Meditations on death. Delivered in several sermons, wherein is showedMeditations on death. Delivered in several sermons, wherein is shewed
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]
Increase Mather 1639–1723printed by Timothy Green, 1707
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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.
Answ. 1. A Cruel Enemy has by the Righteous Judgment of God the Power of Death. The Devil is a Bloody Enemy: In Rev. 12.3. he is called a Red Dragon, because he is a Bloody Devourer: And he has the Power of Death. And therefore the Jews of old were wont to call him by the name of the Angel of Death. The Angel that kills men they called by the name of Asmodaeus, which signifies a Destroyer; and so does the Scripture call him by the same Name; 1 Cor. 10. ⟨p. 6⟩10. The Murmurers were Destroyed […] the Destroyer. God let loose Sata• upon them to kill them. And the Hebrews also called the Devil by tha• name of Abaddon, which signifies th• same thing: So does the Scripture ca•• the Angel of the Bottomless Pit, Rev▪ 9.11▪ Yea, the Scripture says Expressly, that he has the Power of Death▪Heb. 2.14. He that has the Power […] Death, that is the Devil, says the Apostle; which words may not be […] understood as if the Devil had […] absolute Power of Death, to kill who• he will, and when he will; for if […] were so, there would be no living […] the world; The Devil and his […] Angels under him would soon destroy all the men on the face of the Earth ▪ But therefore his Power is limited […] the most High God, that he can infli•• Death on no one beside those […] whom God gives him leave to do […] We see it in Job; he had power […] take Jobs Estate away from him, […] power given to him also to kill […] Children every one of them by rais••⟨p. 7⟩
a Storm; he had power to inflict a sore Disease on the Body of Job, but yet could not take his Life away from him, which fain he would have done, when he said to God, all a man has will he give for his Life. God said, he is in thine hand, but spare his Life. He is said therefore to have the Power of Death for two Reasons.
Answ. 1. A Cruel Enemy has by the Righteous Iudgment of God the Power of Death. The Devil is a Bloody Enemy: In Rev. 12.3. he is called a Red Dragon, because he is a Bloody Devourer: And he has the Power of Death. And therefore the Jews of old were wont to call him by the name of the Angel of Death. The Angel that kills men they called by the name of Asmodaeus, which signifies a Destroyer; and so does the Scripture call him by the same Name; 1 Cor. 10. ⟨p. 6⟩10. The Murmerers were Destroyed 〈…〉 the Destroyer. God let loose Sata• upon them to kill them. And the He•brews also called the Devil by tha• name of Abaddon, which signifies th• same thing: So does the Scripture ca•• the Angel of the Bottomless Pit, Rev▪ 9.11▪ Yea, the Scripture sayes Ex•presly, that he has the Power of Death▪Heb. 2.14. He that has the Power 〈…〉 Death, that is the Devil, sayes the A•postle; which words may not be 〈…〉 understood as if the Devil had 〈…〉 absolute Power of Death, to kill who• he will, and when he will; for if 〈…〉 were so, there would be no living 〈…〉 the world; The Devil and his 〈…〉 Angels under him would soon destro• all the men on the face of the Eart•▪ But therefore his Power is limited 〈…〉 the most High God, that he can infli•• Death on no one beside those 〈…〉 whom God gives him leave to do 〈…〉 We see it in Iob; he had power 〈…〉 take Iobs Estate away from him, 〈…〉 power given to him also to kill 〈…〉 Children every one of them by rais••⟨p. 7⟩a Storm; he had power to inflict a sore Disease on the Body of Iob, but yet could not take his Life away from him, which fain he would have done, when he said to God, all a man has will he give for his Life. God said, he is in thine hand, but spare his Life. He is said therefore to have the Power of Death for two Reasons.
