z.66 1JECAV.l. Written toM'.l.'B.andDedicated to my Father, M'. l.HAU. EP IST, X. Ag•injltflt{tiiT<OjtltAih. - ~ A YOu complaine, that you fearo death: He is no. man rbat doth nor. Befides the paine, Nature fhnnkes at the thought ofpamng. If youwould leame the remedie, know the caufe; for that fhe is ignorant and faithldfe, She would not be cowardly, if fhe were not foolifh. Our fcare is from doubt, and our doubr is from unbdc<fe : and whence is our unbcleefe, but chiclly from ignorance- ~ She B knowes not what good is elfewhere : lhe belecves not her pare in it. Get once true knowledge and rru_e _faith, your ~eare lhall vani!h alone. Afiurance '!f ~e·avenly things, makes us w1lhng to part wuh earthly. He cannot cootemne tlus hfc, that knowcs not the other. Ifyou would defpife earthther<fore, thinke of heaven, If you would have death eafie, thinkeof that glorious life that foilowes it. Certainly, ifwe can endure paine,for healrh1 muoh more fhould we abide a few pangs for glory. Thioke how fondly we feare avanquifht enemie. Loe, Chrl!l bath triumpht over Death : he blecdeth and gafpeth under us : and yet we tremble. It is enough to us, rhat Chri!l: died: neither would he have died, but that we might die with fafetie and pleafur<. . Thinke rhatdeath is necdfarily annexed to nature :We are for a time;on condition C tharwefhall nor be; we receive life, but upon rbe termes ofre-delivery. Necetlity makes fome thingseafie; as it ufually makes eafic thingsdifficult. It is a fond injuftice to embrace the covenant, and fhrink at the condition. Think, there is butone common rode to allllelh: There are no hr.-paths of any fairer or nearer way 1 no, not for Princes. Even company abatethm1feries: and the commonne!fe ofan evill makes it le!fe fearefull . What worlds ofmen3!egone before us 1yea, how many rhoufands out ofone field~ How many Crownes and Scepters lie piled up at the gates ofDeath, which their owners have left there, as fpoiles tO theconquerour ~ Havewe beene at fa many graves, ana fa oft feone our [elves die inour friends; and doe we fhrinkewhenour courfecommeth~ Imagineyoualone were exempted from the common law ofmankind, or were condemned to Mtt~•fa· D l•hs age; atfure your felfe, d<;ilth isnot now.[o_fearefull, as your life would then be wearifom~. Thioke nor fo much what Death is, as from whom he comes, and for what. We receiveeven homely meffengers from great perfons; not without refpe~ to their maRers: And what matters it wbo he be, la he bring us good ncwes ~ What newes can be better then this, That God fends for you, to rake polfeflion ofa Kingdome ~ Let rhem feare Death, which know him bur as a purfuivant fent from hell ; whom their .confcience accufeth ofa life wilfully filthy; and bindes.over fecretly to condemnation: We know whither wearegoiog, aod whom we have beleeved: Let us paffeon cheerefully,t'horow thefe blackegates unto our glory. LaRly know thatour improvidence only addesterrour untodeath.Thinkofdeath, aod you lhall not feare it: Doe you not fee, that even Beares and Tygres feeme not E terrible to thofe that Iive with them~ How havewe fe<nc their Keepers fport with them when the beholders durll fcarce truft theirchail>e~ Be acquainted with Death: though he looke grimme upon you ar firll:, you !hall find him (yea you fhall make him) agood companion.Familiaririe cannorftand with fear. Thefeare reccirsenow. Too much ftoredoth rather over-whelme then fatisfie. Take but thefe, and I dare promife youfccuririe, P I li, I S.
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