):^#^'•. mm *B»: •^..1 ^•; .7'*^'. '-Wc 2/- I THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY, | ,| Princeton, N. J. . % I 1 Shelf, c ■© Book, No, ^T:-. — -^ (2 €<^^^>g' ?.^^pc>^ I The lievfM"'.SPIXCKE5. ■ r rr//. V/u/rr /r//// a// /injtp^i/ j)ea//t ^/z/z/jS. /rj7 . //z /f/s J^ J/r.r/ : '.4^ a. J,i iiic \-Jtiv THE SICK MAN Vifited: And Furnifli'd with Instructions, Meditations, and Prayers, FOR Putting him in mind of his CHANGE; FOR Supporting him under hisDISTEMPERj A N D F O R Preparing him for, and Carrying him through, his Last Conflict with DEATH. B y NATHANAEL STINCKES, A.M. Late Prebendary of Sarum, &c. Boaft not thy/elf of to-morrow \ for thou knoweft not what a day ?nay bring forth, Prov. xxvii. i. Tu tamen mortem, ut nunquam timeas, femper co- gita. Senec. Epift. 30. Cfte Six\) (£oiticin> c>i:oirgcteo^ To which is Prefix'd, A Short Account of the L I F E of the very Reverend AUTHOR. L O JSI D O 'N: Printed for J.'Rivington, at the Bible and Crown in St. Paul's Church Tard. MDCCXLIV. Digitized by tine Internet Archive in 2011 with funding from Princeton Theological Seminary Library http://www.archive.org/details/sickmanvisitedfuOOspin THE PREFACE T O T H E READER. TH E firjl occajion of the enfuing treatife was the requeji of a friend^ that I would overlook an old hook upon thisfubje^i^ printed in King James I. reign, and would put it into modern Englifh. Which having undertaken, to avoid the tedioufnefs of one continued difcourfe, without any manner of divifon^ I thought it necejfary to caji miiie into fever al parts, that, at the end of each, the reader might have a breathing-time, and fo proceed to what follows with the better appetite. And, in a little time, finding fome texts of Scripture not fo properly applied as ^ ought to have been^ fome things more largely infifted I, A 2 upm iv The P R E F A C E upon than I apprehended necejjaryy and many^ on the other handy that I judged requtfite^ not meddled witb^ I refohed to take a different method^ arid to frame a book^ the greatejl part whereof Jhould be perfeBly neWy and the rejl fo altered and changed^ as that it cannot be called the fame. And if what I have written may tend to God's glory^ and the devout reader s benefit ^ I Jhall efieem my time happily em* ployed. 7 HE conf deration of death and eternity is a mat- ter of that vafi confequence^ to all who know they have immortal fouls to fave^ that whatever either tends to promote this, or may be ferviceable in order to the better eff&B of ity can never be iinfeafonable \ efpecially when we call to mindy how exceedingly un- certain the tii7ie of our fay here is, infomuch that there is no man livingy who can be fure, that he has an hour more to live. It was an excellent petition of Mofes, or whofoever it was that compofed the ninetieth Pfalm : So teach us to number our days, as that we may apply our hearts unto wifdom, ver. 12. Nor is there any fur er courfe to become wife to the befl purpofeSy viz. the promoting God's glory y and our own everlafling welfarcy than by accujlom- ing ourfelves often to refiedt upoUy and ferioufiy weigh with ourfelveSy the little time we have to fpend herCy and the immenfe concern we have dependiftg upon our good \ to the R E A D E R, ^ good improvement of it\ nor any folly in the world comparable to theirs^ who can be content to idle away their time, and mifemploy themfelves^ when, for aught they know to the contrary, they may be fnatched away the next moment -^ and fOy being feized with^ out a due preparation for a better Jiate^ may be fentenced to depart into everlafting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels. I' HERE is none who is not continually liable to ficknefs and death ; and who ought not therefore to be always furnijhed with patience and fubmijfion to the Divine Will under the former, and to be every day in a readinefs for the other. And, to afjijl the Chrijiian reader in order to thefe weighty purpofes, that fo he may be happy both here and hereafter, is the defign of the following traB, But then it is incumbent upon him, to apply what is faid in it to bis own foul ; inafmuch as without this it muji needs prove infgnificant and ufelefs-, the beft advice that can be given in any cafe, being of 720 advantage, where it is 7iot attended to. A man may pleafe him- felf with what he hears, or reads, and it may ferve him for amufement and diverjionr, but, if this be all the ufe he makes of it, he grofy deceives his own foul, if he think however to be advantaged by it. Such an one is but like the manfpoken of by ASVJames, wbo^ vi The P R E F A C E who^ {a) beholding his natural face in a glafs, goeth away, and ftraitway forgetteth what manner of man he was. The true end of reading is improve- ment And whofoever therefore would be really be- nefited by what he reads^ mujl take care to digejl it in his thoughts^ and then to reduce it to praBice^ and try to get his life amended by it. ALMIGHTT God has (b) given us exceeding great and precious promifes, and will be Jure to make them good in his due time^ if we do not fenfe- lefsly incapacitate our/elves for the?n. But then it is to be remembred, that they are all cojiditional^ and there is no hope of attaifiing to them^ but by par- taking of the Divine Nature, and efcaping the cor- ruption which is in the world through luft. We muji cleanfe ajid purify ourfelveSy andferve God faith- fully^ with reverence and godly fear, before we can look upon ourfelves to be interefled in his favour^ and intitled to the pro??iifed falvation, {c) The foun- dation, the promife and covenant of God^ ftandeth fure, having this feal, for the confirmation of it on his part^ that the Lord knoweth, and will own^ them that are his : A?id^ on their party Let every one that nameth the Name of Chrift, and pretends (^) 5^ James i. 23, 24.. [h) z Pec. i. 4. {c) 2 Tiai. ii. 19. to the R E A D E R. vii to be his difciple and fervant^ depart from all ini- quity. This is the certain and the only way to pleafe Gody and to be for ever happy in the enjoymejit of him: and it is therefore every one's indijpenfable duty to demean himfelf accordingly ; and not only when death looks him in the face^ and he muji expedi to be tranflated hence^ but throughout his whole life ; as he will undoubtedly be convinced when he comes to diCy if not before. A N D oh that men were wife, that they un- derftood this, that they would confider their latter end ! That they would be ferious^ and in earneji^ and have thofe thoughts in their health and Jirengthy which they ordinarily have when they come to diet Then they are apt to refeB upon their paji lives^ with an unfeigned forrow and regret y for not having made better improvement of them, Andy if they had ten thoufand worlds at their difpofal^ thefe fbould all go to redeem that timey which they had fo vainly fquan-- dered away. They will then find to their forrow and jhamey that to prepare themfelves jor Heaven is not fo eafy a task as they had imagined, but mufi be a work of time and painSy and ought indeed to have been the main bufinefs of their whole lives. Which being once granted, it is impoffible to give a reafoUy why they Jhould not all immediately fet about it, with the utmofi diligence > that fince they have here no abiding vm The PREFACE, &c. abiding city, they therefore never ceafe to feek one that is to come. T^his is the great end of our living here ; and the only way that God has prefcribed^ in order to a better fiate* And they who take a con- trary courfe^ may iiifalUbly depend upon it^ that death will open a frightful fcene to them, that will caufe them to bethink themfelves when is is too late^ and to condemn themfelves to all eternity^ for not having done it fooner. N, Spinckes. THE C iii J THE LIFE Of the Reverend Mr. Nathanael Spine kes, TH E venerable author of the following trea- tife was a man who had no guile, and wanted J no virtue: and were he now at my elbow, he J would dictate to me to fpeakof him in hum- I blc and fimple terms. Perhaps this may be interpreted ^ asanexcufe for a plain and unartful relation : but it be- longs to them to fwell their notes, who can't gain atten- tion without founds or fhakes I do not intend then to raife or mufter any appear- ances of virtues imaginary, or diflemble any foibles : for which reafon, though I have little to tempt the cu- rious, I ihall have as little to offend the confcientious. As to the worldling or fenfualift, who abandons any or all of the commandments, or the baptized infide], who renounces his creed in whole or in part ; fhould any fuch glance upon this portrait, they are permitted to ftop here, fince no viands are prepar'd for their flrong or fine tafte, no garlick or froth for their entertainment j and as they exped:, at lead wiih, no after-reckoning, defirous to refemble the jj/z^^/C/s:/, an infe6l which lives but one fingle day : they may, if they pleafe, grow better ceconomifts of their time; and the one may ftroll on 5 through t iv 1 through all the fcenes of voluptuoufnefs, and the other indulge the convulfive ftarts of his imagination •, fincc no fetters can be found ftrong enough to chain down the one, nor any underilanding, not-even the wifdom of God, deep and clear and confiftent enough to direcft the other. There are a rank of beings who fear and tremble ; they fear from what they know, and they tremble from what they feel and expe6l ; not doubting that God's difpleafure will more than equal their fear : might we not then prefume that they who are void of fear and trembling are punies in knowledge and fenfe ? Nay fhould they fpin out their own bowels, and roll up themfeives in their own webs ? A fine fum total of their exiftence ! But the good man, a sketch of whofe hiftory and charader I here defign, was, as a perfon of fenfe and religion, quite different in make and frame. He held forth no indulgences or difpenfations for the diredl breach or fly evafion of God's commandments. His known rule was, Then /ball I not be ajhamed^ while I have Ye/pe5l unto all thj commandments. The Papifts in their machinery felt his hand heavy and often : The Sedaries he truly pitied as confifling of the weak, the worldly, and the wilful. The profane and profligate, who departed from their duty either by common fwear- ing, grofs perjury, or elegant diflindlions, had a fhare of his chaftifement ; and the jefuit or fcribe was as obnoxious to him as the open fmner. The papal dif- penfations and jefuitical interpretations were to him both alike -, and he thought that there were no more exceptions in the fecond or third than in the firft com- mandment. Indeed he had both a tender and awful lenfe of the authority of Go n, and of the eternal and unalterable reafons of good and evil ; and this fixed his judgment : he depended that he had no more li- cence, to detradl, lye, fteal, or difhonour parenis, than to commit whoredom or murder : He conftantly bore his teftimony againft removing amiens landmarks. And n V 3 And as he was a. faithful fervant and fteward of th^ niorahty in Mofes^s houfe, he was no lefs diligent as a fieward of the myfteries of Chrijl ; d.nlfraelue indeed, a Chriftian intirely. For^ As to his faith, it was as unblemifhed and Irfeproach*^ able as his hfe. He had read much, but he had lived more : he had drawn much from the pureil fountains^ little from the muddy ftreams : the depofitum of his faith he kept facred, whole and intire, not retailing \t by fragments and fhreds as a broken vefTel or tatter'd garment, but as the ark irt which the fafety of the whole world was embark'd, as the vefture fit for the fpoufe o{ Chrift^ not only made oi wrought gold and all glori-^ Gus within^ but without feam woven from the top through-^ out. He had no efteem for engineers or projedbrs irs religion, nor for the alTuming fuperficial fighcfmen, whofe ftudy is confin'd to cofFee-houfes, and whofe ftore confifts of fuch extemporary fluff as will ^afil]^ occur without reading or thinking. Tho' remarkabld for meeknefs, he had no little indignation againil alt our modern Sadducees, not forgetting thofe whd did miftake a fomething of Heathenifm for Chriftianity, and who are for reducing their Redeemer to the level with a Socrates or Plato at the head Of a fed:. This good man I propofe to trace with regard to his ftation and condition in life ; to mention briefly his writings^ and the controverfies he was engaged in j with a few memoranda o{ {\ich virtues and Chriftian graces as h0 pofifefs'd in an exemplary and tranfcendent degree* ^ Nathanael Spinckes was born at Caftor lil ISlorthamptonJhire^ a few miles from Peterhurgh, on thej confines o^ Huntingdon/hire^ in the clofe of the year 1653, or the beginning of 1654. He was the eldeft furviving fon of the reverend Mr Edmund Spinckes^ rcdor of Caftor^ and Martha the eldeft daughter of nomas Elmes of Lilford in Huntingdon/hire^ Efq*, Edmund, our author's father^ appears to be a na- tive o^ New England^ and is faid to have come from jthence mihDvPatricky afterwards Biftiop Q^Ely, how- B 2 ever^ C vi J ever, he was a perfon of good literature, and fortune : but my intended brevity confines mc to fay tranfiently, that his difcharging the relation of chaplain commend- ably to Mr Elmes introduced him to the happinefs of an agreeable companion for life, with feven hundred and fifty pounds, and near an hundred ^OMn^s per ann, in terra firma at IVarmington, This is manifeft from undoubted inftruments now in my poffelTion •, which likewife prove that he was enabled with the accefTion of his own fortune to fupport his family in a reputa- ble manner ; and, befides the liberal provifion he made for our author as firfl-born, to give four younger chil- dren above four hundred pounds apiece. I ought not to omit one other circumftance which every reader is left to pafs his judgment upon : Edmund \[v*d in troublous times, and warp'd fo far in the great rebellion, that he took the folemn league and covenant ; and was polTefs^d of the reclory of Cajlor annex'd to the Bifhoprick of Petersburg};)^ the See being vacant 1648 : but I have this to fay for him plem ore^ that when he was removed loon after the reftoration, even before the Bartho- lomew ad took place, he conftantly conformed to the Church of England % and Teemed only to decline his minifterial fundlion, becaufe a man who took oppo- fite oaths, had the fentence of guiltinefs proceeding agatnfi him, Edmund died at iVarmington 1671, and Martha 1 693 ; as I prefume from the probat of Edmund*sWi\]y and the letters of adminiflration granted after Martha'i death. I was much puzzled to find where our author laid the foundation of that noble ftrudure which in progrefs of time v/as raised upon it j but at la(^ I was informed that he was indebted, for his clafTical learning, to the reverend Mr S, Morton, redor o^Haddon, who is men- tioned in the father's will. * Item, I defire and con- ' ftitute (fays the clofe of Edmund*^ will) my loving ' friends Sa?nuel Morton dtrk, and redor of the paridi ' church of Haddon, in the county of Huntingdon, and ' alfo my very much refpeded couGa Mr Richard ^ Cowpsr I vii D * Cowper Clerk, and redor of Long Orion and Buttolph * Bridge^ in the county of Huntingdon^ to be the over- * feers of this my lad will and teftament.' Our author's childhood was fpent in every proper part of education: in which religion was confider'd as the unum necej^arium^ and not as an accident or matter of form. This appears from memoranda under his own hand, or an ' Account of remarkable paffages, * wherein the good providence of God has more fig- * nally fhewn it felf towards me or mine, and for ' which I mod heartily blefsand praife his holy name.' * When a child, I fell from a bell-rope in Caftor * church, and bruis'd my head very much : but, I ^ thank God, I recovered well of it. * At fix years old I was run over by a horfe, but ' had little hurt.* ' At IVarfnington, when a boy, I very narrowly ' efcaped fhooting Robert Bond with an arrow, which * I fear might have kill'd him, had it hit him.' Thefc things may appear as niinuti^ to narrow and undifciplin'd fouls; but they difcover an infancy under the reins of difcretion and the power of religion ; for if thefe deliverances had not -made a lading impreflioii upon him in his childhood, they fcarce would have been recolledled when he arrived at man's eftate. We mud here leave our author, under Mr Morton's indrudion. For, I have not been able to recover any thing additional concerning him, till we find him at the Univtrfuy of Cambridge: Yet I diall mention a paflage out of the father's codicil to his will, figned before his fon's ad- miflion in the Univerfity, which is convincing to me, that he was originally devoted to the altar, fo far as parental authority could diredl : * Item, I give all my * books to my elded (on Naibanael, if he live, and * be a Mader of arts, and a minider.'-- — And I con- ceive the following claufe will pafs for evidence that the father had a well-fraught ftudy at that time. * Provided, that tho* Nathanad be Mader of Arts, B 3 * and t viii 1 ^ and a minifter — —yet if another be he the fai4 P Nathanael Ihall give to any that fhall be a minifter, f of his three brothers, either books to the value ot f twenty pounds, or twenty pounds in money to buy * him books, at the choice of him who is to receive f them or it.- Before the age of fixteen our author was admitted into the royal and much honoured foundation of Tri- ^i/}) college in Cambridge: it appears from the college regifter, |;hat he was committed to the care of Mr Bain- hrigg^ 22 March i6^. He was matriculated the July following: Nath.Spinckes Coll. Trm. quadrantarius ad- piijjus in 7natricidam Acad. Cant. Jul. (^. 1670. This is copied from the public regilter of the tlniverfity. In the year 1671, our author's circumftances were con- fiderably improved by the death of his father; for the probat pafs'd the feals of the prerogative court of Canterhury 1 1 Aug. in ihat year. He had his father's colledion of books intire: he had the War?ninglon eftate, before-mention'd, with fome incumbrance : he had one hundred pounds charged upon Lilford : he had be- queathed to him ' All that land in Ireland in Jdng^s- f Country which is now in the poffeffion of the heirs or f aHigns of Thomas Vincep^ fome time alderman of * London., which is due to me according to a writing f figned by him, ^c. this I give to him and his heirs * for ever. Item., I give (fays the father's will) to * the fa id Nathanael Spinckes, all that fifty pounds f more or lefs, with the profits of it, that is in the f iron-works in Nezi)- Engl and ^ acknowledged received ' by John Pocock^ then fteward of the company, and * living then in London^ his acquittance bearing date ^ March 19. 1645. Item., I give to the faid my fon ^ Nathaimeh ail thateilate, whatfoever it be, thatfali- * eth to me, or fnall fall to me, in Ne-zv-England, as ?. joint-heir, with John Naylor of Bojlon in Lincolnjhircy ' to Roinface Burton now or late of Bojlon in New-Eng- \ land, my uncle and mother's brother, and only bro- I thcr/ And befidos all this, he had thy fair expeft- ance I ix ] ance of his mother's blefling, who, as fhe appears to be eldcft daughter and coheirefs of the family of the £im.es's aforefaid, was plentifully provided for. This accelTion of fortune however did not fink or footh him into indolence, nor buoy or blow him up into profufenefs. The manure was fpread upon good ground : the rich foil and found feed promife a reward jto the reaper's hand. After he had pafs'd about two years and a half in Trinily^ like many other generous plants, which take deeper root, and fpread the better, merely for their removal, he was tranfplanted to Jefus college in the fame univerfity. JSIaihanaelSpinckes Norih- atuptonienfis, films Edmundi Sptnckes clerici defunct, an- num agens decimum oElavum^ -pojlquam per duos annos commoratus eft in coll. S. 'Trinuatis^ eKaminatus ^ appro- i>atus, admiffus eft in commenf, inferior es^ fiib tutor e fuo Magiftro Wroe^ O^obris 12. 1672. Regr. Coll. Jef. If we may hint at the motives which determin'd our author to change his college, I think I have heard him declare, the provifion made for him by his father rendered him incapable of preferment in TW/zi/jy college, according to the ftatutes: and he feems to be farther tempted to make this exchange by the profped of a Ruftat fcholarfliip ; for nine days after he was adopted into Jeftis college, the learned fociety bid him welcome^, by chufing him upon that foundation. 05iobris 2 r . 1672. Nathanael Spinckes admiffus eft pro- iationarius ex fundatione Tohice Ruftat Annig. Mail 20, 1673. Jurat, i^ admiff. fcholaris, Regr. Acad. ' This was for his honour -, for the fcholars of that ^ foundation undergo a very ftridt examination, and ' afterwards are probationers for a year. And as thefe ^ fcholarfhips are the beft, fo the fcholars are com- ' monly the beil in college, and fo reputed,' as my much honour'd friend the reverend Mr 'Thomas Baker, j^.D. ~ — of St John*s college, obferves at the foot of the regifters above-mentioned. Befides \ uncierftand tha ^xgniioation of Ivlr Ruftat's, fcholars to be annual, fa B 4 long C X 3 long as they retain their fcholarfhips, which is a guard agaiaft negligence, and a fpur to proficiency •, and the tryal of their fufficiency and progrefsis made by no lefs perlbns than the vice-chancellor, the provoft o'i King's^ and the mailer of '^trinity college. Before our author took his firft degree, I conceive I have heard him acknowledge that he was one of the public moderators at phiiofophical difputations 5 which office is now conftantly fupplied by a Mafter of Arts : and this bears teftimony that he was reniarkable for his academical, as his examination when candidate for the Rujlat fcholarfhip vouched for hisclaffical, learn- ing. After this I find no particulars of his condu6l till Jnno 1 6j^^ Nathanael SpinckeSy col.Jef,Art.Bac, And His letters of ordination fhew, that he was made Deacon by Dr Henry Compton Bifhop of London , in the chapel of London houfe, on the twenty-firll of May i6y6, in the firft year of his tranflation. Anno 1677. Nathanael Spinckes^ coll. Jef, art, mn Regr. Acad, So that he took his degrees of Batchelor and Mafter of Arts regularly: but I do not know whether he had any other favours beftow'd upon hirn in the Univerfity. I incline to think that his fame, friends, and fortune in life, powerfully call'd him into the world very early ; and his firft landing was, as I conceive, at Sir Richard Edgcomhh oi Mount Edgcomb 'vciDevonjhiie, whofe chaplain he was for fome time; bur I can't afcertain the date of his reception or ftay with that worthy family. On the twenty-fecond oiDeamher 1678, he was ad- micted into Priefts orders by Y>x Thomas Barlow Bifhop of Lincoln in the church of St Margaret JVeftminfter : as appears from his letters of orders. And now the city fit on an hill cannot he hid : his judgment and appli- cation, afTifted by his talent of memory in an uncorn- mon degree, prepar'd the sky to dawn forth into a bright day. For Early C xi ] Early in the following year we find our authoF placed at Peter/ham near Richmond', which I colleft from this title under his own hand : ^A Pradlical Expo- ^ fition of the Church-Catechifm, begun ziPeterJham^ ^ May 25. 1679.* And again an year after, from an indorfment upon his Priefts orders : * EMhit, in trien- * nali vifitatione domini Georgii, JVinton, Epfcopi^ tenia ^ 25 Mail 1680. Rob. Chapman regr, depuL' lam the morecircumftantial in thefe particulars for two reafons, which I fhall briefly rnention. This Expo- fitjon pf the Church-Catechifm, undertaken a very few months after he was in Priefts orders, difcovers a ma- fterly judgment, and great extent of reading: our au- thor appears, from this performance, as I may fay, in his minority, to be an eifcellent claflical fcholar, to have digefted all the Gre.k and Latin writers of the church, theological, critical, and hiftorical, down to La5ian- tius, and to have extraded and rcali?:ed topurpofe the beft of our Englijh divines : A circumference which a worthy induftrious man may not be able to draw at an advanced age. I intend for the common intereft of re- ligion, and in juftice to oqr author, to make the world judge of this performance, if I can perfed: it from his own papers j which hitherto I have not been fo fortu- nate to effedl. Again, in this (lage of our author, while at Peterjham^ he is made chaplain to the duke o^ Lauderdale, and^ which was his great felicity at his entrance into public life, fellow-chaplain with the molt learned and reverend Dr George Hickes j between whom there continued, fo long as life lafted, that harmony of atfedions, and that zeal and unity of counfels for the glory of God, and welfare of mankind, that they might be faid to be lovely and plea/ant in their lives. Our author's gratitude to Heaven appears thro' every period of his life in ftrong colours : for he does not forget to fay thus about 1682: ' I had an efcape in a f coach, with Mrs Hickes and Mrs Stone on Madams- ^ court'hillj when our horfes ran away with us, and " ' * ha4 ( I xii 1 'f had almoft thrown the coachman out of his box, yec ^ flopped themfelves in the middle of the hill.' Such inemoranda as thefe, hke the Jewifti phyladteries, were frequently in his fight : and every devout perfon of common underftanding will recoiled their ufe. After the death of the duke of Lauderdale^ his par tron, in 1682, he feems to have made no long flay at Peterjham ; for I find him officiating at S. Stephen's Walhrook'm London, 1683, 1684, 1685. In Sept, 1685. the dean and chapter of Petersburgb gave our author the redory of Peakirk cum Glynton, in the county of Northampton, The See o^ Petersburgb being then vacant, I prefume the jurifdidion or fpiritu- alties belonged to Dr Sancroft Archbifhop of Canter- bury 5 whoconfequently granted inflitutipn to our au- thor. The barbarifm, at Jeaft inaccuracy, of many of the forms of inftitution and other public inflruments relating to ecclefiaflical affairs has frequently given of- fence, and even been improved to banter and reproach upon fome of the order. To remedy this inconvenience, and to wipe off the duft and rubbifh which was fettled upon them in trad of time, this great and good Arch- bifhop, having refolv'd upon a reform, call'd in to his aiTiflance perfons of the beft literature and nicell judgment in the laws, that while he was adorning the front:, he might not weaken the foundation. This de- fign I prefume he compleated ; and I conceive, were the public inftruments in the later part of this Arch- bifhop's time colleded, they would in perfpicuity, beauty, and force, excel any that ever appeared in the Chriftian world. The fubftance of this account I re- ceiv'd many years ago, from that worthy and very great man, in his profefTion efpecially. Sir Richard Raines, J^^^g^ of the Prerogative Court o^ Canterbury, who was the principal of thofe confulted by the Arch- bifhop on that occafion. However, I fhall need no apology for fubjoining the form of our author's infli- tution, carefully copied from the original; which at once prefervcs the memory of his benefadors, and may like wife [ xiii 2 likewife be a touch-ftone to examine the truth of what I have advanc'd ; * TI/'IL HE LMUS Providentta Divina Cantuarien' ^ Archiepifcopus, totius Anglise Primas & Me- f tropolicanus, 35 quern omnis & omnimoda jurifdidio « fpiritualis & ecclefiaftica, quse ad Epifcopum Petri- * burgenfem fede plena pertinuit, ipfa fede jam va- * cante notorie dignofcitur pertinere, iDllfCtO nobis in ' Chrifto Nathanaeli S^inckes Clerico, in Artibus Ma- « giftro, ©alUtCin, Gratiam, &Benedi6tionem. Ad ' Redloriam Ecclefiae parochialis de Peakirk cum Glyn^ * ton Dicecefeos Petriburgenfis noftraeque Cant' pro- * vincias jam vacantem, 35 quam per Decanum & * Capitulum Ecclefias Cachedralis Petriburgenfis, veros ^ & indubitatos (pleno jure) patronos ejuidem, nobis ^ prsefentatus exiftis, <^Z primitus non folum de agno- * fcendo Regiam fupremam authoricatem & poteila- f tern in caufis ecclefiafticis & temporalibus, ac de refu- * tando, recufando, & renunciando omni & omnimodae ^ jurifdidioni, poteftati, authoritati, & fuperioritati * foraneis, ac de fidelitate & allegiantia eidem Regias < Majeftatipr^ftandis, juxta vim, formam & efFedum < ftatuti parlamenti hujus inclyti Regni Anglise in ea ' parte editi&provifi, necnon de legitima & canonica ' obedientia Nobis & fucceflbribus noftris Archiepi- ^ fcopis Cantuar' & Epifcopis Petriburgen' pro tempore ^ exiftentibus in omnibus licitis & honeftis per ^Z ' praeftanda & exhibenda, verum etiam quod, nulla ' fymoniaca conventione feu pravitate fuperveniente, ^ '^Z ad didam Redoriam promoveri procurafti, feu ' ^Z fciente vel affentiente alius quifpiam procuravit •^ juxta Canonem in ea parte editum & provifum; 35 ^ ianda Dei Evangelia rite juratum admittimus, ^Z^^ ^ Redlorem ejufdem, ac in & de eadem, cum fuis juri- « bus, membris, & pertinentiis univerfis, inftituimus * canonice & inveftimus, curam & regimen animarum ^ omnium parochianorum ibidem ^iftt in Domino J Qommitcentes, & committimus per prasfentes, juri- ' bus [ xiv 3 bus Archiepifcopalibus Cant' & Epifcopalibus Pc- triburgen' & ecclefiae cathedralis & metropoliticse Chrifti Cantuar* & ecclefiae cathedralis Petriburgen* dignitatibus & honoribus in omnibus femper faJvis. 31n Cujtijs Eei Ceflimomtim figiiium (quo in hac parte utimur) praefentibus apponi fecimus. J)^t' decimo feptimo die menfis Septembris Anno Domini Millefimo Sexcentefimo Odogefimo Quin- to, noftraeque Confecrationis anno Odlavo. Radulphus Snowe & J. Rej^iflrarii, Edmundus Sherman iReglfl^ ^ho. Pinfold^ Surr. Our author married Dorothy^ the daughter of /Ff/* Iia?n Rutland^ citizen of London y fome time after he was redor oi Peakirk^ and before he was prebendary of Sarum» With her he had looo /. and the good qualities of a fenfible, obliging, and induftrious wife. July 21. 1687. after the refignation of the reverend Mr Timothy Morton^ our author obtain'd a prebend in the church of S, Mary Sarum, called Major Pars Altarjs: during the indifpofition of Set h Bifhop of that See, the inftitution, or inveftiture, is given by Robert Woodward^ LL.D. and vicar-general of the Bifliop, afterwards dean of that church. Accordingly our author was inftall'd four days after, on July 25. ©ttlltllUllS cid quos hoc prcefens fcriptum prvenerit. Sci ATis quod veneraUlis vir Nathanael Spinckes inftalla- tusfuit Prcehendarius PrcebendcB Majoris Pars Alta- Ris in ecclefice cathedrali heatce Mari^ virginis Saruntj ah antiquo fundatce^ vie efi mo quint die menfis J uliiy anno Bom. 16S7, Itatejlor, Geo. Frpme, Not'* Puhl\ ^c. On the 24th of Septffnher 1687, ^^^ author was in- flituted to the redory of 6"^ Martin^ Sarum, in the county of PFtlts, by Dr Woodward aforefaid •, the patron who prefenred was Francis Hill^ Efq •, Mr Spinckes feems to have been induded Q^, iq, following. On C XV J On the 27th of Sept, in the fame year he was licenfed to preach, (^c, at Stratford fuhter Caftrum^ or Under" cajlley in the county of Wilts ; for which he had the flipend of 80/. fer ann, paid out of the redory, ap- propriated to the dean and chapter. And he I am told was permitted to reap the profits of this curacy till the year 1702, So far as I can form a judgment from the accounts, he received no profits from his prebend after this article from his colledlor: ^Memorandums I have colleded, * for Mr Spinckes^ 9 /. 1 6 j. 10 d, due to him for Pente- * coft money for the year 1690, Cf?^.' And a very re- verend and worthy member of that church is pleas'd to inform me, that Mr Thomas Smith's admiflion was Jan, 20. 1690. and that he * finds by the Bifhop's [Dr * Burnet^'] mandate to the dean and chapter, Mr Smitb * was collated to that prebend upon the deprivation of * Mr Spinckes for his not taking the oaths.V Our author's fortune, time, and ftudy, were never- thelefs employ'd in ferving his fellow-creatures, and Chriftians : He went about doing good ^ ' 05iober 11. 1704. I had a very great efcape out * of a mine at BwUhyr Eskyr hyr, when my breath * was quite fpent, fo that I thought I Ihould never * have reached the top. Blefled be the name of God ' for fuch abundant goodnefsl And O that I may have * a continual fenfe of it upon my mind I Amen* * 05ioher 13. 1706. My houfe was wonderfully pre- * ferved from burning, by my awaking about four in * the morning, and fmelling the fcent of burning linen, * which proved to be the maid^s apron, that had been * fmothering till that time, and never broke out into * a flame. And the providence of God is the more * remarkable in this, that, had my wife and I lain * that night in ourufual bed, I had been at too great ' a diftance, to have fmelt any thing of this fire j bul « the wafhing of the room made us lie a floor higher, ' and fo I came to make this difcovery.* .^ And C xvi ] s Ahd O that 1 may be duly fenfible of the grfeac ^ goodnefs of God to me and mine herein, and truly * thankful to him for it. Amen, ' Auguft 9. 1708. My fon Robert having run away, * with a defign no more to return home, was, by the ^ goodnefs of God to him, ftruck with a fenfe of his ' folly and undutifulnefs, and refolved, like a true pe- * nitent, to confefs his fault, and beg pardon for it, ^ and to promife amendment for the future 5 which * he did freely of himfelf, the next morning \ for nei- ' ther his mother nor I had known any thing of his « attempt.* « Blefled be thyName for this, O Lord God ! And « I moft humbly befeech Thee to fet home his convi- « dions upon him, that a due fenfe of them may re- * main upon him all his days." * The 29th of the fame month my fon tVtlliam fell * out of a cafement two ftories high, and through the * wonderful providence of God was taken up without * any confiderable hurt, though lying and groaning * upon the pitched ftreet ; and no cloaths on him buc * his (hirt and (lockings.* ' Bleffed and for ever praifed be the name of God ' for fo miraculous a deliverance ! And O that we * rnay all be unfeignedly thankful to him for it !' In this interval I find our author's circumftances were reduced to a low ebb ; and yet he retained an ha- bitual convidion upon his own mind, that, // is more llejjed to give than to receive. If he had not large fums to caft into the treafury\ yet he muft throw in bis mite : and when he could not minifter to the bodily necejfities of the faints^ he turned his bounty into another chanel, and promoted a more extenfive good, in forwarding the publication of many excellent books, fuch as Dr Grahe^s Septiiagint^ Mr Newcourt'^s Repertorium^ Mr Howelh Canons^ Bifhop Potter^ s Clemens AlexandrifwSi and Dr JValker\ Sufferings of the Clergy. This 1 learn from Ihorc references and hints in his Qwn hand- writing, Th§J C xvii 3 The Feaft of Afcer/ion, being June 3 . 171 3 . 1 have feen an inflrumenc of this date under the feal and figa manual of Dr George Hickes^ there ftyled Suffragan Bifhop of Thetford^ and two affociates, together with other proper atteftations, witnefTing that our author was confecrated Bifhop on this day. And it was known to be Dr Hickes's declared and repeated judgment, thac no man underftood church-difcipline better, or was better qualified to be a Church-governor, than Mr Spinckes, Great regard is due to ancient and intimate friend- fhips ; and as Mr Spinckes was more forward to acknow- ledge pafl obligations, than to invite frefh favours, I may be permitted to mention a very feafonable and generous benefadion of Robert Nelfon Efq-, to our au- thor. This worthy perfon, pofTibly apprehending that our author's condition in life was deprefTed by depend- ing upon hisjudgment infome fecularaffairs, bequeathed to him by his lafl will one hundred pounds of a fpecial denomination ♦, which I conceive was paid on Febr, 16. 1 7 14. with the advance o-f twenty-three pounds intereft : which liberal fupply contributed very much to make Mr Spinckes ea.(y . ' April 21, 1 7 19. Aglafs of wine atcoufin Tatnal*^ * going wrong, I was feized with fuch a fit of cough- ' ingas ftrangled me, fo that I fell down as dead 5 but, ' blefTed be God ! being taken up, I foon recovered my * breath, and went home well. For which deliverance * may God be for ever praifed, and may I always make ' a right improvement of it !* Febr, 14. 172-^. ' I was cut of a fiftula, of which, * by God's blefTing, I have been well recovered.' ' For this thy great and undeferved goodnefs I defirc * to blefs thy Name, O Lord, and to fhew forth thy * praife. And I humbly beg, that I may have grace to * fhew forth my unfeigned gratitude by a trulyChriftian ' improvement of the addition made to my life, how * long or fhort foever it may prove. This I beg thro* * y^fui Chrijl our Lord and only Saviour. Amen* Jan, r xviii ] • Jan, 1724. Having been feized with a powerful « afthma, fo that I thought myielf upon my dying * bed, but by the ufe of Dr Beaufort^ s prefcriptions, ' and the bleffing of God upon them, I recovered in * part, fo as to be able to take a journey to Bath and * Briftoly to drink the waters there; from whence, * bleffed be God ! I returned, thought to be reco- * ver'd ; however, in a better meafure of health than * when I fet out, and fo continue this 7th day ofFebru- * aryiji^. Forwhichall praife, all glory betoGod 1* But of the many fruits of his virtuous love, he only left behind him jinn the wife o^ Anthony Cope^ Efq-, ofGreat-Poulte- vey-ftreet : and IVilliam Spinckes^ Efq; whofe induftry and abilities the providence of God has been pleas'd to reward with a plentiful fortune. Affedtion moftly refembles heavy bodies ; it defcends with a centripetal force, but rarely afcends ♦, however, in this inftance the filial duty diftinguifhed itfelf. I faw our author dying : he died as he lived, with fuch refignation and ferenity, as reminds me of, ^a^iks he to God, who giveth us the vi^ory, &c. II. We fhall now take a fhort view of our author, and furvey him in his writings, and intelleduai capacity. He was ever remarkable for fpeaking as he thought, and for writing as he fpoke. He purpofely avoided all ornament and drefs in his ftyle : and this was greatly ferviceable to him in the difcharge of his minifterial fundion, and perhaps not lefs beneficial to his audience in his public difcourfes : for having an happy memory, fupported by a maftcrly judgment, he generally preached without the trouble of reducing his fermons in- to writing : and this I have from living teftimony , while he was ledurer and curate of St Stephen's Walhrook \ and from better evidence ft ill, fo far back as April 1 8, 1679. being Good Friday that year: on which fo- lemnity his fermon at Peterjham, fofaras he committed it to writing, confifted only of fcven Ihort lines, or heads of C xix 3 of his fubjecfc. He was eileemed a preacher of the firft rank. Our author had feveral blefTings, as his entrance upon life, which may be regarded as fo many inftru- ments or ingredients nectfiary for the forming a con- fiderable man. He had an habit of induftry riveted ia him from the beginning : he had, in all appearance, as hardy and athletic a conftitution, as can fall to any man's lot: he had an ufeful and good coUedion of books in his pofTefTion, as foon as he well knew the ufe of books : and thefe animated by a good difcern- mentand kind of intuition. As to languages, he was a very good judge of the Greeks Latin, Saxon, and French j and he was more- ovQ;r a proficient in the eaftern tongues. He ever thought and taught, that a man's chief excellence was to appear in his proper profeflion : he thought it very pre- pofterous, that the gate fhould have bigger dimenfions than the city : he thought it preternatural and mon- ftrousjthatanexcrefcencefl-iould be larger than the body it adher'd to. He excell'd in biblical learning ; efpe. cially in cafes of confcience. He read the originals of the Scriptures with eafe and underftanding. He was daily converfant with the Greek 2in6 Latin fathers and councils ; he thought it mod unnatural to be a ftranger unto his brethren, an alien unto his mother* s children, Pfalm xlix. 8. He look'd upon them as Wo-iixo-, and o/^i- 4u;^o/, as bone of his bone^ and flejh of his flejh : and, tho' now-and-then a prodigal, or fpendthrift, or change- ling, may call them by foul names ; yet he knew they were the fons of God, tho' encompafs'd with humaa infirmities. As to the Latin tongue, he fpoke it fluently, and wrote it nervoufly ; but he never confulted deco- rations. The Saxon tongue, I conceive, he excell'd in : he has left a Vocabulary behind him in this language, which may pofiibly diminifh the value of all the books in that way, when this fhall be introduced ; at lead ic is worth examining. It may be impertinent to infifl, that he was a nice judge of the French tongue. He C made l XX 1 made a confiderable progrefs in arithmetic, geometry, and chronology; but thefe he only efteem'd as helps fubfervient to his main defign of underdanding the Scri- ptures, that the man of God may he throughly furnijhed^ remembring that every man which is inftruted unto the Kingdom of Heaven is like unto a man that is an houfholder^ which hringeth forth out of his treafure things new and old, Matth. xiii. 52. When our author's talents and abilities for the pu- blic difcharge of his miniftry were fuperfeded, at leaft put under public difcouragement, he retreated peace- «bly, he fufFered patiently; he committed hir?ifef\jind hh c^ufc] to him that judgeth righteoufly^ i Pet. ii. 23, However, he thought his talents were not to be laid up in a napkin; he is (till to be found among the moft in- duftrious of the labourers: he muft yet give an account of his (iewardfhip with regard to the depofJu?n : and the following catalogue of his works will witnefs for him, that, having />^^/ his hand tothe ;ploughy he did not look back. 1. Of truft In God : or a difcourfe concerning the duty of calling out care upon God in all our difficulties, together with an exhortation to patient fuffering for righteoufnefs, in a fermon on i Pet. iii. 14,15. i edit, for Walter Kettlehy^ Fleetflreet^ i6p6. 2 edit, for Richard Sare^ Holhorn^ I7i4« 2. The eflay towards a propofal for catholic com- munion, i^c, lately publiflied by a (pretended) mi- nifter of the church of England^ printed at large, and anfwered chapter by chapter. Whereby it appears that the author's method of reconciling the church of England with the church of Rome is fallacious, and his defign impradicabie. For R. Sare^ Holhorn, 1705. 3. The new pretenders to prophecy re-examined, and their pretences fhewn to be groundlefs and falfe : and Sir R, Bulkeley and J. Whitro convided of very foul pradices in order to the carrying on their impofture. For Richard Sare^ Holborn^ 17 10, 4' C xxi 3 4. Mr Hoadlfs meafures of fubmifTion to civil magiftrates inquired into, and difproved. Part I. Printed for R, Smithy and W, Taylor^ 17 1 1. 5. Mr Hoadlf^ meafures of fubmifTion to the civil magiftrate inquired into.and difprov'd. Part II. Where- in is fhewn, that the refifhance Mr Hoadl^ has taughc iscontrary to fcrip^ture, and to thedodlrinesand prac- tices of the primitive Chriftians, to the dodrine of our own church, and the laws of the land ; and moreover that it is not fo necefTary in order to the welfare of mankinds ashefeemsto imagine. When Iponfider how exprejly Chrift forbids his difciples to refift evil, Matth, V. 39. how fever ely that refiftance is condemned by S. Paul, and that condemnation is declared the funi/h- rnent of it, I am forced to cry out^ Oh! what times have we fallen in, in which men dare, againfl the cxprefs laws of the gofpel, defend that pra5lice upon which God hath pajfed this condemnation ! If whofoever break the lealt of thefe commandments, and teach men fo, fhall be called lead in the kingdom of God ; what Jhall their portion he, who teach men to break one of the greateft of thefe commandments, fuch as are the laws of peace and fub- jetlion ? And what may we not look for from fuch teacher Sy who dare tax that glorious doElrine of f^atient fuffer\ng,.ai hrutifh and irrational ; and tho* it he exprefly faid^ i S. Pet. ii. 21. that Chrift, by fufferingfor us, \tk us an example how to follow his fteps ? Vindication of the Church and State ^Scotland. By Gilbert Bur- net, profeiTor of theology in Glafgow, now the Lord Bifhop o/S A R u M, p. 17, 18. Printed for IV, Free- man, at the Bible, near Chancery-lane, Fleetjlreet, and R. Wilkin at thcKing^s-head in St Pauh Church yard, 1 7 1 2. 6. The fick man, vificed and furnifhed with inftruc- tions, meditations, and prayers, fuitable to his con* dition, for putting him in mind of his change, for fup- porting him under his diftemper, and for preparing him for, and carrying him thro', his laft conflid with death, i edit, for PF, Freeman in Fleetfireet, 1 7 1 5. 2. edit. for W, Taylor in Pater-nofter-Row^ 1718.3. edit, for W. "Taylor^ 1722. C 2 7/ [ xxii ] ^. The cafe truly ftated-, wherein the cafe re-ftated is fully cojifider'd. By a member of the church of England, Printed for George Strahan^ at the Golden Ball over-againft the Ro^al Exchange in Cornbill, 1714. 8. A colledlion of meditations and devotions in three parts : I. Meditations on the creation. II. Meditations and devotions on the life oiChrift. III. Daily devotions and thankfgivings. Reviewed and fet forth hyT)vHickes, and publifhed by N. S, Printed for D. Midwinter^ St Faults Church-yard, 17 17. 9. The cafe farther ftated, between the church of Rome and the church of England, wherein the chief point about the fupremacy is fully difcufs'd ; In a dia- logue between a Roman-catholic, and a member of the church o( England, For George Strahan, near the Royal Exchange^ 17 18. I o. No fufRcient reafon for reftoring the prayers and diredions of King Edward the fixth's firft Liturgy. Part I. For John Morphew^ 1718. 1 1 . No fufEcient reafon for reftoring the prayers and dirpdions of King Edward the fixth's firft Liturgy. Part II. For James Bettenbam, 1 7 1 8. 12. Nojuft grounds for introducing the new com- munion-ofHce, or denying communion to thofe who cannot think themfelves at liberty to reje6l the Liturgy of the church of England for its fake. In anfwer to a late appendix, and to the learned and reverend Dr Brett'' s poftfcript. For James Bettenbam, 1719. 13. The article of the Romiflj tranfubftantiation in- quired into, and difproved, from fenfe, fcripture, anti- quiry, and reafon. For John Hooke, Fleetftreet, lyig. 14. The true church of Ejtgland man's companion in the clofet : or a complete manual of private devo: tions : collcded from the writings of Archbifhop Laud^ Biftiop Andrews, Bifhop Kenn, Dr Hickes, Mr Kettle- wel, Mr Spinckes, and other eminent divines of the church, o^ England. By the reverend Mr Sam. Downes : with a preface by the reverend Mr Spnckes, For Charles Jiivington^ in St Paul's Church-yard y 1721. A C xxiii ] A volume of pofthumous difcoiirfes of the late re- verend and learned Dr George Hickes^ Dean o^JVorcejler. I^eft in the hands of, and now publifhed by, N, Spinckes, M. A. Printed by /F. Bowyer, 1726. A colledion of fermons formerly preached by the reverend George Hickes^ D.D. London, printed for John Churchill^ at the Black Swan in Pater-nofter Row, ly'S* In two volumes. Thefe were publifhed by our author, as appears from his own preface preiix'd to the tirit volume immediately after the dedication. I have rcafon to apprehend, that he tranflated Tome ofOfterval*s works from memoranda of his making pre- fent books ; and that he had made confiderable pro- grefs towards a new and much more correct tranflation o^Dupin^s ecclefiadical hiftory. He had the direction in the publicationof the fifth and fixth volume of Dr South^s fermons, his ancient friend : but I can come at no certainty whether he compiled the life of Bifhop Stillingfleet, as has been reported to me. I am divided in my opinion by contrary teftimonies ; fo that I can'c tell whether the two following articles belong to our author or not. An anGver to all the excufes and pretences, i^c, for not coming to the holy communion *, with an accountof the end, i^c. of it^ the obligation to receive it, the way to prepare for it, and our behaviour both at and after it. Plain inflrucStions for the young and ignorant, in a fliort ^c. expofition of the church catechifm. III. He delighted in thofe principles and courfes -which refpeded the univerfai good. He apprehended that health was the proper feafon for piety or devotion, and that a6tive acceptable obe- dience was to be performed in the day of ilrength, and not in the night ofdifeafe or decay. As to temperance, he was abftemious to a degree; for I remember him in the evening of life to abftain from all meat and drink nourilhing and ftrong; but at the fame time he thought that a man might be into^ycatcd with imagination, pride, or revenge, i^i;. C 3 M C xxiv ] If our author had any tendency to intemperance^ it was in his ftudy. This had been the companion of his youth, and was the comfort of his age. When the ta- per of life began to burn dim, his regular cuftom was to fpend fourteen or fixteen hours each day among his books, unlefs neceflary affairs call'd him abroad. This indefatigable application I prefume fhorten'4 life, and helped to pull dov/n a ilrudure which feem'd to be rear'd for a much longer duration. His method was to come nigh no fire, having purpofely covered his chim- ney with fhelves of books. When afflictions feiz'd him, he was refigned, but not abj(^d: : he felt them without impatience, and retreated into the ilrong holds of reli- gion to fortify himfelf againfl the feeble infuks of the world : he looked up to his Redeemer, and knew that it was often a mark of merit to be vilely traduc'd by the unthinking many. Lor d^ forgive them^for they know not what they do^ was his ufual weapon of defence, when he and his friends were mod cauflefly tax'd with po- pery, when the world laid to his charge things that he knew not. Among the unprinted treatifes, which our author left behind him, there are in bulk and number againft popery, twice told, more than upon all other religions lubjedls whatlbever. I recoiled that I have heard in his company, and I think from his mouth, the deftiny of Archbifhop Laud and Dr Heylin^ that the one might print, and the other preach, what they pleas'd againft popery, yet they were papifts. Such reafoners are fit advocates for tranfubftantiation. The fame dart comes from the fame quiver ftill. l^he Romans will come and take away both our place and nation^ hath been made a Shibboleth and watchword : feveral of thofe who could not readily pronounce it, have been treated as deferters. And tho' this bear-skin has been faften'd upon many of the moft learned, zealous and determined adverfaries of the papifts •, yet I will ven- ture to fay flowly, fhouldever the fwellings and inun- dations of the papacy (an herefy or neft of herefies hatcht to aiTront the common fenfe of mankind, and to pro- claim [ XXV ] claim war againfl many of the do6lrines and duties of thfe Gofpel) fhould they ever for our fins overwhelm us with an irrefiftible torrent, they will not be obtruded upon us by a Rydley^ a Bancroft^ a Laud, a Chillingworth^ a Brambaly or an Hickes^ but by one of thefe Synonyna^ a puritan, a papift with a difpenfation in his fob, a proteflant in mafquerade. This may by fome be cenfur'd as a very digreflion ? but the failors fay that a becalming at Sea is dreaded ac the greateft diftrefs next to a fbipwreck : I am fure the tares were fown while the husbandman flept ; and ific fhould prove true, that the Jefuits and feminary priefts in the bills of mortality are twice as many as the parifh priefts, it may now be queftion'd Vv'hetherour fecurity be not greater than our fafety, fince thefe cagks ufed to h^ gathered together where the carcafe is. He was a living inftance, that the bonds of religion may and can furpafs the tyes of flefti and blood. He never blamed the age he livM in, or fuggefted that good men had caufe to repine, as if the rewards of the great and virtuous wereaffignM to lefs worthy per^ fons : and he indubitably was one of the moft content- ed, becaufe he contraded his defires as to the things of life into the narrov/eft bounds Thofe who reflgnM or precipitated themfelvcs into envy and malice, he truly pitied, as knowing thofe vices change the man into a monfter, depofe reafon, by fet- ting the head where tho- heels (liould (land, and drive men to renounce thofe principles whereon both perfonal fafety and public good depend: in his chearful, plea- fant, eafy, converfe, he rated the revengeful as execu- tioners, or fiinifhers of the law. He thought the greatest cowards Were the moft cruel, and that the moft covetous were the moft beggarly and neceflitous •, if we may invert the conftruflion, as per- fons really having nothings though pffejfing all things in the midft of their abundance. His patience under afflidions and loffes of evcf y kind ^ tvas great, having gone thro* the trial and exercife e 4 <>f C xxvi ] ofthem for almoft the ipace of forty years ; fo that I have no fcruple in my own mind, but that in him pati- ence had her perfe5i work. His patience under bodily pains was furprifing to me. I faw him foon after he was cut for a fi flu la •, his difcourfe waseafy and unforc'd; a fteady calm and compofure fat on his brow, without a wrinkle or wry face: I could not forbear this foli- loquy. Either his fence of pain muft be abated, or he could bear pain beyond other mortals, or both : and when I faw him dying, he did not feem fo much to fuf- fer as to enjoy his death. His mecknefs was fuch, that fhould we form a jndg- ment from his carriage, it would be this, that he never met with a provocation. I knew him intimately for about eleven years, and under feveral fevere trials of his temper ; but I never faw him angry. I remember a converfation, in which Dr Burnet was the fubjed:, where the tide run pretty high againft theBilhop -, but our author, tho' he had been before the jlzearer^ open'd not his mouth : when he was importun'd to fpeak his fen- timents, he delivered himfelf with fuch authoritative fweetnels and candor, that, all things confider'd, I think I never heard fuch amiable words proceed out of any man's mouth ; and to this effed : Sir, the world fays I was injured by Bifhop Burnet, another man there- fore may fay that of him with truth and decency, which I can't fpeak without the fufpicion of refentment. On another occafion, in the plunge of his diflrefs, a me- morable tranfaflion rifled his purfe of near twenty pounds, and likewife purfued him with other outrages which were ruinous to his circumftances. My fitua- tion was fuch at that time, the affair could fcarce be conceal'd from me. Our author was calm and dif- pafTionate upon the repetition of the cafe, and, fo far as I can recoiled, with his wonted complacency, thought it flrange, thatflander, like quickfilver in the tube, did Jiot fink in proportion to the prefTure or injury. As for our author's chrillian fincerity, he fpoke and liv'd t xxvii 3 liv'd as he wrote : and therefore I can't do him better juftice than to refer the reader to that paflage in the SickManVisited, where the water is not trou- bled with defign to choak the filh. That they may /hew how true [or uprighf] the Lord my Strength is^ and that there is no unrxghteoiifnejs in him^ was frequently in his mouth, and at his heart. This was the pattern of his juftice and integrity to his fellow-creatures. If he tranfgrefled juftice in any particular, I guefs it was by throwing weight into the oppofite fcale, where he was perfonally concern'd. I (hall tranfcribe here part of a letter of Mrs Martha Bennet of Holheach in Lin- colnjhire^ the only furvivor of all his father's children. * Among many inftances of his exa6t juftice I recoiled * this : My father having by his will bequeathed to me * 400/. and charged an eftate with the payment of it, * which, as it afterwards appear'd, could not be done ' according to the ftrid rules of law My brother, * becaufe he thought it my father's intention that * fuch fums fhould be paid out of the eftate, not only ' paid me the 400/. but all incereft from the time it * became due to the time of payment: and I make no * queftion but he did the fame to three more brothers, * who were all alive many years after; altho', as * above hinted, he needed not to have done fo, the ' eftjte being vefted in him as heir at law, in fuch * manner as intirely hindred the operation of my fa ther's * will.' I have feen accounts which contain full evidence that all his brothers met with the fame ufage from his hand : and fliould the whole compafs of his ac- quaintance and intercourfe be furvey'd, I dare fay a fingle variation from this pradice could not be pro- duced. Devotion or prayer appear'd to be a province in which his great ftrength lay, as if the blefTing of the primogeniture were entailed upon this duty : the be- ginning of ftrength^ the excellency of dignity^ and the excellency of power. If the Spirit of grace and fuppli^ nations was poured forth upon any in thefe later days, I C xxviii 3 1 fee no caufe why it fhould not be afcribed to our author. I believe no man living makes a nearer ap- proach to the ftrid literal obfcrvance of that direc- tion, Pray without ceafing^ than he did. I had fre- quent opportunities of certain information as to this fad. Though he was removed at the greateft diftance from oftentation, in the performance of this or any other chriftian duty, yet in fecret prayer he often dif- covered himfelf without defign, and againft inclina- tion : for as in his ejaculations his method was to form the characters, of which they confided, gently within himfelf, fo being corpulent, and confequently his veffels turgid, a whifper every now-and-then cfcaped, by which a curious obferver had a key to his thoughts, or rather an articulation of his words. He had a fingular eafinefs in converfation, and prefenceof mind ; but whenever there was a full paufe in the conference, he habitually retreated to his beloved ex- ercife of mental prayer. And here I may not incur the blame of omitting to refer to a place of this book, where our author recommends a dcfcription of prayer, which he feems to infinuate he got by hearc in his youth, and ' had fo often thought of it, and * been pleased with it, that he was apt to think he * fhould never forget it.* Again, as our author was frequent and fervent in his devotions, fo he was no lefs confcicntious in the matter and objed of his prayers. He maintained that the chriftian devotions Ihould refemble the Jewifh Sacrifices ; no lame or blind offerings, for fear fuch deceivers fhould bring a curfe upon them, and not a hlejpng. He thought this prevarication betray'd a wicked heart of unbeliefs or that it difcovered a people that erred in their hearts For this reafon he openly animadverted upon the popifh corruptions in worfhip, as terminating their devotions on inanimate things, and mere creatures : and as falfe attributes or commendations are affronts, he more than hinted that the faints and angels were affronted., and the Deity defpifed, thereby, ^his he looked C xxix ] looked upon as an heinous crime ^ 2^% an iniquity to he pu- nijhed by the judges. He muft be a novice or ft ranger to Ciuillianity, who doubts that unjuft and facrilegious prayers are provoking in the fight of God; when the Plafmift carries the point fo high as to fay. If I regard iniquity in m'j hearty the Lord will not hear me. All unjuft facrilegious petitions therefore, which rob God of the honour due to his name, do moft literally make the houfe of prayer a ^^n of thieves. There can be no extenuation of their guilt who offer the un- clean and the unholy. According to the Pfalmift in our old verfion, Pfalm 1. i6, ^c, they have no title to preach God's laws, or to take his covenant in their tncutbs, who hate to he reformed, who caft his words behind them. And a greater than the Pfalmift hath inftruded us, that we have no right to offer a gift at the altar, if our brother have aught againft us. Matth. v. 23. God declares that he loves juftice better than facrifice ; therefore the popifli facrilegious prayers, which are prayers againft juftice, are worfe than no prayers, or fuch unjuft prayers are more criminal than no facrifice. He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer fhall be abomination. Prov. xxviii. 9. Our author was charitable in every fenfe, and in every degree. He caft his bread upon the waters : he went about doing good to the bodies and to the fouls of men : he relieved the neceffitous i he inftrudled the ignorant ; he extended his bounty to thofe who were with him, and thofe who were againjl him, without limitation, even returning good for evil. He literally fulfilled that precept, Matth. vi. 3. When thou doefi alms, let not thy left-hand know what thy right -hand doth : for he received with his left-hand, and diftri- buted with this right, and out of his own fubftancc gave away more than he was entrufted with, till the barrel of meal wafted, and the crufe of oyl failed : and even then, by his own diligence, by his wife's indu- ftry, and the liberality of a few friends, who gucfs'd r XXX ] at his circumdances, he lived to his own content, in a reputable manner, in the opinion of the world ; and was (till to the very laft enabled to put in pradice that direction. Freely ye have received^ freely give, I am fenfible that thcfe things are contrary to the com- mon maxims of life, and to the didates of flelh and blood; nay, fomemay fay that all this while he forgot his own children, and his father^ s houfe ; however by the marvellous providence of God, his pollerity as to temporal riches are in a flourifliing condition, by many degrees above what he could have treafured up for them, had he improved and reap'd the advan- tages of his education, and had he been the greateft worldling. There is ftill an acknowledgment in- difpenfably due to the memory of our author on this fubjedt; and that is, amidft this tide of his libe- rality, he was profufe to thofe he took to be of the houlhold of faith. The world may fay and think as they pleafe. There was the court of the Gentiles and the San5fum San^iorum in the narrow compafs of the Jewifti temple : and let him that thinketh he Jiandetby take heed left he fall. The zeal of thine houfe hath eaten me tip^ and the re- f roaches of them that reproached thee are fallen upon mcy was the fubjedl of his frequent meditation. In all paflive virtue he was firm and calm and immoveable, but in the duties which requir'd adlion he was chear- ful and vigorous and zealous ; efpecially in the mini- ftrations of his facerdotal office. His graceful per- fonage and agreeable manner eafily gained him atten- tion, approbation, and reverence, in the common of- fices of life : but when he waited at the altar, earneft- nefs and zeal difplayed themlelves, luftre and undiion triumph'd in every ecftatic and yet compofed fea- ture. I remember what is faid of St Stephen^ ABs vi. 15^ And all that fat in the council^ looking ftcdfaftly on hinty faw his face as it had been the face of an angel. In moft other inftances, I humbly declare myfelf doubtful of the reprefentation> as commonly exprels'd by C xxxi 1 by a glory or luminous appearance : to me that feems CO derive from an uncertain and apocryphal original; and though there is no abfurdity in the allufion, yet there may be credulity in the fadl. There was a bodily material light in feveral difpenfations under the Old Teflament, as in the cafe of Mofes and the cherubims •, and likewife under the New Teftament, as at our Saviour's transfiguration, and St Paulas con- verfion ; and probably there was an' external fplen- dor about St Stephen ; yet the reprefentations ac large, unlefs they denote and exprefs the happy place to which the faints are gone before, have no manner of foundation fo far as I can learn. The truth and reality may pofTibly be refolv'd into the aftonifhing make of an human countenance. This, like the reft of the compofition, is wonderfully ?nade : and as the face will naturally exprefs the intenfnefs of pain with- out the aid of words or groans ; as malice and rage, in defiance of philofophers and politicians, tho' filenc and inarticulate, will (tart thro' the features, and fhew the fiend ; fo where the whole man, when the reafoa, the afFedlions, the voice and gefture, where ail con- fpire in the worfhip of God, thefe naturally raife the countenance into an innocent, fweet, attradlive, ear- neft, ferious, and majeftic joy ; and that, heighten'd and temper'd by the influences and emanations of God's blefTed Spirit, gives me a ftrong idea of an an- gelic countenance, or a face as it [were or'] had been^ the face of an angel. The text fays of the council «t75;/|fl-fitj/T€?, they look'd fixedly and iintenfly at St Ste^ phen : tho' perhaps a vifible bodily radiancy would not fo probably have rais'd wonder and attention as fright and confufion. However this be, I may be permitted to fay, that our author, efpecially when ierving at the altar, made an heavenly and angelic appearance; and, confidering thofe miniftring fpirits under the moft benevolent and attradive characters by which they are defcribed to us, had at leaft a moral L xxxii ] moral refemblance of them, in having a venerable alped: full of grace and truth. Our author in his judgment was unalterably at- tached to the church of England in her articles, ca- nons, rubrics, and homilies. The following charader was given of him in the public prints on the mournful occafion of his death. * Augujt 1727. On the 2 8thof7«/)'la{l died the very * reverend Mr. Nathanael Spnckes, in an advanced * age, being entered upon his 74th year. He was * low of ftature, venerable of afpecfl, and exalted in * his charadter. He had no wealth, few enemies, * many friends. He was orthodox in his faith, his * enemies being judges. He had uncommon learn- ' ing, and fuperior judgment ; and his exemplary life * was concluded with a happy death. His patience * was great, his felf-denial greater, his charity dill * greater: tho' his temper fcemed to be his cardinal * virtue, (an happy conjun V ftoc one day, nar many hours remaining. So our ' Saviour acquaints us in the following words, wherein we fee all his hopes dalh'd at once, with the unwel- come news of his approaching end : (/) Qod [aid. unto him, Tbou fool^ this night Jhall thy foul he required of thee ; then whofe fhall thofe things be which thou hafi provided? A moft aftonifhing ftroke ! and which, muft inevitably ftab him like a dagger to the heart ; that when arrived at the top of his defired profperity and happinefs, he fhould be immediately caft down below all his fears ! Oh ! how fad, how difconfolate, how melancholick, how defperate, muft his cafe be ! What meflage to a worldly-minded man like this I As if it had been faid to him. Thou vain, thought- lefs creature, thus to lay thy weak defigns for many years to come, and not remember at the fame time thou art not fure of one hour thou canft call thine own ! It is true, thou haft laid up goods for many- years, but for whom thou knoweft not ; certainly not for thyfelf. For even this night thou muft be called away, and fo muft leave them to fomebody, that ic may be will neither thank thee for them now, nor Ihew any regard to thy memory when thou art gone. So vain a thing is man ! We are apt to form our pro- je6ls, and contrive, and drudge, and toil for futurity ; when, for aught we know to the contrary, we are upon the very brink of the grave, and ready to drop the next moment into eternity. Hceret later i lethalis arundo. We carry death always about us. Such is the weaknefs of our conftitution, fuch our na- tural decays and infirmities, fo many the difeafes we are liable to, and fuch the multiplicity and danger of the outward accidents we are all expofed to, that ic is a great vanity and ftupidity to promife ourfelves any long continuance here, nothing in the world being more certain than death, nor any thing more uncer- tain than the time of ic. We knov/ ngt when our (/) Lu'se xii. %o. D 2 Lord 4 This Life's uncertainty. Lord will call for us, whether at even, or at midnight, or at the cock-crowing, or in the morning. Hence our Life is compared in fcripture, to things of the leaft liability or duration ; to a (g) Jhip under fail, and an eagle upon the wing in purfuit after its prey ; to a (h) poft that hafteth by ; to a weaver's (i) Jhuttle for the quicknefs of its motion ; to a tale (k) that is foon told ; and, as I have already obferved, to a (/) va- pour that appeareth for a little time, and then vanijheth away. And Drexetius juftly enough fets it forth by divers fuch refemblances, as plainly intimate it to be of the moft flitting nature that can be ; Sofnnus, bulla, vitrum, glacies, flos, fabula, fcenum. Umbra, cinis, pun^mn, vox, /onus, aura, nihil (jn). Such as a deep that is interrupted by any noife, a bubble that inflantly difappears, a glafs that is bro- ken in a moment, the ice that neceflarily difiblves upon the approach of any hear, a flower that pre- fently dries up and falls, a fl:ory that is immediately at an end, the grafs that is quickly cut down and withered into hay, a (hadow that has no fubfl:ance of its own, afhes blown away by every puff of wind, a point that has no extenfion, a voice that is no fooner heard than gone, or any other fort of found, the air that is in perpetual motion ; and as if all this v/ere not enough to exprefs its vanity and uncer- tainty, he concludes in refembling it, at laft:, to a mere nothing. And agreeably hereto, fays Petrarch, and each one's experience abundantly confirms his ob- fervation («), Currimus ad mortem citius vet tardius omnes : We are all of us hafting to our latter end^ and one after another fliall be fure to meet with it. It cannot poffibly be far from any of us (o), but may be much (S) Job ix. 16. (h) Ver. ij-. (i) Ibid. vi. 6. (k) Pfalm xc. 9. (/) jimes iv. 14. {m) Vrodrom- JEtern. c. 1. § %o. (n) Di re- tried, urr. forrun. i. >. diai. 6, (0) Mors, quae p optrr inccrtos cafus ) One dieth in his full ftrengtb^ being wholly at eafe and quiet. His hreajts are full of milk, and his bones are ?noiftened with mar- row. And another dieth in the bitternefs of his foul, and never eateth with pleafure. ^hey fhall lie down alike in the dufl, and the worms fhall cover them. Whence it nearly concerns all that have any regard for their own eternal welfare to be always upon their watch, according to that diredion of Qur bleffed Lord ; {q) Know this, that if the good man of the houfe bad known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have fuffered his houfe to be broken up. Therefore be ye alfo ready : for in fuch an hour as ye think not, the Son of man (ometh. And that other admonition in St. John's {r) Revelation, Behold, 1 conm as a thief Bleffed is he that watchetb, and keepeth hh garments, left be walk naked, and they fee his fJoame. A furprifmg change indeed! fo very lately healthy and ftrong, and now in a weak and dangerous con- dition ! Oh the inftability of this frail and mortal ftate ! Whom would not this provoke to look about him, and be fo wife as ferioufly to confider his latter ind, that fo neither fickmfs nor death may ever feize him unprovided for it? How ought it to banifli all vice and v/ickednefs out of the world, and excite people to a conftant holinefs of converfation ! And how mud it raife up in the minds of fuch, who have any remainders of compafiion iq them, a hearty con* cern for thofe they fee or hear to lie under any fuch afjli^\ve vifitation I efpecialiy confiderirrg they know not how very foon it may be their own cafe, inaf- much as we have no certainty of our lives, nor indeed of our health, fo much as for a day or hour. Where- fore I have a great mind to go vjfit this good man, as he defires -, to fee how he is, and try if I can ad- piinifter any comfort to him, and to remind him (p) Job xxi ij; J4, 2j-, x6. (q) Mitch, xxiv. 4.5, 44, {r\ Rev,, 6 This Lifes uncertmnty. how he ought both patiently and thankfully to fuh- mit to God's hand, and carefully to prepare himfelf for whatfoever may be defigned for him ; fo that he may truly glorify God, whether it be by life or by death ; and may himfelf be happy in whetherfoever of them. But I wait, tho* with fome impatience, for Timotheus's company, whom I am obliged to t^ke along with me. He is a very good man, and Anchu thanes' s hearty friend, and wifhes him as well as any one, and, I dare fay, would rejoice in good earneft to do him any friendly office. For which reafons \ have already fent for him, and wonder he (lays fq long. But hold, 1 fee him coming, and will go meet him. — Excufe me, good 7'tmolbeus, that I have taken the liberty to fend for you upon an unexpected occa- fion. "Timotheus. I rejoice to fee you, fheophilus^ in good health; and moft heartily thank you for all the civi- Cities and kindnejfes I have received from you, ever lince I had the honour to be known to you, and am glad of any opportunity of waiting upon you. But may I ask. Sir, why you have fent for me at this time.f^ Is there any thing I can be fo happy as to feryc you in ? Theoph. Have you not heard of your friend An- chilhanes^s fudden illnefs? Timoth, You furprife me to a great degree : Is my good friend, and old acquaintance, Anchitbanes fick? Thcoph, He is fick, very fick indeed ; and, by his meffage to me, feen^s to apprehend himfelf to be near his end. Timoth. I am mightily concerned at it, and mqft own I conceive it to be the worft news I have heard of a long time. But, as old Eli faid, upon Samuel^s acquainting him with God's denunciations againft himfelf and his houfe, fo fay I in this cafe, {s) It is the Lord : let him do what feenieth him good. As every ^an is intirely at God's difpofal, fo Ihould we ajl be {s) \ Sam. in". i8. ready This Lifes uncertainty. 7 ready at all times to fubmit to whatfoever he Ihall think fit in any cafe to lay upon us. Theopk We are all (/) in the Lord*s hand^ as the clay in the hand of the potter^ to order us as he pleafes. Let us not therefore be overmuch afliicled for what has befallen our neighbour, that we feem not to flrive againft that Divine Will, which we continually pray {u) may he dme, by ourfelves and all mankind, in earth as it is in heaven^ and go counter to our blefled Saviour's example, who pray'd to his Father a little before his crucifixion, {w) Oh my Father^ if it he pof fible^ let this cup pafs from me i neverthelefs not as I will^ but as thou wilt. And again, {x) If this cup may not pafs from ms^ e:ccept I drink it, thy will ie done, Titnoth. But pray teJl me, how long has he been thus ill? I never heard a word of.it before, and am heartily forry to hear it now. neoph. It is not yet two days fince he was firfl feiz'd. Timoth, It is much he (hould be fo quickly weak^ ened to fuch a degree as you feem to apprehend. T!heoph, Not at all, confidering the mechanifm of the human body, the variety of its parts, and th« nicenefs of its contexture, which, like a clock or watch of divers motions, is eafily put out of order by every accident. Timoth, Will your occafions permit you, Theophi^ lusy to give him a vifit ? Theoph, It was for that purpofe I fent to defire your company. Timoth, I am ready to wait upon you whenever you pleafe. ^ Theoph. Then, if you think fit, we will be going as faft as we can. You know how truly chriflian an aft it is to vifit and comfort the fick and weak. The wife fon of Sirach invites to it, as not only a com- mendable, but a profitable and advantageous pradice : (}•) Fail not to he with them that weep^ and mourn with (0 Jer. xviii. 6. (u) iVIatth. vi. lo. (tp) Ibid, xxvi, 39. (x) Ibid, ver, 42^ 4-4., ( y) EccIhs. vii. ;4. D 4 tbm S This Lifes uncertainty, them that mourn. Be not flow to v'ifit the fick *, for that Jhall make thee to he beloved. And our chriftianity teaches us, that it is one of thofe duties, which being performed out of obedience to our Lord's command, is fure to be rewarded at the laft day, with no lefs inheritance than that of the kingdom of heaven ; as whofoever pleafes may fee, in that awakening account our Lord himfelf gives us, of the final judgment to be pafled upon all mankind, (z) Then Jhall the King fay to them on his right-hand^ Come^ ye blejjed of my Fa- ther^ inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the be- ginning of the world. And the reafon of this his fa** vourable fentence you have in the two next verfes ; (^) For I was an hungredy and ye gave me meal \ I was thirfty^ and ye gave me drink -, and amongft other good deeds, I was ftcky and ye vifited me. Not that this office was performed to our Lord himfelf in his own perfon -, but that being done to his poor fick members^ he is pleas'd to interpret it, as tho' it had been done to himfelf For fo it follows, (b) Verily I fay unto you^ inafmuch as ye have done it unto one of the leafl of thefe my brethren^, ye have done it unto me, thrift being our head graciouily reckons all kindneffes done to any the mcanctl of his members, as done to himfelf. Timcth. Yes, to his poor members, fuch as (land in need of our charity and relief, that we not barely vifit them, but make fome provifion for the fupply of their ftreighrs. Thsoph. But is this all that you take to be here intended? The foul, you know, is of infinitely more value than the body. And you may be fure there- fore, that to comfort, inftrud, encourage, admonifh, -6x ^ny way aflift a fick foul, tho* of a wealthy per- faii, and whp needs no alms from us, is at leaft as 'great a charity as can be done to the body. ^' fimoth. I am convinced. -' Theopb. The .apoifle Sr. Paul alfo invites to this fort of charity, that w^ not only {c) rejoice with them (x) Matrh. xx-v. 74.. > Ibid, .vcr. j,)-, 56. {b) Ibid. ver. 40. '-ti %Qv:u i-.'. ';-, sO. that This Life's uncertainty. 9 that do rejoice \ but weep alfo with them that weepy he- ing of the fame mind one towards another^ compalTion- ately def^rous of each other's welfare, whether fpifi- tiKil, or temporal, as our own. Lee us go then, and vifit this fick man, and adminifter what confolation we can to him, that he may be prevailed with to bear this his iicknefs with the greater patience and fubmif- fion to his heavenly Father's juft corre<5tion. For in truth this I take it to have been his end, in defiring me to fend and to intreat your company. And this therefore I did, that we might together try, if we can be any way ferviceable to him in his weak eftate. Timoth, I were not only very unkind, both to him and you, but unworthy the name of a chriftian, or even of a man, if I could find in my heart to refufe accompanying you, when going upon fo charitable a defign. Tbeoph. Let us haften then, {d) It is better^ fays the preacher, to go to the hcufe of mourningy than to the houfe of feafting \ for that is the end of all men^ and the living will lay it to heart. What better motive can there be to a true repentance for all our fins, and a ferious and affeding confideration of what is like to become of us in a future ftate, than to obferve a fick friend flruggling with the pangs of death, and ready to expire at every gafp? It is not only a kindnefs to our friends, to vifit and attend them in thefe agonies^ and afford them the bed afliftance we are able in any refpeft, but may prove a greater to ourfelves, by reminding us of our mortality, and the dreadful (late of fuch as are forced to leave this world, before they have prepared themfelves for a better. Let us there- fore lofc no time. And God grant we may find him well in his underflanding, that however he be other- wife af!e(5led,his head and intelledluals be not diflurbed, Tvnoth, And that his ficknefs be not fo violent, as to unqualify him for fuch difcourfe, as is proper for one ia fo declining a condition. (f/) Ecclcf. vii. 2. I p T!he more remote preparation for Tieath. The frjl VISIT. The more remote preparation for Tieath, Theoph, T Am glad to find you alive, good Anchi- J^ thanes, I made hafte to fee you as foon as ever Timotheus came ; but by your fervant's rela- tion I was not without fome fufpicion of coming too late. 'Timoih. Tbeophilus affrighted me with his account of the danger, wherein you was reprefented to be : but I am heartily glad to find it not fo bad as we imaginM. Anchithanes, My good friends, I unfeignedly thank you, both for your kind vifit to a poor fick man, and for your compafTionate concern for my welfare. Theoph, We ihould be extremely to blame, if we fhould not be highly concern' d for the life of ib dear a friend, and fo fmgularly ufeful upon all accounts: but pray, good Anchilhanes^ How do you find your- felf? ^ Anchith, I was exceedingly ill, troubled with faint- ing fits, in which I thought 1 fhould have died away, before T could hope to fee you : but I thank God they are now over , and tho' I doubt I have got a fever, it is not yet fo violent but that I am quite another creature than I was a few hours fince, Timolb. God be praifed for that! Tbeopb, It is a great bleffing, that you have met with fuch an abatement of your diftemper : but ic is a far greater, that you have not your main work now to do, but have been long expeding the time, when you muft come to languifh upon a fick bed, and getting your foul into a readinefs for it. Anchith, If I had not, I muft have been in a moft difconfolate condition at this time. For to die, and enter upon an eternal ftate, is a ferious matter, and of the utmoft importance that can be. And to pre- pare aright for it, is a v/ork of time and pains, in v^hich The more remote preparation for Deaths 1 1 which we can never he too diligently employed. And yet, on the other hand, I find my head fo out of order, my ffhits fo faint and low, and my thouihti fo flufluating and difcompofed, that I am in a man- ner fit for nothing ; but by no means fit to go thro' with fo great a work, as an entrance upon ^ new courfe of life would be. Theoph. I am fenfible that a fick man has enough to take up his thoughts, upon the account of the un- eafincfs of his condition, and need not therefore to have deferred any work of moment till that time. Timoth, It once affefted me very nearly, to hear a good man loaded with years, and of a very infirm and broken conftitution, though not then labouring under any prefent flcknefs, in treat his auditors from the pulpit to believe, what he found by certain expe- rience, that old age, and a cra?y body, were very- ill qualifications for the performance of any matter of confequence and difficulty, and particularly for the great work of repentance. And 1 could eafily believe him ; and did heartily wifh, that both myfelf, and all then prefent, would be invited fpeedily to apply ourfelves to it, as being firmly perfu^ded, it would both deferve and require all our ftrength and vigour, and our mod ferious and undiftyrbed thoughts, to bring fo great a change aboqt. Iheoph, The cafe is fo very plain, that one would think it hardly poflible, for any man of common un^ derftanding, to put off his repentance a day longer. And daily experience fadly ihews, that nothing is more common with the generality, even of them who call themfelves chriftians, and profefs to have their converfation in heaven^ and to be laying up their trea- fures there, than to live as if they had no hope of a, future ftate. Ti?7ioth. They go on in the croud, and think to fare as well as their neighbours : and becaufe they fee their companions, and all about them, heedlefly fol- low their own imaginations, and tho' they own a ner ceffiry 12 The more remote preparation for T>eath. ccffity of repenting fome time or other, are yet loth to fet about it ; they therefore take the fame de- itrudlive courfe, in hope that when they come to Ian- guifh upon a fick bed, and are fit for nothing elfe, they (hall have time enough to do that, which all their life long they could never be prevailed with to fet about, tho* it ought to have been the bufmefs of their whole lives •, till perhaps they are taken away by fudden death, and fo never lie fick at all *, or, if they do, their ficknefs proves fuch, as either employs all their thoughts with the acutenefs of its pains, or the intenfnefs of its heat and thirft -, or their heads are fo diflurbed, that they rove and wander, and are fit for nothing that is ferious ; but efpecially, not for taking a review of their paft converfation, and make- ing a judgment of themfelves from it. And ithqs all their good purpofes prove abortive, and fcrve to no other end, but to delude and deceive chem here, and render them everlaftingly miferable hereafter. Anchith, This is a very melancholick confjderatioij^ but the fad is too evident to be denied. "Timoth, Now you find the comfort of not having been one of this inconfiderate tribe, but having tak^n care in time to do what now it would be out of your power to do as you ought. Jncbitb. I would not have been one of them for all the world. I ever admired at the folly of fuch as could find in their hearts to venture their eternal flate, upon the uncertainty of a late repentance, which too probably might never be at all, or at leafl never be fuch as to reffore them to the favour of God, and an intereft in his promifes of mercy and falvation. Theoph, You have ever atiled as a wife man, but never fo truly in any refpe6l as in this; all the con- cerns of this prefent world being nothing in compa- rifon of the ineflimable felicity of that which is to come, nor any fort of tortures that can befal us here bearing any proportion to thole everlalling, whereto the reprobate will be adjudged in a future itate. The more remote preparation for Death ^ 1 3 Anchith. I confefs, and defire co do it with fharne and true compundion of foul, that I have been a great finner ; tho' I thank my God, I have made it my ftudy for the greater part of my life, to forfake my fins, and live in the pradice of the contrary vir- tues; relying upon God thro' Ghrift, for the pardon of my mifcarriages, and ability to reform and amend: yet not fo fucccfsfully, but that after all the care I have hitherto taken, I find I have bufinefs enough now upon my hand, in fuing to God for pardon, and trimming my lamp, and fitting my felf for my Lord's appearance, that I may be accepted by him at liis coming. Wherefore, A Confellion of Sin. I. /I Mo[l holy^ moll glorious^ and moft gracious Lord God^ who defireft not the death of a finner^ hut that he Jhould turn from his ways and live ; cajl an eye cf pity and compaffion upon thine unworthy fervanty and ejlrange not thy felf from me by reafon of my undutifulnefs, I confefsy O Lord^ with the utmojl fhame and felf ahafe^ menty that I have highly offended thy Divine Majejlyy and forfeited all pretence to thy favour. It is of thy mercy that I am not long fince confumed^ that thou hafi not cut me off^ and caft me into the furnace of fircy where is weepings and wailing ^ and gnafhing of teeth for evermore. Wherefore I defire to humble myfelf before thee in the mofl fubmiffive manner, to lament and be heartily forry for my fins, I have finned againft infi^ nite love, and the moft endearing et^preffwns of kindnefs^ againft the cleareft revelations of thy holy word, and the moft powerful arguments for €ngagi>ig me to a better obe,^ dience -, and have repeated my tranfgreffwns from day to day^ and from year to year. And now. Lord, what can I e>:peU but that thine indignation fhould he kindled againft me, and thou Jhouldeft fwear, in thy wrath, that I fhall never enter into thy reft !