The right method for a settled peace of conscience, and spiritual comfort in 32…

There is a loathness to Dye that comes from a Desire to do God more service; and another that comes from an Apprehension of unreadiness, when we would fain have more Assurance of Salvation first: or would be fitter to meet our Lord. Blame not a man to be somewhat backward, that knows it must go with him for ever in Heaven or Hell according as he is found at death. But these two be not so much a loathness to Dye, as a loathness to Dye now, at this time. 3. There is also in all men living, Good and bad, a natural abhorrence and fear of death. God hath put this into mans nature (even in I• nocency) to be his great means of Governing the World. No man would live in ord•• ⟨p. 482⟩or be kept in obedience, but for this. He that cares not for his own Life, is Master of another's. Grace doth not root out this abhorrency of Death, no more then it unmanneth us: Only it restrains it from excess, and so far overcometh the violence of the Passion, by the apprehensions of a better life beyond death, that a Believer may the more quietly and willingly submit to it. Paul himself desireth not Death, but the Life which followeth it; He desireth to depart, and to be with Christ: that is, He had rather be in Heaven then on earth, and therefore he is contented to submit to the penal sharp passage. God doth not command you to Desire death it self; nor forbid you fearing it as an evil to nature and a punishment of sin: Only he requireth you to Desire the Blessedness to be enjoyed after Death, and that so earnestly as may make Death it self the easier to you. Thank God, if the fear of death be somewhat abated in you, though it be not sweetened. Men may pretend what they please, but nature will abhor death as long as its nature, and as long as man is man: else temporal death had been no punishment to Adam, if his Innocent nature had not abhorred it it was an evil to it. Tell me but this: If Death did not stand in your way to Heaven, but that you could travel to Heaven