'me ^M^ 
 
THE CHRISTIAN'S CQNSQIiATION. 55^ 
 
 saith he, God face tOsface, and,' my life is preseneiy 
 Get*, xxxii. 30. Manoah^ the father of Samson, speaks 
 to |he same pm-pose, when he had seen the human shape 
 in whieh God had appeared unto him, and which as- 
 cended up into heaven in the flame of his burnt-offering, 
 We shaU surely die, because we have seen Ged, Judg. 
 xiii. laa. In the like manner, when (rod appeared to 
 Abraham in the shape of a- man, this man is styled tire 
 Lord, and Abraham bowed himself before him and 
 vr«v8i|t^ped. I am sensible that this holy patriarch saw 
 n» less tliaa. three human shapes which appeared to 
 him at once. Some think that God was visible but in 
 one of these s>faape«, and that the two others were ani- 
 mated by two angels. What confirms this opinion is, 
 that of these three persons, there is but one that speaks- 
 as Uod, and whom Abraham worships; who disappear- 
 iog^he other two are styled angels^ la the beginning of 
 the Idth cliapter. But others believe, with some ancient 
 doctors of the church, that these three human shapes 
 were a true image and lively figure of the most holy, 
 moat glorious, and most adorable Trinity. In this opin- 
 ion, there is nothing contrary to the unity of faith. 
 
 Lastly,. God hath shown himself to the world in a 
 very extraordinary manner in the person of his Son, 
 who is therefore ca,lled, by way of excellence the image 
 of Gad, 3 Oor. iv. 4. T-^e image of the invisible Gad, 
 Col, i. 15, and God manifest i» the flesh, 1 Tim. iii. 16. 
 God hatb not. only imprinted in him, some tokens of his 
 Godhead and infinite power; he .'oes not simply cause 
 him to act and move, as the borro^yed bodies mentioned 
 in»the Old T«stament; he bath not only engraven in him 
 the-pecfect image ©fall his divine perfections; he i| not 
 in |)isi in- a sfeadttvi^ on type, as he ^-as in the ark, anij 
 
560 THE, CHRISTIAN'S CONSOLATION. 
 
 iiuSolomon's temp1«; but he dwclleth in llim, as 'to his 
 essence itself, and his eteraal Godhead, as the Apostle 
 infopjns .jls, In Mm dwelleth hodily,} (that is to say per- 
 son^llj and essentially) aW the.f^lnms'ofthe Godheadf 
 CJol. ji. 9; wherefore our Saviour tells St. Philip. Me 
 that'Uath seen me, hath seen the Father, John xiv. 9. 
 
 These things being thus premised, let us now eon- 
 sid0r, how w'i maybe said,,j<o see God here on earth, 
 and how we shall see him in heaven. At present, we 
 see him with the eyes of the body iu Jiis visible works; 
 and we als® behold him in his essence, with the eyes of 
 our understanding, but with a very weak and imperfect 
 sight. We know him, but it is in a very confused aud 
 obscm'e, manner. Therefore^ in this r^speet^ St. Paul- 
 saith very truly and well. That we know in part, and we 
 prophesy in part, L Cor. xiii. 9. We also see God with 
 the eye of faith; for it is: with this eye that we see 'mith 
 Moses, him whoAs invisible fM.e\i. xi. S7; and that we 
 behold our Lord Jesus Qhrist, fitting at the right hand 
 of (^odthe Father, above all principalities and .powers^ 
 and sovereignly adored by all the church triumphant. 
 
 In paradise we hope to sefc, with the eyes of our glo- 
 rified bodies, such bright magnificent imageg^f the di- 
 vinity, tokens so full of majesty and glory, that in 
 comparison of it, whatsoever formerly appeared to the 
 pF«phets andj.patriai'chs in their most illu,3trioas visions, 
 M,as nothing but obscurity and darkness: with these 
 eyes of the body we, shall likewise behold God in the 
 person of our Saviour, i-ho i§,the brightness qf his glory, 
 and the express image of his person, Heb. i. 3; so that 
 we may well cry out with Job, in all the confidence of 
 faith, I know that. my Redeemer %etbj and that he 
 shall stand ^.t the latter day upon the earth. -^And though 
 
THE CHRISTIAN'S COMlOLATION. ggl 
 
 after my skin, worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh 
 shaU I see God: Whom I shall see for myself, an^ 
 mine eyefj shall behold, and not another; thotigli my 
 j-eins be consumed within me, Xob xix. S5, S6, gy, 
 
 lint as for the essence of God himself, and his eter-\ 
 nal fiodliead, we shall not see it, nor can we ever be- 
 hold it, with the eyes of the body, let it become never 
 so glorious, incorruptible, and immortal. Nor shall we 
 see it with the eyes of faith; /or then faith shall be 
 put away, and we shall not walk by faith hut by sight, 
 S Cor. V. 7- Bat we shall see God with the "eyes of 
 our anderstanding, enlightened by the light of glory. 
 Now, as we have already observed, there are two sorts 
 of contemplation and knowledge; the one perfect, pro- 
 portioned to the object Whieb we behold or iQok upon$ 
 the other imperfect and limited, proportioned to the 
 subject that looks or sees. Our future contemplation 
 and knowledge of God shall not be of the first, but of 
 ■_ the latter kind; that is to say, we shall never see into 
 ik& bottom of the mysterious depths of God's majesfty 
 a^nd glory. We shall never perfectly knnw this su- 
 preme perfection, this infinite being, this immense and 
 incomprehensible Godhead. For things are in their 
 operations, as they are in their beings and abilities. 
 Now in our most glorious aqd triumphant state, oar 
 beings will always be limited and circumscribed; there- 
 fore iMf'absolutely impos^ihle, that we should ever pei-- 
 fectly cdBEprehend the divine essence, which is infinitev 
 ia itself^ and in all its adorable perfections. The bol^ 
 angels them^yfs, the cherubims, and seraphims, who 
 are represented to us as all light and fire, are no.t abk 
 to penetrate to the bottom of these eternal depths, nor 
 to approach this infinite li#it. In a word, ithelohgs 
 
563 THET CHRISXrAN'S GONSOtATION. 
 
 only to God himself to com prebend and understand 
 perfectly, the immense, glory and sover&ign perfections 
 of the GoifMlead. ' 
 
 But though our sight cannot penetrate into the bot- 
 toim of these divine depths, though we .shall never be 
 able to comprehend perfectly this iiifinite being, never-' 
 theless we hope to behold openly this wonderful obr 
 ject, and to obtain as raUch knowledge of it as shall be 
 requisite to render us completely happy. For as when 
 our eye beholds the sun at noon day, it neither re- 
 ceives, lior is able to receive all ks beams, bat it re- 
 ceives as many as are necessary to enliglitfsii it; and 
 (ihough there should ,be a thousand^suns, it could pei- 
 tlier i>artake of more light nor more brightness; Thus 
 in beholding the Father of lights, the beautiful sun of 
 souls, it is altogether impossible that we should receive 
 the immensity of his ravs; but we shall receive as ma- 
 ny as shall be necessary to dispel all our darkness, 
 and to fill us full of perfect light, to make us become 
 light in the Lord, and to cause us to shine forth for 
 ever as so many st^rs or little suns: or, as an empty 
 Vessel, when it is pliinged into: the sea, compreheuds 
 not all its waters, but receives only enough to fill it upj^ 
 so that there remains no part empty; in like manner, 
 when we shall be plunged vinto the ocean of the God- 
 head, we shall , not be able to comprehend aiid receivp 
 such infinite glfrry and happiness; but we shall^ceive 
 knd comprehend as much as shall content our desires, 
 and satisfy our piost craving a,ppetitesf insomuch, that 
 there shall be nothing wanting to complete the highest 
 felicity of m human creature. 
 
 1 say not the highest .felicity, absolutely and witbnut 
 restriction; for there are two sorts of felicities. The 
 one absolutely perfectly, beyond which nothing can b« 
 
THE CHllISTIAN'#iCONS©LATlON. 56S 
 
 itnagmed: This felicity or happiness is only to be foand, 
 ^ Ml' God. The other x>erfect in a certg^iji degree; as tha 
 perfect happiness of angels is, to attaiu to that degree 
 of.gloty, of which the angelical nature is capable; like- 
 wise the perfect happiness of man is, to enjoy all that; 
 blessedness of which the bumaa nature alone is suscep- 
 tible. I say the human nature alone, to distinguish it 
 from that which is united to the person of the eternal 
 Son of God: for by this uni()n it l^atb, attained to an 
 incommunicable glory, of which other creatures cannot, 
 partake, far above whatever the children of God, and 
 the holy'aagels, can or may expect. 
 
 Moreover, there is a supreme and independent hap-, 
 piness, which subs'ists of itself, without any foreign aid. 
 This kind of happiness is only to be found in God: for 
 as he is an infinite being, who exists of himself, without 
 borrowing from another, so he is perfectly happy of his 
 essence. Tbe other happiness is that which proceeds, 
 not from ourselves, but is deWved to us from anotjier; 
 such is the glory and happiness of the angels. This 
 the Holy Ghost teacheth us in these words, God putMk 
 light into his angels; ihat is to say, these holy spirits 
 have nothing of light or glory in them, bat what is de- 
 rived to them from the gracious countenance of the Fa- 
 ther of lights. Such also is the glory of our Lord Jesus 
 Christ, as mediator: Therefore he speaks thus to God 
 the Father, Glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glo- 
 rify theef John xvii. 1. In a wnrd, such shall be our 
 glory and happiness; for as we have our being from God, 
 so it is from him that we have our we.ll being, from him 
 alone that we must expect all our glory and bliss. 
 
 From hence it plainly appears, Christian frienrls, 
 that God is the only object, and the only source of our 
 eternal glory and happiness- If you inqnire of me, what 
 
shallbfe tee ftsSfelkl forta? 1 answer, Thkt it sliall bfe 
 oar i%seitibM^e to ©lod? Which shall be hs perfect as ah 
 haibaii drelAiiVe is caplible of. Now, this resfembiatede 
 jshall coltisfst ii thtiefc MAg^, ia a ptii^e attcl fehiiiiiiglifhl^ 
 wWfch Shall hot be hiikie^ Mtfi tbte ieafet (ObSeUrit^f ih a 
 pferfett and coihplfete H'olih^fr, #htere there sirall nWt bfe 
 like least bl«^i¥h? khd in an infinite ahil uttchstogeftblfe 
 jioj^ khd cohtentj wftich -^batt iteVfer be overcast wlih tbe 
 M^ cldM of gtief. ^Bftt of this Wfe have 
 
 Borafe ihqtili*&, WftifethSr M ^afadisfe 1lh©^e shall bfe a* 
 equality, or an ineqaMHijr,m ^Ibvy atid hap'ptMs'si' t'Ms 
 qnestidh is ttdre caTidrffe th¥h htfce'ssoi^. For, HviShout 
 ti'onbling our bfeatd's Whether -ttief e 'sMll 'be iiH^ mW^ tfe 
 IlBSs halrpy thaifi burSfelVfes, ftis'sofflcifentllir oto- feothf^rt 
 to know, that if we truly -beTie^fe, ahfl a¥e ^Mtfetftj if 
 •*ve fear Gdd as we Ou|bt, attd «eVVe Mih Veligitfd'S^j^ te 
 the end of bur livcs^ w'e ^h'aTl yiertaibly attain to ^fhfe'|jlb- 
 ry of the fchildfen of G6d, and pbi^se^ With 1ihetiii%'pfer'- 
 fect and eternal bappiifeisk. Nevei^theless, tfeiit We ttiifiy 
 not brait any tbitig'that may 'give Wtisfadtiifc^b^fbe be- 
 lieving soul, I shWl'examihe^bis j^kttiei^la?; ^atit i^haM 
 be without in#fiditaj|i]^b fhb^e Mt^ Whiclt t'hk've li^t 
 seen in the glass of the gospd, Cbl. ii. 1% br ^M6h 1 
 have not learned frbm the ^i*ga!t ^y^cian of b^r '^dtfls." 
 i shall first declare the opinion 'of the moi^t iekrn«(d itoen 
 apon this rich and excfellentistibject; aft^^^ardis I sbasil 
 add my own; which I siibinit, wiilh tbe^cisttif fhlls'trea- 
 ti^ei to the judgment of WiS^r p^fsidfnfs, Who ^ef^cisfe 
 l^emielves in medttatibh^ tipTdh spirMsA knd %e:fVehly 
 matters* 
 
 S'ome believe, tbat in paradise t%ere sb'all be but bne 
 glory and happiness, wfaibh shairbe equal and'iinifbi'ai 
 ihttU'tHose that enjby it. Their iprificipalreasotBS are, 
 
THB CHRISTIAN'S 0&NSOI.ATK)N. SQ^ 
 
 Kifst, Tii^t *e caa have nb glwy aUd hap,pi«i«jss, feat 
 that which halh l»eeH m«i'itell fol* us hy the death anil 
 pftistton «f DHf Lord Jesus Christ; and th«it «is this glo- 
 rious 'SaVioW iialnh puroh^ed ihi^ ^lory 'an^hafipiae^s; 
 for all the elect equally, s6 they sh«U M e^y ititl th« 
 M^'eM (degree xsffierfMion. Selxmdly^That'the Mitfiss 
 or all Ute lalegsed sivallbe |>etifect; ilh&r«f«re^ a« tl3«y-sMl 
 be all peuPeedy istil^i, so tbegr shall be &,ll ipteB&scHy aad ««- 
 tfci"eagnl|jr fafoppy. Tfeifdly, That ouv Saviour saith ex- 
 pi*essly, wttfaOHit a^y exception, Thcd l^e mgtdbims ishM 
 sMneferMJi^s %he B^im,in'the k^^dmti^lhe^ Pother-, M at. 
 xiii.'l)^. NoSwjiheTsuta iskiugof thestarsiiand the-bta^test 
 of aH the he&^eniy ilfHiMnSiries. HfiurSMy, That ttey am 
 fe^ji'esented io irearetijAs so many Mhgs, having oti their 
 belid eiwwns 'of ^Id, Esev. i. 6. iv. 4. v. 10. Now, there 
 is no JiareSjaality (amwigki'BgS; each of ihem being!p®ssess* 
 ed 6f a isovereig* glory, and dndespeadreisBt aothoriity.- — 
 Fiftbly, That Jesus'Christ represents to us the transac- 
 fiOB at t'he Send of the «¥0i1d, by the parable of a father 
 of a family, who, when even was come, gave the saime 
 hire uinto eveiy one that kboured in his vineyard, Mattli. 
 XX. Si^thly^ Tbat'itis said, in general terms, That we 
 shall see Gad f dice 4o face, 1 Cor, xiii. 12; and^Mt we 
 »Uall-^eehim a^^heis, 1 Jdhn 'iii. 2; and that in this 
 blessed vision shaill censi&t man's principal hapipiuess. 
 Lastly,* That after the resurrection. Gad shall be all in 
 att, 1 Cor. X:V. S8; which expression denotes the higtest 
 glory, and most imaginable felicity. 
 