^ This mi/erable ftate I have brought myfelf into ; as I cannot Qtherwife reflet, than 14 The more remdte preparation for TOedth, than With hitternefs and angitijh of fouL tt cuts me id the hearty to think I Jhould have thus grojly abufed thy goodnefsy and difobeyed thy laws, And^ in a jufi fenfe of this my inexcufahle folly and bafenefs^ J now apply myfelf to thee by a hearty repentance ; in hope that thou wilt Tiot cafi me off when I do fo, hut wilt extend thy kind- Tiefs to me^ as thou ufefl to do^ to thofe that fear thy name^ through thy only Son our Saviour Jefus Chrijl. Amen. A Prayer for Pardon of Sins. IL f^)Hl bleffed God, I hefeech thee, deal not with 7ne ac* cording to my own weakneffes and im.perfeBions, my itegk^fs and oinffions, my heedleffnef and inaavertency, much lefs according to my more heinous, my wilful and deliberate, viy fouler and more abominable, my open, my repeated, my habitual offences ; but after the 7nultitude of thy mercies blot out all mine iniquities. Think upon me, O Lord, for thy goodnejs ; r,nd frr thy great name's fake, and thy dear Sort's fake, be reconciled to me, as if I had never finned againjf thee. If thou fJoouldefl con- Jider me as I am in myfelf, I could hope for nothing but mifery and defiruMion : even the beft of my fervices are pollutive and defeoiive, and ft and in great 'need of thy mercy and forgivenefs. And my wilful and more dread- ful provocations call loudly for thine indignation upon me. And what Jhall I fay unto thee, O thou preferver of 7nen ? My own heart condemns me ; my mijdoings te- ftify againft me *, and thou, who knoweft the?n all much better than myfelf, together with their feveral aggrava- tions, might juftly conde?nn me. But my comfort is, that with thee the Lord there is mercy, that thou fnayeft be feared, and with thy Son is plmleous redemption. For his fake forgive me all my paft tranfgreffions, whether in thought, word, or deed ; thofe I remember, and thofe I have forgotten i fitch as my confidence fiadly accufies me ofi, and fuch as have eficaped 7ny notice -, 7?iy fins againjl thee 7ny God, againft 7ny neighbour, and agai7ift myfilf}, pardon them all, without exception of_ an) one amongfl thcmy The more remote preparation for T)eath. 1 5 them^ that they may neither he charged upon me to my flmme and confufion here in this world, nor to my ever-- lafiing ruin in that which is to come. I have undone my- feif\ hut in thee is my help j and to thee therefore do I fiee for fuccour, Reje3 me not ^ Lord, in my dijirefs^ nor flout up thy bowels of compajfion from me. But own me for thy fon by adoption and grace, and fave me from the vengeance due to my manifold provocations : what- foever I have done that I ought not to have done, or left undone that I ought to have done, or whereinfoever I have violated thy mofi holy laws, wajh it all away^ 1 moft humbly befeech thee, with my Saviour's blood : And look upon me as a returning prodigal, who am fincerely penitent for all my mifcarriages, the follies of my child- hood, the extravagancies of my youth, and the flips and errors, together with all the other iniquities, of my riper years. And fpare me, O Lord, fpare me^ and of thy great goodnefs command deliverance for me. Deal not with me according to my fins, nor reward me after mine iniquities \ but lift up the light of thy countenance upon me. Call to mind thy loving kindneffes, which have been ever of old, and vifit me with thy falvation. Thou knoweft my frame, and thai J am but dujl ; and may it therefore pleafe thee to extend thy puy to me, and re- ceive me again into thy favour ! Enter not into judg- ment with thy fervant, who am vile earth, and a mi- ferable finner -, but fo turn thine anger from 7ne, wha meekly cuknoizledge my vilenefs, and truly repent me of my faults, and fo make hafte to help me in this worlds as that I may never be condemned zvilh the wicked in the world to come, through Jefus Chrijl our Lord. Amen. Another tor Improvement in Goodnefs, and a right Preparation for a happy Death. III. J-JE. A L my foul, for I have finned againfi thee* And if it fhall be thy good pleafure to prolong my days here upon earth, grant I may improve the time then Jhah ailuzi^ W'3 ta thy glory ^ and my own ever !af ling weU fare^ 1 6 The moTd remote preparation for "Death, fare^ hy ferv'wg thee faithfully^ and doing good in my generation. Or if thou haft determined to retHo'Ve m6 bence^ fo cleanfe and pUrify my hearty that I may neither le afhamed to have lived^ nor afraid to die ; hut may leave this world in a full affurance cf thy favour ^ and may he for ever happy with thee in thy heavenly king- dom, thro* J ejus Chrtft our Lord. Amen. Ti??jcth. I hope God will hear your devout addrefles to hin7, and will grant you a happy diflblution in his due time ; but whether by means of this prefent fick- nefs, I will not pretend to guefs, tho' I wifli for my own and others fake chat he may not. (e) Epaphro- ditus was fick^ nigh unto death: yet fays St. Paid^ God had mercy on him^ and not on him only, hut on vie alfo, left I fhould have forrow upon for row. And it is to be hoped, that God may be pleafed to reftore you toi), to the comfort of your friends, and the great benefit of your relations and dependents. Jnchiihanes. His will be done. I defire intirely to refign myfelf to his difpofal whether for life or death, truiting, thro' the merits of my blefled Redeemer, that either of them (hail be for my good, according as he Ihall, in his infinite vvifdom, decree. And if death be to feize me, as I know not but it may, whe- ther it fhall be a painful, or an eafy, a lingering, or a fpeedy death, I chearlully fubmit to his determina- tion. His will is the belt and wifeft will ; and for this rcafon I define it always may be mine too. Theoj)h. Happy you that have brought yourfelf to fuch a holy frame and temper of mind ! And may the Almighty vouchfafe to beftow his choiceft blef- fings upon you ; temporal and fpiritual bleOings, if it fhall feem pleafing to him in this world ; but however be difpofe of you here, everlafting bleffings in that which is to come ! And now, I'imotheus, let you and I learn from this noble example before us, to obferve and lay ferioufly to heart the bleflfednefs of having (e) r 'lil, ii 26, 17. taken The more remote preparation for "Deaths 1 7 taken care in time to provide for eternity. There is no delight and fatisfadion upon a fick bed, com- parable to that of being able to fay with king He^ze- kiah^ {f) I befeech thee^ O Lord, t^ememher now how I have walked before thee in truth, and with a [erfeSf heart, and -have done that which is 'good in thy fight 5 or with St. Paid, (g) J have fought a good fight, 1 have finifloed my courfe, I have ke,t the faith : hence" forth is laid up for me a crown of right eoufnefs, which God the righteous Judge will give me at that day, and not to 7ne only^ hut to all that love his appearing. It is a fmgular happinefs to refledl upon a Jiie pad, and fee that it has been fpent to God's glory, and the main defign of our coming into this world ; and that the good man has nothing more to do, when he finds his end drav/ing on, but to take an eafy leave of his wonted enjoyments and friends, in order to a welcome tranflation into an heavenly Paradifc, where fliall be no more fighing, or forrows, or grief, or fear, or pain, or ficknefs, or death, but all ihall be moH charmingly tranfporting, without the lead mixture of any alloy, and this to ail eternity. I'imoth. The diiTerent ends of the righteous and the wicked, in this refpecfl:, are a pov/erful motive to a timely repentance, tho' we were to carry our pro- fpe6i: no farther. But when hereto are added the in- finitely glorious rewards promifed to the one, and the intolerable and everlading tortures and agonies that are threatened to the other, he mail be befide himfelf that can be content to live in fuch a manner, as that, without a miracle of mercy, he muft be irre- coverably miferable for evermore. Anchith. It is very (Irange, {h) that people caa allow themfclves in a ftate of fuch apparent danger, and of fuch dreadful confequence 1 And yet nothing (f) 1 Kings XX. 3. (g) 2 Tim. iv. 7, 8. ^ (/;) Non ef>, crede mihi, fapientis dicere, ViV-im. Sera nimis viu eft craftina: vive bodie. Martiali lih» 1 , epig \ 6. E is 1 8 27?^ more remote preparation for "Death. is more common, the hope of a future repentance be- ing perhaps the moft fuccefsful of all the ilracagems, the grand enemy of mankind has ever yet invented, in order to their deftrudion. Moft men are defirous to enjoy their vices here, and Heaven hereafter. And having no other way to reconcile thefe two forts of defirts, but by a late repentance, the bait takes rea- dily with them, and they fwallow it without confider- ing what a terrible rifque they run by it, and how intolerable a mifchief it will be, if they (hould either have no time for fuch a repentance, or, having time, fhould be any way either incapacitated for, or divert- ed from, heartily fetting about it, or, when they have endeavoured it, Ihould find a fhort imperfedl repent- ance, after fo long a courfe of fin, not available to the end they defigned by it. ^heoph. All delays of this kind are of a dangerous nature, and feidom fail to end in the utter ruin of the delayer. For it is great odds, (?) that he who is un- willing to repent to-day, will be as unwilling to-mor- row, or wherrfoever he hopes to fet about it. The fame caufes of delay will ftill remain ; and he will find the fame obftacles in his way hereafter, that he does at prefent. AvA a love of his fins, and whatever prevents his repenting now, will not be leflened, but increafed and ilrengthened, by a longer continuance in a wicked courfe of life. For cuftom, we all know, has a ftrange influence, and becomes a kind of fccond natup, and breeds an almoft invincible inclination ta whatever we have long addided ourfelves to, whe- ther in natural actions, or moral. And in truth, the longer any one defers his repentance, the lefs likely he is ever to undertake it with fuccefs, becaufe thofc habits which he is neceflarily to diveft himfelf of, be- fore he can have performed it, do every day taks deeper and deeper root, and fo are more difficultly (/) S d propera; nee te Venturas diixer in horas; Qui nan eft hodie, eras minus aprus erir. Qvid, ds Kerned* AmsriSi Uh. n 4 plucked The more remote preparation for T>eath, 19 plucked up. Sin is like a bodily fickncrs, which is oftentimes render'd incurable, by having gain'd too great a head, before a courfe was attempted for its cure. And hence it neceflarily follows, that the longer it is continu'd in, the more powerful it muft be ; and fo muft require a greater flrength, and firmer pur- pofes and refolutions, in order to a conqueft over it. And yet, alas ! he that has deferred his repentance to the laft, if he Ihall then in good earneft fet about ic, will not only find liimfelf under the power of a more inveterate habit, and a ftronger bias, on che wrong fide, but, which is far more confiderablc, he has alfo lefs ground to exped che afTiftance of God's Holy Spirit, without which he will never be able to per- form any thing that is good. For tho' it is c rtain, that Almighty God delights not {k) in the death of a /inner ^ but rather that he turn from his way and live ^ though (/) he would have all men come to bi?n, and be faved y and {in) is long-fuffering to us-ward^ not willing that any fhould perifh^ but that all fJoould come to repent- ance ; he has faid no lefs on the other hand, that his (ji) Spirit fhall not always ft rive with man^ and has threaten'd that as to him that hath fuall he given, that is, to him that ufeth aright the grace and affiftance of the Holy Spirit, fhall be given a greater meafure of the fame grace and afliftance, {0) and he Jhall have more abundance ; fo on the contrary, whcfoever hath tiot^ that is, makes not a right ufe of ic, from him Jhall be taken away, even that he hath. As much as to fay, God of his great goodnefs will give the Holy Spirit to them that afK it, and ftudy to make a good improvement of what meafure of it he bellows upon them, but will withdraw it from fuch as abufe his kindnefs, either not ufing his grace at all, or to a wrong purpofe. And when a finner has piovok'd God thus to leave him to himfelf, he fadly deceives his own foul, if he imagine himfelf likely to effeift {k) Ezok.xxxiii. ii. (/) i Tim. ii. 4. {rn) i Pa. iii. 9. [n) Gen, vi. 3. {0) Matth, i\\\. li. E 2 in 20 The more remote preparation for 'Death. in a little time, what he thought a harder tafk than he could find in his hsart to enter upon, when his flrength was greater, his time more, his fmful habits not fo fettled and confirmed, and his affiftance greater than he can now hope for. So that there is very lit- tle reafon to exped: fuch an one ihould ever repent truly at the laft, if he have time for it. He that is affrighted at the lefs burdenfome tafk, will hardly venture upon the greater to any purpofe. And if he could not be induced to amend when his (ins were much fewer, and his abilities for conquering them much greater, he can fcarce hope to do it as he ought, when his vices have taken deeper root, and his fpirits are cxhaufted, and his help is gone. This I fay (p) upon fuppofition of his having time allow'd him for this great and neceflary work. But if it happen on the contrary, as it very often does, that he has no time for it, how deplorable muft his cafe then be I He is undone beyond recovery ; and nothing remains for him, but ^ fearful expectation of wrath ^ and fiery in dig* nation from Almighty God. And yet every one knows this is a common cafe, and which frequently befals fuch as put off their repentance till hereafter. {q) Death feizes them, as it did the rich man, whom we cannot too often think of, whofe foul was de- manded of him at a time, when he thought of no- thing lefs, than he did, according to a fcandalous pro- verb too well known amongft ourfelves, of his dying day. (r) His ground^ fays our Saviour, brought forth -plentifully. And he thought within him felf^ faying, IVhat /hall I do, hecaufe I have no room where to beftow my fruits ? And he faidy This will I do : I will pull down my barns ^ and build greater ; and there will I beftow all my fruits and tuj goods. And I will fay to my foul ^ Soul, (p) "Mi (j.viKTo Ik 'Ti^QT-a TcLvTct cIvclCaK'^, }y o'7• ^i. (r) Luke xii. 16; 17, iS, 19. ihou The more remote preparation for 'Death. 2 1 thou hafi much goods laid up for many years j take thine eafe^ eat^ drink^ and be merry. Thus he vainly pro- mifed himfelf a long enjoyment of what he was to pleafingly pofiefs'd of. Buc I have already obferv'd to you his unhappy and fpeedy difappointment. Flis projed: for nnany years was hardly fram'd, when, be- hold ! a moil difagreeable mefLige is fent him, enough to ftrike him dumb, and fill his mind with the utmofl: confufion. (j) Thou fool^ this ?iight Jhull thy foul he re- quired of thee \ then whofe fijall thoje things he which thou haft provided? They Ihall have another owner i and poffibly one whom thou didft by no means defign them for. (/) So is he^ fays our Saviour, that layeth up to himfelf treafure upon earth, and is not rich to- wards God. And fo is it ordinarily with him that promifes a late repentance, and will not be induced to fet about it in the mean time. Such too ufually ex- periment, to their coft, the uncertainty of their fruit- lefs expedlation ; being one way or other, before they are aware of it, deprived of the feafon they had groundlefly promifed themfelves to repent in. To the fame purpofe alfo fpeaks St. James^ taxing fome in his days, with contriving bufmefs for a much longer time, than they had any reafon to depend upon. {u) Go to now^ fays the Apoftle, ye that fa^j^ To-day, or to-morrow, we will go into fuch a city, and continue there a year^ and huy and fell, and get again \ whereas ye know not what fh all he on the morrow. For what is your life ? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time^ and then vanifheth away. Our life is fo fbort and un- certain, (w) that nothing is more common, than for men to be cut off in the midfh of their days, and fo have all their thoughts periflj, all their likelieft projeds, (s) Luke xii. 20. (t) Ibid, ver, ^\, (u") James iv. 13, 14. (vp) Quid lie futurum eras, fuge quaererc. Quem fors dicrum cunque daoit, lucro A p pone — Hor>ft. Od. 9. Moriendum caim ccitt; tfl, Sc. id incertum, an eo iplb d'e. Scnec, Jle pneci. c. lo. E 3 asid 2 2 The more remote preparation for T>eath. and beft-laid defigns mifcarry, and all their hopes defeattrd. When once {x) their breath goetb forth ^ and how foon that may be God alone knows, they turn again to their duft, and all their expectations, their contrivances and imaginations, vanifh into air. And thefe two confiderations, that he who purpofes to re- pent hereafter, may poflibly never live to fee the time he propofes to do it in •, or if he do, the fame impe- diment ch;it obftru^ls his repentance now, will in all probability not be leflened, but increafed, and fo more like to obftrucl it ftill ; thefe confiderations, I fay, were an abundant caution to a wife man, to un- dertake it out of hand, whilft he is fit for it, and has time to do it in, and good reafon to believe, that by God's grace he may perform it in fuch a manner as to be accepted by Almighty God ; and fo it may prove a repentance to fahation, and that is never to be repent''. d of. Twiofh. Thefe are weighty confiderations, and de- ferve to be well attended to, by all that know they have immortal fouls to fave, and v/hich muft be infi- nitely either happy or miferable in the other flate, according to the provifion they fhall have made for themfclves, by the difcharge or negledl of their duty here. Tbeoph. They are fo ; as weighty as can be. And yet there are others not inferior to th^m, and which deferve a ferious regard, as well as they. "Timoth, Thefe are enough, highly to condemn the behaviour of fuch who aft in contradiflion to them, at the hazard of their eternal welfare. But fmce you have others yet in referve, be pleafcd to let us hear them, tho' I fhould have thought thefe fufiicient of themfelves. Theoph. The two chief are thef- : flrll, that he who repents at his latter end, lofes the comfort of his re- pentance, and departs hence at great uncertainties. His repentance may pofiibly be fuch as would hold (:v) Pfal cxlv.. 4. out The more remote preparation for TDeath, 1 3 "OUt at all times, and under all trials; but this is more than he can aflure himfelf of. He knows he refolves well •, but fo have many who are now in Hell, bewailing their folly and difobedience, in endlcfs and remedilefs torments. Their refokuions were made, when their fpirits were low, the temptations to their fins were weak, and when the profped of a near eter- nity was before them, to awaken their minds, and put them upon refleding what was like to become bf them for ever, if they fhoukl die in their fins. Hence they fully refolded to lead a new life, if it fhould pleafe God to prolong their days ; and that they would ne- ver fufFer themfelves to gratify their unreafonabie lufts and paflions any more, but would always keep in mind the great account they mud one day give up before our Lord's tribunal, and would make fuch di- ligent preparation for it, as that death may never feeni terrible to them any more. Yet when it had plea fed God to try them, and they found themlelves again in health and vigour, their vices alTaulting them with the fame infmuations as formerly, and death and hell appearing again at fome diftance from them ; the de- * ceitfulnefs of fin has prevailed againfl: them, their good purpofes have flagged, their vows and promifes have been forgotten, their allurements have appeared with their ufual force, their finful companions have entic'd them, their own wicked hear:s have betray'd them, their grand enemy the devil has taken care toftrengthen and enfiame all their evil motions and inclinations, and they have fhamefully and perfidioufly relaps'd into their former abominations, and have again indulged themfelves in all they had fo formally renounced, {y) returning with the dog to his vofnit ; and with the fow that was wafioed^ to her wallozving in the 7?iire. Or perhaps, (z) the unclean fpirit that zvent out of the man ^ returning^ and finding his habitation em.pty^ fi^ept^ and garnijhed^ may have taken to him feven other fpirits ■more wicked than himfelf \ and thefe all entering in, and (y) 2 Pet. ii 12. (si) Marrh. xii. 43, 44, 4j. E 4 24 The more remote preparation for "Death. dwelling thtre^ his Ufi eftatc may have become /^r worfs than the firfi. Nothing is eaficr than to dcfign and promife an amendment, when a man is under a vio- lent f::ar and danger, which has taken fuch pofreffion of his mind, that he is not at liberty to confider the difficulty of performing the amendment he thus hafti- ]y promifes. His thoughts are all employed abouc the neceffity he is in, of endeavouring by all means poiTible^ to avoid the difmal pit, that opens its infa- tiable mouth to receive him. And this prevents his duly attending to the means that are needful to this great end, and the inconveniencies and trouble that may probably be met with in the ufe of them. So that all his good refolutions being made only when in fuch a fright, and when his eyes were fo fixed upon the want he had of them, that he could not allow himfelf to make a due inquiry into the feveral con- flidls whereto they might expofe him, no wonder if they hold out no longer, when his circumftances are quite altered, and his wonted habits prefs him, and his ufual temptations return upon him, with a far greater ftrength than he had imagined. This is fuch a terrible diiappointment to him, that he knows not how to bear up againft it, but faints and falters, and falls av/ay, in hope of another repentance when in the like unhappy flate. Inftances of thefe relapfes have been fo notorious, that the death-bed penitent will never be able to allure himfelf, he fhall not be liable to the fame hazard, if it pleafe God to make the experiment. And therefore, not knowing whe- ther all his forrow for his fins, and his purpofes and promifes of a new obedience for the future, are fuch as will iland the tt^^ and upon trial will bring forth fruits meet for repentance^ he muft needs be in great perplexity, and lull of doubts and fears, left after all he has been able to do in this weak con'dition, to- wards the fecuring his eternal falvation, he fhould however mifcarry, and come jljort of the glory of God^ and have his portion at laft allotted him amongft the ■ 4 vejels The more remote preparation for TDeath> 2 5 veffds of wrathy that are fitted for deftruElion, Thefe apprehenfions muft inevitably fit heavy upon the foul of one that is fo late affeded with a fight and fenfe of his fins, and the dreadful tortures due to them, and who moreover knows not whether all his forrow, and. humiliation, and repentance, be fuch, as would cer- tainly produce a reformation in him, if time were al- lowed for it. And yet neither is this the worft of his cafe, though bad enough in all reafon. For, Secondly^ Did he know his repentance to be fuch, as upon trial would anfwer his expeclation, of pro- ducing in him quite different affedions and adlions, from what he had before indulged himfelf in, he is not fo very fure, that it will be available to falvation, unlefs it adually do fo. [a] When the wicked man turns away from his wickednefs which he hath committed, and doth that which is lawful and right, we know affuredly he Jhall fave his foul alive. But I have never met with a like promife to him that has lived wickedly all his life, and only laments and condemns his folly, and promifes an amendment, when he comes to die. God may, and I charitably hope he will, extend his pity to fuch as are truly conivnced, though at the laft gafp, of the evil of their doings, and unfeignedly refolve upon a reformation, fo far as he fhall enable them for it. But I am not now fpeaking of what God may do, but what he has told us he will do, and what we may certainly depend upon. And, to fpeak my mind freely and plainly, I do not know of any certainty of falvation promifed, in Scripture, to fuch whofe righteoufnefs confifls only in a fruitlefs refolu- . tion, that could never be reduced to pradice. It is unqueftionable, that no man, in his health, has any warrant to pafs a judgment upon himfelf, by what he may be, or intends to be hereafter, but by what he has been, and is at prefent. And I could never find, that God has prefcribed one fort of laws for thofe in health, and another of a very different fort, for * ((^) Ezck. xviii. 17. fuch 26 The more remote preparation for T>eaih. fuch as languidi upon a fick-bed. More may be de- manded of the one than of the other, becaufe of his ability to do more ; but it will be hard to fhew, that whoever defires to be faved, is not indifpenfably re- quired to {b) efchew evil, and do good : {c) to keep the commandments : (d) to do righteoufnejs : {e) to put off, con- cerning the former converfation, the old man, which is corrupt, according to the deceitful lufii, and to be renewed in the fpirit of the mind, and put on the new man, which after God is created in right eoufnefs, and true holinefs \ and in a word, f/j to cleanfe himfelf from all filthinefs vf flefh and fpirit, and perfeU holinefs in the fear of God, And this is fomething more than barely refolving to do well hereafter, if it be in our power. A true re- pentance is not only iJATcLvoicty a change of mind, or a forrow for the having done amifs ; but iJ.iTA^^Ke^a. too, a care to walk more holily for the future. And where this latter part of it is wanting, there is too much reafon to fear, that the other will not be fuf- ficient without it. At lead it is not fo certain that ic will, as that any who call themfelves Chriftians, fhould venture their cverlafting falvation upon it; left at the laft they meet with a dreadful difappointment, and when they have been pleafing themfelves with the hopes of Heaven, and all its unconceivable felicities, fhould awake, to their eternal forrow, in the never- ending flames of Hell. I do not pretend to {ti bounds to the divine goodnefs, and pardoning mercy, or to determine juft how far the Almighty will extend his favour to a relenting finner, who repents in the very agonies of death. It is enough for my purpofe, and a great deal more than our modern Clinicks can an- fwer, that I know of no exprefs pofitive declaration in Scripture, that fuch fhall be faved. Timoth, But ht)ld, Theophilus, you feem to run a little too faft. For pray what do you think of our Saviour's parable of the labourers hired into the vine- (h) Ifa. i. 1 6, 17. ami i Pet. iii. 11. (c) Matth. xix. 17. (d) J John iii. 7. (e) Ephel^ \v. 2i; 25, 24. (f) i Cor. vti. i. yard. The more remote preparation for 'Death. 27 yard, Mat. xx. i. (^c, according to which, thofe who came in at the laft hour, met with the fame welcome and reward with them that had horn the heat and bur- den of the day? Is it not natural to infer from hence, that if a man turn trom his fins, though ever fo Iate» he may reafonably expedl to be accepted, as a true penitent ? Theoph, By no means; as might eafily be (hewn upon divers accounts. For this parable was fpoken upon another occafion, and without any relation to the death-bed penitent, no more being intended by it, than the calling of the Gentiles into the church of God : and the feveral hours mentioned in it were defigned not to fignify the feveral parts or ftages of our lives, but the different ages of the world ; and that the Gentiles^ who were taken into the Lord's vineyard, and made members of his church, in thofe later days, fhould neverthclefs enjoy equal privileges, and be put in the fame ftate of falvation with the JewSy who had been God's ancient people, his figuU lah^ his chofen inheritance, and were called earlier by many generations: which being the genuine and pro- per interpretation of the parable, as defigned only to filence the clamours of the Jews againfl the admiffion of the reft of the world to the fame benefits with themfelves, every one mufl: perceive atfirft fight, that the Jeath-bed penitent can hope for no manner of ad- vantage by it. For, if rightly underftood, it is per- fedlly foreign to his cafe, and leaves him juft in the fame condition, as if not one word of it had ever been fpoken. And yet if we fhould allow him to apply it to himfelf, to gather what encouragement he can from it, as one that is finking is apt to lay hold iipon every twig, it will ftand hiin however in no Itead. For, Jirft^ what thefe men could plead for themfelves was, that no man had hired them. They were not called before, and fo had this excufe for themfelves, for their not coming in fooner : which makes a vaft difference betwixt their cafe, and his who 2 8 The more remote preparation for T^eath* who has been called, invited, encouraged, threatened, and had all means ufed to reclaim him from his fins; had {g) line upon I'lne^ and precept upon precept^ as the prophet fpeaks, and yec obftinately perfifted in his difobedience to the laft, and then hopes to make his peace, and obtain the pardon of his fins, by a few dying groans, and faint wifhes, and purpofes of amendment. Such an one cannot plead for himfelf, that none had ofFer'd to hire him , but, on the con- trary, his own confcience will fly in his face, and fe- verely condemn him, for having fo long withftood fuch cffedual means of grace and falvation, as had been afforded him, if he could but have been prevailed with to make a good ufe of them. Befides, fecondly^ thefe men were labourers \ and though they had wrought but one hour, and fo but a little while in comparifon of thofe who enter'd in firft, yet fome pains they had taken. They had faithfully anfwer'd their obligation, by working from the time they were taken into the vineyard ; which was all their Lord expected from them. They came in, it is true, but at the eleventh hour, becaufe they were not hired fooner ; but then they did the work of that hour, according to their covenant. Whereas he that comes not in till the twelfth hour, has no time to work •, and were he ever fo willing to do it, has yet no reafon to promife himfelf any wages for doing nothing. He may be concerned, that he was not employed amongft the reft; but this gives him no title to the reward, which was intended for, and promifed only to, fuch as did the work. Again, lafily^ They claimed no more than was due to them by compadl. For fo fays the houlholder, "ver, 7. Go ye alfo into the vineyard^ and whatfoever is rights that /hall ye receive ; as much as to fay, they fhould be fure to have their v/ages amongft the reft. But has the death-bed penitent any fuch promife made to him ^ If he has, let him pro- duce ic. For my part, I have already told you, I Q^ l[x. XXV iii. 12. " can The more remote preparation for "Death. 19 can find none made to any, but fuch who turn from their evil ways time enough to do fome works meet for repentance. Nor could St. Augnftin long ago, who tells us, C^) If he that lies at the point of deaths prays to he admitted to repenta?tce, I cannot refufe to comply with him therein. But yet I muft confefsy if he die with fuch a reconciliation^ 1 dare not he over- confident cf his dying in a good condition : tho* he may think himfef fecure^ and die with this perfuafwn^ I dare not he fecure that he is fo. I can receive him to penance^ but cannot tell him what the effeU of it will he. And a little afcer, 'Do I fay he fhall he damned? I do not fay it. Bo 1 fay then that he fhall he faved ? Not that neither. What an- fwer then can I give? Only this^ that I do not know. I prefume nothing •, / protnife nothing ; and the reafon is^ hecaufe I know nothing. Whereupon he fubjoins this feafonabie advice •, Would you free yourfelf from all douht ? Be fure to repent whilft you are in health. For if you do thus^ and, when death appears, if you moreover obtain ahfolution, you have juft ground of fecurity. For you repented at a time when you had it in your power to fin. Whereas if you delay your repentance till you can fin no longer, it is not you that leave your fins, but your fins leave you. Thus dubious was this eminent father^ concerning the future ftate of fuch as had deferr'd their repentance to their laft hour, even though they fhould then fet themfclves to make the befl amends in their power. And before him St. Cyprian delivered it as his opinion, if) That fuch fhould not be admitted to the hope of communion, and the peace of the churchy who did not heartily repent and bewail their offences, till they were fick, and in danger of death \ hecaufe it was to he prefumed, it vjas not a real for row for their fins^ hit the terror of their approaching end, that produced this fubmiffion \ and it is not fit that he fioould receive comfort when he comes to die, who would not he perfuaded to think of death, before it came to feize him. Thefe were two* great men in their generations ; and who have been had in univerfal honour and edeem ever {hj B. Au^. Horn. 41. (/) B. Cypr. £>, 5^. Ed'n. Oxon. fine?. 30 The more remote preparation for T>eath, fince. Yet I do not quote their words purely for their fakes, but becaufe of the reafon and ftrength of argu- ment that is in them ; it being impoflible for him to prove the validity and efficacy of his repentance, how hearty foever, who does not fet about it in his health and ftrength, and while it is in his power to gratify his worldly and carnal inclinations, if he will. Timolb. What you have faid feems to argue a greater danger, as to the invalidity of a late repentance, than I had really apprehended. For tho' 1 was fenfible how little reafon there is to expedl, that fuch fhould heartily repent upon their fick bed, who had refus'd to do it in their health and ftrength, I made no queftion but thofe who did then all they could, that is to fay, who were truly forry for their fins, and fully refolved to re- form and amend, and to lead a new life, if it fliould pleafe God to reftore them to their health ; I made no queftion, I fay, but thefe had been in a fafe condition. But you have very much fhaken my confidence in this point J and I begin now to think, that tho' I had al- ways a very ill opinion of deferring repentance to the laft, there is yet far more danger in fuch a delay than I was aware of. Theopb. The more ferioufly and impartially you con- fider with yourfelf, the more diffident 1 am apt to think you will be, as to the efficacy of fuch a repentance. timolb, I do not know but I may. But pray, The- cpbiius, wiiat do you fay to the other inftance, of the thief upon the crofs, to whom our Saviour promised ac his laft hour, that he ihould be ibcil day in Paradtfe? Luke xxiii. 43. This was a very larc repentance, as Jate as could be, and yet it proved very fuccefsful, and our Saviour declares himfelf fatisfied v;ith it. Ancbitb, I have been liftening carefully to you all Ithis while, neopbiliis ; and do readily concur with you in all you have faid upon this important fubjed: •, and am clearly of your judgment, that no wife man will dare to defer his repentance, tho' it be but for one day. But yet this inftance feems to lie in your way j and the The more remote preparation for T^eath, 5 1 the clearing it well, would tend very much to the con- firming all you have hitherto argued. n 'opb. That is eafily done. But I fear I have alrea- dy over tired you with this long harangue; efpecially fince, tho* it be upon a weighty fubjed, and the con- fideration thereof is very fit and proper for the gene- rality of mankind, to prepare them beforehand for the flate you are now in ; yet it is not fo fit all our time fhould be fpent in what is no aiore to the purpofe of our prefent meeting. And indeed I have been feveral times ready to condemn myfeif, for having entered upon an argument fo foreign to the bufinefs we came about; which was to difcourfe with you, who both are fick at prefent, and have repented beforehand, and whom it is therefore unreafonable to weary with a long defcription of what is incumbent upon others, who are in quite different circumflances, and are fiill obliged to the performance of that duty, which you have been performing all your life long. You are one of thofe, who, in our Saviour's language, (k) need no repentance^ that is, as it implies in it an entrance upon a new courfe of life. And therefore it is not fit to trouble you with any more of what has already been too bur- denfom? to you, Anchith, I confefs I have lain ftill without interrupt- ing you ; but I aflure you, it was not without lending all the attention I could, to fo ufeful and profitable a difcourfe. And I muft needs fay, that you have enter- tained me to my great fatisfadlion. And I am fo far from being uneafy at what you have argued, with fo much perjpicuity and flrength of reafon, that I hear- tily join in the fame requeft, that you will proceed to fatisfy Timotheus^ concerning the thief upon the crofs,. and the happy fuccefs of his late repentance. "Theoph. Then with your leave, AnchlthaneSy I pro- ceed. Ax\eath. Whence it manifeftly follows, that our Saviour's pro- cedure towards him can be no precedent for others to iudge by, whole fins are too notorious, and bear too flagrant teftimony againft them, as no way worthy of the lenity and clemency they are fo ready to depend upon. Fourthly^ It does not appear, that this penitent had ever before heard of our Saviour, and the laws of his gofpel, and fo polTibly he furrender'd himfelf upon the very firft call; which makes fo wide a diftance between his cafe, and that of the death-bed penitent, as may juftly filence the pretences of all fuch, to an ac- ceptance with our Lord, at the laft gafp, from this example, fo very diMerent from any thing they have to plead for themfelves. And then it is mod certain, in the lafl place •, that this is but a fingle inftance ; all ages, from the beginning of the world, to this day, not affording another like it. And it is very unreafon- able to conclude, that becaufe our Lord was once thus wonderfully merciful, therefore he will be fure to be fo as often as a finner is unwilling to repent of his fins, whilft he can continue in them. This is a flrange and a fhameful prcfumpcion upon God's goodnefs, ana which the late penitent may juilly expect will leave him, at beft, in a very difconfolate and dangerous condition. I do not fay, that God will not pardon fuch, as, after a long courfe of wickednefs, unfeign- edly turn to him at the hour of death. But yet, from what I have now faid, 1 prefume I may fairly conclude, he has given us no affurance that he will do it ; and in particular, that nothing of this nature can bereafonably inferr'd, from this inflance of the thief upon the crofs. Timoth, I heartily thank you, good Tbeophilus, for the full and fatisfadtory account you have given of this inftance, fo often abafed, to the hardening per- fons in their fins, in hope of a fpeedy admiffion into Heaven, when they can keep them no longer. And methinks, if your dodlrine were fuf^ciently publifh'd to the world, people would not dare to venture on fo heedlefly in their impieci^ i which they now perfuade them-. The more re?note preparation for T>eath, Yf chcmfelves will be eafily pardon'd, upon a flight re- pentance, when they come to die. Tbeo'p, This is the very height of indifcretion, or rather of folly and madnefs. And no one in his wic* can polTibly give a reafon for a(5ling thus unaccounta- bly, nor would ever allow himfelf in it, did not his iufts and paflions cloud his judgment, and utterly un- qualify him for confulting his own fafety : for if he that negledts to repent at prefent, knows not whether he fhall have another day to do it in, or if he have, will yet have the fame impediments to ftruggle with, and fo be tempted to defer it to another time, ana thence to another, and fo, it may be, never repent at all: and again, fuppofe death fhould fright him into repentance, when he is juft going out of the world ; if he can never be fure this his repentance is fach as would produce a real reformation in him, tho' time had been allow'd him •, nor that it will be available to falvation, unlefs it actually do produce fuch a re- formation ; and if, moreover, his two main fupports, of tht labourers in the vineyard, and the thief upon the crofs, both fail him, he has all the reafon in the world to look upon himfelf as in the ready way to everlafting ruin, and muft be a moft defpeTate enemy to his own foul, if he refolve (till to perfill in it. Anchith. This is fo necefifary a confequence of the foregoing dodrine, that I earneftly wilh all would be conftantly mindful of ir, and would diligently improve it to their own advantage. I am fure thofe muft leave thcmfelves without all excufe, who do not. Nor is there any greater felly in the world, than the deferring of repentance, unlefs it be, what too frequently follows upon this, the not doing it at all. Timoth. Befides, it is to be confider'd, that each day any one defers his repentance, he continues in his fin -, and fo is yet adding to his account, and treafure- ing up to himfelf new matter of grief, and forrow, and fhame, and remorfe, and anguilh, againft his intended tim; of bethinking himfelf. And what a fa raon- 36 The more remote preparation for "Death, monftrous abfurdity is it, for a man knowingly and wilfully to do what he is convinc'd beforehand muft prove bitterncfs in. the end 5 and if it do not confign him over to eternal mifery, as there is too juft rea- fon to fufped it will, muft however overwhelm his foul with confufion and terror, and be a vexation abundantly beyond all the pleafure he could ever hope for from it ! ^heoph. Upon the whole it is plain, beyond all doubt, that it is every Chriftian's chief intereft and concern, immediately, and in good earneft, to fet upon this weighty and neceflary work, if he has hi- therto negledled it *, and upon the perfeding it, and rendering it as complete as may be, if he has it not now to begin. And I muft therefore beg leave to recom- mend that excellent advice of the wife fon of Siracb, as well deferving every one's ferious attention and pradice . (/) Return unto the Lord^ andforfakethyfim-, make thy prayer before his face^ and offend lefs. Turn again to the Moll High^ and turn away from iniquity ; for he will lead thee out of darknefs into the light of health ; and hate thou abomination vehemently, {m) Before judgment examine thyfelf^ and in the day of vifitation thou fhalt find mercy. Humble thyfelf before thou be ftck : and in the time of fins fhew repentance. Let nothing hinder thee to pay th) vow in due limCy and defer not until death to he juftified, («) "Think upon the wrath that fh all be at the end *, and the time of vengeance^ when hefhall turn away his face, Anchith. And this good ufe I beg of God that I may be able to make of it. f thank God, I have not the bufinefs of my whole life now upon my hands: yet I cannot but pray moft fervently, That God will grant me his grace to carry me through my laji conpM with that patience andrefignation^ and will fortify ?7iygood purpofes with fuch courage and refolution^ and give me fuch power over all my fins ^ as that I may retain noman^ 7ur of inclination to them^ hut may be always improving in (/}'Eccms. xvi'. i^*, 26. (w) Ibid.xviii.-iOj 21,22^ Cw)Ver. 24. vinuti. The more remote preparation for T)eath. 3 7 "o'lrtue amlgoodnefs, for t^e Utile time 1 have toftay here j and whenfoever IJJjall bi taken hence ^ may hefet above the reach of all temptations, and continually emplofd in found- ing forth hallelujahs to the King of Heaven ; to him who was, and is, and is to co??ie, and to JefusChrift the faith" fulwitnefs^ the fir fl -begotten from the dead, and the Prince of the kings of the earth ; who hath loved us, and wafhed us from our fins in his own blood, and hath made us kings andpriejis unto God and his Father -, to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen. A Prayer for Strength againft Temptations, and Improvement in Virtue and Goodnefs. /) My God, be thou merciful unto me, and help my poor endeavours to pleafe thee, I am earneftly defirous to approve myfelf unto thee. But, alas I the corruption of my nature, and the weaknefs of my faculties, arefuch, that the beft of my performances are all polluted and defiled. And, to fny unfpeakable grief, I find, that when to will is prefent with me, yet how to perform that which is good^ I know not. Such is the wretched fiate wherein 1 am at prefent -, and. fijouldeft thou leave me to myfelf, I could never hope for an amendfnent. Wherefore, Lord, be fnerciful unto me, andafififl me with thy Spirit, which alone can carry me fuccefsfully through the great work I atn en^ gaged in. €)o thou but fpeak the word, and thy fervant fhall be healed. I am a poor ^ feeble, impotent creature y utterly unable, of myfelf to do what thou reqidreft of me. But if thou oncebeflow thy grace upon me, that alone will be fufficient' to carry me on againft all oppofition, whether from men or devils, or from my ownfinful and vicious in'- clinations. Deny me not that affiftance which thou feefl needful for me^ to enable me to co thy will ', and which ^, to that end, I moft hu7nbly beg of thee. Let thyfirength be made vfible in my weaknefs. And whenever thou feejl me like to fall, by whatfoever fort of temptation, do thoi4 firetch forth thy Ahnighty Hand, and keep tne up. Let nothing ever prevail againfi me, and draw me a fide from. F 3 th (k 3 8 The more remote preparation for ^eath. ibat duty thou requirefl of me. But grant I may fet the.% the Lord J always before my face, that in nothing I fin againft thee , that I may efchew evil, and do good •, may ivork out my falvation with fear and trembling , and give the utmofi diligence for making my calling and eleciion fure, before Ifhall go hence, and be no more feen ; may be ' fiedfafl and unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forafmuch as 1 know that my labour fhall not be in vain in the Lord •, and may daily improve in goodnejs^ and continually advance from one degree of grace to an- other, till grace fhall at laji be confummated in everlafting glory^ through Jefm Chrift our Lord and only Saviour. Amen. Theoph. I pray God to hear your prayer, and that he will give each of us grace, not only to depart from all iniquity, but toperfe5i holinefs in his fear. There is an excellent meditation to this purpofe, that I lately met %vith in a certain devout author, that might feem well worthy of your attention, but for the length of it j which I doubt you cannot difpenfewich at prefenr. Anchith. Yes, very well j and pray let us have it : Tor 1 am defirous to hear any thing that tends to promote fo good a defign. T'heoph, He {o) reprefents a penitent fmner bemoa^n- ing his own folly, and declaring how exceedingly mifc- rable he mull have been, had it not been for the un- fpeakablc goodnefs and clemency of Almighty God towards him : ' There is not a moment paifed, fays * he, from my coming into the world to this time, ' whereinl might not have died. Manycaufes, fome * of which I know, tho' others I do not, might eafily * have wrought this effed upon me. This is a certain * and undoubted truth. And yet how very few of * thefe many moments have there been, whei'ein I *, could have died without being utterly loft! For, * alas! how incapable have I been of dying the death * of the righteous? How have I wanted that repent- % Mort desfufiei, par Monf, 'a Kacetie, /. 2.- c. 4. < anccj The more remote preparation for T)ea!fj. 1 9 ' ance, that faith, that charity, and thofe other vir- ' tues, without which it is not poflible forn:ie, not to ■ be theobjed: of the divine wrath, whether in life or ■ death ! A great part of my time has been fpent in ' a fenfelefs negligence : and oftentimes I have fallea intogrofs fins •, and have not prefently applied my- k\f to God for the pardon of them ; or if I have fought to him for pardon, it has been coldly and indifferently, without the forrow and fervency which are neceflarily required in order to it. And when X take a review of the mod confiderable ftages of my life pad, how little of it does there appear, of which 1 can fay, that it has not been fullied with fome ha- bitual fm ! If from the reft of my life all that be taken away, wherein my mind had entertained any refentment, or hatred, or quarrel, againft any of my brethren, or wherein I have unjuftly detain'd whac of right belonged to him, or have been under the power of a finful affedion for this world's goods 5 and have been ready to facrifice my falvation, and my confcience,to them, by known and deliberate fins; how very fmail will the remainder be! And had I died in fuch an eftate, how deplorable a cafe muft I have now been in ! I had undoubtedly been now in Hell, fuffering the fame tortures, with thofe the divine juftice hascondemn*d to that doleful place of punifhment. How am I then indebted to the immenfo goodnefs of my Creator, for preferving me from what might fo eafily and naturally have befallen me ! A favour that has not been granted to divers others that I had known, and than whom I have not better deferv'd it at his hand -, whom I have feen taken hence either by ficknefs, or fuch unforefeen accidents as 1 have been fuffer*d to efcape. And can I ever fee too high a value upon fuch abundant clemency and compallion ? Yet to what purpofe does all this kincj- nefs ferve, if it do not put me upon a conflant care,» ntrver to run the fame danger again, whereto I have hichefto been exposed ? As I might poffibly have di^d F 4 Ma 40 The more remote preparation for T^eath. « in any moment of my life pad, fo may I, for aught ^ I know to the contrary, at this prefent inftant, or at * any time yet to come. There is no one minute of * my life, that may not be that of my Mailer's coming. « And can I then forbear always to behave myfelf fo, * as that, whenfoever he fliall appear, he may find me * watching, and in a readinefs for his reception ? How * am 1 concerned, either to procure a peace and re- * conciliation with God, or at leaft to get myfelf af- * fured, upon good ground, that I am already in that * blelTed ftate, and moreover to guard myfelf with the * utmoft diligence, againft whatever might endanger * the lofs of fo ineftimable an advantage ! In a word, * How am I obliged to renounce all fort of wicked nefs, * to caft off the love of the creatures, and give myfelf * intirely up to God, and make ic my only ftudy to * pleafe and ferve him ! The only difficulty I obferve * in refolving this, is from the power thefe outward * good things have got over me, and my averfenefs * to the thoughts of parting with them ; together * with the vain and falfe hope I have, of making the * intereft of earth and Heaven confifl together, either * by allowing the prefent feafon to the former, and * futurity to the fecond, or by taking pains by turns, * fometimes for the one, and fometimes for the other. * But can I ftupidly fuffer myfelf to be drawn afidc by * fuch grofs delufions? Can I, in the firft place, weigh * the interefts of this life, againft thofe of the life to * come? How hard muft I wink, before I can let the * defire of gaining earth make rne venture the lofs * of Heaven, and, to enjoy a little the more pleafure * during the few moments that remain of my life here, * dare to be miferable through the vaft extent of a '^ boundlefs eternity ! On the other fide, if I wholly * employ my prefent time in purfuit of the things of * this world, what, affurance can I have of anoppor- * tunity hereafter, wherein to fecure an intereft in * enaven ? If the future feafon I promife myfelf fhould * never come, but death Ihould fnatch me away in the * meaq The more remote preparation for T>eath^ 41 mean time, what profit (liall I have of all the trouble 1 had been at in feeking after thefe temporal ad- vantages ? In fhort, how can I ever believe, that the little time I have to live, and which yet is always upon the wing, will lad long enough both to fettle me upon earth, and to open Heaven-gates for me ? In truth it will fcarce fuffice for the accomplifhing either of the two defigns : and to attempt both at the fame time, is the ready way to fucceed in nei- ther. Wherefore, fuppoling me once convinced in my mind, of what in reality I know not how to qucf- tion, namely, that nothing is of fo great concern to me as my falvation ; that this is the chief and mod confiderable intereft I ever had, or can have j it is, in- deed, myonly intereft, before which whatever eife I aimat vanifhes into nothing, and may in no wife be compared with it ; can I poflibly think myfelf at liberty to run the hazard of fo ineltimable a prize, rather than employ all the powers I have, and all the time my Lord affords me, in the profecution of it ? See here then my grand and moft important affair ! See here the only lawful objed of my moft unwearied endeavours ! To this it is I am to apply my utmoft force ; and I fhall have reafon to think myfelf happy beyond meafure, if I can but at laft attain to it. But how do I talk of force and ability, who perceive, to my forrow, hov/ exceeding impotent and weak I am ; and how incapable I find myfelf of difcharging the fmalleft matters as I ought, and that I cannot of myfelf conceive a good thought, fo far am I from performing a truly good adion ! This refledion, O my God, would call me into defpair, if I did not know, that thy Grace isfufficient for me. I can do no- thing without thy alllftance, but thou canft enable ' me to do all things. Thou canft ftrengthen and fup- ' port me, and perfedl in me v/hat I fliould in vain at- ' tempt, without thy help. Yet this is not all : for ^ thou haft not only power enough to fi pply my im- ^ potence, but goodnefs cnojgh too not to difdain to * dif- 42 The more remote preparation for T)eath. * difplayit, in favour of fuch as utterly diftrufting, « themfelves, place their whole affiance in thee alone. A Prayer for Heavenly-mindednefs, and Purity of Heart. ^ n^HF S [truft in thee] is my enly refuge^ O my ^ ' God : it is thine alone that preferves me from being totally difcouragd. J hope that thou wilt afford me fuch fuccours as thou feeji neceffary for me^ and which I beg of thee from the bottom of my heart. Defer not^ O good God^ to help me^ till the later end of my life 5 but grant me^ from this njery houi*^ to he fenfible of the favtng efficacy of thy good Spirit, Root out of me that unhappy inclination I have to the earthy and its deceitful allurements. And grant I may breathe onl^ after heavenly things^ or, to fpeak more properh^ after thee alone^ who art the treafure whereby I Can become rich indeed. Give me grace to love thee in the firfi place ^ and above all things ^ to confecrat^ all the motions of my heart to thee-:, aheart^that^ haviji^ been made for none but thee, cannot fioop-, without leffening itfelf^ to any inferior ohje5ls. Seize this hearty O God, for thyfelf, and refufe not to place thy throne in it^ andfuhje^ all its inclinations to thyfelf^ that nothing may ever arifc in it that is not according to thy will^ and tends not to promote thy glory. In one word, O Lord, difpofe all things in fuch a man- ner^ as that J may live in thy fear, and die in thy favour and love. Amen.' ^imaih. Thus ought every good chrifiian to pray. Bur, TheophUuSy I fliould ftill have a farther rf-queft to you, were it not for fear of being over-troublefome to Ayichilbanes.^ whom, I think, we ought to take pity upon, and leave him to himfelf, and to his reft, after fo long an exercife of his patitrnce. For tho' your difcoui fe is both entertaining and inftrudive, it may "be too much fpr one whofe fpirics are low, and his body The more remote preparation for T)eath. 43 body difordered j and who may need therefore to be quiet. Theoph, I wifh what I have faid had come up to the dignity of the fubjed I have been treating of, than which nothing can be of more univerfal concern to mankind. But, pray, what is it you would have afked farther ? Ttmoth, That you would have declared whereia confifts the nature of that repentance, for which you have been thus earneftly arguing -, that fo a man may know, not only what obligation he is under to the faithful difcharge of it, but likewife how he may difcharge it aright. Theopb, Your motion, I confefs, were very proper, were it not unfeafonable at prefent. For we muft have a care not to trefpafs too far upon Ancbithanesy who, though he is very obliging, and will not com- plain of us, muft needs wifh within himfelf, that we would be going : therefore we had better forbear at prefent, and appoint another day to meet and fettle that inquiry. Anchith, Pray, dear Theophilus, let me by no m.eans occafion any interruption of your difcourfe ; for I 4hank God I am not fo ill as you may imagine. 1 am, and have been, very eafy ; and though fomewhat faint, yet not to fuch a degree, but that I have been moft agreeably entertained by you hitherto; and could be very glad to hear Timotbeus's queftion well anfwered, that fo I may pick out fomething for my own ufe. Tbeopb, This will be too large a tafl^ to enter upon ar prefent, and I muft therefore intreat, that you will pleafe to difmifs us at this time. Anchitb. I know not how to do that : I am fo defi- rous of your decifion of that weighty point, that you can no way fo far oblige me, as by granting Ttmotbeus his proper and feafonable rcrqueft. Tbeopb. Since you have given your word, Ancbh tbanes^ that this undertaking is not difagreeable to you at this tiuK j I (hall make no fitfther excufcs, but fee 44 The more remote preparation for T>eath. fee myfelf to difpatch what you defire, though with all the brevity I can. Now the firft thing implied in this great duty of repentance, is a fight of fin, and forrow for it, as for the worft of all evils, and indeed the caufe of all others •, highly offenfive to Almighty God, and infinitely deflrudive of our own welfare, both now in this world, and irrecoverably to all eter-r nity in the other. It is a notorious difobedience and affront to our fovereign Lord and Creator, whofe we are, and to whom all our fervices are due, and whofe laws'we cannot violate without the vileft difingenuity and undutifulnefs. He gave us our being, and pre- ferves us in it *, and all the good things we at any time partake of, proceed purely from his bounty to us. In hi?n we live, jind move, and have our being ; and to him we are accountable for all our doings, and for our good or ill management of the divers talents and bleffings he entrufts us with. And what can be more intolerably misbecoming, than to rife up in rebellion againft fuch a gracious Benefador, return him indig- nities and defpite for all his munificence and bounty, enmity for his love, and hatred for his good-will ? And is not the having done this, enough to make a man abhor himfelf in dud and afhes? How {hould it cover our faces with confufion, and fill our hearts with the moft pungent forrow, to think that we Ihould ever have indulged ourfelves in a courfe of fuch unduti- fulnefs to the bed of lords, fuch intolerable difobe- dience to the kindeft and moft loving of benefadors, on whom is all our dependence, and all our hope ! If we confider ourfelves only as creatures made and proteded by him, and who have all the reafon in the v^orld to fubmit to his government, every wilful and deliberate offence againft him muft be highly pro- voking : and the remembrance of every fuch tranf- grelTion ought to ftick hard upon us, and make us 4-eftlefs and impatient, till we fnall have obtained the pardon of it. But then if we farther obferve, that our good and gracious God has not only taken care 5 ' 9i The more remote preparation for T)eath. 45 of our bodies, to accommodate us with the good things of this life, but has much more glorioudy ma- nifelted his exceflive loving-kindnefs towards us, in the care he has condefcended to take for the welfare of our immortal fouls ; that he not only entered into covenant with man to make him abundantly happy upon condition of a dutiful obedience to his laws 5 but when all mankind had finned^ and fo come Jhort of the glory of God, and had juftly deferved the feve- rity of his indignation, to fufter, for their wickednefs, both in this world, and in that which is to come, he out of his immenfe goodnefs commiferated our loft undone condition, and found out a ranfom for us, when no hope of refcue any other way appeared, or could be imagin'd, by giving his own Son, his only-begotten and well-beloved Son, the ever-bleffed Jefus, to af- fume our nature, and be born into the world, to lead a mean and troublefome life, to be defpifed and rejected of men^ flouted and derided, and at laft put to deatli upon the crofs for our redemption j that (p) as in our firlt parent Adam all had died, fo in him the fecond Adam all might he made alive. Whofoever, I fay, obferves this aftonifhing manifeilation of the divine goodnefs towards rebellious and finful men, may well itand amaz'd to think, that they (hould ever find in their hearts to difobey a God of fuch abundant, fuch excefTive pity towards us. This is the utmofl: height of ingratitude, as well as difobedience, and can never be fufficiently lamented, by all the tears we can fhed, and fighs and groans we can fend forth. Tho' we fhould go mourning all the day long ; tho', with David^ we fhould {q) make our bed to fwim, and water our couch with our tears *, tho', with Hezekiah, we fhould (r) chatter like a crane or a fwallow, and mourn as a dove, till our eyes fhould fail with looking upwards ; with Daniel, fhould (s) fet cur face unto the Lord God to feek by prayer and applications, with fajiing, and fackcloth^ (p) I Cor. XV. 12. (q) Pfalm vi. 6. (r) Ifaiah xxxviii. 14. (/) Dan. ix. 3. and 46 The mere f emote prepa)'ation forT>eath, end ajhss ; and, with the penitents in the antient chunrh* Ihould (/) put onfackcloth^ and cover ourfelves with ajhes^ and cafi ourfelves down in the m'ldft of the co'/?gregation \ Jhoidd punijh ourfelves with fafting and wailing^ and all forts of mortification *, Jhould fall down to the faithful^ and embrace their knees^ and kifs their feet\ and feek by all means pojfible to obtain their prayers in our behalf ^ Ihould we do all this, and a thoufand times more by way of penance, for our abufe of fo good, fo gracious a Redeemer ; we could never duly bewail the heinouf- nefs of fuch iniquity. So that if we confider only the wickednefs of our fms, and the horrid guilt contraded by them, we have all abundant caufe to lament and bemoan them, and to fhew forth the greateit abhor- rence and deteitation of them. And yet have we Hill more reafon to do it, if hereto be added the mif- chievous effeds of them in relation to ourfelves, as they are the only means of robbing us of God's fa- vour, and expofing us to his jull indignation, and thereby of bringing down his heavy judgments upon lis here in this world, and of delivering us over to his eternal vengeance in the other, to be fencenced from his prefence^ and the glory of his power ^ and be caft into outer darkuefsy where sviil be wee;i??g, and wai-i-igyand gnajlnng cf teeth for evermore, and have our part in the lake that burns with fire and brim/lone i which is the fecond death, and the fliarpcd and the mod intole- rable, as well as the mofl lalling, of all punilhments. Wherefore fuch being the guilt, and the terrible fruit, of our fms, every one that is not wilfuHy blind muft necelTarily fee, what indifpenfable obligations all are under, to abominate and detefl them, and loath them- felves becaufe of them, and earneflly fue to the throne of grace for mercy and forgivenefs, and ability to walk more holily for the future. This is the firft part of repentance, a hearty forrow for fin, and an abhorrence of it, and of ourfelves becaufe of it. The (r) Tcrrui. de Poenit. c. 9. & de Pudic c. ^. B. Cyprian. Epift. 6f, l^feb. Hift. Ecd. 1. j. c. id. next The more remote preparation for ^eath, 47 next is a firm and Iteady purpofe of forfaking it. And nothing is more natural, than to refolve to flee from, and avoid, what we know to be not only bad in icfelf, but deftrudive alfo to all that indulge them-' felves in it. They whofe hearts are fo harden'd, and their eyes fo blinded, as not to difcover the evil of fin, may fenfelefly chufe to live in it. But all others mufi: be felf-condemned, if they do not unfeignedly refolve upon a fpeedy renunciation of it, and take care moreover to put fuch their refolution in pradice. To this, common prudence, and a delire of our wel- fare, dired, as we would not ruin ourfelves beyond recovery. The checks of our own confciences alfo recommend it, reprehending us for what we have done amifs, and reminding us how much it is our duty to live in the exercife of the contrary virtues. And this the Holy Scriptures from time to time in- culcate with the greateft earneftnefs, and under the fevered penalties \ requiring (u) to deny all ungodlinefi and worldiy lu/is^ and to live Joberlyy righteoujly^ and godly ^ in this frefent evil world ; (w) to ceafe to do evil^ and learn to do well *, (x) to repent and he converted^ that our fins may be blotted out ; {y) to caji off the works of darknefs, and put on the armour of light •, and, in a word , (2) to repent and turn to God^ and do works meet for repentance. And, in truth, without this, all our forrow for our fins, and the fight and fenfe we have of them, inftead of atoning, will aggravate our guilt, and increafe our condemnation, and will intitle us to the dreadful fate of .that obftinately difobedient fer^ vant who knows his Mailer's will, but for not doing it, as he is convinced he ought, {a) fhaJl be beaten with many ftripes. The clearer apprehenfion any have of their fins, the more deplorable is their condition, and the greater fhare of torments they muft exped in the other life, if they ftill continue in them. And this therefore is the other part of our repentance, that («j Tir. ii. 12. fw) Ifaiah I i5, 17. {x) Acts iii. 19. iy) Rotti. xiji, 12. (5:) A^s xxyi. Jc. (a) Lukexli. 47, to 48 The more remote preparation for T>eath. to our fight of our fins, and forrow and humiliation becaufe of them, we add alfo a fubfequent care to re- frain from them, and walk in all refpeds as becomes good Chriftians. Without this, our repentance, how penfive and affedling foever, is neverthelefs incom- plete, and will never ftand us in any ftead, "Timoth. You have been like yourfelf, "Theophilus^ very kind and obliging, in giving yourfelf thus much trouble at my intreaty : and, which is an unequal re- turn for it, you have hereby embolden'd me to pray a farther favour from you ; which is, that you would in like manner inform me how a refolution of amend- jnent is to be form'd, fo as that it may hold out in time of temptation, and may really produce the amendment intended by ic. ^heopb. This is a very pertinent inquiry, and which deferves the ferious confiderat'ion of all that would repent to purpofe •, fo as not to deceive themfelves with a name to live, whilft they are dead, and ufelefs as to the proper purpofes of living ; and therefore I fliall make no difficulty of giving you the cleareft anfwer I can to ic. It is certain too many refoive with them- felves to amend and live well, whofe refolutions ftand them in no ftead, becaufe not founded upon a found bottom •, either not made from a right principle, or not duly coniidered, together with the temptations that may arife to the contrary ; whereby they are pre- fently fhaken, and fo they become like the 7normr}g cloud, and like the early dew, that goeth away. For the cure of which mifchief, we muft fee, that our refolu- tions be fix*d and well-fettled, chat they be our deli- berate choice, and what ws are fully bent upon ad- hering faithfully to, whatever the confequence be as to this life. They mull be like that of JoJIma, who had fet his heart to ferve the Lord, and had his mind fo fix'd upon it, that he would conftantly cleave to him, tho' none elfe (hould. For thus he befpeaks the children of Ifrael, like a faithful fervant of the true God, and who was zealoufly defirous, that all Ihould The more remote preparation for T>eath» 49 iiiould fee themfelves to ferve him aright, but would do it himfcJf, tho' he fhould have none but his own family to j'in with him in it. {b) Now therefore fear the Lord, and ferve him in flncerity and in truth ^ and put away the gods which ycur fathers ferved on the other fide of the flood^ and in Egypt^ and ferve ye the Lord. And if it feem evil unto you to ferve the Lord^ chufe you this day whom you will ferve^ whether the gods which your fathers ferved^ that were on the other fide of the flood^ or the gnds of the Amorites^ in whofe land ye dwell : hut as for me and my houfe^ W~ E WILL SEKVE "tHE LORD. Or like that of yol^, (c) 'fill I die^ I will not remove my integrity from me. My right e on fnefs /will hold faft^ and will not let it go ^ my heart Jhall not reproach me fo long as I live. And again of Elihu, to the fame purpofe, [d) I will not offend any more : that which J fee nct^ ' teach thou me j and if I have done iniquity, I will do no more. Where you fee he refolutely declares againft all known fin, I will not offend any more^ and if he had mifcarried through ignorance, and done what he ought not, he defires to be better in{tru6ted, with a promife never to offend again in the like manner. ^bat which 1 fee noty teach thou me ; and if I have done liiquityy I will do no more. Thus muft every pe- nitent itedfaftly and pofitively fix his refolution of ferving God fmcerely and uprightly, without a re- ferve for any beloved vice, or any trouble or difH- culty, lofs or difappointmcnt, it may bring upon him. And to tiiis end, the following rules are to be care- fully obferv'd, in order to a right method of form- ing our refolutions, and the lafting effedl and benefit of them. Firfl., they muft he ferious and hearty. And we muft not only abhor all hypocrify, in prom.ifmg what we never intend to perform ; but muft take care moreover, that we be not faint and indifferent in thtiTi. We muft not be like St. Auguflin in his youth, • who afterwards penitently profeffcs of himfelf, that C^j jofli. xxiv. 14, I/, (f^ Job vxvii. 5-, 6. (^} Ibid, xxxiv. 3 i, ?*• G 'when 5 o The more remote preparation for T^eath. (e) when he iv.as youngs he hegg'd of God to endue him with chaftiP)^ [(^y^^^g-i ^^'^^ ^^^ chaftity^ hut not yet-^ fearing to he heard in ftich his requeft^ and be frefently healed^ whilft in truth he ijuanteth to have his lufts- fiill farther fatisfied^ rather than extinguifljed ; noc like Pharaoh^ (f) who whilft God's hand lay heavy upon him, made iair promifes to A^ojes and Aaron, that he would detain the people no longer j and per- haps he had fome thoughts of doing as he faid, ior the prefenc •, yet did not mind to perform his promife when again at eafe, but exercifcd his wonted feverity towards them. We muft rather fet ourfelves to imi- tate ZaccbeiiS^ (?) who, to (hew the fincerity of his- repentance, immediately ofFer'd to give largely to< the poor, and to make a fourfold reftitution to all he had wronged. We muft (h) turn to the Lord zvitb all €ur hearty and with all our fouly muft deal clearly and" uprightly wich him, and not feek to deceive, either him or ourfelves, with flur promifes of what we are not much concern'd whether v/e perform or no ; and muft fee to undertake nothing but what at the lame time we are fully purpofed to fulfil, to the utmoft of our pow. r. Which that we may do as we ought, a fecor.d rule that I would recommend in the forming, our holy refolutions is, that they he built upon fuch foundations as will hold at all times, and in all cafes, Thty muft not be made upon any contingent parti- cular reafons which may vary, and fo may fail us v and upon the failure whereot we may be in danger of rclapfing into our former evil courfes. We muft not renounce a fin, only becaufe it is (hameful,. or dif- , advantageous to our temporal welfare ; becaufe fo we fhall be apt to be drawn into it,, when it may be com- mitced with privacy and impunity •, nor only becaufe we are fick, and apprehend ourfelves like to die*, be- caufe then if we recover, the main occafion of our refoluiion will be removed for the prefent,. and fo we (0 B. Aug. Conf-'f ]. 8. c. 7. if) F.^'od. vHi. 8, if. 2S, 32. — -ix. 28, 35-. — X, 2^ 27. (ii) Luke kjk. S. {h) Dcut, jcxx. 10, ihall The more remote preparatio7i for T) eat ho 5 1 fhall be tempted to fin again, in hope of another op- portunity of repenting when death fhall threaten us again. If we refolve to be honeft, only in hope of acquiring hereby a good reputation, and fo of ad- vancing ourfelves in the world •, this refokition will Jail no longer, if we once happen to meet v^iih an opportunity of anfwering this end, by fome unex- pedled beneficial adl of knavery, that may turn to great account, and do our bufmefs at once. And fo in other cafes, an uncertain fallible foundation of our refolutions will be in great danger of rendering them inefiedual *, at lead we can never be fure it will not. And he that would acquit himfclf like a good chri- llian, muft feek therefore for a firmer bafis whereon to ground his refolutions, which will enable them to hold out, like a hotife built upn a rock^ againft all the violence of wind or water : he muft fee, that they proceed from a true fenfe of the evil of fin, and the excellency and advantage of virtue and goodnefs, the duty he owes to his Maker, the worth of his immor- tal foul, the covenant he entered into at his baptifm, the profelTion he makes of following his blelTcd Sa- viour's example, and being holy^ as he which has called htm is holy^ a remembrance of God's prefence always with us, and the account he will exadl from each one of us at the laft day, and the like. iThefe are rea- fons which will hold good always, and be a defence againft all kind of fin, and all temptations to it, and can be flighted by none that are ferioufly concerned for their own welfare, either here or hereafter. And what refolutions are thus firmly fettled, but not elfe, may fafely be relied upon, as like to anfwer their de- figns upon all occafions and trials. Befides which, a third rule to be obferved in making our refolutions^^ is, 'That they he made with due delibej'ation^ and a tho- rough inquiry into the nature of the duty whereto vv^e are engagmg ourfelves *, inafmuch ^s btherwife it i^ fhrewdly to be fufpeded, they will not la ft long. W^ may defign well in making them *, but this is not; G 2 enough, 5 2 The more remote preparation for Death. enough, unlefs we take care to make them well, I mean, upori fuch a thorough obfervation of the ad- vantages and inconveniences that may attend them, on the one hand, and on the other, as may prepare us for an undauated encounter with all the oppofi- tion we may meet with in the profecution of them. And we mull therefore take the fame courfe as he, (i) who, intend'wg to build a tower ^ fits down firft^ and counteth the coft^ whether he hath fujjcunt to Jimjh it ; or that king^ vi\\Oy going to make war againft another king^ fitteth down firji^ and confalteth^ whether he be able with ten thoiifand^ to meet him that cameth againft him with twenty thoufand. And indeed, if this courfe be not taktn, no one knows to what mifchitfs he ihall ex- poie himlelf, for want of it. For let a man refolve ever fo ferioufly and pioufly, and upon ever fo found a principle, yet he may poflibly be far from having refolved aright, unlefs his refolution be confiderate, and well weighed before-hand. It is not enough to refolve upon a new life, on fome fudden tranlport, fome unuiual fit of devotion, fome prefcnt ill canfe- quicnce he has felt of his fin \ or without attending to the proper method to be taken, and means to be ufed, in order to a reformation: He that ihus founds his good refolutions upon heats of paffwn^ fets his foul, as a great jDan fpeaks, (k) upon a weathercock^ which every con- trary blaft, of humour, or intereft, blozvs into a contrary pofition. His indeliberate refolutions may light upon a wrong object, and fo become unlawful s or Jay upon him unneceiTary impofitions, and fo prove a needlefs burden to him *, or they may fail in time of trial, and fo leave him in a far worfe condition, than if they had never been made. i. I fay. They may light upon a wrong obje6l, and fo btcome unlawful. The bounds between good and evil, right and wrong, virtue and vice, are not always ^o manifeft and clear, but that 2k well-meaning man may polfibly be miftaken con- (?) Luke xiv. i8, g i> {k) Dr. Scot\ Pra6tical Difcourfes, vol. 1. pag. 364, cernihg The more remote preparation for T)eath. 5 S cerning them. Not only the extremities are imme- diately diftinguifhed, but nearer approaches too may be eafily difcernibie. Yet the borders of them lie To clofe, and the ridge that parts them is fo narrow, and in fome cafes makes fo little appearance, that a man may be apt to ftep over it before he is aware. And for this reafon when he is to fix his choice, he had need have his eyes and thoughts about him, and ob- ferve well with himfelf, what courfe he is to take, and where he may fafely fix his mark. And if he) do not, he may too late find, that he has had the mif-; fortune to embrace covetoufnefs, inflead of a pru- dent management *, or profufenefs, on the other hand, inftead of a becoming hofpitality ; fuperftition, inftead of true and regular devotion ; revenge, inftead of aV juft vindication of himfelf i difobedience to the com-] mands of lawful authority, inltead of a care for the purity of God's worfhip ; or treafon and rebellion,) iiiftead of a due regard to the fafety and welfare of; fociety. This is one reafon, and a very good one,j why a man fhould make all his refolutions of amend-| ment, and a holy life, with a great deal of warinefsj and deliberation, to prevent nis miftaking the nature! of his duty, and that he may not be really finningV againft God, whilft he takes himfelf to be doing himj fervice. And another is, to avoid laying needlefs im- pofitions upon himfelf, by obliging himfelf to fuch eourfes, as, if lawful, will much abridge his chriftian liberty, and fo by that means become burdenfome toj him. Such are vows of celibacy, and of wilful po-| verty, of fpending more time in retirement and de- votion, than a man's circumftances can reafonably v allow of; of ablli^ence irom fome particular forts of ' meat or drink; or whatever lays a greater reftrainc i upon people than is proper for them, all things con-' fadered : which might eafily be avoided, by a deli- berate v/eighing all fuch vows and refolutions before- hand, and examining what ground there is for them, £nd what inconveniencies and mifchiefs may enfue G 3 upon \ 54 The more remote preparation for T)eath. ijpon them. This therefore common prudence would dired to, as a proper method for preventing fuch troubles and inconveniencies, as a man might other- wife run into, to the prejudice of his health, or his eftate, or bis liberty, either of foul or body ; and might fometimes be an unforefeen occafion of expofc- sng him to ftrong temptations to fin. Again, inde- liberate refolutions oftentimes tail upon trial, and fo leave a man in a far v/orfe condition than if they had never been made. Such refolutions made as in the prefence of Almighty God, and in order to his fer- vice, are an obligation to behave ourfelves accord- ingly. And confequently the breach of them muft be fin aggravation of our fins, committed in violatiorj of fuch obligation, and what all ought therefore care- fully to guard againft : which there is no other way pf doing, that 1 know of, but by a diligent obfer- vance of all our refolutions, that they be made with good deliberation, and a careful inquiry into the true nature of what we m;ike the matter of them. If this fiourfe be not conftantly taken, no wonder if our re- folutions often fail us when we conic to try them, and fhould expe6l to fee the good etFccl of them. For, firjl^ Temptations may be ftronger than we ex- pected, and fo may unhappily prevail againft fuch as apprehended no manner of danger from them ; as in happen'd in St. Peierh denial of his Lord. This apoftle, in a great devotion to his Saviour, defies all enemies to overcome his love and duty to him ; he would chufe to die with him, rather than be guilty of any want cf fidelity towards him ; and whatfoever trials, afFiictions, and perfecutions might befal him, though all the reft of the difciples fhould faint and fink under them, he doubted not but to be able to bear up againft them. So he profefTes, St. Matth. xxvi. 33. Though all msn Jhould he offended hecaufe of thee^ Vr't It ill I never he offended'^ and again ver. 35. though I Jhould die with thee^ yet will I not deny thee^ |Jut he had not fufficiently attended to the difficulties The more remote preparation for 'Death, 5^^ that might arife, the advcrfaries that might terriff him, the unexpedted aiTauIts that might furprife him, and the dangers that might threaten him •, he had not confidered, that one of the high-priefl's maids might know him, his own fpeech might difcover him, and his heart hereupon might fail him. He knew in himfelf what love he had for his Lord and Mafter, but not to what inconveniencies it might expofe him, and how far they might be like to prevail againft him. And hence, notwichftanding all the warmth of his prefent paflion, not many hours had pafTed, be- fore he, according to our Lord's prediction, curfed and fwore, and denied that he knew him. And if this blefled apoftle was fo eafily prevailed with, to break the promife he had fo lately made, what rea- fon have we all, poor feeble creatures as we are, to guard againft the like affaults, with all the diligence that may be? Here we have a pregnant inftance of human frailty \ which ought to convince us all, how little we are to rely upon our own ftrength, and hov/ lictie truft is to be given to thofe good purpofcs, how fincere foever, that are taken up v>^ithout a deliberate -contemplation of what may probably be the effc6t of them. Secondly^ We ourfelves may prove weaker than we expeded; and, notwithftanding our good opinion of ourfelves, may become as flexible as the young >man in the (/) comedian^ all whofe firmeil purpofes were in great danger of being perfedly fruftrated by a little fawning upon him, and a few counterfeit tears. It was not Reuben^ s cafe alone, to be as his father Jacob reprefents him, unftable as water -^ but whofo- €ver well obferves the carriage of the reft of the world, and how readily they change their mind, •upon fome little alteration in their circumftances, will ■eafily difcover the generality of mankind to refem- bh him too nearly in this dtkdc \ and that all ought (I) Hsec verbi, mehercule, una falfa lacrymulJ, Qua.T) oculos ccrendo rnifere vix vi exprcfTerif, lit-flinguec. Ttren Eunuch, Aci. i. Scene i. G 4 there* 5 6 The more remote preparation for T>eath. therefore to be very watchful over themfelves, that they do not relapfe into their former wickecinefs. be-? lore they are well fenfible of their danger. Efper cially confidering that, thirdl'j^ Our prefcnt zeal may foon decay and languifh, and fo may leavs: ub, in a manner, indifferent, as to the performa.ict of what we Jiad fo eagerly refolv'd upon ; and whac v/e thought a perfedl hatred to our fins, may in a little time dif- CQver icfelf to be only a fudden heat of paffion, which prefently we^rs off, and fo they again infinuate them- felves, as if they had never been refolved againft. Hence too many, after all their confidence in their pwn ilrength, and the firmnefs of their good pur- pofes, have flarted-back in a little time ^ like the church of E-phefus^ have {m) left their firjl love •, like the (n) feed fown among the thorns^ have had all their good defigns choaked with the cares, and riches, and fleafures of this world, fo as to bring no fruit to ■perfe- ction; or like i\it Jews, who were once fo tranlporied with zeal for pur Saviour, (o) that they would take him ■ "by f^^^^ ^'^^ make him a king -, yet not long aker, were as zealoufly fet againft him, crying, (i^') Away with l>m, away with him; crucify him, crucify him \ we have no king hut CcBfar* Such fickle uncertain creatures are men when left to themfelves; and fo little dependence is there upon their firmeft refolutions, when not built upon folid principles, and duly confidered before- hand, and when not fupported and a/Tifted by the grace of God. (q) Te did run well, fays St. Vaul to the Galatiayis : Who did hinder you, that ye fhoiild not oh :y the truth? They acquitted themfelves laudably, and as became good chriftians, at their firft fetting out ; yet it feems, not long after, the apolUe found caufe to reprehend them for not continuing on their courfe. And thus it frequently fares with others, who having enter'd upon a new courfe, think themfelves immoveably fettled in it *, yet, to their fiiame and ruin, {ni) Rev. ii. 4.. (») Luke viii. 14, (o)]Qhn vi. 14, ij". (/>) Ibid, are The more remote preparation for T>eath. 57 are by degrees drawn off from their hafty and ill- grounded refolutions, as if, {r)having begun mtbefpirit^ they could any way hope to be made perfe^ by the flejh. They refolved upon a religious life in the grofs, with- out inquiring aright into the feveral duties implied in it ; but, alas ! when they came to be tried in tiie par- ticular parts of it, this they had never thought of, and found them of a different nature from what they apprehended j one duty feems not fo neceffary, as they had at firft conceived it to be, and anorhcr is more difficult, and will put them to a great deal more trouble and pains than they imagined ; and he,nce they ftart back, and repent of their good refolutioi.s, when they find greater diligence, and mortification, and felf-denial, neceffary in order to the execution of them, than they had expeded. In a fit of religion, they refolved to cafhier all their luf^s, and become new men, and lead a very different life from what they had led formerly *, but all this they did rafhly, refolving upon they knew not what, nor what povv^er or ability they had for the performance of ir. And no one ought to think it ftrange, if anenterprize, thus indeliberately undertaken, were let fall afterwards, when they came to find their error ; and experience taught them, that a great deal more was required of them, than they thought of when they made their refolution. They were in hope of obtaining their pardon, and reconciliation with their offended God, and fo to efcape the wrath to come ; and this made them defirous to enter into a new covenant with him, to ferve and obey him, and to do all his will •, this therefore they readily agreed to, in general terms. But when they found themfelves touched in the meft fenfible part, and that they muft neceifarily quit their mofl beloved lufts, and engage in what mofb diredly thwarted their natural inclinations, they began to be- think themfelves, and were ready to cry out with thofe at Capernaum^ {s) This is a hard faying •, who can (j) Ibid. in. 3. (s) John vi. 60. hear 3 8 7%e more remote preparation for T^eath. hear U? Wherefore, to fecure us againft any fuch un- happy difappointment, we muft be fure to take time before we fix our refolucion, confidering well whac it is we are about to refolve upon, and what reafon we have for engaging in it, weighing the arguments on both fides, and thence making fuch a determina- tion, as we may reafonably conclude we fhall never be able to repent of. The moft ferious thoughts, and moft advifed confultations and debates with ourfelves., are little enough to form fuch a purpofe of amend- ment, as may hold out in all times, and upon all oc- cafions. But I fear I have inlarged too far upon this head. jinchith. Very far from It, I afifure you, as to my- {t\^. And I may anfwer for TimotheuSj that he would not have had one word omitted of what you have faid. ^Timoth, I cannot but own the truth of what our good friend has undertaken for me \ and (hall be very thankful, if you will pleafe to proced in your own way, iince Anchithanes^ you hear, is ftill difpofed to hearken to you. Anchiih. This ufeful and truly chriftian advice is a very good remedy againft my diftemper, and makes me pafs the time much eaJier than I could hope to have done, is \t\x. to myfelf. And therefore, pray, Theoph'ilus^ be fo kind as to add what farther directions you think proper concerning this weighty duty. ^beoph. I have hitherto obferved, that all our refolu- tions of a holy life ought to bt ferms a^id hearty\ fet- tled upon a found and lajling principle^ and with due delu heratiOHy and a thorough confideration of what we under- take^ and whether it he Hie to bold out or not. And now I add, in the fourth place^ That they muft be perfe^f and intire^ fo as to comprehend our whole duty, and guard againft all kind of fin. They muft extend to, and comprehend in them, whatever Almighty God has required at our hands; and mult exclude, and debar from, whatever is contrary to his moft Holy Wilk They The more remote preparation for "Death. 