An eye to heauen in earth A necessarie watch for the time of death, consisting in meditations and prayers fit for that purpose. With the husbands christian counsell to his wife and children, left poore after his death.

MEDIT. XI.

The glorie to come makes the the godly willing to dye, and the rather for the crosses of this life.

NOw then, seeing so great a weight of glorie, set be∣fore the eye of my faith; why should I be afraid to lay downe this my mortall bodie in the graue? although I know, it shall there rot, putrifie,

& turne again to dust: yea, to more vile Earth, then whereof it seemeth now to bee made. Were my beautie as Absaloms, it shal become a stinking Carri∣on, lothsome, and filthie.

To what end then * 1.1 should I so vnnecessarily respect it, as to adorne it with superfluous & needles Ornaments? Why should I couet to fill and feed it with daintie and delicious fare? And why should I fulfill the desires, and vaine delights of my corrupt heart? Why should I swee∣ten and perfume my out∣part, to make it odorife∣rous to others, mine in∣ward part resting yet odi∣ous to God?

This superfluous care of my bodies vanities, would not only make mee the more sweet and plea∣sing, but farre the more hatefull to God and god∣ly men: therefore shall my desire and practice bee, by * 1.2 the grace of God, during the short remaining part of this my miserable life, to couer my nakednesse with apparell, meerely needfull, and seeke to maintaine it with food, such as it shall please my God to blesse vnto mee, and through the same grace, my hearts de∣light shall bee in the conti∣nuall true seruice of my heauenly Father, hauing e∣uer an eye vnto, and desi∣ring that time when, and

that place wherein I shall need neither rayment nor food, and where I shall be onely delighted with the glorie, wherewith I shall bee filled after this bodies death: which, although it perish for a time, my soule resteth euer immortall, God, being the God not onely of mine immortall soule, but of my mortall bodie also.

And I beleeue that hee * 1.3 will not lose one haire of mine head, nor the smallest dust that shall come of my putrified carcasse, nor one bone of my rotten and consumed bodie; and that hee will rayse my mortall part in all fulnesse of all the parts, and make them

all ioynt-partakers of eter∣nall glorie in Heauen, in the Day of Christs second appearing, in what manner soeuer it bee dissolued; burnt in the fire, drowned in the Sea, deuoured by wilde Beasts, or by any o∣ther meane whatsoeuer.

I heare naturall reason say, It is an easie matter to * 1.4 beleeue that I shall dye: experience makes it so common. But to beleeue that this my bodie, when it shall bee rotten, and consumed to dust, ea∣ten with fishes, deuoured and digested by wilde beasts, or burnt to ashes, or bee vtterly otherwise consumed; that it shall rise againe to glorie, is not

so easily apprehended: no experience teaching it, but the resurrection of Christ, which I haue not seene.

I disclaime in this point all naturall reason, and doe faithfully beleeue, that as my Redeemer Iesus Christ * 1.5 dyed and rose againe: So after my death I shall, by the vertue of his Resurre∣ction, rise againe to eternal life.

Iob prophesied of the Resurrection of humane dead bodies, and affirmeth that hee knew, that his Re∣deemer * 1.6 liued, and that though after his death the wormes should deuoure his flesh: yet in the same flesh he should see God, looke vpon him, and behold him, and

that with his owne, namely, with the eyes that then hee had. And the Prophet E∣say affirmeth, that the dead bodies in the graue shall rise againe, some to glorie, some to torment. The dead men (saith hee) * 1.7 shall liue, euen with their bo∣dies shall they rise.

Christ saith, maruell not at this: The houre shall * 1.8 come, when all that are in the Graues, shall heare his voyce, and shall come forth, they that haue done good, vn∣to the Resurrection of life, but they that haue done euill, vnto the Resurrection of condemnation.

Christ also affirmeth, that it is his Fathers will that sent him, that hee shall

lose nothing of that he hath giuen him, but that hee shall raise it vp at the last Day. They that sleepe in the dust shall awake.

Infinite are the proofes * 1.9 of the Resurrection of hu∣mane bodies in the Scrip∣tures: both of the iust and of the vniust, of the godly and the wicked, but to two contrarie final effects. The godly shall rise to e∣uerlasting life, euer to re∣mayne with the Lord: the vngodly shall rise to euer∣lasting punishment, to bee tormented for euer with the Deuill and his Angels, in continuall horrour, wee∣ping and gnashing of teeth.