 Others thidk on the contrary, that in beaveti there 
 shall bfe an itoequality of ^lo^, ;and divers degrees cX 
 happiness. This they chiefly ground iTpon two passa- 
 ges of holy scripture; the one is, John xiv. t, where 
 Christ saith to his apostles, Tn my 'Father's house are 
 manymamions; the other, 1 Cor. xv. 41, 4^, where St. 
 
566 THE CHRISiSn'S CONSOLAll'llir. 
 
 Pauly speakinfl; at large of the liappineS!^ of thfe saints af- 
 ter tlie resurrection, saith, There is dnegldri/offhe sun^ 
 and another glory of the modn, and another ghry of the 
 stars: Fo%one star differeih from another star ing^&ry; 
 80 also is me resurrection of the dead. 
 
 Others again, not content to believe an inequality of 
 glory and happiness, discourse of it with as much confi- 
 dence as if God had admitted them to the knowleidge of 
 his eternal secrets, or as if he had discovered to them all 
 the wonders of the heavenly Jerusalem, more plainly 
 than to his beloved disciple. They not only affirm, that 
 there shall be divers degrees of glory and happiness, 
 tmt they tell us who they a^e that shall obtain such and 
 such degress, and dogmatically determine what shall be 
 the glory of virgins, what that of confesfeors, and what 
 that of martyrs. In a word, some are transported with 
 an high opinion of themselves, and their merits, that 
 they make an open profession of being of the number of 
 such as shall obtain the highest degrees of glory and 
 happiness. 
 
 Bqt in my opinion the truth is to be found between 
 these two extremes; therefore, without prescribing a 
 law to the conscience of any, in a matter whereof the 
 decision is, in no respect, necessary to salvation, on the 
 on^ hand, I say, that in heaven there shall be divers 
 degress of glory and happiness; but then, on the Other, 
 I dare not pretend to describethem, much less to apply 
 them to particular persons, or' to say who shall possess 
 such and such degrees.. This would be to set our 
 mouth against the heavens, Psal- Ixxiii. 9, and to lay 
 hands upon the fotbidden fruit.' Instead of being ser- 
 viceable to others, we should wilfully cast ourselves 
 away; for such as are so audacious as to search into the 
 divine Majesty^ shall be swallowed up in its glory. 
 
THE CHRISTIAN'S CONSOLATION. 567 
 
 And thouglx we verily believe degrees of glory, yet I 
 hope we may observe, without offence to any person, 
 that this opinion is not to be established upon the fore- 
 mentioned passages, from whence no such .conclusion 
 can be' drawn. For in the 14th chapter of St. John, 
 our Saviour saith, not. There are many apartments or 
 mapsions, some whereof are richer, and more glorious 
 than others, but only, In my Father's house are many 
 mansions. The meaning of our blessed Saviour is as 
 clear as the day: his aim was to raise up the drooping 
 spirits of his apostle^, and to comfort them on an ac- 
 count of his absence^ For this purpose he tells them., 
 he was going to dwell in an house, where there is not 
 only room for himself, bu t also for them, and for all 
 those that shalt believe in him through thei^r ministry. 
 Nothing can be plainer than his own exposition of, 
 these words, in the lyth chapter of the same gospel, 
 where he speaks toWod in this manner, Father, I will 
 that they also whom thou hast given me, be icithme 
 where I am, that they may behold my glory which thou 
 ha^t given me. For the other text, in 1 Cor. xv, I 
 beseech you, devout soul, read over the apt>stl«?'s words, 
 and consider, with a religious g,ttention, what goes be- 
 fore, and what follows after, ypu shall find that the 
 apostle had no intention to compare the saints, the one 
 with the other, but only tp manifest thf difference which 
 there is hetween our bodies, as they are in this, corrup- 
 tible and mortal life, and as they shall be when they 
 shall have put pnincorruptionand immpt-talily. There- 
 fore when he bath saia, There, is one glory of the sun, 
 and another ghry'ofthe moon, and another glory of the 
 Mars; for one star iifftreth from another star in glory, 
 he doth npt add in like manner, there is one glory pf 
 the blepsed. saint; and annther §lory of anplher; but he 
 
568 THE CHRISTIAN'S COOSSOLATIQN. 
 
 saith; So also is th^ re&UFpctloQ of the dead; it is sown 
 ja eopraptioH, it is raised in incoppuptiaa; it i? sown ia 
 dishonoup, it is raised in glary; it is sown in weak- 
 ness, it is raised in power; it is sown in a natural body, 
 it is raised in a spiritual body. 
 
 What is it therefore, that leads us.to believe these 
 divers degrees of glory a®d happines?. First, It is the 
 consideration of tlie diflferent punishments of the dam- 
 ned: for as in hell there is a diversity of misery, and di- 
 vers degrees of torments; so it is very probable, that in 
 heaven there is a diversity of happiness, and several 
 degrees «f glory. 
 
 Secondly, God, to declare his: manilpld wisdom 
 !Epb. iii. IQ, bestows all his riches., and the abundance 
 of his blessings, with a wonderful variety, a^d an ad- 
 mirable order. Thus you see in nature a rich profusion 
 of divers gifts and, excellencies: For example, the smell 
 and beauty of the rose is diff&reaffrom that of "the lily, 
 the lustre of the diamond is not like -that of the r«by,* 
 and the light of the sun differs from that of the moon 
 and stai-s, so it is highly credible that in the heaven of 
 heave«s there shall be divers degrees of light and glopy 
 
 Among the angels, there are distinctions, of honour 
 and dignity; whence we read of archangels, 1 Thess. 
 iv. dfO, Jnde ix. Thron&Sf dominions, prineipaUtieSyKnd 
 powers, Col. i. 16. As therefore, among the angels, there 
 are several degrees of glory, it is not unlikely, that the 
 same order shall be obsefved among <th6 saints in hea- 
 ven. Moreover, as In the church-militant the ^aees of 
 (ilod are divers, the souls of the faiMul being adorned 
 with various excellencies, and endued with different de- 
 grees of light, knowledge, faith, hopcj charity, and hoi! 
 liness; thus accordiflgio the analogy of faith, we may 
 reasonably suppose^ that In the churdi-teurapbant tliere 
 
THE CHRISTIAN'S CONSOLATION. 560 
 
 shall he divers degrees of glory and' bappidess; andtbe 
 rather because glory is nothing else but the consumma- 
 tion and perfection of grace. This reason appears no 
 where in a stronger light than in the parable of the ta- 
 lents, where Jesus Christ bestows upon his servants a, 
 glory proportioned to the riches of bis grace. No one 
 can imagine^ that the words relate to God's favours dis- 
 tributed to his faithful servants here upon earth; for our 
 ].ord speaks of what he intends to do when he shall 
 come down from heaven to judge the world; at which 
 time he shall say to him who bath improved the talent 
 of his grace, Well done, thqu good and faithful servant, 
 enter thou into the joy of thy Lord; and shall cause the 
 unprofitable servant, to be cast into outer darkness, where 
 there shall be Keeping and gnashing of teeth, Matth. 
 XXV. 23, 30. 
 
 I ought not to forget what we read on this subject, 2 
 Cor. ix. He which soweth sjparingly, shall reap also 
 sparingly, and he which soweth bountifully, shall reap 
 also bountifully. They are St. Paul's words, which ex- 
 pressly declare an inequality of glory and happiness to be 
 expected among the rewards in heaven. It may be also 
 worthy of our observation, that the felicities of heaven 
 are represented to us by a feast, where all partake of the 
 same meats, but some are advanced to a more honour- 
 able room than others. This, as I conceive, may be ga- 
 thered from our Saviour's words: Many shall come 
 from the east, and from the west, and shall sit at table in 
 the kingdom of heaven, with Mrahtim, Isaac, and, Jacob. 
 It may also be understood from that other passage, where 
 Lazarus is carried by the holy angek into Abraham's 
 bosom. Lastly; I ground my opinipn upon the ISth 
 chapter of Daniel, where this blessed Prophet, when he 
 
 C 
 
570 THE CHRISTIAN'S CONSOLATIOM. 
 
 liiad spoken in general Ce^t'tns of the future impptness of 
 the fahhfal^ who shall rise to eternal life, he offers to 
 luentitin 90ine on whom Gud bath bestowed more light 
 upoQ earth, and whose ministry he hath miade use of, to 
 bring many souls to salvation. Amongst these he seems 
 to put divers degrees of glory: 2^hey that are ftise shall 
 shine as the , brightness of the firpiament, and the^tf that 
 bring many to righteousness, as the stars foreveVi From 
 this text of scripture one may apparently couclade, that 
 as the light of the firmament diifers much from that of 
 the bright stars, and as among the stars there is a diver- 
 sity of light; in like manner, there shall be divers and 
 different degrees of glory among the blessed in beaven. 
 New, in answer to that argument, That Jesus Christ 
 bath purchased for us the glory and happiness of heaven, 
 that therefore this glory and happiness should be equal, 
 I confess, this reason is weighty. I intend not absolutely 
 to deny it} but I shall offer several things to the consi- 
 deration of the pious a:nd devout souls who shall peruse 
 this treatise. First, That although the blood of Jesus 
 Christ hath purchased jfor us in heaven, and that we are 
 not able ta claim it by our most regenerate action, or 
 merit it by our most painful sufferings and martyrdom; 
 because that, whert we have, performed all that is com- 
 manded, our Saviour requires us to say. We are unpro- 
 fitable servants, because we have. doiie nothing but what 
 we are bound to do^ Luke xvii; and because his holy apos- 
 tle assures us, that u>hen all 4Mm§8 are reekoned uf, the 
 sufferings of this present time are not WBrthy to he com- 
 pared with th$^ g^pif whidi shaU be remaled ta us, Koffl. 
 viii. Nevertheless, Cbdis so good, merciful, and bouati-' 
 All, that he bears with our imperfectiatis,^ and he re- 
 wards us a father, with a free reward, all the good woj'ks 
 of his servants; chiefly the works of chari^. -Therefore 
 
THE CHRISTIAN'S CONSOLATION. §Jt 
 
 Jesus Christ tells his ai^ostles, and genepstlly all the 
 Mthfal, Whosoever'^hatl give unto jio» to drink a cup 
 ofwateTf because you are Christ's, verily Imy unt0 jfoit, 
 he shaU !»(d lose his reward. And beeause it iis the ca$- 
 tom of the Mstern {)eople to warm their drink; therefore 
 to give a cup of cold water may be reckoned the smal- 
 lest assistance: our Saviour eaith, WhoBmver shall f^m 
 unta these little ones a cup of cold water onlg, in the 
 name of a disbiple^ verily I my unto nou^ he shall not 
 lose his reward, Matth. x. If such as bestow a eup of 
 cold water for God's sake, are rewarded in heav-efi* what 
 may not those bountiful souls expect there, who bow 
 spend their estates in charitable deeds? Besides, we 
 have heard a prophet tell us, that all such as by the tight 
 of their doctrines, and the holiness of their lives, lead 
 many souls io their salvation, shall shine for ever in hea- 
 ven as so many bright stars. It stands with reason; for 
 if our Saviour will, in his infinite mercy, reward such a 
 small kindness as the gift of a draught of water to one 
 of his children, they «haU exc^ in glory, who spend lor 
 his sake,^in hisquari-Bl, every drop of tlteir blood, und 
 by their deaths confirm Ms holy goepej: This is a faith- 
 ful »aying. If w/e die with Jesus €hvist, tee shall aUo 
 live with him; if we suffer leH^Mm, we shaU also reign 
 with him. But thai which seems to me yet stronger, 
 and makes for this purpose, is, that all the Sipiritoal gra- 
 ces Which are bestowed upon m in 4,his life proceed 
 from the Holy Ghost, pur<*»sed for us by Une oross of 
 our Lord Jesus Christ, a«id by iiisf Pecioas Wood, Now, 
 these graces are dififereut and various: therefore, a« there 
 are divers degrees in graces wJjy stwaitl th^ris ijjot l*e di- 
 vers degrees in glory, si m^ both ha.F« been piR«ch«sed 
 for us with ifee samefuriieef by tiie tleath ««d ipRasBoa «oif 
 our Lojsd Jesas Cbrist? ^ 
 
S72 til CHRISTIAN'S CONSOLATION. 
 
