N01109:169
Meditations on death. Delivered in several sermons, wherein is showed; I. That some true believers on Christ are afraid of death, but that they have no just cause to be so. II. That good men as well as others may be taken out of the world by a sudden death. III. That not earth but heaven is the Christians home. / By Increase Mather, D.D. ; [Two lines from Hebrews]Meditations on death. Delivered in several sermons, wherein is shewed; I. That some true believers on Christ are afraid of death, but that they have no just cause to be so. II. That good men as well as others may be taken out of the world by a sudden death. III. That not earth but heaven is the Christians home. / By Increase Mather, D.D. ; [Two lines from Hebrews]
printed by Timothy Green, 1707
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Consider 1. How undesirable a world this is. This World is not Paradise now, but a Prison rather to the Children of God. Tis a Vain World: Vain because Unprofitable. What profit has a man of all his Labour under the Sun? What profit when he has Laboured for the Wind? A great Emperor who had passed through many Offices, and at last obtained the whole Roman Empire, the mightiest that ever was, after all made this Protestation before the world, Omnia fui sed rihil profuit; I have been all things, but it profited ⟨p. 164⟩me nothing at all. Could a man grasp the whole World into his hands, it would not yield satisfaction to his Soul. They say of Alexander the Great, that he wept because there was but one world for him to enlarge his Conquests in. The Eye is not satisfied with seeing. Some have Expressed it too argutely when they have said, A round World will never fill a triangular Heart. But it is a serious Truth, that all the things of this world cannot satisfy the vast desires of an immortal Soul, but it will be wishing for something better than the best Earthly Enjoyments, or than them all. Solomon was as Competent a judge of what this world could afford as any man that ever lived in it. And the account which he gives of it, yea, the Sum Total is that in Eccl. 1.2. All is Vanity. Not only Vain, but Vanity it self. So that if a man could possess all the things that are in the world, they are Nothing, for he possesseth Vanity. 'Twas the Expression of a Famous man, If all the World were to ⟨p. 165⟩[…] Sold, it is not worth a mans opening •is Mouth to say, I will not buy it. And •hall we make this world then to be •ur Home, when it is all Vanity? And •ot only so, but Vexation of spirit too, […] Solomon there says. There is great Vexation oftentimes in Obtaining the things of this world. Alas! Many •et the world by wounding their own consciences, and that proves Vexation •o them. And there is great vexati•• keeping the world. The Rich mans abundance won't suffer him to sleep. […] is reported that Cyrus made a poor •an vastly Rich, who found such vexation about the keeping and the disposal of his Riches, as that he gave •he greatest part of them away, and •hose rather to have only a moderate state that so he might Enjoy himself, and live with greater Contentation. There is great Vexation in the •oosing the world.
Consider 1. How undesirable a world this is. This World is not Paradise now, but a Prison rather to the Children of God. Tis a Vain World: Vain because Vnprofitable. What profit has a man of all his Labour under the Sun? What profit when he has Laboured for the Wind? A great Emperor who had passed through many Offices, and at last obtained the whole Roman Empire, the mightiest that ever was, after all made this Protestation before the world, Omnia fui sed rihil profuit; I have been all things, but it profited ⟨p. 164⟩me nothing at all. Could a man grasp the whole World into his hands, it would not yield satisfaction to his Soul. They say of Alexander the Great, that he wept because there was but one world for him to inlarge his Conquests in. The Eye is not satisfied with seeing. Some have Expressed it too argutely when they have said, A round World will never fill a triangular Heart. But it is a serious Truth, that all the things of this world cannot satisfy the vast desires of an immortal Soul, but it will be wishing for something better than the best Earthly Enjoyments, or than them all. Solomon was as Competent a judge of what this world could afford as any man that ever lived in it. And the account which he gives of it, yea, the Sum Total is that in Eccl. 1.2. All is Vanity. Not only Vain, but Vanity it self. So that if a man could possess all the things that are in the world, they are Nothing, for he possesseth Vanity. 'Twas the Expression of a Famous man, If all the World were to ⟨p. 165⟩〈…〉 Sold, it is not worth a mans opening •is Mouth to say, I will not buy it. And •hall we make this world then to be •ur Home, when it is all Vanity? And •ot only so, but Vexation of spirit too, 〈…〉 Solomon there sayes. There is great Vexation oftentimes in Obtaining the •hings of this world. Alas! Many •et the world by wounding their own •onsciences, and that proves Vexation •o them. And there is great vexati•• keeping the world. The Rich mans •bundance won't suffer him to sleep. is reported that Cyrus made a poor an vastly Rich, who found such exation about the keeping and the isposal of his Riches, as that he gave he greatest part of them away, and hose rather to have only a moderate tate that so he might Enjoy himlf, and live with greater Contentaon. There is great Vexation in the oosing the world.