Here is matter of Me∣ditation; hence ariseth

hope and horrour, comfort and calamitie. There are * 1.10 but two ends of the Re∣surrection, life and death, and both perpetuall: And these succeed the death of the bodie. Shuld I then be so iniurious vnto my silly soule, that dwelleth in my mortall bodie, as to for∣get that it shall come into iudgement, in a time com∣ming, and at hand? and that this bodie, this flesh∣ly and corrupted part shall againe bee raised to glorie or shame, to partake of eyther, with the soule? were it not, as if I should say in my heart, there were * 1.11 no God, no Heauen to glo∣rifie, or Hell to torment? perswading my selfe, that

either after death there re∣maineth neither euill nor good? but that I should goe into vtter obliuion, to an eternall sleepe, neuer to returne into any second existence? or that GOD were a God, onely of the immortall soule, and not of the mortall bodie, or a God of Mercie, and not of Iustice? Should I thus foo∣lishly, for lesse then a messe of Pottage, sell my Birth∣right in Heauen? for a graine of temporarie vani∣tie, sell a Crowne of per∣petuall glorie? Farre bee it from me, for a Kingdome, I know, is prepared for me, and a Kingdome I seeke, waiting for it, vntill it fall vnto mee, as mine Inheri∣tance,

through Christ, who hath purchased the same by his bloud. In the meane time, I must taste and vn∣dergoe many troubles, afflictions, pouertie, want, enemies and the scorne of the World.

Doth GOD suffer his owne Children to be affli∣cted in this life? how can hee then bee said a louing Father vnto them? Doth not that worthy Prophet & King, Dauid, affirme that * 1.12 they that loue his Law, shall haue great prosperitie, and no hurt befall them? How * 1.13 then comes the cōtrary to passe? The Answere: The Spirit of God, that spake thus by the mouth and pen of Dauid, lyeth not: for

the afflictions that I feele, and the crosses that I haue, proceede from the loue of God, and hinder not, but rather doe much further my spirituall prosperitie: For whom the Lord loueth, * 1.14 hee chasteneth, and scour∣geth euery sonne that he re∣ceiueth. If therefore I pa∣tiently endure chastening, God offereth himselfe vnto mee as to a sonne. If I were without correction, whereof all Gods Children are par∣takers, I were a bastard and no sonne.

Blessed is the man, saith * 1.15 Iob, whom God correcteth, therefore will not I refuse the chastening of the Al∣mightie: let him therefore deale with mee according

to his owne will, in giuing me what he will, health or sicknesse, wealth or want, prosperitie or aduersitie; for I know, that all things * 1.16 worke together for the best to them that loue God: he may make a wound, but he will bind it vp againe: he may smite, but his hands make whole againe: hee giueth * 1.17 alwaies the issue with the temptation. GOD forbid, therefore, that I should en∣tertaine the least thought in my heart, that whatsoe∣uer crosse or affliction be∣fals me, were in GODS in∣dignatiō; but onely in loue.

I doe acknowledge * 1.18 that sinne is the cause of all the crosses, calamities, afflictions & miseries that I endure, & if God should

deale with me answerable to what I haue done, I could not beare his pu∣nishments: But in stead of ouer-pressing mee with troubles, hee mitigat••s e∣uen the small corrections that hee sendeth: nay, ra∣ther which I draw, as it were vpon my selfe. And among other dangers, I find pouerty and want, not the easiest to bee borne, neither can my debts bee long borne withall; for I see, a necessitie inforceth that which my will is rea∣die, but I am vnable to performe. And therefore no small portion of afflicti∣on oppresseth mee: for as I acknowledge my selfe worthily inferior to other

men in Vertues: so in greatnesse: for as by birth I had no pricefull patri∣monie: so hath not the World affoorded mee a gai••full facultie: yet la∣bour I though I lacke. What shal I say, or thinke? Is God only gracious vnto the worldly-glorious? and hath he not regard to such as are of a meane estate in this life? Doth the Holy Ghost visit the soules of the wealthy with comfort, in their carnall fulnesse and delights? and leaueth hee * 1.19 the poore, forlorne and comfortlesse here? Nothing lesse; but as Christ had meat to eat, that his Disciple knew not of: so the poorest of Gods Children haue their

inward and spirituall con∣solation, such as worldly and carnall men know not of.