 The other ai'gument drawn from tM happiaess and 
 perfection of the, glorified saints, Is rational, but not in- 
 fallible. For as seveirM' diamonds liiiay be pierfect iii 
 their kitid, so that the clearest eye cannot take notice of 
 any defect, yet nevertheless they may dififer in weight 
 and Value; all the stars have their perfection and light, 
 nevertheless one star differs from another star in glory; 
 all the aiigels of heaven are perfectly happy and holy, 
 and yet there is a great' inequality afflOngst'them in glo- 
 ry and dignity: likeiMse, alihoagh all the blessied shall 
 attain to a perfect holiness, in my judgment, that cannot 
 hinder the diversity of degrees of glory and happiness. 
 
 I acknowledge also, that the other objection, drawn 
 from these words. The just shall shine as the suniv the 
 Jcittgdom of their Father, h not to be despised; but it 
 concludes nothing to the purpose. B'or if yoii" slionld 
 cut out excellently well some orbs of crystal, of diflferent 
 sizes, some greater, sonle less, and should put them all 
 iu the sun, they would be all full of light in every part; 
 every one of them would repreiSieBt. the' beautiful 4mi^e ' 
 of that sun that looks upon them; so that it lAty very well 
 be said of them all that they shine as the siin: never- 
 theless, according to their brightness and size, they re- 
 ceive more light, and the sun seems greater in the one 
 than the other. To the other objection. That all the 
 glorified saints in heaven are named kings; I answer, 
 This is not to be understood in a literal semU, no more 
 than when it is said. That they have on their heads 
 crowns of goldi That I may continue in the same eoim- 
 parison, I may say, that all kings have a s&vereign ma- 
 jesty; which acknoMedges none above it, but God, 
 from whom it prodeeds; and nevertheless some have a 
 greater powers and riiihes than others: likewise all the 
 glorified saints shall enjoy a soviereiga and^esrfect hap- ^^ 
 
THE CHRISTIAN'S CONSOLATION. 573 
 
 piness, and receive it iminediately from God; but this 
 cannot hinder them from dillering from one another in 
 glory, 1 answer, next, the qther argument, taken out of 
 the parable of the father of a family who, at the even- 
 ing of the day, rewarded equally all his labourers that 
 bad been employed in his vineyard, giving to every 
 one of them a penny, That parables are as pictures, or 
 cepresentations; in which besides the thing intended to 
 be drawn, there are many particulars, which ,servG 
 but as flourishes to adorn the pieces. If we should 
 consider every particular of this parable, we might con- 
 clude from hence, that, among such as shall be saved, 
 there will be some murmuring against God, who shall 
 envy their fellow-saints, which to me appears a gross 
 absurdity. The design of our Saviour is not to speak 
 of the equality of the glorifie<l saints; but his intent is 
 to show, that those whom God calls first should not 
 despise the others; because God, who doth with his 
 own what he pleaseth, is able to make them equal, and 
 to bestow upon them the same advantages. Lastly, As 
 every one whom the good man of the house sent into his 
 vineyard, at various times in the day, received for 
 their wages a penny; in the same manner, whosoever 
 Grod eflFectually calls into- his church, whether it be in 
 youth or age, nay even at the hour of death, they shall 
 all receive from his infinite bounty eternal life; but from 
 hence we fcannot conclude any thingcontrary to this truth, 
 that in heaven there shall be different degrees of glory. 
 
 The greatest difficulty, in my judgment, lies in this 
 allegation, That we shall see God face to face: and that 
 he will be all in till, i Cor. xiii. xv. Nevertheless we 
 may say, that as all the damned in hell shall lose all 
 sight of Go(J^ yet that cannot hinder the divers de- 
 grees of paiii and torment: likewise all the glorified 
 
57* THE CHRISTIAN'S CONSOLATION. 
 
 saints in heatreii shall see God; but this sight, which all 
 enjoy, canaot remove the inequality ©f their glory and 
 happiness. As when all men look, upon the same sun, 
 but seve4'al receive the benefit of its beams in a differ- 
 ent manner; thus we shall all behold the same Crod: 
 but the gracious aspect of his couoteinance shall be cast 
 upon us variously, and produce in us divers effects. We 
 may also make use of another comparison; As vtrhen we 
 cast many empty vessels into the same sea, they, are 
 lulled up; 80 that it may be said, of them, that the sea is 
 in them all; yet some may be more capacious, and re- 
 ceive more wuter than others; likewise <all the saints 
 shall enter into the same wonderful ocean of the God- 
 blad, they shall be all filled up to the brim with his 
 glorioMs presence; so that God shall be all in aUs ne- 
 vertheless we shall receive different measures of the wa- 
 ters issuing for til to eternal life. In a word, asXJ^od will 
 •cast headlong all the reprobates into the same lake of 
 fire and brimstone, and yet there shall be divers de- 
 grees among them of punishments: so God shall cause 
 sail the elect to ,drink out of the same river «f pleasure; 
 but there shall be a difference amongst their degrees of 
 glory. Moreover, this passage may be thus under- 
 stood: Goi shall be all in all; that is to say, he shall 
 be to us all riches, glory, light, meat, drink, pleasure, 
 &c. In my judgment, we cannot conclude from hence, 
 that he is to be in all equally. 
 
 If any have other thoughts, or is of a different opitiion 
 to me, I shall not offer to condemn him, nor undertake 
 to contradict him: For I conceive, that since Almighty 
 God hath hid the glories and happiness of heaven, and 
 covered them over with a thick cloud, on parj>ose to 
 limit our too curious inquiry, we cannot meution them 
 v/ith too much modesty and respect. Only 1 must make 
 
THE CHRISTIAN'S CONSOLATICI*f. 575 
 
 another remark for the comfort of davout souls,'whose 
 thongbts and minds are in heaven, tliat when we ftMrm, 
 that there shall be different degrees of glory in paradise, 
 we must not fancy, that this shall be any prejudice to the 
 perfect happiness of the glorified ones. For if I may once 
 again make use of the comparison of the sun-beams, and 
 of the waters of the sea, 1 cannot find any more proper 
 for this purpose. As all eyes that look upon the clear 
 sun, without cloud or mist, receive its rays in a different , 
 manner, yet they have all light enough to see to guide 
 themselves, and to rejoice in this beautiful luminarythat 
 enlightens them; if some take in a great measure of that 
 light, this hinders not the rest from enjoying also a suf- 
 ficiency: so shall it be with all the glorified souls, when 
 they shall behold God, the Father of lights, the true sun 
 that shall shine for ever and ever. If any of them shall 
 have more or less of light, that shall not concern or pre- 
 judice their sovereign happiness; for every one of them 
 shall enjoy as much as they shall be able to contain^ or 
 shall be necessary to complete their joy, and perfect 
 their happiness. As when we cast into the sea,' many 
 empty vessels, some greater, some less, the greater con- 
 tains more water, and the lesser not so much; yet they 
 all recSeive enough to be filled up to the brim; if the 
 least of thes6 vessels had the knowledge to speak, they 
 would not complain of the greater for containing, more 
 than they, because they have all as much as they can 
 either desire or expect: likewise, when the saints shall 
 be admitted into the unfathomable sea of glory and ha])- 
 piAess, they shall be filled all up to the brim, so that 
 they*sball not be able to desire any more. They shall be 
 all, according to their different capacities, perfectly and 
 ctttirely happy. Consider, therefore, Christian soiil, that 
 if thou eBJOfejIt so much satilfactiuB, delight and plea- 
 
57^ THE CHRISTIAN'S CONSOLATION. 
 
 snre^.as thoa art capable of, altliougli Qthers may have 
 somethihg more, thou art noteless h^ippy for their pver- 
 plas. vl'here is none; but Grod alone, who, acoording 
 t© the infinity of his heipg, possesseth an innumerable 
 ani infinite glory and happiness. This bottomless source 
 of glory and bliss, shall for- ever and ever overflow g,ll 
 the glorified saints in heaven, and satisfy their souls 
 with unspeakable, delights. , . ,,.;.;. 
 
 You may ask. Christians, In what part of tlje gre^jfc 
 world shall God caqse us to enjoy so many rare plea-; 
 sures, and heavenly coH;tentmeatsi? Where shall he.,(lis' 
 cover so muGh'vglory and splendor? In what part doth 
 he intend to show so many divine msirks of his gracious 
 presence? I answer, Tiiat this place is above the ele- 
 mental world, above all the heavens that appear before 
 our eyes,' and -which roll about us., If We will uudpr- 
 stand this, we must remember, that the holy scriptuit^e 
 makes mention of the three; heavens. The first, is the 
 large extent of the air, distinguished by the learned into 
 three regions: in this sense it is to be understood when 
 it speaks of the birds of the air. The second heayjsn, 
 comprehends the heavenly spheres, the globes that are 
 between the moon and the firmament, ., where are all, the 
 fixed stai-s; and if beyond this there be any other sphere, 
 v/hfereof the motion is so powerful and swift as to carry 
 with it the inferior globes, ahd to cause, thein to roll 
 round in the space of twenty-four hours. Of this Bayid 
 speaks in Psal. xix. The heavens .declare the glory of 
 God, and the firmament showeth Ms, handy- work; he 
 hath piit them in a tabernacl&for th& sun- Now, above 
 all these heavenly spheres mentioned by the astrono- 
 mers, (some reckon up nine or ten, others more,) there 
 is yet a third heaven spokeaof by St, Paul, 3 Cor. xii. 
 HerioiOf saith h% a man iii Christ, which was taJcen up 
 
TUB CHRISTIAN'S CONSOLATION* Sff 
 
 info the third heaven; 1 know that he was taken up in- 
 to ^paradise, and heard words which cannot be ^poker^ 
 which are not possible for man to utter. The holy apos- 
 tle leaves no manner of difficulty; for the third heave?^ 
 he names paradise, where he heard uiHipeakable words/ 
 which are not possible to be uttered. , 
 
 The celestial globes roll about contiiwally; but this 
 third heaven, for its excellency, is styled the heaven, 
 and is fixed in an eternal settlement. And as much as 
 these beautiful orbs have a greater light and glory than 
 the air, and the inferior bodies; so much the more doth 
 this thiird heaven excel them. It is my judgment, that 
 Solomon means this third heaven, situate above all the 
 rest, jvhich exceeds them so much in beauty and glory, 
 when he speaks to f!od of the heavens, and oftheheaven 
 of heavens, 1 Kings viii; that is' to say^ the most excel- 
 lent, the highest, and the most glorious of all the heoc 
 yens, are not able to contain thee; and God himself 
 declares, by his holy prophets,. The heavena are my 
 throne, and the earth is my footstool. Is. Ixvi. For in 
 this high heaven Grod hath placed his throne, where he 
 discovers his glory, and the brightuiess of his luminous 
 countenance. There the seraphjms fly, and thousand 
 thousands worship him, and ten thousand millions stand 
 continually before him, ts^ah vi; Daii< vii. Here the 
 blessed soul of our Saviour Christ ascended as soon as 
 it had left the body, according to wh^t he proiaised to 
 the crucified thief, Verily I say unto thee, This day thou 
 shalt be with me in paradise, liUke xxiii. Into this place 
 our glorious Saviour entered, both in soul and body, 
 after fiis resurrection; »nd here it was that St. Stephen 
 saw him, when he cried out, Is^e 1k$ heavens open, and 
 Jesus Christ miting at tiie right hand af God, Acts vii 
 
 4. Tl 
 
378 THE CHRISTIAN'S OONSOLATiON. 
 
 Arid to this place the souls of all such as die in his fa- 
 vour are carried up. Therefore St. Paul t6 the, Hebrews 
 mentions, immediately after the thousands of angels, the 
 spirits of just men made' perfect; and the church and 
 'congregation of the first-born, whose names are kiritten 
 in heaven. In ishort, it is thfe glorious seat, where we hopQ 
 that God will receive as both in soul and body, at that 
 day when we shall be taken up into the air, above the 
 clouds of heaven, to b^ for ever with tile Lord Jesus. 
 * Some inquire, What shall become then of this ele- 
 mental world? Whether this heaven that appears to our 
 €yes, and this earth "whicli sustains us, shall perish? Or 
 "whether they shall remain yet after the great day of doom? 
 
 Certain profane Atheists are persuaded, that the world 
 shall remain for ever, asit doth at present, and that there 
 shall be no kind of alteration. T:he apos^e St. Peter hath 
 prophesied of these persons^ and described them in their 
 own colours: There shall come at the last day mockers, 
 walking after their own lust, saying, Where is the fro- 
 mise of his coming^ For since the fathers are asleep, all 
 things continue in the same manner ysince the beginning 
 of the world. 1 need not trouble myself to answer sucli 
 impieties, as I here speak to norie but devout souls, who 
 reverence the divinity of the holy scriptures and are fully 
 persuaded of the truth of all the articles of our creed. 
 