1. In that it has been through his means that Death has come on the Children of men. The Devil has killed all the men in the world; he has been the Death of all the men in the world, namely by drawing them into Sin. No man had ever Dyed if it had not been for Sin. The Devil brought Sin into the world & so Death: He was the first Sinner that ever was, and he caused the first Man that ever was to Sin; and in so doing he Killed him. Yea he Murdered him in the day he caused him to Sin. Therefore Christ says, Joh. 8.44. The Devil is a Murderer from the Beginning; because he Murdered the first Man by introducing Sin into the world: And did then ⟨p. 8⟩Murder all Mankind in one day. In as much as he has been able by hi• Temptations to cause men to Sin he has the power of Death; and so fa• forth as he has still power by hi• Temptations to draw men into Sin▪ he has the power of Death over them▪
1. In that it has been through his means that Death has come on the Children of men. The Devil has killed all the men in the world; he has been the Death of all the men in the world, namely by drawing them into Sin. No man had ever Dyed if it had not been for Sin. The Devil brought Sin into the world & so Death: He was the first Sinner that ever was, and he caused the first Man that ever was to Sin; and in so doing he Killed him. Yea he Murdered him in the day he caused him to Sin. Therefore Christ sayes, Joh. 8.44. The Devil is a Murderer from the Beginning; because he Murdered the first Man by introducing Sin into the world: And did then ⟨p. 8⟩Murder all Mankind in one day. In as much as he has been able by hi• Temptations to cause men to Sin he has the power of Death; and so fa• forth as he has still power by hi• Temptations to draw men into Sin▪ he has the power of Death over them▪
2. He is said to have the Power o• Death, because of his being an Executioner. He does by the permission and appointment of the Sovereign Judge of all the world, Execute Death o• the sinful Children of men. As th• Executioner has the power of Death when the Malefactor is delivered into his hands, to deal with him according to the Law and the appointment o• the Judge; such a power of Death has the Devil▪ it is a Righteous thing with God when men have hearkened to the Devil, and in compliance with him have sinned, to make him the Instrument of their Punishment. Thu• when there was a terrible Plague i• Egypt, in which not one Family escaped, tis said, Psal. 78.41. That th• Lord sent Evil Angels among them. Evi•⟨p. 9⟩Angels were the Instruments of the Providence of God in this Destruction. Now this adds to the Terror and Affrightment of Death. It is a terrible thing to fall into the hands of a merciless Executioner. When David was doubtful lest he should fall into the hands of his inveterate Enemies, from whom he could expect no mercy, he said, The Terrors of Death are fallen upon me, Fearfulness and Trembling are come upon me, and Horror hath overwhelmed me, Psal. 55.4, 5. This must needs be a frightful thing. As Saul when he was told he should be with the Devil the next day, he was sore afraid, and •ell down on his face on the Ground. He swooned away with the Fear and Horror of it. This is one Reason why Death is so frightful to Sinners.
2. He is said to have the Power o• Death, because of his being an Executioner. He does by the permission and appointment of the Sovereign Judge of all the world, Execute Death o• the sinful Children of men. As th• Executioner has the power of Deat• when the Malefactor is delivered into his hands, to deal with him according to the Law and the appointment o• the Judge; such a power of Death has the Devil▪ it is a Righteous thing with God when men have hearkene• to the Devil, and in compliance with him have sinned, to make him the Instrument of their Punishment. Thu• when there was a terrible Plague i• Egypt, in which not one Family escaped, tis said, Psal. 78.41. That th• Lord sent Evil Angels among them. Evi•⟨p. 9⟩Angels were the Instruments of the Providence of God in this Destruction. Now this adds to the Terror and Affrightment of Death. It is a terrible thing to fall into the hands of a merciless Executioner. When David was doubtful lest he should fall into the hands of his inveterate Enemies, from whom he could expect no mercy, he said, The Terrors of Death are fallen upon me, Fearfulness and Trembling are come upon me, and Horror hath overwhelmed me, Psal. 55.4, 5. This must needs be a frightful thing. As Saul when he was told he should be with the Devil the next day, he was sore afraid, and •ell down on his face on the Ground. He swooned away with the Fear and Horror of it. This is one Reason why Death is so frightful to Sinners.