But what is this to the * 1.20 satisfaction of the World? can my inward and spiritu∣all wealth, pay worldly debts? It may bee a good meanes thereof: for God hath promised vnto the faithfull, that hee will bee their helping Father: what they want, he will in his 〈◊〉〈◊〉 supply, though hee delay the performance of his promise, the more to occasion mee to pray; yet i•• his promise yea, & Amen, as truly to bee performed, as if it were already done.

But (saith the fleshly * 1.21 minde) it is long looked

for. And it is but foolish idlenesse of a curious braine, that seekes not timely meanes, by right or wrong, to releeue his wants, nay, that indeuours not his owne aduance∣ment in this life, as doe such as are carefull to pro∣uide for themselues and their posterities.

Thus the worldly man speaketh to his own heart, not vocally, but by his present greedinesse of thi•• * 1.22 lifes fulnesse; Soule, take thine ease, thou hast enough: to whom, againe, the poo∣rest true and faithfull child of God may answere; that in his meanest estate hee resteth as well content, and hath, through the bles∣sing

of God, a sweeter, and more refreshfull Din∣ner and Supper with a morsell of Bread, or a dish * 1.23 of Roots and Herbes, in his poore, base and beg∣gerly Cottage, yea, in a Prison or Dungeon, then hath the couetous Glutton * 1.24 faring deliciously euery day.

It may be said vnto me; Why doe I then complaine? I answere, Not for that I am not rich in Reuenewes, in Gold, Siluer, Iewels, Sheepe and Oxen, Men∣seruants, and Mayde∣ser∣uants: nor for that I equal∣lize not others in worldly glorie: but for that, neces∣sitie (a great and powerfull * 1.25 Commander) hath me vn∣der her foot, keeping mee

low, that I cannot rise nor attaine vnto meanes by mine honest endeuours to to pay what I owe: only my heart earnestly desi∣reth, to owe nothing to any man, but loue: But this dis∣chargeth mee not of the burden of my Creditours clamours, and of the con∣ceiued shame that my pe∣nurie procures mee. What then? what remaineth that I should doe? Surely I will waite on God, who neuer leaueth those that are his, without helpe in their greatest need. I will inde∣uour to satisfie all men their due, and my desire shall be in all good consci∣ence, to discharge mine vttermost dutie, and then I

doubt not but God in his Christ will excuse all my enforced defects, and al∣though man will not, God will accept the will for the deed.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Not to pā∣per the bodie.
• * 1.2

  The sum of a Chri∣stians care.
• * 1.3

  God will raise the body to∣tally at the last Day.
• * 1.4

  Hard for naturall men to beleeue the Resur∣rection.
• * 1.5

  Rom. 10 9. 1. Pet. 1. 3.
• * 1.6

  Iob 19. 26, 27, and 14. 14.
• * 1.7

  Esai. 26. 19, 20.
• * 1.8

  Iohn 3. 25.
• * 1.9

  The godly and the wicked shall rise, but to contrarie ends.
• * 1.10

  The Re∣surrection of the iust & vniust.
• * 1.11

  Psal. 14. 1.
• * 1.12

  Psal. 119. 165.
• * 1.13

  An obie∣ction. Answere.
• * 1.14

  Heb. 12. 6, 7, 8.
• * 1.15

  Iob 5. 17.
• * 1.16

  Rom. 8.
• * 1.17

  Iob. 5. 18.
• * 1.18

  Sinne the cause of affliction. Hag. 2.
• * 1.19

  Gods chil∣dren haue inward comforts in outward crosses.
• * 1.20

  Spirituall wealth will not pay carnall debts.
• * 1.21

  A carnall opinion.
• * 1.22

  Carnall securitie of the rich, and assu∣rance and content of the poore.
• * 1.23

  Dan. 1. 8.
• * 1.24

  Luk. 16. 19.
• * 1.25

  Debt, a heauy burden.