`Ihe quiet Endof the Wishteous. 3 91 cannot think fcrioufly uponought elfe ; and betides, it is not in our own power to turn to God when he will : ordinarily God,forgets thole in lickuefs, that forget him in health: And it is commonly fees,thatthat preparation for Death that begins 1iVate, butin ficknefs,is as languhlsing and faiut,as is theparty from whence it comes ; And although Vera pcenitenti.èbe nunyuam fera, yetfernpenttentia eftraroVera. Though I fay, true repentance be never toolate, yet laterepentance is fchiome true ; when men leave their fins, becaufe they can continue to praelife, them no longer, ,what thankshave they, or what cari that repentance be ? Thcfethings week, with Gods fervants,to fludy to be ever ready for the Lord, not to delay prcparatiou,but to leek continually to be provided. My exhortation hence (hall begin with that f,eech ofMoles, Oh that men would , U/u. be mil to uuderffand this, and that they Would confider their latter end. f would Dear. S 2. z9 there were a heart inus to entertain this doétrine inout beltthoughts. I remember the Complaint of old, that men had madeaCovenant, with Death, And were at a- Fla s. a s. greement with Hell. Death indeed will make truce with no man; but here is the meaning, Evil men perfvvade themfelves, thatthey áre,inno danger ofhell, or of the grave. Death vvill not comcyet thinkeththe oldeft roan and when it comps, I hope I (hall do vvell enough, thinketh the moil godlefs man., Thus men cozen themfelvesvvith their ovvnfancies, and foDeath (teals upon them at unavtires, and becomes Gods Sergeant to arrefl them, and to carry them avvay to eternal condem- nation. Who amongfl us is able to fay truly, and upon good ground, as Sineoì, Now Lord, if thouvvilt novv command Death to fcizc uponine, vvcicoine lhall it he untome, I am even now ready to receive it ? Hovv many are there that are extra-', ordinary ignorant in themeans hovv to elcape thefling ofDeath ? I-Iovv many ex- treamly fecrre, that never in their lives yet thought eariselUyupon this, bovythcÿ may die vvith comfort, and end their dayes in peace ? Hovv many propháne open that fet light by Death, being apt to fay like thole Epicures, Edamur, &c. Let to eat and drink, for to morrowwe 'hall die ? How many that do putall to a dcfperate adventure, God nudeus, and he muff fave us, andwe shalldo as well as pleafe God, and there is an end ? How many are there, whole hearts, albeit they be in the houfe ofGod, and in kisprefence, are notwithflandingfraughted,withmalice, with envy, with worldfi- nefs, with difdain, with fecret fcorning, repining at the Word which they hear withwearifomnefs , with fpiritual fleepinefsand fecurity ? You that are fuch as I have now faid,think in your confciences,what,would youdie ? if God fhould now flop your breath, and afeite you by Death prefcntly, toappear before his Majcfly, being thus fullof ignorance, offecurity, ofprefumption, of unfanllified, of vicious, of malicious, of covetous thoughts, could you find inyour hearts to fay, Lord, now let no depart ? Sure we could not : but Deathmuff needs be tous, as it is laid to be to the wicked, T,exterrorum,theKingofterreurs slit ihould come upon us, lob 2â, 14. and find us in this cafe; And yet what knowwe how loon, how fuddenly we may be overtaken ? fome ofus drop away daily, fome young, fome old, Tomeliefick longer, fome Idler time ; and how loon it will be our turn we cannot tell ; Our breath is inournoffrills, roe are allatgrafs; Ifthe breath oftheLord blow upon us, we do fuddenly wither, as the flower of thefield, and return again to our firfl Earth. Why will we not labour to be nowready, Pith it maybe alwayes truly Paid, We may now depart, either while we are here, or in our way home, or in our beds, or at our meat ? Who can truly fay to himfelf ; I am lire , I than tint die this hour ? ne` It maybe now thou wilt demand of me, What (hall I do, that I may be rea- dy? To infifl upon particulars, wouldbe too long, only therefore in a word ; The Hówtobe pre- beff preparation for death, is a reformed life. He that lives religiouffy, cannot but párèdotdeaah die preparedly: And it is a thoufand to one, if a wicked liver makea gracious end: TheScripture makes mentionof a doubleDcath,and fo likewifeofa twofoldRefítr- redhon: thefirff Death, is the death ofthe body, which is the reparation of itfrom thefoul. Thefeconddeath, is of the foul, which is the feparationof it fromGod; Éeé The 1
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