59 They mull be free from all by-ends, and finitter de- ligns and aims ; and mud, like the Pfalmift, (/) have refpe5t to all God^s commandmenU, For if we have re- ferve for any one (in, we cannot be faid to ftrve God with all our heart; but know affuredly, on the other hand, that by this our fingle fort of otience, we arc in effeO: guilty of a breach of the whole law. So fays St.James^ {u) IVhofoever Jhall keep the whole law^ and yet offend in one pointy he is guilty of all, 'Tis but a fmall excufe, fays Dr. Hammondy on the .place, * To think * that this is but one tranfgrefHon, and therefore not ^ confiderable : For the obedience of God's Will is re- ^ quired univerfally to all that he commands; and he ^ that offends in one, though he keep all the reft, is ^ guilty of the breach of that obedience, and punifh- ^ able as well as if he had broken all.* All a man's zeal for fome part of his duty will never denominate him holy, or capacitate him for the reward of thofe chat are fo, fo long as he takes liberty to tranfgrefs in any other. It is fo far from this, that fmce the fame power and authority of God gives fanUion to all his laws^ as a late learned {w) author fpeaks, It is a virtual dif- owning and difclaiming of that^ '■^Mfully to difobey it^ and rebel againft it, and openly oppofe it in any cafe ; which he does who lives in any known and wilful fin. And he is therefore to be accounted an enemy and traitor to Hea- ven^ and punifh'd as fuch^ who renounces its alfolute power and right to govern him in all things^ and fuh- verts the whole foundation of obedience and fubmtffon to it. This one fin, continued in, is like (x) the dead flies in the ointment ^ caufng it to fend forth a finking favour -, it pollutes and vitiates all our righteoufnefs, and makes it unacceptable to Almighty God -, and fo is a ready means of robbing us of our reward. Be fides that, \n the mean time, it eftranges the Spirit of God from (t) Pfilm cxix. 6. [ti) James ii. lo. (w) Dr. Vain of Repentance, Chap, 7. Sc£l. i. (xj Ecclcf. X. I. 6o The more rermte preparation for 'Death. us, fubjeds us to the dominion of vice, and fo ex- pofes us to other kinds of fins, gives the devil a power over us, and if not repented of, we know not how foon it may lodge us in Hell for all eternity. So that you fee there is great reafon for every one that would be faved, to refolve againfl all forts of fins, lelTer as well as greater, private as well as publick, of omiffion as well as commiiuon ; fuch as are defigned to pleafe others, as well as thofe intended only to pleafe our- felves. Whacfoever fort of iniquity it be, a good Chriftian cannot but think himfelf indifpenfably ob- liged to refolve againft it, as ever he would anfwer his molt holy profeffion, or would be happy, either here or hereafter. None inuii reckon himfelf to have fi- nifhed his work, but to have begun it only, who has renounc'd his fins in general •, but yet retains an af- fedion for fome one darling luft or pafTion. Nor can that be efteemed a truly chriftian refolution, which is not fo levelPd againft all fins, as to make no allowance for any one breach of God's command- ments, under whatfoever temptation, or in whatfo- ever circumftances. Hence therefore it follows, that, in the fifth place. Our refolutions muft be adequate to all imes and conditions. Firfl, To all times. They mufl not refped: futurity only, but the prefent time, that, without any delay we (y) make bafte to keep God's com- mandments. For to determine to repent hereafter, is in truth no better than to refolve to be wicked at pre- fent. It is not to forfake our fins, but to be willing to keep them, as long as we can do it with the leaft hope of impunity \ and even to venture our immor- tal fouls rather than part with them. This is only a device to qheat peoples confciences, and deceive them- felves ; and quiet their minds with a belief, that one time or other they fiiall certainly do, what they can- not endure to think of, and would gladly excufe them- felves from, and therefore are never like to do, pho' Q) Pidi, cx'x. 60. they The more remote preparation for 'Death. 6i they were to live to the age of Meihufelab. Secondly^ To all conditions. Our reiblutions muft be made for the hour of temptation, and the time of trial •, fuch as may hold in fpite of the moft plaufible infinuations, and the moft formidable attempts to the contrary. Then it is that we have the greateft ufe of them ; and they will fignify very little to us, if they fail us at fuch a time of need. It is an eafy matter to ferve God, fo long as it fuits with our own temper, and is agreeable to our natural inclinations, and ferves to promote our fecular interefts and defigns. But the proof of our fidelity is, when we keep clofe to our duty, in defiance of all jthe moft violent oppofition the tempter can raife againft it. And till we have fixed our refolutions fo as to prepare us for fuch a time of trial, they will be in 'apparent danger of proving like Egypfs broken reed^ which is of no real ufe, no ftability or ftrength ; but (2) if a man lean upon it^ will gojnto his band, and pierce it. Sixthly, We muft refolve, not only upon the duties to be per-^ formed by us, but upon the means necefTary for the performance of them ; nor only againft all fins, but Jikewife againft the temptations and inducements to them. Otherwife all our refolutions are like to prove of very little advantage to us. For let a man refolve againft drunkennefs, this will fignify little to him, unlefs he refolve, at the fame time, againft fuch com- panions as have been formerly, and are ftill moft like to be the unhappy inftruments of betraying him into it. Let another refolve againft cheating, yet he will very hardly keep clear of it, unlefs he refolve like- wife to keep out of the way of fuch temptations, as have rarely failed of putting him upon it. Let a third refolve againft all idolatry •, yet, unlefs he ft>all call to mind, to what barbarities fuch a refolution may not improbably expofe him, and refolve to bear them all, rather than part with his integrity j there h- (z,) I fa. xxxvi. 6. little 62 The more remote prefaratmi for '\Death, Jittle reafon to hope a general refolution will carry him through them. In Ihorc, a man may as well re- folve to be learned without reading, to acquire an cftate without fobriety and induftry, to be healthful without obferving any of the rules that may conduce to make him fo, or fafe without keeping out of the way of danger and harm , as to be good, and holy, and religious, without refolving in like manner upon the proper helps and inftruments of virtue, religion, and holioefs. Seventhly^ and laftly, That our refo- lutions may prove effedlual to the good ends for which they are defigned, another requifite is, that we faithfully and diligently apply ourfelves to put them in fraiiice. It is by no means enough to have refolved well, nor will ever prove of any advantage to us, unlefs we be mindful to live well too. ne only way^ {a) as a great man fpeaks, to recover ourfelves to a. chriftian temper cf inind^ after a vicious courfe of lije^ is in truth the very fame^ by which a man recovers his health after a long difeafe^ viz. b'j God's Uejfing upon the diligent ufe of fit means ; and any other way is no more 7WW to be expe^ed^ than prophecy and miracles. Thus 1 have inftanced, in the feveral ingredients, that go to the making up a truly chrittian refolution of ferv- ing God, as the gofpel requires ; and have obferved, that they are not to be counterfeit and hypocritical, nor loofe and indifferent, but ferious and hearty *, arc to be upon a firm and folid principle, that may makq j them like a houfe built upon a rock, immoveable. Sand not to be fhaken with wind or tide; and not 'hafty or inconfiderate, but upon mature deliberation, and a thorough inquiry into the divers inconveniencies and difficulties that may occur, in the performance of them i that they arc to be perfect and intire, fo as to take in the whole of oar duty, and provide againft all kinds of fin ; and fuited to all times and ftates, ,fa as to hold out in whatever circumdances 5 and are («) Dr, Cahmy, S:rrn. 10, p. 34.7. there- The wore remote preparation for ^eath. 63 therefore to reach to, not only the duties required, but the means too, that are neceffary in order to the diicharge of them ; and, in the lali place, that we are not to acquiefce in refolving, but muft vigoroufly fet ourfelves, and ufe our utmoll diligence and appli- cation, to reduce our refolutions to prac^b'ce, that fo we may fee thofe happy fruits and effeds of them^ without which, they will be of no ufe to any of us^ nor ferve to any other purpofe, than to heighten our guilt, and add to our condemnation. And now I Ihall only beg your farther patience, till I bricBy fub- join thefe three following directions, in order to the better fuccefs of fuch our refolutions : Firft, Tlmt they be repeated and renewed day by day ; becaufe this will fix them in our minds, and increafe the dan- ger of departing from them ^ and fo will make us the more diligently obfervant of them, that they prove not an occafion of our heavier deilruflion* Next, That they be prefently made known to the world, fo as that it may appear we are not afhamed to own, to all we converfe with, that we are become a different fort of men from what we had been former- ly. This will be an efpecial means of making us the- more obfervant of them, left otherwife we become a fcorn and derifion to thofe, to whom we made this de- claration, v/ho will be apt to triumph over us, and mock and laugh at us, if they fee us give back again, after proceeding thus far towards a reformation ; and will befides be a fingular prefervative againft the af- faults of others, who will not be fo forward to cn^ tice us to any kind of fin, v/hen they are fully in.- form'd beforehand, that their attempts will be m vain, and that we have already declar'd againft giv- ing ear to them. And again, thirdly. That we do not truft to our own ftrengrh for the performance of them, but earneftly fue to God for his grace and alTift- ance, that having begun fo good a work in ui^ he will perform it until ths day of Jefus Chrifl. Without the help 64 The more remote preparation for 'Death, help of his Holy Spirit, we Ihall foon flag and hltot^ and can never hope for fuccefs in what we fo vainly attempt through our own power. And we muft there- fore be fure at all times to look up to him, and de- pend upon his ftrength^ for carrying us through all difficulties and trials. And fo, but not otherwife, if we ufe our own hearty endeavours, and be continually upon our watch, we may promife ourfelves, that our gopd purpofes fhall not fail us, but that we ihall find the happy effect of them, to our joy and comfort here, and our eternal falvation in the other world. Timoth, 1 thank you, good Theophilus^ for the pains you have fo long together taken for my information ; and I faithfully promife, 1 will endeavour to make the belt ufe I can of your good inftrudions, for the be- nefit both of myfelf and others. Though, I thank God, I have never allowed myfelf in the pradice of any known vice, as confidering how highly difpleafing that is to Almighty God, what horrid ingratitude it argues to our biefied Saviour, who has done and fuf- fered fo much for me ; what an affront it is to the Holy Spirit of God, what a contradidion to our own reafon, and efpecially to the covenant I enter'd into at my baptifm, and which I have made profeflion of carefully and confcientioufly obferving ever fince; of what mifchievous confequence it would be at prefent, and how intolerably deftrudive hereafter *, yet have I not had fuch a conilant fenfe of religion upon my mind, nor been fo diligent and induftrious in the ways of holinefs, as I am fenfible I ought to have biien. But, by the grace of God, I will become more watchful for the future, not only to abftain from evil, but to do good ; to ferve and worlhip God, and pro- mote his honour, according to my abilities and op- portunities ^ to improve my own mind, that I may more readily run the way of his commandments •, and to do what fervice I can to my neighbours and ac- quaintance. This is my fixed purpofe and refoJurion: and that I may fairhfullv put It in executi^onj A The more remote preparation for T^eath. 6f A Prayer for Grace to fulfil our good Purpofcs and Refolutions. /J Gracious God^ without whom nothitig is ftrong^ no- thing is holy ; infuje^ I befeech thee^ fuch a meafnre of grace into my hearty as that I may fpend the remain- der of my days in thy fervice^ and to thy glory. Con- firm and Jlrengthen my good re/olutions, and fix them more and mort in my mind, that they may be always before me, and may be a means of quickening my diligence, and making me vigorous and unwearied in thy fervice, I am thine by creation, by redemption, and by a voluntary dedication of my f elf to thee \ fuffer me not to be remifs and negligent in anfwering fuch weighty oblgations. But as I have fworn, fo let it be my daily fiudy, and the great and chief endeavour of my life to perform it, that I will keep thy righteous judgments. Let a confideration cf the great work 1 have upon my hands, and the little time I have to do it in, and withal, that this little time may pojfibly be much lefs than I imagine it to be *, let thefe thoughts, I befeech thee, have their prober influence upon me, and not fuffer me one day longer to forbear fulfilling all the good purpofes thou haft begotten in me -, that, without any delay, I may fet myfelf to make the befi amends I fhall be able, for my paft mifcarriages, by be- coming fo much the more circumfpeU, and the more de- firous to pleafe thee for the future, tVhilft I live in the world, preferve me from the fnares and temptations of it \ and enable me to perfect holinefs in thy fear, that, I may grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jefus Chrift *, may walk worthy of the vo- cation wherewith I am called, and be fruitful in all good works ', and whatever fhall become of me here, I inay make fure of a happy eternity with thee hereafter, in the higheft H'^avens, through the merits and tnediation of Jefus Chnft, our Lord and only Saviour, Amen. Theoph, You appear, Timotheus, to be truly affeded with what has been faid. I befeech the Almighty to convince you more and more, not only of the necef- H fuy, 66 The more remote preparation for ^eath^ fity, but of the great weight and ufefulnefs of afpeedy^ and hearty refolution of ferving God in all refpeds. But give me leave to tell you, that you feem not fuf- ficiently to have attended to what 1 have faid, con- cerning the deliberation required, in order to a pru- dent and truly religious refolution. TitJioth. This kind admonition is an addition to your other favours •, and fo I take it \ tho' I am to acquaint you, neophilus^ that I am not now to begin this confideration, but have already applied myfelf to it over and over, only that I have not been fo llridly obfervant of all my good refolutions, as I hope I (halt be henceforward, by the grace of God enabling me. 'Theopb, May the good God flrengthen and afllft all your good purpofcs, to his ov/n glory, and the falva- -tion of your precious and immortal foul I But we have trefpaffcd too far upon Jnchithanes^ and it is high time now that we leave him to take his reft. Ancblth. I return you a thoufand thanks, dear neoph'diis^ for this obliging entertainment, and beg as much more of it, as your occafions will permit. It is both delightful and profitable, and for which I (hall be always indebted to you. Tbeo,h. Dear Anlbithanes^ I heartily wifh you a good night, humbly befeeching Almighty God, that I may find your health re-eftablifhed when I fee you. nexr ; which, God willing, (hall be very fpeedily. Timoth. I pmy God fend you a good night, and better health, if it be his blefled will. i:U End of tbe Firfi VISIT. The Of patience under Sicknefs, &c. Cy The Second VISIT. Of Patience under Sicknefs^ and other Jffli£iions, neopb.T Have not heard of Anchithanes fince Tuefday^ ^ and will therefore go, and make him avifit, and fee how he is. But who are thofe I obferve coming this way ? I fee now they are two very good neigh- bours and friends. I will fpeak to them firft ; perhaps they may give me fome account of him. My good friendsj I am glad to meet you, and I hope your* felves and your families are all well. Eufehius. I thank you, Sir, for your inquiry ; blef- fed be God, we are all well, and at your fervice. But have you heard the news of our good friend Anchi- thanes ? . Theoph, I faw him fome days fince ; and thought him in no dangerous condition : and I have heard, fince that, he was better ; but for thefe two or three days lad pad, I have heard nothing of him : for which reafon, 1 was going now to fee how he is. Eufeb, If you will give us leave, we will wait upoa you to him. Theoph. With all my heart, gentlemen. Eufeb. I pray God we may find him better than I cxpedt. For our friend here, Philogeiton^ brings but an uncomfortable account of him. Theopb. Have you feen him to*day. Sir ? Philogeiton, No, Sir -, but I met his fervant, who told me, he was in a high fever, and exceeding uneafy. Theoph, lam very forry to hear it. And, if you pleafe, we will lofe no time. Eufeb. We are ready to attend you, Sir, as foon as you pleafe. Pi6i/c^. With all my heart. Sir. H 2 Tbeoph. €8 Of patience tinder Sicknefs^ neoph. See yonder ! his windows are all (hut ; which is buc a badfign, and makes me fear your in- formarion is too true. Fhilog, I doubt you will find it fo. Theoph. The door I fee is open, and perhaps yoa may not know the way j and therefore, that we may fpend no time in ceremony, if you will excufe me, I will lead you in to him. But hark ! what melan- cholick doleful noife is that I hear ? Eufeb. It is /lnchithaneshtn\o^.x\\ngh\m(t\L ^heoph, I perceive now it is his voice. He feems to be defperately ill *, the Lord help him ! I cannot but greatly commiferate his painful condition. Yet that which grieves me more, is to hear fo good a Man, thus fadly difcompofed, thus uneafy and impatient under the burden Almighty God has thought fit to lay upon him. But why do we forbear to go in, and try to comfort him under his pains? Let us not (lay : 'And may the Father of mercies, and God of all con- folations, of his infinite mercy, go with us, to blefs and profper cur well-meant endeavours \ Pbilog, Amen. Amen. Eufeb. Here his fervant comes, who will tell us, whether we can go in now. Tbeoph. We are forry to hear your mafter make fuch fad complaint. SerViWt. He is very fick at prefent ; but we hope the violence of his fit abates, and that he will be cafier in a while. Will you pleafe, gentlemen, to walk up to him ? Eufeb, We came for that purpofe. Serv. He's this way. Anchith. {a) PFo is me, mymolber, that thou hafi home me! Alas / (b) Why died I not in the birth ? Why did I not give up the gh oft when I cams out of the belly? Why did the knees prevent me ? or why the breafts that 1 fijouldfuck? For now had Ilainftill, and been quiet j / fboidd haveflept^ then had I been at reft. Oh ! the grave, (a) J'.r. XV. 10. {b) Job i i. ii, 12, t j. the and other AffiiSiions. 6() the grave, the place of quietnefs and eafe ! {c) There the wicked ceafe from trouhiing^ and there the weary are at reft : there the prifoners reft together^ they hear not the voice of the oppreffor. The fmall and great are there \ and thefervant is free from his mafter. Wherefore is light given to him that is in mifery^ and life unto the bitter in foul? which long for deaths hut it cometh not^ and dig for it^ more than for hid treafures : which rejoice exceed- ingly^ and are glad when they can find the grave. You all fee my woful difconfolate ftate ; and I am quite tired and fpent with it. {d) My ftghing comes before I eat \ and my roarings are poured out like the waters - Theoph. My dear friend, why fo irrapatient ? No doubt your difeafe is heavy upon you ; yet you ought to remember by whom it is fent, and what intire re- fignation you owe to his will, and what ready fub- mifllon all his determinations require at your hands. It was God that gave you your lile and breath, and aJl the good things you ever enjoy'd 5 and he may re- cal them whenfoever he pleafes. He may put an end to your life this very moment. Or if he chufe rather to prolong your days, he may caufe you to pafs them in forrow and anguifli •, and you, however, have no j'Urt caufe of complaint, by reafon of fuch his dif- penfation towards you. We are come here to inquire after your health, and do you the befl fervice in our pjwer. But give me 1 rave to tell you, we are trou- bled to find you in fuch diforder ; not fo much be- caufe of the ficknefsGod has been pleafed to vifit you with, tho' this be matter of no fmall grief to us, as becaufe you are fo unable to bear it. It would far bet- ter become you, to reft fatisBed, that a wife and good God will lay nothing upon you, but for wife and good ends ; and that (e) all things you do or may fuffer,. Jball work together for yourgood^ if you truly love and fear him. (/) He doth not a fflifi willingly^ nor grieve the cJMdrenof men. And nothing can ever befal you, but he knows how to turn it to your advantage. (c) Jobiii. 17,18, 19, 20, 2i» 22. () 1 Pec. v. 7. (i^) z Cor, viii. 9. (r) Phil. 11. 6, 7.8. (/) Mac X. 2f. H 4 And 72 Of patience under Sicknefs, And if our Saviour endured fuch a fight ofaffliSIms^2Lnd not for his own, but for our fakes, how totally inex- cufable muit we leave ourfelves, if we complain and are difTatisfied, when called upon to treaa in his fteps^ and bear fome lighter burden, out of compliance with his example, and obedience to his commands! If we be obliged to (/) be holy in all manner of converfation^ as he which hath called us is holy^ it neceffarily follows in particular, that we muft iludy to fhev\ ourfelves pa- tient under the word of calamities, as he our Lord was patient. Korean any thing be more reafonably requir'd of us, than that fuch as profefs themfelves followers of the meek and fuffering Jefus^ be always prepar'd to conform themfelves to the pattern he has fet them, by fuffering with unwearied meeknefs and refignation, as he did ; efpecially confidering far- ther, that how acute and tormenting foever the pains are, which any of us are called to bear, they however fall infinitely fhort of what we havealljuftly deferved, by our folly and difobedience. It is of the infinite mercy of Almighty God, that death and ever- lafling defiruclion has not been our portion long fince, and that we are not now roaring under the extremity of his indignation, in the bottomlefs pit, together with the devil and his angels. And confequently whatever misfortune fhort of this, is really a great blefTing -, and is fo far from being juft caufe of re- pining and difcontent, that the greateft fufferer on this fide Hell, has juft reafon to admire the clemency, lenity, and kindnefs of God, in dealing abundantly more favourably with him, than he has deferved. Think therefore with yourfelf, Anch'ithanes^ that you (:an never hope to acquit yourfelf as becomes a good Chriflian, till you have brought your own inclinations into fuch fubmiffion to the divine will, as readily and willingly to comply with whatever portion God {^t.% fit to chufe for you. Think what your bleifed Saviour has endurM for you, and vyhat an intolerable fhame (0 1 Pet. i. ly. and other AffiiEiions, 73 it will be for you, to refufe to undergo theutmoft bar- barities, much more fome (hort pain or ficknefs, in obedience to his command. Think again, what a blefling it is, that you are yet in a ftate of falvation, and not deliver'd over to thofe everlafting burnings, which were the due demerits of your fins ; and to which you might long ago have been juftlycondemn'd, had it not been for the patience and long-fufFeringof Al- mighty God. Weigh thefe things well with thyfelf, and thou wilt foon be convinced, that inftead of being diffatisfied at the divine difpenfations, thou haft great reafon, on the other hand, to own to God, with thofe in Ezra^ that he («) has funijb'd thee lefs^ abundantly lefs, than thine iniquities deferve \ and to refolve, in the words of the prophet Micah^ to {x) hear the indignation of the Lord^ becaufe thou hafl finned againft him, Anchith. I acknowledge what you fay to be a great truth, and (hall therefore endeavour to compofe my mind, and be as eafy as my diftemper will fuffer me to be. Eufeb. Confider with yourfelf, that (j) ' for what- * foever caufe this ficknefs is fent you, whether it be ' to try your patience for the example of others, and * that your faith may be found in the day of the Lord, ' laudable, glorious, and honourable, to the increafc * of glory, and eternal felicity ; or elfe it be fent to ,* corred and amend in you, whatfoever offends the ' eyes of your Heavenly Father *, if you truly repent * you of your (ins, and bear your ficknefs patiently, * trufting in God's mercy, for his dear Son Jefus * Chrifl's fake, and render him humble thanks for * his fatherly vifitation, fubmitting yourfelf wholly to * his will, it will certainly turn to your profit, and ' help you forward in the right way, that leads to ^ everlafting life.' Think aright of it therefore, and receive it as God's loving vifitation. Anchith. As God's loving vifitation. («) Ezra ix. 13. (x) Mic. vii. 9. (7} Office for the vifita- tion ot the fick. Eufeh, 74 Of patience under Sicknefs^ Eufeb. Yes, fo I fay, as God's loving vifitation j for. fo we are taught by God himfelf, in the Holy Scrip- ture : (z) As many as Ilove^ faith God, by the apoftle Sujohtty I rehuke and cbaften : hereby declaring, even his punidiments in this world to be fent out of kind- nefs ^id affedion, and for the good of thofe who will be prevailM with to naake a right ufe of them. The wife man alfo inculcates the fame truth: {a) My fon^ defpife mt the chaftening of the Lordy nor he weary of bis correciion. For whom the Lord lovelby he correoleth^ even as a father the fon^ in whomhedelighteth. As doth alfo the apoftle to the Hebrews^ exadly to the fame purpofe i {h) If ye endure cbafieningy God dealeth with yoUy as with fons , for what fon is he^ whom the Father chafleneth not ? But if ye be without chajlifement^ whereof all are -partaker s^ then are ye baftardsy and not fons^ Further more y we have had fathers ofourflefhy which cor* reefed us, and we gave thetn reverence : Shall we not much rather he infuhjeofion to the Father of fpiriis, and live? For tbeyy verily y for a few days chaftened us after their own pleafure -y but he for our profit y that we might be partakers of his holinefs. {c) ' Thefe words, good brother, arc ' God's words, and written in Holy Scripture, for < our comfort and inftru<5lion, that we fhould pa- ' tiently, and with thankfgiving, bear our Heavenly * Father's corredlion, whenfoever, by any manner of « adverfity, it Ihall pleafe his gracious goodnefs to vifit <- us 'y and there fhould be no greater comfort to chrift- « ian perfons, than to be made like unto Chrift, by < fuffering patiently, adverfuies, troubles, and fick- < nefles. For he himfglf went not up to joy, but firft « he fuffer'd pain : he encer'd not into his glory, before c he was crucified. So truly our way to eternal joy, is < to fuffer here with Chrift ; and our door to enter * into eternal life, is gladly to die with Chrift; that < we may rife again from death, and dwell with him * in everlafting life.' r?,) Rev, iii. 19. {a) Prov- ili. n, li. (h) Hcb.xii. 7,8,9,10. (c; Ulfice lor rhe viiitaLionof the lick. Anchith, 0>nd other Affli^iom, 7^ Anchitk I earneftly defire to fubmic to God's will. But yet I am apt to think, no father ufes his fon as I am ufed. Eufeb, (d) No chafteningfor thepreCent fiemeth to he joyous J but grievous ; neverthelefs^ afterward ityieldeth the fe ace able fruit of right eoufnefsy unto them whifh are exer^ cifed thereby. Agreeably whereto, fays the apoftle St. JameSy (e) Bleffed is the man that endureth temptation ; for when he is tried^ he fhall receive the crown of life^ which the Lord has promifed to them that love him, Jnchith, I thought myfelf in a happy ftate, till I was opprefled with this fitof ficknefs. I thank God, I have always lived above want, and eafily, and to my own fatisfaclion. But alas ! fince this unfortunate change, I am forced to lie here, as you fee me, weep- ing and mourning, with a heart full of forrow and care, tormented to a great degree, and yet not know- ing where to find a remedy. Fhilog. This is to be expedled from God only. Phyfi- ciansmayadminifter proper medicines, but it is God's bleffing alone, that can make them fuccefsful. And it is upon him alone you muft depend for deliverance. Anchith, I do fo 5 but he has not yet thought fit to grant it -, and fuppofe he Ihould not, what muft I do then ? Fhilog, Then you muft take care to follow neophi- lus^s advice, and difpofe yourfelf, in the humbleft manner, to fubmit to his will, in whatever he lays upon you. Eufeb, The way to enter into glory is by the crofs : by this way our Lord and mafter enter'd into his Father's kingdom ; and if we would follow him thither, it muft be by the fame way. HQv/2is(/) madeperfeol hy Juffering, And fuch who take upon them the profef- fion of his name, muft not think themfelves hardly dealt by, if they be calPd to fuffer too 5 whether by the hand of man, or by the hand of God himfelf. And, indeed, calamities and afflidions are an excellent {d) Heb. xii. 1 1. (e) James i. 12. {f) Heb. ii. 10. antlw, 8, 9. pre- 76 Of patience tinder Sicknejs, preparative for a better (late ; (lich as want, con- tempt, reproach, lofles, perfecution, imprifonment, undefcrved punifhment, and, which more particularly concerns yourfelf, bodily pains and infirmities, and the moft uneafy and wafting difeafes ; and, in a word, whatfoever ferves to mortify the old man in us, and to wean our minds from the world, and to raife up our aftedions to, and make us diligently inquifitive after, another and a better ftate. Anchitb. I (incereiy own God's power and authority. But yet, it feems very hard for me to conceive, that thefe fevere vifitations are inflided by God upon his beloved children and favourites *, and are not rather a token of his heavy difpleafure, and that thofe who labour under them, are to be looked upon as objedts of his wrath. And, to deal plainly with you, all I fuffer at this time in my body, is not more grievous to me, than theapprehenfion I labour under, and cannot ihake off, that this fevere treatment is too plain an evidence of God's being eftranged from me, or rather that he hates me. Theopb. Not fo faft, my dear friend ; think again. Have not the faithfulleft and beft fervants of God been conftantly obferved to meet with their (hare of afflic- tions here, and many times far beyond divers of the moftvitious and profligate wretches? So that were it not for the inward comfort and fupport they find in themfelves in this life, and their hopes and expectations of a better at their departure hence, a great part of them, at leaft, might juftly be fa id to be, as St, Paul fpeaks, (g) of all men moft miferahle. Remember the cafe of Mel^ of Jacobs of Jofeph, of Joh^ Mofes and Davidy of St. John Baptijl, St. Sleihen^ St. Peter ^ St. James^ St. Jobn^ and the reftof the apoltles and evangelifts, and innumerable other martyrs and confeffors. Were not thefe the favourites of heaven, andfmgularly interefted in the divine proteflion and kindnefs? or were they withouttheir erodes or trials? Were they not all greatly ^) I Car. XV. ly. afflidleda and other AffliEiions. jj afflicted, and abundance of them barbaroufly put to death ? What numbers do we read of, of the holieft and bed of men, fuch {h) of whom the world was not worthy^ who yet had trials of cruel mockings and fcourg- ings, bonds and imprifonments .; were Jioned, were fawn ajunder, were tempted by terrible cruelties, were flain with the fword I As others alfo were in wants and di- flrefs, and fear, and without any certain habitation ; not knowing where tohide themfelves, but being forced to wander about in deferts and mountains^ and dens and caves of the earthy covering themfelves wich7^^^/)-y^f/2i and goat-skins^ bei igdeftitute^ affiitlcd^ tormented. Can you pofTibly deny thefe to have been God's undoubted children, and truly beloved of him ? And on the other hand, do you imagine, Anchiihanes^ that your fufFerings may in any wife be compared with theirs ? If not, con- fider ferioufly whether it becomes you to be diffatisfied at your prefent condition ; and be invited to greater humiliation by reafon of your fins, which call aloud for thefe, and much heavier chaftifements, and fhew your- felf more fubmilTive and refigned to the divine will, and that infinite wifdom and good nefs which brings them upon you. Set before your eyes that admirable patience of 7(3Z'(i), under a feriesof fucceffiveafflidions of divers kinds. Call to mind how pitiable and difcon- folate his forlorn eftate was, when, from one of the richeft of all the eaftern part of the world, he wasfud- denly ftripp'd of all. His {k) oxen and his affes were feiz'd by the Sabeans, and his fervants flain ^ who fhould have faved them out of the hands of thefe invaders. His (/) fheep^ and others o^Wi^fervantSy wereconfum'd by fire from heaven. His im) camels were carried away by tht Chaldeam^ and the remainder of his fer- vants weredeftroyed by them. And, to add to fuch his heavy calamities, in the la ft place comes fu^us de- cumamts^ the fureft ftroke of all -, his («) children, both fons and daughters^ were all of them kill'd by the fall of fA.}Heb.xi. 36, 37,38. (i)Jobi. 3. (/^Ver. i;-. (/) Ver. 16. {m) V.r. 17. (») Vcr. 18, ly. the 78 Of patience under SicknefSy the houfe, where they were feafting together. So that now he was all of a ludden become as poor, as he had been rich but a few hours before ; and as great an ob- jed of pity, as he might have been before of envy. Yet durft he not murmur at God for fo woful a change. He remembered by whofe good providence it came about, and would not fuffer himfelf to break forth into any difcontented and undutiful language. On the con- trary. He (0) arofe^ and rent his mantle^ and Jhaved his heady and fell down upon the ground ^ and worfljipped^ and faidy Naked came 1 out of my mother's womb^ and naked Jhall 1 return thither : the hord gave ^ and the Lord hath taken away \ hle[Jedbe the name of the Lord. As much as to fay, ' {p) I am but what I wasatfirft, and what I * muft have been again at laft ; and he that hath * (tripped me of all before I die, hath taken nothing ' away but what he gave. Let him therefore be praifed, * who is the donor of all good things, and the difpofer ' of all events.' {q) In allthis Job ftnnednot^ norfpake one harfli or unbecoming word, when all thefe evils came fo thick upon him. He did not bemoan himfelf as one rejeded by God, and who mud never more expedl his favour, becaufe he found himfelf at prefenc in fuch calamitous circumftances. No, he freely re- figned himfelf to the divine difpofal, and bleffed and praifed the Almighty, whom he knew to be the fole author of all he had loft, and to whom he flood indebted for the enjoyment of it hitherto. And can you now, good Anchithanes^ think itreafonable to be* have yourfelf after a contrary manner ? Ought you not rather to labour, that your prefent ficknefs may make you the more fenfible of the true value of that health you now want, and the more thankful for the long enjoyment you have had of it ? And what if you are now deprived of it? May not this be for your good ? and fo far from a token of God's difpkafure, and a fign he is irreconcilable to you, that it may be taken from yoaoutof kindnefs, and fo may require not your (o) job i. 20. 2 1, (f) Bp. Patrick on the Words, f 5) Job i. 22. pa- and other Affli^ion^. y^ patience only, but your unfeigned gratitude, for being thus dealt with? Eufeb. You ought to remember, that God is infinitely wifer than you j and knows what is fitted for you, or any of his fervants, far better than you or they do, neoph. There is nothing more common in the world, than for the beft of men, and of Chriftians, to meet with crofles and afflidions whilft they remain here. Thiswas mod remarkably notorious, during thofe fevcre times of perfecution, wherein fuch multitudes of our fiord's difciples were called to feal their profefTion with their blood, (r) Some were burn'd alive, fome were (lain with the fword, and others were expofed to ravenous wild beads, and were devoured by them y and is) even thofe of the highcd rank were tortur'd, put in chains, and crucified ; fome were banifhed, fome had the foles of their feet dried up by a gentle flame^ fome had torches applied to all parts of their bodies, till their fkin cracked and fliriverd up, and the fire came at length to their very bowels, {t) Some were broiled, fome empaled, fome beheaded, {u) Some were put in boats, and turned afloat in the fea to be drowned, {x) Others had their limbs forced out oi joint, and their bodies torn with whips, were pulled in pieces, were hungup by a hand, or a foot, ordretched upon the rack, or were carbonadoed, and baded with felt and vinegar. In a word, divers forts ofunknown punifliments were invented for them *, and no age or fex were fpared, but men, women, and children, were all adr judged to the mod barbarous, mod abufive, and mod painful death. And that they might not be too eafily difpatched, the execution was fometimes dopped in the midd, and the martyr remitted to prifon, not out of kindnefs, but that, having recovered a little breath, he might be enabled for a new con fli (51. And all this (0 Tertul!. Scorp, c. i. Eufeb, Hift. Ecclef. 1. 1. c. 7. (s) Ladant. de MortibusPcrfec. c. 21. (r) Clem. A'ex. Srr. 1. 2. («J Eufeb. Hft. Eccl.. 1. 8. c. 6. Sozom. 1. 6. c. 14. {x) Eufeb. J. 8, c. 9, 10, Sec, Socrat. Hift. 1. 3 c.j6. merely 8o Of patience under SicknefSy merely for the fake of theirChriftianity. Yet were thefe holy martyrs fo far from looking upon themfelves as abandon'd by God, becaufe they fuffered fuch things, (j) that they rejoiced rather, and gloried in them, elteeming it as a favour, that God would call them in fo fignal a manner, to follow their blefled Saviour, and be baptized with the baptifin that he was baptized with. And in the more quiet and halcyon times of the church, it was never known, that the faithfullell and beft Chriftianswere exempt from their portion of temporal calamities. When not harafled, and perfecuted, and treated as the refufc and off-fcour- ing of all things^ they have yet been fubjecl to fick- nefles and difeafes, and the other inconveniences ufually incident to thisftate of mortality and mifery. So that in them is verified, as it is alfo in the reft of the world, that (%) man that is born of a woman^ hath but a few days to live^ and full of trouble •, that {a) he is born to trouble, as the fparks fly upward^ and that his (b) days are evil^ as well as few. Mankind in general are all obnoxious to grievances and crofTes, and divers forts of difallers and misfortunes ♦, and the good man among the reft. Such an one has. undoubtedly, better fup- ports under his troubles than others have •, but he is not totally fecured from them in his beft eftate. I cannot perfuade myfclf, that his religion does not intitle him to, and procure for him, divers worldly bleftings and advantages ; fince we all know {c) godlinefs has the promife of the life that now is, and not only of that which is to come : befides that religion, and a right government of ourfelves, tends naturally very much to abate and take off the edge of whatfoever calamity, and difpofes the fufferer to bear it to the beft ad- vantage. But yet, fo long as good men confift of flelh and blood no lefs than others, and not only are fy) Martyr. S. Ignat. c. i. S.Polycarp. Ep. ad Philip, r. x. S Po- lycarp. Martyr, c, z. Jaft. Mart. Apol. i. B.Cypriani PafT.Sc Ep. 50, & 51. Su!pic. Sever. Hi ft. Sacr. An. 304.. (2:) Job xiv. i. (a) Chip. V. 7. {if) G:;ii. xivii. 9. [c) i Tmi. iv. 8. liable anil other Affli6iions. S t liable to outward accidents in like manner with them ; but find themfelves reftrain'd from divers of thofe courfeij, for their own prefervation or advantage, which others freely allow themfelves to take \ no wonder if they be involved in wants, and \q&s^ and misfortunes, and obnoxious to bodily diftempers and infirmities, as their neighbours are. Hov/ever, there is no reafon to conclude from hence, that they are out of God's favour, and that their chaftifeitients argue him to be eftranged from them ; and that they are there- fore to hope for no good from him. This is a great miltake, and I know not how my friend Anchitbanes comes to fall into it. I am fure you ought rather to refledl upon what the apoftle declares, Heb, xii. 8. If ye he without chajiifement^ whereof all the true and ge- nuine fons of God are 'partakers^ then are ye hajlardsy and not fons, Ancbith, I cannot deny but what you fay is agree- able both to fcripture and reafon ; and I will therefore confider it, fo far as my weak and painful condition will permit. Tbeoph. I ani glad to hear you fay (o : and 1 pray God give you a right underftanding in all things. But methinks it fhould be no fmall means of fetding your judgment in this point, to attend awhile to what our Lord and Saviour difcourfes concerning the rich glut- ton in the gofpel, and poor diftrefled Ldzartis, who lay at his gate in a helplefs condition •, and to remember how mightily the cafe was altered with them, when they came to die. What worldly advantage was want- ing to this man? Did he not enjoy all his heart could defire ? He was rich, was in health, was finely clad, and kept a plentiful table, {d) faring fumptuou fly every day \ yet no friend, no favourite of God. in the mean time, Lazarus was miferably poor, and knew not where to get a meal's meat *, which made him waic at the door for fome relief, (e) defiring to be fd with the crumbs which fdl from the rich man^s tabU i and would {d) Lake xvi. xp. («} Ver. lo, ai. 82 Of patience under Sicknefs^ have thought it a happinefs, if he CQuld have obtain'd them. He was, moreover, unhealthy, and full of fores, an uneafy fpe6l.acle, both to himfelf and others-, but he was neverthelefs a good man, one that, like Job^ feared God, and efchewed evil ; and who had learned to fub- mit to his bard circumftances, as well knowing they were order'd him by God. Such was the difference between them in their mortal (late. But this continued not long, before death came, and fet them at a greater diftance from each other *, and then behold a new, and a very different fcene opened itfelf. For this beggar, as mean and defpicable as he had been thought, (/) was earriedhy the angels into Abraham'^ hofoin, the place of happy fouls after their departure out of this life. The learned Dv . Lightfoot {g) teaches, that it was univerfally believed among tJpe Jews, that pure and holy fouls, when they left this body, went into happinefs to Abraham, to the fame place where he was ; and that our Saviour fpeaks according to the received opinion of that nation in this affair, when he faith. Many fh all come from the eajl, and from the weft, and fhall fit down with Abraham. But this hevig carried into Abraham'j lofom, feems to denote fome peculiar prerogative, fome greater happinefs than a bare tranflation into the place where that patriarch was. For I take the phrafeto be of like importance to what isfaid of (Z>) Sc John^s lying in, or leaning on^ our Saviour's hofom at fupper •, and fo to imply in it an allufion to cl:e manner of fealling in thofedays ; that Lazarus was not .only with Abraham, or in Abraham' & bay, as fome render the expreflion, but was feated in glory next to him, fo as to be faid to lie in his bofom at the heavenly entertainment. (/') The rich man alfo died, and was buried. Here is no mention of any angels to take care of his departing foul. And certainly he had none to concern themfelves about him, except the infernal ftends, whom we may reafonably conclude " to have been ready prepared, to drag him into the {p Luke xvi. i2. - (g) 'n loc. {h) Jphn xijii. aj. 'Amx«V^'^3' c-.-^'Tc^ Koh'TTco, (i) Luke xvi. zi. and other Affiiciions. 83 fame deftrudlion with thenifelves; efpecially confidering what follows in the next words, {k) And m Hell he lift his eyeSy being in torment. An undeniable proof, that, notwithftanding all the plenty and profufenefs wherein he had lived, he was far enough from being beloved by God, who had indeed beftowed all his wealth upon him, but who withal fets fb mean an eftimace upon all Worldly advantages, that (/) no man knows either love or hatred by all that is before him. Philog, This parable makes it very clear, that want, or contempt, or fores, and, by parity of reafon, fick- nefles and difeafes, fent by God to the good man, are not to be looked upon as the effed of his difpleafure and wrath, but rather as a fign of his favour and good- will. At lead, I am fure, thus much may be un- queftionably inferred from it, that no one can be known to be in God's favour, from the abundance of the things that he foffefjes in this life ; nor any one to be out of his favour, becaufe he has them noc bellowed upon him. Eufeb, Very right. But the pfalmifl: tells us, more- over, concerning afflidions, that they are not only- no juft caufe of defpondency, and dillrufl of God*s concern for us ; but, on the contrary, if rightly im- proved, (and if they be not, that lies at our own door, and is chargeable only upon ourfelvcs ; if rightly im- proved, I fay) they may become highly beneficial to us : {ni) Bleffed is the man whom thou chafienefl^ Lord. And again, from his own experience, he proclaims the goodnefsof God, in correding him for his mifcarriages, and thereby reducing him to repentance for tliem, and a care to walk more uprightly for the future. (;;) Be- fore I was qffli^ed, I went aftray \ but now have I kept thy word : And a little after, {0) It isgocdfor ?ne that I have beenaffli^edy that J ?night learn thy Jlathtes . And again, he makes this profefiion, (p) J know, OLordy that thyjudginents are rights and that thou in fait hfulnefs {k] Luke xv'. 2^. (/) Ecclef ix. i. {m) ?[^\. xcir. Ji. (n) Pfal. cx.x, 67. {0, Vcr. 71. (f) Ver. 7/. I 2 84 Of patience under SicknefSy f)ajl affli^edme. ^ It is an a^ of thy fovereign mercy>* fays Dr. Hafnmond^ upon the place, ' which thou haft ' promis'd to make good to me^ to fend me fuch af- * fiiclions as thefe. Thefc are but a neceffary part of * difcipline, and fo a mercy to me j and having pro- * mifed not to deny me real and principal mercies, thou * art obliged in fidelity to fend them.' And that they are for our benefit, and come therefore out of mercy, and for our good, the apoflle St. Paul alfo ac- quaints us : (^) When we are judged^ we are chajlened of the Lord ; not out of pafFion and difpleafure, and to our own confufion , but for our advantage, and the pro- motion of our beft and trueft intereft, the eternal falva- tion of our fouls, that wejhould not he condem7ied with the world. Our good and gracious God aims at our reformation and falvation, by his neceffary corredlions, when he fees us going aftray from his commandments ; the proper intent of them being to make us fenfible of our folly and wickednefs, and what is like to be tiie dreadful confequence of them, if perfifted in. And, (r) Happ-j is the man whom he correEieth \ therefore defpife not thou the chafleningofthe Almighty: for hemakethfore^ and hindeth up \ he woundeth, and his hands make whole. In a word, (f) He is the father of mercies <» and the God of all comfort ', and fo orders his vifitations, when re- ceived as they ought to be, that he comforts us in all our tribulations^ that we mayhe able to comfort them which are in any trouble^ by the comfort wherewith we ourfelves are comforted of God, Philog. Our Lordjefus Chrijl, that fpotlefs Lamb of God, (/) who did no fin ^ neither was guile found in his mouthy entered not into glory, but by the crofs. So fays the apoftle, {u) We fee Jefus^ who was made a little lower than the angels^ for fiiffering deaths crowned with glory and honour , And it is not very reafonable for fuch who profefs themfelves his difciples, tocxpect that they fhall attain to the poffeffion of a heavenly ( 5, 4. (/) Pia'. I;5xxyi. i, z, 3, 4, >-. niifcry. ) Pftlm xxxix.p. all and other Ajflt6iions. 99 all cafes ; whatfoever portion of fufferings may be allotted us. Timoth. There is another very weighty reafon, why we fhould thus give up ourfelves to the Divine difpo- fal i and that is, becaufc of our own demerits. For be our afflidions ever fo grievous, or our wants ever fo pinching, it muft be owned to the glory of God, that he is ftill gracious to us, and has punijhed us lefs than our iniquities have deferved. And this may well teach us filence, left our diffatisfadions for lefier fuf- ferings prevail, to the bringing down fome heavier calamity upon us. This is a cafe wherein every mouth muft be flopped, and all the world become guilty, highly guilty, before God, if his infinite patience towards them, and the numerous undeferved benefits he loads them with, do not outweigh thofe lighter corredlions they at any time fmart under. There is none but if he would ferioufly examine his own confcience, will immediately difcover fuch a mafs of wickednefs there, as muft inevitably convince him, that, how hard fo- €ver his cafe be, he has yet abundant caufe to admire and magnify the infinite clemency of God towards him, in not having far more feverely avenged him- felf upon fo guilty a finner. And it is intolerable ingratitude for him to complain of the lofs only of one joint of a finger, when he has deferved to lofe his hand; or rather to be uneafy at the cutting off his hair, when, inftead thereof, he had juftly forfeited his head. Eufeb. And if you inquire farther into the reafon- ablenefs of thefe complaints, you will foon fee the ill management that is in them, amongft others, efpecially upon thefe two accounts : Firft, Becaufe a patient compliance with the Divine Will is the beft Way the fufferer can take, to make hiiTifelf eafy under fufferings, whether ficknefs, or of any other kind. Ic is not neceffary to turn a ftoick, to experiment the truth of this. A man may foon find the benefit of fuch a deportment, in abating the pungency of his K 2 difteroper. 1 00 Of patience under Sicknefs, diftemper, tho' he has not brought himfelf to fueh a ienfeJefs degree of afFedion, (q) as to proclaim him- felf happy in Phalaris's Bull. For a truly chriftian patience, fuch as Lipjlus {r) defired at the time of his death, is the bed remedy we have at hand •, which, though it will not remove our fufferings, v/ill how- ever be very ufeful, for taking off the edge of them, and making them the more tolerable •, whiift, on the other hand, impatience makes a great addition to any evil that befals us, by our unfitnefs to bear it *, non quia dura, fed quia molles patimur^ not fo much from the weight of the affli6lion, as from our own weak- nefs and difability to (land under the burden of it. Such as are querulous and difcontented, and upon the fret, at every misfortune they meet with, take the ready way to make themfelves miferable ; at lead much more fo than they would otherwife have been ; whereas 'tis eafy to obferve of thofe who are never difliitisfied, howfoever it pleafes God to difpofe of them, that if they cannot be faid to be truly happy in their word condition, yet it cannot be denied, that they are fo in comparifon of what thefe others would be in the like circumftances. This therefore is one unanfwerable reafon, why every one (hould compofe himfelf to bear his afflidions to the bed ad- vantage, I mean with an unwearied patience, and refignation to God's mod Holy Will. The other I intended to mention is, fecondly, Becaufe we know not whether what we wifh removed, be a real caufe of grief or not, and whether it be not rather defigned as a kind nefs, and like to prove fo in the events as being introdudive of fome greater good, whether {cj) Siplens, inquit Epiruru?, frmpcr beatus eftj 6c vel inclufus in Phalaridis tauro banc voctm emirtet, Suave eft, 6c nihil euro. La- Bant. Infth. L ^. c. ty. {r> Cum foiarii a Stoicis magnam ilii cnareriam fuperefTe quifpi^m jnfufurrarer, UU func vana, rcfpondir; d gi'oqu? in Chrifti crucifixi imagincm props aftanttm inrt-nro, H?jc eft, inquir, vera patientia. Max magno fpiritu fubjecir, Domine Jtiu, da mihi patientiam chrv- i^iatJaiTJ. Dnxel. de Alt emit. Con/id, 4^ temporal and other AJfUdiions, r o i temporal or eternal, than the fufFerer would otherwife have attained to. We poor fhort-fighted mortals are very apt to millake our friends for our enemies, and to think ourfelves hardly dealt with, when the greateil kindnefs is intended us, and hence inexcufably com- plain of the ufage we meet with \ and this not only in relation to one another, but to the determinations of the Divine Providence concerning us •, when a little time convinces us, that our own choice, if granted, would have left us in a far worfe condition. Philog. That muft needs be, unlefs we are capable of forefeeing all the evencs of God'* dilpenfatipn to- wards us, and could penetrate into his aim and intent in them, (s) His ways are not as our ways^ nor his thoughts as our thoughts. For as the- heavens are higher than the earth \ fo are his ways hgher than our waySy and his thoughts than our thoughts. And for not attend- ing to this, the Ifraelites were defervedly to be cha- ftized, as the prophet Ezekiel threatened them *, {t) Tet faith the houfe of Ifrael^ The way of the Lord is not equal, O houfe of Ifrael^ are not my ways equaU Are not your ways unequal? Therefore I will judge you., O houfe of Ifraely every one according to his ways., faith the Lord God. And every one therefore ought to beware, that he fret not at God's difpofal of him, as he would not incur the like rebuke, together with the heavy punifhr menr, that may jultly be expefted to follow upon it. Eufeh, As this way of cenfuring God's dealings with his fervants is impious, fo I add, that ic is highly unreafonable, upon another account. For this cen- furer knows not, whether what he moft diflikes, will not prove a bleffing to him in the end ; as neither, on the other hand, whether what he moil impatiently defires, if obtained, may not, in the event, become a fore misfortune to him. It was {u) Rqcbel's com- plaint, that (he muft die of grief and difcontent, if /he had no children. And yet the accomplifliment of her defire in this refpetft was the certain occafion (0 ifa. Iv. 8, 9. {t) Ez^ek. xviii. 29, 30- («} Gen. xxx. i. K 3 of 102 Of patience under Sicknefs^ of her death. For tho* fhe bare one (w) fon Jofeph with fafety, yet no fooner was fhe the mother of children by the birth of {x) Benjamin^ but it cod her her her Hfe. And on the contrary who would ever have thought, that her fon (j) Jofeplfs flavery and imprifonment in Egypt ^ fhould have been the means of advancing him to the fecond place in that king- dom ? Yet this it mod certainly was. Who would have imagined, that (2) Mofes fhould be taken up by Pbaraohh daughter, and educated and owned by her as a fon, by having been expofed to the wind and v/aves in the Nile ? Or that (a) Bion fhould have an eftate, by being fold into flavery? Or (b) Themiftocles's exile fhould have procured his advancement in a foreign court, and give occafion for that triumphant profeflion of his,~^ 'Ts-ouiJ^if, A'TreoKoy-i^a. av, €i //« dTTccKoy.i^a^ O my children, if we had never been ruined^ we had leen utterly undone, Theopb. It cannot be denied, that mankind are often- times egregioufly miftaken in their conceptions, in relation to the diftributions of Providence ; and their impatient either defires, or averfations, make them chufe very difadvantageoufly, too often deftrudively, to themfelves : as might be confirmed by many in- flances, befides thofe now produced by Eufehius^ had not thefe been faflicient of themfelves. However, pofTibly it may not be amifs to illuftrate this by an ingenious apologue ; metaphors and parables, many times, making a more lading impreffion upon the n\ind, than the clofcft and mofl demonilrative argu- ments. Pbilog, I dare anfwer for all the company, that what you purpofe will be very acceptable and oblige- ing to them. And let me therefore beg that you will pleafe to proceed. (w)Gen. XXX, 13. (A;)Chip. xxxv. iS. fy) Chap. xli. 41, 42, 45. a) Exoi. ii. 10, (4) DiOg. Ljcrt. in vit. Bionis. {h) Plur. in vie. Themjft. Anchith, and other AJfli6ii6ns, \oi Anchith, Pray do. And I will give a due atten- tion to ic •, as I have done to all that Eufebius^ or any of you, has faid upon this fabjed:. neoph. There is a notable ftory in the writings of a late learned and reverend dodor of our church, that (Irikes my fancy in an unufual manner •, and I hope therefore it will not be difagreeable to any of you. Philog. Pray let us have it. You do not know what jmprvffion it may make upon Anchilbanes^ or how much you may oblige any other of us by it. Theojph. I will give you the beft account of it I can at this time. So many years have pafifed fince I read it, that I will not pretend to be exadl in my rehearfal of it j but I am pretty confident I fhall not forget any thing material in it, however I may poflibly wrong it in the manner of telling. The ftory, in (horr, is this : ' {c) A certain eremite^ not well fatisfied with * the adminiftration of this world, and its affairs, and ^ the divers occurrences of Divine Providence in re- * lation to it, refolvedin this diforder of mind to quit * his cell, and travel abroad to view the courfe of * things, and make what obfervations he could, where- ' by to form a judgment of what had thus difturbed * him. But he had not gone far, not above half a * day's journey, if I remember aright, before he was * overtaken by a young ftranger, who came up to ' him, and joined company with him ; who quickly * infinuated himfelf fo tar into the eremite% afFedion, * that he thought himfelf very happy in having fo * foon met with fo fuitable a companion. And as « their journey lay the fame way, they agreed toge- * ther to eat and lodge always at one houfe, where- < foever they came. Some tew days they had tra- * veiled, before the eremite x.Qo\i notice of any thing * that occurred worthy of his obfervation. But at * length he could not but be concern'd to fee, that at ' a houfe, where they were very kindly and gene- < rouQy entertained, his fellow-traveller, with whom, , (c) liu H. Mora's divine Dialoeufs. Tom. i. DLL ^. Scd 24- K A . Vio 104 Of patience under Sicknefs, * in this time, he had contrafled an intimate and en- * dearing friendfnip, at his departure ftole a gilt cup, ' and took it away with him. This was matter of * no fmall aftonilhment to the poor eremite^ that his * friend, whom he fo highly efteemed, and whom he * thought a truly fmcere Chrillian, fhould prove guilty * of fuch apparent theft, and inexculable ingratitude * to one who had been fo highly civil to them, and * to whom therefore they had particular obligations, * And he was refolvcd to fee farther what his beha- ' viour would be in other places, before he inquired ' any thing concerning it. Wherefore on they went * as before, till at night they met v/irh a houfe of ■ as ill accommodations as the former was of good •, * where the owner, being a man of a morofe inho- ' fpitable temper, refus'd to admit them within doors, * though the rain, and other hard weather, made fuch ' a reception very defirable. So that they were forced * to fpend that night in the open court, in hardfhip * and great uneafmefs, and not without fome hazard * of their health. Yet fuch was the different carriage * of this young traveller, towards this unmerciful furly * man, that, in the morning, he rewarded all his in- ' humanity with this gilt cup, which he thruft into * one of the windows, and there left it. This, you ' may eafily fuppofe, was a fight no lefs furprifing ' to the erejnite^ than the former *, and he could not * pofiibly fathom the myftery of fo unequal a proce- * dure. However, he flill took no notice of it to * his companion, though he could not forbear rumi- * nating upon it in his thoughts. The next night * they were treated with the like civility and kind- *• nefs, as at the houfe from whence the cup was taken; * but the return made for all their good entertain- * ment was far worfe than the former, and more ' aftonifhing: For, at their leaving the place, theere- ' mile faw his companion privately ftrangle a little ' child, as it lay in the cradle, the only child of the ' family, and of which both father and mother were ' exceedingly and other Affli^ions. 105 * exceedingly fond, and in whom all their temporal ' happinefs leem'd to be wrapped up. However, he ' prevailed with himielf to hold on another day ; and < at night they came to a houfe of the beft entertain- ^ ment they had met with yet. Where the mafter « of the houfe not only received them with the ^ highell civility, and accommodated them with what- ^ ever might either fupport or divert them, during < their fhort ftay there j but in the morning, becaufe ^ the way they were to go, was fomewhat intricate, * prevailed with them to accept of a guide, a fervant, ^ whom he had found very faithful and diligent, and ' whom he therefore loved and valued, as if he had * been his own child. Thus they took their journey * for a while ; till, coming to a bridge, that crofTed * a deep and rapid ftream, the young traveller, of ^ a fudden, laid violent hands upon the fervant, and * threw him over into the water, and drowned him. ^ Upon this the eremite could contain no longer, but * paflionately charged the other with his barbarous ' requitals for the favours they had received by the * way, and the injuftice and murder he had been ' guilty of, refolving to keep no more company, nor * ever have any thing to do, with the author of fuch ' abominable wickednefs j chufing much rather to * confine himfelf again to his cell, and forbear the * converfation of mankind, than fee fuch heinous * crimes committed, without any remorfe, as if they * were never to be accounted for. But now, behold * as ftrange a fight of another kind ! The young * man, fmiling at the honefl zeal of the good devout * eremite^ and putting off his mortal difguife, ap- * peared to him in the form and luftre of an angel of * God *, telling him, that he was fent to eafe his mind * of the perplexity and doubts he had fo long la- *• bour'd under as to the Divine Providence ; in * which, faid he, nothing can occur more aftonifhing * or unaccountable, than in what you have now feen, * and are fo uneafy at. With this the good man took ' courage, 106 Of patience under Sicknejsy * courage, and refolved not to part with his compa- '^ nion, till he fhould have learned the meaning of ' what pafTed fo much to his difturbance. And the ' other immediately promifed to demonftrate to him, ' that in reality nothing could be more jufl; and equi- ' table than all this, which, for want of a right un- ' derftanding, had been fo great, and almoft infupe- ' rable an offence to him. For, faid he, K% to the * firftman, from whom the gilded cup was taken, he * had the bed compenfation made him for all his ' kindneffes, the cup having been an unhappy occa- ' fion of great mifchief to him whilft he had it. He * is a perfon of divers excellent qualifications, and ' exceedingly beloved amongft his neighbours, who ' are continually partaking of his bounty and friend- ' fhip. But he has one failing that tarnifhes all his ' good deeds, and that is, an inclination to company ' and drinking, more than becomes him, and efpe- ' cially, whenever this cup is brought forth : fo that ' the bed office I could do him, was efFedually to ' remove this temptation out of the way, that by this * means he may be brought to a better government ' of himfelf; which is the greateft happinefs that * can befal him in this world, and moft highly bene- ' ficial in order to another. For this reafon I took ^ care to eafe this our worthy friend of what had been ' fo unfortunate a fnare to him. And I left It with ^ the other rough, morofe, inhofpitable man, as a * means of his deltruflion, and fo a juft reward of ' all his inhumanity, that by it he may fall into in- ' temperance, difeafes, and death itfelf *, there being ^ that inchantment in this cup, that whofoever hath * it, will be in danger of being thus bewitched by ^ it. But perhaps you are at a ftand to think of the * little innocent babe, fo unexpededly ftrangled in ' the cradle, and at a place too, where we had been * fo civilly entertained. Know then, that this was * done in great mercy to the parents, and no real * hurt to the child, who is now with God in blifs and ' happinefs. and other AjfliEitons, 107 happinefs. This gentleman, and his wife, had hitherto Jived in great reputation for their piety, juftice, fobriety, and other chriftian virtues. But, above all, their charity was mod confpicuoufly emi- nent •, divers of their infirm and indigent neigh- bours owing their fubfiftence, next under God, to their beneficence. But, fince the birth of this child, their minds have, by degrees, degenerated and funk into a love of this world s and, inftead of provide- ing for the poor and helplefs, as formerly, their thoughts have been employed how to enrich them- felves, and leave a plentiful fortune to this infant, and its pofterity. Hence it was, that I took away this momentary life from the body of the child, that the fouls of the parents might live for ever. And I appeal to yourfelf, whether, all things con- fider'd, this was not an immenfe kindnefs, and an a(5t of the trued friend fhip to them ? But ftill there remains one thing more to be accounted for ; this laft fad:, againft which you have declared fuch a violent deteftation. And, as bad a notion as you have of it, this let me tell you, was the mod faith- ful indance of gratitude I could pay, to one who had ufed us with the utmod humanity and kind- nefs. For this fervant, whom his mader fo highly valued, was a very rogue ; and was in a confpiracy to have, this very night, let in a company of thieves, to rob and kill his mailer ; and, perhaps, his whole family. Which having faid, he immediately va- nifhed, leaving the good man to medicate with himfelf upon what had pafled, and the reafons given for it : who, hereupon, tranfported with joy and amazement, lifted up his hands and eyes to Heaven, and gave glory to God, who had thus unexpe6ledly delivered him from any farther anxiety touching the ways of his Providence. And, being now fully fa- tisfied, as to the Wifdom of all God's dealings with us, and thofe unfeen reafons of them, which fo far furpafs the bounds of our finice fhallow underdand- ' ings, I o 8 Of patience under SicknefSy ' ings, he returned with chearfulnefs to his forfaken * celi, and fpent the refidue of his days there, in piety ' and peace.' Philog. It is an excellent ilory, indeed, "Theophilus; and fo much to the purpofe, that nothing could be more. Eufeh. This fhews, beyond all con trad i(5lion, how ihort-fighted we poor mortals are *, and how unable to judge of the aim, and intent, of the Divine difpen- fations towards either ourfelves, or others. We are apt to think ourfelves very wife \ but, alas 1 fnould God fee fit to leave us, but a very little time, to our own management and choice, we ihould quickly fee caufe to bewail our folly , and beg, and pray, and intreat of him, to take the care of us again into his hand. We think ourfelves, with Phaeton^ able to govern the chariot of the fun ; but, if entrufled with it, (hould find the effed of our prefumption, as he did of his, to be only ruin and deftrudion. As alfo, on the other hand, when we think ourfelves in the moft forlorn circumftances, we yet know not what bleflings are referved for us •, and how even thefe our calamities may be made a ftep and introduction to them. Anchilh, You fay very true, Eufelius ; and I'heophi^ Jus's flory has fo clearly illuftrated the matter, that I mofi: heartily return him my thanks for it. I^heoph. I am very glad to hear this from you, be- caufe I was afraid I had quite tired you with it ; efpe- cially fince coming at the latter end of the day, when you might be prefumed defirous to be left to your- ielf. But now it is time for us to retire, and wifh you a good night's reft, and that you may find no incon- venience by the long difturbance we have given you; Anchitb. Fr2Ly, good Tbeophiius^ let me intreat you by no means to think that a difturbance to me, which I frankly acknowledge to have been a favour and a kindnefs. Eufeh^ and other AjfliEiions. .109 Eufeh. I hope you will pardon us, iFwe have made too bold with you, confidering your prefent indifpofi- tion, fince you know we could have no other defign in it but to ferve you Anchith, Indeed, gentlemen, I cannot think of part- ing with you yet. I am very fenfible of the kindnefs of this charitable vifit, and own myfelf to be highly obliged to you for it. And I muft confefs, I find my- felf refrefh'd and enliven'd to a great degree, by your ufeful and inftrudtive difcourfe, ever fince you came, and your feafonable application of fo many paflTages of Scripture to my circumftances •, for which I heartily thank you all. Yet this I muft add, that I am much afraid, left the application belong not to me. For I dare by no means compare mylelf to thofe famous worthies you have been mentioning, Jofeph^ David, and Job, Thefe were illuftrious fervants of God, and eminently religious in their generations ; whereas my confcience tells me, that I, being a poor, wretched guilty finner, who from time to time have highly offended my good and gracious God, can have no title to thofe promifes which were made to fuch as thefe, nor any juft ground to expect the like favour- able ufage with them. Thefe holy men were afflided out of pure kindnefs and mercy, for the vindication of their faith and conftancy, and that they might ap- pear noble examples of an unwearied fidelity to thofe that fhould come after them. But alas I what am I, poor creature, that the Lord, whomlhavefoprovok'd, Ihould have any regard for me ? This uncomfortable refledlion damps my joy, and robs me of that inefti- mable fatisfadion I muft needs otherwife have found, in what you have fo pertinently fuggefted. Not that I do now doubt, in the leaft, of God's goodnefs to his faithful fervants, but only that I fee too much caufe to diftruft my own qualifications for his favour. The beft of my performances have been fo lame and im- perfed, and the whole ccurfe of my life has been fo defil'd with blacker and too, too oft with wilful and known no Of patience under Sicknefs, known fins, that I have too much reafon to fufped this ficknefs to be laid upon me as a punifhment for fuch my guilt. And I cannot perceive why you fliould not alfo be of the fame opinion. Eufeb, Admit it : yet you have no reafon to con- clude it fent only for this end. Philog. It is not above a fortnight or three weeks, fmce I heard our doSlor preaching upon thefe words, Rom, iv. 7. BleJJed are they whofe iniquities are forgiven ^ and whofe fins are- covered. And what he faid made fuch an impreffion upon me, that I could not forget ir, and I hope I never Ihall. His difcourfe w^as, as you may eafily fuppofe, concerning remiffion of fins. And jfhewed us, firft^ That it is God alone who forgives fins; he can and does forgive them, when he fees juft occafion for it, and he alone can do it. Secondly^ That Chrift is the only meritorious caufe of this forgive- nefs ; and it is purely through his mediation that we can hope to obtain it. Thirdly^ 1 hat however fuch a faith in him, as produces a true and unfeigned repent- ance on our part, is requir'd as an abfolute indifpenf- able condition of this forgivenefs. And here he made thefe two farther obfervations : Firft^ That without repentance there is no hope of pardon, even though a man had not fallen into grofs and fcandalous fins, but only gone on in the heedlefs negledt of his duty, C^j like the foolifh virgins, in our Saviour's parable; {e)ov theunprofitable fervant, who hid his mailer's talent in a napkin. And then, fecondl^^ That though a man had been a great finner, yet upon a true repent- ance he might promife himfelf forgivenefs. Though he had been guilty of grofs and enormous crimes, (7?^ c^ as we can none of us conceive Anchithanes to have ever heen guilty of) yet, upon his forfaking them, his fight of and forrow for them> and a care to walk more up- rightly for the future, together with a ferious and Iteady dependence upon God's mercy, through the merics and interceffion of our bleflcd Redeemer, God {d) Match. XXV. 3, O'C^ {e) Ver. 24, 2/. will and other Afflictions. 1 1 1 will be reconciled to him, and will own him for his faithful difciple and fervanr. And ac.laft he con- cluded with thefe comfortable words, worthy to be written in letters of gold, and fet up in all places, that e\^ery one may have them continually in his eye, and which particularly fuit Anchithanes^s cafe, that H E A- VEN'GATESARENOrSHUrAGAINST ^HOSE THAT FALL INTO SIN, BUT AGAINST THOSE THAT LIVE IN IT. Eufeb, Excellently fpoken by the dodor, and now as pertinently remember'd by PhilogeitonI Theoph. There is nothing more plain, in the whole word of God, than that repentance, and forgivenefs of fins, are infeparable companions *, and he that has the one as he ought, fhall be fure not to mifs of the other. To this purpofe fpeaks God himfelf by the prophet Ifaiah, (f) IVaJh ye, make ye clean, put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes, Ceafe to do evily learn to do well, feek judgment, relieve the opprejfed^ judge the fatherlefs, plead for the widow. And then, as the happy cfFed of fuch a change, he adds, (^) Come now, and let us reafon together, faith the Lord : Though your fins be as fcarlet, they floall be white as fmw \ though they be red like crimfon, they floall be as wool. If ye be willing and obedient, ye fhall eat the good of the land. And again, ifo) Let the wicked forjake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts, and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him ; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. And by the prophet Ezekiel, (j) When the wicked man turneth away from his wickednefs that he hath committed, and doth that which is lawful and right, he fhmll fave his foul alive, Becaufe he confidereth, and turneth away from all his tranfgrejfions that he had com?nitted, he fhall furely live, he Jhall noi die. And again to the fame purpofe, (k) When I fay to tbe wicked. Thou fh alt furely die-, if he turn from his fin, and do that which is lawful and right, if the wicked reflore (/) in i. i6, 17. (^jVer. 19, 20. Qj) Chap. Iv. 7. (/) Ez'.k* xviii. 27, 28. {k) Clup. xxxilJ. 14, ij, i5, the 112 Of patience under Sicknefs^, the pledge^ give again that he hath robbed^ walk in the ftatutes of life without committing iniquity •, he /hall fur ely live^ he fhall not die. None of his fins that he hath com-' mitted fhall be mentioned unto him : he hath done that which is lawful and right ; he fhall fur ely live. And in the New Teftament, {I) Repent ye ^ fays Sc. Feter^ and be con- verted^ that your fins may be blotted out. And at another time, fpeaking of our bleiled Saviour, (m) Him^ faith the apoftle, hath God exalted with his right-hand^ to be a Prince^ and a Saviour^ for to give repentance to Ifrael^ and forgivenefs of fins. And, to omit divers other places , C«) ihere is joy in Heaven^ fays our Saviour, over one finner that repenteth^ more than over ninety and nine juft perfons^ that need no repentance. Eufeb. There is nothing more evident, than that pardon and falvation are promised in the Golpe], fome- times to faith, and fometimes to repentance ; both which therefore feem to me, to be frequently ufed me- tonymically, and fo, in the fcripture-language, to mean oftentimes the fame thing. For a true faith is fuch a belief in Chrift, and dependence upon him for falvation, as produces a fincere and unfeigned repent- ance. And a faving repentance is fuch as proceeds from a belief in Chrift, and is accompanied with a hope of falvation through him alone. Such a faith there- fore, or fuch a repentance, call it whether you will, is recommended to us by our Saviour and his apoftles, as a moft neceflary qualification for mercy and par- don here, and eternal felicity hereafter. '^heoph. Wherefore, dear Anchithanes^ it is matter of your ferious confideration, whether the fenfe of your own unworthinefs in the eyes of God be not an argument of a penitent heart, a meek and quiet, an humble and refigned fpirit, (ort of the glory of God, So that {t) there is not a jiift ?nan upon earthy who doth good^ and finneth not. {u) By one man fin entered into the worlds and death by fin •, and Jo death faffed upon all men^ for that all have finned. We are all of us a^ bed {x) but unprofitable fervants'-i and fhould have ilill been fo, tho' we had been able to perform all that is commanded us \ for fo we had done but what was our duty to do. But I would to God this were the true flate of the cafe, that we had done no more than was incumbent upon us, as neceflary duty. It is fad to think, on the contrary, we are fo far from having done this, that none of us but has multitudes of fins ot com- miflion to be accounted for, for which (}'j if God kmll contend with us^ not one of us can anfwer him, or excufe himfelf /^r one of a thoufand. It was the pe- culiar prerogative of our great High-pried, the ever- blefled Jefus., to have been (2 j temped in all points like as we are, and yet to have palTed his whole life with- out fin, {a) All flefh befides have corrupted their way he/ore God. (b) And 'if he fioould be extreme to mark what were done amifs^ none could abide it \ (c) nor fhould any man living be juftified in his fight. Confider with yourfelf the wcaknefs and infirmity of human nature, and how prone all are to go aftray from their duty i and you will prefently fee reafon enough for that ex- poftulation {d) of Bildad, how can man, the belt and molt upright of men, confider'd in himfelf, with- out the mediation of a Saviour, how can he be juftifi.ed with God ? or how can he he clean that is born of a wo?nan ? Behold even to the moon^ and it fhineth not ; yea, the fiars are not pure in his fight -, having no (5) James iii. 2. {r) i John i. 8, (s) Rom. iii. 2.3. (t) Eccl. v'r. 20. {u) Rom. v. 12, {x) Luke xvii. 10, (y) Job ix. %. (X ) Hcb. iv. If. (/i)Gen. vi; 12 (^) Pf^Un a:xx 3. (c j PAlm ex! iii. 2. (ii) Job ax7. 4, j-, 6. L brightnefs 1 1 4 Of patience tinder SicknefSy brightnefs or luftre in his prefence. How much lefs man that is a worm^ and the fon of 711 an that is a worm? We have all abundant reafon to pray with the humble publican, {e) Lord, he merciful to me a /inner-, and in the words our blefied Lord has put into our mouths^ to fupplicate and befeech Almighty God, of his in- finite mercy to {[) forgifve us our trefpaffes, as we for^ give them that trefpafs againfl us, Eufeb, If you look back to thofe very worthies I took oecafionto mention to you, how oft does David^ the man after God's own heart, confefs himfelf a grie* vous finner ! Hov/ does he flee to God, and humble himfelf at his footftool, and fue, and beg, and pray, and intreat, for the forgivenefs of his manifold iniqui- ties ! How does he diiclaim^all confidence in himfelf, and betake himfelf only to the mercy and goodnefs of God, for acceptance with him ! To inftance in particulars to this purpofe, would be to repeat a great part of his book o^ Ffalms, which are full of expref- fions of this nature, from one end to the other. But thefe being not only in every one's hand, as the refk of the Bible, but being ordered by our church to be read over every month, in its publick fervice, I will not fufped^ any one here fo little acquainted with this feraphick part of the Ploly Scriptures, as to need being put in mind of what is fo plainly and fully contain'd in it. And Joi?, on whom God had beftow*d fo glo- rious a charader, in the two firft chapters of his hi- Hory, yet darll not pretend to infift upon his own innocence, but only upon the clemency of God, for fafety. (g) If I j^iftify '^^yf^f'> fays he, iny own mouth floall condemn me \ if I fay I am perfect, it fhall provs me perverfe. And a little after, {h) lam afraid of all wy forrows : I know that thou wih not hold me innocent. If I he wicked, why then labour I in vain ? If I wafb myfef in fnow water, and make my hands never fo clean j yet Jhalt thou purge ??ie in the ditch, and my own clothes (e) Luke xviii. 13. (/} Matth. vi. 11, (^) Job ix. 20, {h) Vcr, 28, ap, 30,51, " and other Ajfliclions. 