This keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the Early English Books Online Text Creation Partnership. Searching, reading, printing, or downloading EEBO-TCP texts is reserved for the authorized users of these project partner institutions. Permission must be granted for subsequent distribution, in print or electronically, of this text, in whole or in part. Please contact project staff at eebotcp-info@umich.edu for further information or permissions.
HEB. IV. 16.Let us therefore come boldly un∣to the Throne of Grace, that we may obtain mercy and find Grace to help in time of need.
HAving spoke of the need of God's Grace, and of its help∣fulness in general, I came to condescend on some Seasons, wherein the Grace of God is specially needful and help∣ful. Of them, I named six; three of which I have spoke to, and the other three remain to be handled.
1. The first Season named, was the time of Temptation. There was never a Believer so little beloved of Christ, as to be given up as a Prey to Satan: And never lay a Believer so near Christ's Heart, but the Devil may get him into his Sieve. Therefore let us never flatter our selves in a state of security from disturbance by the Devil; blessed be God, we are brought into a state of safety from ruin by him.
2. A Season of spiritual decay: Soul-sickness, a weakness in the New Creature. There are some People that never knew by Experience what bodily sickness means, but have enjoyed perfect Health all their Life. But I am apt to think, that few, if any, Christians, find it so as to the new Creation in them.
3. A Season of special Enjoyments. Though these two seem to be very far from, and con∣trary to one another, yet they agree in this, that in both Grace is needful and helpful. The unaccountable Wisdom and Sovereignty of the Lord our God, shines in his conduct of his People. Some of them have extraordinary Re∣ceavings; others know little what they mean. There are some Christians, whose way to Hea∣ven lyes all along in the Depths and in the Vales, when others ride on their High places: Now these singular manifestations from God, though desirable and profitable, yet are not without special dangers; to prevent which, the Lord provides and ministers special Physick to them; and it is strong and unpleasant, but the Physician can bless it. As Paul's Experience witnesseth, 2 Cor. 12. He had been in Hea∣ven,
he knew not how; he had heard he could not tell what, when he came back. But he well knew what he met with on his return, and how needful and useful it was for him. Lest he should be exalted above measure with what he had seen and heard in Paradise, Hell is sent to humble him. May we not infer this, How unfit are Believers, while in the body, and a body of death is in them, to be in Heaven, when any special Enjoyment of Heaven, must have so dreadful a Remedy administred to pre∣vent hurt?
4. A fourth Season of special need of Grace, is the time of Affliction. Afflictions are of ma∣ny sorts and kinds. I am apt to believe, that though there be some likeness in the Afflicti∣ons of many, yet every afflicted Man hath a particular Affliction of his own. As it is with peoples Faces, so is it with their Crosses. For as many thousand Faces as are amongst Man∣kind, though all are somewhat like, yet eve∣ry one hath some distinction. The World is full of Crosses, yet every afflicted Person hath his own Cross. Our Lord hints at it, Matth. 16.24. Let a man take up his Cross. The Lord appoints a proper Cross for every one. Though people are ready to think and say, that their Cross is unfit for them, and that they would bear another Cross better. In Crosses we must neither choose, nor refuse. (David's Case was singular. 2 Sam. 24.) The Lord choo∣seth for us, and we must not, cannot refuse. Job 34.35. Should it be according to thy mind? he will recompense it, whether thou refuse, or whether thou chuse, and not I: therefore
speak what thou knowest. There is a general distinction of Afflictions: Some are from God's hand, for Sin, or Tryal, or prevention: And some are from Man's hand for Christ's sake and the Gospel's. In all of them Grace is helpful and needful. But I would speak only something in general, that every one may ap∣ply to themselves, according to their experi∣ence and Exercise: And that on these two Heads. 1. The needfulness of Grace to the afflicted. 2. The helpfulness of Grace to the afflicted, what∣ever their Affliction be.