2. Death is a Sign of the Anger of God. It is a sign that man by Sin hath transgressed His Law, and so incurred His Displeasure. Now nothing can •e thought on so formidable as the Anger of God. The Devil who is afraid of nothing else, trembles at the ⟨p. 10⟩thoughts of the Infinite Wrath of God Therefore the greatest of Men and the strongest of Sinners may wel• tremble at it. We read of Great Men▪ Kings, Captains, and Mighty Men that Cry to the Rocks to fall on them▪ and the Mountains to cover them from the face of Him that sits on the Throne saying, The Great day of His Wrath […] come, and who shall be able to stand ▪ There is no standing before the Almighty God when the Great Day o• His Wrath is come. The reason wh• some Sinners have no tremblings […] heart at the thoughts of Death an• Wrath to come, is because Conscience is asleep; but that will wake soone• or later, and then they tremble: Isa▪ 33.14. The Sinners in Zion are afraid fearfulness has surprised the Hypocrites▪ Who among us shall dwell with the de•vouring Fire, who among us shall […] with everlasting Burnings? The ange• of God is such: And how far will th• Fire reach▪Deut. 32 22. He kind•• a Fire in H•s A•ger▪ and it shall burn […] the lowest Hell. Tho' some Sinne•⟨p. 11⟩are Fearless for the present, yet […] are not so. There are Sinners that have dismal apprehensions of the Anger of God. It is as formidable, and far more formidable than their saddest Fears concerning it. Psal. 90 11. As is thy Fear, so is thy Wrath. There are Sinners that have a servile Fear of the Great God in their minds, says M•ses, thy Wrath is according to tha• Fear. In some cases, the fear of Death is worse than the thing it self▪ but it cannot be said so of the Wrath of God, or of Death when it comes armed with that Wrath. It is the Wr••h of One that is of Infinite Power; the Wrath of Almighty God: the Wrath of One that is Eternal. Now says the Apostle, Heb. 10.31. It is a fearful thing to fall into the Hands of the Living God. Sinners who Dye under His Wrath, must needs be exposed to fearful Misery, since He liveth for ever to Punish them. The though• of this causeth Fear.
2. Death is a Sign of the Anger of God. It is a sign that man by Sin hath •ransgressed His Law, and so incurr'd His Displeasure. Now nothing can •e thought on so formidable as the Anger of God. The Devil who is •fraid of nothing else, trembles at the ⟨p. 10⟩thoughts of the Infinite Wrath of God Therefore the greatest of Men and the strongest of Sinners may wel• tremble at it. We read of Great Men▪ Kings, Captains, and Mighty Men that Cry to the Rocks to fall on them▪ and the Mountains to cover them from the face of Him that sits on the Throne saying, The Great day of His Wrath 〈…〉 come, and who shall be able to stand ▪ There is no standing before the Al•mighty God when the Great Day o• His Wrath is come. The reason wh• some Sinners have no tremblings 〈…〉 heart at the thoughts of Death an• Wrath to come, is because Conscienc• is asl•ep; but that will wake soone• or later, and then they tremble: Isa▪ 33.14. The Sinners in Sion are afraid fearfulness has surprized the Hypocrites▪ Who among us shall dwell with the de•vouring Fire, who among us shall 〈…〉 with everlasting Burnings? The ange• of God is such: And how far will th• Fire reach▪Deut. 32 22. He kind•• a Fire in H•s A•ger▪ and it shall burn the lowest Hell. Tho' some Sinne
3. Death does dissolve the Union between the Soul and the Body; by means ⟨p. 12⟩whereof the Body is subject to such Change as is dismal to Nature. Death makes a separation between the Bod• and the Soul▪Eccl. 8.8. No man […] power over the Spirit to retain the Spirit; neither […] power in the day […] death. Death comes like an Officer & says, Immort•• Soul come forth! Luk▪ 12.20. Thy Soul shall be Required […] thee. Death comes then as an Officer, and Requires the Soul. Accordingly the Immortal Soul then leave• the Body when Death comes. […] said of Rachel, Gen. 35.18. As […] Soul was departing, for she dyed. […] read of a Young Damsel of Twelve Years old that Dyed, and was by th• Almighty Power of the Lord Jesu• Christ raised to Life again; tis said […] her, Luk. 8.55. That her Spirit cam• into her again. Her Soul had bee• gone for some time out of her Body▪ Now to have that intimate Union which has been between the