1 1 f ^all abhor me. Wherefore, good Anchithanes^ take heart, and do not defpond, by reafon of your paft tranfgrefTions. Let not ^atan tempt you to defpair, as if there were no mercy for you, and you had no longer any right to God*s promifes ; but feek rather to make out your title to them, by humbling your- felf in his prefence, with unfeigned purpofes and re- folutions of a better obedience for the future, fo far as ever you fhail be able. Confefs and bewail your wickednefs, and pray for pardon and forgivenefs thro' the prevailing merits of our mod compaffionate and all-powerful Redeemer. And aflure yourfelf, fuch your petitions Jhall not return unto you vo'idy hut /halt, accomplijh your defires, and profper in the thing whereta you find them, (i) For the Lord is gradous and merciful^ long'fitffering^ and of great goodnefs. The Lord is loving unto every man^ and his mercy is over all his works, (k) The Lord is full of compajfon and mercy ^ long-fuf- /ering, and of great goodnefs. He will net a ways be chidwg^ neither keepeth his anger for ever. His mer» ciful goodnefs endureth for ever and ever^ upon them that fear him : and his righteoufnefs upon childrens children, (l) Oh truft in the Lordy for with the Lord is fnercy^ gnd with him is plenteous redemption \ and he fiall redeem Ifrael froin all his fins. Anchith. Oh my heart, my bowels, and all within me ! What a dreadful pain did I juft now feel 1 God be merciful to me. Eufeh, Be of good comfort; and truft in God, that he will turn all to the beft. Yet hence you may ob- ferve, what frail feeble creatures men are, and how fmall a matter fcrves to ciifcompofe the frame of our mortal nature, and put all out of order. Anchith, I find it fo by fad experience. But I thank God, I am now pretty well at eafe again; and, if I (hould not be over-troublefome, would beg of fome good friend amongft you, to fatisfy me, that if God punidi me in this world for my fins, this is not (i) PAlra cxlv, 8, 9, C/?)Pfalmdi.8, 9, 17. W Pfalmcxxx,7,8. L 2 a it6 Of patience undtr Sicknefs^ a more probable token of his anger, than of his favour ro me. Theoph. This is too hafty a conclufion, with which you fo torment yourfelf, as I (hall fliew it to be in due time. But firfl, give me leave to aflc you a pre- vious necefTary queftion. Anchith, Afk what you pleafe, and 1 v/ill be fure to anfwer you in the fincerity of my heart. Theoph, What judgment does your parifh-prieft make of your repentance, and the Hate of your foul? He ihould be much better able to fatisfy you in this point, than any of us ; both as he is better fkill'd in inquiries of this nature, and as it is to be prefum'd, you have throughly acquainted him, with all your doubts and fears, and the grounds and reafons of them *, which you know we are ftrangers to. Whac fays he to this point ? Anchiih. Nothing at all •, for I have never afked his opinion concerning it. Theoph. How! Never aflced his opinion! You very much furprife me. I could not have thought it pof- fible, that you could live fo near him, for fo Jono- together, and have fuch freedom and intimacy with him in other refpecls, and neither well, nor fick, ad- , vife with him about the great concerns of eternity. ■Anchith, I was afraid of being coo troublefome to him. Theoph, Let me aflc you then again: Do you not remember that injundion of the apoitle St. James^ (ill) Is any fick? Let him call for the elders of the church: and let them pray over him^ 6cc. Or is it none of your hufinefs to attend to his directions ? And tell me, I befcech you ; does this fear keep you from troublino- the law7er, when your eftate is in danger, or the phyfician in time of ficknefs? Or is an eternity of infinite either happinefs or mifery, of lefs concern to you, than this iliort uncertain life, and its perifhing enjoyments ? Befides, Thcodorus is a very good man> [r?7) James v. r^. and and other AjfliEiions. 117 and takes care of his charge. And I know him io well, that I dare anfwer for him, he would efteem it a kindnefs rather than a trouble, to give him an op- portunity of alTifting you in the weighty affairs of the other life. I have heard him complain of it as a great difcouragement, that of all this large parifh fo few have ever come to him for his direction. He is not content with the diligent difcharge of his office in publick, but would heartily rejoice in having an opportunity of converfing in private with any of hijs parilhioners, that would lay their cafe before him j and would be fure to give them the belt refolutions he fhould be able, of all their doubts, and the fittefl inftrii6lions for the management of their lives here, and the preparation they are to make for another hereafter. Nor can any one take a more effedual courfe, for promoting his own eternal falvation, than by thus diiiclofing his weakneffes and faults, difficulties and dangers, in order to a cure, when in his greatefL health and vigour. But when ficknefs comes, and death threatens a man, he is in a peculiar manner en- gaged to feek for all the affiiknce that can be had ; and to this end to acquaint his fpiritual phyfician with the maladies of his foul, after the fame manner, as he would the do6lor or furgeon with the difeafesor fores of his body ; that fo, whenfoever death fhall feize him, he may by no means be unprovided for it. For this reafon it is, that our church direds, when any perfon is fick, notice Jhall he given to the minifter of the pari/h^ to the end he may come and vifit him; and very juftly, this being a feafon wherein his help is more efpecially required, upon account of the near relation that is betvv^ixt ficknefs and death j becaufe there is then a more efpecial ne^d of his prayers ; and becaufe, moreover, the fick perfon is ordinarily more attentive to the advice given him for the good of his foul, than thofe who feem at a greater diftance from their latter end j whofe thoughts ar$ t;aken up " L 3 witl>. 1 1 8 Of patience under SicknefSy with thofe ordinary temporal affairs, wherein meti are generally too deeply immerfed. Anchith, I own my fault, and will take care to mend it. It is now about his time of prayer •, but, if God fpare my life till the afternoon, I will beg the favour of a vifit from him, and will freely unbofom myfelf to him; and, I hope, I fhall not repent of it. Eufeb, Take my word for it, you will not. Philog, You had beft fend immediately, before he go to church, to beg his prayers for you there, and thofe of the congregation ; and then let him know, that youwould intreat him to fee you in the afternoon, as foon as with convenience he can. • Anchlth. Then I muft give you the trouble of call- ing my fervant, and fending him. Philog, I vvill do it without delay. "Theoph. You muft refolve beforehand, to deal plainly and fincerely with him, and conceal nothing that lies upon your confcience, or wherein you wane his diredion, but to give him a true (late of your cafe. And then it will be his care, to tell you how far you are right, and where you have miftaken your way *, whether you are found in the faith, regular in your deportment, hearty and fervent in your devo^ tions, and how you may beft redify whatfoever is amifs in any of thefe refpeds. He will examine into your difpofition for leaving this world, and your title to a better ; that fo you may be able to make a judg- ment, how it is like to fare with your immortal foul; will pray with you, for the pardon of your fins, thro' our Saviour's mediation ; and for the aiTiftance of the Holy Spirit, duly to qualify you for whatfoever fhall be determined for you ; and, at laft, if he fee juft grounds for it, will, according to the authority committed to him by his Lord and Mafter, and in obedience to the church's command, upon }'(?wr hum- i>le and hearty r€(^iieft^ pronounce to you the comfort- able words of abfolution •, that fo, if it (hall pleafe Gq4 to talie our good f|:iend f^om amongft us, you inay and other Affll^ions. 1 1 p may depart In peace, with a quiet confcience, and a fure title to a far better eftate in the manfions of blils and glory ; («) that when your earthly boiife of this ta- hernaclefiall be dijjolved^ you tnay have a building of God ^ an houfe not made with hands^ eternal in the Heavens, Anchiih, I am heartily afhamed and grieved, thaC I never confider'd this before. 1 am fenfible it has been a great negledl, that 1 have not made better ad- vantage of fo ufeful a guide, fo faithful a minifter of God's word, and fo efFedual a help in the important concerns of my foul. And if it pleafe God to pro- long my days, I will take efpecial care to avoid the like folly for the future. At prefenc, I v^ill wait with patience for his coming, when he fliali be at liberty. Theoph, 1 hope you will pardon the freedom I have taken with you •, and I thank you for fo readily heark- ening to my advice ; and, I am fatisfied, you will foon be fenfible of the benefit of it. In the mean time, I fhould proceed to confider the doubt you but now ftarted ; that the punifhment God lays upon you in this world, is a more probable token of his anger, than of his favour, towards you % but that I find we have tired you too much already, and it is therefore high time that we now take leave of you. Eufeh. Let us therefore withdraw, I am fure it mud be proper for Afuhithanes that we do. Anchith, I cannot deny but my fpirits are low, and I am no company for you. But yet, gentlemen, I cannot part with you, unlefs you will be fo kind as to appoint another meeting here in a few days •, that, if it pleafe God to fpare my life till then, I may par- take of fome other of your comfortable and ufeful obfervations ; and particularly, as to the doubt now mentioned concerning God's hand upon me at pre- fent. I am not able to exprefs my gratitude for the benefit of this kind vifit: and it will be a confiderable alleviation of my pains, if I may but promife myfelf fgrne other dofes of the fame reviving cordial. {n) 2 Cor. V. I. I20' Of patience under Sicknefs, Sec, Eufeh. Since the difcourfe you have heard has met with fo favourable a reception, I fhall be ready, at any time, to give my attendance, and do you the beft fervice I fhall be able. Theopb. And I molt willingly. Phiiog. I am fure I fhall be as dcfirous of another fuch interview, and fome farther like converfation, as you can pofTibly be ; and thereiore fhall by no means abfent myfelf, if I have life and health, and be not inevitably prevented. Anchith, I mod heartily thank you all. But when may I hope for this favour ? 'Theopb. It fhall not be long before you are troubled again with our company : and we will fettle the time amonglt ourfelves. Ancbith, I am much obliged to you all. And I hope you will not fail of being as good as your words, and in as little time as may be. Enjch. You need not fear us. Anchith. I have had too much experience of your goodnefs to queflion it. But my great defire of more of the fame entertainment, puts me upon thus prefTing you to confirm your promife. Eufeh. Almighty God have you in his protedion, that, whether you grov/ better or worfe, live or die, >'0u may be intitled to ^n intereft in his favour, an^- the manifold blefTmgs he has prepared for his be- loved. Fbilog. I am loth to leave my kind neighbour: but I think it now more than time for you to try, if you can recover your fpirits, too much exhaulted by fo long a vifit. Theopb, Dear Anchitha^ies^ it is necefTary we fhould take leave of you •, but it will not be long ere we renew your trouble. In the mean time, we fhall be fure to pray for you: and fo we commit you to the Divine prote(5tion. . . ne end of the fcond VISIT, ; ^ The The good Maris Settlement^ &c, 1 1 1 The Third VISIT, By Theophtlus alone. T^be good Man's Settlement of his Temporal Concerns, Itheophilus. A/f Y dear friend^ we have appointed to ^^^ be with you three days hence -, but ytt paffing not far from you, I could not have pardoned myfelf, if I had not come a little out of my way to inquire after you : and I am heartily rejoiced to find you fo much better than we left you. - Anchithanes, You are very kind in thus concerning yourfelf for me. But pray how do you know 1 am fo much better } You find me where you left me ; and why do you think me amended ? ^heoph. You look more chearfully, and feem eafier than you were. But the chief caufe of my congratu- lation is, that as I came, I had the good fortune to meet with Tbeodorus^ who gave me a good account of you, and that he took you to be In a fair way of recovery : for which you may be fure I could noc but be very glad. Anchith. Ic is like yourfrlf to fhare in the welfare or afflidion of your friends ; and I return you a thou- fand thanks for this, and all your favours. Theoph, I was heartily glad too, to find that Theo- dor us had been with you. • Anchith. He is very kind indeed. He has been here three times in thefe two days, fince I^ had the happinefs of your lalt vifit j and has promised to fee me again in the evening. Theoph. And are you ftill of opinion, that he thinks it a trouble to attend upon you, or is difpleafed, thap yQu fent to defire his alTiftance ,^ Anchith^ 2 21 The good Maris Settlement Anchith, His readinefs tovifit me, efFetflually fhews the contrary \ and makes meafhamed, that I have had no better thoughts of him. Tbeoph, I hope you have been fo much your own friend, as to deal freely and openly with him, and acquaint him with all your doubts, together with the reafons of them *, and in fhort, that you have impar- tially laid before him the whole ftate of your foul, and taken his judgment upon it. Anchith. To tell you the truth, I had fome diffi- culty in expofing my fhame before him •, but by de- grees I brought myfelf to it, and have dealt very frankly with him. And I thank God, that I did fo ; for I find my mind much more ateafe fince -, and I hope his pious afliftance will be of everlafting advantage to me. Theoph, Are you at any timeafhamed to tell your phyfician the nature of yourdiftemper, in order to a cure ? Anchith, I know no reafon for that. ^heoph. Is not the cafe then the fame in relation to your fpiritual phyfician, the dodor of your foul ? And why (hould you not be as free with him ? Anchith, Becaufe my ficknefs is the effeft of my na- tural conftitution, or perhaps, in fome cafes, the ftroke of God^s immediate hand upon me. ^beoph. Not always fo ; but too often ficknefs, and death itfelf, are the effeds of man's own vices and folly. But I do not any way fufpcd this to be Anchithanes's cafe, and therefore you may pleafe to proceed. Anchith, Sicknefs, 1 fay, ordinarily fpeaking, is what we cannot avoid, and therefore may juftly be forryforit, but have no caufe to be afham'd of it : but my fins are my own faults, and fo caft a very ill refle^^^ Mans Settlement folved by his grace and afilftance watchfully to refrain from them for the remainder of your life. Anchith, He has promis'd me, never to let what he has heard from me to be known to any one. And I hope he will be as good as his word. 'Theoph, My life for yours, he will. And let me therefore prevail with you, never to give yourfelf the leall pain in chat refped. Whatever you have ac- quainted him with, depend upon it, all is fafe as if it were yet conceal'd in your own bread. But pray tell me, did he not take it very kindly, that you lent to him ? Anchith, He thanked me over and over again, and told me he would not fail to be with me, as often Jas the other affairs of his parifh would permit, till it fhall pleafe God either to reftore me to health, or take me tohimfelf. '" , ' ' 'Theoph. Then you mud own I was in the right, in advifing you to apply to him. Anchith, I do fo ? I freely and thankfully acknow» ledge it. *Theoph. Believe me, he is one of thofe worthy di» vines, thofe faithful minifters of God, who (b) take heed to tbevifelves^ and to the flock over which the Holy Ghoft hath made them overfeers^ to feed the church of God ^ which he bath pur chafed zvith his own blood ; a nd of whom" a mod admirable author, as well as an indefatigable promoter of Chriftian piety and devotion, by his exemplarinefs of life in all refpeds, no lefs than by his excellent and ufeful writings, teftifies, (c) that ' they would not only be content, but very much ' rejoice, to affilt, in aW fpirJual affairs^ fuch as fhall ' make application pn thefe accounts ; and would take ' it for a great comfort and encouragement to their * labours, if they could find ihdr parifhioners ready^ * upon all occafions, to confult them in the concerns * of thciT fouls, either for the inflru^tion of their igno^ * ranccy or the refolution of their doubts, for dire^ion (b) A£l5 x>:. iS. fr) Mr. N^'^^i's Preface to the Companion for theFeftiVih and Faib, &c. tag. iS, sp. • ^ ' * la of his temporal Concerns, 125 * in order to the avoiding or withllanding temptations^ * for their confolation under trials and afilidions, or for ' the beft method of obtaining pardvfi of their /«.s * 2ind quieting ih^xv confciences,* Anchitb. This is fo natural a defcriptlon of Trjeodo* rus^ fo far as I can judge, by what converfation I have hitherto had with him, and the Angular benefit and comfort I have received by it, that it looks to me, as if that worthy geaileman had had him par- ticularly in his eye, whiill he wrote this. Theoph. You ought not to imagine that ; for there are many ferious and devout gentlemen of the clergy, thit are equally ready to execute their office at all times, and upon all occafions. However, you fee by this time, that the miniftcrs of G id are of fome other ufe, than purely to pray to God in the church, and to preach to the people, and acquaint them with the nature, and perfuade, prefs and urge them to the confcientious ob- fervance of their duty, and to adminifter the facra- ments in publick. Thefe are noble offices, and mufl be acknowledged well worthy of a divine commiffion, in order to the good fuccefs of them. But yet thefe are not all thepurpofes, for which they are commiffion'd and impower'd to act in God's name; but there are, as i faid, many other good ufes to be made of them. Anchitb, Good ufes ! Yes ; admirable ufes Indeed. And fo I now find experimentally, to my no fmall com- fort and benefit : for which I mightily condemn my- felf, that I had not underflood it fooner. Had I made the fame advantage of Theodorus'^s converfation for- merly, that I have done thefe two days lalt paft, I (hould have been far wifer and better, and quieter and lefs difturbed in my mind, and fitter for either this or the other life, than I have been. For he has not only prayed efFe61uaIly and fervently with me, and for me, but has examined, and advifed me, from time to time, to examine my own foul, and fee what judgment I am to pafs upon myfclf, what grounds 1. have for a deep 1^6 The good Mans Settlement deep humiliacion and repentance, and what for a lure trull in God, thro' Chrid ; what opinion I ought to have of this tranfitory life, and its unfatisfadory and perifhing enjoyments, and what of the inconcei- vable glories of the other ; asalfo what indifpenfable obligations I and all mankind are under, (d) tol ahour not for the meat that per ijhes^ hut for that which er.durn to everlaflwgife \ more convincingly, than by all the XtV' mons that I have ever heard him preach. Theoph. You fee therefore the advantage of private converi'ation with fuch a man. It is not to be fup- pofed, his unpremeditated difcourfe fhould be really better than his (ludied fermons, v/herein he had well confidcred beforehand, what he has to fay. And that it proved more ufeful to you, might proceed, in part, from your prefenc circumftances, which might noc improbably make you more attentive to what he faid, and fo it might make a greater impreffion upon you, than at other times. For what I take to be the chief caufe of the benefit you mention, from your con- verfation with him, is, that you had the convenience of propounding your doubts and fcruples to him, and begging of him, to explain himfelf in any point, wherein you did not take him right at firft •, which is a liberty you could not have, when he fpake from the pulpit. Jl72chith, It may be fo. But this I am fure of; what he told mc feemed clearer to me, and more affeding, than any thing I ever heard from him before. Theoph. I take it for granted, you v;ill not forget to return your unfeigned thanks to God, for fetting home w^hat he faid, upon your heart, to fo good an advantage. Anchith. By no means. I look upon it as a grear mercy of God, and defire to be truly thankful to him for it, and to blefs and magnify his holy name, for vouch fafing to take fuch care of me. My doubts, concerning my future (late> are now in fome meafure (i) Johnvi. 27. fatisfied 5 df his temporal Concerns, 117 fatisfied ; and I hope to have them more fo, wheri he Ihall be a little better ac leifure for it. He alfo promifed to difcourfe me farther to-morrow, and then to adminifler to me the holy facrament of the Lord's Supper, v/hereby to create in me a clofer union be- twixt my foiil and my Saviour •, and then, u-^o7i my bumble and hearty requefty he gives me hope of receiving absolution for my fins. And, by God's grace, 1 am fully refolved never more to indulge myfelf in any of them, but to ferve God in holinefs, and newnefs cf Ufe^ for what farther time I may have to fpend here. Theopb. A virtuous and truly Chriftian refolution! And may the Almighty give you grace immoveably to perfift in it 1 Anchith, Thefe are the principal advantages I re- ceived from ^heodorus's vifits. But thefe are not all y for there is another of no fmall importance, tho' in no wife to be compared with what relates to my God, my Saviour, my foul, and eternity. He has put mc in mind of a great negledl of a different nature, that might have proved of very ill confequence, if it had pleafed God to have fnatched me away without warn-* ing ; or if I had had time, but had not met with fucb a faithful monitor. ^heoph. I begin to fufped you had not minded to make a difpofuion of your tetnporal concerns, as very wife man ought to do. Anchith, You have hit it. I confefs I have put off making my will, till my latter end, as too many others do *, and fo was in great danger of leaving all ia confufion, and very much contrary to my mind. Theoph, This, as you fay, is too general a fault, that men put off their wills, as they do their repent- ance, to a fick bed *, and fo, too frequently, never make them at all. But, fince you are now fenfible of the bad efFeds of fuch a negled, I trufl you will not defer it any longer, left you fliould happen to die in- teftate, and youreftate fhould defcend otherwife than you intended j and perhaps a great part of it befpent in 1 1 8 ne good Mans Settle ment incoftlyand deftru^ive law-fuics \ and moreover, lefl fuch animofities arlfe hereby amongft thofe relations, whom you would moft wilh to live in friendfhip and mutual affedlion, as may never be quite healed whilil they live, or for fome time afterwards. Some of them, alio, may be expofed to extremity of want, when you are gone ; v;hom a fmall feafonable legacy might relieve, and put into a way of , living. And if any debts be owing, they may not be fo pundually and duly, oratleati, fotimely paid,, as they ought to be, for want of your diredions concerning them. And in a word, more and greater inconveniences might enfue for want of a will, than perhaps you are yet aware of. A^uhith, You fay very right, good l^heophtlus, ncoph» Befides, the Scripture itfelf teaches this duty, of fettling our worldly concerns^ before we be called to take our leave of them. For we not only find ir recorded of the patriarch //m?/^c7;?2, (>) that he difpofed of his eilar-^ before he died, the ellate icfeif to Ij a aCy and legacies to thefonsof his concubines: and noted afterwards of Jcbitophely as an inilance of common prudence, that he (f) put his hoiife in order, be- fore he went and hanged himfelf *, that is, faysBilliop. Patrick upon thefc words, be fettled his affairs^ and difpofed of his eft ate '•» but the prophet Ijaiab was fenc to King Hezekiab^ with a pofuive com mi (Hon to fet his boufe in order before his death. For fo it is written : (g) In thofe days was Flezekiah/^'/^ unto death ; and the prophet Ifaiah thefon of Atnos came to him, andfaid unto bim^ 'Thus faith the Lord^ Set tbi.^?e hoife in order \ for thou fh alt die, and not live. Ilezekiab was like to die, and one requifite, you fee, in order to his doing it aright, was fir ft to /^/ his boufe in order ^ or, in other modern terms, to make his will: a work which ought to be done by every one, who has any ftore of worldly goods to difpofe of, and does not rcfulve, that they fiiould all defcend as the law directs, to the next heir or heirs; but which never can be done .at all, if {e) Geo, XXV. J, 6- {f) 1 Sam. xvii. 23. (x'), 2 Kings xx. i . TiOt of his temporal Concerns, 129 not done before death comes ; and hardly aright, and as it ought to be, if not before the man is very fick, and near his end. And accordingly {h) Euxtorftdh us of the Jezvs, that when any of them who happens to be dangeroufly ill, is vifited whether by the rahbit or other of his friends ; if he be a rich man, their firft advice to him is about the fettlement of his efiate. Our church, Iconfefs, does not fo, but allows the precedence to that which is of infinitely greater con- cern to the fick man, the care of his immortal foul. But then it fubjoins this rubrick ; // he have not before difpofcd of his goods^ let him then be admonif}o*d to make his will, and to declare his debts, what he oweih^ and what is owing to him, for the better difcharging of his confcience^ and the quietnefs of his executors \ adding, moreover, that menjhouldbe put in remembrance, to take order for the fettling of their temporal eftates, whilji they are in health. Anchith, I wifh I had confider'd this fooner ; for fo I fhould have taken other meafures than I have done. Theoph, I add farther, it will be a fatisfa61:ion to yourfelf to think, that as you have been preparing for another ftate, that you may die in peace, and beever- laftingly happy in a better world, fo you have not been wanting to do your parr, towards making your relations and friends, and whatfoever objec5ls of your charity, as eafy and happy as you can in this. Anchith, Your reafons feem to me very juil, and I have nothing to fay againft them. And I muft there- fore acquaint you, that I have already fent for my neighbour No?nicus,]\ji^ before you came in ; and, for aught I know, he may be in the houfe by this time. neoph, Thi$ (hould have been done before, it being the proper work of one in perfedt health, when he is able rightly to confider ail he does, and has moft time for it, whereby both to do it the more completely, ajid toeafe himfelfof the trouble of ir, when he fhall come to languifh upon a fick bed s ac which tirxie h© (/?) Synag. Jud. c- 4^- 130 The good Mans Settlement will be fure to have bufmefs of another nature upon Ills hands. Anchith, I am now truly convinced of my error, in having deferred it thus long ; and therefore think it time to do it now, without any farther delay. And if it fliall pleafe God to reftore me to my health, which at prefent I fee little reafon to expedl, and will not therefore trull to any hopes of it ; if it fhould pleafe God, I fiiy, to reftore me to my health, I will never be without a will by me, to prevent all the be- fore-mentioned inconveniencies. I did not think my life to be fo fhort, as I now apprehend it may be ; and this made me more carelefs and dilatory, than I ought by any means to have been. neoph. Wherefore now you fee caufe to blame yourfelf, for having To long trufted to fo gr€at an un- certainty ; and to be thankful, that you was not totally difappointed by it. Now you may fee, no man is fure of his life for any time ; and none therefore but ought to have all things in readinefs for a change, whenfoever it fhall come ; as poffibly it may very fpeedily. (i) JVe know not whatjhall be on the morrow : for what is your life? It is even a vapour that appear eth, for a little time^ and then vanifheth away, Jnchith. I am lb throughly fenfible of my folly^ that I will delay this neceffary work no longer. Some^ body there, defire our friend Nomicus to come up. Theoph, Then, Anchithanes^ I will take leave of yoi^ till Thiirfday next, when, as I told you, we have appointed to be here again, as you defir'd. Anchilh, 1 beg of you, by no means to leave me. 'Theoph. A bufinefs of fuch a nature, as you are now going about, ought, for divers reafons, to be done wich privacy : and it will therefore be beft to leave you and Nomicus to yourfelves: I called as I was paffing not far oft, to fee how you were; but had no thoughts of interrupting any affairs you fhould have to difpatch. (/) James iv. 14. Anchith, of his temporal Concerns. 131 Anchith. r cannot let you go. I have nothing to or- der, but what you may very fafeJy be privy to-, and befides, I may (land in need of your advice \ and therefore, pray let me beg your ftay, if it be no in- convenience to yourfelf. Theoph. You fhall command me. Nomicus. Sir, lam very forry to find fq, worthy a gentleman, and. whom we all mod defervedly ho- nour and efteem, in fo weak a condition. I heard. Sir, you was pJeafed to fend for me, and am come accordingly to receive your commands. Anchith, I thank you. Sir. Blefled be God, I am fomewhat better than I was, but however, ftill, as you fee, fick and weak, and know not how foon I may leave the world ; and, being defirous, in the mean time, to make a difpofition of what it has pleafed Almighty God to give me in it, I fent to beg the fa- vour of you of making my will. And I thank my God, I am as ready to leave thefe tranfuory enjoyments, as ever I was to receive them : and I cannot but be pleafed in myfelf, to think, that ever fince I came to the in- heritance of them, I have always made them to ferve, not to rule and govern me j and at all times could be content to part with them, whenever God's glory, or my neighbour's wants, required it of me. Theoph. So St. John advifes, [k) not to love the worlds neither the things of the world •, alluring us-, moreover, that, // any man love the werld^ the love of the Father is not in him. In like manner, as our blefled Saviour declares, it is (/) impofpible to ferveGod and Mammon •, and commands to {m) fnaketo ourfelves friends of the mammon ofunrigh- teoiifnefs^ that when wefail^ they may receive us into ever- lafting habitations. And that you have taken thisco'jrfe, appears from your indifferency as to thefe temporal good things, according to the doflrine of our blefled Lord ; {n) Where your treafure is^ I here will your heart be alfo. (k) I John ii. 15-. (I) Matth. vi. 24. {m) Lukexvi.9. (jij Mi'th. vi. 21. M 2 Anch'tb, "1 5 2 The good Maris Settlement Anchith. I mud own I have, in fome meafure, made this my ftudy, tho' with a great many faults and failings: but I heartily wifh I had done it more, ^nd to better purpofes. But, if you pleafe, we will begin. Nom, It is great pity, Sir, this work is now to do. However, it is not yet too late 5 and therefore, if you will pleafe to give me your inftruftions, I will take care faithfully to purfue them. Anchith. Begin. In the name of Gody Amen. J Anchithanes, of theparijh of A. in the county ofB. an unworthy memher of the church ofChrift^ as fettled and reformed here in England, being through the abundant mercy and goodnefs f>f God^ the" weak m body^ yet of a found and perfe5i underftanding and memory.^ do conflitute this my laft Will and fcfiament^ arid defire it may be received by all as fuch. Imprimis, / moft humbly be- queath my foul to God my Maker ^ befeeching his moft gracious acceptance of it .^ through the all-fufficient merits ^nd mediation of my moft compafjionate Redeemer Jefus Chriflj who gave himfelfto be an atonement for myfins^ ^nd'is able to fave to theutmoft, all that come unto God by him, feeing he ever liveth to make interceffion for them ; and whoj I truft^ will not reje^ me a re-r turning penitent finner.^ when I come to him for mercy. In this hope and confidence I vender up my foul with comfort.^ humbly befeeching the moft blejfed and glorious trinity ^ one God moft holy^ moft merciful and gracious^ to prepare me for the time of my dijfolution^ and then to take me to himfelf into that peace., and reft^ and incom- parable felicity., which he has prepard for all that love^ mid fear his holy name. Amen, bleffed God^ Amen, Tbeoph. I am glad to hear you fpeak fo ftrongly, and hope you will be able to hold out, till you Ihall have finiihed this necefifary and ufeful work. But I am much more glad to fee you begin it fo devoutly and religioufiy, as thereby to teftify the good difpo- fltion of fqul you are in, and the fitnefs you have brought yourlUf to, for quitting this tranfitory trouble- of his temporal Concerns, 135 troublcfome wicked world, whenfoever your time fhall come. Anchith, If I were not very ferious and devout, now that I have a near view of eternity, and know not howfoon, how very foon, I may be in it, when fhould I be fo ? lam fure the greatell concern I can poffibly have, is to make my peace with God, and fo to per- fed my repentance for all my fins, and my reliance upon his mercy through Chrift, as that I may have a well-grounded hope in him, whenfoever my foul fhall fhake off this earthly body, and take its flight into another world. Theoph, This^ it is true, is each one*s great concern ; and there is none, how young, how healthful, how adtive, how lively, how ftrong foever, but ought to make it his continual care thus to prepare himfelf for a better ftate : much more are thofe, who lie upon a fick bed, called upon, to apply themfelves to it with the utmoft diligence, before it be too late. Anchith, I thank God, I am not now to begin my repentance: it has been indeed the bufinefs of molt part of my life, tho', with forrow and fhame I fay it, too fadly defe(5live in many refpeds. For which rea- fon I am now defirous to complete it, and make it as perfed as 1 can, that fo I may depart hence to the better advantage. But I believe he has written all I had directed : Have you not I Nom, Yes, Sir ; and am ready to proceed whenever you pleafe. Anchith. So I will then. learnefily heg -pardon of any I have offended^ and am ready to make full reftitution^ if I have ignorantly wronged any one ; for I am fure 1 have not knowingly, And^ if any have ahufed or injured me^ I freely forgive it, Theoph, This is fo necelfary a part of Chriftianlty, that there is no hope for any one to be faved without it. It is our bleffed Saviour's own command, {0) If thou. bring thy gift to the altar y and there remembreji^ that thy {0) Matth. V. 23, 24 M z hrother 13+ The good Mans Settlement Ir other hath aught againftthee \ leave there thy gift "before the altar ^ and go thy way ; firft be reconciled to thy brother ^ and then come and offer thy gift, Tho' the gift were already with the pried, to be offered up by way of atonement for him that brought it, yet was no atone- ment to be expefted by it, if he were guilty of any affront or wrong done to his neighbour, and had not fome way made up the breach. And it is therefore our Saviour's direction, not to pretend to any fuch oblation, or to hope for any benefit by it, till the injured perfon have a due fatisfadtion given him. And if this be necef- fary at a man's coming with his gift to the altar, it mull quefliionlefs be more fo, when he's going out of the world, and will never more have it in his power to offer at a reparation. The leaft therefore a true penitent can do in that nice jundure, is to exprefs his forrow, and intreat forgivefnes of any provoca- tion or affront given to whomfoever. But if my neigh- bour be ocherwife injured, by cheating, extortion, theft, or whatever fort of injullice, I muft not only beg his pardon, but, if able, muff make him full re- paration for the wrong itfelf, and ail the ill confe- quences that have accrued to him by it ; as might be eafily fhewn from divers places of Scripture. (/>) And as theie are neceffary parts of juftice to fuch as I have offended or wronged ^ fo, on the other hand, {q) I am no lefs required to be ready to forgive any that has offended me, and to come to eafy erms with fuch as have any way defrauded or injured me, and are, de- firousof forgivenefs. St. PWInflances in it as one evident means of our walking worthy of the vocation- wherewith we are called^ that {r) with lowUnefs^ meeknefs^ and longftiffering^ we forbear one another in love \ and at another time requires to {$) put on^ ai the eleEl of Gody holy and beloved^ howeh ofmerciesy kindnefs ^humble- nefs of inindy mecknefs^and long-fujffering^ forbearing on$; (p) Gen. xliii. 12, L?v.vi. 4. an^ xxiv. 18. (q) Numb. v. 6, 7,8. I Sam.xii. I, 3. Nehem. v. 10, 1 1. Zee. v. 3, 4. Luk« xix.S. (>) Epb. iv. !j2. (s) Colof. iii, ii, 13. anofhsr^ of his temporal Concerns. 135 iinCthcr^ and forgiving one another^ if any man have a quarrel againfi any^ even as Chrift forgave ycUy fays the Apoftle : fo alfo do ye. And it is our belfled Saviour's poficive determination in the cafe, that whofoever defires forgivenefs from God Almighty, of his fins and tranfgreflions againfi him, mufl be fure to clear the way to it, by forgiving his brethren their leiTer offences againft himfelf. (/) For^ if ye forgive men their trefpajfes^ your Heavenly Father will alfo forgive your trefpaffes : but^ if ye forgive not men their trefpajjes^ neither will your Heavenly Father forgive your trefpafjes, Anchith. And I profefs myfelf to die in the faith and communion of the church 0/ England •, the fame faith that is taught iththe Holy Scripture^ that was profefs' d and maintained in the firfl and pure/i ages of the churchy and feal'd with the blood ofvaft multitudes of martyrs^ and is contained in the three creeds now in ufe amongfi us -, and the tnojl primitive and heft communion now in the whole world. 'Theoph. Hereby you will not only ftand upon re- cord as an orthodox chriilian, but do alfo bear a lauda^« ble teflimony againft the hereticks and infidels of our time, who are fo indefatigably fet upon undermining our commmon Chriftianity, andall reveal'd eligion. Anchith, You take it then to be a piece of julf ice I owe to myfelf, and to the religion I profefs, and re- folve, by God's grace, to die in, to make my profeiTioa of it at this time. Theoph. I do fo, and commend you for it. But will you ^pleafe to go on ? Anchith, Now for my earthly part : be pleafed to write ; Next I give my body to the earthy from whence it was taken ^ in full affurance of its refurreElion from thence at the laft day, (u) when this mortal fhall put on im- mortality, and this corruptible, incorruption ; (x)wheji the Lord Jefus Chrift fhall change it, that it may be fafhion'd like to his glorious body, by the mighty power whereby he is able to fubdue all things to him- felf, that I/hall then receive it again wonderfully improved {i) Mauh. vi. 14., i/, (u) i Cor. xv. fj, (:v) Phil. iii. 20, n. M 4 and 136 The good Maris Settlement and purtffd ; not fuch grofs, weak, perijhing fiejh and blood, as it has hitherto been, but infinitely both fplendid and durable, like our blejjed Saviour"* s glorified Body. Norn. Will you not next give fome orders about your funeral ? Anchith, Yes. As [or my burial, Idefire it may be de- . centy without pomp or ftate, at the difi:retion of my dear wife, and my executors hereafter named, who^ I doubt not, zvill manage it with all requifite prudence, 'Theoph, Herein I perfedly approveof your diredlion : for, though a decent regard ought certainly to be paid to our departed friends, and no good man will or can think otherwife ; yet, in my opinion, all excefs this way is blameable, inafmuch as I cannot but think it far better to retrench from this, what may be hand- fomely fpar'd, for the benefit of fuch as are living, thac fo the wants of fome in nece/Tity may be fupplied by it. Anchith, That truly was my confideration ; and for this reafon I Ihall give fomewhat the more to that good ufe. But, Sir, we interrupt you. Be pleas'd to add. As to my worldly eft at e^ I will, and pofitively order, that all my debts, which, to my comfort, are but few and fmall, be paid out of hand, if I donU live to pay them my- felf. For, as I never lov^d to keep poor people out of their money in my life-time, as little will I allow it after my death. ^heoph. This is a very commendable article. And I wifh all others would follow your example; todo juft- ly, being both aneceffary duty of natural religion, and a confiderable part of Chriftianity as injoin'd in Scri- pture. In the Old Teftament, fays the prophet, {y) H& hath foewed thee, man, what is good -, and what doth' the Lord require of thee, but to do juftly, and to love mercy ^ and to walk humbly with thy God ? Where, doing juftly,' you fee, is fet in the front of the different qualifications requir'd of fuch as would approve themfelves to God, {)') Mic, vj. S. as' of his temporal Concerns, 137 33 his faithful fervant. And in the New Teftament the apoftle directs (2;) 7b owe no one any things hut to love one another \ and that [a) no man go beyond^ or defraud his brother in any mattery and for this weighty reafon, (b)for the Lord is the avenger of all fuch. Nom. It is done. Sir. '% Anchith, ^0 my dear and loving wife Sophrofliai with whom I have liv^d very happily^ and with mutual affe^ion and fidelity^ for many years ^ and by whom God has been pie as* d to give me feveral children^ moft of whom are gone to Heaven before me^ but whereof three are yet alive y though 1 doubt not but that^Jhe being a very good wo^ man, and a true andfincere Chriftian, Almighty God will^ according to his promife, be a husband unto her, and pro' vide for her all things necejjaryfor this life ; yet, fmce he has blejfed me with a convenient portion of temporal riches ^ to her I give, for term of life, this houfe wherein I now dwell, with all the furniture, and the lands and tene* ments that lie about it \ and, after my death, to my only /?;/ Theodofius, and his heirs for ever, "To whom 1 leave alfo, from the time of my death, my two other efiatesfitu- ate in the parijh ofN, he paying to each of his fiftersy Charis and Hypomone, one thoufand pounds. And if he die before them, and without ijfue, then his land (all but th^ value of one thoufand pounds, which I freely impower him to difpofe of as he fhall think fit) Jhall defcend and belong equally to thefe my tixo daughters. And 1 trujl my wife will be mindful to bring them all up in the nur- ture and admonition of the Lord, as becomes a wife^ and tender^ and truly chriftian parent, and who hopes to be eternally happy with them in a better fl ate, Nom, At what time will you pleafe your two daugh- ters portions fhall be due to them, if their brother Jiv^e ? Anchith, Well thought of ! At the age of one and twenty years, or day of martiage, which JImll firfi hap^ pen ', and interefi at five per cenr. in the mean time, (z) Rom. xiii. 8. (*) i Thc£ iv, 6, . (i) Ibid. J}^om, 13 8 The good Man's Settlement Nom, It fhall be fo. What will you plcafe to have next? Jnchith, ^0 my nephews^ Pamphilus and Panare- tgs, Igive each two hundred pounds^ and to my niece Irene three hundred pounds, 'To my trufty fervant Piilus I give twenty pounds^ to Hermagathus ten pounds^ and to each of my fervant s^ that (hall he fo at the time of my deaths five founds. They have been careful of my hufinefs^ and fervid me faithfully ; the good Lord reward them for it ! f^om. What more will you pleafe to add ? Anchith. I think I have done as to thefe legacies. But let me not forget my poor debtors^ who owe me fome fmall matters *, which^ hecaufe they are in a low condition^ and not well able to pay them^ I freely remit them all, forgiving fuch my debtors^ as I defire God fhould forgive my debts^for Chrift'sfake, Theoph. But you fpake of beftowing fomething in charity. Anchith, I did fo ; and am bethinking myfelf of the right method of doing it: 1 would give five hundred pounds, but would willingly give it the bed way I can, and fo as may mod effedually anfwer the defign of giving it. Nom. 1 hope. Sir, you will be liberal to the poor of this pariih, fo as that both the prefent and future ages may blefs your memory. Anchith, Kind to the poor I You mean to the rich I for this fort of gifts ferves only to lefTen the parifh*- rates, and fo relieves not the poor, but fpares thofe who are bound by law to relieve them : which is a practice I do not underftand, and for which nobody fliail blame me. But yet, that I may not feem to forget the place of my nativity, Igive fifty pounds to be diftri- hited according to the difcretion of my executorsy among fuch of my neghbows ofthisparifhy as they fhall apprehend to want fjtne affijiance^ but who do not receive alms^ nor have any allowance^ from the parifJj, This I think to be true charity, though the Other I Qfl by no means teckon to be fo. Thsopht of his temporal Concerns 139 "Theoph. What do you think, my friend, of build- ing an alms-houfe for fome poor old men or widows ? This will be a lading charity, and a way to do good £0 pofterity. Jncbtth. I do not condemn fuch as order their cha- rity this way ; but on the other hand, I commend theil; good intention in it. But yet I lee thefe fort of dona- tions fometimes quite taken away, by fome artifice or other, though ever fo firmly fettled ; and much oftener fo grofly abufed, and diverted from the defignof the donor, that I have long thought there are much better ways for difpofing of charity than this. I am not de- firous of being noted by pafTengers as a benefadtor, but am rather for giving what I have ro beftow, fo as that I may be fure of its coming to the hands of thofe for whom it is intended. And, for this reafon, 1 have chofen to diilribute the main of my charity in my life-time, when I might fee the good effedl of it, and might be fure it would not be plac'd on any, bue as I defign'd it fhould. And this method I the rather chufe upon another account likewife, becaufe 1 always efteem*d it much truer charity, and far better becom- ing our holy profelTion, to give out of what I myfelf have and can ufe, than to keep all till I die, and then give, though more largely, from my heirs and execu- tors, when I can enjoy it no longer. But I find I have overtired myfelf, and rauH therefore forbear for awhile. neoph. It is now time to leave you, that you may take fome reft, left you fhould not be able to finifh all to-morrow, as I heartily wifh you may. Anchitb, Pardon me, good Tbeopbilus, if I cannot be of your mind. / k}70w not what a day may bring for tb s and will not therefore defer a matter of this nature any longer than is abfolutely neceiTary. But if you will pleafe to take this gentleman into the garden, and gather the fruit you can meet with there, you will be very obliging : I beg alfo you will command any thing my houfe afibrds for your refrelliment, till I hope by God*3. 140 TPje good Maris Settlement God's blefilng I may be able to proceed ; which iff be, I will give you notice of it, and will increat your return. ^heoph. PofTibly you may get a little deep, when you are alone ; and therefore I thank you for your ci- vility, and fhaii withdraw with this worthy gentle- man, till we receive your fummons to give our attend- ance. Nom. Thefe gardens are fine, and lie, I fee, in good order. Theoph. Yes, they are very pleafant, and the fruits look temptingly. Will you pleale to gather what you like? Nom, All that I have tailed is very good. I believe Anchitbanes was wont to take delight in his garden, it is kept fo handfomely, and fo well Ilock'd, neopb. To order and manage a garden, is a very pleafmg and a very inoffenfive diverfion, provided it be fo managed as not to occafion too great an ex- pence : and it is a noble entertainment, to view the wonderful works of nature, and obferve and admire the infinite wifdom of that over-ruling Power, which caufes fuch alfonifliing produdions ; to fee what noble plants arife from a fmall feed, what delicate flowers open themfelves, of what different forms and fizes, how charmingly enamelled with variety of delightful and lovely colours, how fweetly fcented, how gradu- ally rifing to their perfedion ! what cooling and plea- fant fruits ofier themfelves to our fight and tafte, how entertaining, how ufeful •, and this not only once or twice, or by accident now-and-then, but from year to year, in a continual fuccefiion, the fame feed con- ftantly generating the fame plant, leaves, and flowers, and the fame fl;ock, or root, or flione, the fame blof- foms and fruit. Who can fufficiently admire the excel- lence of that good Providence, which difpofes all thefc things in fo ftupendous a manner ? No?n, What you fay, is lb manifefl to all who take occafion to obferve it, that we. can never fufficiently admire of his temporal Concerns, 141 admire the wonderful contrivance of that plaftick virtue, which annually prefents us with fuch noblq entertainment for all our faculties, gratifying our fenfes to a great degree, employing our underftandings, exciting our gratitude, and filling our hearts with abundant matter of praife and thankfgiving to its Almighty Author. Theopb, You fay right. We can never duly blefs and honour God, for all his goodnefs to us poor mor- tals ; and, amongft other initances of it, in particular for what is fhewn in thefe wonderful produdionsof the earth. And it is therefore no fmall happinefs, to be owner of fo pleafant a place as this, which fuggefts fuch matter not only of diverfion to our minds, but of more raifed and devout meditations and thankfgiv- ing- Serv, Gentlemen, will you pleafe to walk up ? My mafter is juft awake. Jnchitb. T\i\s little fleep hasrefreflied me very con- fiderably, fo that we may proceed now, in the bufi- ncfs we were upon. Serv, I hope you may, Jnchitb, Let Tbeopbilus know I am ready, whenever they will pleafe to walk up. Serv. He is coming up. Sir. Tbeopb. My good friend, how do you find your- (dfy after the little reft you have had? Ancbitb. My fpirits are but low, but much better than when you left me , for, in truth, I was fo heartily tired, I could hold out no longer. But now I have taken a fup of my cordial, and have got a fhort fleep, I am in great hopes I fhall be able to finilh, without any farther interruption. ISlom» You feem^ Sir, to be refolved againfl: any lafting charity. Ancbitb. Not fo neither. Againfl an alms-houfe T am *, but if either of you will dired: me to any other, fych as I ihall apprgve of, I am not refolved againft 5 fko^k. 142 The good Maris Settlement 'Theoph. What do you think of giving to the cor-^ poration for propagating religion in foreign parts ? Jnchith, That is a noble defign : I pray God blefs and profper it. But I have one objedion againft the management of that pious undertaking hitherto, which fticks with me, fo that I cannot get it over; Theopb. May I know what that is ? Anchiih, It is what I have heard often lamented, and, 1 think, not without a great deal of reafon, That rio care has been yet taken to piant Bifhops in any of our American colonies, to infped the qualifications and behaviour of the clergy there ; to ordain fuch as have had univerfity-education amongft them, and whom they fliall find fit to be fent into the Lord's vineyard *, to confirm young perfons, as the rubrick direds, before they be admitted to the Lord's fupper % to cenfure notorious offenders-, to patronize and en- courage thofe, who fhew a true zeal for God's glory, and are courageous and induftrious in his fervice *, and to perform all other epifcopal offices amongft them. I never heard of any in the primitive times, whether orthodox, or hereticks, that reckoned themfelves to be a church, till they had Bifhops to prefide over them, (and not at fuch a diftance, as from hence to jimerka) unlefs they were the Aerians ; and thefe you know were cenfured as hereticks, upon this very ac- count. For which reafon, I hope I may be excufed, if I do not give any thing to this truly commendable undertaking, till it be brought to better perfedion ; and, if it pleafe God I live to fee that, I (hall be as ready to give my afliftancc to it, as any one. theopb. How do you like the thoughts of fettling a charicy-fchool in the parifh here ? Ancbitb. I like that very well ; but you know, we have not a great many poor children here. However, I intend to do.fomerhing of that nature, but not with the fum now under conhderation. Tbeopb, Suppofe you fhould give this money to the parifli, to buy in coals in the fummer, when they are cheapeft. of his temporal Concerns, 143 cheapeft, to be fold out again to the poor, in winter, when they are dearer, at the fame rate j or to pur- chafe corn in a plentiful year, to Jay up for them till a dearer, ^nd let them have it then, at the fame price. Anchitb, This fome have done, to the feafonable relief of many indigent families, and with no great charge to themfelves. And money thus lefc in tru- flees, if rightly employed, may prove a very lauda- ble charity : but we have not fo many poor in our parilh, but that, with the help of their own endea- vours, they may be eafily provided for, by a reafon-? able addition from their abler neighbours. Theopb. Let me ask again ? what do you think of theuniverfities? Anchlth. I was myfelf, for fome time, an unworthy member of one of thofe learned bodies, and cannot: but have a kindnefs for it ever fince. But what do you advife to there? neoph. What if you fhould found another fellow- ihip in the college you belong'd to ? Anchith, That college is very well endow'd al- ready. But, befides, I have another very fubftantial argument againft it ; and that is, the money I defign to give, being three hundred and fifty pounds, will not be fufficient for it. neoph. That is true. But it will make an excel- lent fcholarfhip for fom? ingenious hopeful youth. Anchith, Ic may ferve very well for that. But what do you think of giving it to buy an advowfon for the college ? Theoph, There I muft readily concur with you, this being a way of preferring three at once, fo oft as the benefice fo purchafed fhali become vacant. Befides that, "tis as likely a way as can be taken, to have the parifh conflantly well fupplied. And, again, there are two other advantages in ic •, the one, that there is nq fear of a college's difpofing of it fimoniacally, as pri- vate patrons too commonly do j the other, that this • will 144- ^l^^ good Maris Settlement will be the mod efFeflual way I can think of to fecure the tithes from the invafion of a covetous patron ; and cfpecially, if the parifh fhould ever happen to be in- clos'd, which to my knowledge has been often the ruin of the parfonage, where the lord of the ma- nor thus inclofed has been patron : divers inftances whereof I could mention, now within the memory of man. And I think too great care cannot be taken ;igainft fuch notorious facrilege. Anchith. Pray, 'Theophilus^ explain yourfelf, that I may underftand how three come to be preferr'd at once. rheoph. Thatl fhal] quickly do. For, firfl, a fel- low being prefented to the vacant benefice, a fcholar js next promoted to his fellowfhip, and fo room is made in the lafl place, for fome ocher to fucceed in his fcholarfhip. Jnchith, You are in the right. And I am, ac- cordingly, moft inclinable to this way of doing good £0 all three. But what fecurity is there, that the church will be well fupplied by this means ? ^Theoph. Abfoluce fecurity there is none, nor can be any way. But this way comes as near it as any ; becaufe the living falling to feme perfon of good ftanding in theuniverficy, and whom the college have no material exception to, this is as fure a way as I can think of, to have the place well fill'd with a learned and worthy paftor. Anchith, I am fatisfied this will be a proper bene- faction, if three hundred and fifty pounds would pur- chafe a perpetual advowfon of a benefice worth fuch a perfon's acceptance •, but I fear it will not. Theoph, I fear it too. But four or five hundred pounds perhaps will , and you may leave it either to the college, or in your executors hands, they giv- ing fecurity to the college for it, till the intereft fhall have made it up fo much, or more, if neceflfary \ and to be paid fooner, if they think fit to call it in ; and have fuch a purchafe, that they can any v/ay make \t g^nfiver your intended end. Anch'Hp. of his temporal Concerns. I4i jinchith. Will you pleafe then to write, Sir ? No?n. What will you pieafe to have written ? Anchith. Item, I give and bequeath to T. college^ in the univerfity of N. three hundred and fifty pounds^ to -purchafe a perpetual advowfon of a benefice^ to be he^ fiowedy as often as, by death, or otherwife, it Jloall be- come vacant, upon fome fellow of the college, i^hom they Jhall think mofl proper, and who fhall he obliged to qiiit his fellowfhip for it \ and I order my executors to givs fecurity for the payment of that fum, together 'with its inter eft, at five per cent, fo foon as the college fhall be fatiified, that it will fujfice for the intended purchafe, and he can fee it well laid out. Nom, Here are. Sir, but four hundred pounds yet given. Jnchith. I know it, and am thinking of objeds for the rert. Theoph. What think you of Eufebes, vicar of N. ? He is a very good man, both for his life and docflrine, and has a large family, and little to maintain them. Anchith, You fay right. Let him have forty pounds given him for putting forth his two eldeil fons ap- prentices. Norn. It is done. Anchith, Philotes is a very good woman, but flreight- ened in her circumftances fince her hufband's death : give her therefore ten pounds to defray the charges of her late ficknefs. 'Theoph, Whom will you think of next ? Anchith, I have already thought of a fit perfon: My neighbour Arotreus is a very honefl laborious man, but unfuccefsful, and has feveral young children. Befides, he has lately lofl a horfe, and two cows, which has almoft broken his back ; and to fet him up again, muft needs be an ad of great charity. Put him down twenty pounds. Nom. It is done. Anchith, What now remains of the five hundred pounds ? N ■ Nm. i^6 The good Mans Settlement Nofn. Sir, you have already difpofed of fifty pounds^ three hundred and fifty, forty pounds, ten pounds^ twenty pounds; together, four hundred and feventy pounds ; fo chat there remain now thirty pounds to be order''d as you pleafe. Anchith, My tenant Epimsles is a very induflrioua man, and takes a great deal of pains, and maintains ^is family comfortably for the moft part. But I doubt he goes backwards in the world, and think therefore a fmall legacy may come very feafonably to him. Give him ten 'pounds » Norn. I (hall do it. Jnchith. My neighbour Geron is very aged and in* Srm, and a Iktle fupport may, in all probability, be very welcome to him. Gti^e him ten- pounds likemfe, Norn, It is done, Sir. Anchith. Now I think th^re are only ten pounds remaming Nom, No more, Sir. Anchith, That I give to he laid out weekly by my eX" ecutorsy folong as it Jhall lafl, for teaching poor children to read^ and fay their catechifm. Or if my neighbours will agree together, as they have been talking they would, for fome time, to fet up a charity-fchool for the children of the parifh, betwixt this and candle- mas-day next, I then order this ten pourJs^ or what fialLhe remaini7tg of it at that time, whenfoever it fhall bey to he made up) twenty pounds^ for a beginning of fo good a work, Nom, Is this all, Sir ? Anchith, No ; add farther, 7*be fmall remainders of my eftaie I give to my very good friends y and dear and kind relations^ Eubulus and Aplaftus, to he divided equally between them : and do conftitute them executors of this my laft will and tejiamenty and truftees for my wife and children, Nom, It will be requifite, that you fign and feal your will. Anchith, I need not direft you for that. of kis temporal Concerns. 147 AW. Thus therefore I write. In "juitnefs whereof^ I have hereto fet my hand and feat ^ the third day of July in the year of our Lord 171 1. Now, Sir, will you pieafe to lign it ? Anchith. I will do it as well as I am able. But pray firil: \tt me hear it read all over, that I may know what I fign. Theoph, That is highly reafonable, if it will not be over-troublefome to you to attend to it. Anchith. I will try what I can do. I am not very fit to attend to any thing; but yet, I hope I (hali be able to obferve and underiland what is read. Begin therefore when you pieafe. Nom, In the name of God^ Amen. / Anchithanes, Anchith, It is very right, and as I defign'd it, and if you pieafe to reach me it hither, I will fign it as well as I can. Wherefore I declare this to be my lad will and teftament, and beg of you to witnefs for me that I do fo. Witnefs. Anchithanes, neophilus. Here I take off my NomicuS. ieaUanddode- ^ . dare this ro be Vulus. my laft wiil atiA Anchith. I think you have dated it right. Nom. Yes, Sir, this third day of July in the year of our Lord one thoufand feven hundred and eleven. Anchith. It is very well. And now, I fuppofe, all is done as it Ihould be. Nom. Sir, it is. Anchith. Then, Sir, I thank you. Bulm^ take care to fatisfy the gentleman for the' trouble I have given him. And now, my friend Theophilus^ I have abun- dance of thanks to return to you, for having fo long cxercifed your patience : I know I have been vtr^ croublefome to you ; but I hope you will pardon the importunity of one who is not able to help himfelf, and has cherefgre need of the kind alTillance of all his N 2 friends; 14S The good Maris Settlement friends ; efpecially fince ic is not long I am like to^ burden you. Theoph. How long you may be in this condition, God only knows. Your acquaintance are fuch lovers of themfelves, that they are willing to hope they may have the enjoyment of fo worthy and dear a friend as yourfelf, for many years yet to come -, and do there- fore all agree in praying for your happy and fpeedy recovery. However, you do well to think of, and make all the preparation you can for, a change ; that whenfoever it Ihall come^ whether now, or at a good diftance hence, you may be always in a readinefs for it. The fitter you are to die, believe me, the fitter you are to live -, and the more comfort and fatisfadion you will find in yourfelf here, and will certainly be unfpeakably the more happy for it hereafter. Ancbith. I thank God, I have now done one pare of my bufinefs, and thereby have eafed my mind, as to all folicitude for the things of this world : fo that, if it fliall pleafe God to take me away imme- diately, I may be fure what I leave behind me, will go to thofe who I defire fhould have it \ and fo my relations, knowing what is their own, will have no grounds of quarrelling amongft themfeives, as they might pofTibly have done, if I had died ii^teftate. , A Prayer, after having made his Will. T l^bank thee^ O Gad^ for thy great goodnefs and mercy toivards me^ in having fo plentifully pro^ n)ided for my fuhfiftence^ during my abode in this world. IVhilft others have been in want^ 1 have beenfurnifh'd with 'whatfoever my condition called for ^ and have had fomething alfo to Jpare^ for the relief of my indigent neighbours j fuch has been thy bounty towards me, And now\ if thou feeft fit to ftrip me of all I have hi' therto enjoyedj by taking me away from it^ thou de- privefi me only of what thou fo freely gave ft me^ and what I fhall have 7ic longer occafion for. Grant me therefore^ gracious Lord^ to part with it as willingly of his temporal Coytcerns. 1 49 to thofe that come after ^ as ever I received^ either the whole^ or any part of it, from fuch as are gone before. Blefs it to thofe into whofe hands I commit it^ that it may ferve both to their prefent^ and their eternal wel- fare • that they may not only live the more comfortably for it here^ hut alfo therewith make to themfelves friends^ wbOf when they fail, may receive them into everlafting habitations. And grant to me, thy unworthy fervant, that when my tottering earthly hoitfe of this tabernacle Jhall he diffolved^ J may have a building of God^ an boufe not made with hands, eternal in the Heavens ; and may he intitled to a better and an enduring fub- fiance there, thro Jefus Chrift our Lord. Amen. Theoph. I hope you are well fatisfied with what you have done. Anchith^ Ic is fome eafe to my mind, to think that I have done as much as in me lies, to fettle peace amongft my friends. But that which pleafes me moll: is, to think that I have nothing now to do, but purely to apply myfelf to the weaning my affedions from the things of this world, raifmg them up to thofe that are above, and the perfedting my repentance, and fuing to God for the pardon of my fins, and an intereft in his favour, thro' the powerful mediation of my blefled Saviour. And now, A Prayer for the Divine Protedion, L ^ Lord, look down from Heaven, behold, njifit and re- lieve thy fervant. Look upon me with the eyes of thy mercy ^ give me comfort and fure confidence in thee ; defend me from the danger of the enemy, and keep me in perpetual peace and jafety, through Jefus Chrift our Lord, Amen. N 5 Another 150 The good Mans Settlement Another for Vidory over Sin. II. J\/fT tranfgrejjions^ Lerd^ are great and numerous ^ but thy mercies are incomparably more and greater', they are inc one ei'v ably great ^ and without number: which is a mighty encourage me?it to fuch poor guilty creatures as J am^ to fnake our addrejfes at the throne of thy grace^ with hope of being heard by thee. Let it tiot be in "vain that I now implore thy help. As thou hajl filfd my heart with an unfeigned forrow for my many repeated iniquities^ and made me earneft/y deft- rous of pardon andforgivenefs^ make me^ moreover^ di-^ Itgcnt and induftrtous^ to tejitfy the fincerity of my re- pentance^ by a thorough mortification and amendment, And^ that the degrees of my repentance may^ in fome mea- fure^ anfwer the heinoujnefs of my fins^ infpire my foul with fuch devout affe^tons^ fuch hoy defires and iti-- clinaticnSj as that I may run the way of thy commandr merits with unwearied courage and alacrity^ and en- deavour^ by my future care^ to fnake the be/l amends J fi:)aU be able for my former negligence. It is abuU" dantly too miich^ that I have hitherto been wanting in that duty thou requireft of me. Grant me^- for the time to come^ to he always upon my watch^ and always intent upon ferving thee to the beft of my power. Let no temptation befal me^ but fuch as ts common to men ; and with the temptation alfo do thou, of thy great goodnefs^ make a way to efcape^ that I may be able to withfiand and conquer it. Work in me both to will and to do^ of thy good pleafure. I not only live in the midfl of a deceitful worlds but have a corrupt heart of my own^ apt to ftart afide in time of trial, and a fubtle ma- licious enemy that lies in wait for my halting ; fo that I am ruindy and muft periJJj irrecoverably, without thy prote5fion. Deny me not fuch a meafure of thy Spirit^ as may conduCi me fafely through all my dangers, and enable me to come off viffor in all my confli^s 5 that I of his temporal Concerns. 1 5 x f may go from ftrength to flren^b^ md mver ^e dif- muraged^ whatfoe'ver encounters thou calleft me t^ ^his I beg^ through the merits and intercejjion of tbf llejfed Sony our Lord and Saviour Jefus Chnfi, Amen. Another for an intire Submiillon to God's Will. III. f) Lordy thou art my God., my mighty Saviour and 2>- li'verer ^ in thee will I put mytru(i^ not doubting of thy goodnefs to me^ in all my fears and dangers, I am brought 'very iow^ hut thou are able to hear me up ^ and^ I will never defpair of thy kindnefs. Watch over me^ I hefecch thee, for good. Make all my bed in my fick- nefs. San^lify this thy vifitation to me. Steach me to improve it to thofe good ends and purpofes for which it was fent^ that, whether by life, or death^ I may glo- rify thy holy name. And grant., that in either I may intirely give up myfelf to thy difpofd^ through Jefus Chrift our Lord, Amen. Another for a due Preparation for Death. IV. /I i'hou^ my good and gracims God, from whom all holy defires, all good comfels, and all juji works^ do proceed ; and without the affiftance of whofe Holy Spirit^ it is not in me to think, fpeak, or a5f, as J ought to do ; hearken., I befeech thee, to the prayer of thy humble fupplicant ; fuffer ?io corruption to remain in me, no luft or pajjion to have dominion over me ^ but purge me from all my guilt-, and enable me to ferve thee with a pure heart --y that, being cleanfed {c) from all pkhinefs of flefh and fpiric, / may perted holinefs in thy itzx, and have my accounts in readinefs^whenfoever thou Jh alt pleafe to call for them; that fo death, when- ever it comes, may he no furprize to me ; but J may willingly leave this world^ and refign my foul into thy [c*) 1 Cp-. vii. I. N-4 Ifands^ 1 5 2 The good Maris Settlement hands ^ as to a moft loving and merciful Father j and when I flmll come to appear before thy awful tribunal^ at the great tremendous day^ I may be Jet upon the right- hand of our Lord and Judge^ and may be fentenced^ amongfl his true and faithful difciples^ to everlaflmg hlifs tn thy heavenly kingdom. Grant this^ O Father, for the fake^ and through the merits^ of the fame thy Son Jefus ChriJI^ our only Mediator and Advocate. Amen. Theoph. I befeech Almighty God to hear thefe your prayers, and the prayers of all your friends for you; and not to take you out of this world, till he fhall have fitted you for a better. Anch'uh. I thank you for your good wifhes and prayers*, and do beg of you, and ail my friends, to continue your prayers for me. I know not how foon my foul may take its flight into the other world; and 1 have great need of God's mercy and goodnefs, with- out which I muft inevitably be in a defperate condi- tion. My fins, my fins, cry aloud againft me *, my own confcience accufes me •, and God, who is greater than my confcience, and knows all my fins, together with their feveral heinous aggravations, may juftly condemn me. Yet I will not defpair of his forgive- i^t{s. I will hope in his mercy. He has laid help upon one that is mighty to fave, the ever-blefled Jefus, whom he gave to be a propitiation for my fins, and not for mine only, but (d) for the fins of the whole world. In him therefore will I truft ; through him will I fue for pardon and forgivenefs ; I will rely on his merits and ratisfa6lion, for the remifllon of all my fins, and the fupply of all defcdls. And I doubt not, but the good God will hearken to me, when I addrefs myfelf to him, in the name of fuch an all-fufficient and moft powerful intercefifor ; in relation to whom he has ex- prefly declared, for our comfort and encouragement, that (e) he is not entered mto the holy places made with (d) 1 John ii. 2. (f) Heb. fx. 24. handsy of his temporal Concerns. 1 5 3 hands^ which are the figures of the tnie^ hut into Hear 'ven it [elf ^ now to appear in the prefence of God for us, (/) He is exalted with the right-hand of God, to he a Prince and a Saviour, to give repentance to Ifrael, and remiffion of fins : and (g) is ahle to fave to the utter- moft tiV TO ^ctv\iKi(, completely, inrirely, as (h) Hefy- cbius, or for ever, as (i) Grotius and Dr. Hammond^ all that come unto God by him, ficing he ever livetb to make intercejfion for thetn. (k) God fo loved the worlds that he gave his only-hegotten Son, to become incarnate, and live, and fuffer, and die for us, to the end that whojoever helieveth in him, fboidd not perijlo, hut have everlafilng life. And our Lord himfelf has given us this promife, that (/) thofe who come unto hitn, he will in no wife cajl out. This is my comfort and great fupport, and my main relief againft all fears and de- fpondings, that how unworthy foever I be in myfelf, and though I had ever fo evidently, as indeed I have, deferved the eternal indignation of God in the abyfs of Hell; yet my Redeemer has made abundant fa- tisfadion for all my fins, and is now at the right-hand of God, pleading his own invaluable merits in my behalf. I will therefore truil in him, in fpight of all my own iniquities and fins ; and will hope, that, upon my fincere repentance, I fhall be reinftated in God's favour, and intitled to a fhare in the moft glorious, moft ineftimable, moft tranfcendently charm- ing inheritance of the faints in light, I am not con- fcious of any fin that I now retain any affedtion for, any luft or pafTion that I have not unfeignedly re- nounc'd, and for which I am not truly humbled ; nor any duty, how difficult foever, that I am not refolv'd to perform, if it pleafe God to allow me time and ftrength for it. And, if he do not, I promife myfelf he will gracioufly accept of fuch a forrow, as I have long had for my paft mifcarriages, and fuch vows and refolutions of obedience, as I have made, and (/) Ads V. 51. (g) Heb. vii. 25-. [Pj) In voce T^rJsAej. (i) In loc. {k) John ii!. 16, (/} John vi. 37. have 154 The good Mani Settlement liave endeavoured to fulfil according to my poweif, fhough with great weaknefs and imperfedion. This is my confolacion. And, accordingly, A Prayer for Growth in Grace. 7 Befeech ihee^ O mqft merciful Lord God, confirm and * increafe this hope in me evermore. Give me fiich a repentance for all my fins^ as is not to he repented of\ ^eh a fteady reliance upon Cbrift, as will never fail me ; fuch an improvement in all virtue^ as may fit me for a fetter ft ate., againji I fhall he taken hence, (jn) Make me a clean heart, O God % and renew a right fpirit within iBe^ Help all my weakneffes, and pity my infirmities. Improve any good begin?nng in me^ and (n) work in me both to will and to do, of thy good pleafure. Let no temptations prevail againft me. And grant, O Lord^ that the more the outward man decayeth, I may be i!rengthen*d fo njuch the more contini^ally by thy Holy Spirit in the inward man, and may be enabled to proceed from one degree of grace to another, till grace Jhall at lafi he confummated in everlafting glory ; thrc^ Jefus Chrift our only Mediator and Redeemer, Amea, Amen. ^heoph. My good friend, you do well, and as be* comes a good Chriftian, thus devoutly to recommen4 your cafe to God, and put your truft in him. Anchith, Do well in it ! It is my neceflary duty^ $nd what is indifpenfably incumbept upon me, and every one, that would be faved. And fo you will be fenfible, whenever you come jtp be iri my con- dition. Theopb. I acknowledge it, and am defirous to en- courage you in it -, that all your appointed time yoi| may wait, and watch, and beg, and "pray, and trull, and hope, till your change come\ to the end, that theri your faith may be turned into vilion, and your hope mco fruition, and all your >yatching5 and labour, and MPfal. IJ. 10. (») Phil, iu 13. patience^ of his temporal Concerns, 155 patience, may be rewarded with a crown of glory y that fadeth not away, Anchith. This is what I am aiming at, and endea- Touring after. And I befeech Almighty God, that \ may not mifs of it. fheoph. God grant your requeft 1 Anchitb, Amen. Amen. Tbcopb, As I came hither, I was looking into Dr, Comber's fourth volume upon the Common Prayer, where I met with fomething to our prefent purpofe ; fome few diredions, I mean, as to the making of our wills ; which pleafed me well, and I believe it will not be unacceptable to you. And, being not long, if I fhall not overtire you, I would read it to you. Anchith. My work is now over, and this will not occafion me to fpeak much ; and therefore, if you pleafe, I fhall difpofe myfelf to hearken to you. Theoph. ' Concerning this making of our will/ fays the dodor, ' {0) thefe cautions are to be obferv- * ed : Firji^ That it be not deferred till it be too late, * kft we be opprefied with fudden death, and leave * our executors and poflerity involved in endlefs fuits * and contentions-, the guilt whereof will purfue thofc * into another world, whofe wretched carcleflhefs waj5 ^ the dire occafion of all that ftrife and mifchief. * And tho' we be not fmitten with fudden death, yet * we may fall into fuch a diftemper, as fhall feize on * our fenfes and underftanding ; and then we can * either make no diftribution of our eflates, or {p) none * that will be valid. Yet if neither of thefe happen, * it is a great difturbance to a languifhing man, to. * reckon, and call up, to fettle and order his affairs; * and a mighty impediment to the exercifes of re- * ligion, v/herein thpfe few days we have left, ought {0) Occafional Offices, pap. 501, 301. edit, oftav. 1679. (/>) Teftamenrum, ni perfc^um fuerir, nullum eft. GLoJf. ad Grat, 4e Pcen. diji. 3. In CO qui ttftatur, ejus quo teftamentum facir, integritas mentis i^jiigitur. l>ig. L 28. tif, i. /. 2. Cod. Jnfm, I. 6. tit. zi. « to I $6 The good Maris Settlement ' to be employed ; and it may be obferved, none ^ have fo quiet a mind, nor are fo intent upon heaven- • Jy things, as thofe who have made their wills in • time of health. It is, therefore, a grievous folly, ' and fhameful negled, at bed, to defer this \ but if ' we put it off, becaufe we have no mind to think ^ fo ferioufly of death, as this will occafion us to do, ' the omiffion then proceeds from atheifm and abo- ' minable impiety, and declares, that the man defires • his only portion here ; and that he is fo far from ' preparing for death, that he cannot endure to think • of it, Ecclus, xli. I. And as this fault is like that ' wretched iiiifer's in the gofpel, (who, till the very • moment of his death, perfuaded himfelf he Ihould • live and enjoy all himfelf ) fo will his fate, in all ■ probability, be like his alio ; even to be fnatch'd away, unready, to a fad eternity, for which he hath ' made no provifion, Luke xii. 19, 20. Secondly^ ' Another part of our duty is, that when we do dii- pofe of our eftate, we do it impartially, and by rules of equity j not difinheriting any of thofe whom God hath made our heirs, without necelTity force us thereunto j neither preferring one child before another, unlefs fome extraordinary adls of duty require it ; nor leaving our wives unprovided for, when we have confumed, or difpofed, of their for- tunes ; neither defigning to defraud our creditors of their juft demands. For, if our laft ad be unjuft, we leave a blot upon our name here i and fince wc can never repent of this wickednefs, we can expedl nothing but a fad doom in the world whither we are going. Laftly, We mufi: make our will with a chearful mind, and freely lay down whatever we have in our hands, when God calls us. We mu(t praife him, that we had thefe things while we need- ed them •, and, now that we have no longer ufe for them, let us leave them (without repiningj to thofe that come after us. We mufl not look back to Egy!t^ new we are upon our march to Canaan y^ * nor of his temporal Concerns. iS7 « nor is there any thing in thefe worldly goods to < deferve it: they were vanity and vexation while < we had them, and now we can have them no more ; * but if we part with them freely, we fhall have a « better inheritance by far in exchange for them.' Anchitb. This is very good advice; and what I wiHi every one, that has any thing to difpofe of, would be fure to put in pradlice. As I hope I have now done. Theoph, Blefled be God, that you have liv'd to do it! But I muftnot forget, that it is high time for me to withdraw. I thank God, that you have been able to hold out fo well under this day's long work. Now I fliail leave you, that you may try to recover your fpirits, which muft needs be much fpent by fo long an exercife of them. Wherefore I heartily bid you good night *, and I pray God you may find your- felf refrefhed to-morrow, and that I may find you ia a hopeful way of recovery on Tburfday^ when I hope to fee you again, with your other friends, that have appointed then to vifit you. Anchith. Dear Theophilus, I am exceedingly obliged to you for all your kindnefles, and particularly for the long trouble I have given you to-day. And I (hall be ftill farther in your debt, for any time you will pleafe to fpend with me, whilft I am on this fide of the grave. For, you fee, I am in a weak condition, and need the comfort and afiiftance of all my friends j and I hope fhall be the better for it to all eternity. Theoph, I wifli I were capable of being more truly ferviceable to you than I am. But, afiure yourfelf, my befl: endeavours fhall not be wanting. At pre- fent I take my leave of you, but fhall not fail to pray for you when I am gone. Anchith, I befeech you not to omit that chriftian office for me, for I have great need of the hearty prayers of all good people. ne end of the third VISIT, The 1 5 S How to judge of our tnterefi The Fourth VISIT^ Ho'u; a Man may judge of his Inter ejl in God's Faz'our, cither here y or hereafter. Eiifeb .VyVi KY how is Anchlthanes to-day ? ^ Servant, Much as when you faw him lad. Eufeh. Is any company with him ? Serv. Only ^heodorus^ who has jaft been at prayer with him. Will you not pleafe to walk in, Sir ? Eufeh, I am glad to hear, Anchithanes^ that you are not worfe than when I law you laft ; and to find lb worthy a perfon z^Theodorus with you. And I wifli i had come a little iboner, that I might have joined with him in praying for you. However, with Tbeodorus's leave I would put you upon intreating a favour of him, before he leaves you, that may be of advantage to me as well as you. Anchiib. Pray what is that ? Tbeod. I am fure I fhall be very ready^ to do any fcrvice in my power to either of you. Etifek You were always very kind, which makes me take this freedom, in hope you will not be dif- pleafed at it. Ancbith. Pray what is it you would have me intreat of neodorus? Eufeh. When TbeopbiluSy and the reft of us, were here fome days fince, you defired our refolution of a doubt, much fitter for Tbcodorus^s opinion than ours ^ and which I heartily wilh to hear refolved by him. Ancbitb. I very well remember it *, and if this oc- cafion will permit, I will trefpafs fo far upon his goodnefs as to beg his information concerning it, it being a matter of great importance to all v but more efpecially to thofe in my prefent circumftances. ^beod. Be pleafed to propofe your queftion j and I ^ill give you the beftfatisfaftioa Lean concerning it. I Ancbitb. in Gad's Favour at prefent. 1 59 yinMth, It is this : How I tnaj make a right judg- pitnt of my inter ejl in God's favour y either atpefent^ or in relation to a future fi ate. Thecd, A weighty queftion indeed •, and which I Ihould be glad to have oftener propofed to me by thole in your condition. But it is the mirerabk un- happiiiefs and folly of the generality of mankind, that thty are not fo fenfible, either of their duty, or their intereft, as you appear to be. jinchith. I am fare it highly concerns me to be fo. And I beg therefore, that you will add to all your other kindnelTes, this which Eujehius has put me upon afking of you j as I had before aiked it of himfelf, and fome other good friends, that promifed to come and fee me. Theod. Your queftion confiftsoftwo different parts: the one relating to this prefent, and the* other to a future life. And I fuppofe you defire I ihould fpeak to both of them. Anchith. If it will not be too great a trouble to you: as I hope it will not, after the experience I have had, of the delight you take in doing good, Theod. Afiure yourfelf, Anchithanes^ any fervice I can do you, will be no trouble to me. But this ought by no means to be fo, becaufe it is only a part of my minifterial office, and what I am obliged Xjo do for any of my parifhioners, that Ihall defire it of me. I begin with the former part of your inquiry, Anchith. If you pleafe. Thec^, Then 1 muft tell you, you are not to ima- gine, that God is at enmity with you, becaufe he thinks fit, for what wife reafons you knov/ not, to lay his hand thus h^vy upon you. It is rather a fign of his affedion to you, or any of us, and his paternal care over us, that he condefcends to corre<5l us in this world, to the end we may repent, may acknowledge our faults, and amend our lives, and fue for mercy and forgivenefs, and grace to help in time of need y that iOf by means «f our temporal afflidions and ca- iamities. 1 60 How to judge of our Inter eft lamities, we may die to the fins for which we arethus punilhed, and rife again to newnefs of life \ and fo may efcape the everlafting plagues of the other world, and may never come into {a) the lake that burns with fire and brimftone, but may have {b) an entrance 7ninifired unto us abundantly^ into the everlafting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jefus Chrift, We have the auth,6rity of St. Paul for it, that when we are punifhed in like man- ner as the Corinthians were, for their grofs abufe of the Lord's Supper, of whom he profelTes, that divers were feized with ficknefs, and others with death ; when we are thus punifhed, God does it, not out of an irreconcilable difpleafure, and for our deitrudiion ; but in way of kindnefs, and in order to our eternal fal vation. For {c) when we are judged^ we are chaftened of the Lord, that we fhould not be condemned with the world. When God fufFers the finner to flourilh in his wickednefs, faying, concerning him, as he did of Ephraim, after he wa.s joined with idols. Let him alone ; when he gives him up to follow his own heart's ways, and to add iniquity to iniquity, till the meafure of his fins he filled up \ it is a terrible evidence, that fuch an one is referved for the pains of the world to come, and that weepings and wailing, and gnafhing cf teeeh, will be his everlafting portion. Our bleffed Saviour de- nounces a miferable end to fuch as abounded in the good things of this world, but took not care to do good with them, or to ferve and pleafe God, the giver of them, and fo to prepare themfelves for a better ftate : {d) Woe unto "^ou that are rich -, for ye have received 'SOur confolation. Woe unto you that are full \ for ye fh all fnourn and weep. And, no doubt, a wretched portion * muft await all fuch in the other life, as are fuffered to proceed licentioufly, and without controul in their fins, in this. Anchith. How comes it then to pafs, that this truth is fo little taken notice of? the generality of men ('*) Rev. xxi. 8, {b) a Pet, i. ii. (c) i Cor. xi. 32. {d) Luke vi. 24., ly. cfteera in God's Favour at prefent. 