1. Of the need of the grace of God to the afflicted. Some sense of this, is engraven on the Hearts of Men by the Light of Nature. The Heathen Mariners in the Storm, express this. Jonah 1.5.6. What meanest thou O sleeper? arise, call upon thy God, if so be God will think upon us, that we perish not. A sad case. A Heathen Ship-master challenging a Godly Pro∣phet for his neglect of seeking God: He calls him by a shameful, but well deserved name, O Sleeper. The Storm came on for Jo∣nah's sake, as he told them ver. 12. yet he is the securest person in the Ship. He only knew God, yet he is last in calling on him. An ho∣nest Pagan may out-do a distempered Prophet in some things, at some times. This Sense was expressed greatly by the King, Nobles, and In∣habitants of Nineveh, Jonah 3.5,10. And they again go far beyond Jonah. They belie∣ved God on Jonah's Preaching, repented, pray∣ed and fasted, and the Lord repented of the e∣vil. But Jonah was grieved at all, chap. 4.1,2. If were not for his excellent Prayer, chap. 2.
and that he was a Prophet of the Lord, and the Pen-man of the Holy Ghost, to record his own Sin and Shame, for the benefit of the Church, we should be tempted to question this Man's grace, of whose fearful Sins we have so large an Account. He rebel's against the Lord's Call to preach to Nineveh: When he flees, the Lord overtakes him by a Storm, takes, him by the Lot, he is cast into the Sea, scoold in the Whale's Belly three days and three nights; a miraculous Chastisement, and a miraculous Preservation. He now obeys the repeated call; but when his labour had a gracious Effect, he is displeased exceedingly, and prays most sinfully. Jonah's Instance should teach Ministers and Christians to pray more, Lord lead us not in∣to Temptation. As Nature's Light teacheth af∣flicted people, their need of the Lord's Grace and Mercy, the Word declares it more plain∣ly. Jam. 5.13. Psal. 50.15. Hos. 5.15. This need of the helping grace of God in Affliction, I would instruct in these:
1. Affliction-sins are readily fallen into, with∣out the help of the Grace of God. Such Sins I mean, that Affliction doth easily and natural∣ly tempt unto; as Fretting, Impatience, Mur∣muring, and quarrelling with the hand of God. It is sadly and frequently seen, that Affliction hath not only brought along with it discove∣ry of Sin, but also the Actings and Workings of more Corruption, than either the Person him∣self, or any else thought was in the Man. It was a sad Character of a very bad Man. 2 Chron. 28.22. And in the time of this di∣stress, did he trespass yet more against the Lord;
this is that King Ahaz. This is a Man noted for a never-do-well. A Brother 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the same Of∣fice, and in the same Iniquity, said, Behold, this evil is of the Lord; what should I wait for the Lord any longer? 2 Kings 6.33.
2. Affliction-Duties are only practicable by the help of the Grace of God. Every Cross hath its Work, as well as its Tryal. There is that required and called for in Affliction, that craves a special Assistance of the grace of God, for the doing of it. It is remarkable, that the great Duty of the afflicted, is expressed by two Negatives. Heb. 12.5. from Prov. 3.11. My Son despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him. What then is the positive Duty? It is that which is neither of these two; if the Affliction be light, we are apt to despise it; and if it hea∣vy, we are as apt to faint under it. But, saith the Holy Ghost, see that ye do neither; if it be never so light, do not despise it; if it be never so heavy, faint not under it. And there is no small need of Grace to preserve us from those Extreams, and to keep us in the right midst.
3. The Consolations of an afflicted State are very needful, and Grace only can furnish us with them. Be ye assured of it, that never did a Christian bear up patiently under God's hea∣vy hand, but by the strong secret Working of some Consolation. It is true, we value and seek most that Consolation, that comes in as a great Flood of Sense, and that doth swallow up the bitterness of Affliction. This the Lord can, and sometimes doth, give to his
People. But there is a secret, silent spring of Consolation, that is as profitable, and more common in the Lord's way with his Children. Of this the Apostle speaks in 2 Cor. 1.3,4,5. Everlasting consolation and good hope through grace, are his Blessings. 2 Thess. 2.16,17.
2. Wherein the helpfulness of grace doth consist, in an afflicted state.
1. God's grace helps with Light to know God's mind in affliction. It is dreadful to be struck in the dark, when a Man neither seeth the Path he walks in, nor the Hand that smiteth him, nor the Weapon he is smote with. The great Blessing that grace can help us to, is to know what the Rod means, what its voice is, who hath appointed it, and what of God's Name is written on the Rod. Micah 6.9. Job was very earnest for this Light, Job 10.2. I will say unto God, do not condemn me; shew me wherefore thou contendest with me. E∣lihu adviseth him well. Job 34.31,32. Surely it is meet to be said unto God, I have born chastisement, I will not offend any more. That which I see not, teach thou me; if I have done iniquity, I will do no more. Many a poor Be∣liever have been put to this, that if they had all the World, they would have parted with it, to have known God's Mind in their Affli∣ctions. Sometimes by the Light of the Fur∣nace, we come to know our Hearts and Cor∣ruptions, and thereby what God smites for, and calls to. The Lord can by the teachings of his Word and Spirit, and by the Wisdom of his providential Dispensations, engrave that parti∣cular Meaning that is in his Heart, on the Rod
that is in his Hand, that Men may know it. And happy is that person that is so dealt with. But it is indeed harder, to be sincerely wil∣ling to know and admit of God's Mind in Af∣fliction, than it is to find it out. But his grace can help to both, and the Throne of Grace should be much plyed for both.