Soul an• Body for so many Years dissolved, […] that which Nature dreads, and trembles at the thoughts of: For then […] ⟨p. 13⟩Body becomes subject unto a dismal Change. The Beauty of the Body turns into Blackness and Deformity. There was a Personable Young Man urged to have his Picture drawn; he refused it, but said to his Friends, I give you leave to do it after I am Dead a few days. They did so four days after he was Dead, but he was then a doleful Object, a rueful Spectacle. Death turns the Body into Corruption. Tis said of King David, that he saw Corruption, Act. 13.36. After he was Dead his Body saw Corruption. The Body becomes meat for the worms to feed upon, which is […] dismal thought to Nature. Hence •ob said, a•ter my skin worms shall destroy this Body. Worms must destroy first his skin, then the rest of his bo•y. In another place he sets this forth •ith a marvellous Elegance of Expression; Job 17.14. I have said to corruption, thou art my Father; and to […] Worm, thou art my Mother and ••ster. As a Child bears the likeness […] his Father, so I bear the likeness ⟨p. 14⟩of Corruption. The Mother & Chil• dwells together in the same House; […] says he, I and the Worms shall dwel• together in the House of the Grave▪ This makes Death frightful.
3. Death does d•ssolve the Vnion be•ween the Soul and the Body; by means ⟨p. 12⟩whereof the Body is subject to such Change as is dismal to Nature. Deat• makes a separation between the Bod• and the Soul▪Eccl. 8.8. No man 〈…〉 power over the Spirit to retain the Spi•rit; neither 〈…〉 power in the day 〈…〉 death. Death comes like an Officer & sayes, Immort•• Soul come forth! Luk▪ 12.20. Thy Soul shall be Required 〈…〉 thee. Death comes then as an Offi•cer, and Requires the Soul. Accord•ingly the Immortal Soul then leave• the Body when Death comes. 〈…〉 said of Rachel, Gen. 35.18. As 〈…〉 Soul was departing, for she dyed. 〈…〉 read of a Young Damsel of Twelv• Years old that Dyed, and was by th• Almighty Power of the Lord Jesu• Christ raised to Life again; tis said 〈…〉 her, Luk. 8.55. That her Spirit cam• into her again. Her Soul had bee• gone for some time out of her Body▪ Now to have that intimate Unio• which has been between the Soul an• Body for so many Years dissolved, 〈…〉 that which Nature dreads, and trembles at the thoughts of: For then
4. At Death the Soul goes into th• immediate Presence of the Great God▪ The Naked Soul appears before Go• the Judge of all. Now that is dreadful thing: For that Lord is Terrible God: Neh. 1.5. He is Great and a Terrible God. And […] said, Job, 37.22. With God there […] terrible Majesty. Men are oftentimes afraid to come into the presence […] Earthly Majesty: Many would tremble to come into the presence of […] King, or a Great Man. But then wha• is it to come into the presence of th• Terrible God? Job 31.23. Destruction from God was a terror to me; and […] reason of His Highness I could not endure. Now at Death the Soul come before His Highness. It is a dreadf••• thing to have to do with God, altho••• but Mediately in His Ordinances: Psa•▪ 89.1. God is Greatly to be feared in […] ⟨p. 15⟩Assembly of His Saints. To come thus into the Presence of God is awful: But much more to have to do with God •mmediately. When the Lord appeared to Jacob in a dream, he was marvell••sl• affected with it; Gen. 28.16, 17. God is in this place, and I knew […]. And he was afraid, and said, how dreadful is this place? The Holy Prophet Isaiah when he had a Vision of God▪ se•ting as a Judge upon an high Throne, it was very terrible to him, he Cried out, Woe is me, I am undone; for mine Eyes have seen the King, the Lord of Hosts, Isa. 6.5. h•e. […] have seen Him as a Judge. A• Death when the Soul of a man or woman is gone out of the Body, they see the Great God sitting as a Judge upon a Glorious high Throne▪ Souls are therefore said to Return unto Him, eccl. 12▪7. The Spirit returns to God that ga•e it. When the Body returns to the Earth, the Spirit, the immortal Soul returns into the hands of God, •o be Judged by Him, to receive a sentence from Him: Heb 9.27. Tis ⟨p. 16⟩appointed unto men once to dye; but after this the Judgment. Whenever any Dye, immediately they go to Judg•ment. The Great God passes tha• Judgment on them, that in the hearing of the whole world will be passed o• them at the Last Day.