1 6i efteem thofe mod beloved of God, who Jive in all kind of wealth and pleafurc, and never tafte of any obfervable adverfiCy in all their days. Theod, True ; but the Scripture gives us another notion of them, afluring us, {e) There is no peace, no real and lafting peace, to the wicked, how profperous foever their outward eftate may be. See what a cha- radter the Pfalmift gives of them, and of their totter- ing changeable condition : (fj I was grieved^C^ys he, at the wicked : I do alfofee the ungodly in fuch profpe- rity. For they are in no peril of death ; but are lufty andftrong. ^hey come in no misfortune Itke other folk^ neither are they plagued like other men, And this is the caufe they are fo holden with pride ^ and overwhelm'' d with cruelty, ^heir eyes fwell with fatnefs^ and they do even what they luft, iigj ^hen thgtight I to un- derjland this 5 hut it ivas too hard for me : until I went into the fan6fuary of God ; then underflood I the end of thefe men : namely^ how thou dojlfet them in flippery places^ and cafteft them down^ and deftroyejt them. Oh ! how fuddenly do they confume^ perijh^ and cometo a fearful end! And, at another time, (hj I my-* felf have fe en the ungodly in great power ^ andflourtfh^ ing like a green hay- tree. J went hy^ and^ lo^ he was gone : I fought him^ but his place could no-where he found. Keep innocence.^ and take heed to the thing that is right ; for that JJjall bring a man peace at the laft. As for the tranfgreffors^ they fh all periflo together. And the end of the ungodly ts^ that they fhall be rooted out at the laft. Eufeb. The Holy Scripture, and efpecially thatmofl feraphick part of it thebookofPy^//;^j, abounds with places to this purpofe. Theod, You fay true. But that I may not be tedious, I will add only two pa (Tages more at prefent. And they are both from the apoftle St. James, in his catholick epillle : who, fpeaking of the rich man, (e) Ifa. Ivii. 21. (/) Pfal. Ixxiii. 5, &c. (g) Pfal. Ixxi.i. ij-, 16,17,18. (/^ Pfal. xxxvii. 3^,36,57,38, O affirms. l6i How to judge of our Inter eft affirms, that (i) as the flower of the grafs he pajjetb away. For the fun is no jooner rifen with a hiirningbsat^ hut it Withereth the grajs , and the flower thereof falleth^ ^nd the grace of the jaJJyton thereof perijheth'^ fo alfojball the rich man fade away in his ways. And again, to the lame eiied, (k) Go to now^ ye rich men , weep and howl for the miferies that Jball come upon you. Tour riches are corrupted^ and your garments are moth-eaten. Tour gold andfilver is cankered ; and the riifl of them ffo all he a witnefs again fr you^ and Jball eat your fleJJj as it were fire, Te have heaped treafiire together for the lajl days. Behold., the hire of the kihoiirers^ which have reaped down your fields^ which is of you kept hack by fraud., crieth 5 a7id the cries of them which have reaped^ are entered into the ears of Lord offahbath, Te have lived in pleafure on the earthy and been wanton ; you have jiourijhed your hearts as in the day of flaughter. As much as to fay. You have pampered and glutted your- felves, as it were, for the ihambles. Whereby it is plainly intimated to us, that the end of fuch as have lived in the greatefl plenty andeafe, is oftentimes very niiferable. And, by confequence, all their temporal advantages, above others, are very far from proving them the favourites of Heaven. This is what, under God, depends upon the difpofition of their own minds, and the care they take to obey and ferve God ; with- out which,, how great foever they be in this world, they knov/ afluredly beforehand, that (/) they Jhall never Jee the Lordm that which is to come. Eufeh. So true is that in the author of the book of Wifdom : (m) 'if be hope of the ungodly is likedufl, that is blown away wtth the wind; like a thin froth that is driven away with the ft or m ; like as the fmoke that is difperfed here-aud-there with a tempeft ; and paffetb away as the remembrance of a giiefl thattarrietb but a day. But the righteous live for evermore:, their reward is with the Lord^ and the care of them is with the Mofi (i) Janrtes i. lo, n. (k) Chap. v. i, O'C. {I) Hcb. xii. 14. (n-) Wifd. V. 14, I/, 1(5. Bgb. in God's Favour at prefent, 165 High, iherefore Jloall they receive a glorious kingdom^ and a beautiful crown^ from the Lord's hand ; for with his right-band Jhall be cover tbem^ and wttb bis arm befhall prote^i them, neoph. So that it is eafy to obferve how deplorable the condition often is, of fuch as the world are wont to magnify and applaud, to reverence and almoft adore them 5 or elfe to malign or envy them for their greatnefs ; who yet, if rightly confider'd, would more defervedly be the objed:s of a fincere and hearty com- pafTion, notwithftanding all their outward fplendor : whilft, on the other hand, iljch as thefe haughty worldlings feem moft to defpife, are many times in an infinitely more defirable condition than themfelves. Hearken, my beloved brethren, fays St. James : Hath (n) not God chofen the poor of this world, rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom, which he hath promifed to them that love bim ? And the fame apoftle pronounces a bleffing to him that undergoes affiidions, for the trial and ex- crcifc of his chriftian virtues, and perhaps fuffers the lofs of all he had, for his faithful adherence to his duty j.that heihall have the approbation of God, and, as a confequent thereof, fhall be made everlaftingly happy in the other ftate. (0) Blejfsd is the man that endureth temptation ; for, when he is tried, he fhall receive the crown of life, which the Lord bath promifed to them that love him. And there is great reafon why fuch fuf* ferings fhould be expeded to have this happy event, amongd others, upon this account, that whilft peo- ple fwim in eafe and pleafure, and have all things to their hearts defire, whilft, as it is faid to have fared with {p) ^ Metellus, their whole life is but one continued feries of profperity, without any misfortunes, difap- pointments, or lofTes; they are apt to be enamoured of their temporal enjoyments, and too often aim at no greater happinefs, undervaluing and negleding the other moft lafting ftate, which they ought much rather to be incefiantly labouring after. Had the Ifraeliles been (») Jjmesii. /. [o) James i. 12. (/') Valer. Maxim. I. 7* c. i' O 2 pa.- 1 64, How to judge of our Inter ejl patronized and encouraged in Egypt^ and allowed a free and quiet enjoyment of the good things thereof j there is liitle reafon to doubt, but they would have been for taking up their reft there without ever defiring to leturn to the promifed Canaan, It was only their hard bondage, and the cruel ufage they met with from their unmerciful tafk-mafters, that would make thim long for a removal into another country. In like manner, when the Chriftian has his lot fall to him in a fair ground^ and he is pof- fefTed of a goodly heritage^ when his circumftances fuit his dtfires, and he has few or no croffes to complain of; this is a powerful temptation to him, to grow regard lefs of another life, for which he has no mind to exchange this. And there are but few that will be at the pains of providing for their departure hence, without fome afflidions to awaken their Icthargick minds, and put them upon (^) defiring a better country^ that fj, a heavenly^ fuch a country, whofe happinefs Ihall not equal only, but exceed, their utmoft defires and imaginations *, (>) where they /hall hunger no more^ neither thirft any more ; neither Jhall the fun light on tbem^ nor any heat ; hut the Lamb^ that is in the midji of the throne^ fball feed them ^ and Jhall lead them to living fountains of water j and God Jhall wipe away all tears from their eyes. This world's delights are of an infinuating nature, and debafe the foul, and clog it in its afcenc towards Heaven, and make men willing to pitch their tents here, without troubling themfelves for what may happen beyond the grave Hence it is, we fee all mankind, a very few excepted, fo (5) cumber'* d^ with Martha^ about many things o^ lefs moment, as in the mean time to negled the one thing needful^ that good part^ which fhall not be taken away^xQ\x\ any of thofe that once attain to it. The uneafinefs of our prefent fta- tion may perhaps incline us to feek after another, which we hope may be more commodious and beneficial, and fo may become a means of inviting us to have our con- (a) Hcb. XI. 16. [r) Rev. vii. 16,17. (:?) Luke x. 41, 41. verjation in God's Favour at prefent. i6f 'verfation in Heavsn^ and may bring us to look pad the things which are [em ^ to thofe which are not feen, which are eternal, and fo will never fail us. But, till we meet with fome fuch remembrancer to put us in mind of our duty, how fadly do we ordinarily immerfeourfelves in the cares of the world, and delight ourfelves in the acquilition of this life's tranfitory advantages *, as if we had never been born for another, nor v/ere ever call'd upon, and intreated, and encouraged to feek after it! Eufeb, This being the happy etFedl of afflidlions in general, it is eafy to apply the confideration thereof to the cafe of our friend here in bed. Theod^ It is fo : for, if all afflidlions and fufferings have a natural tendency to fit us for the heavenly feli- city, ficknefs in particular, or corporal infirmities, may w^ll be looked upon as peculiarly conducing here- to y becaufe thefe not only ferve to convince us of the infufficiency and uncertainty of all worldly attain- ments, and how little they are to be depended upon; but moreover are particularly adapted to rtmind us of our mortality, and that great change which is every day approaching nearer and nearer to each one of us. For, it we cannot promife ourfelves any certainty of continuing in this life, for a day's, or but an hour's fpace, though in our perfedeft health and ftrength, much lefs may any prtrfume to do it, when their fpirits are exhaufted, their flrfh and ftrengch wafted, and their breath grown fhort and painful, and it is a great queftion whether ever they ftiall be well again. This will naturally carry our meditations forward to another life, and ought certainly to draw off our minds, our thoughts and defires, from this world, out of which we know not how quickly we may be taken ; and to make us folicitous for a better and an enduring fubft am e in the other, wherein we are undoubtedly to be fixed to all eternity. And is it not a fmgular inftance of mercy and compafTion in Almighty God, thus to warn us of our frailty, the timely confideration whereof may be ©f fuch vaft advantage to us for O 3 ever- 1 66 How to judge of our Inter eji evermore? Who would ever blame fo tender a bene- factor, for taking too much care of him, or beingcoo forward to fit and prepare him for the kingdom of Heaven ? Thefe vifitations, though uneafy to fuch as feel the fmart of them, may, and, if rightly im- proved, will, be of everlafting benefit to them. And, if this be an unkindnefs, we may complain of God as unkind, whenfoever he is pleafed to confine us to our bed. But, on the other hand, if ficknefs be only a falutary medicine, for rectifying the evils and diflempers of the foul, and qualifying the patient for the moft ineftimable kindnefs he is capable of receiving, he muft be highly to blame, that can fuffer himfelf to murmur at Almighty God, for fuch a gracious method of procedure with him. kufeb. Happy therefore is the man, that is not only thus vifited by God, but knows alfo how to make a right ufe of what is laid upon him, foas that after his departure hence he may attain to that unfpeakable, unconceivabley^^, which no man can take from him, Tbeod. Happy indeed ! thrice happy is he, and highly bleffed of God, that fo carries himfelf upon his fick-bed, as that he may be fit either for life or death •, to live to God's glory, if reftored to health ; or to enter upon a heavenly inheritance, if he Ihall be tranilated hence. Anchith. Oh ! that I may be found in this number ; that, poor guilty finner as T am, I may bear my ficknefg as I ought, and may be fitted by it for a better ftate ! A Prayer for a right Chriftian Deportment in time of Sicknefs. /O Blejjed and glorious Lord God^ who delightefl not in the death of a finner^ hut rather that he turn from hi 9 wickednefs and live ; ajidwho doft not affli^ wiilingly^ nor grieve the children of men f look gractoufly uponme^ thine tarjLwrthy fervantj lyi fig here in great weaknefs of lody. Speak peace to 7ny foul^ and ajfure me^ that thou art in God's Favour at prefent. 1 5/ reconciled to me^ and wilt forgive me all mine offences. ^each me alfo to behave my felf under thy chaftifement as becomes thefiate whereto thou haft reduced me. Wean my heart from the worlds and all thofe tranjitory enjoys ments in it^ which are of [o little advantage to me now^ and which I muft be fure to leave behind me^ whenfo- ever Ifhall be taken hence : fit me for whatever thou dejigncft for me^ whether in this^ or in another world, Aiid whether it be to live^ or to die^ let my heart be in- tirely refigjted to thy moft wife determination concerning me. Renew in me^ moft loving Father^ whatfoever is decay d by the fraud and malice of the devil ^ or by my own carnal will andfrailnefs. Continue me in the unity of the churchy and the true faith of the gofpel^ that I nei" ther fall intofchifm^nor herefy^ nor fin of any ki?id. Con- fider my contrition , accept my tears ; and ajfwage my pain^ as fhall feem to thee moft expedient for me. Enable me,^ in all cafes^ftedfaftly to rely upon thy promifes^ and never to diftruft thy care of thofe that put their truft in thee. Hear me for my felf .^ and hear all thofe that pray for me. Watch over^ me continually for good : and never leave me^ nor for fake me^ till thou fhalt have fitted me for.^ and brought me to^ thy heavenly kingdom^ through Jefus Chrift our Lord. Amen. Tbeod, God, infinitely good and gracious, grant your heart's defire ! But, as to what I was faying concerning the happinefs of thofe who carry themfelves aright upon their fick-bed, give mc leave, Jnchithanes^ to recommend, to your ferious confideration and prac- tice, Bifhop Taylor's advice in his Rtdes and Exercifes of Holy Bying : (/) < Be confident, that, although God • often fends pardon without correcflion, yet he never • fends correction without pardon, unlefs it be thy ^ fault : and therefore take every or any affiidion, « as an earneft-peny of thy pardon : and, upon con- • dition there may be pardon with God, let any thing « be welcome, that he can fend as its inftrument, or (/) Chap. J. Sea. s N. 6. O 4 * con- 1 68 How to judge of our Inter eft * condition. Suffer God tochufehisowncircumftances ' of adopting thee, and be content to be under difci- * pline, when the reward of that is to bqcome the fon < of God. {u) We may reckon ficknefs amongft * good things, as we reckon rhubarb, and aloes, and < child-birth, and labour, and obedience, and difci- t pline. Thefe are unpleafant, and yet fafe ; they < are troubles in order to blefiings ; or they are fecu- < rities from danger, or the hard choices of a lefs and < more tolerable evil. Anchith. I am not without fome hope, that the' Almighty God juftly punifhes me for my fin, yet he will not totally take away his mercy from me, efpe- cially confidering what my good friends have already difcourfed upon this Jubjcdl. ^heod. Take courage, good Anchithanes \ and do not fuffer yourfelf to be overwhelmed with needlefs fears and jealoufies. Affure yourfelf, that how many, and how great, foever your fins be, the mercies of God are more and greater. He is a God of infinite commiferation, and (:v) rnighty to favc^ (j) merciful and gracious^ long-fufferwg^ abundant in goodnejs and truths forgiving iinquit)\ tranfgrejfwn, and fin. And though he wiU not clear the guilty y yet Ik.' is ready to (z) fhew mercy unto thoufands of them that love him^ and keep his comfnandments. His {a) loving- kindnefs has been ever of old. Yet has his pity and compafTion, and his williag- nefs to be reconcird to fallen man, been incomparably more glorioufly difplay'd by the gofpel of our blefled Saviour, who has {b) conker ated for us a new and living way through the veiU ^^^^^ is to fay, his flefh^ afTumed at his incarnation, and at length offered upon thecrofs for us \ and has over and over promised free pardon and forgivenefs, to fuch as with an humble and truly penitent heart, fue for it through his mediation. \c) He is a Prince^ and a Saviour, exalted by God*s right- band, and impower'd to give repentance^ and remiffion of (h) Sc) I John iij. lo. (ij Unum Nsccflar. ch. 7. * tion. to a better "State hereafter, ipj * tion, yet he finds an unwillingnefs within him, * and a ilrife againll fin. Every fuch perfon is a * fervant of fin, and, therefore, not a fervanc of the * Spirit ; but free from, that is, not ruled by the law ' of righteoufnefs. And agam^ U 3.n unregefier ale per- * /on did always fin willingly, that is, without re- * lucftancy, and Itrife within ; and the regenerate did * fin as infallibly, but yet fore againil his will ; then ' the regenerate -perfon were the verier Have of the tv/o; * for he that obeys willingly, is lefs a fiave, than he * that obeys in fpight of his heart.* A wicked man may not be fo harden'd in his wickednefs, nor his confcience fo fear'd, but that he may, fometimes, find ftrong reludlancies in himfelf, before he can bring himfclf to comply with a temptation. But if he do, however, work himfclf up to fuch a compliance, this fiiews the greater malignity of his heart, and that he is yet in the gall of hitternefs^ and, the bond of iniquity. Some fins too are of fo heinous a nature, and offer fuch violence to the foul not fully fettled upon its lees, that a man may be wicked to a great degree, and yec not be able to venture upon thefe, without a ftruggla and confliil within himfelf, before he can refolve to commit them. In which cafes, the finner not only remains a finner fi:ill, notwithftanding thefe' reproofs from his confcience ; but he is fo much the greater finner, for having broke thro' all thofe impediments to get at his fin. A man may likewife not only be taught his duty^ but convinced ^ moreover^ of the necejjity of per- for?ning it ; and that he is a pernicious enemy to his own foul, if he do it not *, may approve of what is excellent, and commend and admire it in others ; as it is well known, that many applaud virtue in their thoughts and words, that yet fhew but little regard for it in their aElions -, may for ^ fake divers of his lefs tempting fins, and fometifnes fuch as are not to be cafi off without fome violence offered to himfelf, and his corrupt inclinations ; may be obfervant of the ordinary offices of religion-, may befiow form charities y and fometimes feek to make up differences amongjl his Q^ Tieighbours \ 194 How to jtu^ge of our Title 7ieighhours \ (k) may faft, and pay tithes^ as the proud pharifee did, and do many other good deeds, and yet come jhort of Heaven. His obedience muft be ferious, and uniform, and conftant, whatfoever temptations he meets with to the contrary, if he would not be found of the number of thofe, v/ho (/) Jloall feek to enter in at the ftreight gate, and fljall not he ahle. He muft renounce all his m.oft beloved lufts ; muft (w) ahftain from all appearance of evil-, and muft (/z) perfeol holi- nefs in the fear of God, by {o) keepvig the command- ments, before he can hope to enter into life. Neither may we prefume ourfehes fafe, hecaufe of our love to the injlrwnental duties of religion, fuch as hearing and read- ing God's word, attending upon the preaching of it, receiving the blefled facrament, ^c. fo long as we have not a like [p) regard to all God's commandments. One fpends a great part of his time in hearing fer- mons, running from one church to another •, as if the whole of Chriftianity confifted in inquiring after God's will, rather than in a diligent and confcientious, performance of it ; and fo, being (q) a bearer of the word, but not a doer of it, deceives his ownfelf Another is very obfervant of his times of devotion, both in publick and private •, and is careful to admonifh his neighbours, and invite and encourage them to a like deportment: and fo far is well. But yet, how good ;in opinion foever he has of himfelf upon this ac- count, he ought to know, that it is not enough, that thefe duties be performed ; but an eye muft alfo be had to the end of them, which is the making us (r) holy in all manner of converfation ; and till they pro- duce this good effedl in us, the true intent and defign of them is not anfwer'd. Again, another is very defirous to partake of the holy eucharift upon all op- portunities, and accordingly is fure to be there when- ever it is adminiftred, and carries himfelf very de- ft) Luke xviii. 12. (t) Chap. xiii. 24. {m) i Thef. v. 22, in) 2 Cor. vii. i. {0) Match, xix. 17. (/} Pfal. cxix. 6, (q) James «. 22. (r) I Per. i. ly. YOUtljr to a better State hereafter. 195- voutly at it. He takes care too to prepare himfeJf, for fome time beforehand, for this holy ordinance, by a dih'gent examination into his own heart and ways, a renunciation of all his fins, and a refolutioa and promife of better obedience for the future •, and hence he concludes himfelf a good Chriftian, and a happy man. Yet, let fuch a one remember, that except he reduce his good purpofes to pradice, unlefs his life be all of a piece, and he approve himfelf a faint out of the church or clofet, as well as in it ; he is yet but an ill proficient in the fchool of Chriii. Thefe forementioned, and the other like duties, are indeed of great weight in our religion, and neceflary parts of it ♦, and are of fuch excellent ufe in order to our growth in grace, that he who performs them as he ought, may juftly be faid to be not far from the kingdom of Heaven^ and its eternal felicity. And yet, as near as he is, if he depend upon thefe duties, and have nothing elfe to make out his title to that bleflfed place, he will never come thither. But whatfoever notion either himfelf, or others, may have had of him, becaufe of fuch his deportment, here in this world, he will find himfelf in a deplorable condition when he comes into the other, {s) The facrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord, And he that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, that is, from attend- ing to and obeying it, (/) even his prayer JhaU he an abomination. Almighty God, by the prophet Ifaiah^ mod exprefly declares againfl this fort of religion, as no way acceptable to him -, and dire(5ls to that which is more real and fubttantial : as whofoever pleafes may fee in the firft chapter gf Ifaiah, the thirteenth and feven following verfes. And in the New Tefta* ment, fays our Saviour, (u) Why call ye me Lord, Lord, and do not the things that I fay? And again, {x) Not £very one that faith unto me. Lord, Lord, fhall enter into the kingdom of Heaven, hut he that doth the will of m^ {i) Prov. XV. 8. (/) Chap, xxviii. 9, {u) Luke vi. 4<5. {si) Match, vii. 21. 0^2 FathsT 1^6 How to judge of our Title Father which is in Heaven, Ic is not profeffing his name, fand worfhipping and praying to him, thaC will capacitate us for (Iilvation ; nor any thing lefs than a fincere and univerfat obfervance of the precepts he has given us in charge. Much lefs may any one ex- feEl to he faved for his adherence to a feEl or -party ^ and his zeal for promoting its interefts^ and efpecially by unjuftifiable and wicked means, {y) It is certainly good to he zealoufy affeUed always \ but then we muft be fure it be in a good things and (2;) according to know- ledge-, for otherwife the confcqaents of it may be very terrible. It was (a) St. Paulas zeal that put him upon perfecuting th^ church of Chrift, Yet he was fo far from valuing himfelf for it, that he calls him- felf {h) the chief of finners^ and profeflfes of himfelf, that he was {c) not worthy to he called an apoftle *, and for this very reafon, hecaufe he had perfeciited the church of God, Men may poffibly pleafe themfelves with fuch a zeal, and may think themfelves no mean Chriftians for it ; but it is a very indifferent fign, that Chrift Jefus it truly formed in them. Schifms and di- vifions are io highly difpleafing to Almighty God, that throughout {d) St. Patd^s epiftles, perhaps you will not find any one fin, againft which he fo fre- quently cautions his readers, as againft this. And in the antient church it was efleemed of that heinous nature, (j that he was once a child of God, and heir of glory, and for this reafon mufi: be always fo. For unlefshe retain his fenfe of duty to the Uii, he will find himfelf upon the left-hand, when he comes at the great day to appear before his Judge. It is he only (;;) 'xco erJ-urcs :o the endy th2Ltj2?ailbe faved. And all clfe will have their hopes dreadfully difappointed, when they come to hear their final fenrence paiied upon them. They may have deluded themfelves in their life-time, with the thoughts of having been once in the way of righteoulhefs ; but will at length be convinced, to their eternal forrow, that they have not been fo wife as they thought themfelves. For fuppofmg they are not mifraken concerning their former ftate, and that they were once in as good a condition as they imagine, their apodatizing afterwards is at leaft as certain a Cgn, they are now out of the way of falva- tion, as their uimoil attainments in religion ever could be, that they were at any time in it. ^Vi^r, agjiu^ may a man conclude himjclf fafe^ becaufe be is forryfor bisfins^ after be bas ccmir, : . .: 'tm. This I own is highly com- mendable in hi.T.. :r the beft thing he can do, next to forfaking them *, a- 1 » es good hopes of his amend- ment ; yet it is realty no n^ore, than the m.oft pro- fligate wretches can fometimes fay of themfelves. Thofe ir:ui Is '.:■:: :: .. thofe intolerable flings ofcoo- icience, —h::/. rrequtr/.ly purfue themjin fpight of all {m\ H::. v., ^. f; C. ^., Av.\h.i^ 21. the to a better State hereafter, 205 the care they can take to ftifle and fupprefs them, are an undeniable proof, that a man may be greatly trou- bled for his fins, without being a true penitent. Judas^ we all know, was fo *, and no one queftions to w]\d.t place be went^ when he left this world. Where- fore in the lad place, ^he only true and certain left whereby to make a right judgment of ourfelves^is that which our blejjed Saviour dire&s, for the cifcovery of falfe pro- fhets •, but which is alike ufeful for fhewing all others to themfelves, fo as that by the help hereof they may difcern, how the cafe (lands with them, as to the fafety or lofs of their fouls ; namely, by the fruits th^y produce. By the upr-ightnefs or obliquity of his converfation, each one may make a fafe trial of himfelf; and no other way that I know of. (0) By their fruits ye /hail know them^ fiys our Saviour : Do men gather grapes off thorns^ or figs off thijlles ? Even fo everj good tree bringeth forth good fruit y but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruity is cut down^ and cajl into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits ye fhall know them, A good or bad tree is not more naturally diftinguifliable by the quality of the fruit it yields, than a good or a bad man, a faint or a reprobate, by the conftant tenor of his converfation. And to feek after any other fort of teft, for the trial of our prefent, or difcovery of our future (late, is but to put a fallacy upon ourfelves, and perhaps by that means to expofe ourfelves to eternal deftrudion. It is he, and he only, {p) who fear eth God^ and worketh righte- oufnefs, that is accepted with him. Hence, fays St. Paid^ (q) Our rejoicing, the ground of our comfort and boafting (r), is this, the teftimony of our confidence ^ that in fimplicity and godly fine erity, not with flefhly wif dom, but by the grace of God, we have had our conver-- fationinthe world-, ' Not as worldly wifdom would * dired:, y^jVj Cj) Dr. Hammond, but according to the * Gofpel rules, we have behaved ourfelves towards all ^0) Mitth. vii. 16, e^c. (f) A6lsx. 55*. (^) 2 Cor. i. iz. \r) 'H Ka\)'/j\7ii Yiixiiv, {i) In ior, * men ; 2o6 Ho'^ to judge of our Title * men °, and this I can lay with joy and comfort.' And fo lays St. Johuy when laying down the marks whereby to difcern a child of God from a child of the devil ; (i) Little children^ let ?to man deceive you ; he that dotb nghteoujncfs is righteous^ even as He is righteous. He that committeth fin is of the devil -, for the devil finneth from the leginnwg. For this purpofe the Son of God was inani- fejted^ that he might defiroy the works of the devil. JVho- foever is born of God, doth not commit fin : for his feed reinaineth in him \ and he cannot fn^ huaufe he is horn of God. In this the children of God are tnajiifefi^ and the children of the devil. Whofoever doth not right eoufnefs^ is not of God ; whereby alio is implied, on the contrary, that whofoever doth righteoufnefs, is of God* Whence it follows, that a true member of Chriil, and heir of the kingdom of Heaven, mud be one who hasfo far got the mailery over all his corrupt inclinations and palTicns,- that he is fully fet upon doing God's will to the utmoft of his pov/er ; not daring to allow himfelf in any known violation of his Lord's com- mands, tho' when under the greateft prefiure and temptation. With J^^, ht r e.{o\v ts to (u) hold fafi his integrity y and not let it go ^ and that his heart fhall not reprovehimfo long as he lives, ^hh David y he (x) fets God always before him^ that in nothing he may dare to provoke his Divine Majefly ; who, he confiders, is prefent with him. And, with St. Paul^ he (j) ex- ercifes himfelf always to have a confidence void of offence towards God^ and towards man. He be- thinks himfelf, that the promifesof God are made to the faithful and obedient ♦, and till he fhall acquit him- felf as fuch, he can have no pretence of claim to them. And this convinces him of the necefTity of keeping a diligent v/atch over himfelf, that he not only never in- dulge himfelf in any known fin, but that he be not, for want of due care, betray'd into it, through igno- rance, infirmity, or inadvertency. And if he be fo (t) \ John iii. '^, O'C. (u) Job xxvii. 6. (x) Pfa'. xvi. 8* to a better State hereafter. 207 unhappy as to fall, before he is aware of it, into any kind of fm, he immediately repents of it, laments and bewails it, fues moft earneftly to God for forgivenefs, and keeps a peculiar watch over himfelf in that parti- cular, that he may incur the like guilt no more. This he knows is the only way to ?nake his calling and ele-^ ^ionfure-, and accordingly he refolutely applies him- felf to it, and will upon no terms be diverted from it. In a word he ferioufly lays to heart, and takes care to follow, the advice given by the prophet Ijaiaby {z) Seek ye the Lord while he viay he founds call upon hint vjhile he is near. Let the wicked forfake his wa'j^ and the unrighteous man his thoughts : and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him ; and to our Gody for be will abundantly pardon, Eufeh, This we all know, that to turn from our ini- quities, and walk holily before God, in the morediffi- cult, as well as the eafier duties of religion, is the furc way to pleafe him, and fecure an intereft in his favour; But how Ihall a man know certainly when he hafr done this? Could he indeed perform his duty without any failure in it, it were eafy for him to pronounce of himfelf, that he was in the right w^ay to everlaiting peace and glory. As alfo, on the other hand, it is cafy for a wicked man to know, into what a miferable condition he has brought himfelf, and that till he alters his courfe, and enters upon a new and more holy converfation, he can look upon himfelf as no better than a loft undone wretch, a vefiel of Wrath .fitted for deftru6lion. But now betwixt thofe two different ftates, it is in fome cafes, and at fome times, a difficult matter to determine, on which fide of it the man is ; that is to fay, whether he has arrived to fuch a degree of goodnefs, as that he is in fafcty, or his guilt fti 11 adheres to him, and fo he is every moment in danger of dropping into Hell. And how fhall he do to make a right judgment of himfelf in fo nice a cafe ? (^) lU iv. 6, 7. ^ JncJM, 2o8 How to judge of our Title Anchith, You fay very right, Enfehius. This is {o common a cafe, and yet withal fo difficult to be clearly jRated, that I muft again intreat Tbeodorm^^ determi- nation of it. Theod. This, I confefs, is the main difficulty. And that I may fet it in the bed light I can, I fhall deliver what I have to fay to it by way, firft, of advice, and then of dire6l anfwer to your inquiry. Eufeb. Pray what is it you v;ould advife ? Theod, This is very obvious ; and I wi(h all perfons were as ready to follow it, as they are capable of fee- ing the reafonablenefs and admirable ufefulnefs of it. It is no other than this, that every one would fet him- felf in good earned, not to relapfe into fin •, or, if he can, to be dill making greater improvements in re- ligion, to grow in grace ^ purging himfelf, asfarashe fliall be able, from all the remainders of his fins, and fludying to increafc daily in virtue and goodnefs. By this means his evidences for Heaven will become fo in- conteftable, that he needs have no doubt about them : which would be the bed and mod effectual refolu- tion of this inquiry, that it is capable of. Eufeb, I thank you, 'Tbeodorus, for your neceflary, and mod ufeful advice. And if you be but as happy in your anfwer, we (hall be highly indebted to you, Tbeod, What I have to anfwer in the fird place is, That fo long as a man allows himfelf in any one known fm, of whatever nature it be, he may depend upon it, that he is but in a bad condition, and has all thereafon in the world to fet upon a fpeedy reformation -, kik otherwife he be fnatch'd away in his fin, and fo be for ever miferable. For there is nothing more cer- tain, than that whild he allows himfelf in the wilful tranfgrefiion of any part of his duty, no forrow for it, or fupplications for pardon, will redore him to God's favour. As St. Paul teaches, that, (a) if a man leftow all bis goods to feed tbe ^oor^ and tbougb bt give bis hody to he burned^ and batb not cbarity^ it froptetb bim (a') I Cor. xiii. 3. notbing 5 to a better State hereaftet. 2 op toihlng \ fo may I fay, though a man fhew ever fuch tokens of trouble and anguilh for his fins, tho' h© water his couch with his tears., and humble himfelf in fackcloch and afhes, yet unlefs he renounce and forfake them, all his grief will turn 10 no account to him^ as to his everlafting welfare. It may either ftave off tem- poral evils, as it fared with {h) Jhab, and the (c) Ni* nevites j or may leflen them, as in the cafe of (d) Da^ *vid, and of (e) Rehohoam^ and the princes of IJracl^ but will never intitle him to eternal happinefs. It is not his being forrowful for what he has doneamifs, in what degree foever it be, that will denominate him a child of God, unlefs he conftantly take care todofo no more, (f) When the wicked man turneth away from his wickednefs that he hath committed^ and doth that which is lawful and rights we know affuredly, that he Jhall fave his foul alive \ but I do not fee what ground he can have to hope for falvation upon any eafier con-* dition. And hereto agrees that of St. Peter to the Jews^ (g) Repent^ and be converted^ that jour fins may bs blotted out ; plainly intimating the infufficiency of what- ever repentance, that is not attended with converfion and amendment. And our blefled Lord himfelf fe^ verely rebukes fuch as profefTed a great zeal and honour for him, but did not give a due attendance to his laws, fo as (ledfaftly to pradife whatever he had required o{ihtrh:{h)Why call ye me Lord\ Lord, and do not the things which I fay ? Whence it neceffarily follows, that we mud never dare to allow ourfelves in any one fin whatever, as if we could hope to be faved whilft we continue in it. Eufeb. This is a very proper and necefTary direc- tion ; but is not fufficient to facisfy theconfciences of mod inquirers. And the reafon is plain, becaufe the weaknefsof our nature is foch, and the fubtilty of our adverfary, and his temptations, are fo preValentj that {b) 1 Kings xxi. 27,18, 29. (r) jonsh iii. lo. (d) 2 Sam. xiiV- 13. 14. (0 iChron. xii. 6, 7, 8. (/) Ezek. xviii. 27. (g) kSiS, R even lid ' iloiv tojttige of otirTitle - even when people have refolved well, and fet them- fclves ferioufly to put their good refolutions in exe- cution j yet they too often find the iadefiedsof their frailty j in relapfmg into Ibme of thofe fins they had but a little before fo avowedly renounced. It is to their (hame and forrow that they fall in this manner 5 ■yet it is plain they do it. Your opinion therefore is •defired concerning fuch, whether they are to look upon fhemfelves as in a itate of falvation, or not. Tbeod, This is a cafe that has its difficulties ; and I fhould, for that reafon, be glad to fee it well deter- mined by fome more learned and judicious cafuitl. Buc however, fmce you have put it to me, I will endea- vour to give you the beft light into it that I can. Here therefore I muft obferve, that v/henfoever the relapfes proceed from a direcl and deliberate choice of the will, though it be but now-and-then, if I fay, that in this cafe the perfon falls from his ftate of fal- vation, till he Hiall have made his peace with God^ by a hearty repentance and forrow for them, and new fefolutions of a better obedience for the future, this is no more than to me feems to be fully v/arranted by what the prophet Etekiel proclaims in the name of God to the Jews^ and by parity of reafon to all man- kind : {i) 'The right eoufnefs of the righteous floail not deliver him in the day of his tranfgrejfion ~ — neither Jh all the righ^us be able to live in the day that he finneth^ And the learned Dr. Hammond had therefore good reafon to fpeak of fuch a fin, zs [k) fauciating and wounding the foul, putting it for a time into a bloody direful condition^ fuch as th^it f/jouid God before repentajtcefirike^ for ought we know ^ there would be no remiffion % and fo^ fearful would be the end of that foid. And fo fays Bifiiop Taylor: (/) * When he [/i?*?/;^';?^/^;?/] prevails regularly * and daily over his fin, then is he in a ftate of re- * generation; but let him take heed, for every vo- ' luntary or chofen fin is a mortal wound.' But to (?) Ezek. xxxiii. !2. (/') Of Coufsience, § |(^. (/) Um Jj^cceiTar. cap. 7. fed;. 7. put to a letter State hereafter. 211 put the cafe fomewhat more favourably : Suppofing thefc relapfes are not purely of a direfl and deliberate choice, but proceed only from a want of due care to prevent them, by guarding the avenues that lead to them, and fetting ourfelves relblutely to oppofe fuch temptations, as threaten to berray us into them •, yec ftill I fee no fufficient reafon to convince me, that they are not of a deadly and pernicious confequence, and a ready way to everlafling deftrudion, till fin- cerely repented of. I make no queflion, but Almighty God will foon be prevailed with to forgive them,. where he fees the mind rightly difpofed, though per- haps not yet come to that perfedion it is to labour after. But till he is humbly and penitentially fought to for pardon, I am very much afraid, that thefe fins, tho' not fo commonly repeated as formerly, not fo deliberately and refolutely, will neverthelefs expofe the ador to eternal torment, as certainly, tho' not to the fame meafure of them. At leaft it is not fo certain, that they will not, as that a man may venture his falvation upon it. And I am therefore very fure, that each one, upon every relapfe of this nature, ought to look upon himfelf as indifpenfably obliged, to rife out of it with all the fpeed that may be, whereby to recover, that happy ftate, from which he has fallen, and to give himfelf no manner of reft till he has done it. But to proceed one ftep farther, and ftate the cafe ye^ more favourably : Suppofe the man does heartily re- folve againrt thefe fins, and ftrive to. conquer them, and has done it to a good degree ; but wonted evil habits, his finful companions, and his own corrupt nature, ever and anon prevail againft his good pur- pofes and endeavours; and fo he falls, tho' but feldom, into fome fingleadls of them ; here you would know what fuch an one may think of himifelf. Eufeh. That is what I defire. Anchiih, And v/hat 1 (hall be glad to hear well determined. R z Theod, 5 1 2 Hozv to judge of our Title 7'beod, Now of fuch an one I mud needs believe, that he is in the right way towards the kingdom of Heaven. Bat I am lorry I muft add, moreover, thac unlcfs he keep on his pace more fteadily, and be more wary of the impediments he meets in his paflage, or at Jeaft be very quick in turning back, wiienever he finds himfelf out ol: his road, I cannot but much doubt, whether ever he will enter into that blefled place. He is got to the very borders of falvation ; but never- theltfs if he reft there, and do not ftep over to the other fide, he will ftill be in danger of falling into the pit, which he hasalmoft efcaped, but has not yet left quite behind him. Thefe relapfes being the €ffe6ts of his former vicious habits, it feems to me, that he is to anfwer for them upon that account •, becaufe, tho* not indulged at prefent, it is however his own fault, thac they ever got, and flill retain, fuch power over him. And it is therefore very fufpicious, that each of thefe is a return into that ftate, out of which he had fcarce refcued himfelf. Such an imperfed penitent is like a man, that has ventured too far into the water, and is in danger of drowning, labouiing for lite *, but whether he fhall hold out to recover the fnore, is un- certain *, or like him that takes a great deal of pains to get up the hill before him, but flips, and is ready at every fiep to tumble down ag^in, when come almoft to tho, top of it. He has in a manner fubc iied his enemy, yet has not fo totally difabled him, but that he is flill to take heed, that he be not unex- pededly flain by him. He may liave fome hopes in Ciod'^s mercy, but not without a great mixture of fear, left the progrefs he has hitherto aiade, be not fufficient to qualify him for thofe blefied manfions, which are proniiftd only {fn) to Inm that ovcrcojneth. And his only fure courfe in this cafe, is, to complete his repentance, to refolve» and watch» and ftrive, and faft, and pray, againft thefe remainders of his evil habits, and never give over, till; by (baking £hem qurte ^w} Rev. iii. %i. and xxu 7,, off; to a hitter State hereafter, 213 off, he has cleared his title to a better ftate. This is the fafeft refolution of all his doubts, and will make it eafy for him to determine, what portion he is to ex- ped, when he comes into the other world. But till this be done, no wonder if he be full of perplexities and diftrufts, left after death he fhould awake in ever- lafting mifery and forrow. I will not take upon mc to give my opinion pofitively againft him in the mean time ; but I muft fay, his cafe is fo very doubtful and dangerous, that I dare not afTure him of falvation, till he fhall have got out of it. I would much rather beg of him to put an end to the queHion himfelf, by going on to fuch a complete vidory over his lufts, as may Ihew him to be indeed born of God. Which till he does, he will find this effe6l: of his imperfeof -partial obe- dience, that if it does not exclude him out of Heaven, rs there is too jufc caufe to fear it will, unlefs a fpeedy repentance follow upon his mifcarriages, he will b^ left, in the mean time, in the dark, as to his future ftate, and will have his mind perpetually haunted with jealoufjes and fufpicions of what will become of him, when he (liall be taken hence. Ifpeak not any thing of this to difhearten perfons, when they come to lie upon their fick-bed, and are taking a review of their lives pail, in order to their departure hence -, but out of pure charity and love to them who are in health, to put them upon aneffedual preparation for this time, that they may neither have their great work to do, when in this condition, nor may go out. of the world with falfc hopes and expedations, crying to themfelves Peace^ Peace ^ when there is no peace ; as in truth there cannot be, when there is any one known fin unrepented of. Forafmuch as, till a peni* tent has overcome his former vicious habits, though earneftly and ferioufly endeavouring it he can never 4:lear his title to a better ftate, it highly imports hinx therefore to go on ftriving, and give no reft to his jToul, till he ha$ got the maftery oyer them. R 3 ^ufeK 214 ^^^' ^^ j^^^&^ ^f ^^^^ Title Eujch, But what fay you to fins of ignorance, fur- prize, and infirmity ? How (liall a man do to emerge out of thefe, fince, after all the care that can be taken,, we are ftili liable to them, and cannot rid ourfelvesof them ? Theod. No, nor ever fliall, whilfl: we continue in this world. Thefe are fuch fruits of our prefent feeble conftitution, as will not fail to attend us all the days of our lives. But then it is to be confidered, that there isagreat difparicy betwixt thefe and wilful fins^ both as to their guilt, and as to the danger of them. Eu[eh. I do not doubt but all wilful fins are much tnore offcnfive to Almighty God, than thofe that are involuntary, and are far more deftru(5live to the finner. And my queftion therefore was not intended to mean \vhac comparifon there 'is between them ; but purely as to the latter, under what cenfure they fall, and what is like to be the effed of them? We all find, to our forrow, that we cannot live free from them in this mortal (late ; and it is therefore of great concern- ment to all, to know what judgment Almighty God will pafs upon us for them. And this is what I in- tended to intreat your anfwer to; and I hope I ihali 43btain it, T^heod, ' It is a miferable cafe, and a great unhap- pinefs, that we are not able to ferve God with a perfed and intire obedience, as the lav/ requires. But It is what we all find too true *, and have therefore abundant caufe to be deeply humbled for it. Yet let me tell you, that our cafe is by no means defperate upon this account. It is a merciful and gracious God, to whom we are accountable for all our failings. And, for ever praifed be his holy name I he has found out a remedy for us, by the death of our blefifed Saviour, through whom we need not fear the remilTion of fuch fins, as arc unfeignedly repented of, and thenceforth 'watchfully refilled to the utmofi: of our power. This is the di&ercnce betwixt the firll and fecond cove- to a better State hereafter, 2 if. nant, that the one required a perfect finlefs obedience, without making allowance, fo much as for the un- avoidable inHrmities of human nature *, but the other freely promifes forgivenefs to fuch as are {n) pure in hearty and {o) hunger and thirjl after right eoufnefs. And fo long as they are fincere and hearty in the perform- ance of their ckity, they need not doubt of their re-r ward, though they have not attained to that per- fedion, as to ferve God with the fame exadnefs that the blefTed beings above do. He confiders our frame and conilitution, and does not expedt the fervice of angels, but of men, from us ; and will be fare to make his allowances accordingly, where he obferves an unfeigned defire to pleafe him: infomuch thac whofoever acquits himfelf to the bed of his ability, may fafely comfort and encourage himfelf in a full allurance, that if there he fir f a willing mindy a fincere and unfeigned defire and endeavour to approve him- felf a true difciple of the ever-blefled Jefus^ (p) it is accepted according to that a man hath^ and not according to that he hath not. If it were not fo, there were no hope of falvation for the belt of men ; inafmuch as there is no man living, how righteous foever in other refpedls, that offendeth not thro' unavoidable infirmity^i {(f) There is not ajuft man upon earthy that doth good and finneth not^ as the wife man teaches. And again to the fame purpofe, (r) Who can fay ^ I have made m^ heart cleany I am pure from my fin ? As much as to fay, none can truly affirm, that he has no fuch unruly af- fedions or pafTions remaining in him, that fometimes unexpedledly difcompofe his righteous foul, and tran«f- port him beyond his juft bounds. This, as the wife man notes, is what none can pretend to on th's fide Heaven. And fo fays St. John^ (s) Ifzuefay^ tha^ we have no fin^ we deceive our/elves^ and the truth is not in us i and again, If we fay^ tlMt we have not finnedy (n) Matth. v. 8. (o) Ver. 6. (p) i Cor. viii. iz. (^) Ecc'ef. yii. zo. (r) Prov. xx. 9. i^s) 1 John i. 8, 10. 2 1 6 How to judge of our Title we make htm a liar^ and his truth is not in us : which words are fpoken fo indefinitely, as to Ihew, that they extend to mankind in general, teaching that there are none that live free from all manner of fin. And yet, as if this were not enough, the apoftle St. James2i?^vm^ it to be univerfally true, that there is none, no one of all mankind, who has not his defe^ls and flips, {t) In madj things^ fays he, we offend all\ "a^avtz^ TTo^'io'jDiJ, we ail, the beft and hoi ie ft not excepted, have purfalls, and lefier and more pardonable mifcarriages; fuch as, in the Old Teftament, are called the /pots of God's children. For thus we read, Deut, xxxii. 5. They have corrupted themfelvesj their f pot is not the fpot of his children-, ' That is, fays Ainfivorth on the place, ' not fuch a fpot or blemifh, as is in the fons of God * through infirmity, whereto all are fubjeft *, but fuch * as is in a perverfe and crooked generation, that will * not be reclaimed from their vices.' So that it feems even the children of God, fuch as he owns for his fons and daughters, are not without their fpots, their flips and failures •, but all men are finners in fome refpecfl:, and even fuch, who, in our Saviour's phrafe, {u) need no repentance. Sins of infirmity none can lifcape, not even thofe who are moft circumfpecl in all tefpeds, and the moft careful that cm be to abftain from all others. It was the peculiar privilege of our blefted Lord, when he aflumed our nature, that he was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without fin. But no inere fon of Adam may pretend to the fame i^xemption, this being a pure efl"e(5i: of the conjun- ftion of the divine with the human nature. But then, for our encouragement, tho' we cannot live without thefe frailties, oar comfort is, that there is a remedy offered for them, through the mediation of our Saviour and Redeemer, (x) If any man fin, we have an Advo^ tate With the Father, J^efus Chriji the Righteous : and he js a propitiation for our fins •, and not for ours only, hut (tj Jafeies iii. x, («) Luke xv. 7. {x) i John ii. to a better State hereafter. 2ij for the fins of the whole world. And if for all our fins» then moreefpecially for fuch as are committed through inadvertence, and weaknefs, and becaufe we cannot help it: as is alfo implied in the fore cited words. They are not the fpots of Gcd's children. For if fuch remain Code's children y notwithftanding ihdtfpots^ then muft ic follow, that xh^w fpots are forgiven them, and fo do not at all endanger thjeir everlafting welfare. In a word, our God is, as I faid, a gracious God, and merciful ; and will favourably accept of fuch an obc* edience, as he knows us able to perform. Nor ought any to diftruft his kindnefs, only becaufe they have not done that, which was impofTible for them to do, and will be fo, whilft they are men, and not angels ; and are militant here on earth, and not triumphant in Heaven. The natural confequence of which do- drine is, that our fins of infirmity fhall moft certainly be forgiven upon a general repentance ; and fo the good Chriftian has no reafon to doubt of his falvation upon their account. Eufeb. Thus you have fully proved the little rea* Ton there is, for any of us to be in fears upon the account of our fins of infirmity. But you have not yet told us, how to diftinguifh thefe fins from fuch as are wilful and damnable; which is a point of great ponfequence, and the clearing whereof will tend very miich'to the fatisfadion of the mind; and without fome knowledge whereof, the good man will not be able to pafs a true judgment upon himfelf. Theod, This is a queilion too nice to be eafily re- folved •, and a thorough difcufllon whereof would take up more time, than can be allowed for it at prefent. Wherefore I fhall not pretend to give you fo fiill an anfwer to it, as you may expcd j but only to prefent you with fome few obfervations, which I hope will, give fome lighp into it, and in fpme meafure fatisfy %ourdefirc. And here I muft plainly own, that it is ' ; abfolutely tiB How to judge of our Title abfolutely impolTible to furniih you with a contplete catalogue of fins of infirmity, whereby for each one to diftinguifh which fins are iuch, and which not; and for a very good reafon, becaufe the fame ads which in fome men are the effeds of weaknefs,and are pure in- voluntary mifcarriages, may be wilful in others \ and even in the fame perfons too, at other times, and in other circumftan(;:es. At one time, and under one fort of temptation, they may be lefs able to with- lland them, than at another. And fometimes, again, they may be lefs watchful againft them, or at leaft, ^gainft the temptations that lead to them *, and fothey may become in fome degree wilful, though not deli- berately and refolutely defigned. And if what is a fin of furreption and furprize at one time, may become a v;ilful tranfgreiTion at another, in the fame perfon, it is eafy to fjppofe, that it may be much more fo in different perfons. One man is not fo cholerick na- turally as another \ and fo that may be an inexcufe- able excefs of pafllon in him, which yet is pardon- able in another, who cannot thoroughly mafter thefe unruly motions in himfelf, tho' he ever fo heartily defire and endeavour it. Another is of a timorous conftitution, eafily affrighted by any fudden furprize ; and fo is fometimes put upon doing inconfiderately, what he ought not, and what he would have been fure not to have done, if he had been mafter of his own thoughts and defigns, and had time to weigh what he was venturing upon. Which makes his cafe very different from theirs, who have more power over them- ielves, and a more undaunted fpirit, and greater pre- fence of mind, and fo have their thoughts at com- mand, and can fuddenly recoilecl with themfelves, what is to be done in fuch, an exigence, and how apparently they muft offend God, and take the ready way to ruin themfelves, if they ad: otherwife. Ihe to abetter State hereafter. 219 (jyj The foldiers in Julian^ army, who were induc'd to otler facrifice, under the miftaken notion of paying aa ufual reverence to their Ibvereign, before whom they did ir, foon declared fuch an abhorrence of all idolatry, and of themfelves, becaufe of it, that everyone raighi; fee this was an involuntary crime in them ; which yet, had ic been done confiderately, and upon due informa- tion, v/oald have entered them in the number of apoftates from Chrillianity, as the-mfelves openly ac- knowledged, as foon as they were made (enfible of what they had been doing. And their guile was nothing like that of their companions, who did the fame thing kno 5 f^ to a better State hereafter. 229 for the want of a deeper forrow for them. But what- ever more of forrow is wanting, this being merely the effect of our conftitution, and not any voluntary choice ; it needs not be doubted but God, who is in- finitely good, and who knows all our dcfecls and weaknefTes, will never impute to our condemnation, what he fees thus utterly out of our power. Eiifeh, Is there any thing farther you would advife, in order to a right judgment of ourfelves ? Theod. Yes. In ordl,^ to the more fuccefsful appli- cation of the foregoing rules, I would advife to have before you fome fuch catalogue of the feveral branches of our duty, and the violations of it, as may help you the more readily to call to mind what your fins have been, that you are now to repent of; fuch as you have in Archbilhop Laucts Daily Office of a Chriftian ; the Confeffion of Sins in Bifhop Andrew* s Manual of Diredions for the Sick ; Bifhop Downbam's Abltradt of Duties commanded, and Sins forbidden, in the Law of God •, towards the latter end of the ifVbole Duly of Man ; and at the end of the Common- Prayer the beji Companion ; or of Mr. Nelfon^s excellent Companion for the Feafts and Fafts of the Church \ or in Bifhop Taylor'^ Holy Dying, chap, IV. fe5f, 8. or Mr. ^^/. tleweil's Trial of the Soul, in his Companion to the Penitent ; or more largely, in the fecond book of his Meafures of Chriflian Obedience; in Mr. Sel!er*s Office for Good' Friday^ in his Good Man's Preparation for a happy receiving of the blefTed Sacrament; or other treatifes of devotion, and, particularly, in rela- tion to the Lord's fupper. Such a method will hardly fail of putting you in mind of the feveral forts of fins, whereinco you may, at any time, have falUn; or, at leaft, of the grofTer and more offenfive of them. And then, if you duly confider which of them were of weaknefs, which of wilfulnefs, v/hich involuntary, and which freely chofen •, which you have repented of and forfaken, and which ftill retain an intereft in you; it will be no difficult matter to make a probable judg* S 3 mentii a JO How to judge of our Title Rient, perhaps, a certain one, whether you be a fori of God, and like to be for ever happy •, or a child of wrath and perdition. But then you muft be fure to deal fairly and candidly with yourfelf, judging by what you really find yourfelf chargeable with 5 neither lelTening nor excufing your fins 5 nor, on the other hand, being too fevere upon yourfelf, for fuch fins as it was not in your power to avoid. Eufeb, There is little danger of peoples being over- fevere to themfelves, fo as undefervedly to con- demn themfelves. I wilh theywould not more rea* dily feek to excufe themfelves from fuch guilt, which, like the poifcnM fhirt to Hercules^ fticks clofe to them, that they know not how to get rid of it. neod. It is true, men are readiell to fail on this fide, in favouring themfelves beyond what Almighty God will think reafonable at the laft day : though I mud confefs, there are fome few well-meaning per- fons, who are apt to err on the other hand, by con- cluding themfelves in a worfe condiuion, than they have reafon for •, and fo are tempted to defpair of pardon, when any other man would take their cafe to be very fafe. Both thefe extremes are carefully to be avoided, as we would neither die in an impenitent ilate •, nor deprive ourfelves of that comfort, which would naturally arife from a well-grounded fenfe of God's favour; and difturb our minds with unneceiTary fears and jealoufies, and unfit ourfelves for ferving God, as we might other wife have done •, not to add farther, as we would not be tempted to defpair of his mercy, and thereby provoke him to withdraw ic from us. Eufeb. When is It you would have a man thus exafnine himfclf? Tbeod. He is, above all times, efpecially concern'd to do it when he comes to be fick, and death looks him in the face, and gives him warning ipeedily to make up his accounts, led it be too late the next day. But ihh fhould be only in order to a balance of them. ■ ■ ^ for to a better State hereafter. i'>,i For he ought by no means to defer this work till his latter end, but to be conftant in it throughout the courfe of his whole life. In his firfl beginning his repentance, or fo foon as he comes to years of dif- cretion and underftanding, fo as to be capable of making a judgment of himfelf, he mud diligently and impartially review his life pad, and feriouQy con- fider the fins he has been guilty of, fo far as he can recollect them, together with their feveral aggrava- tions*, to humble himfelf for them, and to fue to God for pardon thro' Chrifb, and grace to walk more holy for the future ; to refolve againft the repetition of them j and to arm himfelf againll thofe temptations whereby he has been drawn into them ; to obferve how he may befl: guard himfelf againfl: them ; and to confirm his purpofes of amendment, and a better obe- dience, for the remaining part of his life. And be- fides, he is farther to remember, that he muft not ceafe here ; but, though he come to ever fo perfed a difcovery of himfelf, he muft be mindful always after, to make a frequent infpeclion into his converfatiofij to fee that it be fuch as becomes the gofpel of Chrift^ to la? ment and bewail what farther tranfgreflions he can difcover in his future condud, and to renew his for- mer purpofes of amendment. Eufeh, How oft do you think it neceflary for ^ good Chriftian to examine himfelf as you prefcribe? Theod, The fick man muft do it) as his diftemper allows him time and ability. But, as to others, this examination is in a particular manner recommended by fuch as have written of the Lord's fupper, and the due celebration of it, as neceffary in order to a wor- thy attendance upon that facred ordinance, and there- fore always to be ufed before our approaches to it ; and more particularly upon account of thofe words of the apoftle Sz.Paul ; (/) Let a 7nan examine himfelf i and fo let him eat of that breads and drink of that cup. And many divines have imprudently preffed this ad- (/) 1 Cor. xi. i8. S 4 vice t^2 Ho'w to judge of our Title vice fo far, that divers very good, and truly devoted Chriftlans, chufe rather to abfent themfelves, v/hen gracioufly invited to that heavenly banquet, than ap- pear there without luch a previous examination, when they have not time for it. \\ hich, tho* it be a great error in them, it being much better to ferve our Lord as well as our prefent circumftances will admit of, than not do it at all; yet nothing can be more proper and becoming, than fuch a ferious examination upon every notice timely given of a facrament, together with fuch a mixture of preparatory devotion, as may tend to raife the mod holy affedions in the foul, may obtain the pardon of its fins, and fo may qualify the perfon, v,^orthily to commemorate our blefTed Saviour's infinite love in dying for us. But then befides thefe, and other the like more folemn times for felf-examin- ation, he that would live agreeably to his moft holy profeffion, will fjnd it neceffary for him to be fre- quently exercifed in the confideration of his {g) own ways I to call them often to re^nemhrance^ as the Pfalm- ift did, as highly ufeful in order to the turning his feet to God's tejtmonies. And, if my judgment fignify any thing in the cafe, I fhould dired, exhort, in- treat, and befcrech him, to pafs no day without it ; that every night, before he compofe himfelf to fleep, jbe would (h) commune with bis heart upon his hed^ and be ftill\ or rather, before he lays him down, would take a little time, to look back upon the feveral oc- currences of the day paft, ro fee how faithfully he had difcharged his duty, and would put the author • of the Golden V'erfes queftions to himfelf, And fee what gocd he has done that day ; what duty he has ventured to omit \ whether he has indulged any vice ; and in fhorr, ho.w he has demeaned himfelf in all re- fpeds. This St. ChryfoJl9m recommends, from thofe .words of the Pfalmiil, (i) Commune with your [elves in ■your chamber^ andbe ftill\ diredling i\{^i after fupfer^ iX) P-'^;m cx!X, _f9. ih) Ibid. iv. 4. (i) Ibid. ver. f. hefore to a better State hereafter. 235. hefore a man betake himfelf to his reft^ when he is fre- faring for his hed^ and has none with him^ hut all is ftilL and quiet about him, he ere^ a tribunal in his own con^ fcience^ and bring himfelf to a trials what evil he has con^ trived the day paft^ what frauds he has C07nmitted^ what neighbour he has fupplanted^ what corrupt inclinations he has gratifiedy and to pafs judgment upon himfelf ac- cordingly. And would each Chriftian conftantly ibi- low this method, he would quickly become well ac- quainted with himfelf-, would make his'repentance the perfeder, and more particular-, would eafe his mind of the heavy burden of paft fins ; would foon have got over the difficulty of his inquiry, and reduc'd it into a little compafs ; would find his love to fin turn'd to hatred of it; would foften his hard heart, and awaken his drowfy confcience \ would prevent his mis- carriages becoming habitual ; and would have a great deal the lefs to do, whenever he comes to die. In a word, this were the way to make our work eafy, our lives comfortable, and our end glorious. Nor will this be any troublefome bufinefs, to thofe who have been acquainted with it for a while. It mull coil fome time and pains at firfl, till it is grown familiar to them, and they know to what failings they are mofl liable, and are mod obliged to inquire after. But thenceforwards they will be readier for it, and fo it will take up no long time for the difpatch of it. A quarter of an hour, or, perhaps, but half fo much, every night i which can be no great burden to any one, to let afide ordinarily for fuch reflexion. And yet, whofoever well employs that fpace conftantly to this purpofe, will foon experience the wonderful ad- vantage of it, in order to the mortification of his lulls and paflions, and, hereby, to his growth in grace, and a happy preparation for a bleffed eternity. Eufeb. Really, Theodorus^ what you fay ftems fo highly reafonable, that 1 begin to wifh all that call themfelves Ciiriiiians, would conftantly put it in pra- ftice. And, for my own part, I will begin, by the grace 234 //i?z^ to judge of our Title grace of God, this night ; and, I hope, I fhall con- tinue in the daily obfervance of it, as long as I live. 1'heod. I befeech you do ; and you will foon find the good efFeft of it : and I heartily wifti you had begun it fooner. Eufeh, I will be fure to try. Theod, Pray do •, and you will heartily thank me for my advice And now I am upon this fubjedl, give me leave to prefcribe another pradtice \ which, though no part of that examination I have been treat- ing of, is yet fo highly ufeful, and 'io nearly allied to the advice now given, that I cannot forbear men- tioning it. It is this -, that men of bufinefs in the world would allow themfeives a little time, every morning, to think beforehand, what company they are like to meet with that day, what undertakings to be engaged in, what diHicukies of any fort to ftrug- gle with, and what temptations they may probably have to encounter upon any of thefe accounts j that they may the better provide againft them, may be diligently upon their guard, when the time comes, and fo may preferve their integrity in the midft of them. Such a fhort preconfideration in the morn- ing, and a recollection again at night, no one can make trial of, but he will quickly be convinc'd of the admirable expedience and ufefulnefs of them. Eufeh, I like your prefer iptions fo well, that I am refolv'd to try both of them. And God grant I may do it effe(5lually I knchith. I have been a watchful hearer all this time, and have very carefully attended to all your difcourfe •, and, I hope, I both underftand aright, and retain the meaning of the feveral excellent rules you have laid down, whereby to make a true judg- ment of the (late of our fouls, and the difpofition we are in for another life. But that 1 may be fure I do not miftake your meaning, if you pleafe to give me leave, 1 will briefly recapitulate what I take to be intended to a better State hereafter. 235* intended by them, and how I may obferve them, fa as CO be benefited by them. Tbeod. A very feafonable motion I and to which J muft neceffarily confent. Anchitb. Then I will begin. And I beg you will pleafe to fee me right, if I either forget, or miitake. ^beod. I will be fure to do it. Ancbitb. Having firft removed the falfe grounds of fatisfadion, by which people have been direded. to impofe upon themfelvcs, and fhewn the weaknefs and infufficiency of them ; you next proceed to pre- fcribe fuch proper dirediions, as, if rightly purfued, may be a ready means of difcovering each one to himfelf To which end, you lay down this as an undoubted fundamental principle, and which every one is to receive as fuch -, That there is no hope of falvation for him who allows himfelf in any wilful fin. And, no doubt, very truly, fmce the Holy Scrip- ture fo totally condemns it ; both declaring {k) tbe wages of it to be deatb \ and moreover affirming, that (/) tfbofoever fhall keep tbe whole law^ and '^et offend in one pointy be is guilty of all j whereby is implied, that fuch an one fhall as furely be proceeded againit as a Iinner, as he whofe cranfgreffions are far more nu- merous. Hence that feems a natural inference, which, you obferv'd in the next -place, that every wilful re- Japfc into fin returns a man back into his former ipiferable (late, till he fhall have arifen out of it by a new repentance. Every wilful relapfe, I fay; for the cafe you have fhewn to be quite otherwife with our involuntary offences; that thofe will be pardoned upon a general repentance, and fo our falvation is not endanger'd by them. You have taught us, alfo, how to diftinguifh betwixt fins of weaknefs, and wil« fulnefs. You have intruded us, likewife, how to judge of our fins of omiffion, as belonging to either ^f thefe clafiies ; according as they are indulged or jipc. As alfo is the cafe of our niany defeats and {k) Rom. vi. 23, (/) James ii. lo. imperfeflions 256 How to judge of our Title imperfeflions in the fervice of God : and, in order to a falucary application of the whole to our advan- tage, have recommended a frequent, ferious, and penitent examination of ourfelves, to each one's con- ftant praclice ; and noted the proper times for it. Theod, You fay right. This is the fum of what I liave been difcourfmg more at large. And if either of you have any objedion to make to it, I am ready to explain myfelf to your farther fatisfadion. Eufeh, I fee no caufe for any objedion. But if you will give me leave, I will propofe an inference from the whole, which, I think, may reduce all to one word. "Theod, That is eafily done. And I know before- hand, the word you mean, is fincerity. Eufeb, It is to. For I think the refult of all is this •, that a fincere endeavour to learn the will of God, and do it, fo as in nothing knowingly to offend him, is the only evidence of our being qualified fgr a future llate of happinefs. He that has this, fhall not fail of being accepted with God j and he that has it not, is iure not to be accepted by him. Tbeod. Moil certainly. For God can neither love t!\o*e that are not hearty in his fervice, nor rejed ihofe that are. It is (m)the heart he calls for. And v/herefoever this is right before him, we may fafely depend upon his favour, {n) Blejfcd are the pure in hearty for they fiali fie God ; which no wicked man can do. The finner mud: not hope for fuch a pri- vilege, as is not to be attained to without {0) holinffs. But fince our Saviour has taught us, that the pure in heart have a right to it ; this is an evident proof, that iuch purity of heart is the holinefs that capacitates for this bleilcdnefs. Thus the wife man invites to have a fingular regard to the motions of the hearty and gives this reafon for it, that our eternal falvation has a peculiar dependence upon them. (/?) Hcar^ my fon^ {m) Prov. xv! i. z6. (w) Mauh. V. 8. [o] Hcb. x.;'. 14. (f) Prov. xxiii. 19. and to a better State hereafter. 237 and. he wife^ and guide thine heart in the way ; {q) Keep-- ing thine heart with all dilige?ice, (r) before, or above, all keeping ; that is, with all the care that may be, to preferve it upright before God , for out of it are the ijfues of life -, and according as this is well or ill dif- pofed, fuch is thy behaviour like to be outwardly, and fuch thy flate to all eternity. So Almighty God commands the Jews to (s) circu??icife the fore/kin of their hearts^ (/) to cut off and call away their naughty affedions, and be no more ftiff-neckedy as he had oftea complained they were. And by the mou^h of the prophet Jeremiah^ he threatens to punifii them for the wickednefs of th&ir hearts, as furely as he would the Edomites^ or Moabites^ or any other of their neighhbours, for their uncircumcifion : (^u) Behold^ the days come ^ faith the Lord, that I will punifh all them that are circumcifed^ with the uncircumcifed ; Egypt ^ and Judah^ and Edom^ and the children of Amtnon and Moab^ and all that are in the iitmoft cor^iers^ that dwell m the wildernefs ; for all thefe nations are uncircumcifed, and all the houfe of Ifrael are uncircwncifed in heart. Here the Jews^ you fee, are ranked amongft the un- circumcifed, becaufe they were fuch in heart, as the others were in the flefh ; they wanted that inv/ard circumcifion, without which the outward imprelTion made in the flefh is of no worth in God's account. And, on the contrary, [x) Htxekiah is commended, and profpered^ becaufe whatfoever he did in God's fervice, he did it with all his heart. And, in the' New Teftament, fays our Saviour to the pharifees, {y) Te are they which juftfy yourfelves before men ; but God knoweth the heart, (2) And divers other places there are, where the heart is declared to be what God re- fpeds ; fo that, if this be not devoted to his honour, (^) Prov. IV. 23. {r) IDlI/rj-b^D 0) Deur. x. i6. {t) Bilhop Tairick upon the place. («j Jcrem. ix. 2f, z6. {xj i Chron. xxxi. it. (y) Luke xvi. ij*. fz.^ i Sam. vii. 5. i Chron. xxviii. 9. and xxix. 17. and i Chron. xxv. z. Pfalm xxiv. 4. and ii, 6. and Ix^'u 18. /?«?r. iii. 1^. all 23? How to judge of our Title all the fervicc we can pay him, is like to ftand us m little ftead. And, on the oiher hand, if this be up- right and clean, and we are inwardly bent upon his fervice, we fball not need to defpond, and to torment ourfelves for fuch lefs, involuntary mifcarriages, as we find it out of our power totally to prevent. Eufeb, But how (hall I know whether my heart be fuch, as will approve itfelf before God ? neod. You may know it by thefe marks •, which I Ihall very briefly mention, and fo leave them to your own confideration, to make what farther im- provement you can of them : i. If the certain tenor and general courfe of your life be holy. This is fo neceffary from the conftant doctrine of the Gofpel, declaring all fin to be of a deadly nature, and that it is, in all refpedls, diametrically oppofite to the will of God; that whofoever pretends to pleafe God, can never give way to it, without a great degree of hy- pocrify and infmcerity. 2. If your care to pkafe God be founded upon truly religious principles and mo- tives. A man may do many good things, and yen be far from being a good man, if they be done to a wrong end, or for lome unworthy finifter dcfign. If he be temperate, for his health's iake only •, or charitable, out of oftentation, and vain-glory •, or fair in his dealings, for the prefervation ot his credit and reputation ; or patient of affronts, out of pure cowardice ; or abllemious, out of covetoufnefs •, or obfervant of his times and devotion, out of pure cuftom, and becaufe he fees others do it ; or for the carrying on fome worldly intereft •, or becaufe his time lies upon his hands, and he knows not how other- wife to employ himfeif , fuch an one miferably de- ceives himfelf, if he thinks Almighty God will look upon this as an acceptable fervice, whilfi. he is con- fcious to himfelf, that he did it not for his Maker's honour, but for his own advantage. This (hews him to be intent upon ferving not God, but himfelf; and that ail his good deeds are done, either to bad pur- 4 pofesj to a better State hereafter. 239 pofes, or, at leaft, to luch as are unworthy of his niofl: holy religion \ and fo can neither recommend him to Almighty God now, nor make him happy for €ver hereafter. 3* If you be as ftudious to ferve God, and as afraid of offending him in private, as in pub- lick j in bad company, as in good \ and when you are like to fuffer, as when you hope to get by it. A true Chriftian is uniform in his obedience, at all times, and in all places, ftudying to approve himfelf, what he profeffes to be \ and never acting contrary to his duty, with whatfoever impunity he may do it in this world, or how little notice foever may be taken of it. His bufinefs is not to pleafe men, but God, whofe eye he knows is moft afluredly upon him, who {^t^ into the clofefl: corner of the heart, and to whom he mud be accountable at the lad day. And whofoever he be that takes a contrary courfe, needs no other argument to convince him of his infincerity, thaa that his pradlice is not to be reconcil'd to his pro- feffion. A true fear of God overawes a man at all times, and in all places and efbates ; as well when ic is againft his temporal intereft, as when on its fide ; and will have the fame influence in the fecret cham- bers, as in the open Itreets \ and will make a man as unwilling to offend, where no other eye but that of the Almighty can fee it, as in the face of the greateft affembly. And whofoever finds himfelf thus careful of his duty, may juftly look upon it, as an undeniable token of his fincerity. 4. If fuch your care to pleafe God be without a refcrve for any beloved luft, or inclination. A truly good man owns himfelf obliged to an univerfal obedience to the divine command- ments of the one table, as well as of the other ; and when contradictory to his own natural temper, and defires, no lefs than when moft agreeable thereto. And by an inquiry into his converfation, and the difpofition of his mind in this refped:, a man may find whether the Divine Will, or his own, be the more prevailing principle in him \ whether he is more concerned 240 How to judge of our Title concerned to pleafe God, or himfelf*, and, in a word, whether he be fo fincere and hearty in the perform- ance of his duty, as he ought, and profefles to be. 5. If you be watchful againil lelTer fins, as well as againft thofe of a grofier and fouler nature. It is roc enough, that we have an abhorrence of fuch cry- ing iniquities, as none but a very hardened finner will dare to venture upon. But a good Chriftian, and an unfeigned follower of our blefled Lord, will be continually upon his guard againft all temptations to whatever deferves the name of fin. He knows, that every wilful tranfgrellion of his duty is a high affront offered to the great and good God, whom he is bound to fear above all things •, and dares not venture upon it for all the world, how light a matter foever others may make of it. I'hough divers, even of our wilful fins, are comparatively little, he knows alfured- - ly, that none is really fo in its own nature ; and there- fore makes it his bufinefs to keep from all fins, and even from fuch as are moft common, and leafl con- demned by the generality of men. And till a man is come to be thus watchful againft oil appearances of evily I cannot fee how he can fatisfy himfelf of his fincerity in the fervice of God. 6. And laftl}\ If you be truly humbled upon every unforefeen failure in your duty, and thenceforward watchfully endeavour an amendment. I have already obferved, that fuch a forrow for fin committed, is not, of itfelf, any proof that a man is really a good man. But I may fafely affirm it, on the other hand, as an undoubted truth, that he who can fuffer himfelf to be betrayed into any fin, without being heartily concerned and troubled for it afterwards, is far from being what he ought to be. He muft have little reverence for Almighty God, and little fenfe of duty to him, that can refied upon his having difobeyed his laws, without being afhamed and troubled for it. But when a man is fo fenfible of his having done amifs, in deviating from hi&duty> that he heartily laments and bewails it •, and not only tt> a better State hne after. %\i fo, hut fets himfelf with all his might co walk more carefully for the future, this argues a right difpofition of foul in him. This is the belt he is capable of doing, towards making a reparation for what he has done amifs j and is a very good fign, that he is fin- cere in his profeffion. Thefe. my friend, are the mod obvious marks of a fincere defire to pleafe God. And if thefe fruits appear in your converfation, you n^ed not queftion, but the root from whence they fpring is found and good, and fuch as, through our bicfTed Saviour's mediatioHj will nourilh you to eternal life. Eufeh. Really, ^heodorus^ you have given me fjch fatisfadion, and fet this great point in fo clear a light, that I hope nothing farther need be defired, for letting a man into the true ftate of his foul \ but only, thac he carefully apply himfelf to make a right ule of the method here prefcribcd for it : which I befeech Al- mighty God to give us all grace to do faithfully and impartially, and as in his fight, who knows us far better than we know ourfelves, and whom we are fure we cannot deceive j though if we be not very careful and inquifitive, or make a judgment of ourfelves otherwife than by the rules here laid down, we may deceive ourfelves to our own deftrudion. Anchith, This difcourfe has come very feafonably for me, who am now upon the bufinefs of reviewing my life, and making my peace with God, before I go hence^ and he no more fern: 2,x\^ v/hofe great concern ic is therefore to inquire narrov/ly into the ftate of my foul, that I depart not hence with a falfe peace, and ill-grounded hope, and fo be made fadly to bewail the ill effedls of my nvidake to all eternity. I will therefore examine myfelf by thefe rules, that fo I may fee how the cafe ftands betwixt God and my foul; and what alTurance I can promife myfelf, that if 1 die now, as I am y^rv like to do, I (hall not be for ever mif.rable. And that I may do ic as I ought, 1 humbly beg the alTi'lance of- my God to cfen mine T />'^i, 242 How to judge of CUT Title y 6cc. eyes^ that 1 ma^j fee the wondrous things of his law, and may difcover, and be truly penitent for, my manifold Cranfgrefrions of it. A Prayer for Direction in order to a right Judgment of one's Self. fj Lord God ofhofts^ who fearcheft the hearty and trieft the reins ^ and obfervefi all our ways.^ to bring us to a ftri^ account for them^ and to render to every man according to his works j to thee I fly for afjiftarice and dire^iofi in this my languifjjing condition. Dif cover me clearly to myfelf^ that I may fee how vain and foolifh^ how carelefs and negligent^ how difohedient and unduti^. ful I have heen^ and may he deeply humbled for it. Arid where I have faithfully and heartily endeavoured to pleafe thee^ though with great weaknefs and imperfeifion^ make me fenfible of this too^ that^ through the merits of our hleffed Saviour^ I may enjoy the comfort of it. Teach me to pafs a right judgment upon myfelf^ that I may neither pre fume upon thy goodnefs^ whilfi I allow my f elf in any iniquity ^nor defpair of thy mercy and forgtvenefs^ when I do not. Mortify and fubdue the remainders of corruption in me. Increafe and perfe^ all my graces^ or whatfoever good inclinations thou fee ft in me: and take me not hence .^O gracious Lord^till thou flo alt have fitted me for the fruition of thtne everlafting kingdom. Hear me^ O Lordy and grant me this my moft humble requeft^ for the fake J and through the merits^ of Jefus Chrift^ thine only Son^ our Lord and Saviour. Amen. Thiod. The good Lord hearken to you, and give you a gracious anfwer ! And fo I recommend you to the divine protection, hoping to wait upon you again tX)-morrow. Anch'tb. A thoufand thanks to you, good Theodo- ruSy for all your kindnefs. I thank you alfo, Eufehius. Eufeh. I pray God be %vith you, and grant you a favourable night, after this long vifit. . fhe End of tie Fourth VISIT. rbe The more immediate^ &c» 245 The Fifth VISIT. The more imfnediate 'l^ reparation for T)eath, Tbeoph. /^UR friend Eufehius and I are come to fee V^^ ^yoLi, good Ancbithanes ; Timothe.us and Pbilogeiton (^^^\o^x\(td alfo to accompany us; but bufinefs has fallen out crofs, that they are forced to beg your excufe till to-morrow, when we are ail to be here by a new appoiniment. Eufeb. They fully intended to have come with us, and were heartily troubled at their dlfappointment. But pray, Ajicbitbanes^ how are you now ? Ancbitb. 1 thank God not very uneafy, either in body, or mind \ but weaker and weaker ; wearing away as you fee. The good God of his mercy fit me for my great change, which feems to be approach- ing I Tbeopb, I trufl: he has done it already, that you need not be folicitous upon that account* Ancbitb. I hope it is done in a good meafure 5 yet not fo, but that I have great caufe to pray to God ro complete it. And it is a matter of that vail confe- qucnce to my foul, that I cannot be too Careful about it: which makes me beg what farther affiftance you can give in order to it. Tbeopb. With all our hearts. Ancbitb, I am very weak, and much fpenr, fince you faw me laft, and not like to continue any time in this world ; and would be glad to improve the fmall re- mainder of my days, if at lead: I have any yet re- maining, to the beft purpof si can. Tbeopb. What fervice is it we can do you? Ancbitb. When you did mt the favour, TbeOibllusT, to vifit me formerly, you promifed to inform me how I might frame a right judgment of myfelf, fo as to dif- cern whether I be in the favour of God at prefent, and in the sVv\y to be faved hereafter ; but Tbeodcrus^ T 2 ' 1 thank 144 ^^^ ^^^^ immediate I thank him, has been at fo much pains to teach me this, that I fhall not now trouble you about it, 'Theoph. What is it then yoa would defire ? jinchith. To be taught what duties are peculiarly incumbent upon one in my condition, that lies upon the bed of ficknefs, and every day expeds his dif- folution 5 as I now do. Theoph, I know not how we can employ our time better, if your weaknefs will not make our difcourfe a difturbance to you. Anchith. AiTure yourfclves, it will not. For though I am much fpent as to my body, I thank God my underftanding is flill clear. And 1 hope I fhall be able both to attend to, and pradife what I fhall learn from you. Theoph, Do not think, Anchithanesy that we pretend to teach you, but only to refrefh your memory, and bring to mind what you may have let flip, during this want of your health. Anchith. I Ihall not interrupt your good defign, by returning your compliment ; but do beg the favour of you to b^gin. Theoph. You are then to look upon yourfelf, as pof- fibly upon the brink of the grave, ready to launch into eternity, in ^s uncertain a condition as (a) Damocles^ with his dagger hanging over his head, and threaten- ing every moment to" drop upon him, and difpatch him. Which thought calls upon you to mufter up all your forces, and be as induftrious as pofiibly you can, in making a good ufe of the few fands that yet remain in your glafs. It is but a little time you can promife yourfelf to work in, the day being far fpent, and the flight, wherein no 7nan can work, in all appearance, draw- ing on apace. There is none fo weak, but God, if he fee fit, can reftore him: and we have known divers perfons given over by the phyfjcian, and doubtlefs in as low a condition as yourfelf, that yet have recover- cd> and lived many years after. Bat this being what .