2. Grace can give in strength and support un∣der Affliction. 2 Cor. 4.16. For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man pe∣rish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. It is a wonderful thing to see how much Pain, Sickness, and Torment, a poor frail body is able to bear; we think how close and sticking a thing is Life, that is not squeezed out by such a stress? Yet the frailty of the Flesh in bearing the distress of the Flesh, is a small thing, in regard of the frailty of the Heart in bearing of God's Rebukes. Prov. 18.14. The spirit of a man will bear his Infirmity: but a wounded spirit who can bear? Yet many have born it; but surely by divine Support. It is the common Sense of distressed Christians, that they have been put to bear such burdens, that they thought at first they would surely have crushed them. The reason of their Wonder is, because the weight of the burden upon them was sensible, but the everlasting arms underneath them and their burden, were not seen. Deut. 33.27.
3. Grace helps in Affliction, by enabling the afflicted to believe that there is Love in the Af∣flicter. He saith it, Rev. 3.19. As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: And he can make us believe it. Nothing but his mighty Grace can do it. Nothing is liker Anger, than Affliction,
especially when severe; nothing is more diffi∣cult to believe, than that (which to all our Sense and Reason is ruining to us) should be in love in him that doth it. Who can believe this, without the help of Grace? and how great must that help be, that enableth a Man to believe so unlikely a thing?
4. Grace helps in Affliction, by teaching to profit thereby. Heb. 12.11. Now no chastening for the present, seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: Nevertheless, afterward it yield∣eth the peaceable fruit of righteousness, un∣to them which are exercised thereby. The fruit of sanctified Affliction is a great Mystery, as all spiritual Fruit is. You cannot tell how you profit by the Word: I am afraid that there is but little profiting at all; but they that do profit, cannot tell how they profit. They may see the Seed sown, they may find it sown in their Hearts, they may perceave its Fruits in their Worship and Walk; but how the grace of God works with the Word in making them profit, is too deep for the most discern∣ing Christians. It is some way more mysteri∣ous, how the Lord works out profit by Afflicti∣ons. It is indeed often found, blessed be his Name. Many can say with David, Psal. 119.67. Before I was afflicted, I went astray: but now have I kept thy word. ver. 71. It is good for me that I have been afflicted, that I might learn thy Statutes. But none can tell how the grace of God makes the bitter feed of Affli∣ction bring forth the peaceable fruit of Righ∣teousness. And where is that Saint, who, when the Lord is writing bitter things against
him, and multiplying his wounds, can say in Faith?
Now, at this time, and in this man∣ner, the Lord is sowing that Seed in me, that shall spring up in Fruits of Righteous∣ness, to his Praise, and my certain Profit; and that the day will come, wherein I shall bless his Name from my Heart, for all the Sorrows I now feel and mourn un∣der.
I shall say no more of this Head of Afflicti∣on, but only would give you this warning. Afflictions are very common, and much com∣plained of. Some Professors spend all the little Religion they have, upon their Afflictions. Take heed to your Hearts under Afflictions. It is to be bewailed, that many Christians, their Af∣flictions come on them, they know not whence; they lye on them, they know not not wherefore; and they go off, they know not how: that if I may allude to such sacred Words, and apply the Phrase to such a sinful Frame, Afflictions come on many, and they feel the smart of them, but know not whence they come, nor whi∣ther they go. They come on them when they are sent, and go off when they are called; but they neither knew what God meant by them, nor did by them. No Christian can ever make a spiritual and hearty Song of Praise for Af∣flictions, unless there be some Sense, or Hope of Profit thereby. If the Profit be seen, the Wisdom and Love of God in afflicting, will be heartily acknowledged.