If a man has been •ich, and becomes Poor, he is more miserable than if he had never had •uch Riches: So that they are vanity •nd vexation. But which is infinitely ⟨p. 166⟩worse, this world is full of Sin; and that has made it like Hell. The terrible Judgment of God for the Sins of men, has suffered Satan to be the Prince of this world. He is not so by the Grace of God, but by the Wrath of God. The Devils are the Rulers of the Darkness of this world. And shall Gods Children make such a dark World their Home?
If a man has been •ich, and becomes Poor, he is more •iserable than if he had never had •uch Riches: So that they are vanity •nd vexation. But which is infinitely ⟨p. 166⟩worse, this world is full of Sin; and that has made it like Hell. The terrible Judgment of God for the Sins of men, has suffered Satan to be the Prince of this world. He is not so by the Grace of God, but by the Wrath of God. The Devils are the Rulers of the Darkness of this world. And shall Gods Children make such a dark World their Home?
Consider 2. H•w Desirable a Place that World is which Believers are going unto. Certainly when Christians are loth to leave this world, they do not meditate on Heaven so much as they should do, where there is nothing but what is good, and every thing that is good. Are Riches desirable▪ In Heaven & there only, are the true Riches to be found; Prov. 8.18. Durable Riches. Earthly Riches are not Durable; but Heavenly Riches are a Substance that will endure to Eternity. There are Glorious Riches to be found in Heaven For JESUS CHRIST is there, who is an Inestimable and Inexhaustible Treasure. Does not the ⟨p. 167⟩scripture speak of the Unsearchable •iches of Christ? In Heaven the Infinitely Glorious GOD is to be Enjoyed▪ […] Him we have an infinite Treasure. •ea▪ all Good at once to satiate our •ouls: He is the Portion of His Children, and a greater Portion cannot be▪ David says, God is my Portion for ever. When Abraham refused the Riches of •he King of Sodom, God said to him, Gen. 15.1. I am thy Exceeding Great Reward: Thou shalt have Riches enough in me. Now if we would make Heaven and not Earth our Home.
Consider 2. H•w Desi•able a Place that World is which Believers are going unto. Certainly when Christians are loth to leave this world, they do not meditate on Heaven so much as they should do, where there is nothing but what is good, and every thing that is good. Are Riches desirable▪ In Heaven & there only, are the true Riches to be found; Prov. 8.18. Durable Riches. Earthly Riches are not Durable; but Heavenly Riches are a Substance that will endure to Eternity. There are Glorious Riches to be found in Heaven For JESUS CHRIST is there, who is an Inestimable and Inexhaustible Treasure. Does not the
1. We should be willing to go Home. Should not a Traveller be willing to go home? Why then should no• Gods Children who are Strangers and Sojourners in the Earth, be willing to go to their own Country, when ever •t shall please the Lord, this Year rather than the next Year if God will have it so. Such an Heart was in Old Jacob, Gen. 46▪30. N•w let me Dye, since I have seen thy Face. It becomes a Child of God to speak after that manner, since by Faith I have seen ⟨p. 168⟩Christ, now let me Dye: As good Old Simeon also, when he had seen the Lords Christ, said, Luk. 2.29. Now let me depart in Peace. So the Believer that has by Faith an interest in Christ, it becomes him to say, Now Lord let me depart so soon as ever it shall please thee. It Exposeth our religion to the Censure of the world, when we are loth to change Earth for Heaven. The Turks say that Christians do not believe themselves when they talk of the Glory of Heaven: If they did (say they) why are Christians generally so unwilling to Dye and go to Heaven? Jacob said to Laban, Send me away that I may go my own Place, and to my own Country, Gen. 30.25. And Laban said to him, Thou wouldest needs be gone, because thou sore longest after thy Fathers House, Gen. 31.36. So should the Children of God desire to be gone to their own Country, and long after their Fathers House.
2. If we would make not Earth but Heaven our Home, then let us get as much as possibly we can of that which we shall carry ⟨p. 169⟩to Heaven with us. Travellers can•t carry Houses and Lands into their own Country with them, but if they can meet with Jewels they will carry them with them. There are Jewels to be had▪ that we shall carry to Heaven with us, if we can make our selves the owners of them. Grace in the Soul is a Jewel. The Grace of Saving Knowledge is a Jewel; that will go to Heaven with us. This is Life Eternal, to know Thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent. The Grace of Love is a Jewel▪ that will go to Heaven with us. Charity abides, it never fails. The Grace of Joy in the Holy Ghost, will go to Heaven with us. For there is fullness of Joy, & Pleasures for evermore. Then Labour after much of those Graces, much of those Jewels that will go with us out of this into the Eternal World.
