Featly et. Al. - BV4275 T47 1672

to wait, for a Chañge.. 43 1 Next Particular : A change mill come. Thisgood man had experienced very many changes already : AChange in his Effate, from abundant Wealth to Poverty ; a change in his Family, from numerous Sons and Daughters co beChildlefs ; a change in his Perfon, fromHealth and foundne(sof Body eo difeafes,and, painfulSores ; but he here expeFeth another change, muchgreater and(hanger than any of them. We maymore than guefs what that twn we find the fame word, Prove; Is 8. is rendred Defraúion, and StFs 1, I Cor. r S. 5r ufeth the Phrafe for our pot- tage into the other wow We /hall all be changed. Accordingly Codarcue here tranflateth ir,obian mydeath (hall come : And fo (abate very fewwho chits it may refer to-the Reflieution of his former Pro(perity) the generality bosh of Jemi(h In- teeters and our ownbave expounded ir, viz... of bis death, and that which (hall ;fucceed ir, hisrefarre5íìen.. This he here calleth his change, in a peculiar manner, my change, as if all his other changes were nothing to ir., This is a change, a mighty change indeed : wicked men change for the worfe ; righteousmenchange for the better ; bothrighteousand wicked undergoa change, awonderful change, and that in four Particulars. Firfi, it changeth our Enjoyments, for thingsof a quite different kind and fpe ricos. Allthefevifible things which here we prize, and are fofond of, difappear and haveno place by it, yam linguenda demo, aWitte, Ric. There Nabal bath noSheep to (hear, nor AhabVineyard to take poffef(ion of : There Ssmpfon bath no Dalilah to lie in the lap of, nor Belfhazar bowles to ca- rowfe andrevel in : ThereAgrippa and Berenicehave noTrain to attend them ; nor is the rich man cloathed with his Purple and fine Linnen.: The Spirit that is not purged-and elevated abovethe fafcinating Charmes of rhefe, that can talle and re- li(h nothing higher, how difcontentedmuff it wander, feeking re(i and finding none, when it cometh into there Regions. Elammighc as well have taken Ship, to have hunted for Venifoqn upon the waves of the Ocean ; or Peter have call his Net tocatch Fifh, in theWildernefs or upon the Mountains ; asto expéiSl any grofs or fenfual things in the life thatis hereafter. There, all is fpiritual and of another nature; That is a fiat change that Death maketh, a change of our Enjoyments. Secondly, A change it is,in refpeéi of our Capacity ; it.changeth that alto. Here the wicked is capable ofMercy, and theunconverted folicited toRepentance : Here the GoldenSepter isheld out, and the Door ofHope (et open: But menhad need take heed of wanton trifling : For though nowGod treat with us.then he will only judge us. Death is the longeft dateof the Gofpel. Proclamation, and after that our Bate is irreverfable, Now God fiandethat our doors and knocketh; but if weopennot, then,thoughwehand at his door and knock, he will an(wer I know you not : Herodoteas telleth us, that when the zaninna , who before had refuted a Peace with Cyrgs,afterwards in their extremity madeaddreftes to him¡ he told them this Parable : That a Mufitian playinga long time to the Fi(h that were in the Ri- ver, Peeing they cattle not at him,, flung inaNet andcaught them: to whom as they . lay panting upon the Bank, he cryethout, you fhould have danced before, it is too late now. Let this be thoughton while youare inbetter Circumfiances; that although now God delighteth not in the deathof a firmer, yet thenhe will laugh at his calamity.: although now he befeecheth to be reconciled, yet then he will be inexorable : For that is another change that Death maketh, a change of our capacity. Thirdly, A change it is, in refee&of our Condition, it changeth that alfo.. Here it is, like our (elves, compounded; and partakethbothof goodand evil. Nohate heredo tweet but bath fomething toimbitter it notis there anyfo imbittered, but there is fomething to fweeten it. Therole hash prickles, and the Nettle beareth a Flower on it. Eut when once the foul hathtrod over theehrelhold of this Body and is out of doors ; what ever beour portion there, therewill be no mixture in it. In Heaven there is pure joy without any Sorrow : In Hell pure Sorrowwithout any joy. They that are inHeavenwillhave nothing todifiurb them ; They thatare in Hell will have nothing to divert them. It is of infinite importance whatbecometh Fffffa of , ,

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