5. Time of special need of the grace of God, is a time of special Duty and Service to God, called for. All the course of our Life is to be
constant Service; we ought to live to his Praise; we are made, as Creatures, and as new Creatures, for this end, Isa. 43.21. 1 Pet. 2.9. But there are some Seasons in which special Work is called for, and then there is great need of grace to help in that Hour. It is a mighty Word of the Preacher. Eccl. 8.6. Because to every purpose there is time and judgment, there∣fore the misery of man is great upon him. And it is only the wise man's heart that discerneth time and Judgment, ver. 5. I would name four of those times.
1. The time that Men are called to believe on Jesus Christ, and to secure their eternal Salvation by a full closing with him. This is a now, a day, an accepted time, a day of Sal∣vation. 2 Cor. 6.2. All that hear the Gospel, are bound by the Call of God in it, and war∣ranted by the Promise of it, to receave by Faith, Jesus Christ and eternal Life, every time they hear the Gospel. But sometimes this Du∣ty is specially called for, which if neglected, may be of fatal consequence to Men. Hence that Exhortation, Isa. 55.6. Seek ye the Lord while he may be found; call ye upon him while he is near. When Christ is knocking at the Door of the Heart, then it is special Duty to open to him. Rev. 3.20. This was the day Jerusalem had, and neglected, and that that Christ mourned over them for. Luke 19.41,42. Unspeakable is Mens need of the prevail∣ing help of grace, when their Hearts and Con∣sciences are warmed with the Calls of grace in the Gospel. In such Seasons, the everlasting Bargain is either fixed by the power of grace
working Faith in the Heart; or people are left to themselves, and are further from Heaven than ever.
2. Some special Call to Men to give their Te∣stimony to Christ and his Gospel by suffering. The Lord comes and craves Mens Testimony to his Truth, and chargeth them thus: If thou hast any love to me and my Honour, I de∣mand thy Witness, venture thy all, take up thy Cross. Many Christians have neglected such trying Seasons, which, in vain and sor∣rowfully, they have wished for again. There is much of God's Grace needful to discern these Seasons, and wisely to improve them.
3. There is another remarkable Season of Mens need of God's Grace to help them in, and that is, The Season of the Lord's calling them to a Duty-Tryal: A Duty called to by way of Tryal. The Lord gives the Call to try Men, and very great are the Consequences of obeying or disobeying of such a Call. Many instances are of this in the Word. One is in Numb. 14. The Passage is plain and awful. When Israel had been above a Year in the Wilderness, twelve Spies are sent to view the Land; they all bring back an evil Report, save Joshua and Caleb; the People murmur, God threatens them with Judgments: They seem to be sensible of their Sin, it's like by the Plague that slew the ten false Spies, ver. 37. and by what Moses spake to them. They ac∣knowledge their Sin, and resolve to go up next Morning, ver. 40. Moses tells them, they now sinned again, and that the Lord was not a∣mong them, ver. 41, 42. What severe dealing
is this? The Lord was among them vesterday, not this morning. They were bid go up yesterday, they are forbid next morning. Be∣cause they did not, what the Lord bid them do in his time, he will not protect them when they do the same thing in their time. Thus Saul was tryed twice. 1 Sam. 3. Samuel bid him tarry for him seven days at Gilgal Saul tarried six days, and part of the seventh, and then offer∣ed Sacrifice; not, as I think, that he did in∣vade the Priest's Office himself, but com∣manded some Priest to do it: Profane Princes never want profane Chaplains. What a severe Sentence doth Samuel pronounce against him? ver. 13.14. Again, the same Man is tryed with another Duty. 1. Sam. 15. and fails there∣in, and is punished therefore. This sort of trying Men by Duty, is like that in 2 Kings 13.14.20. which Elisha did put Joash unto. How may of the people of God, through the want of the present help of Grace, in some Du∣ty-Trials, have stepped into such Paths, and have fallen into such Pits and Snares, as they have never got well and clearly out of, as long as they lived?