(a) Cic Tufc. Quxd.,-. you Treparation for Tieath. 24^ you have little reafon to expedt, you do very wifely in laying afide your concern for this world, and em- ploying your thoughts wholly for the other. Your only bulincfs is now, to make what farther preparation you can, for a happy departure hence, and a blefied eternity when you are gone, Anchiih. And how muft 1 do this ? Theoph, I believe by this time you find by experi- ence, that it is no great matter a man can do, when reduc'd to your helplefs circumftances. Yet what he can, muft be done. Anchith. Be pleased to give me your direflions, and I will obferve them according to my power. Theopb, I (hould have begun, in ih^ firft place, with the firft thing our Church recommends in her ruhrick for the vifitatjon of the fick\ which is, T^o fend io the minifter of the parifli, to beg his affiftance and pray- ers. But, inftead of prefTing this upon you, lam rather to commend you for having already done it. And I prefume you are fatisfied by this time, you did well and wifely in it. Anchith. I have ow^ned it to you formerly, and have much more reafon to do it, now that I have had more experience of the valuable blefling of fo ufeful a help, at fuch a time as this : which is a benefit I ov/e to you Tbeophilus ; and I return you hearty thanks for having firft put me upon it. Theoph, I was fully fatisfied of the fmgular ufeful- nefs of fuch a guide, when you came within fight of eternity, and of fuch an interceflTor for you to Hea- ven j who, being of God's own appoinrment, is there- fore the fitteft perfon to offer up your rcquefts for you, and to aflift you in the other offices of religion. Such a fpiritual phyfician is therefore to be applied to, and not only defined once or twice for form-fake, but fo as that he may perform the feveral parts of his office conftantly during the perfon's ficknefs. This is one confiderable branch of his fundtion, and would prove pf admirable ufc, if duly put in execution, T 3 Meh 24^6 T/be more immediate . Etifeb, And i'a it certainly v/ould, if the generality of mankind were but as wile as they ought to be. neoph. It is a difmal confideration, to think how great a part. I lay not, ot mankind, but even of them thatcall themfelves Chridians, and have palled all their days in this our truly excellent, primiLive, apoliolical Church, live at fuch a rate, that they feem to have little more than the name of Chrillians, to diftinguilh them from Jew^y Mahometans^ or Heathens. I have heard ?^toJi?;'^j, and other divines, make iad complaint, with great grief and forrow of heart, that, when they go lo allift their fick neighbours in their neceflity, they tind them too often io intolerably ilupid and fenlelefs as- to the bufmefs of religion, that it evidently appears to have been none of their care, and little good is to be done with them. Many times they are not ftnt to at ail; and, vv' hen they are, it is too often to ■very little purpofe, confidering what fort of perfon* they have to deal v/ith. The man they are to vifit, defires to partake of their prayers. He looks upon himfelfas taking his leave of this world, and begs they will befeech Almighty God to grant him a happy palTage into a better. But, as to the conditions required on his own part, and without which there is no hope of falvarion, he is a great ilranger to them. If he be asked, What grounds he has to hope, that God is re- conciled to him, and has forgiven his fins ♦, his anfwer . Js,That he has lived quietly and peaceably, has wronged none of his neighbours, and 'io he hopes well of him- kii. But ask him to give an account of his faith, and he does it very lamely. lie has lived always in the bofom of the Church, and commonly has made a part of x\yz publick congregation •, bur, not having been taught liis Catechifm when he was young, nor having duly accuilomed himfelf to read the Scriptures, and Other good books, fmce, he is almoft as little verfed in the principles of ChriRianity, as if he had been bred up amongft the lavage Indians ^ or in the deferts of /ivj^bia. This is a dreadful cafe, and fuch a difcourage- ment Preparation for Death. i\j ment to a faithful pallor, as one would fcarce imagine poffible in a Chriftian country, and where the free ufe of the Gofpel is allowed, and the reading of it encouraged, and its do6lrines continually explained and inculcated, as they are with us; yet I am well ajGuired it is too true, and too common. Eufeb, This is a fad flory, if it happen but now-and- then. Theoph, I doubt, if you ask of them who have had oc- cafion to know it beft, you will find it no fdch rarity as you may imagine. And then if you inquire into his practice, he hopes well of it; but, alas! he is mifera- bly dencient here too. He was bred up with a profef^ lion of religion, and has avoided fome of the more hei- nous lins, fuch as robbery, adultery, murder, or fo- iemn perjury, which he has never been guilty of, the* perhaps he has made no confcience of fwearing in his ordinary converfation, in diredi: oppofition to our Sa- viour's prohibition, (h) Swear not at all ; nor is notorious for drunkennefs, or lying, or cheating, though pofli- bly far from being innocent in any of thefe refpeds. As for the worfhip of God in his family, he is as per- fsdl a ftranger to it as can be, having never prayed with them, morning or evening, fince he had them to pray with, and poffibly but rarely by himfelf*, nor perhaps has he fo much as ufed himfelf to beg God's blefling upon his meals, or to return thanks for them. He has taken no care of his children, to bring them up in tbs nurture and admonition of the Lord. .He minded indeed to get what wealth he could for them, and to fettle them in the world to the bed advantage ; but^ as to ^hejr everlafting welfare^ he hath had as little regard for that, as for his own ; which he feldomj if ever, fcrioufly thought of. He went on carelefly, and di4 as he faw others do, but never troubled himfelf to in- quire whither the path he was in would lead him, and whether the end of it would not be death, and iEverlafting deftrudjon. [b) Math. V. 3^. T 4 i^V^J^ 34-8 The more immediate Eiifeh, This is a woful proof of the great need fuch have of all the affiflance that may be, to refcue them, if poffible, from thofe intolerable tortures they have been fo long preparing for themfelves. ^theoph. It is a melancholick employment to vific fjch thoughtlefs finners, both becaufe of the dreadful condition they are in at prefent, and becaufe likewife of the liccle impreffion is like to be made upon them, by all the beft advice that can be given them, the moll urgent and preffing exhortations that cs^,x\ be ufed, and all the moft amazing terrors, that can be reprefented to them, or the moll bleilcd hopes that can be fct before them. Anchith, Can they poffibly forbear confidering at fuch a time as this ? Theopb, It is too evident they can. Either they care not to hear of the danger they are in ; or, if they give it a patient hearing, they hope God is merciful, and v,?ill pardon their fins; they meant no harm, and they trufl: he will therefore be fivourable to them -, they are forry they have offended him, and wifh they had done otherwife, and perhaps make fome faint promifes of bting wifer for the future, if it may pleafe God to re- llore them to their health. But, as for any real figns of a true and hearty repentance, thefe are rarely to be met v/ith among; fuch nominal ChriRians. Euf;h This is a lamentable cafe. But yet, fince, if they will ever be brought to confider, they will do it upan a near profped of death i and fmce it is found by experience, that fome few are then fo awakened out of their former letlvargy, as thenceforward really to become ntw men -, it is very fit they fhould have the means ufed, to try what the efr'ed will be. ThcQpb. And thole who are duly mindful of their fiocks, will not refuib to do theutmoft in their power, for reclaiming fuch ^ tho' it is eafy to imagine, what a morciiication it mult be to them, to obferve the difH- culty of their undertaking, and the little hope they have of lucccf^ in it. This is a great diicouragement 5 ^Q Preparation for T>eath, 249 to a good man ; but will not deter him from perform- ing his duty to them, whatfoever the event be. And it IS a wonderful comfort to him, if at any time he be fo h^ppy, as to awaken either a ftupid, or a harden- ed finner into a fenfe of his duty, to be truly hum- bled for his guilt, and earnellly defirous, not only of pardon for it, but of ability to bring forth fruits meet for repentance. Eufeb, Hence we fee, what reafon there is to try, if any good can be done upon the word of men ; who wc may be fure will hearken now, if ever. neoph. And this confirms what I faid, that the minifter ought to have notice, when any in his parilh are fick, that fo he may attend them, and do what fervice he can for them. For not only thefe, but the holieft and beft of Chriftians, will acknowledge the great benefit of his afliftance, of which they are fa fenfible, that they Icldom need to be put in mind of fending to him, and are rejoiced at the fight of him, when coming to minifter to them, and are always highly thankful to him for it. This, therefore, is our Church's firft diredtion to the fick. That notice be given to the minifler of the -parifh of his ficknefs. In the fecond phct, inquiry is to be made, whether the fick man has fettled his temporal affairs •, and he is to be exhorted to make his will immediately, ific be not already done. Eufeb. A very proper exhortation upon divers accounts. Theoph, Moft certainly ; but rK)tin relation to Jn- chithanes^ who, to my certain knowledge, has made his fome days fince : it had been better to have done it fooner ; but, being done, there is no occafion tq piefs it now. Anchith, 'Xheodorus^ good man, when he was firft fo kind as to give me a vifit, told me, he was com- manded to inquire what care I had taken, as to th^ difpofal of my temporal concerns ; and was fo urgent with me to make no longer delay, left haply T might 2 so The more immediate might die inteftate, and bring great rrtifchief by it to my family and relations, that I forthwith fen t for an attorney, and difpatched that affair, as Theophilua has declared. Tbeoph, It were greatly to be wilHed, that all who have any eftates to leave behind them, would be per- fuaded never to be without a will, and ever-and-anon to overlook it, and fee what occafion there may be for any alterations in it. I have heard of fome that have renewed their will annually j and I cannot but think it very prudent, in fuch as have great dealings in the world, to do it. And all others ought ro amend what they (hall think defedive in it, upon every con- iiderable alteration in their circumilances. 'Eufeh. This undoubtedly were very advifeable, if men would be prevailed with to hearken to it. But, alas! the generality are fo far from thus repeating their will, that they will not be got to make it at all, till they find tbemfelves at the point of death j and it is v/ell, if they can be invited to do it then. Theoph. They can no more endure to think of making their wills, than of fetting about their repent- ance. And hence it too often com< s lo pafs, tluat tho' they acknowledge both nccelLry, and promife, and feem refolved, to do both before they die, they are both put off till it is too late, and fo are never done at all. It is highly reafonablc therefore, that this fhoiild be one part of the fick man's examination, to the end that if he have hitherto negle) B. Aug. deCiv. Dei, 1. i. c. 22, &: Cic.Tufc.Quaeft.l. i. c. 34 {({) Lib. de Confolar. Ciceroni attribuc. [r) Laa»nr. Inftit. 1. 5. c. 18. 8c iElian. Var. Hift. 1. 13. c. 20. Varen. de Religione ia Regnis Japon. c. i. Le Sieur Jovat. Hift. des Religions, Tom. j. p. 180, 184, i8f. u 2 it 26o The more immediate ic tor Chriflians, who have nobler rewards in view, than thefe could ever dream of, to be in bondage to what they were fo much mailers of! And above all times is fuch a dotage on the world mod inexcufable, when a man is convinced, that, in all probability, he is entering upon another life, wherein he can neither have occafion for, nor receive any benefit from, what he isfo loth to leave. This argues his Chriftianity to have but little influence upon him, fince otherwife he could not pofTibly be fo regard lefs, either of the glories it offers in a future ftate, or of the flrid obligations it lays upon all its profefTors, to beware of being enflaved to any thing here below. Eufeb. 4. Death may be confukred as a deliver- ance from this frail life, and the numerous calamities, and misfortunes of divers kinds, that fo conttantly attend it. Man is born to trouble^ as the fpa.ks fly upwards. They are natural to him, during his pafTage through this vale of tears and forrows : and he can no more hopj to efcape them, than to live without breathing. As we are all, even the mofl miferable of us, made partakers of innumerable, undeferved blvfTings; fo, on the other hand, thofe who are in the moil advantageous circumflances, have never- thtlefs, their difi'erent forts of erodes and vexations to contefl: with, (j) And that death puts an end to thefc, can be no misfortune •, nor need the thoughts of fuch a bklTed change to break any one's reft be- forehand. Wherefore I cannot fuppofe this to be what you mean, when you call upon the fick man to confider, what it is to die. Theoph. You may be fure it is not. (/) For who would ever dread to be delivered tVom all his infirmi- (s^ Moriar ? hoc dicis, definam acgrotare polTt: i dcfinam alligari pofie, dflinam mori pnif". Scncc. Epii). 14. (/) F/ '•druTciKa^ ei'M, hiiJ.r.v to otTcQctt't^j* ir^- q 5r;i' h KtiJ.Y]v 'vravTcov '^dvcTl^. Arr. Epidict. 1 4 c. 10. 'it /"' cIttis^^ti fAnJ'iV Jwflm Mart. Afoi. 2. ties, Preparation for T>eath, 261 ties, lodes, cares, wrongs, afironcs, or whatever kind of troubles? This were to be efteemed a fingular happinefs ; and fo far from adminiftring jull caufe of complaint, or diffatisfadion, that a man ought, in all reafon, to conclude himfelf not a lofer, but a gainer; not ruined, but faved by it. But there is ftill another notion of death you have not yet touched upon. Eujek 5, There is (o, that it is the door to an eternal (late. And what a remedy is this againft all the fears of death, to think, that when we come into the other world, we fhall be fure never to die more, but live to eternal ages ! O eternity ! eternity 1 What an immenfe addition is fuch a boundlefs duration to any fort of happinefs! But what an excefs qf" hap- pinefs muft it be, to live in peace, and reft, and joy ; and neither hunger, nor thirft, nor meet with any crofs accidents, or ill ufage ; nor be fick, nor grow old, nor die through a long eternity ! This is fuch a blelled and lading duration, that our prefent tran- fitory and troublefome life bears no manner of pro- portion to it -, and therefore ought, by no means, to be fet in competition with it. Tbeoph. Molt certainly it ought not ; though there had been no more in the cafe, than that the life we enter upon at death, and which we are henceforward to lead in the other world, is of a perpetual, eternal continuance, and Ihall never draw towards an end. But that which is each one's chief concern, and calls for his ucmoft care and diligence, and which, to this end, I now recommend to your confideration, is the nature of the Qiore whereon we (hall be land.d in that eternal world. (//) Our bodies, at death, univerfally return to the earth, from whence they had their firft extraction : but our fouls pafs immediately into an- (u) M jrtaaras ifta, ut Jadzeis Sc Gcrntili^us, &: Chrifti hoftihij^ peftis eft, ita Dei In vis Taiuraris excclTus eft. B. Cypr. Je Mortalit, jyiferiarum omnium, quas vivmres pcrrulimus, fiuiS eft in mqrtc. In/er Ckeronii opera, lib. 4i Confolat. U 3 Other z62_ 7he more immediate other life, either of happinefs, or mifery ; lefs perfeifl, in the mean time, bur which will be fully completed at the refurredion, and the general judgment of all mankind : at which time, our blefled Lord, who is to be our Judge, acquaints us beforehand, that fome fhall be fet on the right-hand, and the reft on the left ; and that a very different fentence (hall be paft upon them, to the unfpeakable comfort and happinefs ot the former ; and the inevitable, intolerable, irre- parable deftrudion of the latter, {x) When the Son of man JJoall come in his glory ^ and all the holy angels with him, then JJoall he fit upon the throne of his glory. And before him fhall he gathered all nationsy and he fball fepa- rate them one from another, as a fhepherd divideth the fheep from the goats : and he fhall fet the fheep on his right-hand, but the goats on the left. Then flo all the King fay to them on his right-hand. Come, ye bleffed of my Father .^ inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world : and (y) fhall fay alfo unto them on the left-hand. Depart from me, ye curfedy into ever^ lafting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels. . And accordingly, {zj Thefe fioall go away into everlafting punifhment, hut the righteous into Ife eternal. So alio the apoftle St. Paul allures the Romans, in his epiftle to that church, (a) That God will render to every man according to his deeds -, to them, who, hy patient conti- nuance in '■jeell- doing, feek for glory, and honour ^ and immortality, eternal life ; hut unto them that are conten* tious, and ohey not the truth, hut ohey unrighteoufnefSy indignation and wrath, tribulation and anguifh, upon every foul of man that doth evil -, of the Jew firfl, and alfo of the Gentile. And in the Revelation oiSt.Johny (h) He, fays the apoftle, that overcometh, fhall inherit all things ; and I will be his God, and he /hall be my fon. But the fearftd, and unbelieving, and the ahominahlcy and murderersy and whoremongers, and forcerers, and idolaters, and all liarsy fhall have their part in the lah {x) Matth. XXV. 51, 3Z, 33, 34. (;') Ver. 41. {z) Ver. ^6. {d) Rom. ii. 6, 7, 8, 9, {b) Rev. xxu 7, 8. • which Preparation for T>eath, 26^ which hurneth %vitb fire and hrimfione \ which is the fecond death. From which, and multitudes of other places in the New Teftamefir, it is eafy to obferve, what reafon every one has to be exceedingly felici- tous, as to what (hall become of him in the other life. Seeing fome (hall be infinitely happy and glorious, and others no kfs miferable, and this to all eternity \ none, who has not his underftanding grofly ftupified, can avoid believing it to be a matter of the higheft importance to him pofTible, to have his portion amongft the former. For this therefore each one fhould be providing all his life long, as the only way to fave his foul, and make himfeif for ever happy. But when he comes to be confined to his bed, and fees his end at fo near a dillance, that he can almoft look forward into the other world, as Mofes did from mount {c) Nebo into the land of Canaan, he will be naturally inclined, eagerly to defire, and long to know, what will become of him in that other ftate. If he find, that God is reconciled to him, through Chrift, and fo he may look upon himfeif as intitlcd to the heavenly felicity, what a mighty comfort mud fuch a reflexion be to him! How will he be tranf- ported, and almoft overwhelmed with joy, at fo ravifhing a difcovery ! And, on the other hand, if his fins bear fuch witnefs againft him, that he has no hope to efcape the wrath to come, but finds himfeif even upon the brink of hell, and ready every hour to drop into it, fuch a doleful profped, if he be capa- ble of thinking at all, will be fure to plague and tor- ment him ', and almoft caufe a Hell within him, whilft he is not yet caft into thofe difmal flames. To lofe an eternal enjoyment of the perfedeft ^nd com- pleteft happincfs, in all refpedls •, to be undoubtedly aflfured, that there are ineftimable rewards to be diftri- buted amongft the faithful followers of our Lord ; immortal diadems to be put upon their heads, and thrones and kingdoms to be allotted them, {d) fro *(f) Dcut. xxxiv. I, 1, 3, 4, f- (d) Tertul Scorpiac. c. 6. U 4 var'ietate 2^4 The more immediate varietate meritorum^ according to their feveral qualiF^- cacions and Icrvices i to know, for a certainty, that Heaven is a place of inconiprehenfible fatisiadion and delight, infinitely beyond what can be exprefs'd, or concciv'd -, and that the righteous fhall be ever- lailingly poffcfs'd of it ; and yet, not only to come fliort of this fo vaft a recompence of reward^ but to meet with a Hell in lieu of iti to be calt into an infa- tiablc gulph of excelFive anguifli, ,and incurable de- fpair i to be lodg'd amongll the devils^ and damned ipirits ; and to be tortur'd and plagued by them with the utmoft fpite and malice -, to lie yelling and roaring, and tofling and turning, in burning ftreams of the hottefl fulphur, without intermiffion or ceiTa- tion *, to meet with all thefe unconceivable agonies, inftead of enjoying an uninterrupted ftate of the per- feclcft happHiefs with the faints above, is fo fad and doleful a cafe, that no words can exprefs, or fancy imagine, the terror of it: and, efpecially, if hereto be added the duration of this woful ftate *, that it is to lafl for evermore, and never, never, never to have an end ; but alter as many thoufands of years as there are drops of water in the ocean, grains of fand on the fliore, fpires of grafs throughout the earth, and ilars in the firmament j after as many myriads of years, or even as many millions of ages, all this mi- lery will be no nearer a conclufion, than at the firft beginning of it. Whom does not fuch a meditation prefently pierce to the quick ? It is a very afHiding thought to a good man, that this muft be the ever- laftingly wretched (late of far the greater part of man- ikind. But to the fmner, who defervedly experts to be in a little time irrecoverably plunged into all this v/oe and mifery, the dread of ic, one would think, were enough to bereave him of his fenfes ; or, per- haps, to ftrike him quite dead. At leaft, it mud make fuch an imprelTion upon him, that if any thing in th- world can bring him to a ferious temper of mirid, and put him upon confulcing his efcape from iuch 'Treparation for "Death. 26f fuch a fcene and weighc of forrows, this mu(l do it. This medication alone, to one that apprehends him- it\i ahead y within a few fleps of fo intolerable, dolo- rous a condition, fhould be fufficient to qielt a heart c.^f adamant, and diflblve ic into floods of tears. And thofe men mud be mod defperately regardlefs of their own fafety, whom fo awakening 4 reflexion will not put upon contriving, by all means poflible, to fccure themielves. And oh, that the finner would therefore be perfuaded to bethink himfclf, and grow wifrr, before it be too lare 1 That he would make the beft ufe he can of the few hours he has remaining, to try if God may yet be prevailed with to extend his mercy to him, upon a hearty and exemplary re- pentance ! Let him weigh well within himfelf, that when once the flender thread of his life is cut, it will be too late for him to think of obtaining a pardo^i afterwards. For he muft then be dragg'd to his trial, with all his fins about him, and thence to the place of execution, to be racked, and tortured, and tor- mented, till he fliall have -paid the utmoft farthing. Who can pofiibly forefee this to be his own condition, and forbear, one minute, to fummon together all his forces, and exert the utmofl: of his power, to refcuc himfelf out of it, with all the fpeed that may be? Anchith. A fenfe of fuch excelTive danger is tW ftrongeft motive that can be, to a ferious recolledion, and a diligent ufe of whatfoever means are neceflary, in order to a recovery out of it. Eufeb. {e) Mercury in Lucia n advifes to meditate uport death, and the little diftance it is off, as a Angularly ufeful means for difpofing us, both to live foberly^ and to die eafily. And, agreeably hereto, (f) Seneca profefles of himfelf, that he took care to live in con- tinual expectation of that great day, when judgment fliall pafs upon all his former years *, and found thii l^appy efi'e(5t of fuch his pradice, that he was above (e Char, fea Conre^rpl. !^/) Non nm. e itaqut componor ad iKum diem, &:c. EpiQ. t6. the i66 The more immediate the fear of dying, whenever his time fhould come. And again he affirms, that (g) None can hope to fee that tirne^ with a chearful and compofed countenance^ who has not taken care to reconcile himjelf to it before- hand ; and hence advifes, {h) to he always mindful of it. Much more fliould Chriflians lay to heart the infinite concern they have depending upon their fitnefs to die well, and as becomes thofe who have an abun- dant aflurance, incomparably beyond what the reft of the world had, of a future immortality, with which nothing here below can bear to be fet in competition. neoph. And the nearer they draw to this endlefs ftate, the greater reafon they have to be ruminating upon it, and upon that death, which is the only, and the certain paifage to it, and fo to prepare themfelves for it, as that it may happily convey them into eternal glory. Thefe forts of medications judly challenge our frequent and ferious thoughts, and the fooner we fall upon them, fo much the better. Eufeh, Death, as it is a paflfage to eternity, is a matter of that great weight, that if it will not bring men to their wits, and make them ferious and con- siderate, it is not to be hoped, that any thing elfe Ihould be able to do it. He that can ftand out againft fuch an awakening fhock, may juftly be given over as defperate and incurable. He now fees our Saviour's doflrine manifeilly verified, (/) if he fhould gain the whole world by the lofs of his foul, it would be an ex- ceedingly dear bargain, and what he would have caufe to lament for ever and ever. And it is very llrange, if men can be fo hardened in their fins, as t:o ftand out againft all thefc terrors, and, inftead of jiuft^anding the little time they have left, to caft themfelves willingly, and with their eyes open, into the pit of deftrudiofi. (g) Epift. 30. (h) Tu tamen rrortem ut nuntjUam timcas, feinpcr CQgica- IbJ'^- {i) Match. XV'. 16, Theopk, preparation for T>eath, z6y Tbeopb. You fee then, I had very good realbn to recommend a fober and folemn confideration of death, as an eifedual courfe, in order to a ferious preparation for it. jinchtth. You had fo ; nothing being a more pow- erful incentive to an earneft defire and endeavour to fit ourfelves for our latter end, than duly to bethink ourfelves of that everlafting ftate, either of incom- parable happinefs, or inexprelTible tortures, wherein death will mod certainly lodge every one of us, me, in all appearance, in the firft place, and you not long after. A Prayer for a fanftified Coiifideration of Death. /ILmighty God^ our Heavenly Father^ who gi'veft us life^ and breathy and all things j and on whofe infinite goodnefs^ and mercy ^ thro' Chrift my Saviour^ is all my dependence^ both for the prefenty and in order to a future ft ate 3 caft an eye of pity upon me in this declining condition ^ and give me grace to make a due ijnprovement of it. Let no terrors of death^ how near foever^ prevail over me^ and affright me out of my hope in thee, jind ftiffer me not^ on the other hand^ vainly. , to prefume upon thy goodnefs. Open mine eyes^ arid awaken my Jluggijh foul, that, feeing how little time I am to expe6i m this world, my heart, my thoughts y and all my defires, may he fet upon another j and my whole hufinefs may he to fecure to myfelf an intereft therein. Give me fuch a comfortable and well-grounded affurance ef another life with thee in Heaven, as may prote6i me from all thofe fears of death, to which I might otherwife be in bondage. I am fenfible, that death is not only a departure hence, but a tranflation into another eternal world, where I mtift live for ever^ either with thee and my blejfed Saviour in endlefs glory ^ or with the devil and his angels, in the bottomlefs abyfs of mifery. And, accordingly, 1 do moft earneftly beg^ that the refill of thefe moft weighty meditations may pKefe 268 The more im:nediate he a care^ ft ill more and mcre^ to mortify all my worldly and carnal inclinatiojis^ and to make the heft ttfe that f^ay he^ of the JJ^ort remainder of my time ; that fo I may he in a readinefs to quit my ftation^ whenever thou Jhalt call for me. io this end^ teach me fo to number my days^ that I may apply my heart to the only true and faving wifdsm j tbat^ being fully convinced^ how frail a creature man is^ and how near /, in particular^ feem at this time to he to my great change^ J may give all diligence to perfeCt my preparation for it^ that fo the longer I continue here, the better I may improve myfelf to thee J and the nearer I come to my latter end^ the fitter I may be for it^ and for the fruition of thyfelf in everlafting glory ^ thro Jefus Chrift cur Lord. Amen. Another, for Deliverance from cvcrlaRing Death. ferve me^ Lord., and ftreugthcn me againft all this world^s temptations -^ and nf thy great mercy fave me from the wrath to come. Be with me now^ and at the hour of deaths and let no evil hurt me. 'ithou knowefty Lord, the fecrets of all hearts , Jhitt not thy merciful ears to my prayers. But fpare me^ O Lord rnoft holy^ O God mcft mighty^ O holy and moft merciful Saviour^ thou moft worthy Judge eternal^ fuffer me not to mifcarry at my laft hour ; but fave me fro7n the bitter pains of eternal death ; that whatever becomes of me in the mean time, I may by no means be irrecoverably miferable in a future fiate. Amen. Another, for a happy Eternity. T ORDj whilft J live ^ enable me to live to thee, that when I die, I may die in thy favour ^ and whether in life or death, I may be thine ^ and after death may live and rejoice in thee, and may blefs, and praife, and glorify thy holy name thro an endlcfs eternity, GranP this, bleffed Qody for Jefrs Chrift' s fake^ our Lord, Amen. "Tbeoph, Preparation for "Death. 269 Theoph. II. Another duty I would recommend, as necelTarily incumbent upon the Tick man, is to wean himfelf from the world, I have already obferved the infufficiency of all earthly pofTcfTions and advantages, and, by confequence, the great reafon we all have to labour after fuch an inditierency towards them, as that they may never be able to weigh down our fouls, and keep them from afpiring after a far more de- firable reward in the higheft Heavens. And indeed, (-4) till we have got the conqueft over ourfelves, it will be impofTible to quit this prefent life with a willing mind, tho' at the call of God himfelf; becaufe thefe earthly objedls will be fo many dangerous retraftives, filling men with forrow at the thoughts of leaving them, and making them loch to depart thither, where they lh.ill be fare to have no farther enjoyment of them. He that has his afFedlions glued to the earth, will not know how (if it could be allowed him) to mount up to Heaven, with any fatisfadion or eafe ; but will recoil, ftart back, and faint, and be in agonies, and almoft dead, at the apprehenfion of bidding fare- wel to them. And, whilft the thought of fuch a removal is thus diftaiteful to him, it is not to be imagined, that he can be reconciled to it. Nor ought he to look upon himfelf as in a due preparation for death, till he has got his foul at liberty from the bondage it had been in to thefe vain allurements: which, one would think, were no hard tafk, confi« dering the many croffcsand difappointments (/) which ufually accompany them •, and that themfelves alfo are, at bed, deceitful and unfatisfadory, and [m) all {k) Siquid mira^erc, pones Invitus. Horat. 1. i. Epift. lo. v, 51., {I) Siqu's mo.10 Tecum aniino rcpuync, qua^n calamicofa fit baec noltra omnis vita, quot p-rifuhs, quor mo.bis. quo* cafibus, quot curis, quot incommodis, quot viriis, quot mju'iis (ir obnoxa, quam cxieui pars rjus nobis ab' at, non dicam ruoi voluptare, fed non ali- cfud ac^rirudinc contamiiia'a ; dcin-'e quam fugax ctiam ac prasceps, proptmorium cfjtrn pra'ulabitur iii, qui matur u^ zim reiiquerinr. fy-afm. Declamat. de Morte. {m} EvClcT. 1. 14.. H/O The more immediate the works that are done under the fun, are but vanity and vexation of fpirit. The dying Chriftian has To much a nobler purchafe in his eye, thac his defires fhould be carried forth intirely after thac, and he fhould be heartily alhamed to cake up with any thing ihort of it. Efpecially feeing, thac had thefe earthly enjoyments, of whatever fort, been far more valuable than they are, they might be fo co others •, but can be no longer of any ufe co him, who is upon his entrance into another world. He may look back, and fee what dangerous temptations they have been to him ; but all he has now co do with them, is only to take his leave of them, and fue to God for the forgivenefs of any paft abufe of them he has been guilty of. They are ferviceable, to a great degree, in our paflage thro' this prefent life ; and if well im- proved, in a61:s of mercy-and charity, will bring us to an ample reward above in Heaven ; but this is all the benefit he can exped from them* We are only intrufted with them, during our flay here ; and muft necefifarily refign them, whenever we lay afide this earthly tabernacle, there being no farther ufe we can then make of them. They will contribute nothing to the wicked man's eafe, when he comes to languish in fuch excefs of pain and torment, in the burning lake, as nothing in the world can mitigate. And thofe in Heaven will have no need of them ; for they will be everlaftingly poflelTed of vaftly greater and more durable treafures -, and fo will look down upon all this world's glory, as not deferving any regard from them. And this lelfon it is the fick man's part to teach himfelf beforehand, that when he ihall be called hence, he may quite diiburden himfelf of fuoh his heavy clog, and may be perfedly at liberty to obey, and be gone. And who can tell, whether one great end of God's not cutting men off immediately, but continuing them for fome time under their fick- nefs, may not be to work this good effedl upon them? He very well knows, what an inexcufable fondnefs the T reparation for "Death. iji th€ generality of mankind have for thefe things ; how intenc they are upon getting them ; how they tor- ment themfelves with the fear of lofing them ; and again, how forrowful they are at the lofs of any part of them j what an occafion they are of many forts of wickednefs •> and how people will venture to be damned for them. And where he fees any thus en- fiaved to them, it is a great mercy in him, to allow them a little time of refpite, wherein to refled upon their vanity and emptinefs, to repent of the (ins whereinto they have at any time been drawn by them, and to kt themfelves free from them. And k is highly unreafonable for fuch an one, not to com- ply, with all the wiilingnefs that may be, with thi^ fo gracious a defign, fo proper and feafonable in itfelf, and which may turn fo highly to his own advantage. And I mufl therefore beg leave to recommend to every one the apoftle St. Paul\ advice, which he gave the Corinthians^ fo to get themfelves afFeded with a fenfe of the fhortnefs and uncertainty of our abode in this world, as not to be brought into fubjediorj to any thing in it. (») Now this I fay^ brethren^ the time isjhort. It remameth that both they that have wivejy be as tho* they had none ; and they that weep^ as though they wept not v and they that rejoice^ as though they rejmcsd not ; aJ^d they that buy^ as though they pojfejfed not y and they that life this worlds as not ahujing it^: for the fajhion of this world pajfeth away, (o) Where- fore, feeing we brought nothing into tMs world y and i( is certain we can carrj nothing out, what unaccountable folly is it to fet our hearts upon what we muft be fure to leave, in a little time *, and the leaving whereof will, by this means, become a fore vexation to us ! Eufek Nothing feems more naturally ferviceable, to take our minds off from thefe things, than a fick- bed ; both becaufe it ihews the man, that he is not like to be allowed any longer enjoyment of them ; and becaufe he now finds, by fad experience, not (n) t Cor. vii. ip, 30, ju (pj i Tim, Vi. j. only. fji The more mine di ate only, that they cannot prolong his declining life^ but likewife, how little they can contribute towards giving him any eafe from his pains, or recovery from his ficknefs. Theopb. It may be a trouble to him to call his eyes back, and fee how much more agreeably he had lived formerly, than he does at prefent ; though, as yet, poflefTed of as much of this world, as ever he had in his whole life. But it is a demonftration of the abfur- dity of fuffering his afFedions to be ftill fixed upon what he is now fully convinced, to his coll, will (p) not profit in the day of wrath ^ (q) will never fave the owner from death, nor give him eafe whilft he draws towards it; and prefTes him hard to recal his thoughts, and plice them upon thofe more amiable objedls, which will be fure never to fail or difappoint him, if he can but once attain to them. However he might formerly have been deceived with appear- ance, inftead of reality, and take thefe gaudy vani- ties for folid and fubflantial treafures, it is full time lor him to change his opinion of them, now that he finds them all to be but a feeble fupport ; and that they will leave him in a difconfolate condition, when he has mod need of their help. Wherefore, fince he can obtain no relief by their means, now that he is in unufual want of it, common prudence would di- re6l him, not to put a higher value upon them than they defer ve ; nor ever to trouble himfelf more, for what he fees is thus vile and worthlefs. Eufeb. A late learned prelate (r) gives a very dimi- nutive character of them, from the wife man ; who, he tells us, fums up their whole value in thefe two words, vanity and vexation. And then he afks a very* rational quellion j At what price y.u would rate vanity, (p) Prnv. xi. 4. (^) Quae nee feiicita''em, ttt quictem prsedare poiTunt, qux <"a:cis fuis amatoribus poliucniur. LtuL Berus de pr¶t. ad mortem^ c»p I. i^) Bifhop Hopkins's Van'uy cf the World, pag. loy, 106. which Tteparationfor 'Death. inj^ which is nothing j or vexation, which is worfe than nothing ? ^heoph. And well he might. For what man, not intirely bereaved of his fenfes, would be perfuaded to love, and difquiet himfelf for^ what he is fatisfied beforehand, he can never put any truft in ? Jnchith. And fo I remember (j) another devouc and afFe<5ling author, though, I confefs, not of our communion, tells us. Cod Jows gall and wormwood in the goods of this life^ that the foul, being affli5iedy may repent^ and turn to him, Theoph, And who would be enamoured of ^^// and wormwood? Are thefe fuch irrefiftible temptations, that the profped of Heaven and eternal happinefs is not to be preferred before them ? Away with fuch fot-' tifhnefs and ftupidity, and let us begin at length td grow wife, and truly confider our latter end. Let us remember, we know not how fpeedily we may be cal- led hence, and then what plenty foever of thefe en- joyments had fallen tO our fhare, they will all be fure to forfake us at the grave, if they had not done ic much fooner* And let us (hew ourfelves men, by a flight regard for them, that tho' wc ufe them as we have occafion, we never dare to abufe them, or our- felves, upon their account. Let us efteem of them^ according to their intrinfick worth, not our own vain imaginations. And let us be fure to employ them to the end for which they are committed to our manage- ment, the fupply of our own and others neceflities. Let us alfo (it fo loofe to them all, that we may as eafily lay them afide when we come to have no longer need of them, as the traveller does his thick and heavy clothes in a hot fun-fliine day, or his dirty ones at the end of his journey. This is a duty that all are obliged^ as Chriftians, to be continually ex- . crcifed in, nothing being more plainly required in (j) Eufeb. Nierembergh of tki Dlfftnnci between the Temporal f^nd the Fjerr.fll, I. 3. c. eath. 27 f that I may value thetn according to their true worth ; fo at neither to be unthankful to thee^ my God^ for them^ nor un* willing to refign them^ whenfotver thou Jhalt pleafe to de^ mand them, or to take me away from them. Work up my foul tofuch an indifferency towards them^ as that they ma^ le no hindrance to me^ in the profecution of what is infinitely more defirable. And raife up alfo my affe^ions to the things above^ where Chrift fitteth at the right-hand of God, that my heart may be fully fet upon them \ and I may be able to defpife all that this lower world contains^ in comparifon of them. This I beg for thy dearly beloved Son* s fake ^ J ejus Chrift our Lord, Amen. IL JNcline myfoul^ Lord, to labour, above all things, of* ter a perpetual enjoyment of thee my greateft good, and an attainment of thoje everlafting rewards^ which thou haft prepared for thy faithful difciples, in the kirgdom of Hea* ven. And fuffer not any fublunary advantages whatfoever^ to prefs down my defires to the earth, and earthly things • Remind me of my moft holy profeffion, and the hope that is fet before me, and izhat admirab'e encouragement I have^ not to lay up to myfelftreafures here below, where ruft and moth do corrupt, and thieves break through and fteal; but readily to overlook all things of this nature, in refpeEl to the infinite glories of the other life, whither my Saviour is gone before : To whom with thee, O Father, and the Holy, Ghofty be all honour and glory world without end. Amen. III. /^ G D, who declareft thy almighty power moft chiefly ^^ in fhewing mercy and pity, mercifully grant to me fuch a meafure of thy grace, that I, running the way of thy commandments, may obtain thy gracious promifes, and be made partaker of thy heavenly treafure, through Jefus Chrift our Lord, Amen. Theoph. Ill, Another duty particularly incumbent upon the fick man is, to renew and perfect his repentance > ^2 CO 2y6 The more immediate to review his whole life paft^ and bewail the errors and fins of it, to fue for the pardon of them, and un- fcignedly and fokmnly refolvre againft them for the fu- ture. It is an amazing confjderation to think, how great a part of mankind have the whole bufinefs of their lives to begin, when they are at the point of death. They have finned away all their working time, and perhaps not fo much as once fet about whaE they came into the world for-, and now that they are almoft quite paft their labour, they have it all yet to do. No wonder if fuch be ftruck with aftonifhment at the fight of their own egregious folly, when they come thus late to be convinced, into what dreadful circum- Hances they have brought th>^mfelves. What racks and tortures muft they feel within their own breafts, wher> they find (u) how great a work lies upon their hands, and how unfit they are for the difpatch of it, and yet how little time they have before them, had they beer> better able to undertake it -, and withal, that they are mod ailuredly undone, ruined and undone irrecovera- bly, and to all eternicy, except they can get it finifh^d before they are taken hence. Some are fo intolerably fiupcfied by a long cou-rfe of fin, as to have no fenfe €>f their danger, when thus upon the brink of irretriev- able perdition. But, as for thole who have their con- fcience awakened by fo difmal a profpeft, it is impof- fible to exprefs the anguifh and remorfc, wherewith they muft inevitably be feized, the ilingings and twinges they muft inceflantly kd within themfelves, from the terrible load of guilt that lies fo heavy up- on them: which whether they fhall ever get pardon- ed, after all they are able now to do in order to it, God only knows. But I am fure they have all the ireafon that may be, to beftir themfelves with all their might, and make the beft improvement poiTible, of thofe few minutes that are yet behind. fu) Ad tantum ne^otiorum agmen non fuf!i and condemn us, as effedually as if we had never repented at all : fo that you fee what a powerful reafoni this is for inviting to the performance of the duty here treated of, namely, that we depart not the world with fuch an unconcernednefs for our paft fins, as to provoke God at laft to bring us to a ftrid account for them. Eufel\ Hence it appears, that tht fick man is, as far as his circumftances will admit, to recoliedl the molt material mifcarriages of his life pad, to fee whether he has repented of them all. Theopb. But neither is this the whole of the duty mentioned. For he is to take care of his repentance, not only as to the extent of it, that it reach to, and comprehend under it, as far as may be, all his fins of whacfoever nature, or howfoever aggravated, but as to the intenfenefs of it too, that it not only be fincere and real, but ferious and well-grounded, and include- ing in it a great degree of forrow for, and enmity to, the fins repented of. And becaufe this his forrow and enmity can never come up to the height his guilt deferves, this fhould be helped, as he (hall be able, by repeated ads of contrition, whereby to fee him at the greater diftance from all his iniquities : which as it is to be done at other times, fo more efpecially in time of ficknefs, that fo the penitent may leave the world in the belt difpoficion he can poffibly attain to for a better. And wholbever is once brought tea fenfe of his own condition, and of what an irre- parable hazard he runs, every moment that he ven- ^ tures being taken hence, without a due preparation for his change, will hardly need to beinvittd to what his own confcience will mod earneftly prefs upon him, and let him have no quiet till he has done it. Eufeh, The apoftle St. John having fpoken of our biefled Saviour's appearance at the laft great day, and the unconceivable happinefs of the righteous at that X 4 . tim$. 280 The more mmediate time, in that they {a)ft}allfee him as he is^ and Jhallbe made like to him^ draws this inference from his affertion, that {h) every one wbo hath this hope in him^ furifietb himfeify even as He is pure. This the Apoftle declares to be the natural refult of fuch glorious hopes as are fet before Chriftians, fuch as that none who ferioufly attends to them, but will find himfelf under an in- vincible neceflity, to redlify whatever is amifs in him. And though he had not imprudently deferred it till he comes to languifh upon a fick-bed \ yet when he is reduced to this condition, and has his fpirits faint, and his ftrength gone, infomuch that he is but one remove from the grave, and looks upon himfelf as ready every hour to drop into it, how careful foever he had been to reform and amend his doings, he will not then know how to forbear endeavouring to con- clude well at the lad, by getting his foul into as fit a pofture as he can, for that judgment he continually €xpe6ls to be called to. It is a great addition to a misfortune, to have it happen when juft upon the point of fafety •, and be undone, when in appearance Jaft all danger. j^k ' portu qui tejle perit, his naufragus ille eft. It is a double infelicity to be call away, when a man has ftruggled through a long trad of waves and ftorms, and pleafed himfelf with the fight of his haven, and was ready to fet his foot on fhore. And none who have any regard for their own welfare, but will be particularly defirous to fecure it by all means poflible, when jufl: ftepping into the other world, and to this end to make their repentance as intire and perfed as this frail ftate will allow them. This is, in all appearance, the (c) laft fcene of the laft ad of a man's life \ and if this be not performed well, he pafTes off the ftage with fhame and ruin, and (<») 1 John iii. 2. {k} Ver. 3. '{c) Hie ell exrremus humanae vit^, velut fabu!x, a^as, unde pen- det vel sererna felicitas hora:nis, vel seternum exilium. ^rafm. de fTAtar. ad Mortem, : ' ^? Preparation for "Death. 281 has no room left for farther comfort or hope. And this obliges him to labour after the utmoft exadnefs, in giving the finifiiing ftroke to the whole work, to the end he may be approved for his fidelity, and may enter into his Mailer's joy. For this caufe he is to examine himfelf, how far his converfalion has been as becomes the Go/pel ofCbrifi^ and to own and bewail his guilt where it has been otherwife, to be humbled for all his lefTer^ and even for his involuntary fins, and to fue moftear- peftly for mercy and pardon through Chrifl:, and to refolve to do or fufFer any thing, rather than ever willingly to difpleafe him more. A Prayer for Ability to perfcft our Repentance. I. /^LO RD God Almighty , who dwelkfl in the higheji Heavens^ and whoje kingdom ruleth over all ; / can pever fufficiently lament my fins and offences ^ whereby I have from time to time provoked thee againft mine own fouL Let it not be in vain^ that thou haft thus long borne with pte^ and not cut me off^ as Ihadjttftly defer ved. Grant I may be more fenfible than ever of my own vilenefs and unworthinefs, by reafon of my manifeft iniquities. And vouchfafe mefuch affiftances of thy Holy Spirit^ as that I may be enabled to cleanfe and purify my f elf from all pollu- tion \ and fuch fervour and earneftnefs in my addreffes to thee^ that I rnay obtain thy pardon^ and whatfoever elfe Ifeek to thee for. Deal not with me as I have deferved at thy hand^ hut fpeak peace to iny fouly and command deli^ verancefortneJ I am thine: Ofaveme\ and do not fo remember my fms^ as not to remember afo^ that thy pro-^ ferty is always to have mercy ^ and to forgive. Hear ?ne^ Lordy when I call upon thee : and caft me not away in the time of weaknefs •, forfake me not when myftrength faileth me. It is but a very little time that lean expe^ to continue in this world ; help me to improve it fo, as that Imay fecure to myfelf an inter eft in the blifs and felicity if that which is io com^» Coj?iplete my repentance % in- creafe 282 The more immediate creafe my graces \ fubdue all my lufts and pajfions ; pro- mote all my good inclinations y and lead me in the way everlafting. Suffer me not^ whenever death Jlo all come^ to die with any weight of guilt upon my confcience^ with an affe^ion to any thing that is evil^ or with any fin not repent- ed of Make me to love thee with all the powers and facul- ties of my foul y to fear thee above all things ^to obey theeduti^ fully and confiantly, andfo to endeavour hy all means poffibU to wipe off the ft am of whatever is dijpleafng to thee. My deftre is truly to bid defiance to all my fins ^ and never to look favourably again upon any one ofthem^ to humble my- felf before thee to that degree^ that thou mayft look gra- cioufly upon me^ and be reconciled unto ine. Help me^ I hefeech thee^ to fearch out all my tranfgreffions^ and fo to judge myfelf for them^ as that I may not be judged and condemned by thee at the laft day. Be merciful y O Lord, he merciful to me *, forfake me not in my extremity *, but watch over 7ne for good. Forgive my fins^ heal all my infirmities^ receive andftrengthen me •, b'efs^ refrefh^ and comfort me ; and caufe me to rejoic^i in thee., both now., and at the hour of death .^ through Jefus Chrift our Lord. Amen. II. /I Almighty and everlafting God, vouchfafe^ 1 befeech thee^ to dire^y fanulify, and govern, both my heart and body in the ways cf thy Jaws^ and in the works of thy commandments -, that thro' thy mojl mighty protection., both here and ever, I may be preferved in body and foul, thro* our Lord and Saviour Jefus Chrift. Amen. I'heoph, Another duty — — Eufeb. I would not be thought rude, good neo- ■philus, in interrupting you ; and yet I cannot forbear intreating leave, before you proceed to the next duty, to do a piece of juftice to our moft excellent Church and Liturgy, in relation to what you have been dlf- courfing under this laft head, Theoph.. Privy how is chatj E'tfehius ? Etifeh Preparation for T>eath, 2 85 Eiifeh, I know not how to forbear taking nocice, what juft reafon you have hereby given, to wonder why any (hould fo needlelly take exception at the petition in the Litany, wherein we pray for deliver ams from fadden death. Theopb. A very reafonable petition certainly] Eufeb, No doubt it is. For chough a fudden deatla (d) may well be fuppofed far eyfier, than that which makes its Qow and gradual approaches, and gives warning fome time before it adually makes its feizure j and again, though a good man may die very happily, when fnatchcd away without any notice ; yet, where a matter of the higheft importance imaginable is depending, a wife man would defire to depart hence with all the advantage he can, and as completely fitted for, and intitled to as large a meafure of hap- pinefs, as may be. And were I ever fo confident of being tranflated into Heaven, whenfocver I am taken hence, as I hope I (hall be ; I could however be very well content to bear fome days of pain and ficknefs here, if they may but any way contribute, cither to the greater certainty of my falvation in the other world, or to my obtaining an ampler lb a re of its felicity. Theoph, This exception to xht Litany \s highly un° reafonable and ill-grounded, a jiidden death being oftentirpes very unhappy. It is unhappy as to this World ; occafioning divers fad inconveniences to fami- lies, by preventing thofe fettlements of eftates, which might have rnade a peaceable and fui table provifion for the feveral members of them : and it is far more un- happy, in relation to another life, by preventing, either in whole, or in part, that preparation that might dtherwife have been made for it. 'It may pofTibly feizc a good man in fuch difadvantageous circumftance*^ ^s' to become of very ill confequencc to him j and (^) Mit'Uf iile pcrir, (ubirdqui mergitur unda, Quiioi i'u3 qur iiquidss brich a iaiTdt nqji?. may 2S4, The more immediate may fnatch away the finner, and fend him forthwith to Hell, without any fort of warning. It prevents likewife the exercife, and fo deprives of the reward, of that patience, and fubmiffion to the Divine Will^ which are the proper employments of a time of fick- nefs ; and that forrow for fm, and thofc purpofes of amendment, which are the mod genuine fruits of a lingering death. And can any reafonable man think, the avoiding a few days fmart will countervail thefe and all the other mifchiefs that may arife from it ? Eufeh, I fee not how he can : which was the found- ation of my obfervation, and fuch as I perfuade my- felf will hold good againft all that prejudice, or fear, or felf-love, may urge to the contrary. Anchith. I readily agree with you both in this; and am at this time fo far from repining, or being any way diffatisfied, at what it has pleafed God to lay up- on me, that on the other hand, I now efteem it a particular blefling, that he has allowed me this time of ficknefs, wherein hoih to fet my hoiife in order ^ and more efpecially to trim my lampj and finifh my ac- counts, and commend my fpirit into his hands with that faith, and humility, and contrition, which becomes one in my circumftances. I am now upon the con- c.lufion of my warfare ; and, can you fufpe6l I would behave myfelffo unworthily, as to complain I am re- quired to continue the fight a few days longer? So far from this, that I fliall ntver efteem my ficknefs too long, if it prove a means, at laft, of any way in- creafing my reward in the other ftate. All my con- cern is, left through carelefnefs, and negligence, and a love of the world, or the wiles and ftratagems of the devil, I ftiould be with -held from making that improvement of it, which may be juftly expected from me. ^heoph. Such ought to be the care of all good men ; and the more of it, fo much the better. Wherefore I humbly befeech Almighty God to increafe it in yoi2, and all in your condition. But now to proeeed : jy. A Preparation for T)eath. 2 8y IV. A farther duty, incumbent upon the fick man, is, to arm himfelf againji the fear of death. What the coniequents of death are, has been already obferved, to put us all upon a diligent preparation for it ; but not to intimidate and difcompofe any with the dread of it. For to the good man it is no fuch enemy, as that he fhall need to be difmayed at it. It is to him no other than a deliverance out of this vale of tears, this region of forrows and complaints, into thofe more delightful manfions, where will be nothing but Joy, and pleafure, and honour, and glory, and ma- jefty, and the moll fublime, moft rapturous, and mod: lading blifs, felicity, and happinefs, to reign with the blefled angels, the holy prophets, the glorious ipoftles and evangelifts, the triumphant faints and martyrs, for ever and ever : fo that all the harm of death, to fuch, proceeds not from itfelf, but purely from their own mifapprehenfion of it, and from their not having yet attained to a right notion of the effefl it is like to have upon them. For let a man be once well fecured of an interell in God's mercy, and our bL^fled Saviour's mediation, and he will fee nothing in death that would tempt him to flee from it ; and, if he does not earneftly long for it, he will however receive it with an evennefs of mind, and a chearfut refignation of himfelf to the Divine difpofal, becaufe he knows this is the only way he has, to be inflated in eternal happinefs. Eufeh, It is no wonder, that (^) Epicurus cri^d out of death as ^e^/.«=rereath. 287 unlefs it be through our own folly, in not having made a timely i:reparation for it. Eufih, It is a matter then of fingular importance, to learn to die whilft we live, and may pofTibly be as ytc fome diftance from death. And there is none therefore who has not great reafon to be often rumi- nating upon his latter end, and trying to fit himfelf for it, and become in a manner acquainted wirh it beforehand, that fo, whenfoever it fhall come within his view, it may appear no ftrange or furprifing fpec- tacle, nor he receive its fummons with reludancy. Death is frequently, in Scripture, compared 10 fieep. And, as we compofe ourfelves to the one, by putting off our clothes, lying down in our beds, drawing our curtains, and clofing our eyes •, fo ought all likewife to prepare themfelves for the other, by refleding up- on the certainty of it, the little reafon a good Chri- Itian has to be afraid of it, the deliverance it will be to him from his pains and ficknefs, and all the other evils of this life, and the fecurity it will bring with it of never being liable to any of them for the future 5 but efpecially the neceffity of it in order to the pof- feffion of thofe infinite rewards which are promifed to the righteous in the other ftate, fuch as eye hath not feeriy nor ear heard ^ neither hath it entered into the heart of man to conceive \ happinefs incomparably beyond all that this world affords, abounding with bleffings of divers forts, and of ineiiimable value, and which will continue for evermore *, which none can believe and expedl, without finding the thoughts of death eafy to him, and its approach welcome. Nor can any of the things of this life be fuppofed to have fuch an influence upon him, as that he fhould not be ready to part with them upon fo good an account. He will rather have brought himfelf co triumph over death, as no longer able to do him any mifchief, bleffing himfelf at the fight of it, and crying out in the apoftle St. Paul^^ language, (/>) deaths where is fh^ a88 The more immediate ihyfiing ? grave^ where is thy viBory ? The Jling of death is fin ; and the prength of fin is the law : but thanks he to Gody who giveth us the vi^ory^ through our Lord Jefus Chrifl, And who would not glory in fuch a deliverance ? He is no wife man that would not defire to be able thus to comfort himfelf, upon a profped of his approaching diffblution ; that whenever it comesj lio guilt may difcompofe him, no fears difturb or in- terrupt the peace of his mind •, but his foul may take its fiight into the other world, with a joyful and a cheating hope of eternal reft and glory. Nor is he a friend to himfclf, and to his own principal intereft, who would not be at whatever pains to get himfelf into this con- dition. It is a juft obfervation of (^) Bifhop Taylor^ that be who is afraid of death with a violent and tranf porting fear^ a fear apt to difcompofe his duty and his fatience^ either loves this world too much, or dares not trujl God for the next. And St. Augujlin fuppofes, that a righteous man (r) Ideo mori velit, &c. will defire to die^ not out of an averfion to this prefent life, hut hecaufe cf the hope and expcofation he has of living far better in the other fate. And it muft be granted, that though death itfelf be not agreeable, the charming profped that the good Chrittian has beyond it, may very well remove all the bitterncfs of it, and make it at leaft as tolerable, as a tempeftuous voyage at fea is to the worldly-minded man, when undertaken in order to a noble eftate and authority. Anchith. No pains of deadi can be too fharp to be borne, in order to the attainment o^ iho^t exceeding great and precious promfes^ which are made by the Gofpel to all that faithfully labour after them. And oh ! that it may pleafe Almighty God to give me a fare title to them 1 and I fhall never fear any thing that can befal me in my palTage towards them* (ff) mly J^ing, Chap. 3. Sed. 8. (r) DeCiv. Dei,l. 14. c.a/, A Prayer Preparation for T>eath. zSp A Prayer for Vidory over Death. /I Almighty Lord God^ thou alone knoweft how near I am to my great change ; // thou wilt^ thou canft raife me up^ and grant me a longer continuance here. But I find Jo great an alteration in my [elf ^ and the violence of my diftefnper has [pent me to that degree^ that I can €xpe6i nothing hut death ^ aHdthat too in afioort [pace, ^0 thee therefore I flee for help^ hefeeching theetofupport my fpirits by thy divine influence^ that I he not dif- couraged nor difcomfited in my laft confli5i. Death^ I am too [enfible^ is terrible to nature^ and the guilt of my fins lies heavy upon me ; and this life is not yet wholly divefted of its temptations. So that I have great need of thy affiftance,, thy mercy and goodnefs^ to carry me through thofe difficulties^ andproie^ me again (I the fears cf death J that under whatfoever form it fioall prefent itfelf I may not be affrighted at it. Ftx my mind, O God, upon the glorious recompence of reward promifed above in Heaven ; which infinitely fur pajfes all that this lower world contains. And convince me, I hefeech thee^ of my title to it. Affure me, that, in Chrifi Jefus, my fins are forgiven me, and thou, of thine abundant good- nefs, art reconciled to me, as ifl had fiever finned againii thee. I'hefe are unfpeakahle hleffmgs that I beg of thee ; hut fince thou haft encouraged me to ask them, with hopes of acceptance, and my Saviour has graciou fly promifed thofe who unfeignedly come to him, that he will in no wife caft them out, this emboldens me to pray, that what I dare by no means ask in my own name, thou ivilt con- defcend to give me in the name, and for the fake, of thy ever blejfed and dearly beloved Son J^fus Chrifi our Lord and only Saviour. Amen. Eiifeb, What would you prefcribe next, Theophilus? Theopb, V. ^o improve his faith in Chrift, that he call to mind the ineiiimable price his Lord has paid for him, the wonderful degree whereto he humbled himfclf y (ov 2po The more hnmediate for our redemption, and the full fatisfadion and atone- ment hereby made for all our fins \ and. comfort himfelf with the confideration of fo tranfcendent a deliverance, and ftedf^ftly rely upon Chriil for the benefit of it. He knows alTuredly, that (j) there is nofalvation in.any other ^ there being no other name under heaven given among men^ whereby zve muft be faved^ but his alone -, and moreover that the falvation purchafed by him is of univerfal extent, that every one who duly feeks after it, may be partaker of it. For fo fays St. John^ (t) God fo loved the worlds that he gave his only begotten Son^ to the end that whofoever believeth in him Jhoiild not perijh, but have everlafting life. And to the fame purpofe St. Peter teftifies, that {u) to hirn give all the -prophets witnefs^ that through his name whofoever believeth in him, Jhall receive remilfton of fins. And to them that look for him, as the apoftle to the Hebrews teaches, (^) he Jhall appear the fecond time, without fin, unto fal- vation. So that it is eafy to obferve, what excellent encouragement Chriitians have to place their truft in Chriil, and depend upon him for the pardon of their fins, and the acceptance of their lame and imperfec^l righteoufnefs, in liope of obtaining, by his mediation, an interell in the kingdom of Heaven ; which they could never have pretended to without him. And though fuch a fliith as this will never of itfelf juflify and fave us, being but one branch of that holinefs which the Gofpel requires of all its profeffors *, yet is it of fuch abfolute necclTity, that there is no hope of being faved without it. For, alas ! it is impoflible for poor finful creatures to be admitted into glory any other way, than by the blood of Chriil, (jy) who gave himfelf a ranfoin for all ; and (z) through whofeflripes alone we are healed. But fince he has thought fit to ofier him- felf in our Read, to become a price of redemption for us, every good Chriilian may well look upon himfelf, as in a happy condition through him. For now fays (s) has \v. 12. (/) John in. i6, (u) A^s x. 43. (.v) Hcb. ix. 28, (y) I Tim. ii. 6. (z) Ifa. Hii. j. ihc preparation for 'Death. 291 the Apoftle, (a) there is no condemnaiion to them that are in Chrift J ejus \ who walk not after the flejh^ hut after the fpirit. And again, {b) Who Jhall lay any thing to the charge of God's ele5l .^ It is God that jtffifieth : who is he that condemneth ^ It is Chrift that died, yea, rather, that is rifen again, who is even at the right-hand of God, who alfo makcth intcrceffionfor Us, And what a fupport is this to the dying man ! who, if he can but look back, and fee that he has been careful to approve himfelf a faith- ful difciple of our bleffed Lord, may reft aflured, that no flips or infirmities, nor even his grofler fins, if fin- cerely repented of, (hall obftrud his entrance into glory. He has now {c) holdnefs, or liberty, or, as (d) Grot ins underftands the phrafe, fus intrandi in fummiim cdwn, a right to enter into the higheft Heaven, the hoUeft of all, by the Mood of Jefus, by a new and living way, which he hath confecrated for us^ through the veil, that is to fay, his fleflo^ alTumed at his incarnation, and afterwards offered upon the crofs ; and needs not doubt, but, if we ourfelves put no rub in the way, (eath. 305 his friends and relations to pray for him, during his ftay in this world, that God will forgive his fins, will purify his heart, will mortify all the remainders of vice in him, will give him his Holy Spirit to ftrengthen and aflift him, and will fend his holy angels to conduct him to glory. This is a courfe, my friend, that cannot fail of being highly advantageous to you •, and which you are fure can never hurt you. Anchith, To deal freely with you, good ^heophilusy I muft acquaint you, that I do fpend a good part of my time in prayer to God, both bymyfelf, and with others ; and by the grace of God I fhall perfift in it, whilfl: I am able to fpeak, or can lift up my hands or eyes towards Heaven. And I do alfo beg of you hcreprefent, and of my other friends, to affift me with your charitable prayers to Almighty God, in my behalf. A Prayer for Ability to pray with Fervour and Devotion. f^^H mofl gracious God^ do thou iiicl'me my heart more and more to call upon thee^ that when I can do nothing elfe^ I may yet pray to and praife thee. In- fpire my foul with devout affe^ions^ fuitable to my pre^ fint circumftances^ that I may offer up my prayers from a truly humble and penitent^ a fine ere and pious mind, and with fuch fervour and earneftnefs^ as that thou may eft not rejeH my petitions^ nor with- hold thy mercy from me j hut mayft hear from Heaven thy habitation, and return me a gracious anfwer. Hear me^ O Lord ; for thy mercies are great : hear me^ and all that pray for me^ and our Lord Jefus Chrift interceding for ui all. And plenteoufly reward all thofe prayers that are put up to thee on mine account^ from wbomfoever they come, through the fame our Lord Jefus Chrift. Amen. Another, 304 The fnore immediate Another, for Forgivenefs of Sin, and a Prepa- ration for a better State. 'jits thy natuve and property^ O Lord^ always to have -*• mercy ^ and to forgive, 'to thee it appertaineth tojhew pity to thofe who put their truft in thee. On whom canji thou more fuitahly place thy co77tpaJ]ion^ than on me an unworthy [inner ,^ who amjloortly to give up my account at thy great trtbunal ? Shut not thine ear againft me now in my extremity-, neither caji me away in thy wrathful indignation : hut fo turn thine anger from me^ who meekly acknozvledge my vilenefs, and truly repent me of my faults^ and fo make hafic to help me in this world^ to purge and purify me^ and to perfe^i whatever is wanting in me^ that J may ever live with thee in the world to come^ through Jefus Chrifi our Lord, Amen. ^heoph. VII. Another duty, highly neceffary at all times, but more efpecially in time of ficknefs, and upon the appearance of death, is, 'To watch diligently againft our grand enemy the devil, who is more efpecially indujlrious and vigilanl', to do us a mifchlef atfuch a time as this. It is his conftant bufmefs to promote the ruin of mankind by all means in his power. Having invol^ ved himfelf in irrecoverable mifery, wherein he has Jong fufFer'd for his folly, and muft be fure to do ic through a lading eternity ; his continual ftudy is, by all arts of fraud and treachery, to bring whomfo- ever he can into the fame woful and helplels condition with himfelf; and fo to get them under his dominion, that he may perpetually tyrannize over them. Hence the apoftle St. Peter reprefents him, as {h) going about like a furious roaring lion, feeking whom he may devour ^^ watching all opportunities to get people into his reach ; uling whatever means, either to affright or amaze, or to beguile and deceive them out ot their duty, (h) ; Per. V-. 8. EufeK Preparation for "Death. 305- Eufeb. He once gave an account of himfelf, that he had been (i) walking to and fro in the earthy and going up and down in it. And the fame is flill his con- ftant pradice, to the end that he may work what evil he can to its inhabitants. Theoph. He is ft y led by St. Paiih {k) the prince of the power of the air \ to put us in mind of our danger from the legions of evil fpirits he has at his command, as his minilters and fervants ; by whom he procures the death of finners, as well as by his own more imme- diate devices, each way leading them on to perdition. And no wonder, if fo potent, and fo malicioufly in- defatigable an agent, be fadly prevalent over fuch as are not fufficiently provided againft him. (/) Plutarch^ in the life of Dion^ notes it as a very antient tradition^ that there are a fort of wicked inchanting dcsmom^ which envy good men^ and fet the?nfelves to terrify them out of their regular and virtuous converfation -, to the end that^ farting with their integrity and innocence^ they may not be in a better condition than themfelves. Very agreeably to what the Holy Scriptures teach concerning this grand enemy of fouls, and his emiflaries and agents, {m) working in the children of difobedience^ and leading them captive at his wilL Eufeh. It is his daily and hourly employment, to plant his engines, and lay his fnares, in all places, for obftrudting our falvation 5 and ihould be ours to arm ourfelves againft him ; and, as the apoftle St. James diredls, fo to (n) refift him, as that he may flee from us \ and leave us to ourfelves, to fulfil the duty re- quired of us. Theoph, And more efpecially when we come to draw near our latter end. Then our adverfary looks upon himfelf to be, in a more peculiar manner, engag'd to try, if pofTible, to fecure us to himfelf. He knows he has then but a fhort time ; and, if he can improve that to his purpofe, his work is done, and we muft (ij Job i. 7. ^k) Ephef. il. i. {/; P. pjS. {m) Ephcf. ii. i. 2 Tim. ii. 25. (») Jimcs iv. 7. Z never 506 The more immediate never hope for fafcty or happinefs more. Hence he contrives all ways, makes ufe of all artifices, and employs all his methods of delufion ; that he may not only retain the hold he had gotten upon any, but that he may enforce his intereft in them, till it be too late for them to think of refcuing themfelves out of his hand. [6) He puts on various garbs, tranf- forms himfelf into every fhape, and accommodates himfelf to all humours -, that, by thefe means, he may inlarge his dominions, and gain new fubje<5ls to his kingdom. One while, he fooths and carefTes the finner, and lulls him on in his wonted ftupidity ; left he fhould grow wife, and bethink himfelf of his dangerous ftate, and fliould ufe his hearty endeavours to get out of it. At another time, he difcour^ges him by reafon of the difficulty of repentance, and a truly Chriftian converfation ; whereby to retain him ftiJl under liis dominion. This man he tempts to difbelieve the doctrines of religion, and more parti- cularly the immortality of the foul, and a life to come. That man he prevails with, tho' convinced of the certainty and duration of the other ftate, never- thelefs to ad contrary to his belief, and expofe him- felfto all the dire vengeance, that is threatened to thofe who do fo. Some he entices to prefume upon the Divine Goodnefs-, and forafmuch as God has declared himfelf to be infinitely merciful, therefore not to fear but he will at laft receive them into his glory, with- out inquiring in what difpofition they are for appear- ing in his prefence-, or what they can pofTibly fay for themfelves, when he fhall call them to judgment. Thus he carries on the inconfiderate in a thoughtlefs fecurity, till, at length, death feizes them, before they are in a readinefs lor it; and fo the door is irretriev- ably JJjut againft them. With others, he proceeds in a quite different manner, preffing them to defpair, by reafon of the multitude and heinoufnefs of their i'TTAn?,-'}-/!, cTta }y riu, ciA.\' 'lya, ciVctTiW*) tb? cy'3-fi-J^Kf. Cyril!. Hicror. Catcch, 4. fins; Preparation for T>eath, 307 fins; and, by this means, vvith-holds them from doing what they may, in order to a recovery. In the time of their health and merriment, his cuftom was to reprefent repentance to them as an eafy work, that might quickly be difpatch'd at the end of their days, when they fhould come to take their bed, and be fit for nothing elfe. But now the tune is changed, and all his care is to perfuade them, that it is too late to make any attempts towards the doing what they moft certainly ought to have done fooner, whilft they had health, and time, and ability for it; all which being now greatly impair'd, there is no hope left them of accomplidiing an acceptable repentance. Circuit, ille nos fingulos^ fays (^) St. Cyprian ; ' He goes about ' every one of us, and, like an enemy that has un-f ' dertaken a fiege, he carefully views the walls^ and * tries where the weakeft place is, and whether there * be any hope of entrance for him. To the eyes * he propofes charming beauties, and tempting plea- ' fures -, that by the fight peoples chaftity may. be ' ruin'd. To the ears he prefents harmonious mu- ^ fick, by the affecfting found whereof to foften and * abate their Chriftian refolution. He provokes the * tongue by rude and unhandfome language *, moves * the hand to fighting and murder by atfronts and * injuries ; allures the deceiver by the bait of unjuft * gain. To him that will fell his foul for money, he ' offers what he fees like to prevail with him : he * promifes earthly honours, that he may deprive us * of the heavenly ; makes falfe fhews, to rob us of * the true riches : and whom he cannot privily de- * ceive, he feeks to work upon by open and barefac'd * threatning ; aflaulting them with terrible and de- * ftrudive perfecutions, whereby to difcourage the * faithful fervants of God, to whom he is always an * implacable and dreadful enemy ; fubtile in peace, * and violent in perfecution. Wherefore, fays he^ * moft dear brethren, \ti your mind be fortified and (/>) De Zdo 5; Livore, p. in. Z 2 * armed 3o8 The more immediate * armed againft all his aflaults •, whether by open * chreatnings, or by his more plaufible and deceitful * infinuations ; being always as ready to refill his ^ attacks, as he is to make them.* V Eufeh. One way or other, he never fails to profe- cute his malicious defigns with his utmoft vigour ; watching day and night to take men at an advantage, to enfnare them when either lealt aware of, or leaft able to withftand, his motions. I^heoph. Which proves the reafonabienefs of St. Cy- prian*s advice ; and that the more pernicioufly fuc- cefsful any have found him in thefe attempts, the more carefully vigilant are they obliged to be againft them for the future. Their former failures fhould certainly engage them not only to humble themfelves under a fenfe of, an unfeigned forrow for them, but moreover to make them henceforward more incef- fantly upon their guard ; that they never be betrayed into the like for the time to come. Eufeh. If fuc h (q) who think they ft and moft fecurcly, are neverthelcfs co take heed^ left they fall by the fur- prize of a fudden, or the violence of a ftrong tempta- tion ', how much more ought thofe to do it, whofe former falls have given them too fad evidence of their 6wn weaknefs I Theopb, And fo fhould thofe, who find themfelves at any times lefs difpo fed than ufual, to bear up againft him. And, accordingly, his peculiar diligence at the approach of our latter end calls then upon all for a more efpecial regard to his wiles, whereby to defend themfelves againft him. You muft then be fure, as far as confiftent with your weak condition, to watch and pray againft him, and to implore a lingular mea- fure of the Divine affiftance, for carrying you thro* your laft agonies with fuccefs and conqueft •, that you may not unhappily lofe the reward of all your for- mer pains, and meet with a dreadful difappointment, and be everlaftingly condemn'd, when you expcded, , {((•) I Cor. X. 12. on Preparation for T)eath. 309 on the contrary, to receive a crown of glory ^ that fade tb "not away. What (r) St. Jerom affirms is moft cer- tainly true, Nullus dies tutus pericuh proximus ; there is no time of thinking yourfelf fafe whilll in the neigh- bourhood of danger. And, forafmuch the greater the danger is, the farther you are from fafety, the more watchful ought you undoubtedly to be at fuch a time. Anchith. I am fully convinc'd I ought to be fo ; but my ficknefs fo difcompofes my thoughts, that I can do nothing as I fhould. Wherefore I befeech. Almighty God to take pity upon me; either to help my infirmity, or gracioufly to accept of fueh imper- fe^ duties as that will allow me to perform. A Prayer for Defence againft the Affaults of the Devil. j4Lmighty God^ and moft merciful Father^ whofe J am^ and to whom all my fervices are due ; to thee I now addrefs myfelf^ hefeeching thee to how thine eaty and hearken to me in this my neceffity' O look upon me^ and he merciful unto me^ as thou ufeft to do unto thofe that love thy Name, Co?jJider my declining help* lefs condition ^ and he thou my mighty Saviour and Deli- verer. As my time is fhort^ and my ftrength little^ fo^ it is my great unhappinefs to have a powerful and a fuhtle^ as well as a defperately malicious adverfary^ con-^ tinually lying in wait for my deftru6iion. And^ with' out thy help J I muft inevitably perijh, I were ever* laftingly undone^ were it not that thy ftrength is made perf€6t in weaknefs y and thou haft gracioufly promised to fuftain thofe who caft their burden upon thee, ^his I now defire to do^ in an humble confidence^ that thou wilt not reje6i me when I fue to thee for fafety. En^ able me fo to refift the devil^ that he may flee from me^ and not go on to attempt my ruin : or^ if he do^ yeP fuffer him not to fucceed in his endeavours '^~ but ^ of (r) Procem. ad Pammach. in Lib. 2. Commfntar. in Amos. Z 5 thy 510 The more immediate thy great mercy^ fruftrate his defigns^ and defeat al^ his wiles and ftratagems^ that he may not prevail againft me^ and draw me afide into the ways of fin- though he he powerful^ thy Holy Spirit is incomparably more powerful ; let that good Spirit conduct me fafely^ in fpight of all the other's devices for my ruin. De- liver me^ O my God^ deliver me in thy righteoufnefs ; and let no temptation he too ftrong for me. Carry me vi6lorioufly through whatfoever confli5ls or calamities may hefal me^ either now^ or at the hour of death, ^his I beg for Jefus Chrijfs fake our Lord, Amen. Another, for Acceptance with Almighty God. /^ Merciful and gracious Lord God^ who willefi not the death of afinner^ but rather that hefloould turn from his fins^ and live ; and who art always more ready to hear^ than we to pray ; and art wont to give more than we defire or deferve , deal not with me according to my own unworthinefs^ but according to the multitude of thy mercies. Let not my defe^ive fervices be dif pleafing in thy fight. Caft me not off^ when I endeavour to approve myfelf to thee ; though with a great mixture of weabiefs and imperfe^ion. JVhilft I continue here obnoxious to fin^ and always encompafs^d with tempt a^ tions to ity J am continually adding to the vafl heap of my offences , and even my mojl holy things are polluted and defiled, Aff^fi me by thy grace and Holy Spirit^ that J may ferve thee more completely for the little time of my life that yet remains^ than I have done hi- therto. When I offer up my petitions to thee^ infpire my foul with fucb devout affe^ions^ as become a guilty creature before his highly offended Creator. And at all other times let a fenfe of thy Divine prefence over- awe my mind., that I may ftudy to the utmoft to pleafe thee J being fully refolved to yield to no motions to the contrary.^ how prcffing foever. And do thou conde- fcend to caft an eye of pity towards me, and to accept of T reparation for T)eath, 3 r 1 of fuch an imperfe^i obedience as I am capable of per ■ formings through Jefus Cbrift our Lord. Amen. Another, for the Direction of God's Spirir. God, forafnuch as without thee I am not able to pleafe thee -^ mercifully grant that thy Holy Spirit may in all things dire6f and rule my hearty that he may he to me a Spirit of wifdom and underftanding^ a Spirit of counfel and mighty a Spirit of knowledge, and of the fear of the Lord, and may daily increafe in me thy ma^ nifold gifts of grace. Let him be my Guide to dire6i me in the way ofrighteoufnefs., my Guard to preferve me from the fury of the enemy, and my Shield to heat back, all bis darts. And, for a f much as the frailty of man^ without thee, cannot hut fall-, keep me ever by thy help from all things hurtful, and lead me to all things pro- fitable to my falvation^ through Jefus Chriji our Lord, Amcn» Eufeb, I doubt we have tu^'d Anchilbanes, TCbeoph, I will only beg leave to mention one other duty, if he can have patience to hear it, and fo Ihall bid him adieu for this time. Anchith, I befeech you take your own time, Theoph. VIII. Then, in the laft j^\2iCt^The fick man muft [hew himfelf perfe^ly refigned to the Divine difpofaL 1 do not fay he mull not murmur at God's dealings with him, how unagreeable foever to fledi and blood ; becaufe this were fuch exceiTive undutifulnefs and in- gratitude together, as no good man can fuffer him- felf to be guilty of: but he muft farther renounce his own mofl: natural defires, whenfoever they are not throughly conformable to what Almighty God de- crees concerning him. Ocherwife, the very heathens will rife up in judgment againft him, and will con- demn him in a high degree •, particularly (j) Epichtus^ who fticks not to profefs concerning himfeli', that he had brought his mind into a perfed fabjedtion to the (j) Arr. Epi^ter. 1. 5. c. 26. Z 4. Divine 512 The more immediate Divine Will. * I have learned, fays he^ to conform * my will to God •, infomuch that would he have * me fick, I would be fo; would he have me attempt * any thing, I am ready to do it; would he have ^* me defire any thing, I am willing to defire it ; * would he have me acquire any thing, I rejoice to ' fet about it; would he not have me to do it. neither * am I for it ; would he have me to die, I do not * refufe it. In like manner, (t) Socrates, being inform'd by Crilo, that he was to die the next day, returned this anfwer, as a teftimony of his ready fubmiflion to the determination of Providence concerning him ; 'AAA', i cjCyctd-'^ ei' ravrn t,7; ^zoi<: (piAov, tclvti) 2r«' 7/ is very well^ O Crito; and, fince it pleafes the gods y fo let it he. And {u) Seneca pa fifes a fevere cenfure upon thofe who are not willing to part with their life, or whatfoever other bleffings they have receiv'd from God, whenfoever he thinks fit to call for it : ' He, * fays he, is unjuft, who will not leave the ordering * of the gift to the will of the giver ; and he is cove- * tous, who is not as well pleafed with his having re- * ceiv'd a favour, as he is difturb'd at the Jofs of it.