The practice of piety directing a Christian how to walk, that he may please God / amplified by the author

The second sort of Meditations are, to consider from what evils death will free thee.

IT freeth thee from a corruptible Body, which was conceived in the weakness of flesh, the heat of lust, the stain of sin, and born in the blood of filthiness, a livi••g Prison of thy Soul, a lively instrument of ••in, a very sack of stinking dung: the ex∣••••ements of whose Nostrils, Ears, Pores, and ••ther passages (duly considered) will seem more loathsome than the uncleanest sink ••r vault. Insomuch that whereas Trees and Plants bring forth Leaves, Flowers, Fruits, ••nd sweet smells; man's body brings forth ••••turally nothing but Lice, Worms, Rotten∣••ss and filthy stinks. His affections are al∣••ogether corrupted:* 1.1 and the imaginations 〈◊〉〈◊〉 heart are only evil continually.* 1.2 Hence 〈◊〉〈◊〉 is that the ungodly is not satisfied with

prophaneness, nor the voluptuous with pleasures, nor the ambitious with perfer∣ments, nor the curious with preciseness, nor the malicious with revenge, nor the leache∣rous with uncleanness, nor the covetous with gain, nor the drunkard with drinking. New passions and fashions do daily grow: new Fears and Afflictions do still arise; here Wrath lies in wait, there Vain-glory vex∣eth: here pride lifts up, there disgrace casts down; and every one waiteth who shal•• arise in the ruine of another. Now a Ma•• is privily stung with Back-biters like fiery Serpents, anon he is in danger to be openly devoured of his enemies, like Daniel's Lions•• And a godly man where ere he liveth shall ever be vexed (like Lot) with So∣dom's uncleanness.

2. Death brings unto the godly an end of* 1.3 sinning, and of all the miseries which ar•• due unto sin:* 1.4 so that after Death there sha•••• be no more sorrow, nor crying; neither shal•• there be any more pain, for God shall wipe a•• way all tears from their eyes. Yea, by death we are separated from the company of wick••ed Men,* 1.5 and God taketh away merciful 〈◊〉〈◊〉 righteous men from the evil to come. So 〈◊〉〈◊〉 dealt with Josiah:* 1.6 I will gather thee to th•• Fathers: and thou shalt be put into thy gr•••• in peace, and thine eyes shall not see all the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 which I will bring upon this place▪ And Go•• hides them for a while in the grave,* 1.7 untill 〈◊〉〈◊〉 indignation pass over. So that as Paradise 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the Heaven of the soul's joy; so the Gra•••• may be term'd the Heaven of the bodies 〈◊〉〈◊〉

3. Whereas this wicked Body lives in a world of wickedness, so that the poor Soul cannot look out at the Eye, and not be in∣fected; nor hear by the Ear, and not be distracted; nor smell at the Nostrils, and not be tainted; nor taste with the Tongue, and not be allured; nor touch by the Hand, and not be defiled; and every sense upon every temptation is ready to betray the Soul; by death the Soul shall be delivered from this Thraldom, and this corruptible bo∣dy shall put on incorruption, and this mortal immortality, 1 Cor. 15. 53. O blessed, thrice blessed be that Death in the Lord, which delivers us out of so evil a World, and freeth us from such a body of bondage and corruption.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Psal. 14. 1.
• * 1.2

  Gen. 6. 5.
• * 1.3

  Rom. 6. 7.
• * 1.4

  Rev. 21. 4.
• * 1.5

  Isa. 57. 1.
• * 1.6

  2 Kin. 22. 20.
• * 1.7

  Isa. 26. 20.