4. It is a Season of great need of Grace to help us in, when the Lord by his Providence puts several things in a persons choice, and leaves them to choose. The fullest of this kind, was that offer made to David about Judgments. 2 Sam. 24.12,13. A hard choice; but David did choose wisely. His Son Solomon, had ano∣ther Offer, but it was of Blessings, and not of Judgments, 2 Chron. 1.7. Ask what I shall give thee. And he chose wisely, and by his choice
proved that he had already receaved a good measure of Wisdom. Moses had a great Of∣fer, and things of vast difference were in his Choice; and he chose like a Man taught of God. Heb. 11.24,25,26. Moses in his last Sermon to Israel, Deut. 30.15,19. puts them on choosing. I call Heaven and Earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing, therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live; that thou mayest love the Lord thy God, and that thou mayest obey his voice, and that thou may∣est cleave unto him, for he is thy life, and the length of thy days. So did his Successor Joshua, when he had setled Israel in the promised Land, a little before his death. Josh. 24.15. Chuse ye this day whom ye will serve. Elijah did so with Apostate Israel. 1 Kings 18.21. Some∣what like this, is laid before Men in the daily Ministry of the Word. The Curse of the Law, or the Blessing of the Gospel, is in Mens Offer: And Men get as they choose. If Men refuse the Blessing, the Curse belongs to them. If they receave the Blessing, they are delivered from the Curse. But the chusing, I mean, is that the Lord puts Men often to, in the several Turns of his Providence towards them. Psal. 25.12. What man is he that feareth the Lord? him shall he teach in the way that he shall choose. Many gracious Promises are in the Word, of God's guiding of his people, many Prayers put up by Saints in the Word for this gracious guiding, and many Praises rendered to the Lord, for their blessed experience of his gui∣ding. Who can walk safely through this Wil∣derness,
without the pillar of cloud by day, and the pillar of fire by night? How many of Mens Sorrows may be laid on their being left of God, in choosing for themselves? and how ma∣ny of our Mercies are owing to the Lord's gracious guiding of us in doubtful Cases? But it is a very hard thing to ask Direction from God. Three faults are common in this pra∣ctice. 1. Pre-engagement of Heart. As it is a great sin, after Vows to make inquiry, Prov. 20.25. So is it, to ask Direction from God, when Men are resolved on the way they will take. An eminent instance of this sinful Frame, we have in Jer. 42. and 43. They sought Counsel of God by the Prophet in a great straight, they promised to follow it whatever it was, God gives his Mind, they reject it, because it suit∣ed not their Inclinations. It is no easie thing to ask Direction of God, with an undetermi∣ned Frame. 2. Pride of Ʋnderstanding. Men think they are wise enough to choose their own way. Therefore that Command should be much minded, Prov. 3.5,6,7. Trust in the Lord with all thine heart, and lean not to thine own Ʋnderstanding: In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. Be not wise in thine own eyes. And that other Word, Prov. 20.24. Man's goings are of the Lord; how can a man then understand his own way? Prov. 16.9. A man's heart deviseth his way, but the Lord directeth his steps. 3 Hastey Men wait not for God's Counsel. Psal. 106.13. and therefore go without it, and stumble in dark Paths. He that believeth, maketh not haste. Isa 28.16. A little more patient wait∣ing
on the Lord, as Psal. 40.1. hath of∣ten brought in determining Light in doubtful Cases.
So much for the fifth Season of need of Grace.
6. The last time of need of Grace, is the time of dying. It is indeed the last, for he that is helped by Grace in that Time, will need no more help of Grace to eternity. This time of dying, is what we should all think on; and if you think aright on it, it will not be unwelcome to hear of it.
On this I would show, 1. The need of Grace. 2. And the help of Grace in this last and great∣est time of need.
1. Of the need of Grace to help in this Sea∣son. Though all Men have some Conviction of it, yet to strengthen that Conviction, I would speak to a few things about it.