2. If we would make not Earth but Heaven our Home, then let us get as much as possibly we can of that which we shall carry ⟨p. 169⟩to Heaven with us. Travellers can•t carry Houses and Lands into their own Countrey with them, but if they can meet with Iewels they will carry them with them. There are Jewels to be had▪ that we shall carry to Heaven with us, if we can make our selves the owners of them. Grace in the Soul is a Jewel. The Grace of Saving Knowledge is a Jewel; that will go to Heaven with us. This is Life Eternal, to know Thee the only true God, and Iesus Christ whom thou hast sent. The Grace of Love is a Jewel▪ that will go to Heaven with us. Charity abides, it never fails. The Grace of Joy in the Holy Ghost, will go to Heaven with us. For there is fulness of Joy, & Pleas•res for evermore. Then Labour after much of those Graces, much of those Jewels that will go with us out of this into the Eternal World.
3. We should abound in those thing• […] which we shall have a Reward in […] ▪ The more Good we do on Earth▪ […] more Glory shall we have when […] come to Heaven. Therefore sh••ld ⟨p. 170⟩we do all the Good we can, in all the way•s we are capable of doing Good, Rev. 14.13. Blessed are the Dead which Dye in the Lord, they rest from their Labour, and their Works follow them. Their Good Works follow them. Deeds of Charity to the Lords Poor will follow them to the Heavenly World. Christ said to a Rich man, Give to the Poor, and follow me, and thou shalt have Treasure in Heaven, Mat. 19▪21. And for Works of Piety, which have a tendency to promote the Glory of God, His Faithful Servants shall have a Reward in Heaven. Therefore David in the Context before us, did Contribute so Liberally to uphold the Worship of God: Shortly (says he) I shall be gone out of this world, and then I can do nothing towards building an House for the Lord, and therefore I have done it now. And he was […] should be Rewarded in […] ▪ Our Religious Duties and […], our Secret Prayers will […] in Heaven. Pray to your Father […] Secret, and your Father that seeth ⟨p. 171⟩[…] Secret will Reward you Openly. He •ill Reward you before all the Angels in Heaven, and all the Saints that •re there That will be an Open Re•ard indeed▪ So then we should a•ound in Works of this Nature, and •n Every Good Work. I Conclude with that Scripture,
FINIS.
Text. Heb. 2.15. Pag. • […]. That the Children of God are delivered from that Bondage which through the Fear of Death Christless Sinners are subject unto. pag. 3 Prop. 1. That Death is to Nature a formidable Evil. pag▪ 4 For, 1. A Cruel Enemy has by the Righteous Judgment of God the Power of Death. pag. 5 What is meant thereby. pag. 7, 8. 2. Death is a sign of the Anger of God. pag. • ▪ 3. It dissolves the Union between the Soul and Body. pag. •• ⟨image ?⟩4. The Soul goes then into the immediate presence of God. pag. 14 5. At the Hour of Death men en•er into Eternity. pag. 16 Prop. 2. Christless Sinners have just cause to be afraid of Death. pag. 17 For, 1. They are in Bondage to him •hat hath the power of Death. pag. 20 2. Death will deprive the Christless sinner of all that is good & desirable. pag 22 They have cause to fear death in respect of that which will follow death. pag. 24 Prop. 3. The fear of Death causeth Bondage: And this in several Respects. pag. 29, 30, 32. Prop. 4. That some true Believers are afraid of death. pag. 33▪ The reasons of it. pag. 34, 36, 38, 39 That they have no just cause to fear Death. pag 41.44 Use. A double Exhortation. 1. To those that have just cause to fear death. Rest not in your present condition▪ pag. 49. 2. To Believers. Live above the fear of Death. pag. 51 How may we attain to this. pag. 54, 55, 56.
Text. Heb. 2.15. Pag. • 〈…〉. That the Children of God are delivered from that Bondage which through the Fear of Death Christless Sinners are subject unto. pag. 3 Prop. 1. That Death is to Nature a formidable Evil. pag▪ 4 For, 1. A Cruel Enemy has by the Righteous Iudgment of God the Power of Death. pag. 5 What is meant thereby. pag. 7, 8. 2. Death is a sign of the Anger of God. pag. 3. It dissolves the Vnion betwee the Soul and Body. pag.