 When men oppose a false doctrine, they often run 
 from ope extremity to anotbfer. Therefore some ima- 
 gine, that the world shall totally perish; and that as (lod 
 hath made the heavens arid the earth, -attd the rest of the 
 elemeats, out of nothing, he will reduce them all again 
 into their primitive state, and that he intends to create 
 others, more beauiiful, iore htily, and far more glorious. 
 There are two sorts of expressions that seem to favour 
 this opiaion. The first speaks of the heavens and of 
 
THE CHRISTIAN'S CONSOI-ATION. 579 
 
 t 
 the earth, as of perishing and decaying features. In this 
 
 manner David discoarseth of them, Psal. cii; after him 
 the apostle to the Hebrews, Thou, Lord, hast estab- 
 iished the earth, , and the heavens are the works of thy' 
 hands;* they shall perisli, but. thou shalt endure; they 
 sliall wax old as doth a garment, and as a vesture shalt 
 thou fold them up, and they- shall be changed. And 
 our Saviour tells us, in Matth. xxiv. That the heavens 
 and the earth shall pass away; but my word shall not. 
 pass away. Ejspecially the words of St. Peter, in the 
 eeeond epistle, and in the third chapter, are remarka- 
 ble: The heavens shall pass away \with a noise; and 
 the elements shall melt with heat; and the earth, with 
 the works that are therein, shall be burnt up. The other 
 passages mention new heavens, and a new earth, as ia 
 Is. IxTi Beholds I create new heavens; and a new earth, 
 and the former things shall be remembered no more.— 
 Likewise, in S Pet. iii. before mentioned, We look for 
 new heavens, and a new earth, according to his promise^ 
 wherein dwelleth righteousness. And in Rev. xxi, I saw 
 a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heayen,And 
 the first earth, were passed away; and there was no 
 more sea. Moreover, St. Paul to the Hebrews speaks 
 of the world to come. From hence some conclude, that 
 the old world shall be destroyed, and that God will 
 create a new one. 
 
 There is no man who is a real Christian, can doubt 
 of that wonderful change which shall happen to the 
 world at the last day, if he considers the fore- mentioned 
 passages of holy scripture; especially that of St. Peter, 
 The heavens shall pass away with a noise, and the el- 
 ments shall melt with heat; and the earthj, with the 
 works that are therein, shall be burnt up. As the walls 
 of Jerieho fell dovpn at the sound of the priests trumpets, 
 
580 THE CHRISTIAN'S CONSOCIATION. 
 
 so this great world shall be overturned at tjre blast of 
 the archangel's truihpet. Oqr reason aloiie, being en- 
 lightened by divine revelation^ seems to confirm this 
 truth; for since the house infected With a spreading le- 
 prosy was to be deniolisheil, how much ratheH- ought the 
 world to be destroyeil, because in it are to be seen ap- 
 parently the spots and blemishes of sin, which may 
 emphatically be called' a spiritual leprosy? ♦ 
 
 But though the great fabric of thiA world must, be ru- 
 ined, and turned upside down, yet we do not believe 
 __that it shall be reduced to nothing. Its qualities shall 
 be changed, a«d, it may he, its farm shall be altereid; 
 but its sohsianCd and matter shall continue always the 
 same. For, first. As Rod hath created the world for 
 his own glory, he cannot be for ever disappointed of the 
 intent of his creation; and because this world hath not 
 glorified him as it ought, he will put it into a condition 
 proper to glorify him, answerable to the pflrpose for 
 which he drew it out of nothings Secondly, Since this 
 world was created to serve man, as a looking-glass, to 
 behold the «ternal power of Ci-od, and that this beautiful 
 It>oking-glass hath been spotted and sullied by sin; it is 
 yet possible to cleanse it, and make it brighter^ that it 
 might represent its creator better, and show forth a more 
 perfect image of his divine Majesty. Thirdly, Since 
 God doth- nothing in vain, there is no likelihood that he 
 should destroy the world totally, and reduce the priotitive 
 matter to nothittgj from whence it was drawn, to create 
 n«w matter, because he is able of this old piatter to make 
 a new earth atid a new heaven, as pare and undefiledas if 
 the matter had been newly created. Fourthly, Sin hath 
 spoiled and disfigured the works of the creation; bat it 
 hath not touched either the fi^rst matter or its being; so 
 ttuiit Gt)d can take away this defilement, and remore tbi* 
 
THE CHRISTIAN'S CONSOLATION. 681 
 
 deformity without tonching the matter which of itself is 
 inaocent. In man, the little world, and the compendi- 
 um of the gi-eat, I find a beautiful and perfect* image of 
 that which God will do with the whole world., God in- 
 tends not to destroy the substance of souls, but only to 
 purge them from all vicious qualities, and beautify them 
 with righteousness and true holiness, so that they shall 
 be as the angels of heaven; Likewise he intends not to 
 destroy the substance of our bodies, but he will free 
 them from cormption, from death, and clothe them with 
 glory and immortality; so that this vile body shall be 
 rendered confermabFe to the glorious body of the Son 
 of God, and shall shine as the sun: So God will not al- 
 together destroy the world, and abolish its substance, but 
 he will rectify all its imperfections, and add to it a grea- 
 ter glory. If it be lawful for me to discover here all my 
 thoughts, 1 must say, that I put a greater difference be- 
 tween heaven and earth; for the earth is altogether cor- 
 rupt and defiled with sin; it is the earth chiefly that 
 groans under the burden of so many iniquities, Which 
 reign in it; but it heaven is guilty of any crime, it is be- 
 cause it hath given light to such as have been rebels 
 against the divine Majesty, and assisted the cursed earth 
 by its favourable influences. Because of this great dif- 
 fepence, it is my opinion, that the earth shall be destroy«- 
 ed by fire; and that all its beautiful buildings, and proud 
 palSses, shall be ttirned into ashes. But the change 
 which shall happen in heaven shall only be to make it 
 more lieautiful and brighter, that the children of God 
 may have there a more glorious palace. This seems to 
 have been typified in the eeremonial law;' for, as we 
 have already observed, speftking of that which shall 
 bappeo to the soul and body, that when an earthen ves- 
 sel was defiled, it #a6 to be broken to pieces; but such 
 
583 " TBEl CHRISTIAN'S CONSOLATION: 
 
 ■■V 
 
 vessels as were of a more precious, metal, as of brass, or 
 of silver, or of gold, were to be purifiM with fire; like- 
 wise the earth, with, all, its works, shall [iass through 
 the flam'es, so that it shall lose its present shape and 
 qualities, feut heaven, that is as brass, or rather as fine 
 silver, shall only be purified by thefire of the last judg- 
 ment. If yoa remove the cause, you take away also the 
 effect; if. you remove away sin, you also remove its 
 punish'ment. Now it is because of man's sin, that the 
 world hath and shall undergo so great a change. There- 
 fore as God, by his in"finite mercy> hath forgiven man's 
 sin,' it is also to be expected from the same mercy, that 
 he will not totally destroy .the world, but that he will 
 rather free it from corruption, unto which our sin hath 
 made it subject. / 
 
 Unless God deals in this manner, our joy and com- 
 fort seems not complete, and God appears not perfects 
 ly satisfied and reconciled. While a subject continues 
 in rebellion, and in the displeasure of his prince not on- 
 ly his person is pursued and punished, but all that be- 
 long to him bear the marks of wrath and indignation of 
 the prince whom he hath offended. His dwelling-house 
 is commonly, pulled down, his woods are cut arid man- 
 gled, and, his inheritance is destroyed; but when he has 
 made his peace, his house is built up agalnf all signs of 
 the kings displeasure are taken away, and every thing 
 appears with a more pleasing countenance: Thus,%e- 
 cause of, our rebellion and treason against God, he hath 
 punished the world for. our sakes, and hath made it 
 sensible of his wrath: but now that our peace is made, 
 or rather God having made peace by the blood of his 
 Son^ we may justly expect that he will remove all signs 
 of his displeasure and revenge.. 1 remember, upon this 
 subject; what David said to God, when he savr the an- 
 
THt: CHRISTIAN'S CONSOLATim . 583 
 
 gel destroy 3 evusfilem, I have sinned atid have done 
 wicjcedl^; but these sheepf what have they doneP^ Bim. 
 xsiv. In the same manner, every believer mayVay to 
 God, Lo, 1 have sinned, Lord; 1 and my brethren 
 have done wickedly; but these inanimate creatures, 
 what have they done? Olir sins have defiled the earth; 
 and all that^may be objected against heaven is, to halve 
 yielded light aiid assistance to us rebels. Since there- 
 fore thou hast blotted out our sins, and pardoned our 
 rebellions, spare these harmless creatures, which can- 
 not be punished but for our sakes. 
 
 At present, we may without difficulty understand the 
 afore- mentioned passages of holy scripture, and such a.s 
 tend to the same purpose. For when David and St. 
 Paul assure us, That the heavens shall perish, and they 
 shall be changed as a garment, I ausvver. That they 
 shall perish in respect of their qualities, but not of their 
 substance; and that the change shall not be as when one 
 garment is cast off, and another is taken; but as when 
 the spots' and blemishes of an old garment are taken 
 awa,y, and it becomes fresher. When your cloathing is 
 grown old, and worn out, if it were in your power to 
 rauke it become new again, and as beautiful as ever it 
 was, you would never- think of seeking for new stuff. 
 That which is impossible to men, is possible with God, 
 Luke vi. And when our Saviour in St. Matthew?s gos- 
 pel saitb, That the heavens and the earth shall pass 
 away, but my words shall not pass away, I might affirm, 
 that these words are to be understood compatatively; 
 that is to say, that the heavens and the earth shall pass 
 away, rather than that the Words of God should fail of 
 an accomplishment. Our Saviour confirms this inter- 
 pretation, when he saith, in St. Luke's gospel, Jtisett' 
 sierfor heaven and earth to pass away, than that one 
 
B8i THE CHRISTIAN'S CONSpLATION> 
 
 tittle of the law should not befidfilled. The holy scrip- 
 ture is full of such kind of expressions; but I would ra- 
 ther sticfc to the answers which I have already given to 
 the former text> and say, that the heavens and the eartji 
 shall pass away > not in regard of their substance, but 
 only in regard of their qualities and acpidents that be- 
 long to theiu. 
 
 In Bt. Peter's expressions^ I ffnd a dQuble comparison 
 or allusion; the one relates ^^9 the tents th^t are pulled 
 down, when the pieces are taken., asunder. This co m- 
 parison is very proper; for this world is like a great ^- 
 bernacle, a gloriqi^s pavilion. God shall pull, off the 
 coverings, he shall cut the cords, and separate every 
 part. But he will one day raise it up again, gather eve- 
 ry piece, and make it a royal tabernacle, full of splen- 
 dor and glory. 
 
 The other comparison is borrowed fi^pm goldsmiths, 
 who cast the gold and metals into pots, and then melt 
 them in the fire. Now as they destroy not by this means 
 the gold, and the silver, but they clctanse them from thp 
 dross and the froth, cause them to appear in all their 
 brightness and beauty, and giv^ them a new shape and 
 form; so the fire of the last judgment shall not consume 
 the heavens and the earth, but,shall only give them a 
 new form and greater beauty. 
 