1. This time of need is unavoidable, it is a time that must come. Other times of need may come, and may not come. We may be tempted, we may be afflicted, we may be tryed, we may be cast down, and we may be lifted up again; but die we must. It is appointed for men once to die, Heb. 9.27. As sure as we live, we must die: We live our appointed time, and we die at our appointed time. Job 14.5,14. and all our times are in his hand, Psal. 31.15. Eccles. 3.2. There is a time to be born, and a time to die. ver. 11. He hath made every thing beautiful in his time. That Man must have better Eyes, than those of Flesh, that can see any Beauty in Death. If there had been but two or three of Mankind,
that had lived from Noah to this day, and had been priviledged with an Exemption from this general Appointment, every Fool on Earth would have dreamt that, it may be, he shall partake of the same Priviledge also. But when all that ever breathed from Adam to this day, are dead (save the present Generation, whom a few more years will sweep away, as it hath done their Predecessors) what Folly is there in Mens thoughtlesness of this unavoidable Fate? But if you say, all shall not die, but be changed, as 1 Cor. 15.51. 1 Thes. 4.17. Consider that this change is to them, as death is to us; and, it may be, will be as terrible to the Saints alive then, as Death now is. As Believers now dread not death, and to be dead, so much, as they fear to die; the State of the dead in Christ, is not terrible, but the Passage to it is: So they that are changed at Christ's coming, may have the same Sentiments, till the change be wrought on them. It is (though none knows the particular manner of it) a putting off of Mortality and Corruption, and a putting on the Robes of Immortality and Incorruption. The same is done as to every Saint at Death and the Re∣surrection: Both are done to every Believer in an instant, who are found alive at Christ's se∣cond coming. Elijab's Translation, 2 Kings 2. and Enoch's, Heb. 11.5. were Emblems of the change on Believers at Christ's second appear∣ance; as the raising of Lazarus and others, both in the Old Testament and New, were of the general Resurrection: And in special man∣ner, they spoke of, Matth. 27.52,53. And the graves were opened, and many bodies of Saints,
which slept, arose, and came out of the graves after his Resurrection, and went into the holy City, and appeared unto many. But whatever the change on Saints at Christ's coming be to them, and if it may be thought a more easie Tryal than natural death is: It is certain, that the change that shall then pass on the Ungod∣ly, will be far more dreadful, than bare dy∣ing is now. This is then, the only Excepti∣on from the general Appointment on all Men once to die. How amazing then is the Stupidi∣ty of Men, that so few seriously think on it, and prepare for it? That so many Men and Women, that are under the Sentence of Death, that have the Seeds of Death in them, that live in a World, wherein all things that have life are dying before their Eyes, that live on Creatures, that lose their Lives to support theirs, that have so many Warnings of Death's sure and speedy Approach, are yet, after all, surprized by it when it comes, as if they had never heard of it? This stupi∣dity is a sad, both Sign and Effect, of the Plague of Unbelief. Judgment and Eternity, that follow at Death's Heels, are matters of pure Faith. But Death is obvious to Sense, Reason, and Universal Experience: Yet Men only think they may die, and do not entertain the Perswasion with Assurance into their Hearts and serious daily Thoughts, that they must die.
2. Dying is not only unavoidable, but it is a new Tryal: None can tell what dying is. Ma∣ny know what is to be sick, to be in great pain, to faint and fall into a swoun (which is
a little Image of death, as also the Heathen Poet called Sleep, Death's elder Brother.) But none knows what dying is. It was a very sen∣sible Word a dying Christian in this City spoke to my self, when visiting him a few Hours before his Death: No Man can tell another what dying is; I feel I am dying, but I cannot tell you what it is. Death is a Path that you never trode before; you never walked in it hitherto; you may have thought your selves to have gone a good way in the Valley of the Shadow of Death, but you never walked through it. Paul died daily. 1 Cor. 15.31. he was in deaths often. 2 Cor. 11.23. Yet he was a living Man then, when he said so; and he dyed but once. All new Tryals require new supplies of Grace: And the Tryal of Death is quite new. When we are tempted one day, we may know what Temptation is thereby, and be thereby fitted for the next; but no past Experience, can teach us fully what dying is.
3. Dying is not only a necessary and new Tryal, but it is such a Tryal, in which a Man's All is concerned for Eternity. Immediately, on Death, follows Judgment, Heb. 9.27. Death is the dark Trance betwixt Time and Eterni∣ty. While we live, we are in time; when we are a dying, we are leaving time, and passing into eternity. When we are dead, we are quite and for ever out of time, and are in eternity for ever. If a Man miscarry in this Passage, if a Man stumble in the dark Valley of death, if he fall here, he falls for ever. I would not have people to imagine, that the stress of their Salvation depends on their Frame, when a
dying: For some Christians, when near to death, have neither the use and exercise of Sense or Reason, much less of Grace. But surely when the case of Mens Bodies permits Acts of a Man, or of a Christian, there is great need of grace to enable us to die well.