Text. Mark 13.36. pag 57 DOCT. That considering Death may come upon men Suddenly, they should be watchful & careful lest the Lord then find them Sleeping. pag. 60 Prop▪ 1. That sometimes Death comes on men very Suddenly. pag. 61 The Reason of it. pag. 67, 70 Prop. 2. The Faithful Servants of the Lord Jesus Christ may be taken out of the World by a Sudden death. pag. 71 Use. Sinners who delay their Repentance, and so their Preparation for death pretending that they will do it hereafter, are to be convinced of their Sin & Folly. p 75 This is urged with four weighty Considerations. pag. 77, 78, 80, 81 Prop. 3. That men are very subject to a sinful Sleeping. pag▪ 84 Unregenerates are in a dead sleep, p. 85 The Disciples of Christ are too much ⟨image ?⟩subject to a sinful Sleeping, pag, 88 Use 1. Watchfulness is at all times necessary for Christians. p 95, 98, 100 Use 2. Men should be always in a preparedness for death. Eminent Servants of Christ, Ministers in special •a•e been taken out of the World by Sudden deaths. pag. 103, 104 Awakening Considerations and Directions. pag. 105, 107, 108, 109
Text. Mark 13.36. pag 57 DOCT. That considering Death may come upon men Suddenly, they should be watchful & careful lest the Lord then find them Sleeping. pag. 60 Prop▪ 1. That sometimes Death comes on men very Suddenly. pag. 61 The Reason of it. pag. 67, 70 Prop. 2. The Faithful Servants of the Lord Iesus Christ may be taken out of the World by a Sudden death. pag. 71 Use. Sinners who delay their Repentance, and so their Preparation for death pretending that they will do it hereafter, are to be convinced of their Sin & Folly. p 75 This is urged with four weighty Considerations. pag. 77, 78, 80, 81 Prop. 3. That men are very subject to a sinful Sleeping. pag▪ 84 Vnregenerates are in a dead sleep, p. 85 The Disciples of Christ are too much ⟨image ?⟩
Text. 1 Chron. 29.15. pag. 111 DOCT. The Servants of God are very sensible that they are Strangers and S•••ourners on the Earth, and that they have but a Little time to be in this world. Prop. 1, That the Servants of God are Strangers and Sojourners on the Earth, In what respects they are so, pag. 114, 115, 117, 119, 120, 122, 126, 128 ⟨image ?⟩Prop 2, That men have but a little time to be on the Earth, pag 130 Proved, pag, 132, 134, 136 Prop, 3, That the Servants of God are very sensible of this, pag, 139 It is Faith that makes them sensible of it, pag, 142, 144, 146 Use I, Instruct. • This should teach u• Contentation, & to moderate our affections as to all Earthly Enjoyments, p•g▪ 14• Instruct. 2, Hence they all whose Happiness is in Earthly Enjoyments are […] ▪ pag▪ 151 […] We see the Sin and •olly of those who […] themselves as if they were to live here […] ▪ pag, 154 Instruct, 4, Me• […] very careful not to misspend their short Time, but to improve it well, pag, 15• Instruct, 5, We should be […] of that World where we must abide fo• ever▪ pag, 160 Use II Exhortation: Let the Servant of God make not the Earth but Heav•• their Home, pag, 163 Some Considerations to Enforce th• with directions i• order thereunto, pag, ib•• & 166, 167, 168, 169
3. We should abound in those thing• 〈…〉 which we shall have a Reward in 〈…〉 ▪ The more Good we do on Earth▪ 〈…〉 more Glory shall we have when 〈…〉 come to Heaven. Therefore sh••ld ⟨p. 170⟩we do all the Good we can, in all the way•s we are capable of doing Good, Rev. 14.13. Blessed are the Dead which Dye in the Lord, they rest from their Labour, and their Works follow them. Their Good Works follow them. Deeds of Charity to the Lords Poor will follow them to the Heavenly World. Christ said to a Rich man, Give to the Poor, and follow me, and thou shalt have Treasure in Heaven, Mat. 19▪21. And for Works of Piety, which have a tendency to promote the Glory of God, His Faithful Servants shall have a Reward in Heaven. Therefore David in the Context before us, did Contribute so Liberally to uphold the Worship of God: Shortly (sayes he) I shall be gone out of this world, and then I can do nothing towards building an House for the Lord, and therefore I have done it now. And he was 〈…〉 should be Rewarded in 〈…〉 ▪ Our Religious Duties and 〈…〉, our Secret Prayers will 〈…〉 in Heaven. Pray to your Father 〈…〉 Secret, and your Father that seeth ⟨p. 171⟩〈…〉 Secret will Reward you Openly. He •ill Reward you before all the Angels in Heaven, and all the Saints that •re there That will be an Open Re•ard indeed▪ So then we should a•ound in Works of this Nature, and •n Every Good Work. I Conclude with that Scripture, 1. Cor. 15. last▪ •e you alwayes abounding in the Work •f the Lord, for as much as you know •hat your Labour shall not be in 〈…〉 the Lord.