 The strongest objection, in my opinion, is occasioned 
 by the words oif St, Peter, The earth, and the works 
 that are therein, shall, be burnt. But I, answer to thi^« 
 That there is a gresM: difference between burning, and 
 being, totally consumed and , abolished. If it were in 
 the power of a man, wbose house is consumed to the 
 ground, to raise it up again from its ruins, and to make 
 it more beautiful and glorious than before, by, his word 
 alone, he would never se«k for other materials. Now 
 
THE CUR1STIA.N'S CONSOLATION. ,^§85 
 
 sball I s&y again, that what is imptt^sible with ibeQ is 
 pbssible with God? He hath alreadjr createtl the Ivorld 
 by his word, akd he is able to restorfe it agaife by ttte 
 same. Art hath fbund out methflidS to \n&h6 b^dulifal 
 ^e^sek of melted ashes; and ^hall Adt Ood's Hand atito 
 tvhichdl the sMU of art, aiid the Strength •of nattf He fean- 
 not be compared; be able to gather up the ash^ai of iffie 
 earth; atid to make of it a body filU of gloty aod light? 
 From hence you may perceive, how we are to under- 
 stand, that there shall be new heavebs and a M\v earth: 
 tEey shall fiot be new in tegard ftf thdi^ siibstadce aiid 
 matter, bat they sball be new in regard of those noble 
 qualities which God shill give theto. When a debau- 
 chee leaves his wicked life, and applies hiiUself t6 the 
 pj^a^lice of piety and virtue, tve commbuly sdy, thstt He 
 is not the same, b,ut that he ia become a te^ msxii Be- 
 sides, when a man hath ca^t oflP his old ragSj and put 
 on a magniflcent gstrment, we ».tk woiit to sjtyj That he 
 is another mad: We shall have touch more cause to de- 
 clare, that the heavens afid the earth Sball be new> when 
 God shall have renewed tlieto. In shmt, he shall eiwieh 
 the world with so many wonderful Iwauties, he sball fill 
 it full of so much glory arid excellency, he shall cau&e 
 it to be so perfect, that we shall bav^ jttst reason to look 
 upon it as upon A mw v^wld, and 'to say with the apos- 
 tle, The oldtMngi are pMei awag;' hehoU; all thmgs 
 are McmM new: I would not fevR yo6 (HrHbir C^hVistioiis, 
 that this opJMtrti is g*dtfBfd«d owTy upon bu*twa« rembn-, 
 it is dra\Vti h&t& tM iftmih ©f S*. P:wi'l* w^ho^ sp©*Miig 
 of the earthly 4ttd kseiisM^ cri'ittares, a* may appeir 
 by hia design, he mith not wvly «*«* thp:^ afe mlpdto 
 vanity, not MlUngltf, but Mcms^ qf M^ «f^" hath M»- 
 jeetei iUm; 6e liBftfestafldS' MiaB, whd by hi^sfn arid 
 
J586. THE CHRISTIAN'S CONSOLATION. 
 
 rebellion hath spoiled the World, and corrupted nature; 
 but be adds immediately, after, that they hope to he de- 
 livered from the iondage' of corruption, to be in the glori- 
 ous liberty of the children of God: 'Afterwards he saith, 
 Wofwe Tenow, that'the whole creation groaneth and tra- 
 vaileth in pain together until noiv: And before he saith. 
 That the earnest eoepectation of the creature utiaitethfor 
 the, manifestation of the. Son of God. In which wordis, 
 pray take notice, that St. Paul saith not, that these crea- 
 tures shall be abolished, and totally'destroyed^but only 
 that they shall be delivered from vanity, and from 4h'e 
 -bondage of corruption, unto which the sin of man hath 
 subjected them; and that this blessed deliverance shall 
 be brought to pass atthe day of the redemption of our 
 bodies; that is to say, at that day when God shall re- 
 deem our bodies fro6i their graves, and rslise tliem up 
 to the highest glory and -happiness> which hath been 
 prepared for us from the creation of the world. 
 
 Then shall happen that which is wont to be seen at the 
 marriage of a gfeat king,_or at a coronation, or a triumph. 
 For not only the prince and his spouse, and all the court, 
 appear in their richest and most glorious attire, and are 
 decked with their most precious jewels; but on such oc- 
 casions, the prince's palace is adorned with the richest, 
 with the most magitificent and rarest ornaments; and 
 the tovvn, where this solemnity is kept, show forth some 
 signis of the public rejoicing. Many places are beautiful 
 with severaVrarities; theatres are erected, and triutiiphal 
 arches; the streets are covered with flowers and tapestry; 
 fires are kindled, and torches are lighted: and there is 
 no corner but shows some expressions of the public joy. 
 Thus ^heq our LorS Jesus Christ shall come down from 
 the clouds of heaven, upon a chj^riot. of triumph, when 
 we sball ^ome to consummate his marriage with, and ta 
 
THE CHRISTIAN'S COkSGLATION. S8? 
 
 Crown his spouse, he shall not only appear in his greatest 
 gloryj and most divine pomp, bnt the church also, his 
 hi^pouse, shall be clothed with a garment brighter than 
 the sun, and crowned with an immortal glory. All the 
 blessed saints shall appear in their; attire of joy, having 
 palms in their hands, and crowns upon their heads, and 
 myriads of holy angels shall sing round about. At that 
 time, paradise, which shall be his palace; and bride- 
 chamber, shall be adorned and enriched Vvith all the 
 light and glory which I have already endeavoured to 
 describe to you. The whdle world also shall partake 
 of- this greal glory and celestial pomp. The richest co- 
 ronations, the most magnificent triumphs, the most state- 
 ly niiptials, are over in a few hours; therefore the fireg 
 of joy are soon extinguished^ the ornaments pnt up in 
 the streets are taken down, the triumphal arches disap- 
 pear, and the city is to be seen in its wonted dress. But 
 as this glory and joy of the church-shall never end, 
 there the world shall for ever and ever bear the signs of 
 it. The ornaments which it shall receive in this jbyful 
 day shall never be taken away, and the celestial fires of 
 gladness shall never go out. 
 
 Although it is my opinion, that the World shall never 
 be totally destroyed, but that it shall become more beau- 
 tiful and glorious than before^ 1 shall, not undertake to 
 give you a description of its several parts, nor to tell 
 you how it shall be employed. For example, I shall 
 not determine whether we are to understand our Sa- 
 viour's^ords in the gospel literally, That the sun shall 
 become dark, and the moon shall invt give its light, and 
 that- the stars shfM fall from heaven; or whetbfir these 
 heavenly bodies shall still continue; whether they shall 
 be decked with a new light and glory, and to what pur- 
 pose they shall serve: for then we shall be enlightened 
 
ga§ THE qHBiaTiAN's consolation. 
 
 with a greater light tUao that of the heavenly bodies. I 
 shall only prnpose two tbiags. 'M'm% That as m the 
 hutnan hMly there are jiome members which at preUnt 
 aid nmfal, but thea they shall be only for ornament and 
 hftaaty; li^igwiae ia. the great- wopld, there are many 
 needful tbioga which shall be then of no use; neverthe- 
 less they shall be preserved for the beauty and pei-fee- 
 tion of the world. Secondly ^^ That as man, the little 
 WfOrld^ ishall then be motre bewtiful and perfect thaii! 
 Vj^beoi God first created hiin> likewise this great world 
 shalll receive more beau.^, more ornaments and perfec- 
 tion, than when God dr^^ it otkt o|it» ficst chaos. As 
 mioich Aiiexenca as thwe is between the seeo'nd Adams aad 
 the first, between the heavenly paradi-se, and the eacthly, 
 so much shall there be< betweon the first and the second 
 WOiihJb. So that vve shall have good: cau%e to say of this 
 great palace, which it to be destroyed and! reaced up 
 again hy the- mighiliy hatid of God, as the l^oil^' pvoi^bet 
 said of S»Joia«ttt's; temple, which we have already appMr 
 ^ to o,ur;gloriJ|ed bodies. 1'k& ghmj, of this second 
 'h&w% skpilihe greatef tliem tke glory of thejirsti 
 
 Some inquire, whether we shaltl IkoojW one another in 
 th^ state Q^ eternal glory 9#id h^pii^es^;! I mean ^he- 
 th<e]? the- subjjsct shall know his; prijfc& amd hing? wbe;- 
 tbe* the sjliteep. shall know theii* pastoE, aind: the p^tor 
 tis- sheep? whether tfee f^titeu shall fcaow hjisson, the 
 son tb^ ftithe^c^.the' husband his^ v»ift;, and the wife her 
 husband,, aind so forth? 
 
 .T%ugh thii (jpestioa isi of tlie- nuiiarfjur e$ such, as aue 
 moreciiuipqs fehap needfel toibe ksQwyi, ne'ReptJi&lesssan 
 ans,wer ^eips ^ car^y wthi it same kind of comfort and 
 sati^factipn, I shoaJdt judge, yiati this treatise: woaW 
 n^tbfl perfectjjf % did' mit ^- something on thi^ noble 
 spbiect. i?Sat, wihallsihstll aid^swieej shall he with ther 
 
THE CHRISTIAJJ'S CJONSOLATION. 589 
 
 same moderatton aad reservedness, as I have observed^ 
 ill answering ttie former questions. For althongh what 
 I shall speak seems to me A'ery plain, antl' without diffi- 
 culty, others may riew it in a diflferent light, without 
 any prejudice to their salvation. However, this I may 
 affirm for an infalUable truth, that the glory of heaveu, 
 as well as grace, will bring nature to perfection, but 
 !Shall not destroy it. It shall add to it other excellencies^: 
 but cannot take away those that it bath already. It shall 
 fiot abolish any of the faculties, but it shall beautify and 
 enrich them with new ornaments. Therefore, jConse- 
 c|.ttently, it shall not take away our memory, which is one 
 of the rarest gifts and abilities of the reasonable soul. 
 
 I confess that it is said, That the fornler things shM 
 he remembered no more, and that they shall come no- 
 more into our mind. But this is to be understood of 
 the evils and calamities of this present life. And we 
 are not to understand the' words so, that we shall totally 
 forget all the fbrmer evils and miseries, and shall not 
 rememiber to have suffered them. St. Jolin saith the 
 contrary, when he represents the angel opening the fifth 
 sealj that he saw under the golden altar, which was be- 
 fore the throne of ^od, the souls of them wh@ had been 
 martyred for the word of Cxod, and ftir the testimony of 
 the truth, crying out witli a loud voice, Hoio long, 
 Lordf holy, and true, dost thou nqt jvLige, and revenge 
 our Mood upon the inhabitants of the earth? I confess 
 these words may be understood in a figurative sense, as, 
 when; God. saith to Cain, The voice of thy brother's blood 
 crt^s from the earth unto me; And as St. Paul saith, 
 That the blood, of Jesus Christ speaks better things 
 than the blood of Abel. However, from hence we may 
 conclude, that the remembrance of the calamities and 
 persecutions that wo have endured in this life, is not 
 
590 THE CHRISTIAN'S CONSOLATION. 
 
 inconsistent with happiness. This i-emembrahee is sd 
 far from prejudicing our felicity, thai, on the contraryi, 
 it shall increase and enlarge it? and cause us to relish it 
 the more. Whp-n the prophet saith, That the former 
 thin-gs shali be remembered no more,' and they shall 
 never come to mind, he understands, that tlie former 
 evils shall never be, and that we sliali be for ever sliel- 
 tfercd from all misery and misfortonies. , ' 
 
 1 cannot express this by a nobler and more prdpfer 
 example than that of Joseph: When he went oiit of pri- 
 son to take the government of Egypt, and had strerigth- 
 ened himself by a rich alliance in marriage, he named 
 his eldest son Manasseh, which signifies, Forgetfulness, 
 or forgetful; jfot" he said, God hath made me forget all 
 mi/ labour, and imj father's house; although this holy 
 man had not altogether forgotten those thltigs; for he 
 knew afterwards hi^ brethren, and told them of the mis- 
 chief which they had intendetl against him, and which 
 God had turned to good: but he spoke in this manner, 
 because God had cihanged his misery and imprisonment 
 into glory and honour: Tn this sense we are to uttder- 
 , stand these words, The former things shall be remem-i 
 bered no more; because, instead of the evils and miseries 
 which we endure here below, we shall enter into an 
 eternal glory and happiness. The prophet expounds 
 himself isufficiefltly in the next words; for wheii he had 
 said, The former things shall not be remembered, nor 
 come into mind, he adds immediately after, Be ye glad 
 and rejoice in' thai which I create. The Holy Ghost 
 confirms us in this interpretation in another place, in these 
 words: Ml tears shall be wiped off from our eym; there 
 shall be no more sorrow, nor crying, nor pain; but, eter- 
 nal joy and gladness shall be upon our heads. 
 
 Since God intends not to destroy those gifts and abi- 
 
THE CHRISTIAN'S CONSOLATION. 091 
 
 litias wMchr he had bestowed upon us in this life, much 
 less shall he abolis^h our kuowledg^, which is one of the 
 brightest beams of glory. This knowledge shall be so 
 far from diminishing or decaying, that it shall then in- 
 crease more and more, until it comes to the highest per- 
 fection. As the air loseth nothing of Us twilight at the 
 break of day, when the sun riseth upon our heads; but 
 rather loseth all obscurity and darkness, which the pre- 
 sence of the sun drives aWay, until it be perfectly en- 
 lightened; likewise our understanding shall lose nothing 
 Qf that light and perfection, which it:receives nowfrom. 
 the breaking of the day of God's grace; but asthe^un 
 of righteousness riseth upon it more and more in joy 
 and salvation, it jsh.all perfectly lose all darkness and 
 ignorance by degrees, until itr be fully: enlightened. 
 Froiji hepce we may probably conclude, that we shall 
 knovy all the persons in heaven; whom we have known 
 here below on earth. For if the glorified ones shall 
 remember the wicked who have tormented them, , they 
 must needs rememher all believers, who have bestowed 
 upon ihem their alms, and xlone them good. If it were 
 otherwise the apostle St. Paul would not tell the Cor- 
 inthians, We are your glory, as also you are ours, at 
 the day of the Lord Jesus: And he Would not write thus 
 to the Thessalonians, What is our hope, our joy, and 
 our crown of glory? Is it not you before the Lord Je- 
 sus Christ at his coming? Verily, you are our glory 
 and our joy. Now if in the, state «>f glory, St. Paijl 
 should not know the Corinthians and Thessalonians, 
 unto- whom he had preached the gospel, how shall they 
 be his joy, his glory, and his crown, at the coming of 
 the Lord Je,sus? This reason seems tome as clear as 
 the sun. Nevertheless, 1 cannot affirm, that in heaven 
 we shall kuQTPV ^.gaiti them whom wo have known upoa 
 
593 THE CHRISTIAN'S C0NS0I.4TI0N. 
 
 cartb, by tfaeifeatiires ef their couatenance;. for there 
 shall h^ a wonderful alteration. The faces of all the eaints 
 shall be so beautifal, ji^flTect, and full «f light a«td^OBy, 
 that the most knowing shall not be able to judge theSL 
 to be the same whom we have seen upon earth* Stnoe^ 
 therefore, fancy, that we should know one another ^j 
 the assistance of our discourse: but our voice shall theti 
 be changed as well as our counjientince; and it is dottjbt" 
 ful w^hether we shall discourse of the fbrorer . ti«|n§s 
 'Which happened on earth; for our chi(^ employment s^aill 
 be to behold God's face, and to sing forth his praasea. 
 I had rather, therefore, affirm, that we shall know one 
 another by aU infused knowledge, by which we shall 
 know all things which are possible tc> be known, and by 
 ihe light of that glory with which God, shall fill f}t^v 
 souls^ In short this knowledge shall proceed from no 
 other principle than that of all the knowledges with 
 which we shall be crowned in that state of glory And 
 perfection. 
 
