Moses his prayer. Or, An exposition of the nintieth Psalme.: In which is set forth, the frailty and misery of mankind; most needfull for these times. Wherein [brace] 1. The sum and scope. 2. The doctrines. 3. The reasons. 4. The uses of most texts are observed. / By Samuel Smith, minister of the Gospel, author of Davids repentance and the Great assize, and yet living.

Thou Carriest them away as with a Flood.

MOses in these wordes will like∣wise intimate unto us, that as Death comes violently and unresista∣bly as a Flood: [Doct. 2] So Death comes Sud∣dainly, unexpectedly as a Flood. * 1.1 Many times when men are not aware nor thinke not of it, then Death coms and takes them tardy: And no doubt this was Christs intent and meaning, when he saith; * 1.2 At midnight there was a cry made, to shew unto the world, that his coming by Death, and judg∣ment will be in an Houre, when men will not think of it, that so we might expect him every day, and every hour; You know not the day, nor the hour, * 1.3 when the Son of man cometh. It is suf∣ficient

for us to know that come he will, and that his coming shall be at such a time when men least of all expect it, * 1.4 and as he saith, In the houre that ye think not will the Son of man come. And upon this very ground, the uncer∣taintie of the time when Christ shall call us, is that watch-word given, what J say unto you I say unto al watch. * 1.5 And Behold, I come as a theefe in the Night, * 1.6 Blessed is he that watch∣eth, and keepeth his garments. I confesse these places of Scripture are principally meant of Christs second comming to judgment, yet are they true also in this sence of his comming by death. When a Thiefe hath a purpose to do mischiefe, he makes choice of the night, when men are asleep, and so comes unawares, when men are not prepared for resistance. Such will the time of Death and the last judgment be. And upon this ground, Christ grounds that exhortation of his, to have our loynes girded, and our light burning, that we may be alwaies ready. And certainly, when men are most secure, then is death nearest at

hand, as it was with that rich man, that promised to himselfe many years, * 1.7 had that night his soul taken from him. And when men shall say, peace, peace, then shall suddain de∣struction shall come upon them. And besides these clear examples and testi∣monies in the Word, that shew the comming of death to be suddain and unexpected, our own experience and observation, daily before our eyes doth declare this truth: How many have gone well to bed at night, that have been dead ere the morning? some at bed, and some at board, some at home, and some abroad, death hath met them, and suddainly surprised them; and when he comes, he will have no nay.

The point then is clear and plain that as death comes as a Flood, and there is no resistance; so as a Flood, death comes suddainly, when men think least of it.

But why will the Lord have the time of death thus uncertain to us.? [Quest.]

Many may be the Reasons wherefore God will not have this day and time known unto us. [Ans.]

That not knowing the set day and houre, [Reas. 1] we might be prepared for every day and every houre: Watch (saith Christ) for you know not what houre the Master of the house commeth whe∣ther at midnight, &c.

Secondly, [Reas. 2] that herein, and hereby, the Lord might exercise the faith, pa∣tience, hope, and other graces in the hearts of his servants, all which are now exercised, and set on work, whilst we know not the time when the Lord will call us hence.

And this serves for the just reproofe of the great security, [Use 1] wherein so many are so fast asleep, that notwithstanding they hear clearly from the Word, and see daily by experience before their eyes, the sudden comming of death as a flood rushing in upon them, yet put the thoughts of death far from them. O the security, and dead heartednesse that is in many, that having so many caveats, watchwords, and warnings from God, besides their own daily experience, yet never minde their own latter end, nor deaths sudden com∣ming.

This was the sin of the old world in the daies of Noah, that were so drowned in their own pleasures, that they would not believe a drowning by a flood, till the flood came and swept them clean away.

And this is the great sin of this world, and times wherein we live, up∣on whom the ends of the world are come. The deadnesse of heart, and car∣nall security, the little laying of Gods judgments to heart, the overflowings of sin in all sorts and conditions of men, are certain precursors and fore∣runners, that the Lord is at hand, ei∣ther with some sorer vengeance to a∣wake us, or by putting a speedy end to all things.

But the main use that we are to make of this Point, [Use 2] that death comes many times so suddainly, rushing in upon us as a violent Flood. It should teach us this wisdome, at all times to be in a readinesse, and prepared, when death comes: Upon this ground Christ admonisheth his Disciples and us all to watchfulnesse, because the day and hour knoweth no man.

But I hope I shall have time to pre¦pare for death, [Object. 1] I am yet young and strong, &c. Herein men blesse them∣selves, and flatter themselves; that howsoever they are convinced, that repentance is necessary, and grace must be had to make them die happily; and their purpose is to leave sin, and to cry God mercy; yet they conceit they have time enough before them, they may do this when they are old or when they lie upon their fick-beds, then they will set to this work as time enough. O that such men would con∣sider this Doctrine.

1. [unspec 1] That many times death comes suddainly like a Flood, when men think least of all on death. Alas, do we not see, that on the Stage of this world, some therebe, that indeed do act a longer part, and many there be that act a shorter: some die in their youth, passing as it were from one grave to another, from their Mothers womb, to another womb, the earth: How few live to the age of fiftie? How many do we hear of daily, that go well to bed at night, and are found

dead in the morning? And why may not this be thy case?