4. At Death the Soul goes into th• immediate Presence of the Great God▪ The Naked Soul appears before Go• the Judge of all. Now that is dreadful thing: For that Lord is Terrible God: Neh. 1.5. He is Great and a Terrible God. And 〈…〉 said, Job, 37.22. With God there 〈…〉 terrible Majesty. Men are oftentime• afraid to come into the presence 〈…〉 Earthly Majesty: Many would trem•ble to come into the presence of 〈…〉 King, or a Great Man. But then wha• is it to come into the presence of th• Terrible God? Job 31.23. Destructio• from God was a terror to me; and 〈…〉 reason of His Highness I could not e••dure. Now at Death the Soul come before His Highness. It is a dreadf••• thing to have to do with God, altho••• but Mediately in His Ordinances: Psa•▪ 89.1. God is Greatly to be feared in 〈…〉⟨p. 15⟩Assembly of His Saints. To come thus into the Presence of God is awful: But much more to have to do with God •mmediately. When the Lord appeared to Iacob in a dream, he was marvell••sl• affected with it; Gen. 28.16, 17. God is in this place, and I knew 〈…〉. And he was afraid, and said, how drea••ul is this place? The Holy Prophet Isaiah when he had a Vision of God seting as a Judge upon an high Throne, it was very terrible to him, he Cryed out, Wo is me, I am ndone; for mine Eyes have seen the King, the Lord of Hosts,
5. At the Hour of death men enter into Eternity. One of the Ancients call Death Ostium Aeternitatis, The Doo• of Eternity; for that it lets men into Eternity. Then are they fixed dow• for ever and ever, in a state that i• unchangeable. Hence when […] was dead, it was said to him, There […] a great Gulf fixed. Eternity is a great Gulf, and at death men are fixed i• that Gulf, whence they shall not return into this world any more. They shal• go from whence they shall not return even into the Land of darkness and the shadow of death. If Sinners coul• live again after they are dead, death would not be so formidable to them▪ But of that there is no hope. Indeed the greatest part of those that dye […] far would be glad if they might com•⟨p. 17⟩into this world again: But of that there is not the least hope; Isa. 38.18 They that go down into the Pit cannot hope for thy Truth. When men are gone down into the Pit of the Grave, how long sh•ll they continue there? Job tells you, Job 14.12. Man lies down, and riseth not till the Heavens be no more. He shall never rise till that day come when the Heavens shall be dissolved. There can't be a more awful Subject for men to meditate on, than that of Eternity; that at the Hour of death they must go into an Eternal State: They pass either into Eternal Weal or Wo. Now a man that knows this, and yet does not know which of them it shall be, may well be afraid to dye.
5. At the Hour of death men enter int• Eternity. One of the Ancients call Death Ostium Aeternitatis, The Doo• of Eternity; for that it lets men int• Eternity. Then are they fixed dow• for ever and ever, in a state that i• unchangeable. Hence when 〈…〉 was dead, it was said to him, There 〈…〉 a great Gulf fixed. Eternity is a grea• Gulf, and at death men are fixed i• that Gulf, whence they shall not retur• into this world any more. They shal• go from whence they shall not return even into the Land of darkness and the shadow of death. If Sinners coul• live again after they are dead, deat• would not be so formidable to them▪ But of that there is no hope. Indeed the greatest part of those that dye 〈…〉 far would be glad if they might com•⟨p. 17⟩into this world again: But of that there is not the least hope; Isa. 38.18 They that go down into the Pit cannot hope for thy Truth. When men are gone down into the Pit of the Grave, how long sh•ll they continue there? Iob tells you, Job 14.12. Man lyes down, and riseth not till the Heavens be no more. He shall never rise till that day come when the Heavens shall be dissolved. There can't be a more awful Subject for men to meditate on, than that of Eternity; that at the Hour of death they must go into an Eternal State: They pass either into Eternal Weal or Wo. Now a man that knows this, and yet does not know which of them it shall be, may well be afraid to dye.