4. Dying is a great Tryal of Faith. Tho' we know not fully what dying is, yet we may know so much of it, as to be convinced, that it is much harder to die in Faith, than to live by Faith, and yet living by Faith is the hardest thing we have to do in this World. To trust in an unseen God; to believe his unchangeable Love when we feel his Anger; to trust his bare Word, when we see no appearance of Performance, but many to the contrary, are no easie things to the hest. Our frequent Experience of the difficulty, and of our many failings in this daily Exercise, of living by Faith, may justly make us sensible of our need of great help of Grace, when we shall be called to the new and more hard Work of dying by Faith. To enforce this a little, consider, 1. Usually when death draws near to Men, and they draw near to it, the Eye of the Mind is clearer, and the Conscience more tender, and sharp-sighted, in the review of their Life and Actions. Many never saw their Lives well, till they are just at the end of them. And many Believers walk so, as a spiritual review of their ways, breeds no small Storm in their Con∣sciences, and Tryal and shaking to their Faith. Though Death be a dark Valley, yet great light of Convictions and Challenges, springs up in it. Wo to them that never knew, till they are a dying, what an awakened Conscience is.
Ways that are pleasing to Men when the evil day is put far away, look frightfully on them, when that day approacheth, and is ve∣ry nigh.
2. A dying time is a time wherein the Devil is very busie. He fetcheth then his last stroke on Saints, and on Sinners. He doth his utmost to secure the Damnation of Sinners, that he may not lose them at last. The Devil's Death∣hold of a dying Sinner, is a strong one. He also doth his utmost against Believers, if not to marr their Salvation, yet to hinder their Consolation. The Devil's parting Blow hath been dreadful to many a Saint. It is a weigh∣ty Word, Heb. 2.14. Where he is said to have the power of death. It is true, there it is said also, that Christ overcame him, and through death. Death is properly and strictly in the Devil's Dominions. Sin and Death are proper∣ly the Devil's, though the Lord hath the wise ordering of both; he permits Sin, and inflicts Death; and Death lyes near the Devil's great Prison, Hell. Through the Valley of death, there are two Passages, one leading to Hell, and another to Heaven. Most fall into the Pit; others are brought through, safe and sound, by the Skill and Mercy of their blessed Guide, Christ. It fares here with Believers as with Israel, and with Ʋnbelievers as with the Egyptians, Heb. 11.29. By faith they passed through the Red Sea as by dry Land; which the Egyptians essaying to do, were drowned.
3. Judgment and Eternity, when near, and seen at hand, are awful things: And a near view of them will try Faith greatly. This view
blows away the Presumption and Hope of the Hypocrite. Job 27.8. What is the hope of the Hypocrite, though he hath gained, when God taketh away his Soul? Job 11.20. Their hope is as the giving up of the Ghost. His Hope lived as long as he lived; and when he dies, it dies also. Wo to them that have a dying hope, a hope that cannot out live Death. Christians are be∣gotten to a living or lively hope, 1 Pet. 1.3. He hath hope in his death, Prov. 14.32. The Man's bo∣dy dies, but the Christian's Hope and Faith lives. He lyes down in the Grave in hope, Psal. 16.9. He dies in that Faith, he lived by. Heb. 11.13.
2. What is the helpfulness of Grace, in this time of great need, a time of dying. I am speak∣ing to living Men, but to such as must die, and know not how soon. I shall only insist on one thing at this time. The Grace of God helps Believers by strengthening of their Faith. That is the help they mainly need in that hour. And this help stands in these:
1. When a dying Believer is helped by Grace to see death in Christ's hand. There is a vast difference betwixt Death in the Devil's hand who hath the power of it, and Death in Christ's hand, who is Master both of Death and the Devil: Betwixt a Man's seeing Death approach∣ing, and the Devil behind it, and with it, and a Man's seeing Death coming on him, and Christ with it. Paul's Triumph rose on this ground, 1 Cor. 15.55,56,57. O death, where is thy sting? O grave (or Hell) where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law, but thanks be to God which giveth us the victory,
through our Lord Jesus Christ. That, by which Death stings Men, is Sin unpardoned, and God's Holy Law binding Sin and Wrath on their Persons. Victory over both Sin and the Law, comes by Jesus Christ: When this Victor, and Victory in Christ, is seen by a Believer, Death is defied and despised, as a sting-less overcome thing. Much and strong Faith is needful to enable a Man to play on the hole of this Asp. Christ reveals himself to John, almost dead with fear, Rev. 1.17,18. Fear not, I have the keys of Hell, and of Death. Behold them in my Hand and behold me as the Lord of them. Should a Believer in Jesus, fear any thing that Christ hath the power of? The bitterness of death is past to all Believers, by Christ's death and Victo∣ry over it. And if their Faith was strong, their Fears would be small.
