The marrovv of the oracles of God. Or, diuers treatises containing directions about sixe of the waightiest things can concerne a Christian in this life. by N. Bifield, late preacher of Gods Word at Isleworth in Middlesex.

CHAP. II.

Prouing, that we may be cured of the feare of Death.

FOr the first: That the feare of * 1.1 death may be remoued: and that we may attaine to that re∣solution, to be willing to dye, without lothnesse, is apparent diuers wayes.

First, it is euident, Christ dyed to deliuer vs, not onely from the hurt of death, and from the di∣uell, as the executioner; but also from the feare of death too. Now Christ may attaine to the end of his death, vnlesse we will deny the vertue of Christ, and his death, and thinke that, notwith∣standing, it cannot be obtained, Heb. 2. 14, 15. And the more ap∣parent in this, because in that place he shews, that there is ver∣tue in the death of Christ, to cure this feare of death in any of the Elect, if they wil vse the meanes:

For as our sins will not be mor∣tified, though there be power in the death of Christ to kill them, vnlesse we vse the meanes to ex∣tract this vertue out of the death of Christ, so is it true, that the feare of death may be in some of Gods elect: but it is not because Christ cannot deliuer them; but because they are sluggish, and will not take the course to bee rid of those feares. The Phy∣sician is able to cure them, and vsually doth cure the same dis∣ease; but they will not take his Receipts.

Secondly, the Apostle intrea∣ting of the desire of death, saith, * 1.2 That God hath wrought vs vnto the selfe same thing, 2 Cor. 5. 5. We are againe created of God, that we might in our selues as∣pire vnto immortality; and are set in such an estate, as if we an∣swered the end of his workman∣ship, we should neuer be well, till we be possessed of the happinesse

in another world: which hee shewes in those words of being absent from the body, and present with the Lord, verse 8.

Thirdly, the prophesies haue runne on this point. For it was * 1.3 long since fore-told, that Chri∣stians knowing the victory of Christ ouer death, should bee so farre from fearing death, that they should tread vpon him, and insult ouer him: O death, where is thy sting? &c. Esay 25. 8. Hosea 13. 14. 2 Corinthians 15. 54, 55.

Fourthly, it is a condition that Christ puts in, when he first ad∣mits * 1.4 Disciples, that they must deny their owne liues: and not only be content to take vp their crosse in other things, but their liues must not bee deare vnto them, when he calls for it, Luke 14. 26.

Fifthly, We are taught in the * 1.5 Lords Prayer, to pray, That Gods kingdome may come: And by this

kingdome, he meanes the king∣dome of Glory, as well as the kingdome of Grace. Now, in that wee are taught to pray for the kingdome, it shewes, wee should desire it, and that by prai∣er we should be more and more heated in our desires.

Sixtly, wee are borne againe * 1.6 to a liuely hope of our inheritance. Now if we be afraid of the time of our translation thither, how doe we hope for it after a liuely manner? A desire of going to heauen is a part of that Seed cast into our hearts in our regenera∣tion, 1 Pet. 1. 3, 4.

Seuenthly, we haue the exam∣ple * 1.7 of diuers men in particular, who haue desired to die, & were out of feare in that respect: Gen. 49. 18. Iacob waited for Gods sal∣uation: and Paul resolues, that to dy, and to be with Christ, is best of all for him: Phil. 1. 21, 23. yea, in Romans 7. 24. hee is vehement; O wretched man that I am, who

shall deliuer mee from this body of Death? Sim•…•…on prayes God to let him dye, Luke 2 29. And the Prophet in the name of the god∣ly, said long before Christ: O that the saluation of Israel were come out of Sion! Psalme 14. 7. And we haue the example of the Martyrs in all ages, that accoun∣ted it a singular glory to die: And in 2. Corinth 5. 2, 7. the godly are said, to fight for it, that they might be absent from his body, and present with the Lord; and so doe the first fruits of the holy Ghost, those eminent Christians men∣tioned, Rom. 8. 23.

Lastly, not onely some par∣ticular godly men haue attai∣ned * 1.8 to this, but the whole Church is brought in, in the 12. Chapter of Reuelation, praying for the comming of Christ, and desiring too, that hee would come quickely: And 2. Timothy 4. 8. The loue of the appearing of Christ, is the

Periphrasis of the childe of God.

Thus of the first point.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Eight ar∣guments to prooue we may be helped against the feare of death. Christ died to this end
• * 1.2

  2. It was intended in our rege∣neration.
• * 1.3

  3 This cure hath bin foretold.
• * 1.4

  4 We were bound to it when we were ad∣mitted to be Christs Disciples.
• * 1.5

  5 It is taught in the Lords Prayer.
• * 1.6

  Liuely hope doth include it.
• * 1.7

  Examples of such as haue attai∣ned to it.
• * 1.8

  8. The whole Church taught to seeke.