Christless Sinners have just cause to be afraid of Death. If they are afraid to dye and leave this world, who can •lame them? True it is, that some Christless Sinners are Fearless of death, […] it proceeds from Ignorance: they •now not what an Enemy Death is ⟨p. 18⟩unto them, and the mischief and misery it will bring upon them: […] ▪ 28.15. They have made a Covena•• with Death, & are at an agreement […] Hell. They fear neither Death […] Hell. Alas! Many of them […] False Persuasions concerning the Happiness in another world, which makes them they fear not Death. The• have deluded hopes that it shall […] well with them. Some are so vain […] to think, if they can but say, Lor• have Mercy on me, when they come […] dye, that will save them; and […] then it shall be well with them. […] Deluded Souls! Others there are […] are mere Atheists: They hardly belie•• that there is a God; Psal. 14.1. […] Fool hath said in his heart, there is […] ▪ Then they need not be afraid […] Death: if there is no God, they […] no• fear Eternal punishment. […] some are so brutish as to think, […] no difference between the Sou• a Man and a Brute, and […] that there is no Heaven nor […] nor Judgment to come. Such […] ⟨p. 19⟩the Sadducees, who said there was no Angel nor Spirit, or immortal Soul. Why should such fear Death? One of the Popes being a great Atheist, […] ready to dye uttered such […] words as these, Now (says […]) I shall know whether three things be true, that I could never Believe: (1.) I shall know whether there is a God or no. (2.) Whether I have an immortal Soul or no. (3.) Whether there is an Heaven and an Hell or no. Such Atheism as this makes Christless Sinners that they fear not Death. Yet it is not so with all of them. As for some, yea many of them, the prospect of Death is most dismal to them. I have Read of one going to die, who Cried out, Oh that I might live, tho' it were the life of a Toad. Some great Men have been dismally afraid of Death. A Great Man in Rome, the Emperors greatest Favourite, was hor•••ly afraid of Death. He profess he […] be content to be in any misery, […] lose the use of all his Limbs, and […] in Poverty […] always in Pain, so ⟨p. 20⟩he might live and not dye. One o• the Kings of France, the thoughts o• death was so dismal to him, that he Commanded on a great Penalty, that no man should mention Death in hi• hearing;
Christless Sinners have just cause to be afraid of Death. If they are afraid to dye and leave this world, who can •lame them? True it is, that some Christless Sinners are Fearless of death, 〈…〉 it proceeds from Ignorance: they •now not what an Enemy Death is ⟨p. 18⟩unto them, and the mischief and m••sery it will bring upon them: 〈…〉▪ 28.15. They have made a Covena•• with Death, & are at an agreement 〈…〉 Hell. They fear neither Death 〈…〉 Hell. Alas! Many of them 〈…〉 False Perswasions concerning the Happiness in another world, whic• makes them they fear not Death. The• have deluded hopes that it shall 〈…〉 well with them. Some are so vain 〈…〉 to think, if they can but say, Lor• have Mercy on me, when they come 〈…〉 dye, that will save them; and 〈…〉 then it shall be well with them. 〈…〉 Deluded Souls! Others there are 〈…〉 are meer Atheists: They hardly belie•• that there is a God; Psal. 14.1. 〈…〉 Fool hath said in his heart, there is 〈…〉▪ Then they need not be afraid 〈…〉 Death: if there is no God, they 〈…〉 no• fear Eternal punishment. 〈…〉 some are so brutish as to think, 〈…〉 no difference between the Sou• a Man and a Bruit, and that there is no Heaven nor nor Judgment to come. Such
and Charged his Physician that if he saw the symptoms of death on him▪ he should not dare to tell him of it So are Sinners kept in Bondage all their days, through' Fear o• Death: And Christless Sinners have just cause thus to Fear it.
and Charged his Physician that if he saw the symptoms of death on him▪ he should not dare to tell him of it So are Sinners kept in Bondage all their days, thro' Fear o• Death: And Christless Sinners have just cause thus to Fear it.