2. To have Faith enabled to look through death, and beyond death. If a Man's Eyes be fixed on Death only, and see no further, it is Death to look on Death: But when the Believers Eye of Faith is so quickened, that he can look through the Trance of Death, and see within the Vail where Christ is, that is a blessed help fo Grace. Christians Faith and Hope enters within the Vail, Heb. 6.19. And a view within the Vail, is spe∣cially desirable and useful, when the Christian is walking in the Valley of the shadow of death. Psal. 23.4.
3. Faith is helped, when the dying Believer is enabled to cast his Anchor on God in Christ con∣fidently in this last Storm. This last act of Faith is a great one. The more sensible a Man is, that he is on the point of eternal Ruin, the nearer he
is to drop into Hell (without divine help) the more sensibly he acts Faith: Then the clingings and graspings of Faith on Christ, are sensible and strong. When a Believer looks on himself, and on his way, and seeth nothing in them pleasing or staying to his Soul; he looks into the dark Passage before him, and its frightful to Heart and Flesh; he looks on Judgment and Eternity as just at hand, and his Thoughts are swallow∣ed up with their Greatness: In this case to stay his Soul, and say with dying David, 2 Sam. 23.5. Although my house be not so with God (tho' my Heart, my ways, be not so with God, as they ought to have been) yet he hath made with me an everlasting Covenant, ordered in all things and sure, and this all my salvation, and all my desire; requires singular help of the Grace of God. To shut the Eyes, and give the hand to Christ, and to quiet the Mind, by trusting our Guide in this last Step, is a mighty Blessing.
I would conclude this Discourse with these four:
1. It is a great Mystery of Faith, and a great Tryal of Faith, that the way to eternal Life, should lye through the midst of this dark Valley of Death. Our Lord Jesus Christ, bought eternal Life for us, by the price of his Blood; he went through death to take possession of his Kingdom and Glory; and yet his People must go through death to take Possession of the Gift of eternal Life. If there were any al∣lowed Room or Place for Prayer in this Affair, how many, and how earnest Prayers would we make to be delivered from going in this way to Glory? But after a Life of Tryals, Tem∣ptation,
and manifold Tribulations, this last is still before us, and we must pass through, and set our Feet in the cold Waters of this Jor∣dan, ere we enter the heavenly Canaan. Af∣ter all the lively hopes of Heaven, and sweet fore-tastes of it, we have had; after our Faith hath risen to a full assurance: yet through death must all the Heirs of Glory pass.
2. There is no Wisdom like that of preparing for this awful Hour. Job 14.14. If a man die, shall he live again? all the days of my appoint∣ed time will I wait, till my change come. I will think on it, I will look for it, I will pre∣pare for it. Men are wise or foolish, according to their faithful diligence, or unbelieving ne∣gligence in this preparing for death. Many have bewailed their neglect; never did any repent their diligence in this Work.
3. There is no right and sure way of prepa∣ring for Death, but by seeking saving acquain∣tance with Jesus. If you set about the study of Holiness, without Christ, you mistake your way, and will never reach your end. But la∣bour to be intimately acquainted with Jesus Christ, and the Communications of his Grace will make you holy. Death deals with Men, and billets them into their eternal Quarters, in Heaven or Hell, as Men are in Christ, or out of Christ. Their Works, according to which they are judged, are but the Fruits and Effects of their different States. These two different States of Men in this Life, in Christ, or not in Christ, are the Foundation of the two diffe∣rent States in the next Life, in Heaven, or in Hell: Tho' all in Christ are holy, and all out of Christ are unholy.
4. There is no Life truly comfortable, but that which hath a comfortable prospect of Death and Judgment. Never envy the condition of them, who seem to be the only chearful Men in the World, whom one quarter of an hours serious thought of Death and Judgment, is enough to make them like Belshazzar at his great Feast. Dan. 5.6, Whose countenance was changed, and his thoughts troubled him, so that the joynts of his loins were loosed, and his knees smote one against another. Amazement seized on Soul and Body. How can a Man be said to live comfortably, that dare not think of Death, for fear of mar∣ring his comfort? Miserable is that Consolati∣on, that cannot bear a serious thought of an ap∣proaching unavoidable thing. This is the Wis∣dom and Mercy of the Lord to his People, that their true Consolation doth not only stand and abide in the view of Death and Judgment, but it ariseth from that view that is so terrible to all natural Men. This is the blessedness of Belie∣vers, that his Grace allows them a right to, and can give them a possession of. And therefore we should come to the Throne of Grace for it. Then you are happy Christians, when serious thoughts of Death, breed serious Joy.