 I am therefore more than fully persuaded, tliat we 
 shall know in heaven our parents, and our friends^ and 
 generally all the pei'sohs whom We have known .here 
 belowf but we shall also perfectly know ibem wh^m 
 we never knew in the world, and never saw with the 
 eyes of our flesh. We shall tnow the holy and bles- 
 sed Virgin Mary, the patriarchs, the prpph^ts^ the aposr 
 ties, the evangelists, the confessors, the martyrs^ sml 
 generally without, exception, all the saijits who shall be 
 crowned with glory and joy in heayen. The^e is no 
 person can question, but that, in thp celestial. fKirafUse, 
 We shall have more knowledge and ajideTstanding, 
 ,thau ever Adam had.in the earthly. Now when God 
 caused a dee[^ sleep to fall upon hini, when be tosk one 
 of his ribs and formed therewith a woman, he had seen 
 
THE CHRISTIAN'S CON^QI^ATI^. 59^ 
 
 none of this done; nevertheless whiBn his eyes wer^ 
 open, he knew her; tberefope |ie declared his judgineiit 
 in this manner. This ?s bone 0/ m^ bomt ^Vf^fi^^ ^fv^y 
 fi^h. And shall not we, whei^ God shall fouse u^ up 
 from th» deep sleep of death, \vitb tlie souq4 oltlji^la^t 
 #wpet, know the spouse of tlje Son of God, v^^iigh be 
 Jiath (\xvsn out of his side, and moulded with his own 
 precious blBojd? St. Peter, whep he wa^ enlightened by 
 a beam of our Baviour's glory in bis transfiguratioi^ 
 knew Moses and Elias, whom he bad never seen bjefore; 
 and shall not we know all the children of God upqn 
 Mount Sion, when we shall be transfigured ourselves, 
 and all'shinfe as the heavenly light, whereqf. tliat of 
 Mount Tabor was but an imperfect shadow apd repre- 
 sentation? But though we shall know ip heaven all the 
 persons whom we have known' on e3.rth, we ^hall look 
 upon them in another manner, and love them with another 
 ftffection; for all that we have of the apim^l and earthly 
 life shall be totally abQlis}jie4; and as our knowledge 
 shall be clear and certain, qur loyie ^ball be pure and 
 heavenly. I am not able to express this belter than B|. 
 Paul dotli in these words: Jlt^iigklhavejc^pwii Christ 
 according to the fiesh, neverthjefess IknffW Mm no vi),ori^ 
 according to the flesh- Christiap^, cpnsider well these 
 expressions; they will be able to temoye a,U di£^cqlty 
 and doubts oat of ynur minds. We are fully, persuaded, 
 that all the inhabitants of heaven ^lall cpptajinly know 
 our Lord Jksus Ghrist; fpr %qw can it be ptherwipe, but 
 that we must j£no!|»' this glprious m(>iiaix>];i of men, and 
 of angels, whose sac|-e4 qpju^fenance sball shine ?is the 
 sun; and who shitll ^it uppn bis ina,gnificent ^hrope^ 
 about which legions pf seraphim^ fly, and wbo shall be 
 there adored for ever |by the church triumphant? Never- 
 
 4F 
 
594 THE CHRtSTIAN'S CONSOLATION. 
 
 theless, St. Paul saith, That altldu§$ he hath Icnow'ii 
 Jpsus- Christ according to the flMi; thait is to sky, ac- 
 cording to the manner of bis low and earthly life, when 
 he lived here on earth; at present he did niit know hini in 
 the same manner; he did not consider him jotherwisej biit 
 as' he ia at present invested with unspeakaiblie gl'oty and 
 splendor. In the same manner, although we shalFknow 
 all them vphom we have known 6n earth, we shall no 
 more know according to the flesh, that is to say, accor- 
 ding to this anitnal and sensual life; our love shair not 
 be earthly or carnal, biit it shall be altogether spiritual 
 and heavenly. • 
 
 1 beseech you Christians, consider well what St. 
 Matthew tells us in chap.- xxii. The Sad^Ucees,' who 
 say, there is no resurrection, came to Christ to entangle 
 him with this difficult question, — Master, Moses said, 
 Jf a roan die having no children^ his brother shall marry 
 his wife, and raise up seed unto his brother, Now there 
 were with us seven brethren; and the first, when he had 
 married a wife, deceased; and, having no issuej left his 
 wife unto his brother. Likewise the second also, and 
 the third, unto the seventh. And last of all the woman 
 died also. Therefore in the resurrection, whose wife 
 shall she bp of the seven? for they all had her. Our 
 Saviour answers not, That thi^ woman shall belong to 
 none of those husbs^nds, because they shall not know 
 her, nor distinguish her from other women; but he re- 
 plies' to them, You do err, not knowing the scripture, 
 nor the power of God; for in the resurrection they nei- 
 ther marry, nor are given in marriage; but are as the 
 jingels of God in heaven, From hence we may conclude, 
 that although in heaven we shdll know one another, we- 
 shall have nothing of that carnal love which we have at 
 
THE CHRISTIAN'S CONSOLATION. ggg 
 
 preseatj-aud which catiseth us to pat so much differencie 
 fe^twreep, one person and another. A fa;ther may know 
 his children; bat his lu)ve shall not be grounded upon 
 considerations of flesh and blood; he shall love them 
 only because they are amongst the children of God» and 
 the heirs of the kingdom* and becaase they shall appear 
 in the ip^age of, the heavenly Father, clothed with his 
 Jight, and crowned with; immortal glory. Finally, We 
 shall love none but in God, and for his sake, as they 
 shall be in God and God in them. In this manner, it 
 shall not be possible to love them more or less; charity, 
 or love, the queen of virtues, shall then sit upon its 
 ^cone,.and attain to the highest degree of perfection. 
 
 If you think seriously upon this. Christians, you shall 
 find arguments to answer the vain objections of such 
 who say, That if we come to the knowledge of one an- 
 . other in heavep, that will be liable to disturb our hap- 
 pViess; for as it will be comfort and joy to meet there 
 with our parents and friends, in like manner, it will give 
 tts trouble and affliction, not to find there all such Whom 
 we have formerly loved. We may form and retort the 
 same objection with more reason against those who be< 
 lieyed, that we shall not know one another in heaven: 
 for we may say also, t&at, not knowing the persons, we 
 shall not know whether our parents, or our friends, are 
 there; and this is likely to disturb and trouble the quiet 
 and satisfaction of our minds. !l3ut to argue in this gross 
 manner, is to confound heaven with the eartb. 
 
 Grief and displeasure can never be admitted into a 
 paradise of joy and perfect happiness. In this glorious 
 condition, our knowledge shall be so clear, our charity 
 so pure, our love to God so fervent, that as we shall 
 love all things which God shall love, and where his im- 
 
S96 Tfifi CHRISTIAN'S CONSOLATION. 
 
 age fehall Appear; so it sbiill Hot be |rOssible for us to 
 10V% thea Wtiom Ood sliail bate, therii ^ho shall bear 
 tli^ tiiarkSa'ndcbaratters of the devil, 
 
 WhtetilJaVid ^as yet herfeon earth, he said untoOody 
 Lard^do liuft ftiite tliem that h(ite tUeeP, I hate, them with 
 a perfect Mfpei; they have been to me aS ihifie eniemies, 
 tj^sal. xkxik. In the same manner, wie shall rathier speak 
 in iie^vea, in the state of perfedtion, whe^n God shalUje 
 in us, all ih a$, and vve fehall be all in God. Some 
 fheiffe are thkt inquire, What k!nd ofla«Bguage we shall 
 ^peak in bfeaven? Some reply, 1/hjit we s^peak the I'an- 
 ^6a^ of angels; gtojupding their opinion upon Wliat St. 
 Paul siiyis to the ICorinthians, Though I gpeaje. with the 
 ^n^Ms'of mkfi, akd of angels, tmd have not charity, I 
 nihbeepihe as's&wncHftg btass,op a tinkling cymbal. 
 
 Bat this is a fantastical opinion; for tis the angels are 
 pure 'Spiri'tg, tliey can have no tongue, nor proper lan- 
 tgiii^e. Itodfei^s, in some holy apparations, angels have 
 ^pyken to meh; but it vras by moving the tongues of 
 their borrowed /bodies. Or by employing some other cor- 
 fitjri&al orga'fi. Then they spoke in the la'ngua,ge of those 
 io witdtn they were settt, and Tiad no pai-ticular or pro- 
 per dialect, fiut if Angels did speak, their languaige 
 IvOuld e'xcel as much 'fliat of men, as the ahgelic nature 
 expels the huiUau. By 'the 'tdi^es of angels> therefore, 
 but Apo-stte uiideristiEintls tm KxeeHeiit tonguie, better 
 than that ortneh. 
 
 Others iWagiiie,'thatih heaven we sltall j8|>eiflc no otter 
 language Mit the teebfew; bedalise, stry they, it is 'the 
 ■tbngae wbich'feod'hath sanctified frOtti the beginning of 
 ' the world, in whidi he ^pvke to the [iatiriarchs airid holy 
 prophets, in "^hich 'We pTrodaitf^ his law tippn Itouiit 
 €ihai, fta tire atidiehde dif all tHe 'peoille of l^^Vi^Bd 
 
THE CHRISTIA3Sr'S CONSOLATION. 5^7 
 
 in whicli he hath recorded his sacred law with his owe 
 finger. They say, that it is the liingaage which Adam 
 spoke in the eatthly paradise, in the state of innoceijcy, 
 and which all the inhabitants of the world made use of ' 
 before God sent among theni a division of tongu,e9. And 
 we may also affirm, that it was the language used by 
 our Saviour while he was on earth. For the Syriac, 
 which he commonly spoke as the rest of the Jews, is a 
 dialect of the Hebrew, or a kind of corrupted Hebrew. 
 Others are yet of opinion, that we shall then attain to 
 the knowledge of all sciences, and not be ignorant of 
 any kind of languages, but therefore declare the won- 
 derful works of God, as the apostles at the day of Pen- 
 tecost, . 
 
 As the holy scripture is silent upon the matter, I shall 
 affirm nething: but in*genBral terms may venture to de- 
 olare, that as God caused a division of tongues to pun- 
 ish man's insolence and pride, and as the different lan- 
 guages of people is an effect of their sin, it is more cer- 
 tain, that this confusion and difference shall be altoge- 
 ther taken away,' and that nothing shall be said in hea- 
 ven but what shall be Verf well dnderstood by all the 
 glorified saitfts. I may add, moreover, that in case we 
 should speak so well all manner of languages which 
 have been in the world, it is nevertheless very likely 
 that t\^e slikll all sp^k T)Ut oile language, that we may 
 all pi*aise God with the same voice. But whether this 
 sMll be the holy liili^uage, or another more perfect and 
 majestic, tvhioh God shall san{;tify for this purpose, we 
 catfnol know, aritil God bf his infinite mercy shall have 
 raided us to this state of glory and perfect happiness. 
 Ffom What ^fG hate alreafly said, Christians, you may 
 eas% underi^tttnd tlrat our Vappinese liatth three steps 
 
598 THE CHRISTIANAS CONSOLATION: 
 
 or degrees; the first is attakable ia this lifei the second 
 at the separation of the. soul from the bofly; the thitycl is 
 at the great day of our glorious resurrection. For al- 
 ready in this lif^, God bestows upon us the first, fr^ts 
 of his glory, and the foretastes of Jiis paradise. _ The 
 Spirit of Grod, and of his glory,rrests at present upon 
 us, which fills us fail of an unspeakable glorious joy, 
 and with the peace of G,od, which passeth all under- 
 standing. When our souls depart out of this corrupt 
 and vinfirqt body, God gathers them up into the bandl^ 
 of, life, he introduceth them into the blessed company of 
 the angels and glorified spittts, and atlmits them to the 
 contemplation ofhis face^ which is fulness of Joy. But 
 in this day of triumph, when Christ sh^ll come down 
 from heaven to judge the quick and the dpad, he will 
 advance us bqth in spul and body, to the highest gloty, 
 and happiness whereof we are capable. For tlijs reasonu 
 the name of glory is ascribed to tjhisbighde^ee, of hap- 
 piness which is proiBiised to us at the blessed appear- 
 ing of our Lprd Jesus Christj in th^ eighth chapter «of 
 the Romans, 'where the apostle saith, That the creature 
 was made subject to vanity, not willingly, hut hy reason 
 of Mm who hath subjected the same in hope; because tlw 
 creature itself shall be delivered from the boj^ifi^a^ef, of 
 corvupiion into the glorious liberty of the children of 
 God. And in the thjbd chapter to^ the Colossians, he 
 .saith, JP»« are dead, and your life is hid^t^ith Christ in 
 God; when Christ, wha is your life,, shall appear, you 
 shall appear also with Kim in glory i Therefore this 
 glorious appearing is pi^\e,(\.,' A blessed hope; that ,1s to^^ 
 say, the fulfilUngs -.j^nd accomplishments of all, that we 
 espect or hope for; as in the.g|C9nd chapter to Titus, 
 St. Paul saith, JFe eaepecit th&0essed hope, the appear- 
 