1. They are in Bondage to him that […] the Power of Death. As Saton is a• Executioner they are under his power; Act. 26.18 Paul was sent unt• the Gentiles for their Conversion▪ that they might be turned from the Power of Satan. So then Christless Sinner• are under the Power of Satan. H• is their Prince; They are his […] Subjects, yea Slaves. The Dev•• Subjects are all Slaves. He is […] Prince of this world ▪ Christless Si••ners are his, he has Power over them▪ And no Prince in […] world has suc•⟨p. 21⟩an influence upon his Subjects, as Satan has over Christless Sinners; Eph. 2.2. The Prince of the Power of the air works in the Hearts of the Children of disobedience. He works Evil desires in their Hearts. Sometimes he works horrid Fears in them; Especially when they are Dying, and Repentance is like to be too late. Some sinners when going out of the world, have thought they saw Satan standing at their Bed-side, ready to carry their Souls before the Tribunal of the most High. Tho' all sinners are not so sensible of it, yet it is true of them all that are in a Christless s•ate, that Satan stands by them, and is ready to devour them. As tis said of the Woman in the Revelation, who brought forth a Man-child, the Dragon (although' he had no power over that Manchild, nevertheless,) stood by ready to devour him. So it is with a Christless sinner when he comes to d•e, the Dragon of the Bottomless Pit stands ready to devour him Then surely he has cause to be afraid of Death.
1. They are in Bondage to him that 〈…〉 the Power of Death. As Saton is a• Executioner they are under his power; Act. 26.18 Paul was sent unt• the Gentiles for their Conversion▪ that they might be turned from the Power of Satan. So then Christless Sinner• are under the Power of Satan. H• is their Prince; They are his 〈…〉 Subjects, yea Slaves. The Dev•• Subjects are all Slaves. He is 〈…〉 Prince of this world ▪ Christless Si••ners are his, he has Power over them▪ And no Prince in 〈…〉•orld has suc•⟨p. 21⟩an influence upon his Subj•cts, as Satan has over Christl•ss Sinners; Eph. 2.2. The Prince of the Power of the air works in the Hearts of the Children of disobedience. He works Evil desires in their Hearts. Sometimes he works horrid Fears in them; Especially when they are Dying, and Repentance is like to be too late. Some sinners when going out of the world, have thought they saw Satan standing at their Bed-side, ready to carry their Souls before the Tribunal of the most High. Tho' all sinners are not so sensible of it, yet it is true of them all that are in a Christless s•ate, that Satan stands by them, and is ready to devour them. As tis said of the Woman in the Revelation, who brought forth a Man-child, the Dragon (altho' he had no power over that Manchild, nevertheless,) stood by ready to devour him. So it is with a Christless sinner when he comes to d•e, the Dragon of the Bottomless Pit stands ready to devour him Then surely he has cause to be afraid of Death.
2. Death will deprive the Christless Sinner of all that is good and desi•abl•▪ Whatever his Heart is set upon death will take it from him. Some have Houses which they take delight […] but when Death comes, thou shal• go out of thy House, and never com• into it more: Job 7.10. He shall return no more to his House, neither sha•• his Place know him any more. Other• have Estates, Riches which they ar• taken with, and their Hearts are se• upon them. Ay, but at Death the• enjoy these no more; Psal. 49.17▪ He carries nothing away with him, an• his Glory shall not descend a•ter him▪ It was said therefore to the Rich Foo• in the Gospel, when he boasted of hi• Great Estate, Thy Soul shall be Required of thee, and then whose shall thes• things be? To be sure, they shall […] thine no longer. Others there ar• that their Hearts are set upon thei• Friends, their Relations, their Children in a special manner, but whe• Death comes they are separated fro• them too, and sh•ll never see an•⟨p. 23⟩one of them in this world again. There are some whose Hearts are set upon Vanity and mad Mirth, among their Ungodly Companions. A Christless sinner as for Heavenly Joy he is a stranger to it; but as to his Earthly Joys, Death puts an End to them all. The Destruction of Babylon is set forth by that, Rev. 18.22. The Musician, the Trumpeter, the P•p•r shall be h•ard no more at all in thee; and the Light o• a Candle shall shine no mo•e at all in thee; and the Voice of the Bridegroom and the Bride shall be heard no more at all in thee. So it is when Death comes, all these things they are no more at all heard of. Therefore a Great Emperor when he saw […] must dye, Cried out dolefully, O […] tre•ula, quae tanden abitura […] in loca. Nec solitos dabis jocos: Oh! my trembling Soul, whither art thou going now! Thou shalt never have any more sport; thou usest to delight in merry Company, and in •assing Jokes, but now no more of •hem. And which is a much sadder ⟨p. 24⟩thing, at Death the Christless sinne• is deprived of all means, and of a• offers of Grace and Salvation. H• shall never hear one Sermon more he shall never see one Sabbath more and the Holy Spirit of God will newer strive with him any more. A• long as sinners are in this world the•• is hope; Eccl 94. To him that is joyne• to the Living, there is hope. There is some hope he may be Converted, and hi• Soul Saved.
