CXLV expository sermons upon the whole 17th chapter of the Gospel according to St.…

1. Immoderate affections to lawful things, they do so dead the heart and clog ⟨p. 110⟩the soul, that when a man comes to die, these earthly things lye upon the heart, as too much undigested meat upon the stomach, making thee extreme sick and full of pain. The Apostle then, 1 Cor. 7. prescribeth a comfortable way to dye joyfully, where he saith, those that buy must be as if they bought not; they that marry as if they married not: The greener the wood is, the harder to be consumed; the more lively and active thy worldly affections are, there must be the greater opposition to leave all and be with God. The ripe apple falleth from the tree very easily: the godly man dying is compared to ripe corn, so that if these earthy and worldly affections be not dried up in thee, it will much hinder thy joy, this green wood will make a great smoke. Hezekiah, though he had this comfortable evidence, yet saith the Text, He wept soar; some attribute that to the Old Testament dispensation, where earthly and worldly happiness was more generally promised then under the New, and therefore death being a privation of that, did more affect them: howsoever this is sure, an heart not weaned from the world, and yet must be parted from, is like a tooth not cut from the flesh, which will cause great pain in the pulling out. If therefore thou wouldst with much peace and joy make up thy account, sit loose from all earthly things; these are good, but God is better; to have God would be a gain to thee, these are thorns and thorns in thy side, they do not only choke our duty, but our comforts.

1. Immoderate affections to lawfull things, they do so dead the heart and clog ⟨p. 110⟩the soul, that when a man comes to die, these earthly things lye upon the heart, as too much undigested meat upon the stomack, making thee extream sick and full of pain. The Apostle then, 1 Cor. 7. prescribeth a comfortable way to dye joyfully, where he saith, those that buy must be as if they bought not; they that marry as if they married not: The greener the wood is, the harder to be consumed; the more lively and active thy worldly affections are, there must be the greater opposition to leave all and be with God. The ripe aple falleth from the tree very easily: the godly man dying is compared to ripe corn, so that if these earthy and worldly affections be not dried up in thee, it will much hinder thy joy, this green wood will make a great smoak. Hezekiah, though he had this comfortable evidence, yet saith the Text, He wept soar; some attribute that to the Old Testament dispensation, where earthly and worldly happinesse was more generally promised then under the New, and therefore death being a privation of that, did more affect them: howsoever this is sure, an heart not weaned from the world, and yet must be parted from, is like a tooth not cut from the flesh, which will cause great pain in the pulling out. If therefore thou wouldst with much peace and joy make up thy account, sit loose from all earthly things; these are good, but God is better; to have God would be a gain to thee, these are thorns and thorns in thy side, they do not only choak our duty, but our comforts.