THE CHRISTlAi^'S CONSOLATION. 5QQ 
 
 ingofthe glory of onr great God, wjio is the Saviour 
 Jesus Christ. ' ' > * 
 
 ' Then shall be the consunnnation of the glory of the 
 head and members; for then the Son of (Tod shall cause 
 the damned to feel that almighty power which he pos-- 
 sessethin heaven and earth, and in the depth: he shall 
 ■discover himself to the faithful, in his greatest glory 
 'and most diving splendor. Therefore this glorious day 
 of his descent from heaven, with the angels of his 
 power, is mentioned as the first day of his manifestation, 
 of his appearing, and of his kingdom. For this cause, 
 ■^hen the Holy Ghost speaks of this day, he styles It, 
 The day of our Lord Jesus Christf or, the day of our 
 Lord Jesus; as also, the day of the Lord, and the day of 
 God. As it shall be the day of the Lord Jesus, it shall 
 also be onr day; Therefore St. Paul calls it th,e day of 
 iBur redemptidn; because that in this dayour Lord shall 
 redeeip our bodies out of .'their graves, and shall l^- 
 stow upon both our souls and bodies, Eph. iv. all .the 
 fruits, of that redemption which he hath purchased for 
 us with his own blood, Rom. viii, and shall raise ns up 
 to the highest glory and most perfect happiness, ,Heb. 
 ix. It is the happy day of consummation of our maj"- 
 riage wit)^ the divine Lamb; it is the day of our joy an^. 
 triunlph with the glorified saints and angels; it is the 
 day of our coronation, and of our entrance into, our 
 kingdoQi, when the King; of Kings, and the Lord of 
 Lords, shall crown us with his own hand, anid put us 
 into possession of an empire prepared for us from the 
 beginning of the world. In a word, it is the day when 
 we shall come to the Lord Jesus, and be with him, as 
 he is with the Father, that we may be all in one. 
 Because of the gliQiipus and wonderful things that 
 
eoO THE GHftlSTIAN'S CONSQliATION. 
 
 shall come to pass on this day, it is named, The gi^t^ 
 day. St. Jade calls it thus: Whea he speaks Qf the 
 revolted angels, be saith. That God hnthresermi them 
 i'n everMsiing chains, under darkness, nnfo the i^<%V 
 ment of the ^reat day. In this manner many nnder- 
 stand the words Qf John, when he describes the fotil 
 spirits, and likens them to frQgs that he saw coming QOt 
 of< the dragon's mouth, and of the beast, and out of the 
 mouth of the false prophet, and saith. They are the 
 spirits of the devil working miracles, which Ood sent 
 forth unto the kings of the earth, and of the whole world, 
 to gather them to the battle of that grteat day of God 
 Almighty, Rev. xvi. / 
 
 Lastly, This glofiouj day is hot only called the day 
 of judgment, the day of the- Lord, the day ofoUr redemp- 
 tion, and the great day; but oftentimes, without any ad- 
 dition is styled the day, And that day:' As Heb. x. Let 
 ' us consider one another to provoke unto love and good, 
 works; not forsaking the assembling ourselves together, 
 as the manner of some is; but. exhorting one another, 
 and so much the more as. ye see the day approaching. 
 In the epistle to the Thessalonians, You are not in 
 darkness, that that day should surprise you. Thus in 
 the!)Second epistle to Timothy, chap, i, St. ^l^,a\ saith, 
 Ikndw whofn 1 have believed, and 1 am persuaded that 
 he is able to keep that which I have committed unto Mm 
 against that da^. And when he remembers the good 
 and charitable deeds of Onesiphorus, he prays for him 
 in this manner, Tiie Lord grant unto him, thai he mtty 
 find mercy of the Lord in that day; and in flie fburUi , 
 chapter, speakiag of himself, he saith, I liave fought a 
 gooil fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the 
 faithj Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of 
 
THE CHRISTIAN'S CONSOJiATION. 60i 
 
 righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, 
 shall give me at that day. ^ 
 
 It is so styled, because of its excellency: it is the* 
 <lay of day9> the end of all the seasons, the consumma- 
 tioii of all ages and times; for after this there shall be 
 nontore alteration of days, months and years. There- 
 fore an angel is represented in the Revelations lifting 
 gp his bands to heaven, swearing by the living God» 
 wht? bath created heaven and all things therein, the 
 earlh, and all things in it, and the sea, and the 
 things there are- therein, That there shall be no more 
 time: for instead*of this inconstant time, \)rhich flies away 
 without leaving any sign of its being, an everlasting eter- 
 nity shall succeed; an eternity always the same, always 
 blessed with happiness, - always glorious and joyful. 
 This divine and magnificent day shall begin at the end 
 of other days, but shall never draw to an lend. There- 
 fore St. Peter in these words calls it aa eternal day; or 
 eternity, S Pet. iii. Glory be to the Lord and Saviour Je- 
 sus Christ, both now and for ever, Amen. And in ex- 
 pectation of this day of days, all creatures are groaning 
 and travailing in pain until now; but especially believ- 
 ers, who have the first-fruits of the Spirit, groan in them- 
 selves,, desiring with an earnest, and holy desire to see 
 ^Itbe breakhig of this great and glorious day. It is the 
 end of all the prophecies, and the accompUs^hnient of 
 all God's gracious prdmises to his people in all ages of 
 the worM; iiis the end and reward of our spiritual call- 
 ing, and falfilling of all our desires and expectations, 
 and crowning of all our labours, and the highest stpp of 
 that glory and happiness unto which we hope to arrive. 
 
 You, devout and pious souls, who delight in the con- 
 templation of celestial things, 1 pray consider with me, 
 
 4G 
 
6DS THE diRlSp-ikfl'^ C6N^0LATtoN. 
 
 the aCjCotDplisliment and the perfectioa of ithr^e kinds df 
 Vfoiks which hav6|been succeeden by their several rests* 
 The. first was that of the^ creation of the world; for in 
 six d|^^$ God created the heaven and the 'earthy and all 
 thinigs in the»m, and when he had finished, his works,' and 
 found that they were s;ood and'perfect, he rested the se- 
 venth day, Geo. i. and ii. therefore he blessed and sanc- 
 tified it. The siBcond great work was Ihat of redempitiion; 
 for when our Saviour had fulfilled all the prophecies 
 which mentioned him; when he caused the meaning of 
 .all the ancient types and figures to appear in his person 
 and sufferings; when he had fully satisCtcd the justice 
 of God., and purchased for us with his blood an eternal 
 redemption, he cried owi, <Allis fimshed", Jobnxix. knd 
 he bowed Ms head, and gave up iheghait. After this, 
 Christ had nothing more to do, nor suffer, but hfc is gone 
 into heaven to rest from all his works, Uev. v. and to 
 take possession of all ppw^r, riches. Wisdom, streiigtli^ 
 honour, glory and praise. The third work is that of 
 our glorification; when we shall sec the new heavens 
 appear, and a new earth; when our bodies shall be 
 clothed with incorruption and immortality^ aiid united 
 again to our souls; and when, in both $oul and body, 
 we shall attain to the highest glory and most perfect hap- 
 piness; then he that sits upon the throne of eternity 
 ehjall say with a loud voice, Ml is finished, ReV. xxi. 
 
 Afterwards the Sabbath of- Sabbaths shall succeed 
 that eternal rest, and that peace which shall never be 
 interrupted by arty unhappiness. We may say, that the 
 first rest is that of God the Father, the second belongs 
 to the Son, the third is the rest of the Holy Ghost, that 
 shall then have gathered all the saints together, reared 
 up the house of God to the roof, and perfectly enlighteu' 
 
THE CHRIST! AJJ'S CONSOLATION* 603 
 
 e^. and sanctified the true palholic cbuvcli, from whence 
 shall proceed its eternal glory and happiness; orrather; 
 we may say, that this last rest is the rest of all the thi'ee 
 persons of the most holy and glorious THnity; for then 
 they shall' rest from all manner of works for ever and 
 ever, and we in the bosom qf their glory; we shall also 
 enjoy an everlasting rest. When the works of creation 
 wjere fijai^hed, the works of redemption were next ex- 
 pected; and after the works of redemption, we hope foe 
 the. works of our final glorification. But vviien God shall 
 have brought us all into his glorious rest, and declared^ 
 for the third time; from heaven, All isjlnishedf we shall 
 then expect nothing, either from God's justice, or from 
 his mercy; for all God's enemies shall then be destroyed^ 
 and it shall not be possible io add any thing to the in- , 
 famy ^f their punishments, nor to the violence of their 
 torments. There shall be no more tears to be wiped 
 away, no more evils ip be feared, nor advantages to be 
 expected, nor crowns to receive;: for thpn all the chil- 
 dren of God shall be perfectly glorified. They shall 
 enjoy God himself, who shall be their inheritance for 
 ever, and tbe unfathomable fountain of all their delights; 
 so that it shall not be possible to add any thing to their 
 infinite glory, nor to their eternal happiness. Gp4 sha^l 
 then, if I may so speak, take'away all means of exptess- 
 ing any greater liberality and bounty. 
 
 Abraham leaped for joy, when he saw the birth-day 
 and humiliation of the Son of God: How should we re- 
 joice, and be transported out of ourselves, when we 
 think upon this glorious day of the appearing of our 
 great God and Saviour? When with the eye of faith we 
 behold him sitting upon the clouds of heaven, coming to 
 put a period to sin and death, to shut up the devil and 
 
604 THE CHRISTIAN'S. CONSpi^TION. 
 
 his angels iu the bottomless pit of hell, to deliver his 
 church from all evils, enemifcs, and dangeirs, and to pro- 
 mote it to the highest felicity, and to an everlasting glory. 
 
 After this, believing souls, I must draw the curtain, 
 and suffer my pen to fall from my hand; for mine eyes 
 dazzle at the sight of so shiiniag a light, and my s6ul is 
 Surprised at the consideration of so much' glory, and so 
 pei'fect an happiness> 
 
 Although I have lengthened tliis treatise more than I 
 at first proposed to mys&lf, I must needs confess, that 
 whatsoever I have said upon so rich ^nd glorious ti sub- 
 ject, falls far short of the truth. But I am persuaded, 
 that there wfill be here enough for pious and devout 
 souls vcho seek not for the ornament of language, nor 
 . for the fiourishes of rhetoric, but for th& true and solid 
 Comforts of God's h&ly woVd. You, Christians, and be- 
 lieving souls, for whose sake I have undertaken this 
 work, I entreat you, for the glory of God, and for your 
 own salvation, to preserve in your minds the ideas of 
 these things that I have jnow spqkeii of. Imprint them 
 in your memories, engrave them upon your hearts as 
 with the point of a diamond, and especially take deli^ 
 in reducing them to practice, and you shall ,assiu;@dly 
 find both joy and comfort. Think often upon death| 
 let it be the most famiUar'and most pleasant sabject of 
 your discourse; expect it at every moment, and lead 
 such a life as if death were ready npon your Ups. Fear 
 not the many troubles of this human life; doubt not but 
 that God hath determined the'tpie and manner of your 
 going out of the world, and that every kind of death of 
 the children of God, is precious |h his sight. Since you 
 are to live but a short time upon earth, settle not your 
 hearts, but possess your ricbts aad advantages as not 
 
THE CHRISTIANAS CONSOLATION. 605 
 
 possessing them, remembering that the fashion of the 
 world passetli away. Since it i^ sin alone that makes 
 death appear so terrible to us, hate all manner of vice, 
 and study the practice of piety. 
 