Secondly, consider, [unspec 2] that this is but one of the old Serpents wiles to put off our repentance, and preparation for death, to the last: for Sathan knowes, that if he can but prevail in that, it is all one, as if men resolved never to re∣pent at all: for we see by experience, that not one of a thousand, which take this course, ever attain unto it; for they adjourn from year to year, and time to time so long, that they come at last to be hardened in their sins, that there is little hope of reco∣very: In youth we appoint the time of age, in age we appoint the time of sicknesse, and when sicknesse comes, the Lord knowes we are then most unfit for this great work: Then comes the cares of disposing of our estates, then comes pain and grief, loath we are to die, and in hope we are to live; these things take off our thoughts of another life, and so death feizeth upon us, and away we must.

Thirdly, do but consider, [unspec 3] that al∣beit thou livest to be old, and hast thy

understanding about thee, and thy godly friends and acquaintance a∣bout thee, that can exhort thee, and pray for thee: Alas how knowest thou, whether God will hear thee at this time of thy death, that wouldst not hear him in the time of thy life. Nay, is it not distributive justice now in God, to refuse to hear thee then, that refusest to hear him now? It is not usuall with God to give grace in death, who have despised grace in life. See that place, and tremble at it, * 1.8 Because I have called, and ye refused, I have stretched out my hand, and ye have not regarded, I will laugh at your destruction, &c. Besides, thou dost but offer up unto God the Halt, * 1.9 the Blind, and the Lame, which is abhomination to him. It is a most base and unworthy thing to offer that to God, which a man would disdain and scorn to accept of.

But I hope God is mercifull, [Ob. 2] and though I am sinfull, he is mercifull, and I will rest upon that.

It is true, [Ans.] God is mercifull, and

thou maist say it, for it is his mercy, that thou hast not been long ago consu∣med that God hath not cut thee off, and cast thee into Hell many years a∣goe; 'tis true, it is his mercy. But alas what is this to thee, that hast so long, and so often abused his mercy? Is God mercifull? the more unthankfull wretch thou, to sin against so mercifull a God, * 1.10 Despisest thou the riches of his goodnesse, and forbearance, and long suffering, not knowing that the good∣nesse of God leadeth to repentance? Shall God be contemned for his mer∣cy, * 1.11 that ought the more to be loved and respected? There is mercy with thee that thou maist be feared. If God be so mercifull, the greater the sin, to sin against it.

And let such men know, that pre∣sume thus of Gods mercy, that as he is mercifull, so is he just: as he hath his Armes of mercy spread open to receive poor penitents, so is Hells mouth wide open to receive the impenitent And how knowest thou, that hast de∣spised grace and mercy so often, and so long a time, but thou maist at last

die in a Spira's case, who, in the time of his sicknesse, being exhorted to say the Lords Prayer, answered, O, I dare not call God Father.

And this hath been an observation I have made these forty years, that such as have lived under a godly, zea∣lous, and faithfull Ministry, and have not been wrought upon; it is often found true of such, as was said of Na∣bal, their hearts die like stones within them. What little cause then have a∣ny to harden their hearts, and conti∣nue in their sins in hope of mercy?

But did not the Thiefe upon the Crosse at last confessing his sin, [Ob. 3] and desiring Christ to remember him when he came into his Kingdome, finde mercy at the last houre, and so was sa∣ved?

Though men have much ingorance in them of the Scripture, [Ans.] yet this ex∣ample they can remember, and often alledge, and all to this end, to sooth up themselves in sin, and to flatter themselves, that they may repent at last.

Whereas this example (as one saith)

is to keep us from desperation, and is no cloak to sin: Why should not the desperate condition of his fellow Thiefe that dyed with him, asmuch affright us, and terrifie us, as his ex∣ample comfort us?

And for this example of this peni∣tent Thief, we are to know, that it was an immediate act of the divine power of Christ, and it was not or∣dinary neither doth it prove that God will deal thus with thee.

It was not ordinary, because he was saved without means: but what was that to thee, that enjoyest the means.

Besides, one particular act of Gods power, goodnesse, and mercy can be no rule to go by.

The Sun once stood still at noon∣day in Joshuah's time; we must not look to see it so again. Balaam's Asse once spake, we must not look for the like any more. Besides, for ought we know, this was the time that he was first called: Now what is that to thee, that hast been often called; God hath often knocked at the dore of thy heart, and to this day thou hast not opened

unto him. Besides, this penitent Thiefe at this time, shewed many excellent fruits of his repentance.

• 1 Rebuking his fellow railing at Christ.
• 2. Confessing his sin.
• 3. And by making an excellent Prayer to Christ.

Now who can promise these things to himselfe, when he comes to die?

O then, to conclude, seeing this is so, that death comes as a flood, sud∣denly, and unexpectedly, when men are not aware, let it be our wisdome to be in a continuall readinesse, that death finde us not unprepared: There is nothing more certain then death, nor more uncertain then where, when, and how we shall die.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Death comes suddenly.
• * 1.2

  Mat. 25.6.
• * 1.3

  Ma••. 24.42.
• * 1.4

  Mat. 24.26.
• * 1.5

  Mat. 13.
• * 1.6

  Rev. 16.15.
• * 1.7

  Luke 12.
• * 1.8

  Prov. 1.24, 25. &c.
• * 1.9

  Mal. 1.8.
• * 1.10

  Ro. 2.4.
• * 1.11

  Ps. 145.9.