Yet such a wish is much allayed, yea (in some cases) lawful, if we keep the former caution, and say, if the Lord will. If we refer our selves to the will and good pleasure of God, we may desire to be laid to rest by death, that we may be rid of those pains and evils which we suffer in this life. And yet I desire rather to raise the spirits of all above these troubles while they live, then satisfy them how they may desire freedom from them by death. When Solomon returned, and considered all the oppressions that are done under the Sun, and beheld the tears of such as were oppressed, and they had no comforter, and on the side of their oppressors there was power, but they had no comforter: Then he praised the dead, which are already dead, more then the living which are yet alive, (Eccles. 4.1, 2.) that is, he pronounced the dead to be in a better condition then the living. Yet know, that Solomon in this place, speaks the words of mere natural reason, not of divine reason. For he speaks (though with a divine Spirit) yet in the person of a natural man. Natural reason saith, it is better to die, then live under oppressions; but divine reason saith, there is more honour to be gained by living under oppressions, then there is ease to be attained by dying from under them. To bear a burden well, is more desirable then to be delivered from a burden: Especially, if while we are bearing, we can be doing, doing good (I mean) and I mean it especially, if we can do public good. A Christian should be content, yea he should rejoice, in suffering much evil upon himself, while he can be doing any, especially if he can do much good to others. A graciously public spirit, will triumph over personal troubles ⟨p. 450⟩and labours, so long as he sees himself a blessing or a help to the public: and though he longs to die for himself, and to be with Christ, which is better, yet he is loath to die, so long as he can say with blessed Paul, Nevertheless to abide in the flesh, is more needful for you, (or others,) Phil. 1.24. When a Heathen Emperor, Caesar, said, he had lived long enough, whether he respected Nature or Honour: Tully the Orator answered him well, But you have not lived long enough for the Common-wealth.
Yet such a wish is much allayed, yea (in some cases) lawfull, if we keepe the former caution, and say, if the Lord will. If we referre our selves to the will and good pleasure of God, we may desire to be lay'd to rest by death, that we may be rid of those paines and evills which we suffer in this life. And yet I desire rather to raise the spirits of all above these troubles while they live, then satisfie them how they may desire freedome from them by death. When Solomon returned, and considered all the oppressions that are done under the Sunne, and beheld the teares of such as were oppressed, and they had no comforter, and on the side of their oppressors there was power, but they had no comforter: Then he praised the dead, which are already dead, more then the living which are yet alive, (Eccles. 4.1, 2.) that is, he pronounced the dead to be in a better condition then the living. Yet know, that Solomon in this place, speakes the words of meere naturall reason, not of divine reason. For he speakes (though with a divine Spirit) yet in the person of a naturall man. Naturall reason saith, it is better to die, then live under oppressions; but divine reason saith, there is more honour to be gained by living under oppressions, then there is ease to be attained by dying from under them. To beare a burden well, is more desireable then to be delivered from a burden: Especially, if while we are bearing, we can be doing, doing good (I meane) and I meane it especially, if we can doe publike good. A Christian should be content, yea he should rejoyce, in suffering much evill upon himselfe, while he can be doing any, especially if he can doe much good to others. A graciously publike spirit, will triumph over personall troubles ⟨p. 450⟩and labours, so long as he sees himselfe a blessing or a helpe to the publike: and though he longs to die for himselfe, and to be with Christ, which is better, yet he is loath to die, so long as he can say with blessed Paul, Neverthelesse to abide in the flesh, is more needfull for you, (or others,) Phil. 1.24. When a Heathen Emperour, Caesar, said, he had lived long enough, whether he respected Nature or Honour: Tully the Orator answered him well, But you have not lived long enough for the Common-wealth.