 And ' as there is no person at the hour of death but 
 wishes that he had lived well, think therefore upon your 
 latter end; for that is an excellent preservative against 
 sin. If your mind is disturbed with the consideration of 
 those things which shall happen after your decease, learn 
 to rest upoii the wise providenc^e of Ood, that sees into 
 the depths of eternity, tha:t provides for all things, and 
 that draws light out of the greatest darkness. Are you 
 cast upon a bed of sickness and disease? open the eye 
 of ypur faith, and you shall see yourselves incompassed 
 about with holy angels, and in the arms even of God 
 himself. Dread not the violence of pain; for God will 
 never forsake you in your grief; he will never suffer you 
 to be afflicted a,bove what you are able to endure. — 
 Fancy him not as a dreadful and merciless judge, but 
 look upon him as a gracious and loving Father, who de- 
 sires not the death of a sinner, but rather that he should 
 repent and live. If death appears to you with a frightful 
 countenance, if it fill you full of terrors, cast your eyes 
 by faith upon the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, and 
 you shall see there all the weapons and armour of his 
 death broken in pieces; you will see there that divine 
 and precious blood streaming forth, which hath satisfied 
 for all Our sins, and marked unto you the way of God's 
 eternal sanctuary. Let not the grave that is digging for 
 you terrify you, since the Kins' of Kings has been laid 
 there before yoil, and filled it with his most divine odours. 
 Let death seem to you never so dreadful, remember that 
 our Saviour hath overcome it by his resurrectiou. Feaf ' 
 
606 THE CHfelSTIAN'S CONSOLATION. 
 
 not, tl^erefore, to encounter it; for our gre%t God and Sa- 
 viour will make you pilirfafce of his victory. And that 
 you may cause'in your soul^ an earnest longing fbr hea- 
 ven, look upon Jesus Christ therp, who is gone to pre- 
 pare a place for you, and desires that you shoulfl be 
 eteriially with him, to behold his joy and glory. Fear 
 not the separation of the soul from'the body, since deatli, 
 which shall separate you from yourselves, is not ableto 
 separate you from the Spirit of the Lord .Tesus Christ, 
 the soul of our skills, the seal of the promises of God, 
 and the earnest of our future inherjitajice. Instead of 
 looking behind, and longing for these perishing advan- 
 tages, and for honours that can only dazzle the eye, 
 consider that death shall wipe away all tears, reftiove. 
 all your grief, and; raise you above all the riches and 
 pageantry of this world; nay, above all the miseries and 
 troubles that cover the face of the earth. That you may 
 be able to follow this death more cheerfully, remember 
 that it draws you out of a place all polluted with sin, 
 and infected with impiety, to transport you into a new 
 heaven, adorned with righteousness and holiness, and 
 perfumed, with prayers, praise, and thanksgiving, of the 
 glorified saints: Rfememher that it frees you from all re- 
 mains of corruption, and gives a deadly wound to all 
 your lusts. Mind not so much as the false appearance 
 of death: for to the wicked it is, as it were, the suburbs 
 of hell, the jaws of the bottomless pit, and the beginning 
 of their endless torments; but to yoa believers, it is the 
 gate of heaven, and entrance into paradise, and a pas-^ 
 sage to a most happy life. Learn to relish now the joys 
 wherewith your souls shall be for ever satisfied, when 
 God shall crown. you with his glory, and make you to 
 dri^k of the rivers of his pleasure. Since your soul is 
 
THE CHRISTIAN'S CONSOLATION* ' (Sp7 
 
 going to put on a g^trment of immortality, and to dwell 
 forever in the palace winch God hath. built with his al- 
 mighty hand, cast off, willingly, this wretched, infirm, 
 and corruptive body. 
 
 Depart willingly out of this earthly tabejrnacle, which 
 tarns of itself to dust. Consider well, that though < it 
 fall by death,^ it shall rise again at the resurrections and , 
 that then it shall at last become the temple of God, and 
 the. tabernacle of his glory. Finally, O religions souls, 
 shut your eyes to, the world, and to all the vanities that 
 the world adore^^ and aspire to the real advantages 
 which God hath prepared' for you before the creation of 
 the world, and in which you shall joy when the world 
 shall be no more. Let your precious faith, and|your 
 blessed hope, entec into eternity itself, to behold that 
 extraordinary happiness and glory which God shall ac- 
 complish when he shall bring us both in soul and body 
 into this celestial paradise, to see his face, in which is 
 fulness of joy. 
 
 In regard to this perfect happiness, and infinite glo- 
 ry, which never entered into the, heart and thoughts of 
 man, it shall never be perfectly, accomplished, but at 
 that day when Jesus Christ shall appear from heaven, 
 to be glorified in his saints, and to become wonderful 
 in all believers. Think always upon this glorious day, 
 the end of all our wishes, the fulfilling oJTaJl our hopes, 
 and the perfection of all those designs which God hath 
 purposed in himself from eternity. 
 
 You d&vout souls, who are grieved to see. the World 
 prosper, and Satan's empire flourish, to see God's chil- 
 dren subject to all the darts of death, take good courage, 
 and rejoice with an holy joy; for shortly all the ene- 
 mies of God, and of our salvation, »;|hall be punished 
 
6Q8 THE CHRISTIAN'S CONSOLATION. 
 
 with an everlastpg punishment, as from the presence of 
 the Lord, and from the glory of his power.' Shortly 
 thel devil, his angels, his agents, and slaves, shall ba 
 bound up in chains of darkness, and cast into the lakes 
 of fire and brimstone and shut up in the bottomless pit. 
 Sbcirtly death shall be no more, and this church of Je- 
 sus Christ, whose miseries and afflictions cause you, to 
 we^p shall be clothed with unspeakable light and glo* 
 ry; it shall enter with joy and triumph into the heaven- 
 ly Jerusalem, and you yourselves shall sing with all 
 the ^^^fied armies of heaven. 
 
 Since Christ shall come as a thief in the night, and 
 shall surprise all the children of the world unawares, 
 to incline your souls, believers, to the love of God, and 
 expectation of your merciful Lord, behave yourselves 
 in the same manner as you would do if you were now 
 at (he eve of this great festival, as if you saw already 
 the dawning of this most happy day. Entertain now 
 the same affection and joy, as if you heard the voice of 
 Ood, and the trumpet of the archangel, as if the earth 
 was already in a flame, and as if Jesus Christ himself 
 was coming in the clouds of heaven. And as no im- 
 pure thing shall enter into the heavenly and holy Jeru- 
 salem, and that without holiness no man shall see the 
 face of God. Cleanse yourselves. Christians, from all 
 filthiness of the flesh, and of the spirit, perfecting holi- 
 ness in the fear of the Lord. Forsake k\l manner of 
 vice; give yourselves over to virtue, and to the prac- 
 tice of good works; imitate the diligence of that faithful 
 servant, that you may not be ashamed at the coming of 
 your ^eat master. Take heed that ye be not like the 
 wise Virgins, that slept as well as the foolish; but watch 
 and pray, that you may not enter into temptation; for 
 
THE CHRISTIAN'S CONSOLATION. 609 
 
 the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak. Redeem tlie 
 time, for the days are evil; and make haste to put on the' 
 garments, of righteousness and innocence; fill your hearts 
 with the holy oil of faith^ of hope, and charity. Take 
 your lamps in your hands, and let your souls shine 
 with a divine light. 
 
 In this blessed disposition, let us go and meet our 
 heayenly bridegroom, and hasten his coming by our 
 prayers and groahs. Let our souls be full of love; let 
 them sigh for our divine Jesus; and being moved with 
 the same affections as St. John, let us say to him with 
 an earnest desire, GoniR Lord Jesus; and if he answers, 
 For certain I come quiclcly^ let the longing of our sodts 
 increase more and more, that we may be able to pray 
 more fervently; and let this cry reach up to heaven, 
 ComSf Lord Jesns, even come, Lord come qUicklyt 
 Amen, 
 
 PRAYEK AND. MEDITATION 
 
 For a Believing Soul, that rejoiceth and comjbrts itself 
 in looking upon death's destruction, and the everlastr 
 ing and blessed life which we hope to enjoy, both in 
 soul and body, after the resurrection. 
 
 O GREAT Judge of the world, author of life and 
 happiness, thy grace hath bestowed upon me the seeds 
 of immortality, thfe first-fruits of glory, • and the fore- 
 tastes of everlaisting delight. By faith I have a pros- 
 pect into those joys and felicities of paradise, into which 
 my soul shall enter at its departure oiit of this wicked 
 world, and into that glory preparedAr my body at 
 thy appearing. O raise «i.f mind to eye continually 
 
 ^ XjL 
 
(510 TtlE CHRISTIAN'S CONSOLATION. 
 
 that complete and unspeakable felicity and glory prom- 
 ised to l?otb soul and body, when thou shall be reveal- 
 ed from heaven with flames of fire, to take vengeance 
 of unbelievers, and to glorify the saints. lict me not 
 be uhtnindfnl of that m,agnificent throBe, where thou 
 sh|ilt sit tci; j,ndge the qnitk and the dead, before which 
 tiie greates't;**priiices and monarchs, as well as their 
 meanest subjects and slaves, must appear, to hear the 
 just spntence of their doom, and receivie the rewards 
 of their deeds. Grant that I may now rejoice in expec- 
 tation of that happy day, in wfeh-h all the enemies of 
 tLy glpry> and our salvation, shall be destroyed, in. 
 which' Satan, his angels, and wicked agents, and in- 
 struments of bis kin£;dem, ishall be bound in chains, 
 anil, cast into the lake cf fire and brimstone, • from 
 wh«|)ce they shall never be released; in which death 
 ^<i|hall be no more; a,ll the living shall berorae immortal, 
 and thy. church be crowned, .and enter in triumph into 
 tiiat magnificent city, built with gold, pearls, and 
 ■precious stones, where thy glory s^hall continue for 
 - ever to enlighten it^ and accomplish our bappines^sv O 
 that 1 may now expect, with comfort and joy, that 
 blessed state where we shall neither hunger nor thirst, 
 but be advanced to the condition and perfection of an- 
 gels, be clothted with light and glory,,'and being crown- 
 ed with an eternal felicity, rejoice with the celestial 
 societies jif patiiarcbs, prophets,: apostles, confessors^ 
 arid martyrs, and with all th« princes and monarchs, 
 who have lived and are departed, in thy fear and fa- 
 vour, and w'beue: we shall be admitted to the vision of 
 iiot\, and be changed and satisfied , with his divine 
 likeness. O Lord grant that I m^y always huve this 
 glorioHs and happy day in my» thoughts, when all thy 
 j)romises shall be fulfilled, all thy w.orks finislied, aind 
 our desires and expectations fully accomplished. And 
 hecause this Jtime and day is unknown to us, give us. 
 grace to liy.ts^ ^IwA^J'S ;Waiting for it, as if wevvere ajt 
 the eve of this; eteriiivl SiaJhbath, that our lamps may- 
 be tiimm#}, prjvided, a^id* burn w,ith,,t|ie oil of f^iith, 
 liope, and (A^ty, ,&fi,^ w,e^ ready and awaJ^ at thy 
 glorious appealing, clothed with a wedding' garment, 
 
THE ClIRISXrAN'S CONSOLATION, 611 
 
 fit to entet" with thee into eternal blessedness. Gratit 
 us grace to desire and look for this promised redemj)- : 
 lion, long to hear the sound of the last trumpet, and | 
 behold thy coming in the clouds of heaven, O divine j 
 Saviour! that vve may ascend to meet theey and wel« I 
 come thy glorious appearance! O Lord, forgive our 
 ioipatient wishes, and hasten that day for the elect's 
 sake, t'ome with thy powerful angels, and the minis- 
 tesfs of thy heavenly court, to execute justice oii tliine 
 enemies, and deliver thy servants. Come and pat an 
 end to this wicked world* infested with sin, and sub- 
 ject to corruption aad, vanity, and purge the heavens 
 and the earth from all pollution. Come and take veti- 
 geance for the! innocent blood of thy martyrs, shed by 
 Antichrist and his ecuel agents; bind the devils in 
 chains of darkness, and'^shut them up with death for 
 ever in the bottomlfss pit. Lord Jesus, have pity-oij 
 the cries and sufferings of thy distressed people. Come 
 and deliver them out of this cruel Egypt, out of this 
 abominable Babylon, where t|iey continue in captivity; 
 O. merciful Lord! is it not time that thou shouldst bring 
 us to thy celestial Canaan? Give us^ to taste of the 
 milk and. honey of the most refined joys ami comfort," 
 and introduce us into lhin«> holy .leru^alem, the city 
 of peace and everlasting rest. Come therefore, and 
 wipe away the tears, and stop the crying Of thine af- 
 flicted people. Takethem out of tbis infamous prjson, 
 open to them thegales of tliy magnificent palace, clotlie 
 them with light, and perfect thy salvation, and their . 
 happiness. AVe have been a rorg-vvlille contending 
 with our jspiritual and temporal enemies, i» our led i J 
 ous and troublesome journey througli the world, and 
 at a distance from thee; we now long (o he nearer to' 
 thee, O wonderful Redeemer! who hast accomplislftid. 
 all thy works, and that of our redemption, by thy blodd 
 and sufferings.* Pel-feet also, we beseech thee, that of 
 our glorification; receive us, and thy church into that 
 complete f^icity prepared for us from the beginning of 
 the world, and purchased wilh thy precious blood and 
 sufferings. O merciful Go«iI admit us to that. state' 
 where we have ndtbing to fear, nothing to de,aiiie, and 
 
643 THE CHRISTIAN'S CONSOLATION. ' 
 
 nothing to wish for, but be always eitiployed in prais- 
 ing thine infinite bounty and mercy. Join our voices 
 'with the anthems of the holy angels^ that, with the 
 blessed saints, we may be able to say, Now is come 
 salvation and strength, and the kingdom of our (rod, 
 and the power of his Christ: for death is swallowed" up 
 in victory, and the grand accuser of our brethren is 
 ^hut up in the bottomless pit, which accused them be- 
 fore our God day and night; and they have overcome 
 him hy the blood of the Lamb, and have not loved 
 their own lives unto death. Unto him, who hath 
 loved and washed us from all our sins in his blood, and 
 hath made us kings and priests unto God his Father, 
 to him, l.say as to the Father, and the Holy Ghost, be 
 glory, power, and dominion, for ever. Smen. 
 
 THE END.