* Eufeh, To the fame purpofe, likewife, fpeaks the Emperor Antoninus ; freely owning, that (x) Provi- dence is clearly feen in the admini/lration of the world ; and hence exhorting not to die repining, but eafy, and well pleafed, and with thankfulnefs to the gods. And, at another time, he profefTes his veneration for the Governor of the world, and his truft and confi- dence in him. (y) 2^.i3», ^9 Ivtcl^m, )y ^d^Zra J'loiK^yTr * I adore the Orderer of all things, and firmly and * fi-edfaflly rely upon him ; (z) and exhorts others^ * quietly to expert their difiblution, whether by way * of extindioaor tranflation; and, in the mean time, * to w^(hip and praife the gods; to do good to * men; to bear with them, and to refrain from make- * ing them any ill returns; and to remember, that (/) Plat, in Crit. («) De Confolar. ad Polyb. c. 29. {x) E/< Ia^tIv, I I. §. ul^ (y) lb. i. 6. §. 8. {z.) lb. I. /. §. ly ' thofe T reparation for T>eath, 313 * thofe things which are from without, and depend * neither upon their own bodies or fouls, are neither * theirs, nor at their difpofal. And again, fays he^ * {a) He determines the end of thy adling here, who * was formerly the caufe of thy being, and is now * of thy diflblution ; neither of which is thine own * doing. Wherefore be fure to depart hence well * plealed ; for he that difmiffes thee, is fo.' Theoph. If the light of nature could teach fuch a fubmiflion to Almighty God, how much more Ihould the dodrines of the Gofpel incline us all to a ready compliance with whatfoever'is well pleafmg to him ! And the fick man therefore would do well, to recol- Je<5t that God's will is not only fupreme, abfolute, and independent, but moreover is infinitely righteous and wife ; that he underllands all things, and knows the tendencies, and forefees the events of them, and what good or hurt there is in them •, and, confequently, all his difpenfations towards any of us muft be really beft in themfelves, though we, at prefent, may not apprehend them to be fo. Eujeh, He might confider alfo, how much {h),tbe day of dne^s death is letter than the day of his birth \ that, as has been ^r^ already obferved, this life is full of mifery and trouble, and in no wife to be com- pared with the ineftimable joys and glories, the un- conceiveable blifs and felicity, of the other; that he is here but as a llranger and a pilgrim upon a journey, and that no pleafant one, towards a better country ; but Heaven is his end, his home, his Father's houfe, where alone he can be at reft, and where he will meet with the completed happinefs in all refpeds ; that here he is in fpiritual thraldom, liable to manifold temptations*, in a fort of fervitude to divers lufts and pleafures, which he cannot defend himfelf againft, without continual care and watchfulnefs 5 but there he will be abfolutely free, and reign in fplendor and ipajefty for ever and ever. (tf}E/f icti/Tci', I, 12. f u!c. {b] Ec;l?f. vH. i. {c) P. 2^0, &c. fheofb. 314 The more immediate Theoph, No doubt, thefe confiderations mud raife Tip the mind of a good man, above all he can meet with here below; and will make him not unwilling to be tranflated into that far better ftate. The traveller is never forry, that he has reach'd the end of his jour- ney, and is now at liberty to enjoy himfelf, and his friends. The labourer is glad, when his work is over, that he may retire, and take his reft. The mariner is full of joy, when he fees his port; and haftens with all the fpeed he can to get into it. The foldier is ready enough to betake himfelf to the refrefhment of his winter's eafe, when tired with the drudgery and danger of the fummer's campaign. And fliall not the Chriftian be as defirous of attaining his end, and as much difpofed to blefs himfelf in the attainment of it? When he is come to the utmoft term of his pilgrimage ; has fought the good fight of faith, and fimfhed his courfe with integrity, and a good con- fcience *, has laboured his appointed time in his Hea- venly Father's vineyard ; has been long tofled about in this world, as upon a tempeftuous fea *, and now fees before him a quiet •and fettled habitation, an im- mortal crown of glory^ a pleafant land, and a moft exceedingly valuable recompence of reward, an inhe- ritance incorruptible^ and undefiled^ that fadeth not away\ referved in Heaven for him ; what (hould make him fond of tarrying any longer here ? Eufeb, To meet with crofTes and vexation, to be fubjedl to loffes and difappointments, to be fick and die, is but the common fate of this mortal life -, and what the wifeft and moft honourable, and the richeft and moft potent Kings and Emperors, as well as their meaneft fubjefts, are liable to ; and it is a very unrea- fonable thing, for a prifoner to be fo in love with his' confinement, a captive with his chains, or a flave with his drudgery and ill ufage, as not readily to accept of a deliverance, when offered freely •, and without any other inconvenience, than quitting his ftation, and Preparation for T>eath, 3 1 f and removing at a diftance from the caufe of all his difTatisfadions and complaints. Theoph, The greateft and the beft of Princes are no more exempt from natural infirmities, and out- ward cafualties and accidents, than common people. They muft meet with oppofition, and difobedience, and treachery, and confpiracies, above the rate of others-, and muft be ill, and in pain, and give up the ghoft when their time comes, no lefs than the bafeft of their vafTals. Even our blefled Lord, the Son of God himfelf, was not only to die, but to die a pain- ful, ignominious, and accurfed death upon the crofs. And can any pretend to be his difciples, and refufe to be conformed to his example? It would certainly become us all, to fet him before us as a pattern for our pious imitation j and to beg, that the Will of God may be accomplifh'd in us, with the fame fubmilTion that he did; and not think ourfelves too good to drink of the cup that he drank of and be baptized with the bap* tifm that he was baptized withy or even to die a far eafier death than he died. So that the fick man can never hope to excufe himfelf, if he does not take care to bring all his longings and defires into fubjedion to the all-wife determinations of God concerning him; whether for profpericy or adverfity, health or fick- nefs, life or death : the doing which will not only be an acceptable fervice to Almighty God, and a jull acknowledgment of his fovereignty and dominion ; but will be a great eafe to his own mind, and the fureft method he can take to cure all thofe tormenting fears of death, to which he would ocherwife be liable. This will bring him to a compofednefs of thoughts under all events ; that whatever happens, he will never be difturbed at it to any great degree ; and fo he will be eafy both living and dying ; and in the readier way to be for ever happy, when he comes into the other world. Anchith, Oh, how happy were 1, If I could once throughly conquer myfeif in this refpecl, fo as to leave 3 1 6 The more immediate leave it intirely to Almighty God to choofe for mel This I have heartily endeavoured, and do yet, and will endeavour, as long as breath is \t{t in me ; and will beg of God to help my infirmities, and enable me to do it as I ought; as likewife, that whenever he takes me hence, he will take me to himfeif. A Prayer for an iatirqRefignation to the Divine Win. ^Rj^N9' me^ O Lord, a ready and conftant fuhf mtjjion to thy mofi boly^ moft juft^ and righteous U^lll, that whatever becomes of me^ I may always look up to thee^ as the Supreme Author of all events, may fee thy band in every thing that hefals me-, and may comfort myfelfto thinks that, in all my troubles and dtf- fictilties, 1 have yet a good and gracious God to take care of me. It is unfpeakable love in thee^ to concern thyfelf for us poor mortals, finjul dufi and afhes : yet, Jtnce thou dofi not difdain to charge thy good Providence with us, and our affairs, never fuffer any of us, I be^ feech thee, to make fo ill ufe of thy condefcenfion, as to fhew ourfelves dijjatisfied at any of thy moft adverfe difpenfations towards us -, but to believe they will cer* tatnly turn to our advantage, if we be difpofed to receive them as we ought. Be with me in particular, and fo guide and over-rule all my defires, that they may he in^ tirely fubje^i to thy determination , that I may take patiently all thou lay eft upon me-, and whether thou defigneft me for life or death, this or the other world, J may reft affured, that thou knoweft how to chufe for me, far better than I can for myfelf-, and may be eafy and contented in whatever condition, praying, after the example of our blejfed Lord, Not my will, but thine be done. Grant this, O Father, for the fake of the fame thy Son our Lord and Saviour, Amen. Anqthcr, A "Trepafatiov. for ^eath. 3 1 7 Another, for an eafy Departure hence. NB may it feem good in thy fights O gracious Lord, to [often the pains of my prefent ficknefs^ and approaching agonies, and to grant me a gentle paffage through the gate of death, ^hou knowejl the weaknefs and frailty of human nature : Oh, that it may pleafe thee to lay no heavier load upon me, than is 7i€ceffary for me! hut grant me a favourable and happy departure out of this miferable world, that I may die with a quiet mind, and a peaceful confcience^ and no exceffive nor lafting bodily pains, fhis my own fears frefs me to beg of thee^ and I do it accordingly ; hut yet with all fubmiffion to thy moft holy IVill, which I fray may be done, tho thou fhouldeft have detennined otherwife concernijtg me. Only then I bcfeech thee to furnifh me with patience, and fupport me with fpiritual Comforts, and not fuffer my ghoftly enemy to terrify afid moleft me. And the nearer I come to my dijfolution, the more plentifully do thou manifeft thy mercy towards me, through Jefus Chrift my dear Redeemer^ and only Lord and Saviour. Amen. Another, for a Tranflation into a better State. AND^ when I take leave of this earthly body, receive -^ me^ I beg, into thy favour. Give thy holy angels charge over 7ne, to condu5f me fafe into thy kingdom^ and flace me amongft the faints in lights in the bofom of Jefus, Watch over me for good •, take my foul unto thyfelf^ walked and cleanfed in the blood of Chrift. And grants at lengthy to this decaying body^ a blejfed refurreofion^ and reunion to its former companion, that both joul and body may be glorified together \ and that I may everlaftingly praife and magnify thy holy Name, founding forth eternal hallelujahs^ and faying with thofe in the Jpocalyvfey BLESSING, AND HONOUR, AND GLORT, AND F O IV E R. BE TO HIM THAT sirrErn upon ^the throne, AND TO THE LAMB, FOR EVER AND EVER, Amen. Theopb^ 3 1 8 The Sick Mans T>epartute. 'Theoph, I make no queltion, Anchithanes^ but you really labour after the blefled frame of mind, and the happy tranflation hence, you fo heartily pray for. But we mud now take our leaves of you : and I be- feech Almighty God to fend you a quiet night, and to have you always in his protedion, whether living or dying. Eufeb. We ought, indeed, to be going ; but that I fee '^heodorus coming, and it will be fit to ftay and join with him in prayer for our worthy friend. Anchith. I beg this piece of friendfhip of you both; for I have great need of the prayers of all my friends. Theod. Peace he to this houfe^ and all that dwell in it. Theoph, We were juft leaving Anchithanes to his reft, having fufEciently tired him with a long vifit ; but, feeing you coming, we refolved to tarry a little longer, and offer up our prayers with you on his be- half, for his recovery, if it feem good to the Divine Wifdom 5 or qM^ for his admiffion into eternal happi* nefs. Tloeod, Then, if you pleafe, we will begin. Theoph, As loon as you pleafe, Theodorus \ for it is more than time we were gone. 'Theod. I will not keep you any longer. Prayers being ended^ the others withdraw^ leaving Theodorus alone with Anchithanes; who^ after a little feafonaUe and pious advice^ left him too, ne End of the fifth VISIT. The fixth VISIT. Eufeb. nnImoth:us and Philogeiton^ you come very -* feafonably. I was juft going to call upoa Theophiius, that we might make good our promife to Anchithanes^ ac whofe houfe we expected to meet you. ^ Ti?notheus, The Sick Maris ^Departure, 319 Timotheus, We are ready to attend you. Eufeb. Here neophilus is coming, and another with him. '^heoph. Well met. Sirs. Here is a mefienger from Anchithanes^ to acquaint me, that he is much changed fince yefterday, and feems to be very near his end. Timoth. Then, if you pleafe, let us lofe no time, that we do not come too late, Theoph, He was very weak, and his fpirits low and faint, yefterday ; and, if he be much altered fince, he cannot be expe(5ted to laft long *, fo that, if we would hope to do him any fervice, we ought to make what hafte we can. Philog. Pray let us. And if we Ihould not be able to do him any kindnefs, yet it will be a confi- derable kindnefs to ourfelves, to behold a fpedlacle of mortality ; that will naturally put us \n mind of our own frailty, and the uncertainty of this tranfitory life. neoph. It is no fmall piece of wifdom to number our days aright. And nothing tends more to put us upon this, than to fee others, of the like frame and conftitution with ourfelves, ilruggling for breath, and at length giving up the ghoft. Timotb, This muft put us upon refledling what is like to become of us, when we leave this world, and follow them j and, by confequence, upon preparing for our change, which may poffibly be much nearer to fome or all of us, than we apprehend. Eufeh, We cannot be too fenfible of the reafon we all have to look forward to another life, and to get our fouls in a readinefs for death, which is the only paflage into it ; and which if it ftiould feize us un- prepared, we muft look to have the door eternally lliut againft us. Serv. Will you pleafe to walk in ? My mafter is ex- tremely weak i and, if you had ftay'd a little longer, you would hardly have found him alive. Theoph, 320 The Sick Maris T>epdrture. neoph. We came to that end ; and I pray God we may find him in a condition to be difcourfed with. Sen), His underftanding is found and well, but his fpirits fink apace, fo that it is but little you can exped: him to fay. Theoph, Anchithanes^ we are come now as we pro- mifed. Pray how are you to-day ? Anckith. Weak, very weak. Eu[eb. God be thanked, you are yet alive^ and like to be happy, 1 truft, either in this, or the other world. Anchlth. As it (hall pleafe God. I am in his hand ; and he orders all things, and knows what is belt for me: and whatfoever he fhall determine concerning me, I fliall think beft. Timoih, You judge, and fpeak, as becomes a good Chriftian. What Almighty God does, being always the effed: of infinite Wifdom and Goodnefs, is always beft. And it is therefore by much a prudenter and fafer courfe, to give ourfelves up to his difpofal, than to chufe for ourfelves, whatever the cafe be, Anchlth, I am abundantly fatisfied it is : and this makes me very eafy. And, I thank God, I do moft heartily fay for myfelf, as £//did, upon Samiters heavy mefifage to him ; [t) It is the Lord: let him do what feemetio him good. I am coming, O my God : prepare me, I befeech thee, for the everlafting enjoyment of thee ; that I may live with thee for ever, and eternally found forth thy praifes. Philog. I truft in God you will. Anchith. 1 would gladly take leave of my family, and leave fome parting advice with them, before I am taken from them ^ and, to that end, have fent for them in. But I find I muft reft awhile, I am fo much fpent with that little I have now faid. Theoph, Very well moved ! this being a time when ilich advice is like to make the deepeft imprefllon upon them, and may, not improbably, be of ever- l.i fling advantage to them. Eufeb. The Sick Man's departure, 521 Eufeb, It is commonly obferved, that the words of dying perfons have a particular regard paid to them^ above any thing they had faid at other times. neoph. And there are divers reafons for it. For if a man be ever ferious, and in earnefl, he will be fo then ; and if thofe he fpeaks to are ever difpofed to hearken to, and remember what he fays, this is the time, when they are jufl parting, and can hope for no farther communication with him •, when they are <.kfirous of fomething to remember him by, and of fomething wherein to Ihew their refped to his mcr mory ; when his words are a fort of legacies to thofe that hear them, and they think themfelves oblig'd^ accordingly, prefendy to refolve to fulfil the will of the dead •, and the fenfe they then have, above other times, of their own mortality, makes them ferious and fmcere in their refolutions. Eufeh, For thefe reafons I cannot wholly diflike Anchithanes's defign : but I think, however, he would do well to have a regard to his own want of Itrength, and be as jfhort as he can. 'J'heoph, That would be advifeable ; that he preju- dice not himfelf by too much fpeaking : for I find he is very weak. Anchith. In truth I am fo j and will therefore fol- low your advice. 'To bis wife, ' You fee, my deareft wife, in what & * condition I lie here, looking continually to be ta- * ken from thee, my loving and dear companion ; and * I truft in God, it is in order to a better Aate, a ' ftate of incomparable blifs, and eternal happinels. * Wherefore I beg of thee, not to be grieved upon my * account. I have run my race, have finifhed my * years allotted me upon earth *, and do willingly quit * this life, in obedience to the Divine Will, and in ' hope of thofe incflimable rewards, which are pro- * misM by the Gofpel to all who duly labour after ^ them. Neither be thou too folicitous for thyfelf, and \ our dear children j for thou knoweft very well, that . A a * Almighty 5 2 2 The Sick Man*s "Departure. * Almighty God has promis'd to take a particular care * of (J) the fatherlefs and widows and thou needed not * doubt but he will make good his word to thee, if * thou ftedfaftly putted thy trud in him. There is * nothing, I find, fo hard for me to part with, as with * thee, my dear, dear wife •, however, fince it is God's * Will, I willingly leave thee. But yet I do it with a * firm perfuafion, that thou wilt fo proceed to order * thy life in the fear of God, that we may meet * again, and be infinitely happy in the other world * for evermore. Thou had been a very kind and lov- * ing wife to me, and I have endeavoured not to be * wanting in return of afftdion to thee. But if I have ' fail'd of my duty, I heartily beg pardon for it. Take * care of thyfelf, that thou fet the Lord always be- ' fore thee, and walk always as in his fight, and as re- ' membring the account thou mud give to him at the ^ lad day. Take care of my children, to indrud them ^ in their duty, and to prefs them to obferve it. Be a ' kind midrefs to thy fervants ; and fet thyfelf, both ' to the children and them, a pattern of good works ; ^ that fo thou mayed have obedient children, and * faithful and orderly fervants ; mayed be belov'd of * God, and all good Chridians ; and that, thro* the ' mercy of God, and our bleflfed Saviour's merits and ■ mediation, we may have a joyful meeting in a happy ' eternity. To his children, * God Almighty blefs you all, my ' dear children, and make you his faithful and obe- ' dient fervants. Remember the advice of your dy- ing father; obferve it now, and keep it in mind when I am gone. Be fure to ferve and pleafe God t get yourfclves well indrudled in your religion. And as you are happily members of the bed condi- tuced church now in the world, be fure to continue always fo, believing its dodlrines, and following its diredlions. See that ye dedfadly retain the faith taught in it from the Holy Scriptures, and embrac'd {d) Pfal. cxlvi. 5?. * and The Sick Mans T>eparture. 323 and maincain'd through all the firft and pureft ages of Chriftianity ; and let your pradice always be accordingly. Remember God always fees you, and do nothing that you would not have him privy to, or which you fliall wifli you had not done, when ye (ball come at the laft day to give up your ac* counts to him -, nor to leave undone, what you (hall then wi(h you had performed. Be mindful of your duty to him, and he will be mindful of you, will take you into his protedlion, and will be an infinitely better Father to you, than I could ever be. Fear him j love him \ honour him ; ferve him -, never omic your prayers to him *, praife him for all his benefits; and in all things ftudy to approve yourfelves to him. Be conllant in reading the holy fcriptures ; and obferve well what you read, to treafure it up in your minds, and pradife it in your lives. Avoid idle«efs, and bad company, and always afifociate yourfelves with thofe that are good. Put your truft always in God •, and undertake nothing of any mo- ment, without firft begging his blefling upon it. Be fure never to fwear in your converfation ; nor to tell lyes, upon whatever account. Be dutiful and loving to your kind and tender mother. Pray for her. Ho- nour her for God's fake, v^ho has requir'd it of you ; for my fake, who am now leaving you •, and for your own fake, that fhe may not be forc'd at the Jafl great day, to appear as a witnefs againft you, and accufe youof dilbbedience j and that God may blefs you with a long and happy life upon earth, and with eternal blils and felicity in heaven. And when ye come into the world, be jufl: and honeft in all your dealings ; courteous and obliging to all ; help- ful and charitable to all that need it •, refpeclful to your fuperiors ; and thankful for any kindnefTes that are done you. Shun all excefs in meat and drink, efpecially in the latter. Moderate your paf- fions *, forgive injuries ; love your enemies; and do to all, as ye would they fhould do to you. Confider A a 2 ' ic ^IJ^ The Sick Mans T>eparture, * it is but a little time you have to live here, an * let it therefore be your daily care to provide for a * better and more lading ftate. Be good, and do * your duty, in all refpedts •, and then God will love, * and as I faid before, will be the bed of fathers to * you. To his fervants. ' The time of my departure be- * ing now at hand, I fent for you, to take my leave * of you, and to give you my parting advice, in hope ' you will attend to it, and remember and pradife it. * I thank you for the good fervices ye have done me. * And I now defire, that fo long as any of you tarry * here, ye will behave yourfelves in the fame manner * towards your miflrefs. Be faithful and diligent in ' your fervice, (e) Obey her, as the Apoftle requires * Hoi with eye-fervice, as 7nen-pleafers, hut in finglenefs of * hearty fearing God, And whatjoever ye do for her, do * it heartily y as your duty to the Lord, and not to her * only ; knowing that, for fo doing, ye fhall receive of the ^ Lord the reward of your labours, the inheritance of the ' fons of God ',for in iWx^ye ferve the Lord Chrijl, Flee * all ftubbornnefs, anfwering again, lyes, pilfering, ' waftefulnefs, idlenefs, negligence, breach of trult, , * drunkennefs, fornication, vain oaths, bad compar^y, * or v/hatever is unbecoming the profeflion of Chrifti- * anity. Live always as in the fight of God ; let hi?n * he your fear, and let hitn he your dread; and be fure, * above all things, never knowingly to offend him, * that he may recompenfe you in part here, and more ' abundantly hereafter.' I am very faint. Thejph. No wonder ; for you have fpoke beyond^ your llrength. Anchith, I lind I have. And yet I mull proceed, to thank you all, my good friends, for all your kindnefs to me; for which I befcech Almighty God to reward you plentifully ; and Tbeodorus too, to whom pray give my parting thanks. I can fay no more. I am going. 1 pray God blefs us all, and grant us a happy meeting (6' Col. iii. 12, 2 0, i^. 5 in The Sick Mans "Departure, 32 jf .ii> Fleaven.'^ And To, deareft wife, and all hereprefent, adieu. Pray to God for me, when I can no longer pray for myfelf. Timoth, He feems to be going to (leep. Theopb, He is quite fpent, and has need of reft; the Lord grant him it. Eufeb. And when he Ihall be taken hence, the Lord grant him eternal reft. Ml of them. Amen. Theoph, What a happinefs it is to die in the fear of God, and as becomes a good Chriftian ! Let us re- member, and never forget it, that death is, in this cafe, a deliverance from all our cares and troubles, fears and difquietudes,lofresand difappointments, from all pain and ficknefs, and from all fin and wickednefs ; and a tranflation into the utmoft happinefs we are capable of enjoying, the prefence and fruition of God, the fociety of our blefled Saviour, of the blefled angels, and the faints of all ages, and all thofe unconceivable rewards, which are promifed in the Gofpel to fuch as believe in Chrift, and ferve and obey him. Enfeb, This is a happinefs indeed! and in this hap- py ftate we may juilly exped our good friend will be in a very little time, through the merits and medi- ation of Chrift. Timoth. And what a comfort muft it be to his dear* eft friends, that he fliall be gone only into that place of glory, whither we all defire and hope to come in God's due time ! Philog. if) Right dear in the fight of the Lord is the death of his faints^ fays the royal pfalmift. And it 13 well Hiid by the author of the book of'Pl^fdom, to the fame purpofe: (g) The fouls of the righteous are in the hand of God, and there fhall no torment touch them. In the fight of the unwife they feemed to die ; and their de* parture was taken for mifery ; and their going from us to be utter definition : but they are in peace. For though they be punifh d in the fight of men \ yet is their hope Jull (f) P.al. cxvi. I/, (g) Wilci, ;ii. x, ^c, A a 3 « 3 2 (> The Sick Mayis T>eparture. cf immortality. And having been a little chajlifed^ they Jhall be greatly rewarded : for God proved them^ and found them worih-j for himfelf. As gold in the furnace hath he tried them^ and received them as a burnt -offering. And again, (h) The righteous live for evermore, their reward alfo is with the Lord^ and the care of them is with the Ajoji High, Therefore fh all they receive a glorious kingdom, and a beautiful crown, from the Lord's hand \for with his right- hand. fJoall he cover them^ and with his arm Jhall he froteot them. Theoph. Death is a dark paflage, but which brings to the land of light and glory j a night that ends in eternal day ; a deliverance from all evil, and the only entrance into everlafting happinefs. I truft it will be fo to good Jnchithanes', and 1 befeech Almighty God it may ; and to all of us, when our time fhail come. Eufeb. God grant it to him, and all of us. Tiinoth. Amen, Amen. Theoph. Let us therefore prepare ourfclvcs for it, hting Jledfafl and unmov cable \ always abounding in the work of the Lord ; forafmuch as we knozv^ that our labour jhall not be in vain in the Lord, Philog, This it highly concerns us all to be ; and I hope we fhall none of us negle6t it, fince we know of what dreadful confequence fuch negled will certainly prove. Timoth, He begins to ftir : fee if he be not awake. Theoph, How do you find yourfelf now, Anchitha- ftes? He makes no anfwer ; and, by his looks, I que- llion whether he will ever awake more in this world. For he feems to me to be in the agony of death. Vv2iy^Philogeiion^ will you be fo kind as to flep for Theo- dorusy and beg of him to come, with all the fpeed he can, to finiQi his kind offices for this good man, by praying for him now at his departure ? Philog, I go, Sir ; and will make all the hafle I can, Timoth, Hold, neighbour ; you need not give your- felf the trouble \ for Tbeodsrus is coming up the ftairs. {h) mcd. V. ij-. 16, Tbeo^4. The Sick Mans Departure. 527 neod. Pray how does Anchithanes? 1 fijppofe draw- ing to his latter end. Etifeb. He isfo very near it, that we were juft fend- ing to intreat your aflillance, that you would pleafe to pray for him once more. And it is the lad trou- ble he is like to give you, till you come to place him in his long home, Theod. If you pleafe then, we will begin. Theoph. He feems to be juft at the point of death ; fo that you will hardly have time for more than the recommendatory colled. Theod, If you think fo, I will ufe that. The Recommendatory Colled. Almighty God, with whom do live the fpiriis of juft men made perfe^^ after they are delivered from their earthly prifons ; we humbly commend the foul of this thy Jervant^ our dear brother^ into thy hands^ as into the hands of a faithful Creator, and moft ?nerciful Saviour •, moft hum^ hly befeeching thee^ that it may be precious in thy fight. Wafh it, we pray thee, in the blood of that immaculate Lamb, that was fain to take away the fins of the world \ that whatfoever defilements it may have contra5ied in the midft of this miferable and naughty world, thro^ the lufls of thefiefh, or the wiles of Sat an, being purged and done away, it may be prefentedpure, and without fpot , before thee. And teach us, whofurvive, in this, and other like daily fpe- 5la£les of mortality, to fee how frail and uncertain our own condition is ; andfo to number our days, that we may fieri* oufiy apply our hearts to that holy and heavenly wfdom^ whilfi we live here, which may in the end bring us to lifie everlafting, through the merits of Jefus Chrifi thine only Son our Lord, Amen. Eufeb. Almighty God feems to have heard our pray- ers, and taken him to himfelf. Theod. Is he quite dead ? ^imoth. Yes, Sir, he is. A a 4 ^h^od^. 328 The Sick Man's Departure, "^heoL He is delivered out of a miferable, trouble- fome world ; and, I doubt not, is in happinefs. And I pray God prepare us all to follow him, that when our time (hail come, we may die as quietly and chriftianly as he has done, and be for ever happy, as I truft he is. Theopb, May we lay this inftance of our mortality to heart, and ftudy to make a good improvement of it. Eiifeh. That fo we may die the death of the righteous^ and our la ft; end m^y he like his, Tbeod, I will follow the poor affli6led gentlewo- man, and try to comfort her under this her fad lofs ; which I fear lies heavy upon her, confidering how loving and tender a husband fhe has parted with. Theopb, Be pleafed to allure her, we are all par- takers in her afflidion ; and do befeech Almighty God to fupport her under it, and to fandlify it to her. • Eufeb. We can do no fervice, I believe, by (laying. ^imotb. And I l^all be wanted at home 'Theoph. Therefore we had bed be going. Philog, , If you pleafe. ^heoph. Who would have thought but three weeks fmce, that our good friend (hould have been taken from us by this time ? But fo it has pleafed God, who does TiOthi'ig but with the greatefl wifdom and equity, and "wh fe Will therefore is always bed. iZ^/c^. This (hews how little dependence there is upm this life, even when in our perfedeft health and grratefl flrength. Timoih, We fee, by this inftance, how eafily the m.oft (i) athletic confticution is overcome by ficknefs i and that, were we not liable to multitudes of outward unfore- {^tx\ accidents, befides many inward latent diftcmpers, each of which may eafily difpatch us, were we not liable to thefe quicker means offending us out of the world, yet could we have no fecuriry of our lives, when we fte one ready to be laid in the earth, who, not many days fince, was, to all apperancc, as itrong and healthy, [i) Qu s eft tam (lultus (quamvis fit sdolefcens} cui lie explorarum, |*c d y.ppcram cfle Vidurum? QV. «V Se*ft?. and The Sick Mans Depart urti 32^9 and as like to live to a good old age, as any one of us, God grant we may all make a good ufe of it. But my way lies here. Fhilog, And mine too. So that we mull both beg your excufe, that we do not wait upon you farther. neoph, I heartily wifh you a good night, neigh- bours ; and thank you for your good company hither. Eufeh, A good aight to you both, after this mourn- ful providence. God fend us a happy meeting, where death fhall be no more. "Theoph, Death indeed were a very melancholick fcene, did it put an end to our being. But it is the great benefit of Chriftianity, and the good man finds it a fmgular defence againft the fear of death, that {k) life and immortality is brought to light by the Gojpel, Eufeb. It is now more evident and indifputable than it was before. But the world had a notion of it be- fore ; the Jews were taught it, and the Gentiles had an expedtation of a future ftate. ThGoph. The Jews, it is true, were taught to ex- pert another life after this ; as it is plain from the lail words of Eccleftaftes : (/) Let us hear the conclufton of the whole matter : Fear God, and keep his commandments % tixy^r^ bD ni o for this is the whole of man, or every man ; or, as the Chaldee paraphraft renders it, ms ought to be every man's way ; to the fame purpofe with our £«^///?>tranflation, This is the whole duty of man. For God fhall bring every work to judgment, with every fecret thing, whether it he good, or whether it be evil. As likewifefrom feveral pafiages in the book of (?«) Wif dom, and(»)the fon q{ Sirach, and from the relation of the mother and her feven children, in the ftory of the {0) Maccabees, who were tortured, not accepting de- liverance, that they might obtain the better refurrellion. And the Gentiles too had feme notions of another life, and of its rewards and punilhrne^ts ; as appears, {k) 2 Tim. i. 10. (/) Ecclerxif. 15, 14. {m) Wifd.iii. i» 0^, find y, 15-, 16. («) Ecclus. xviii. 10, artilKXi. 2 10, Jin4x\i 10* (0) 2i\Ucc.vii= i« -^ ^6. 330 The Sick Man's T>eparture. noc only from the fidlions of the poets, accommodated to the more ufual opinion in this refped ; but from divers fayings of their graver and more ferious phi- lofophers, {p) Socrates^ (q) Cato^ (r) Tully^ (j) and others. Yet all the intimation, not only thefe, but the Jews alfo, had of a future (late, were obfcure and unfatisfadtory, in comparifon of the far clearer reve- lations of the Gofpel in this refpedl. So that, however any, before our Saviour's incarnation, might be tempted to fufped:, left their fouls (hould live no longer, when once the body is dead ; thofe Chriftians muft be wil- fully blind, that fhall fuffer themfelves now in the leaft to doubt of It. Eufeh. This is undeniably manifeft, from our Savi- our's life, and fufferings, and death ; which had all been ufelefs, and to no purpofe, if there were to be no other life after this. Theoph, True. He came to redeem us from eter- nal torments, and to purchafe for us eternal life. And therefore, fays St. John^ (t) This is the recordy that he hath given to us eternal life ; and this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son, hath life j and he that hath not the Son of God^ hath not life, Eufeh, This is moreover indifputably evident from thofe words of our Saviour, which are the conciufion of the account he gives us of the laft judgment ; {u) Thefe fhall go away into everlajling puni/hment *, but the righteous into life eternal, Eufeh. There are alfo divers other moft exprefs de- clarations to this purpofe in the New Teftament. Theoph, Yes, a great many. Our blefied Saviour promifes, that they {x) who have forfaken houfes^ or brethren^ or filers^ or father^ or mother, or wife^ or (p) Plat, Socrat. Apol c. 11,12, &.Ph$d. c. 7. 2c 14, &c. Cic. ,de Amicitia. ' (q) Cic. de Senea. (r) Ibid. {s) Diog. Laert. in Vit.Thaletis.Cic. dc Amic.CIem. Alex. Strom.' 1. 1, p. 303. Sc 1.5. p. 5-48. Laftant. Inftit. 1. 7. c. 7. Macrob. Somn. Scip. 1. 2. c. 13. Porphyrii Sentenr. (/) 1 John v. 11, 12. («) Matth.xxv. 46. ix) Matth. xix. 25. children^ \ The Sick Mans departure, 331 children^ or lands ^ for his name's fake^ Jhall receive hn bundred-fold^ and Jhall inherit everlafting life. As he had, but a little before, in the f;imechapier, given this ad vice to the young man, who came to him for di- redion in order to falvation j (y) If thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments. And that this life was luch as was to endure for evermore, appears from the queftion pur, in the verfe immediately foregoing; (2) Good mafler, what good thing JJjall I do, that I may have eternal life ? For tho' our Saviour mentions only life in general, yet his anfwer being given in relation to the preceding queftion, the life here fpoken of muft be the fame in both verfes ; and by confequence the latter, as well as the former, muft mean eternal life, Confonantly whereto, Sc.P^«/,fpeaking of our Saviour's coming to judge the world, exprefles himfelf in this manner : [a) The Lord himfelf Jhall defend from Heavtn^ with a Jhout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God j and the dead in Chr'ifl fhall rife firft : then we which are alive, and remain, Jhall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air-, and fo Jhall we, not for a little time, or a fee number of years, but EVER, be with the Lord. And St. Peter, exhorting the elders, whether bifhops or presbyters, carefully to feed the flock of Chrijl, en- forces his exhortation with this encouraging profped; namely, that (h) When the chief Shepherd fhall ap- /pear, ye Jhall receive a crown of glory, that fadeth not away \ and which muft therefore laft for ever and ever. And many other places there are to the famcef- fed: in the New Teftament, which I forbear to recite. Eufeb. You need not s for thefe are fo clear and full to the purpofe, that nothing can be more. Theoph, But this is not all our happinels ; but our bodies fhall alfo be raifed again at the end of the world, and reunited to their former fouls, that fo the whole man may glorify God, and be for ever happy with him. j {y) Marth. xix. 17. {z) Vcr. i<5. (4) 1 Thcf. iv. 16, 17. Ik) \ Per. V. 4. Eufei. 332 The Sick Maris ^Departure. Eufeh. St. Paul delivers it, not only as a certain, but as a known and undoubted truth, {c) We know^ fays he, that if our earthly hoiife of this tabernacle were Sffolved^ we have a building of God^ an houfe not made with hands^ eternal in the Heavens. Theoph. And at another time he declares it to be the hope and expedation, and the great encourage- ment, of Chriftians, to have their bodies not only railed, but refined and purified, that they may be fie recepta- cles for glorified fouls, (dj We look for the Saviour^ the Lord Jefus Chrift : who Jloall change our vile hody^ that if may he fafhioned like unto his glorious hody^ by the mighty poiver^ whereby he is able to fubdue all things unto himfelf. Eufeh, How comfortable is this I Tbeopb, A mighty comfort certainly ! to think, that tho' we die, and have our bodies laid in the grave, they fhall not always remain there j but we fhall be ie) like God in our fouls, and have our (/) bodies fafhioned like our blefTed Saviour's glorified body ; and fo fhall be infinitely more happy, than we can at prefent exprefs or conceive. Eufeb, God grant it to you and me. Theoph. So 1 pray too. But yet never doubt it, if we be but qualified for fo great and ineftimable a blef- fednefs. And let this therefore be our continual care, to work out our fal-vation with fear and trembling ; to lay up to ourfelves treafures tn Heaven^ and to pafs the time of cur fojourning here^ in all holy converfation and godlinefs^ that fo we may not only eafily and readily leave this life, whenever we fhall be called out of it, but, dying in the faith and fear o'i God ^ may have an entrance mmijlred unto us abundantly^ into the kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jefus Chrift, Eufeh, Amen. Theoph. (^g) And the very God of peace fan^ify us wholly: and^ I pray Godj our whole fpirit^ andfoul^ and (") 2 Cor. V. I, {(l) Phil.iii. ao, ii. (f) i John iii. i. !f) rhi . iii. 2 1. (g) I Their v. 13. hdy^ The Sick Mans T>eparture. 333 lody^ he preferved hlamelefs^ unto the coming of our Lordjefus Chrift, Ell j eh. Amen. Theopb, We have now done all the fervice we can to our good neighbour, now with God •, unlefs it be to attend his body to the grave : and, I prefume, you will not fail af doing that laft office for him. Eufeb, God willing, I (hall be there. neoph. Though we are forbid to {h) forrow as men without hope,, for them that Jleep in Chrift ; yet a de- cent regard to the remains of our deceafed friends is what has been always thought requifite. (i) Man^ faith Solomon^ goeth to his long homey and the mourners go about theftreets. And I would not be wanting to pay this laft refpe<51: to our good neighbour ; and to join with the congregation, in giving thanks,^ for that it hath pleafed God to deliver this our brother cut of the miferies ofthisfinful world ; and hefeeching that^ of his gracious goodnefs^it may pleafehimjhortly to accomplijb the number of his ele5i^ and to haft en his kingdom ; that we^ with all thofe who are departed in the true faith of his holy name ^ may have our perfe5l confummation and hlifsy both in body and foul^ in his eternal and everlaft" ing glory,, through Jefus Chrift our Lord. Theoph, And may the Almighty vouchfafe to hear you, and all of us-, and to grant, that we may meet with good Anchithanes in the kingdom of Heaven, and be for ever happy with him, through the fame our Lord Jefus Chrift. Eufeb. Amen. Theoph, I heartily thank you, Eufebius, for your good company ; and I wifh you a good night. Enfeb. I humbly thank you, Tbeopbilus^ for the be- nefit I have had by your converfation , and I wifh you alfo a good night. {h) iThd'.i/. 13. (i; Ecclcf. xii. ;. The End of the laft VISIT. SOME FEW MEDITATIONS Ufeful at all Time s, But more efpecially in theTimeof SICKNESS: Whereby to excite to the more Diligent Preparation for DEATH. Commune with your ovjti heart in your chamber y and he ftilL Pfal. iv. 4. Meditatio fiquidem parit Sclentiam : Scientia Com- pun(5tionem ; Compundlio Devotionem : Devotio perficit Orationem. B^ Augufi. de Spirifu ^ Animay c, ^o. C 337 3 SOME SHORT MEDITATIONS, &c. THERE is nothing in the word of God, none of the revelations he has thought fit to make mankind^ that does not well deferve each one's frequent confider- ation. And therefore it were eafy to furnifh out a large catalogue of particulars^ as fome have done, not only for every month, or week, but for every day in the year. But, not being willing to burden thefick man with too great a number of fubje^fs for hisferious thoughts, at a feafon when his faculties, perhaps, are tnuch impaired^ or^ at leaft, fo taken up with his ficknefs, that he can think on little elfe for any time together, I have therefore chofen te mention only a few, leaving him either to inlarge upon them in his medi- tations^ or to add to them, if he find himfelf able, and Jhall fee occafion for it. I. On the Vanity y Infufficiencyy andTranJitorinefs of all Earthly Enjoyments. T Eafily fee, that thofe temporal enjoyments are great •■" blefllngs, when all things elle concur to promote our welfare, and we are mindful to make fuch ufe of them, as that they may not obftrud, but help forward^ our eternal falvation ; when God gives them in mercy, and the pofieflTor ufes them with caution, gratitude, E b and 338 ME'DITATIONS. and charity, to the Donor's glory, and the fupply of his own and others necefTities •, not in luxury or extra- vagance, to gratify his own lulls, or opprefs his Tiieaner neighbours ; and whilft he fufFers not the love of them to make him in any wife regardlefs of his duty at prefent, or of another life hereafter : which if they at any time do, they are fore judgments, and to be looked upon as fuch, and there is no caufe to rejoice in the attainment, or other poflefTion, of them. In this cafe it maybe faid of them, as of the ftrange woman in the {a) Proverbs^ They have caft down many wounded : yea^ manyftrong men have been/Iain by them. Their houfe^ the place where they are to be had, is the way tohell^ going down to the chambers of death. But, fetting afide this mod weighty consideration, and looking upon them only as they are in themfelves, and with regard only to this prefent life, and the conveniences of it, they by no means deferve to be made the chief end of any man's ftudies and endea- vours j but efpecially not of a Chriftian's, who has infinitely more defirable rewards offered him, if he will but be perfuaded diligently to feek after them. Such an one Ihould never fuffer himfelf to fct his afFedions upon what perhaps he has no need of, or, ic may be, will ferve bnt to increafc his cares. For, alas ! all the privileges and pofTefTions of this world are, even in their mod gaudy appearances, and with their greatefl; advantages, but, as (b) Hip- farchits the Pythagorean pronounces concerning them, aTATO. ^ a.CiQe»,i IT A T I N S. 339 they do not fleep the better for it, but perhaps the worfe i nor are their bodies the lefs obnoxious to difeafes, but, it may be, the more \ nor their minds freer from troubles and vexations. Or, did ever fo great farisfa(5lion arife from thefe temporal good things, yet mud this neceifarily be of Ihort duration •, at moft but for this uncertain life, polTibly but for a very little part of it. (r) He that to-day ftruts in his gorgeous attire, loo.ks big, lives high, and glories mod in his peculiar hap- pinefs above his neighbours, knows not yet to what an ebb the morrow may reduce him, and how much more miferable he may come to be, than thofe whona he moft defpifes. How many have I myfell known, and how many more have 1 heard or read of, who have been fuddenly cut off in the midft of their mirth and jollity, and, when defigning to inlarge their treafuries, and td folace themfelves with the beloved fruits of their labours, have been untxpededly ftripped of their deareft enjoyments, being prefently impoverifhed by fire, by water, by tempefts, by loiles abroad, or by treachery at home, by thtir own imprudence, or ill management of their affairs, or by a fecret curfe of God going along with what either their anceftors, or themfelves, had unjuftly gotten ! And have I not feen or heard of others, whom an indifpofition of body, or uneafinefsof mind *, a dif- order'd underftanding, or a guilty confcience ; the enmity of others, or their own ungovernable avarice or ambition ; a luftful manner of life, or a certain peeviflioefs of temper, or fome other the like unhappy caufe, has made miferable in the midft of the greateft plenty ? Riches and fatisfadion do not always dwell together. But, had I everfo copious an affluence of the one, it were no impofTsbility for me to want the other j and fo to be ftill unhappy to a great degree. [c) Uufque Titan vtc|ic, atque unus dies Srantem & cadcnrem Sen. Here. Oct. v. 415. B b 2 Or, 540 M B T> 1 r A r 1 O N s. Or, again, if I could fuppofe myfelf, which is not reafonably to be fuppofed, could I fuppofe myfelf, I fay, to have all the fatisfadlion I could defire from thcfe worldly advantages, yet am I to remember, that it is only in this world than lean hope for the enjoy- ment of them. When Lucian fanfies, that {d) Menippus muft firftlay afide his ftafF and pouch, Charmoleus his beauty, Lampichus his robes and diadem, Damafim his crowns, Craio his dignities, the philofopher his beard, and the rhetorician his eloquence, before Charon would admit them into his boat, he does but ingeni- oufly defcribe the wretched (late of thofe who have nothing better than thefe fading enjoyments to truft to at their death •, inafmuch as whatever their poflef- fions be here, they mult be fure to leave them all be- hind them. They can (e) carry nothing away with them when the) die y neither Jhall their pomp follow them. The grcateft prince, the mod honourable potentate, Ihali have no advantage in the other world above the flicanefl peafant *, but every one fhall there be rewarded according to his doings in this life, not according to what he had pofTefTed in it. He will then find him- felf flripped of all he had mod valued himfelf upon here. And, in the mean time, it is eafy to obferve, how all his earthly enjoyments are both uncertain and unfatisfaftory, and fo can never make him truly hap- py i and by confequence he muft have made a very dear bargain for himfelf, tho' he had (/) gained tht whole worlds if at laft he lofe his immortal y2>«/ by it. And if the whole world, with all its advantages, were too mean a price for a foul, how can I be fo itu- pidly in love with it, as to forfeit my foul, and ruin myfelf to all eternity, for fo inconfiderable an inter- cft in it, as I can ever hope will fall to my (hare ? What an unaccountable folly and madnefs is this ! And how can I poflibly find in my heart to enflave myfelf to what muft by this means prove my inevitable deftru- (n what my relation to him, and the bleffings I have receivM from him require of me. I can never be too Careful to pleafe him, tho' I be ever fo intent upon his fervice, and tho' I watch day and night with all the diligence polTlble, that I be not any way drawn to O'iend him. He is our Lord and Creator ; we are his creatures and fubjcfts. He has abfolute fovereignty and dominion over us ; and as we are accountable to him. only for. what we do, fo are we accountable to him for ALL we do •, and mud exped, that he will mofl ceriainly reward or piinifh us everhiftingly, accord- ing as we either approve ourfelves to, or difobey him. Uj) Eufeh, Hill. Eccl. •'. 2. c. 17. Epiphan. Hxrcf 6i. B. Aug. de Hi^refibus. ''/) Luke xv!, 9. He ME'DITATIONS. 343 He (k) is our Lawgiver ^ our Juclge^ and our King^ who alone has the right to demand of me, and a^ll mankind, whatfoever (hall feem well-pleafing to him ; and we muft leave ourfelves without any excufe, if we do not indefatigably labour to anfwer our obligation. Think therefore, O my foul, what excefTive guilt mud I ne- cefliirily contra(^t, and to what intolerable vengeance do I jultly expofe myfelf, by every a6l of wilful difobe- dience ! If it be a heinous crime to offend an earthly prince, of the fame mortal conliitution with myfelf; a fellow- creature, who, tho' advanced far above me in the world, can no more fubfift of himfelf, than I can i who depends wholly, for both his being and well-being, upon God's good Providence, as much as 1 i and who (hall as certainly give up the ghoft and die, and be afterwards brought to judgment, as I (hall j \f it be fuch a heinous crime to offend fuch a prince, how much more heinous muft it be to offend the great and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords! And how can 1 anfwer it to my own confcience, or what can I think will become of me, if I allow myfelf to do it? He will not fail to (/) render to every man ac- eording to his deeds : to them whoy by patient continuance in well-doings feek for glory ^ and honour ^ and immortality^ eternal life •, hut to them who are contentious^ and obey not the truth y but obej unrig hteoufnefs^ indignation an4 wrath, tribulation and anguifJo, upon every foul of man that doth evil. And, by confequence, it is not only fhameful and highly mifbecoming, to behave myfelf undutiiully towards him \ but it is unconceivably dan- gerous, and the readieft way I can take to render myfelf for ever n"iiferable. It was not t;o gratify our unreafonable lulls and p.affions, and lead as fenfual lives as the brqte beafts, which have hq underftand- ing \ not to feek after pjefent perilliing enjoyments, nor to fpend our days incc^rnal pleafuresand delights, that we came into the world v but to {m) work out our falvation with fear and trembling, >,t0 make provifion \ki IT-, xxxiii. 1^. |/) Rom. ii. 6. 7, S^ 9, {m) Phil, ii- it. B b 4. f^r 344 M ET> I TA T I O N S. for a future ftate, and prepare ourfelves, by a truly Chriftian converfation, for the perpetual fruition of God in the higheft Heavens. And nothing can be more contradidlory to this great end of my being, than to indulge myfelf in any fort of wickednefs ; and thereby (n) treafure up to myfelf wrath againfl the day of wrath y and the revelation of the righteous judg" ment of God, ■ ^' . ^;*Nor rs -there any hope of efcape, if I do la For, as God is jtift, and v/ill not fail to avenge hirnfelf upon finners •, fo is jiis eye continually upon each one, to jbbferVe hfs doings, whether his (o) converfaticn he^ as becomes the Gofpel of Chrift , or whether he take • ' -^rty to tranfgrefs'hfs duty, and expofe himft-lr lu \ the tortures threatened to thofe that do fo. He s » -ry- ^Vhere prefent; neither h there d^ny 2iC^\on^ j ♦" rd, ^ty thought or defire, (pythat is not manfeft h his ftght •, his eyes' are in every place ^ heholdino the evu and ^he good, Where-ever I am, or howfoever employed, I am fure to be under his infpedion •, who fees me, and all my doings, tho* I fee not him. I can con- ceal nothing from him j not the moll fecret inclina- tions of my heart. And v/hat great need have I therefore, to be very cautious what I do, that it may be what he will approve of 1 Dare I take upon mc to provoke him to his face? If I dare, the confequence of fuch prefumption mud be very terrible, and mud leave me without all excufe, when 1 come at the laft day to appear before his tribunal. And, if I dare not, why do 1 ever give way to any temptation, feeing I know beforehand, that fuch compliance, how private foever, can no more be hid from his omnilcience, than if it had been publickly proclaimed on the houfe-top ? He knows how to (q) bring to light the hidden things of darknefs, and make manifeft the counfels of the heart \ and there is no impofing upon him in any refped. And if this confideration cannot make me diligently watchful over myfelf, and holy and (»j}Rcro.ii. f.- (/'}phil. i.'j;, ('rtPiOV. xv. 3. (^) 1 Ccr. iv. 5-. upright • ME'DITATIONS. j+y upright in all my ways, ic is impofiible, that any other Ihould ever do ic. iir. On the infinite Meny and Goodnefs of God to Sinners, "DEfides the authority of God over all, and the •*^ knowledge he has of all our ways ; his unfpeak- able mercy, and moft gracious condefcenfion, is an- other powerful difluafive from vice, and well worthy of my ferious confideration as fuch. His abundant goodnefs to finners, throughout the whole courfe of their lives, the bleflings he heaps upon us in this world, and the far greater he has promised in the other, and, above all, the ineftimable price that was paid for our redemption, are an indifpenfable obliga- tion to make his glory the aim and defign of all my adions. And indeed, who would not be im- mediately ravilh'd into an ecftafy of love, at the me- ditation of thofe tranfporting bowels of pity and com- miferation, which could prevail with Almighty God, not only to create us fubjeds capable of enjoying his favour, but, when we had juftly depriv'd ourfelves of all pretence to it, by our difobedience and rebellion, even yet to feek our falvation, and reftore us to his love, tho' it were by the death of his only begotten and dearly beloved Son ? Who would not hereupon be feized with the moft profound admiration of the height, and breadth, and length, and depth, the un- fathomable dimenfions of this love of God in Chrift Jefus our Lord ? And how unaccountably do I be- have myfelf, if I will not yet be perfuaded to live as one intirely devoted to his fervice, after all the experience I have had of his abundant, tho' every way undefcrved, loving-kindnefs? What more endearing courfe is ic polTible that God could have taken to bring finners to himfelf, and their own happinefs, than, in fpight of all their unduti- 346 MEDITATIONS, undutifulnefs, and ingratitude towards him, never- thelefs to purchafe them at fo wonderful a price ? How could he more emphatically exprefs his tender- nefs of affedion to us, and earneft defire of our wel- fare, than by thus giving the ever-blefied Jefus to fuffer in our ftead ? Could our redemption have beeh brought about upon any other eafier terms, it had been infinite condefcenfion in God to have been recon- cileable to us, upon our mod importunate intreaties, and deeped humiliation. But that the reconciliation fhould begin on his part ; that when he (r) faw us . polluted in our bloody he fhould yet fay unto usy TJive % that whilft we were enemies and rebels, he fhould not only offer us a pardon, but fhould contrive a means of recovery for us, that it could never have enter'd into the heart of men or angels to imagine ; that God fliould thus become man, the Creator of all things fhould be made of a woman^ the King of the whole world fhould vouchfafe to fuffer upon the crofs, for the fake of his obftinate difobedient fubjeds •, this is fuch ex- ceffive aftonifhing compafTion, as were eHough to mek a heart of flint; and mull render Chriftians the mofl defpicable creatures in the world, if they can yet al- low themfelves to perfift in their difobedience. Thofc temporal benefits we all daily and hourly partake of, call for a mod humble acknowledgment, and the bed fervices in our power, as a jud returrj for them. Yet all thefe, heap'd one upon another, are as nothing, if compar'd with the infinite love manifeded in our Sar viour's fufferings, and the many fpiritual blefTings we enjoy through him. And can 1 now find in my heart to flight iuch amazing condefcenfion? Can I forbear contriving, by all ways imaginable, to pro- claim my unfeigned gratitude for it? Oh what love ! What pity is this ! What an excefiive load of mile- ries do I deferve, if I can yet ncgled and undervalue it? And how unconceivably happy fhall I be to all eiernity, if 1 but take care to make a right ufe of it \ (rj Eiik. ivi. 6. MEDITATIONS. 347 I will therefore embrace it with a heart full of joy. I will inceflantly blefs and praife the mod merciful Author ; and will make it my daily ftudy never to forget it, nor to behave myfelf unagreeably to the remembrance of fo ineftimable a ranfom paid for me. IV. On the Covenant we enter d into at Baptifm. T F God's abfolute authority over me, and his un- *■ fpeakable goodnefs to me, be ftrong inducements to a confcientious obfervance of what is well-pleafing in his fight ; fo likewife is the confideration of the covenant whereinto I entered, when I was made a member of Chrift by baptifm. For this holy ordi- nance was appointed for my admiffion into the Chriflian church, and for capacitating me to partake of the ineftimable benefits of my Saviour's death and paffion *, fo did I then promife and vow on the other hand to fight manfully under my Saviour's banner, againft the temptations o^ the worlds the flejh^ and the devils and to remain Chrift^ s faithful foldier^ and fer- vanty unto my lifers end. The thought whereof fliould fublimate my mind and manners, and fill my foul with a holy indignation againfl all unworthy actions, and make me vigorous and unwearied in well-doings as I would not break my contrad, and incur the guilt of difhonefly and apoftafy, and expofe myfelf to all the heavy judgments threatened in the Gofpel to the refradory and difobedient. B.aptifm, as 1 faid, is an initiating ordinance, and gives a right to mighty pri- vileges and benefits-, but all this is only on condition; and if that condirion be not faithfully performed, ic will but add to the feverity of my condemnation. There is a plain flipulation in it, as appears from (j) the inftiturion, and from all rhc forms of it; and particularly from our own, whertin the pcrfon to be peptized exprefly promifes to reno:,me ths d^vil, and (0 Mjith. XXV. ii. 10. all 348 ME T>ITJTIONS, all bis works, and conjtantly believe God*s holy word^ and obediently to keep his commandments. And what egre- gious wickednefs and treachery muft it be, to {t)ftart backy when we have thus put our hand to the plough ! And how muft it unfit us for the kingdom of Heaven ! We have taken Chrift's livery upon us, and have bound ourfelves by a folemn military oath, to be true and faithful to him. This is the cafe of all that have given up their names to him in this holy facrament ; and of myfelf in particular. And it is out of my power therefore to retreat, and take part with the enemy, without becoming a perjurM faithlefs wretch -, like a foldier forfaking his colours, throwing away his weapons, and running from his captain. This will make all my fins far more provoking than they would otherwife have been, adding to their own intrinfick guilt that of perfidioufnefs, and breach of vowj and fo, unleft prevented by a timely and fincere repent- ance, will confign me over to fo much the ladder jfhare of tortures in the other world. And what can awaken my drowfy confcience, and put me upon con- fulting my own fafety, if this will not ? I muft be a dreadful harden*d finner, if I can refblve to break through fo powerful an obftrudlion, to -come at ever- lafting mifery. I will therefore call myfelf forth- with to an account, and fee v/herein I have broken rny faith thus ratified ; and will take care to walk niore circumfpedly for the future, that my conver- fation may teftify in my behalf, that I am not un- mindful of the profeffion I have taken upon me, and the folemn obligation I then cnter*d into, to live ac- cording to his rules. I will remember, that I am a Chriftian, baptized into the church, and intitled to the bleftings ot the gofpel, provided I live according to its precepts •, but withal, that unlefs I do this, I am in a far worfe condition, than if I had never heard one word of Chriftianicy. {t) Luke »x. 61. V. On ME'DITATIONS. 349 On the Multitude and Heinoufnefs of our Sins. IF I turn my eyes from the obligations that lie upon me, to the courfe of my pad converfation, and fee how negligent I have been, and how horrid, and how frequent my provocations, here I prefently meet with fufficient matter of melancholick and moft pen- five meditation. Nor need I any more difmal con- templation, to humble me before Almighty God, and force me to fly to him for mercy. It was the royal Pfalmift's complaint, that his («) Iniquilies were gone ever his head^ and as a fore burden were too heavy for him to hear. And again, {x) Mine iniquities have taken hold upon me^ fo that 1 am not able to look up ; they are more in number than the hairs of my heady and my heart hath failed me. And all pious fouls fee too juft reafon to break forth, in like manner, into the open acknow- ledgment of their own unworthinefs and demerits, whenfoever they call to mind the multitude and hei- noufnefs of thofe fins, whereof they are confcious to themfelves. As to the number of our fins, they are too many to be caft up ; though we ever fo deliberately fee about it. Our fins of omifllon, and our fins of com- miflion, our wilful fins, and thofe whereinto we are often betray'd thro' inadvertency or weaknefs ; the fins of our inclination, of our company, of our em- ployment, of the times we live in j our fecret and conceard, and our publick and moft fcandalous fins ; the fins we remember, and thofe we have forgotten, or had never taken notice of; the fins of our devo- tions, of our recreations, of our meals, and our other entertainments; of our excefs, and of our parfimony ; of our modelly, and of our afilirance ; of our diffi- dence, and of our prefumption ; our later, and our former fins 5 thofe of our childhood, of our youth, .(h) Pfai. xxxviii. 4. {x] Ibid. xl. ii. and 3fo M ET> ITA TI O U S. and of our riper years; in thought, word, and deed; againft our God, againft our neighbour, and againft our own felves ; there is fuch a mafs of them, that the leaft refledion upon it may well put our minds into the utmofl confufion ; and, were it not for the infinite mercy of God thro' Chrift, mud inevitably have Iodg*d us long ago in Hell. How mud the recolledion of fuch a load of guilt lie heavy upon the foul of every good man, and make him lament and bewail his folly ; and try, by all means poflible, to obtain the favour of God, and his pardon and for- givenefs ! And what an abandon'd fmner muft I be, if 1 be not wofully terrified at the appearance of fo horrid a fpedacle, and do not fully refolvc, that I will not fuffer mine eyes to fleep^ nor mine eye lids to Jlumber, neither the temples of my head to take any reft^ until I fhall have endeavoured to make my peace with God, bv a hearty forrowj and true repentance, and a full purpofe of heart to ferve him truly for the remaining part of my life! They who never call their own ways to remembrance^ will not much concern themfelves to turn their feet unto God's teftimonies \ but there is none who is duly fenfible of the guilt he has contracted, or that frequently fets apart fome time, to inquire into the nature of his duty, and his manifold tranf- grefilons of ir, norwithftanding all the obligations he is under to the contrary, but muft be feiz'd with a dreadful apprehcnfion of the great need he has of God's mercy, and the wretched ftate he muft inevi- tably be in without ir. Nor are we chargeable only with multitudes of fins, the leaft of which, were it not for the infinite mercy of God in Chrift Jefu?, would fink us into the pit of dcftruiflion •, but they are alfo many times attended with fevtral notorious aggravations, having been coni^ mitted, perhaps, upon deliberation, againft the checks of confcitrnce, and clear dictates of the underftanding; againft numerous calls and invitations to obedience; againft promifes and threatenings, mercies and judg- ments 5 M E^D ITAT I O N S. jp ments; after vows and refolutions to the contrary, and often repeated, if not become habitual. So that we have all great caufe to blufli, and be afhamed to look up to heaven, and to loath our/elves for the evils we have committed in all our abominations. Our whole life is full of vanity and naughtinefs ; and if thou, O God, fhouldft refolve to (y) enter into judgment with thy fervantSf and [Jmddft he extreme to 7nark what were done amifs^ not the very heft of us could hope to he jujilfied in thy fight, (2) Jhou art of purer eyes than to behold evil^ and canft not look upon iniquity : all whofe (a) ways are judgment : a God of truth, and without iniquity, juft and right, art thou, (b) ^hou art not a God that hath pleafure in wickednefs : neither fhall evil dwell with thee, The foolifh fhall not fiand in thy fight : thou hateft all the workers of iniquity. And yet, alas I How have we all been forgetful of thee? From the higheft to the lowed, there is none righteous before thee, none that has not juftly deferved thy wrath, and implacable indignation. The moil religiouQy difpos'd cannot but difcover numerous failings and imperfedlions, befides other more wilful tranfgrefTions of their duty, enough to ftrike them to the heart, at every remembrance of them. Much more may others fear, left a heavy doom befa! them, by reafon of thofe more heinous enormities, which every-where difcover themfelves throughout the whole courfe of their converfations. If they that have been mod ob- fervant of God's laws, have yet need of his mercy and favour to be extended to them, or otherwife they cannot be happy ; how much more do thofe want it, who have been more extravagantly wicked! And (c) if the righteous^ after all their care to pleafe God, fhall hardly ie faved^ thefe muft expect a more terrible appearance before his great tribunal. This aftonifhes and confounds me, when I come to apply it to my own cafe; and vvouii doubclefs drive (y) Pfai. cxiiii. z. {z>, Habak. i. 13. [a) Dcuc. xxxii. 4-. (i)Pla). V. 4, /. (r) I t'cc. iy. iS. me iSz ME'DITATIONS. me into defpair, were it not for the trull I have in my blefled Saviour's mediation. He has obtain'd a pardon for my fins, and fo I have great hope and comfort thro' him *, but, otherwife, I muft have been in a miferable, helplefs condition. For though God is infinitely patient and long-fufFering, he will not wait always to be gracious, but will bring the finner to a flridl account for all his wickednefs ; poflibly in this world, but mofi: certainly in that which is to come. Nothing can fave me but his mercy; but, inafmuch as that is infinite, I will not diftruft it, but will humble myfelf before him ; will confefs and be- wail my fins, and will endeavour, to the utmoft of my power, to appeafe his anger. And^ oh that my head were waters^ and mine eyes a fountain of tears ^ that I Plight weep day and night for all mine iniquities^ whereby I have offended fo good and gracious a God! I hope he will be prevail'd with to extend his kind- nefs to me ; but if at laft I do perifli, I muft, how- ever, confefs to his glory, that my deftrud:ion will be wholly owing to myfelf. VL On "D E AT H. ^UIS fcit an adjiciant hodiemcB tempora vitce Craftina •^ dii fuperi ? (d) fFbo knows^ fays the poet, whether he fhall live even till to-morrow ? And our blefled Sa- viour foretold to the jolly rich man, St. Luke xii, 20. that he certainly fhould not. ^ou fooh fays our Sa- viour, this night fhall thy foul he required of thee. The fame, for any thing I know to the contrary, may be my portion ! This may poflibly be the laft day, if not the laft hour, of my life. And what can I pro- mife myfelf will then become of me? Have I been fo wife as to make up my accounts with God, and fo to have got my foul in a readinefs to appear before him } If not, how difmal, how doleful, will my con- {il) Horat. Carm. 1. 4. od. 7. dition M E 1) I TAT IONS, 3^ dition be? Ic is a terrible change, to be fuddenly inarched away from this life, and all its enjoyments, and delivered over to eternal burnings in the other. Yet to this fad flite are all thofe every day obnoxious, who live in the practice of any fore of wickednefs. How happy foeV'tr they may be, as to the things of this world, they may pofFibly be immediately hurried away from them, to a perpetual night of horror, grief, and anguifh, never to fee day, nor to tafte any comfort more. Awake, therefore, O my drowfy foul •, awake and beflir thyfelf before it be too late, whilft the patience of God is exercifed towards thee, and a time of grace and falvation is afforded thee. Awake, confider thy prefent uncertain habitation, and do not dare to de- pend upon a fhort tranfitory life, that, like a thread, is immediately cut off •, and is but as a itory, vi^hich entertains the auditors whilft in telling, but is quickly at an end. Let death be the fubjeft of thy ferious and frequent, I had almoft faid, of thy inceffant me- ditation. Think, at rifing in the morning. What if this (hould prove to be the laft day of my abode here? And again, when lying down at night, think. What if I fhould never rife more? Perhaps, I find myfelf in very good health, and as like to prolong my days to a good old age, as moft of thofe abouc me ; and am therefore tempted to pafs my time ia mirth and cafe. But alas ! How many of my con- temporaries have I known dilappointed of their ex- peflations, when as promifmg as mine, and laid \n the grave before they were aware of it 1 And what happens to one, may as eafily befal another, notwith- ftanding all the care we can take to fecure ourfelves againll it. Every knell I hear, is a warning to me, to be upon my guard, to retire into myfelf, and fee how reckonings ftand betwixt God and my foul, and to ufe the utmoft diligence for fupplying what I find wanting. Every grave I fee, every funeral I attend upon, every friend 1 lofe, every hearfe or cofHn I C c meie 3f4 M E Tt ITA T I O N S. meet with, every one I obferve in mourning, calfe upon me to reflect on what a precipice I (land, and how many different ways I may be thrown down from it. Oh ! Let me not be careltfs and urxoncern'd m inch a (lippc^ry ilation j but let me conlider well, how exceedingly terrible fuch a fall muft be, to all thas are not prepared for it. Nothing is ( f more import- ance to me, than to fee, that, in all refpeds, 1 adl like one, on v/hom the things of this world make na lafting imprefTion, and whole chief care is to pleafe God, and to make provifion for a happy eternity. This is the great biiQnefs for which I came into the world*, and how can i hope to die wirh any manner of comfort, till I have performed this weighty and meceffary work ? Yet die I rauH undoubtedly, and no one knows how very foon. One defcends to the grave (e) in his> full firength^ being i>vbolly at eaje and qidet : his hreajls are full of miV:^ and bis hones moiftened with marrow. And another dieib in the hiUernefs of his foul, and never eatetb with fleajure. They fJjall lie down alike in the dujl^ and the worms fljali cover them. In this world a great diftintlion is made between the great, the rich, and the powerful on the one fide v and thofe on the other, whofe circumtianccs arc fireight, and who live in a poor necefTitous condition: as feme alfo are healthy and flrong, and enjoy a great deal of eafe and pleafure ; whi^ll?^ ©thers are worn out with fick- refs, and bodily infirmities, or, perhaps, with a feries- of erodes, and inevitable vexations. But they are all haftening to their long home, and which of them fhalT arrive there firfl, is beyond our forefight, and known ©nly to Almighty God, by v/hoie Providence we live^ and at whofe appointed time we mufb all be fure to die. Ti:ien fliall all alike, v/hether high or low, ricb or poor, have the dad for their bed, and the worms for their covering, without any other remarkable di- ilindion, than what fhall have arifea from their dif- («) Job xxi. 23, 24, 2/, 26; feren^t MED IT AT 10 n S. 3^5- ferent difcharge of their duty, whilft in this mortal Hate. Some go now, fome anon \ fome this way, fome that \ fome upon timely notice, and fome again in an inftant, and even when leaft expecting it. What then can fuch have to fay for themfelves, who are not always in fome tolerable readinefs, to quit this tranfitory life, which, at its beft eilate, and when moft promifing, is yet but as (/) a vapour that appears for a little time^ and then vanijhes away ? Upon this confideration, the apoftle St. James^ in the words immediately foregoing thefe now men- tioned, very juftly rebukes the folly of fuch as pro- mife themfelves a long continuance here, when it is pofTible their fouls may be juft upon the wing to take their flight into the other world i and who pleafc themfelves with the- thoughts of life, and time enough to manage their concerns upon earth, when, perhaps, they are on the very fhore of eternity, ready to launch into it. {g) Go to now^ fays the Apoftle, ye that fay ^ "To- day^ or to -morrow ^ we will go into fuch a city^ and con* tinue there a year^ to hiiy^ and felU and get gain ; whereas you know not^ what fhall he on the morrow^ You know not how near any of you are to your latter end \ how fuddenly this frail breath cf yours may fail you, and leave your bodies fo many ufelefs carcafes, incapable of any defign, or any fort of bufmefs. Can any one then, can I in particular, prefume to live without a continual expectation of fuch my dif- folution j as if I had nothing elfe to do, but to eat, and drink, and be merry, and to fpend my time in idlenefs and luxury ? Is this to live like a Chriftian, whofe profelTion obliges him to be continually look- ing forward to another ftate, and who knows himfelf to be but a ftranger and fojourner upon earth ? How can I allow myfelf to be regardlefs, cither of my duty to Almighty God, or of my own welfare, which has fo neceiTary a dependence upon the good improve- ment of my fhort flay here ? No, I will rather keep C/; James iv, 14. (z) Vcr. 13. C C 2 10 5f6 M ET> I TA T I N S, in mind, that I have no abiding tity here, but ani indifpenfably obliged to be continually feeking after one that is truly fo ; {h) a city that has fure and lading foundations, whofe Builder and Maker is God, (i) I will wait and watch all the days of my appointed time, till my laft great change come. Since I know myfelf ndt mafter of one moment of time, I will live in a con- flant expe(5lation of death, ready to forfake this earthly tabernacle, whenfoever it fhall pleafe God to call for me. I will think upon my approaching difTolution, and learn, from the thoughts of it, to wean my heart from this prefcnt world, and all its moil pleafing en- tertainments ; which, how enticing foever, I muft be fure in a little time to leave behind me ; to renounce all my mod beloved kills, which will otherwife coft me exceflively dear, and, perhaps, before I have any longer enjoyment of them ; to grow ferious and de- Tout, as becomes the relation I ftand in to Almighty God, and the great account I muft foon give up to him ; to bear all afflidions patiently, which I know afluredly cannot affc6t me long •, but may be much nearer an end, than I at prefent apprehend ; to make a good improvement of my time whilft I have it, that I may find no caufe to complain of the want of it, when it (hall be no rhore ; to be unwearied in well doing, before the night come wherein no man can work ; and faithfully, refolutely, and immoveably, to retairt my integrity at all times, and under whatfoever dif- ^culties or trials, inafmuch as I know not how foon I may receive my great reward. Thefe are fome of the advantages that naturally arife from a daily me- ditation of death ; and, to the end they may be my daily care, I will not fail to take all opportunities of converfmg with the dead. Our life here is one continued journey towards the grave, and each one, every day, difpatches fome part of it. We are all like fo many paiTengers in a fhip, who whether they think of it or not, every minute (hjHth.-Ai. 10, (i) Job xir. 14.* dravr MET>ITATIONS, 35-7 draw nearer the end of their voyage. Not only whilft they are awake, and look about them, but when at reft, and faft afleep in their beds, they are gradually conveyed along, till they come to their defired port. As they are always in motion, though it may be without obfcrving it j To their voyage inceflantly fhortens, and in a while they difembark upon a diftant fhore. Such is the life of man. It is a conftant progrefs towards another world, in which we (hall all, one after another, be landed in a little lime. No fooner fhail our breath be recalled, but we (hall moulder into the duft, out of which we were taken ; (hall give up the ghoft, and be no more, as to any of the pur- pofes of this life. But then a new fcene will forth- with open itfclf, to our unfpeakable either confo- lation or terror, according to the preparation we had made for it, whilft on our way to it. Death, to the righteous, is the gate of paradife, an entrance to a better life, and the only palTage to our promifed in- heritance : but, to the wicked, it is the beginning of forrows, delivering them over to the fecond death, which never fhali have an end. And what more cogent argument can any poflibly exped, for exciting to a diligent preparation for death, than this confi- deration of the everlafting ftate, whereinto it will, one time or other, hereafter, if not at prefent, be fure to tranflate us all ? Were death an accidental ftroke, that rarely hap- pened, no v/onder if people generally did not think themfelves much concernM to expecl it. Were only fome few liable to it, when it comes, a man mighE be tempted to hope it might be his lot to efcape it. Were it an even lay, whether we fhould ever be fcized by it, this would make a confiderable abate- ment of the finner's imprudence, in venturing to live regardlefs of it. Nay, were it allotted to much the greater part of mankind to die, but not to every particular perfon, there might be fomc faint plea for C c 3 fuch 5f8 MET>ITATIONS. fuch as are unprepared for it. Or if none may be delivered from it, yet, had men a leafe of their hves, that they could certainly know how much of them were yet remaining, it would be Jefs indifcretion in them to put off their repentance, and triPie away their time, in hope to get it up again, by a greater future diligence. But when we are every moment at the mouth of the grave •, when we know afiliredly, that every man living is altogether vanity^ and ourfeives^ amongfl the reft*, and, moreover, daily fee others, as lufty and vigorous as ourfelves, and, in all appear- ance, as like to live as we, taken away before our face •, fuch a profpedl as this, one would think, (hould throughly awaken our minds, and enforce our refo* lutions ; and not fuffer us knowingly to deftroy our- felves : it fliould teach us earneftly to ftudy how we may perform our duty, in all refpeds, with the greateft accuracy and circunifpedion ; fo as to give na Jleep to our eyes^ nor /lumber to our eye-lids^ till we had firft fecured to ourfelves an intereft in the Divine promifes. Since we are all fo careful of this uncertain life, tho', at bed, but of Ihort duration, and full of cares and troubles whilft it lafts •, rnethinks it Ihould feem highly reafonable to every one, that v/ill but allow himfeif to confider, to have a much greater care of his foul, which is, by far, the better part of him, and whofe life will never know an end. Common prudence would hence teach every one to think fre- quently of death, and have it always in view -, efpe- cially fince the remembrance of it is fo neceflfary and ufeful, in order to a due regulating our lives. But I muft not only think of death, but muft think of it in fuch a manner, as that the effect of thefe thoughts may (hew forth itfelf in a fuitable deportment. I muft learn to nu?nber my days in fuch a manner, as that I ma, Y apply my heart to that true and faving wifdom, which will, in a great meafure^ abate thq pungency of whatfoever troubles and calamities I meet . with M E T> I T A T I O U S. 1^9 with here, and will make me infinicely happy after my departure hence. To ncgled: this, is, undoubt- edly, the greatell iolly and madnefs in the world ; and the readieft way to fill my foul with the utmolt confulion, when I come to languifh upon a fick-bed, and find my end approaching-, but elp.cially, whea i iTiall come at the lali day to ftand before my Sa- viour's great tribunal, to anfv;er to the heavy charge, that will hereby lie againll me. Nor can any thing, on the other hand, be fo much for my advantage, as .a conftant attendance on this neceffary part ot my duty ; and that unfpeakable glory and felicity, thac will infallibly accompany it in a dying hoqr, and ihenceforward for ever in the other world,. VIT. On a future Judgment, MY life is continually drawing towards eternity; and whether I will confider it or not, is each day fliorter than it was belore. So that how healthy foever I may be at prefent, no man knows how fooii I may be fummon'd hence. At moft, no great num- ber of years can have pafs'd, betore I fhall be laid in the grave, and all my hopes, and comforts, and defigns, and purpofes, as far as they concern this life^ fhall vanilh as a dream ; and nothing fhall feem of any value, but what may be for my advantage in the other world. And thus, having pafTed off the prefent ilage, I mud be brought before GoJ*j tribunal^ to have all my thoughts, words, and actions, canvafed, and my eternal portion allotted me, accordingly as they (hall be found to have been : fo fays St. Pauly {k) We muft all appear before the judgtneni-Jeat sf Cbrifly that every one may receive the things done in the body^ according to that he hath done^ whether it be good or had. Tho' death makes a feparation for fome time betwixt the foul and body, yet this is but for a time 5 (k) 1 Cor. y. 10. C c 4 Xihlc^ 36o M E T> I T A T I O N S. which being pad, they Ihall infallibly meet again, and be reunited, and never be parted more. (I) An archangel (hall be fenc forth, and, as by the found of a trumpet, fhall fummon the {m) dead out of their graves \ and thenceforward they fhall live for ever. (n) Then (hall the Son of man alfo defcend in the C'ouds ef Heaven with power and great glory *, and {o) Jhall fit, on his throne^ and caufe all nations to ht gathered before him, that fo he may take an account of their different qualifications, and difpofe of them accordingly. Oh the pangs and agonies, the horror and perplexity of mind, wherewith the guilty finner will be feiz'd, when he (hall come there to receive his doom ! When, (p) above, he may behold an imp irtial Judge ready to condemn him; beneath. Hell open to receive him; when, within, fhall be a flinging confcience ; without, a burning fire •, here his fins accufe him, there the devils affright him ; and the good angels fhall cafhier him, as not fit to be admitted into Heaven ; and the wicked ones will fland ready to hurry him away into everlafting deflrudlion. When to appear will be intolerable, and yet not to appear wiH be impolTible. Whither will he then fite? Or where can he think to conceal himfelf? Which way foever he turns himfelf, he will be fure to meet with nothing for his comfort -, with nothing but fear, and fhame, and forrow, and anguifh, and all the terrors that thq moft dreadful apprehenfions can work in him. It is impofTible to exprefs the extreme aflonifhment, where- with all the workers of iniquity will then be over- whelmed. But this may, in a good meafure, be re- prefented by the judgments threatened in the Revela- tion, upon the opening of the fixth feal ; when it is faid, {(f) There was a great earthquake, and the fun became black as fackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood ^ and the flars of Heaven fell unto the earthy (I) I Car. XV. fz. (m) i Thef. iv. i6. (n) Matth. xxiv. 30. (0) Ibid XXV. ?i, 31. (f>) Dionyf, Carthuf. dc quatuor Navif- iims, artic. 28. { ITAT I O N S. ^6i even as a fig-tree cafleih her untimely figs, when Jhe is Jhaken of a mighty wind : and the Heaven departed as a Jcroll, when it is rolled together ; and every mountain and ijland were moved out of their places : and the kings of the earth, and the great men^ and the chief captains^ and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free- man^ hid themfelves in the dens, and in the rocks of the mountains ; and faid to the mountains and rocks. Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that fitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb : for the great day of his wrath is come *, and who fhall be able to fiand? This is a defcription of a terrible jundure, that may not unfitly be accommodated to the fright- ful feafon I am now confidering. W hen (rj the hea- vens fhall pafs away with a great noife, and the elements fhall melt with fervent heat ; the earth alfo, and the works that are therein, fhall be burnt up ; (s) and the dead, both fmall and great, fhall ft and before God, and the books (hall be opened, and they fhall be judged out of thofe things which are written in the bocks, accordifig to their works. When the Judge being fet upon his throne, (/) Before him fhall be gathered all nations ; and he fhall fe par ate them one from another, as a fhepherd divideth the fJoeep from the goats ; and (hall proceed to inquire into their paft converfations, and allot them their reward accordingly. Then fhall a narrow fcrutiny be made into all my doings, and an unerring judgment pafled upon them. And, could I have ever fo artfully conceal'd my faults from the difcovery of the world here, they will then be all brought to light, before God, angels, and men. They cannot efcape the all-feeing eye of God at prefent ; nor fhall they ever be forgotten by him hereafter i but will certainly rife up in judgment againft me, and condemn me ac the lall day, if I do not make it my bufmefs to for- fake them, and obtain the pardon of them, before I be taken hence. Not the moft fecret of my thoughts js vvithout his notice j but he is privy to whatever (r) 1 Pet. iii, 10. is) R.5V...KX. i2> (0 Matth. xxv. %u impiety 362 MET>ITJTION S. impiety lies lurking in my heart, though it have never proceeded farther ; and will bring me to an account for it. So that, could 1 any -way contrive to impofe upon thofe I converfe with here, by hypocritical pre- tences, and to hide the evil of my heart and anions from all mankind, this would ftand me in no ftead at the lad day. For then the impoflure would be fully difclofed, to my eternal fhamc and forrow, («) nere is nothing covered^ that /hall not then be re* 'vealed'y neither bid, that Jh all not he made known, BuC whatfoever has been fpohn in darknefs, /hall be heard in the light *, and that vvhich was whifpered in the ear in clo/etSy Jhall be proclaimed in the publickefl: manner, in the hearing even of the whole world, {x) There is no creature that is not mani/ejl in Goa^s fight^ nothing that can efcape his notice j hut ail things ar e naked and open ^ yvixvct Kcti Ti'j^.x,iiA!ITATIONS. 3^5 and therefore us'd all means to keep them from the knowledge of his companions and acquaintance, (hall be charged upon him, proved againft him, and finally punilhM with everlafting perdition. But this we can all do, and are the greateft fools in the world, if we do it not; we can condemn ourfelves, and all our moft beloved iniquities, now in time, whilft the day of grace is continued to us, and God is rec-oncileable upon condition we duly apply ourfelves to him for mercy and falvatjon. We can by his affiftance re- form and amend our doings, and earneftly ftudy to lay up to ourfelves treafures in Heaven. We caa humble ourfelves before our biefled Saviour, and be- feech and intreat him, as he has already been our ranfom, fo likewife to be our advocate with the Father, pleading his death, and all his fufFerings, in our behalf, whereby to reinftate us in his favour, and obtain us an admiflion into .his kingdom. And can we be fo fottifli, as not to make this our conftant careB Can we think of the day of the Lord, and the im- menfe weight of the fentence then to be palTwd upon lis, and not fet ourfelves with all our might to pre- pare for it? They that aifl thus unaccountably, ought immediately to difown all pretence to reafon and un- derftanding, and to acknowledge themfelves more fenfelefs than the word of brutes, none of which were ever guilty of fuch egregious, intolerable flupidity as this is. viir. On the everlafting State whereto each one fhall be adjudged at the Laji "Dajy according to his 'T>oin(rs. npHIS judgment being once over, every one mud '-■• be thenceforward fettled in an eternal ftate, tho* of very different kinds, according as we fhall be found to have obferved or negleded our duty, during our fhort (lay here in this world. So our biefled Saviour, who is alfo to be our Judge, teaches, St. Matth, xxv. 46. where, having been defcribing the nature of thd 'k ' judgmenc 3(^4 MET>ITATION S. judgment that is to pafs upon all mankind, and having fpoken of the righteous and the wicktd, under the metaphor o^ JJjcep and goats^ and having declared the joyful fentence that fhall be pronounced in favout of the former, and the heavy doom that fhall be awarded to the other, he concludes with this farther declaration, what will be the effed of the judgment thus given: Thefe^ the wicked, of whom he had laft fpoken, Jhall go away into everlafting punijhment j hut the righteous into life eternal. The natural importance of which words is, that a lading future Hate will be then to fucceed, either in incomparable, ineftimable, unconceivable blifs and felicity, for {\ic\\\%{y) eternal life declared to be in Scripture •, or in the molt dread- ful and intolerable tortures, pangs, and agonies, in the bottomiefs pit, the punifliment whereinco the wicked are ordered to depart^ ver. 41. BlcfiTed and happy, t;hrice happy fouls, that can attain to the life here mentioned I fuch fhall enjoy the favour of God, and his beatifick prefence -, and (hall not only be admitted to behold his glory, but to reign with him, and be, in fome meafure, transformed into his likenefs, abounding in all that fliall be fuitable to their inlarged defires *, and God only knows how much more than they could fo much as defire or wifh for. It is above our faculties at prefent to conceive what thofe glorious rewards are, which our good God has prepared for them that love him, (2) // doth not ^et appear^ even to our imaginations, what weflmll he \ hut this we know beforehand, that when he fJjall appear y we fhall he like him., for we /hall fee him as he is. Where- forelet me now think a little v/ith myfclf, how tranf- cendent a blelTednefs muft it be, to fee God, and be like bim, to partake of his glory, and have an endlefs fruition of him, in that blifsful kingdom where all delights abound, and whence all forrow and tears are everlaftingly banifhed ; where none are fick, or grow ©Id, or die ; nor are perplexed with cares, nor tor- {y) Mitth. XXV. 3/. Luke xii. ji. & xxil. ip. (^) 1 John iii. 2. mented METflTATIONS. ^6^ mented with fears •, there a ferene tranquillity is always to be met with, and joy, and love, and peace, have lettled their abode ! May my heart be always in darned with the love of that ravilhing ftate ; (o as that I may thoroughly learn to defpifc all things elfe, in comparifon of it I Why do 1 trifle away my time and pains in purfuit of things that will not profit, and not rather labour after thole which would be of ever- kfting advantage to me? What a meannefs of fpiric is it to take up with this life's tranfient, imperfe<5t entertainments, and in the mean while negle(5l r/:?^ tru^ richeSy and lofe an invaluable crown of glory\ that fadetb not away ? Can I condefcend to employ myielf in labouring after the things of this world with an infatiable defire, as if I could never have enough of them, tho' I know I nluft fhortly die, and leave them all behind me ; and yet not be perfuaded to take pains for what would render me inconceivably happy for ever in the other ? This is the very height of madnefs; and for which I fhall be fure to condemn myfelf when it fliall be too late, and inceflantly to wifh 1 had been wifer, when I had it in my choice to make fure of a bleffed eternity. Efpecially when I call to mind, that I cannot fall fhort of the fore-mentioned bleflednefs, without incur- ring the dreadful vengeance of eternal fire. And can I endure the thoughts of this fodifmal a change ? Far be it from me thus totally to ruin myfelf for the fake of any eafe, or pleafure, wealth, or honour, that I can hope Co enjoy here ! Whatever unequal notion I have of it at prefent, it is a great and a certain truths that the [a) wages of fm is death \ death not only tern*- poral, but eternal. And can I refolve thus fenfelefl/ to ruin myfelf, rather than accept of that falvation, which is offered in the Gofpel, upon the reafonablell terms that may be ? {b) It is a fear fid thivg to fall into the hatids of the livv>g God \ to become the obje6ls of his implacable indignation; to groan under the juft ' (4, Rooi. V', 43, (J)) Heb. ». 3 1 . feverities 266 M E T> 1 T A T t 6 N S. feverities of his heavy difpleafure *, to be lodged in a bed of flames, and have the devils and damned fpi- rits for perpetual companions, or rather for out- rageous executioners ; without hope of deliverance, tho' after ever io long a fpace ; to be forfaken of all that is good, all that is happy, or might tend to make us fo ; to be everlaftingly condemned to darknefs and horror, to weeping and wailing, and gnafhing of teeth, to the never-dying worm, and fire unquench- able. This the damned in Hell know to their colt ; and for this reafon fret and rage beyond meafure. And what is it they would not give, or do, to recover fome of thofe happy opportunities of feeking after a better ftate, which we fo idly fquander away ! Un- happy wretches! They find, by lamentable expe- rience, what the lofs of Heaven implies in it, and how much it was their real interefl, to have taken warning, when they were called upon in their life-time, to be holy, wife, and happy. They are always in the agonies of death, and yet never fo dead, but that they are flill to live in the in oil exquifite and mod lading dolours. Their fire always burns, but never confumes them ; their worm always gnaws, but never kills them. Whilli they were alive, they would never give over provoking Almighty God ; and now God will never give over puniihing then^ for their numerous provocations. There is no end or meafure of their forrows, no intermiflion of their pains, no hope or comfort for them, no profpecl of any thing, but inconceivable, intolerable, interminable grief, and mifcry, and anguifh. And can 1 think it too much to live regularly, and take thofe courfes which will make me happy in a good meafure here, that I may cfcape all this dire vengeance, and be completely arid infinitely happy to all eternity hereafter ? This were a far wifer courfe, than to gratify my own worldly or carnal inclinations, for a Ihort, no one knows how very fhort a time, to the everlafting deftrudion of inyfelf, both foul and body, in Hell. Gonfider there- forcj M E'D ITAT I N S. ^67 fore, O my drowfy foul, and beftir thyfclf now in time, vvhfereby to prevent thofe tortures, which thou mud ocherwife be fure to undergo, and canft never hope to gee rid of, when once thou comeft to feel the weight of ihem. Take warning whilft thou art yec on this fide the grave, and mayft have time and grace to fave thyfeif, if it be not through thy own negledor obftmacy in finning. Imagine to thyfcJf the doleful cafe of a condemned finner, already placed in the regions of darknefs, thofe melancholick Ih ad es of per- petual night, where no day ever dawns, no light ever breaks in •, deprived of all the comforts and pleafures of life, and preferved in being, only to be punifhed ^ racked and tormented with a frightful remembrance of his own guile and folly, piercing him like a dagger at the heart, and no room left for repentance. Imagine him beholding the glory and felicity of the bleffed 5 raging with envy at their happinefs, and tearing him- felt for anguifh and vexation, when he re fled s upon what he has loft, purely for the fake of his brutifh lulls, and unreafonable paiTions, for thofe plea furesof fin which were but for a moment, but for which he mufb now pay dear for evermore. Imagine him far- ther lamenting the fharpnefs of his pains, theexceflive burnings of that fire and brimftonc, wherein he incei^ fantly languifhes, and the malice of the devils dif- charging their fury upon him, and plaguing and tor- menting him with the utmoft violence. Imagine him once more cut off from all hope of redrefs, fo as noe only to be thus infinitely tortured atprefent, but to be afiured beyond all doubt, that thefe his tortures ihall perpetually harrafs him through a long eternity. Imagine the finner, I fay, irrecover.tbly plunged in this excefs of unfpeakable mifery, and fee if all the glory of the world can tempt thee to change con- dition with him but for one hour. If not, what: defperate phrenfy muft that be, that can with-hold thee from taking all the care that may be, to fave thyfeif from fuch infupporcable^ and yet irreparable deftruc- tion ? 368 ME'DITATION S. tion ? Can I fuffer myfelf to be thoughtlefs and un- concerned, when upon the brink of this bottomlefs aby fs of pains and forrows, and each moment in danger of dropping into it ? No. Far be it from me to be- tray fuch an excefs of the mofl: unaccountable folly, fuch an unpardonable inftance of the mod deftrudive enmity to my own foul. On the other hand, I will begin to confider in time, and will ufe my utmoft diligence to guard againft that place of torments, and procure an inheritance among all them which arefantJificd, I will make it my bufinefs to keep within that narrow way that leadeth unto life \ will Jlrive to enter in at the ftreight gate^ though I tug hard to get through *, will do or fuffer whatever it (hall pleafe God to iequire of me, or lay upon me ; and will be highly thankful, if I can at lad be carried into Heaven, tho* it were in a chariot of fire. Welcome (ighs and tears, welcome whatever penances my re* ligion can impofe upon me, whatever terrors the world can threaten me with, whatever pains I can be at in God*s fervice ! welcome all that can befal me for my Saviour's fake, who endured the crofs^ and de- fpifed the Jhame^ for me 1 I will watch and pray, will deny mylelf, and mortify the flelh, will do my beft to proceed from grace to grace. And may it pleafe the good and gracious God, that grace may at laft have its completion in glory, through Jefus Chriftour Lord ! To whom with the Father, and the Holy Ghoft, be all honour and praife, world without e»d. Amen. A COL- A COLLECTION OF FARTHER PRAYERS FOR THE SICK PERSON: To be ufed upon S ev e r a l Oc c a s lo n s, as he fhall fee fit. My voice jhalt thou hear betimes^ Lord : Early in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee^ and will look up. Pfal. V. 3. My hope hath been in thee, O Lord: I have /aid, ^hou art my God. Pfal. xxxi. 16. jlear me, Lord ; for thy loving-kindnefs is comfortable : turn thee unto me according to the fnidtitude of thy mercus, Pfal. Ixix. 17. D d c 371 :i PROPER PRAYERS F O R T H E USE of the SICK. A Trajer for the Sick, whenjirfi taken III, I. O Almighty Lord of heaven and earth, who giveft life, and health, and all other bleflings, and recalled them as it pieafes thee, I defire to behold thy hand in every- thing that befals me, that under all thy difpenfations I may look up to thee, the Author of them, and may ftudy to improve them to thy glory. And, now that I find myfelf difcompofed, and ficknefs has already- taken hold of me, I immediately fly to thy almighty power, and unfpeakable goodnefs, for relief And do not thou refufe to hear me, when I call upon thee. Give me grace to account of my diflemper as thy fatherly vification, and to hearken both to the rod, and him that has appointed it j and not only to bear thy chaftifement with patience and fubmiflion, but to feek, that 1 may be made better by it \ %o inquire D d 2 into 37^ Proper Trayers for jjnto the end for which it comes, and faithfully endea- vour to anfwer thy defign in it. As it is a fcovirge for my fins, let italfo be a cure for them j fo effe U T, Lord, if I am not any longer to continue ^ here, grant me a fafeand an eafy paffage hence, that death niay be to me a blefied entrance into thy heavenly kingdom. 1 am not fond of life, for any other ftnd^ but to ferve thee, and fave my own foul. But, if it may tend to either of thefe ufes, deny me neicher the enjoyment of my former foundnefs and ftrength. the Ufe of the Sick, 373 ftrengthj nor grace to make a fuitable improvement of ic. And whenever thou haft determined to take me hence, take me, I moft humbly befeech thee, into thy favour, through thy Son Jefus Chrift our Lord* Amen, IV. T AM thine, O Lord ; fave me, and fuffer me not to be put to confufion ; but fit me for whatever thou defigneii: for me. Cleanfe and purge me from ail corruption, take away all my drofs, and renew a right fpirit within me. Try me, O God, and feek the ground of my heart ; prove me, and examine my thoughts : look well if there be any way of wicked- nefs in me, and lead me in the way everlafting, through our Lord and Saviour Jefus Chrift. Amen, Upon fending for the Minijier to vift the fick Terfon. h A Lmighty and moft merciful Father, who of" thy Divine Providence haft appointed an order of men to officiate in thy name, not only as thine embafladors, to call upon people, and intreatthem to be reconciled to thee^ but moreover to make known thy Word and Will to them, to adminifter thy holy facra- ments, to be advocates to thee for them, and to per- form all thofe offices, which are neceffary for building them up, in their moft holy faith \ let it not be ia vain, that I have now fent to defire the good man's company and affiftance. All his endeavours without thee muft inevitably prove as nothing. Could he fpeak with the tongue of men and angelsj it were to no purpofe, unlefs thy blefting go along with what fliall be deliver'd. Nor will all his kind offices do me any fervice, if not accompanied with thy grace. Hence I beg of thee, moft gracious God, to be with him, and profper him, in all his under- D d 3 takings 374 T roper Prayers for takings for my good. Open his mouth, that he may fpeak a word in feafon. Hear all his prayers that he fhali offer up for me ; and grant me all the ineftimable bleflings he fhall implore in m,y behalf. And open mine earslikewife, that 1 may duly attend towhatfo- ever he fhall tell me out of thy law, and difpofe my heart carefully and confcientioufly to perform it, through our Lord Jefus Chrift. Amen, T E T thy Holy Spirit be prefent with him, to alTifl **-' his kind intentions, that they may prove effedual for fitting and preparing me for my laft great change v which cannot polTibly be far off, but may perhaps be already at the door. It is thy own command by the mouth of thy holy Apoftle, that, if any he fick^ he call for the elders of the churchy to 'pray over hi7n^ with a promife, that the prayer of faith /hall fave the ftck '^ and% if he hath cojnmittcd fins^ they fi all be forgiven him ; and with a declaration moreover, that the effectual fervent prayer of the righteous man^ and moft certainly not the lefs, if he be dedicated to holy miniftrations, to tranfa6t matters betwixt thee and thy church, ^-u^f/- eth much. In obedience to thy command, I have now fent to my proper paffor, the minilkr of thy word and iacraments amongff us, to crave his help in my great neceffity. And I moil humbly beg of thee, that, of thy wonted clemency and goodnefs, thou wilt condefcend to blefs our meeting, and make it fuccefsful to thofe weighty ends whereto it is intended, through Jefus Chrifl our Lord. Ainen, Upon Appearance of Recovery, L A Lmighty and ever-blefied Lord God, from Vv^hom alone are the ifpjes of life and death, who killeft and makefl alive, bringeit to the grave, and bringefl back again \ I defire, with a heart full of unfeigned gratitude, the Ufe of the Sick, j/f gratitude, to proclaim thy great goodnefs towards me at this time. I praife thee for thy feafonable cor- reftion, whereby to put me in mind of my natural frailty and mortality, to wean my afFedions from this vain tranfitory world, and to put me upon the more diligent preparation of myfelf for another and a better. Bleffed be thy Name, that thou didft not immediately cut me off without warning, as thou mighteft juftly have done ; and not only haft allowed me a fpace of refledion, whereby to get my foul into the fitter pofture for appearing before thy dreadful tribunal, but now giveft me hopes of a fpace to reduce my holy purpofes and refolutions into pra6tice. May it feem good in thy fight, to perfect that recovery thou feemeil to have begun in me, and to grant me a longer continuance here ; not for the gratification of any worldly or fenfual inclinations or affections in me; but to the end that, by good improvement of the time thou fhalc allow me, I may obtain a completer con- queft over all fort of vice and wickednefs, and a greater readinefs to the performance of my duty to thee j may cleanfe myfelf from all filthinefs of flcfh and fpirit , and may perfect holinefs in thy fear, through Jefus Chrift our Lord. Jmsn, II. AS my fole dependence is upon thee, O Lord, and all my hopes of health are from thee alone, fo I acknowledge all my fervices to be due to thee, and that I muft leave myfelf without excufe, if I do not carefully employ all the time thou (halt afford me in this world, to thy honour and glory. Do thou there- fore incline my heart to have a conftant refpedt to this great end of my living here, that I may not trifle away the life thou giveft me, for working out my falvation, much lefs mif-fpend it in any vicious or finful courfe, but that I may behave myfelf always as in thy prefence, and as remembering the great account I jnult one day give up to thee, and I know not how D d 4 foon» 37 LESS the Lord, O my foul, and forget not all ^ his benefits \ who redeemeth thy life from de- ftrudion, and crowneth thee with mercy and loving- kindnefs. I called upon thci Lord in my diftrefs, and thou heardtft me, and anfweredft my requeft. Thou haft inclined thine ear to me, and art b.come my fai- vacion. May my mouth be always filled with thy praife! 378 "^ roper Trayers for praife! and may my gratitude farther fhew forth itfelf, by an univerfal obedience to thy precepts, thro* Jefus Chrift our Lord ! Jmen. IIF. 'TpO the blefTed and only Potentate, the King of -■• kings, and Lord of lords, who only hath im- mortality, dwelling in that light which no man can approach unto, whom no man hath feen, nor can fee, be honour and power everlafting. Amen, Upon fending for the Thyfician. /^ Mod gracious Lord God, on whom is all my ^^ dependence, and of whofe abundant mercy it is that I am now in the land of the living, though ac prefcnt in a weak and languifliing condition [or, though at prefent feized -wilh Jicknefs] -, fuccour and re- lieve me for thy mercies fake. I am defirous to make ufe of fuch means as thou halt appointed, in order to a recovery, that I may not feem any way to flight that life thou haft condefcended to beftow upon me, and hitherto to continue to me. And, forafmuch as thou haft ordained the phyfician for the benefit of thofe who languifh under any bodily diftemper, 1 have refolv'd to try his fkill in order to a cure. But my chief hope is in thee : O be thou my helper; for, without thee, vain is the htlp of man. Dire<5l thy fervant to what may be proper for my cafe ; and lee thy bleiTing accompany his prefcriptions, and give fuccefs to them. All the moft efficacious methods of cure are nothing of themfclves, nor can work far- ther than thou impowereft them. To thee therefore I addrefs myfelf for thy concurrence with them. It is but with thee to fpeak the word, and thy fervant ihall be healed. Oh may it pleafe thee to iflue out thy command, and it fliall not be in vain, that I am about to ufe the means that fhall be directed. But never permit me to put my truft in whatfoever medi- cine, but only in thy blelTing j without which, all inferior o the Ufe of the Sick 379 inferior afliftance will be found of no advantage. Thou art the great Phyfician, that alone can'ft efFed- ually remove all my maladies : and all other helps are but inftruments in thy hand, that work according to thy good pleafure. Be thou with me, to guide and afTift, to blefs and profper them, to thine own glory, and the welfare of thine unworthy fervant, who here molt humbly fues to thee for pity, through Jefus Chrift our Lord. J?nen. Upon taking of Thyfick, Lord, the Father of mercies, and God of all confolation, our only help in time of need; I mofl: humbly fupplicate thy favour to thy faithful fervant labouring under thy corredlion. Lay no more upon me, than thou wilt enable me to bear. Confider my feeble mortal conftitution, and propor- tion my diftemper to my flrengch, that I may know how to bear it with a true Chriftian patience, and refignation to thy Divine Will. Hear my complaints, and remove the caufe of them, as fliall feem to thee mofl expedient for me. Give a blefling to what I now take, in order to a recovery of my loft health. Be thou my chief Phyfician \ for thy diredion cannoc fail me. And, feeing I put my whole truft in thee, vduchfafe, of thy great m.ercy, to adminifter to me in my necefTity, and to grant me eafe, and comfort, and health here in this world, and to fit me for everlaft- ing life with thee, and thy holy ang-ls and faints, in the world to come, through our Lord Jefus Chrift. Amen. When given over by the Thyfician, I. A Lmighty and everlafting God, whofe I am, and •^-^ ^ whofe laws I ought i;o have faithfully obeyed, but have moft vilely tranfg.effed them, throughout my whole life; for thefe my abominations, of what- ever 3 8o Trvper Tr dyers fir ever fort, I defire to humble myfelf before thee in the mod fubmiffive manner [or, * whom I have hear- tily defired to ferve with reverence and godly fear -, tho* I am grieved to think with what great weaknefs and im- ferfeolion I have done it ; thefe my failings I lament and bewail before thee : and much more my groffer fins and iniquities^ whereby I have highly 'provoked thee againfi my own foul"]. I heartily deteft and renounce them all, mofl humbly befeeching thee not to caft me off by reafon of them. Hearken not to their cry againft me, but to my blefied Saviour's interceffion for me. Wafli them all away with his mofl precious blood, that they may neither appear againft me to my Ihame and forrow here in this world, nor to my eternal condemnation in the other. Confider my con- trition, accept my tears, afTwage my pain, as fliall feem to thee moft expedient for me. And, forafmuch as I put my full truft only in thy mercy, impute not to me my former tranfgrefTions j but ftrengthcn me with thy blelTed Spirit, and, whenfoever thou arc plcafed to take me hence, take me unto thy favour, through the merits of thy dearly beloved Son Jefus Chrift our Lord. Amen, II. SEeing rfie phyfician has already paft his fentence^ and I have no firther expectation or hope of be- nefit by his miniftry ; and confequently am to look upon myfelf as no longer defign'd for this world ; I with the proioundeft humility intreat thy picy, O Lord, in order to the other. And fince there remains no probable means of cure for my body, do thou condefcend to take my fick foul into thy hands, and cure it of all the guilt that lies fo heavy upon it, and fo fadly overwhelms me with fhame and forrow. I exceedingly lament my own folly and wickednefs, and am confounded at the thought of it ; which pierces me to the quick, and fills my foul with the deepeft remorfe and terror. In thee alone is my help, and in the life of the Sick. 381 in thy boundlefs mercy and compafTion. Spare me, good Lord, I befeech thee, and, though mod highly provoked, be in my blefled Saviour moft gracioufly reconciled to me. For his fake pardon all my fins, and fave me for thy mercies fake. If thou wilt^ thou canft raife me up^ and grant me a longer continuance here. But, forafmuch as in all appearance the time of my diflblution draweth near, beftow upon me thofe holy and heavenly qualifications, which may fie me for my approaching change. Gather every root of bitternefs out of my mind. Refcue me from the power, and defend me againft all the wiles, of the devil. Mortify all the remainder of the old man ia me ; and renew me perfediy in the inward man. Quicken, improve, and increafe every fpark of grace that is in me ; and make me to be fuch, before thou calleft me hence, as I defire to be thenceforward to all eternity, thro' Jefus Chrill our blefled Lord and Saviour. Amen, in. AM coming to thee, fweet Jefu : open thine arms to receive me gracioufly. Thou haft purchafed me to thyfelf -, fufi^er me not to fall (hort of all that happinefs thou diedft to procure for me. Withdraw not thy mercy from me at my lafl hour, when I have the greatefl need of it, and mufl be everlaftingly ruined without it. Let not the enemy have any ad- vantage againfl me in my extremity, nor the wicked approach to hurt me. Give thy holy angels charge over me, that they may conduct me fafely through the valley of death, and bring me to thine everlafling kingdom; that there I may fing incefTant hallelujahs, with the bleffed choir of faints and angels for ever- more. Jmen, IV, LefTed God, merciful and gracious. What great things haft thou prepared for them that love thee ', fuch aq eye has not feen, nor ear heard, aod .it I B 3 8 2 T roper Trayers for h has not entered inro the heart of man to conceive ! Oh that I niay be admitted to tafle of fuch incom- parable bleifednefs ! It will be a happy exchange for me to leave this world, and all its mean, tranfitory enjoyments, for the ineilimable glories that are pro- mifed at thy right-hand : in firm hope and expect- ation whereof, I commend my foul into thy hands, O Lord, thou God of truth. Jmen. Even fo, come. Lord Jefus. When he apprehends himfclf about to expire. TJASTE thee^ Lord, to deliver me. In thee, O * ^ Lord Jejus Chrijl, viy moft merciful Saviour, and only Redeemer, in thee alone is all my truft : let me never he confounded. O blejfedjefu, I fue to thee for mercy : mercy, O Lo d, and forgivenefs of 7ny fins^ is what I mofl hM7nhly heg of thee. O Chrift, fave me, O God the Father, Son, and Holy Ghcfl \ O holy, bleffed^ and glorious Trinity, Three Perfons, and One God, have mercy upon me. Receive 7ny foul into thy hands. And for thy mercies fake place it in thy heavenly kingdom^ among thy holy angels, and hleffe.d faints, O Jj)rd, hear me,^ and be merciful to me. Into th^ hands I commend my fpirit *, for thou haft redeemed me, O Lordy thou Cod of truth. Amen, Lord, Amen. For thofe dbout the Sick Terfon, A S thou, O God, art infinitely gracious to thy ■^ poor creatures, continually multiplying thy love- ing-kindnefles towards us from day to day, and from year to year, and haft required of us to be loving and kind to each other, and defire our neighbour's wel- fare as our own j in an humble imitation of this thy goodnefs, and obedience to thy command, I here beg leave to fupplicate thy favour in behalf of all thofe who attend about my bed, or have in any refpedl the trouble of afTifting me, now that I know not how to take care of myfelf, Recompenfe them, O Lord, all A the the Ufe of the S'tcL 383 the good that they have done for me. Be with them whenfoever they fhall come to be in the fame help- ]efs condition they now fee me in -, and furniOi them at that time with fuch tender-hearted and careful friends, fuch affedlionate relations, and fuch afliftance of all kinds, that they may not want any of thofe neceflary helps, which I have received from theni. And, in the mean time, grant that, by feeing me in this helplefs weak eftate, they may be fo effedtually admo- nillied of their own mortality, that they may learn forthwith to apply themfelves to the working out their falvation with care and diligence, and fo may be al- ways prepared for ficknefs or death, whenfoever thou ihalt fend either of them. This I beg for them all, through Jefus Chrift our Lord, and only Saviour. Amen. For his Family and Relations. I. o Lord God Almighty, who dwelled in the higheft Heavens, and yet humbleft thyfelf to behold thy ■worthlefs creatures here below, and difpenfeft thy blelTings among them, as feems belt to thine infinite wifdom ; I praife thee for the conltant experience I have had of thy great goodnefs to me all my life long. And, now that I am going the way of all flefh, and muft be fpeedily gathered to my fathers, I not only defire to retain, to my laft breath, a thankful remembrance of this thy loving-kindnefs ; but beg liberty alfo at the fame time to intercede with thee, for thofe I leave behind me, for [my wife and children, and other] my near and dear relations. Take them all into thy protedion, and adminifter to them all things pertaining to life and godlinefs. [Be a Father to the fatherlefs, and a Hufband to the widow.] All their wants are open to thy knowledge; let them be fupplied by thy power and goodnefs. Keep them as the apple of thine eye. Preferve them under jhe fliadow of thy wings : and let no evil come nigh * " their B 3 S4 T roper Trayers for their dwelling. Thy blefTing is incomparably the nioft definable portion I can leave them ; let not that be wanting to them. But bellow upon them, I be- feech thee, all bkfiings fpiritual and temporal in Chrift Jefus. Jmen. IL LESS them in their bodies, and blefs them in their fouls ; blefs them in the baflcet, and in the ftpre, in their going out, and in their coming in, and all that they put their hands unto. But, above all, blefs them with the choiceft fpiritual bleffings, with a pjure heart, and a found mind ; with a contempt of the world, and a fure truft in thee-, with a grateful itnit of thy kindnefs, and a foul full of love ; with a knowledge of thy will, and a care to perform) it i with the ailiftance of thy Spirit, and life everlafting, through Jefus Chriit thy Son our Lord. Jmen, When tinder any Jlrong Temptation, /^ Heavenly and mod merciful Father, I moft hum- ^^ bly befeech thee, for thy Son's fake, Jefus Chrifi: .our Lord, have mercy upon me, and fuccour me in thefe terrible affaults and temptations of the devil. Deliver my foul from all his power and craft. Send me ftrength from above, that I may retain my inte- grity, may refifl: the enemy, and ftand fledfaft in this day of trial. Be thou my llrong rock, and cattle of defence ; that, being preferved through thy grace and afTiftance, I may continue as I have promifed, and as thou mayeft juflly exped me to be, thy faith- ful foldier and fervant unto my life's end. This I beg, O Lord, through the merits, and for the fake, of thy dear Son Jefus Chrift our Lord. Amen, IL TTE AR me, O Lord; for thy loving-kindnefs is ^\ comfortable. Turn thee unto me according to die multitude of thy mercies, and hide pot thy face from o the Ufe of the Sick. 3 S 5 from thy fervanc, when I am in trouble. Oh hafte thee, and hear me \ draw nigh unto my foul, and fave it ; deliver me from my lubcle and outrageous enemy. O Lord my God, lighten mine eyes, that I deep not in death; left mine enemy fay, I have pre- vailed againft him. If I be caft down, they that trouble me will rejoice at it. But my truft is in thy mercy, and my heart is joyful in thy falvation : Oh never be wanting to me; but hearken to my petition, and hear me at all times; but more efpeciaily in this my prefent confli(5l with the grand deftroyer of fouls; and give me caufe to praife and magnify thy name, O Lord my God, for ever and ever. Amen, III. God, who knoweft me to be fet in the mid ft of fo many and great dangers, that, by reafon of the frailty of my nature, I cannot always ftand up- right ; grant me fuch ftrengrh and protecftion as may fupport me in all dangers, and carry me through all temptations, thro* Jefus Chrift our Lord. Amen, When tempted to Trefianption. A Lmighty and moft righteous God, who fcarcheft *^ the hearts, and trieit the reins, and rendereft to every one according to his doings ; take pity upon me a guilty fmner, and fufFer me not to prefume upon thy mercy, whilft I retain an affedion for any kind of fin. I know thy clemency and compaffion are infi- nite, and thou art always ready to embrace a return- ing prodigal: and I cannot therefore doubt of thy pardon, were I duly qualified for it. But my only danger is, left my fins have made too great a fepa- ration betwixt thee and thy poor creature, for me to hope any longer for thy favour. Wh^efore I humbly pray thee, to difcover me truly to myfelf; and if there be any way of wickednefs yet remaining in me, purge it away, that I may be a ft objedt ot thy fa- therly commiferation. Permit me not to encourage E e myfelf 5 86 T^ roper Trayers for inyfclf in a groundlefs reliance upon thy favour; whilft in the mean time I am really unqualified for it. But teach me feriouQy and impartially to examine my heart and ways, before I venture to pafs fo eafy fen- tence upon myfelf. Let not thy patience to me hi- therto work in me an expedation of future happinefs, upon any other terms than thofe of the Gofpel ; that fo I may be induced to ftudy, how molt effedually to make my calling and election fure •, and to this end may fet myfelf, confcientiouily and univerfally, to obferve thy commandments all the days of my Jife. Help me to reform all that is amifs in me, and to make fuch a progrefs in holinefs, as that I may lafely depend upon thy mercy and kindnefs to me, here in this world, and may be for ever happy with thee in the other, through the merits of Jefus Cbrift my only Saviour and Redeemer. Amen, TVhen inclinable to "Defpair^ ^^ Almighty Lord God, the Father of our Lord ^^ Jefus Chrift, and in him of all thy faithful fer- vants ♦, I am afhamed, and greatly confounded, to think that 1 fhould feem in any wife to diftruil thy goodnefs, after I have had fuch abundant experience of it, and after all the gracious promifes thou haft made, to thofe who afk any thing according to. thy ivill. Yet I mufl: confefs, that fear, and a horrid dread, have taken hold of me, left my portion fhould be amongft the reprobates, who are to be punifhed with everlafting deftrudion from the prefence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power. This thought ftrikes me to the heart, and I am not able to bear up •under ihe weight of it. Do thou therefore fupport me with the comforts of thy Ploly Spirit. Speak peace to my difconfolate foul, and afiure me, thou arc reconciled to me in the Son of thy love ; that thou arc my Sun and my Shield at prefent, and wilt be my exceeding great Reward hereafter. Forgive thefe my dgubts and fears •, and fo difpofe niy mind, and the life of the Sick. 3S7 ' and confirm my trufi: in thee, as that a remembrance, of my fins may never incline me to defpair of thy kindnefs; bur, on the other hand, may drive me to my Saviour to fue for his intercefiion in my behalf, and may put me upon an indefatigable attendance upon my duty, whereby to capacitate me for a fure con- fidence in his all-fufficient merits and mec^iation. Do not only pardon all my tranfgrelllons for his fake, that fo I may be for ever happy in thy heavenly kingdom, but convince me, in the mean time, thac thou hall done it, for my fitisfa(5lion and comfort, whilft I remain here below. I look upon it as one of Satan's ftratagems, to put me out of heart, that he may prevent my earnefl endeavours to pleafe thee. Do thou therefore enable me to reject this and all other his morions, and fo to betake myfelf to thee for relief, and fo to obferve thy holy laws, as than thou mayeft caufe thy face to fhine gracioufly upon me, and make me to rejoice in thy favour, both now and evermore, thro' Jefus Chrilt our Lord. Amen, When Weak and Langui^nng* I. /^ Merciful God, who, for the fins of man, didft ^^ fend death into the world, and ficknefs in order to it *, behold my weak and languifhing eftate, and extend thy pity to me. Thou feefl how low a con- dition I am reduced to ; and what will become of me, none befides thee knows. But thou art a God, who art full of mercy and compaffion •, and hail di- rected me to call upon thee in the day of trouble. This encourages me to cry to thee now for help, when I am not able to help myfelf. Let me, O Lord, fee the love of a tender Father, in all thy dealings with me ; and more particularly in this exercife of my patience, i do not repine at it, buc acknowledge, to thy praife, that my fins have loudlv called for its and that thou, of very faichfulnefs, had: . E e 2 . cauf.d o 388 T roper Prayers for caufed me to be troubled. Let this eonfideratioa make me truly fenfible of thy kindnefs, and not only contented, but thankful for fuch thy proceedings to- wards me, in hope that the ficknefs of my body may be for the health of my foul, and may be a means of promoting my falvation in the great day of account, through our Lord Jefus Chrift. Amen. II. Lord, thou knoweft the frailty of my natural conftitution, and how unfit I am to contend with a long difeafe •,. be intreated to conlider my in- firmity, and, in thy due time, to relieve me; left my patience be at length tired out, and fo I fall under thy heavy difpleafure. Be not extreme to mark what I have done amifs : but in the midft of judgment re- member mercy, and make me glad with the joy of thy countenance. I am intirely at thy difpofal •, caufe all things to work together for my good, that whe- ther by life, or death, I may glorify thy holy Name,, through Jefus Chrift thy Son our Lord. Amenn When troubled ijvith acute Tains, r\ Blefled God, juft and holy, who doeft not af- ^-^ fli6l willingly, nor grieve the children of men ^ with-hold not thy affiftance from mc in this my fharp and dolorous condition. Thine arrows ftick faft in me ; and thy hand prefleth me fore. I am made to pofiefs [months, or'] days of vanity, and wearifome nights are appointed to me. When I lie down, I fay, AVhen (hall I a rife, and the night be gone? And 1 am full of tolTing to and fro unto the dawning of the day. I am feeble and, fore fmitten •> I have roared for the very difquietnefs of my heart. My forrow-s are inlarged, my wound is great,, and my foul is full of trouble. And I have none to feek to for a miti- gation of my pains, but to thee, O Lord. I freely own my fufferings to be far lefs then I have deferved : and that they have not been far worfe than they are, is the Ufe of the Sick. 38^ is purely of thy goodnefs. Bat yet, fince they pierce deep, and are become almofl too hard for me to bear, I am forced to call to thee for aid; befeeching thee not to punifh me according to mine iniquities, but to fpare me for thy mercies fake. Endue me v/ith that patience, which may enable me readily to fubmit to thy chailifement, and that hearty repent- ance for all my fins, which may invite thee to put an end to my corredion : lay no more upon me, than thou wilt capacitate me to bear. My foul melteth away for very heavinefs: comfort thou me, and let thy loving mercy come unto me, O Lord, according to thy word. Hear my moft humble fupplication according to thy loving-kindnefs; and quicken me as thou art wont. Continue me under thy rod, only fo far as may be for thy glory., and my own advantage. Sandtify it to me whilft I itt\ the fmart of it, and am made to groan and figh by reafon of it ; and when its work fhall be once done, (and oh that it may not be long in doing !) remove it from me, and give me a frefh occafion to rejoice in thy faving health, through Jefus Chrift our blefled Lord and Saviour. Amen. Upon Abatement of Tain. g^ Give thanks unto the Lord ; for he is gracious, ^^ and his mercy endureth for ever. I called upon the Lord in my necefTity, and he hath heard me, and granted a relaxation of my pains. Even as a father pitieth his own children, fo is the Lord merciful unto them that fear him. He knoweth whereof we are made; he remembreth that we are but duft, and cannot fubfift, much lefs enjoy any comfort or cafe, without his good Providence caking care of us. BleiTed be thy Name, O gracious God, and may my foul> and all that is within me, laud and praife thee, for the comfortable change I feel in myfelf, and the eafe and refrefhment thou haft granted me ! The forrows of my heart were inlarged ; but now it is far otherwife E e 3 witU 390 Troptr Trayers for v/ua me. Thou hafi:, in a great meafure, brought me out of my trouble, which lay lo heavy upon me, and forcefi me to make my complaint to thee. What iliall I return unto thee, O Lord, for all the benefits Ehat thou hafl: done unto me ? I will receive the cup. of falvation, and will call upon the name of the Lord i I will praife thee, and give thee thanks, in the befl manner 1 am able; will magnify thy power, thy goodnefs, and thy faithfulnefs ; and will be telling of thy iaivaiion from day to day. \\ bile I live, will I praife the Lord \ yea, as long as I have my being, I will fmg praifes to thee, O God: and in my di- ilrefs I will always put my truft in thee, who haft vouch fa fecj at this time to deal fo lovingly with me, and I will conftantly join with the church in its ufual doxology ; Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to rhe Holy Ghofl: \ as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever fhall be, world without end. Amen. JVhen tro:ihlcd in Mind. 1^ Thou great Phyficiau of fouls, I come unto thee ^^ for relief againil that heavy prefTure that lies fadly upon my fpirlts at this time. It is not with- out thy good Providence that fo dreadful a calamity has befallen me. And, as it is thy vifitation, I viril- lingly fubmit to it, and fliall fet myfelf to bear it, without the leaft repining or difcontent. Tho' I am diftrefied, and greatly afflidted ; yet I know it is thy doing, and therefore to be born with an unwearied patience. It is alfo of my own procuring, and fo I have none to blame for it but myfelf, and thofe mine iniquities which have called for it. Righteous art thou, O Lord ; juft is thy judgment. Yet, with an unfeigned refignation to thy Will, 1 find myfelf con- ftrained to fupplicate thee for the removal of it ia thy due time, that fp I may be better able to do thee fervice, than I am at prefent. Thou feeft the woful ftate I am in ♦, how my mind is difordered, my thoughts are loofe and confufcd, my underftanding is the life of the Sick, 391 fsdouded, my affedlions are ungovernable, my whole foul is cue of tune, and all my faculties in a great meafure difabled for a due attendance upon thy wor- fhip, and the faithful obedience I owe to thy molt holy laws. Convince me hereby, how weak and frail 1 am of myfelf ; and in what continual need I (land of thy help, without which I can difcharge none of the offices for which I came into this world. If thou withdrawefl my breath, I die ; if thou denied me the afliflance of thy grace, I go on finning, and am utterly undone ; if thou takell away my comforts, I am fad and dejedled, my fpirits droop, and my heart waxes faint. And to thee therefore, my only refuge, J now betake myfelf for help. Refufe not to fpeak comfort to my difconfolate foul \ but vific me with thy falvation. Shew forth thy marvellous loving-kindnefs, thou that art the Saviour of them who put their truft in thee. Reftore me to a right ufe of my faculties, a compofure of mind, and a rea- dinefs of compliance with thy Will in all things. Help me to the enjoyment of myfelf, and of thy favour; and make me to hear of joy and gladnefs, that the bones which thou haft broken may rejoice. Save, Lord, and hear, O King of Heaven, when I call upon thee, through the merits of thy only Son Jefus Chrift our Lord. Amen, O por a JVoman in Travail* I. Eternal God, thou Father of lights, from whom comes every good and perfed gift, and who haft promifed to hearken to thofe that call upon thee in their necefTities ; hear the fupplication of thine handmaid, who feel my travail coming upon me, and cry unto thee in the anguifh of my foul. Watch over me for good ; forgive my fins *, and moderate my pains, if it be thy bleffed Will. As thou haft given me a power to conceive, grant me likewife E e 4 flrength 35>2 T roper Trayers for llrength to bring forth, and that I may be a joyful mother of a [(9r, of another] child, endued with a found and perfed body, complete in all its parts, and fitted for all its proper operations, and with aa underftanding capable of knowing thee, and thy ways, and with a will difpofed in due time to love and fear thee. And grant moreover, that it may live to ferve thee faithfully, and do good in its generation, thro' Jefus Chrift our Lord. Amen, II. f^ Lord, the fader my pangs come upon me, the ^^ more I beg thou wilt exert thy ftrength for my eafe, that 1 be not overwhelmed with the weight of them. Confider my impocency, and fupport and de- liver me. Be not wanting to me now that trouble is hard at hand, [or^ lies heavy upon me •,] and I have none that can give me eafe, or fa^fety, but thou alone. Forfake me not when my ftrength faileth me, when my fpirits faint, and I cannot bear the burden of my forrows without thy afTiftance. Shew a token upon me for good, that they who are about me may praife thy Name, and may rejoice to fee, that thou Lord haft holpen me, and comforted me, through our Lord Jefus Chrift. Amen, III. TJ^Orgive my fins, O Lord; and purge out of me ^ all inclination to whatever fort of wickednefs. Be with me, and the child I labour of, and grant, O gra- cious Lord, that we may live to praife and honour thee. Grant we may be thy faithful fervants here, and, whenfoever thou fhalt fee fit to take either of us out of this w^orld, be gracioufly pleafed to make us partakers of thine everlafting kingdom, for the love of Jefus Chrift our Lord ; to whom with thee, and the Holy Ghoft^ be all honour and glory, now and for ever. Amn» After the life of the Sich 393 \After Deliverance in Childbirth. I. 'T^ H O U haft, of thy great goodnefs, O Lord, -*• carried me fafely thro* the great pain and peril of child-birth. And now [that I have recovered fome meafure of ftrength after my hard labour,] I defire to pay my molt humble acknowledgments, and profoundeft adoration, to thee, my Saviour and Deliverer ! Lo! Children, and the fruit of the womb, are an heritage and gift that cometh of the Lord. To thee therefore be the praife, that another child is born into the world, that thou haft preferved me, its mother, under the forrows with which I was encom- paffed ; and that thou haft reftored me to fome de- gree of health at prefent, and giveft me hope of hav- ing it perfected in a little time [or, frefent eafe, and the hope of a recovery']. Go on, O Lord, to complete and eftablilh it, if it feem good in thy fight, and may be for thy glory •, and incline my heart to fbew forth thy praife, not only with my lips, but by the holinefs and uprightnefs of my life in all refpeds. Let a fenfe of thy goodnefs be always upon my mind -, and raife in me fuch unfeigned love and gratitude to thee, that I may never ceafe to found forth thy praifes, fhro' Jefus Chrift our Lord. Amen, II. f^ Be pleafed to continue, increafe, and fandify, thy ^^ mercies to thine unworthy fervant, that I may live to thy honour, by whofe good Providence alone it is that I live at all. Perfed what thou haft thus far wrought in me, and fo eftablirti my health, as that I may be fitted to praife and ferve thee. Pre- fer ve me from the power of the tempter, and the corruption of mine own evil heart, that I mif-fpend none of the time thou granteft me for better pur- pofes, but my whole ftudy may be to obferve thy ilatutes, and to be every day improving in my obe- dience to chem. Lead me by thy counfcls here, and hereafter 3 94 T roper Trayers for hereafter receive me into glory, thro* our Lord Jefus Chrift. Amen, III. AND caft an eye of pity upon my poor infant, •^ who is not able to pray for itfelf , and, fmce thou haft brought him [(?r, her] into the world, may it pleafe thee to preferve h in it, that he [^r, fhe] may be an ufeful inftrument of thy glory, by ferv- ing thee faithfully, and doing good in h generation. Grant h the benefit of bapcifmal regeneration, that being born in fin, and a child of wrath, it may be re- newed and made a child of grace ; and, being received into covenant with thee, may be ftedfaft in faith, joyful thro' hope, and rooted in charity ; and may fo pafs thro' the waves of this troublefome world, thac finally it may come to the land of everlafting life, there to reign with thee, world without end, through Jefus Chrift thy Son, our blefifed Lord and Saviour, jimen. For a Toimg Terfon that is Sick, L if^ God, vvhofe never-failing Providence ordereth ^^ all things both in heaven and earth, tho' thou haft laid thy hand upon me, and caft me upon the bed of ficknefs, yet neverthelefs my hope is,. and fhall be, in thee. Be thou my Deliverer, and cure my difeafe, which lies fo hard upon me. Spare me, I befeech thee *, and take me not away before I come to years of difcretion, and to a right underftanding of thine infinite love to me, and the love and duty I owe to thee. May it pleafe thee to reftore me to my former health ; and give me grace to fpend what time thou fhak allow me more, to thofe great ends for which thou alloweft it ! Or eife take me to thy- felf into thofe blefTcd regions, whither my Saviour Chrift is gone before, to reign with thee in blifs and felicity. '1 his I beg for the fake of the fame thy Son. Jefus Chrift our Lord. Amen II. HEAR H the Ufe of the Sick. 3 95 II. EAR me, O God, and be merciful unto me 5 oh remember not the fins and offences of my youth; but, according to thy mercy, think thou upon me, O Lord, for thy goodnefs. U thou wilt, thou canft make me whole ; or if thou calleft me hence, thou canft make me happy. Difpofe of me as Ihall feem beft in thy fight *, and prepare me, I befeech thee, for whatfoever thou defigneft for me. Thou art my Helper and -Redeemer : make no long tarry- ing, O my God. Amen, For one of Middle Age, O Almighty and everlafting God, thy goodnefs to me has been wonderful in giving me a being, in preferving me hitherto \ in fupplying me with the neceffaries of this life; but efpecialiy, and above all, in giving thine only begotten and dearly beloved Son, to become incarnate, and fufrer, and die, in my iiead, to open a palfage for me to another and better ftate. And, though thy hand lies heavy upon me at prefent, I cannot doubt but it is in mercy, and for my good. For which reafon I befeech thee to fandify it to me, that it may be a means of weaning my affections from this fhort life, and its tranfitory en- joyments, which, I plainly fee, are utterly unable to preferve either life, or health, when thou calleft for ic j and muft certainly leave thofe in a helplefs con- dition, who have nothing better to truft to. Let ic alfo make me truly fenfible of the real value of that health I now want, and of all the other blefTings thou haft given me to partake of; and put me upon per- feding my repentance, before it be too late. I am at this time in the prime of my age and (Irength, buc as eafily to be cut down by thy hand, as the grafs by the hand of the mower. Suffer me not to fet my affedions upon any thing here below, but upon the eternal enjoyment of the^; and thine ineftimabie re- '' ' ' wards 3 9 <5 Proper Trajers for wards in Heaven ; nor to reckon upon the wonted vigour of my age, but upon my prefent inability, and the nearnefs I am pofTibly in to death, and a future llate. Teach me a perfecSt fubmiflion to thy holy Will, that I may account of life, only as an oppor- tunity of doing thee farther fervices; and may ufe it, whilft continued to me, to be in a great readinefs for death, that whenfoever that comes, I may receive its fummons y/ithout furprize, and may willingly quit all that I have here, to depart, and be with Chrift, which is far better. My time at beft is fhort ; but if thou art pleafed to make it fhorter than might have been expeded, by taking me away in the midfl of my days, I commit myfelf into thy hands, to do .with me a5 feemeth thee good. Only, I befeech thee, remove me not hence, till thou Ihalt have fitted me for a better and more lading flate, through Jefus Chrift ray only Saviour and Redeemer. 4^en* ' For one that is grown Old. Y life, O Lord, draws towards a conclufion 5 and I efteem myfelf as one of thofe that are .going down to the grave; and, confidering the years 1 ha¥e already lived, I cannot think it ftrange, if I fee no more good days in this world. Others that are younger may die quickly ; but I know afiuredly, that I muft be gone in a very little time. The thread of my life wears off apace, fo that I cannot but fup- pofe it to be near an end. The number of my day$ is already extended beyond that of my contempo- raries, mod of whom are gone before me; and I am not fo vain as to imagine, that I can be exempt from that mortality, which is the common fate of all men. Befides, this ficknefs is a frefii memento to me, to put me in mind of the tottering (late of my earthly taber- nacle, and that I know not how fpeedily it may pof- fibly be dilTolved. Wherefore my great care is to fee, that my peace be made with thee, before I go thither> whence there is no returning. Help me, I bcfeeck M the Ufe of the Sick. 39? befeech thee, to do it fo fuccefsfuUy, as that I may always have my loins girt, and my lamp burning, and be like thofe who wait for the coming of the bridegroom, in a readinefs, whenfoever thou fhak call for me, whether it be at the cock-crowing, or m the morning, or perhaps this very evening. Let thy n'me be mine, that whenever death appears, it may not find me unprepared to receive it as thy meifenger, to condud me hence. In a long courfe of many years> 1 have committed multitudes of fins; whereby 1 have contraded a heavy load of guilt, and mull be irreco- verably undone, without thy picy. But with thee, O Lord, there is mercy, that thou mightelt be feared ^ and with thy Son is plenteous redemption. For his lake forgive me all my paft tranfgrefTions, and en- able me to fpend what little of my life is yet remain- ing, in thy fear, and to thy glory. Cleanfe and pu- rify me, that I may have no terrifying guilt adhere to me, to make me afraid of my latter end. Strengthen; me by thy grace and Holy Spirit, to fight out the good fight of faith; that, continuing thine to the laft, and being faithful whilfb I live, I may be eternally faved after death, through the merits of Jefus Chrilt our Lord. Amen, For one that ha^ deferred his Repentance. C^ Blefied and holy Lord God, who would ft not ^^ any fhould perifh, but that all fhould come to repentance, be merciful to me a guilty finner, who have long negledled my duty to thee, and mine own main intereft ;, till my fins are gone over my head, and are, as a fore burden, too heavy for me to bear. Enter not into judgment with thy fervanc ; for in thy fight fhall no man living be juftified. And if no man, not the belt of men, and the moil righteous, much lefs fo vile a finner as I have been. I have provok'd thy Divine Majefly by a long feries of wickednefs, for which thou mightft juftly have long fence cut me off,, and given me my poriion among the 3 98 T roper Trayers for the devils, and damned fpirics. But, blefled be thy Name, thou haft exercifed a great deal of patience and long-fuffering towards me. And I hope it is not in vain that thou haft thus gracioufly born with me. For I am now fully convinced of my own folly, and the evil of my ways, and do repent, and abhor my- felf in duft and afhes. Do not thou abhor me too^ nor (hut up thy bowels of compaffion from me. Be- hold me not as an obftinate fmner, but as one for whom Chrift has died, and as a penitent heartily grieved for my paft difobedience, and earneftly de- firous both of thy pardon, and of grace to walk more holily for the future. It is much too long that I have deferred my amendment and reformation •, but, by thy blefling and afiiftance, 1 am fully refolv'd to do it no longer. Help me to put thefe good refo- lutions in pradice, renouncing all my moft beloved fins, and earneftly endeavouring to be upright and unblameable in all manner of converfation j that to- day, whilft it is called to-day, I may hear thy voice, and never more dare to harden my heart againft it. I know not what a day may bning forth ; and for this reafon am not willing to truft to tomorrow, when poflibly it may be too late for me to think of repent- ing to falvation. Turn thou me, good Lord, and fo (hall I be turned ; but do it, I befeech thee, imme- diately, and out of hand. Turn me from all mine iniquities, and make me to ferve thee acceptably with reverence and godly fear. Make me heartily alhamed of my undutifulnefs and difobedience hi- therto, that I fhould have dared to offend fo good and gracious a God; and ftir up my heart to ferve thee better for the time to come, that, denying all ungodlinefs and worldly lufts, I may live righteoufly, foberly, and godly, in this prefent world. Loofe me from all the bonds of my fins •, and conduct me to everhfting life, through Jefus Chrift pur Lord. Jmen, For the Ufe of the SuL 599 For one that is not duly grieved for his Sins. A Gainft thee, O Lord, have I finned, and done evil in thy fight ; and what fhall I now fay unto thee ? I defire to be deeply humbled for all my un- dutiful carriage towards thee. But to my fliame I find, that I am not fo duly affeded with my guilt and folly, as I ought to be. I have highly offended thee, and miferably endangered my own falvation 5 and though I fee and know this, yet I find, by fad experience, that I am not fo throughly grieved ac the fight of my fins, as were to be wifii'd, and as I truly defire to be. I hope there is no fin that has its full dominion over me;, none that I do not unfeign- edly long and fl:rive to fhake off, and free myfelf from it, fo far as I fhall be able : as I alfo moft earnefily defire and beg the forgivenefs of them all. Only I am concerned and amaz'd, that I fhould not be more fenfibly griev'd at the confideration of them. Touciv my foul, O bleffcd God, with fuch an affcding per- ception of my v^^ickednefs, that I may continually lament and bewail it ; that rivers of tears may run down mine eyes, becaufe I have not kept thy law 5 and I may mourn in fecret for my tranfgrefllons, may confefs mine iniquities, and be more heartily forry for my fin, even with a forrow that may bring forth a repentance to falvation, that is never to be repented of. O Lord, who caufedfl: water to flow out of the rock of fi:one, break this ftony heart of mine, or rather take it away from me, and give me inftead of it a heart of flefh, capable of thofe impreffions, that a guilty confcience is wont to make upon a returning penitent. Make me to loath my fins, and myfeff becaufe of them ; and to humble myfelf before thee, and in the mofl: fubmiffive manner to fupplicate thy grace and Holy Spirit, to lead me in the way of life, and never to give over, till I fiiall have obtained a blcffing, through Jefus Chrift our Lord» Amen. Uron 40O Troper Trayers for Upon a Relapfe into Sin. f^ Lord God Almighty, jiift and true, thou only ^^ Sovereign of the world, on whom is all my de- pendence, and from whom is all my hope and ex- pedlation \ I am afhamed and blufh to appear before thee, feeing I have of late fo highly oftended thy Divine Majefty. I know not how to lift up mine eyes unto heaven, but am forced, with the humhlt public any, to fmite upon my bread, and call upon thee to be merciful to me a finner. I have finned againft thee from time to time, and aggravated my fins with many heinous and dreadful circumftances, whereby to render them fo much the more provoking. And tho* I have refolved, and promis'd, and vowed an amend- ment, yet have 1 again broken my faith, and relapfed into my former guilt, and thereby cut myfelf off from all right to thy promifes. And what can I now plead for myfelf? From the bar of thy juftice I fly to the throne of thy mercy, befeeching thee to be favourable to me, becaufe thou delighteft in mercy 5 and not let me be miferable, tho' I have taken the ready road to mifery. I have perverted my ways, and run upon deftruflion with my eyes open. ' And though I cannot fay I have quite forgotten thee my God, yet I muft acknowledge, to my own forrow and fhame, that I have offended thee more heinoufly by iinning againft thee, when I knew myfelf in thy pre- fence, and when I was fully convinced how evil and bitter a thing (in is, how extremely difpleafing to thee, and of what pernicious confequence to myfelf; and had profefs'd, and oftentim.es taken the facrament upon it, that I would ferve thee faithfully all my days. My confcience accufes me •, my heart con- demns me; and thou, who art greater than my heart, and knoweft ail things, may'ft juftly flop thine ears, when I cry unto thee in the anguilh of my foul. I have finned againft Fleaven, and before thee ; and am no more worthy to be called thy fon, I have finned the Ufe of the Sick. 401 finned againft the light of the Gofpel, and thine in- finite love to me ; againft the terror 'of thy threat- nings, the charms of thy mercy, the rebukes of thy Spirit, and the checks of my own confcience ; againit my folemneft vows and engagements, and when I had fully purpofed an amendment. Yet is not my lin too great for thee to pardon, or to remove from me, that I never more repeat it. If thou wilt, thou canft make me whole again. And the more my wick- ednefs has abounded, the more therefore let thy grace and good-will abound. Abfohe me from the gitilt^ deli- ver me from the power ^ cleanfe me from the follution, fave me from the -punifhment^ of this and all other my offences':, reconcile me to thyfelf here, and crown me with immortal glory hereafter, thro' Jefus Chrift thy Son, our only Mediator and Redeemer. Jmen. For a right Ufe of the good Things of this World. H O U, O Lord, art the Father of mercies, and the fole Author of all the bleflings I am now, or have at any time been, partaker of; let me never have caufe to repent, that thou haft beftowed the fame upon me. Vouchfafe me fuch a right no- tion and eftcem of all earthly privileges and enjoy- ments, that I may never be brought under the power of any of them; but may conftantly ufe that portion of them thou conferreft upon me, with temperance, and fobriety, and charity, for the time they are con- tinued to me, and with a ready difpofirion of mind to part with them, whcnfoever thou fhalc fee fit to ftrip me, either of the whole, or of any part of them ; and with fuch heavenly-mindednefs, and an eye fo immoveably fix'd upon the unconceivable rewards of the other ftate, that I may never dare to fet thefe in competition with them. Incline my heart to a conftant folicitude for another life, and a care to lay up to myfelf treafure in Heaven, by a good improve- ment of whatever I enjoy here below. Grant I may F f never T 403 T roper Vrayers for never be high-minded, nor truft in uncertain riches, but in thee the living God, who gives us all things richly to enjoy; may be rich in good works, ready to diftribute, willing to communicate; and fo may lay up to myfelf a good foundation againft the time to come, that I may lay hold on eternal life. Make me truly fenfiblc, how impolTible it is to ferve both God and mammon ; and that if I im.moderately love the world, and the things in it, this is a certain fign, that the love of God is not in me. Awaken my flug- gifli foul, that it may open its eyes, and look paft this prefent ftate, and afpire after thofe true riches, to which all that this world contains bears no manner of proportion. Be my God, and my Guide in all my concerns ; and grant me fo to pafs thro' things tem- poral, that I finally lofe not the things eternal. This I beg for thy mercies fake, in thy Son our Lord Jefus Chrift, who liveth and reigneth with thee, and the Holy Ghoft, ever one God, world without end. Amen. For a truly Chrijlian Behaviour in all refpe£is. I. r^ Eternal and everlafting God, who hateft all ini- ^^ quity, and canil not look upon the leaft fin with approbation ; difpofe me for a due attendance to the flate thou hail placed me in, and the preparation I am neceflarily to make for another, before I am fum- mon'd hence. Work in me both to will, and to do of thy good pleafure, thac fo 1 may live in all holy converfation and godlinefs, and may pafs the time of my fojourning here in thy fear, exercifing myfelf con- tinually to have a confcience void of oft'ence towards God, and towards man. Open mine eyes, that I may lee the wondrous things of thy law. Enlighten my mind, that I may know thee ; and not with a barren and uielefs knowledge, but fuch as may produce the happy fruits of good v/orks, Put thy law in my heart. the Ufe of the Sick. 403 heart, and write it in my inward man, that in no- thing I may dare to fin againfl thee, but my whole Jife may be a continual (ludy to pleafe thee. Make me forrowful for my fins, and intent upon a better obedience for the future, humble under thy chaflife- ments, devout in thy fervice, thankful for all thy mercies, fearful to difpleafe thee, and defirous, above all things, to approve myfelf to thee. Remind me of my ducy to my neighbour, that I may love him as myfelf, and do to all others, as I would they fhould do to me; being obedient to my governors, whether fpiritual or temporal ; refpecftful to my other fupe- riors ; loving, and ufeful, and obliging, to my equals; affable a-nd courteous to my inferiors; jufl to all, and charitable and affiltant to thofe that are in need. And pur me upon a diligent watch over myfelf, that I indulge no unreafonable luft or pafTion, no vice or immorality of any kind, bat may be progrefTive ia goodnefs, may cleanfe myfelf from all my defile- ments, and may aim at being holy, as he which has called me is holy. Thus I befeech thee, O gracious God, to grant that I may both perceive and know, what things I ought to do, and alfo may have grace and power faithfully to fulfil the fame, through Jefus Chrift our Lord. Ameyi, II. f^ God, tho' my Spirit be willing, yet the flelh is ^^ weak, and 1 can do no good thing without thy afliftance. Do thou ftrengthen me by thy good Spi- rit, to bear up againfl all the oppofuion that fliall befal me in the performance of my duty, whether from men or devils. Let no temptation be too pow- erful for me to withftand it with courage, and an undaunted refolution to proceed in my integrity. Nourifh all the feeds of grace that are fown in my heart, and make them fruitful unto every good word and work. Let my light fo fhine before men, that they may fee my good works, and glorify thee, my F f 2 Father, 404 Troper Prayers for Father, who art in Heaven. Make me a faithful fteward of all thofe talents, wherewith thou haft en- trufted me, for the good either of myfelf or others ; that I may not be afraid to give up my accounts, when the Lord fhall come to reckon with me. Give me the increafe of faith, hope, and charity, and all other chriftian graces ; and, that I may obtain that which thou doft promife, make me ever to love that which thou doft command, through Jefus Chrift our Lord. Amen, IIL r^ Thou God of peace, fandify me wholly -, and I ^^ pray thee, that my whole fpirit, and foul, and body, may be preferved blamelels, unco the coming of our Lord Jefus Chrift i to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen, A general Thank/giving for Mercies received, h Lmighty and moft loving Father, the Father of A mercies, and God of all confolation, I here pro- ftrate myfelf at thy feet, humbly acknowledging thy bounty and goodnefs to me, defiring to blefs and praife thy holy Name, both now and for evermore, for fuch thine abundant loving-kindnefs. It Was of thine own good pleafure, that thou at firft gaveft me a being, when I was not : it is of thy moft gracious hand over me, that I am ftill preferved in it, not- withftanding all the dangers to which I lie continu- ally expofed. Thro' thy immenfe patience and com- pafTion towards me, I am now on this fide the grave, and everlafting mifery •, for I have deferved nothing of thee, but thy heavy wrath, and implacable indig- nation. Yet doft thou not fail to multiply thy blef- iings upon me from day to day, bleflings both fpi- ritual and temporal, for this life, and in order to a better. Praifed be thy name, O Lord, for that thou haft dealt thus lovingly wi-th me! While I live, will I the Ufe of the Sick. 40 ^ I praife the Lord ; yea, as long as I have any being, I will fing praifes to my God. My mouth fhall lliew forth thy righteoufnefs and falvation all the day long; for 1 know no end thereof. BlelTed be the Lord my God, who only doth wondrous things! And bleffed be the Name of his Majefty for ever ! And all the earth fhall be filled with his Majefty. Amen, Amen, 11. npHOU art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory, •■- and honour, and power ; for thou haft created all things, and for thy pleafure they are and were created. May men and angels never ceafe to worlhip and adore thee, and laud and magnify thy bleffed Name, for thine infinite goodnefs to all the fons of men. As for myfelf, it fhall be my conftant ftudy, to exprefs my unfeigned gratitude for the innume- rable benefits I have received from thy bounty : which are as great, as they are every way undeferved, and fo call for the utmoft returns of duty and thankful- nefs to the Author of them. All praife, all glory, be to thee for my creation, prefervation, and all the bleffings of this life ♦, for my health and ftrength, my reafon and underftanding, my peace and quiet of mind, my credit and reputation, the plenty of out- ward good things wherewith thou halt bleffed me., my friends and relations, and benefadors, or what- ever te:ids to make my being here comfortable. Ic is all owing to thee alone ; and to thee therefore be the praife throughput all ages. Atnen, III, T> U T, above all, may my foul, and all that is -^ within me, glorify thee, O Lord, for that moft gracious provifion thou haft vouchfafed to make for me, in order to a better life, when this fhall have an end *, for my redemption by the death and pafTion of my bleffed Saviour; for the glad tidings of the Gofpel, which not gnly hath brought life and immor- F f 3 tality 4-0 (^ T roper Trayers for taliry to light, and fhewn us the way to it, now opened, thro* his merits, to all that duly endeavour after it, but has moreover informed us what duty is required in order to it, and how we niuft be quali- fied before we can be partakers of it ; for the defcent of the Holy Ghoft upon the apoftles at Jerufalem on the day of Pentecoft -, ^ov the glorious effedl of that defcent in the fpeedy and miraculous propagation of Chriftianity thro' the world ; for that afliftance which is yet continued to myfelf and others, for enabling us to walk worthy of the vocation wherewith we are called ; for thy word and facraments •, for the exam- ples of thy faints and martyrs, of the holy apoftles, and, above all, of our blefled Lord himfelf, who was made like to us in all things, fin only excepted; and for all the means of grace, and hopes of glory, that we enjoy thro' him. Oh that I could praife thee as I ought, for thefe thine unfpeakable mercies, and as the blefied fpirits above praife thee! that as heaven and earth are full of the majefty of thy glory, fo my heart, and my mouth, may be duly filled with thy praife, who art the Author of this good to me I However, fo far as my prefent Hate will admit of it, I will not refrain my tongue from proclaiming thy wondrous works; I will give thanks unto thee, for that thou haft done ; and will hope in thy Name all the days of my life. Amen, -L IV. E T a fenfe, I befeech thee, O Lord, of thefe thy great mercies be conftantly fixed in my mind, and fo deeply rooted and fettled there, as that 1 may never make thee any unequal returns for them-; but all the powers of my foul m.ay exert themfelves to fet forth thy glory. Fill my mind with fuch un- feigned gratitude to thee, as may never ceafe to ftiew forth itfelf, not merely by a bare return of praife, but likevvife by the holinefs and uprightnefs of my converfation. Make me to be in the fear of the Lord all the Ufe of the Sick, 407 all the day long, and never let it enter into my heart, to do any thing unworthy of fuch exceffive goodnefs to me ; but that I may perfe(5lly love thee, and wor- thily magnify thy holy Name, thro' Jefus Chrift our Lord, Amen. V. TTOLY, holy, holy. Lord Godof hofts; heaven *-•* and earth are full of thy glory. Glory be to thee, O Lord Mod High. Bleffing, and glory, and wifdom, and thankfgiving, and honour, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever. Amen. N 1 S. The CONTENTS. TH E introduSfion^ concerning this lifers uncertainty Page I To vifit the fick is a 'part of Chrijlianity j • Jnd even though rich 8 . And may prove of great ufe to a man's felf 9 The firfi VISIT. Concerning the more remote Preparation for Death. TU E ftck man's -prefent flate 10 The happinefs of not having our great work to do^ when we come to languifh upon a fick bed ibid. And of being always prepared for death 16 The danger of delaying our repentance i y A death-bed repentance is comfortlefs 22 . And not fo certainly available to falvation 25 The .parable of the labourers in the vineyard inquired into 26 The cafe of the thief upon the crofs confidered 30 A meditation out of Mr. La Placette 38 The nature of a true and faving repentance 43 How to form an effectual refolution and amendment 4§ Our rejolution muft be ferious and hearty 49 ^ Such as zvill hold out at all times ^ and in all cafes — r^Made with a due deliberation 5 1 ■ Perfect and intire ^^ Adequate to all times and conditions 60 The m^ain mujl be refohed upon, as well as the duty 61 '- — And we mufl diligently put them in pra^ice 62 The The CONTENTS-, The Second VISIT. Of Patience under Sicknefs, and other AfHidions. The vifitants meet Page 67 'J'he fick man's complaint 68 • For which he is juflly reprehended 69 Patience a neceffary duty 70 The way to enter into glory is hy the crofs j^ AffliUion no certain fign of God's difpkafure ^ 76 This [hewn particularly in the cafe of JoB 'jj 'And of the primitive Chrijlians 79 And of poor Lazarus 81 -By the do^rine of the Pfalmift 8 j And of St. Paul 84 Our Saviour himfelf had a large fhare of them ibid, And fo muft his difciples ibid. Sufferings a proper means of fitting us for the kingdom of Heaven %^ And God will turn all to the good of them that love him 86 The cafe of Jofeph in Egypt 89 Of David 90 0/Job 91 The undutfulnefs of dijlrujling God's providence 97 The unreafonablenefs of being diffatisfied at God*s dealings with us 99 A parabolical ft or y " 10^ Pardon promis'd to all true penitents no Faith and repentance often mean the fame thing 112 Humiliation a good fign of repentance ibid. The- great fault of parifhioners in not confulting their paftor in the affairs of their fouls 116 Advice how to behave themfelves in this cafe 1 1 8 The The CONTENTS. The third VISIT. The good Man's Settlement of his temporal Concerns. Great henefit of having confulted the ffiritual phyfaian Page 121 m ' ' And of having dealt clearly and openly with him 122 No danger of his divulging zvhat is thus revealed to him 123 m I. Nor of his having a worfe opinion of true penitents., for any freedom of this nature ibid. Anchithanes'i Jenfe of the advantage of having confulted his parifh prieji 125 ne fault of not difpofing of a man^s titnporal eflaie in the time of his health iij ^he fick man makes his will 132 'He hequeaths his foul to God ibid. Begs pardon of any he has offended or injured^ and forgives all that had offended or injured him 133 Makes profeffion of his faith 135 — ■ — Difpofes of his body ibid. Orders his funeral 136 Gives his eft ate ibid. A fhort meditation upon the works of nature 140 Anchithanes's fatifaUion in having made his will 148 Some directions out of Dr, Comber 155 The fourth VISIT How a Man may judge of his Intereft in God's lavour, either here, or hereafter. Eufebias defires a requeft may be made to Theodorus 158 Which A nchi thanes accordingly makes ^ for his dire5iion in order to the forming a right judgment of one's felf^ and The C O N T E N T S. and of bis intereft in God's favmr, either at prefenty or in relation to a future ft ate Page ^59 Gods cor regions no certain figns of his difpleafure ibid. ne dangerous ft ate of the profperous finner i6o "The happy condition of the poor and affli^ed 163 I'he ufefulnefs of ficknefs 165 God^s mercy to finner s a good ground of comfort 168 The parable of the prodigal fon conftdered 170 God's promifes relate to us as well as to the Jews i J 5 No caufe of defpair for any penitent 176 God requires us to call upon him^ with hopes of mercy from him 177 The wonderful effe5i of prayer in fwie of diftrefs 178 Temporal good things to be afked^ with a conftant fub- mijfwn to the Divine PFill 1 S^ How to judge of our title to a better ft ate hereafter 189 I None to conclude himfelf in a fafe condition ^ becaufe of fome good motions he feels in himfelf 190 2. Nor becaufe of fome checks of his confcience 191 3. Nor from fome advances towards a reformation 193 4. Nor from his love to the inftrumental duties of religion 194 5. Nor from his zeal for a feEi or party 196 6. Nor from his regard for good men 199 7. Nor from his reliance upon Chrift for falvation ibid, 8. Nor becaufe once in a ft ate of grace' 202 9. Nor becaufe he is forry for his fins 204 10. Nor any other way than by a hearty obedience to the Divine Will 205 How to know when we may be truly faid to have obeyed this Divine V/ill 208 The beft way to know this^ is by fuch an improve-' ment in goodnefs^ as we all profefs to aim at ibid. So long as a man allows himfelf in any known ftn^ his cafe is very bad ibid* Relapfes into fin are very dangerous 2 1 o Sins of ignorance^ and infirmity ^ or fudden furprize^ not definitive of falvation 214 Which thefe fins are 218 What The CONTENT S. What fins are wilful Page 222 Under what head fins of omiffion are 226 . And defeEls in the fervice rf God 227 ^he duty of fef examination 229 . '^his is to be impartial 230 . The proper times for it ibid. The film of thefe dire 51 ions 2^^ Sincerity the heft qualification for eternal happinefs 236 ■ . . The figns of it 238 The fifth VISIT, Of the more immediate Preparation for Death. Anchithanes'j great concern to die well 243 The duties particularly incumbent on the fick 244 The ufe he ts to make of the little time he has left ibid. 1. To beg the minifter^s affiftance -245 2. To fee that his temporal concerns be duly fettled 249 3. To examine the truth of his faith and repentance 251 4. To make confeffon of his fins " 252 5. To remember the poor ibid. 6. To hear his ficknefs with patience and fubmiffion ibid. Other duties incumbent alfo upon the fick man 254 I. A ferious confideration of death ibid. Whether as a feparation of the foul and body ibid. Or as to the pains of it 256 Or as a quitting all worldly enjoyments 257 Or as a deliverance from the troubles and misfortunes of this life 260 Or as it is a paffage to eternity 261 II. A care to vjean ourf elves from the world 269 III. Perfe5ling our repentance 275 IV. Arming ourfelves againft the fear of death 285 Y. Improving our faith in Chrift 289 This the fick man is to do by confidering Ms own fad and forlorn condition 291 And the remedy God has gracicufiy provided for him 292 And The CONTENTS. And what difpofition he is in for fo inefti77iable a hlejfing Page 295 VI. Seeking earneftly to God for mercy 300 VII. iVatching diligently againji our grand enemy the devil 304 VIII. A perfeEl refignation to the Divine appointf?ient whether to live or die 311 The fixth VISIT. ^hey make their laft vifit 318 The fick mans refignation to the Divine Will 320 Regard ufually paid to the words of dying men ibid. ne fick man's parting advice to his family 321 His death 327 *Their return home 328 neir difcourfe by the way ibid. MEDITATIONS. I. f\^ the vanity^ infufficiency^ and tranfitorinefs of ^ all earthly enjoyments 337 II. On the relation we fiand in to Almighty God^ the duty we owe him^ and the knowledge he hath of all our actions 342 III. On the infinite mercy and goodnefs of God to finners 345 IV. On the covenant we entered into at haptifm 347 V. On the multitude and heimufnefs of our fins 349 VI. On death 352 VII. On a future judgment 359 YIII. On the everlajling ft ate whereto each one fhall te adjudged at the laft day^ according to his doings '^6^ PRAYERS. A Confeffion of fin 13 -^ For pardon of it 14 For improvement in goodnefs y and a right preparation for a happy death is For The CONTENTS. For firength againft temptations^ and improvement in virtue and goodnefs Page 3 7 For heavenly-mindednefs^ and purity of heart 42 For grace to fulfil our good purpofes and refolutions 65 For dependence upon God in all difficulties and trials gs After having made one's will 14^ For the Divine prote^ion 149 For viUory over fin 150 For an intirs fuhmiffion to God's will 151 For a due preparation for death ibid. For growth in grace 154 For a right chriftian deportment in time of ficknefs 166 For dire^ion and ajfiftance to pray aright 181 For the good fuccefs of our prayers 182 For patience and refignation to the Divine Will 187 For a fanolified ufe of ficknefs ibid. Another to the fame purpofe 188 For dire 51 ion in order to a right judgment ofourjelves 242 For a fantlified confi deration of death 2.6 j For deliverance from everla^ing death 268 For a happy eternity ibid. For vlElory over the world^ and the attainment of God's gracious promifes 274 For ability to perfeU our repentance 281 For victory over death 289 For a trulj chrifiian and faving faith in Chri(l and his mediation . 299 For ability to pray with fervour and devotion 303 For forgivenefs of fin\ and a preparation for a better ft ate 304 For defence againft the affaults of the devil . 309 For acceptance with Almighty God 310 For the direuiion of God's fpirit 311 For an in tire refignation to the Divine Will 316 For an eafy departure hence 3 1 7 For a tranftation into a better ft ate ibid. For the fick, when fir ft taken ill 371 Upon fending for the minifter to vifit him sy^ Upon appearance of recovery 374 For The CONTENTS. For the ftck^ upon a recovery from ficknefs Page 376 Upon fending for the phyfician 378 Upn taking of phyfick 070 When given over hy the phyfician ibid. IVhen he apprehends himfelf about to expire 382 For thofe about the ftck ferfon ibid. For his family and relations 283 JFhen under any ftrong temptation 384 When tempted to prefumption. 2 ^c When inclinable to defpair og^ When weak and languifhing ^Sy When troubled with acute pains 388 Upon abatement of pain 3 gg When troubled in mind 300 For a woman in travail oqi After deliverance in child-birth 30^ For a young perfon that is fick 304 For one of middle age ^05 For one that is grown old 30^ For one that has deferred his repentance qqj For one that is not duly grieved for his fins 300 Upon a relapfe into fin 400 For a right ufe of the good things of this world aq £ For a truly Chrijlian behaviour in all refpeBs aq^ A general thankfgiving for mercies received aqa ^4 .^4:s '^m