2. Death will deprive the Christle• Sinner of all that is good and desi•abl•▪ Whatever his Heart is set upon deat• will take it from him. Some have Hous•s which they take delight 〈…〉 but when Death comes, thou shal• go out of thy House, and never com• into it more: Job 7.10. He shall re•turn no more to his House, neither sha•• his Place know him any more. Other• have Estates, Riches which they ar• taken with, and their Hearts are se• upon them. Ay, but at Death the• enjoy these no more; Psal. 49.17▪ He carries nothing away with him, an• his Glory shall not descend a•ter him▪ It was said therefore to the Rich Foo• in the Gospel, when he boasted of hi• Great Estate, Thy Soul shall be Required of thee, and then whose shall thes• things be? To be sure, they shall 〈…〉 thine no longer. Others there ar• that their Hearts are set upon thei• Friends, their Relations, their Chil•dren in a special manner, but whe• Death comes they are separated fro• them too, and sh•ll never see an•⟨p. 23⟩
It may be some Sermon or some Providence will be blessed […] as to awaken him unto a sincere Repentance. But when once he cease• to be among the Living, there is n• hope nor help for him. A Christle•• sinner when once he is Dead, he is […] the same condition with the Falle• Angels, for whom there is no hope.
It may be some Sermon or some Providence will be blessed 〈…〉 as to awaken him unto a sincere Re•pentance. But when once he cease• to be among the Living, there is n• hope nor help for him. A Christle•• sinner when once he is Dead, he is 〈…〉 the same condition with the Falle• Angels, for whom there is no hope.
3. Christless Sinners have cause to b• afraid of Death, in respect of that which shall follow. And what is that? Yo• see what it is, Rev. 6.8. I looked an• behold a Pale Horse, and his Name tha• sat on him was Death, and Hell followe• with him. So it is when a Christle••⟨p. 25⟩sinner dyes, Hell follows with Death. Therefore Christ says, Luk. 12.4, 5. Be not afraid of them that kill the Body, and after that have no more that they •an do, but fear Him that after He has •illed, has power to cast into Hell. So •t is with those that dye in a Christless Estate, after their Bodies are killed their Souls are cast into Hell. If •here were only a First Death, there would be no great cause to fear; Aye but there is a Second Death. That is the most terrible Death in respect of the Painfulness of it. Some Bodily Deaths are very Painful, but no Death •f the Body is so painful as that of the •oul. Think, and Oh! that Sinners would think seriously of it; Suppose • man to be in such Pain as some have endured by a grievous Disease, suppose the Gout, or the Tooth-ache, •nd that Pain should continue to all eternity, what a miserable Case would •ach an one be in? Aye, but the •ains of the Second Death are far •ore intolerable than any Diseases; •nd yet the Pain and Pangs of it will ⟨p. 26⟩continue for ever. The Second […] is that which the Sinners in Sodom […] now suffering; of whom tis said, […] 7. They suffer the Vengeance of […] Fire. Sinners that dye in a Christl••• Estate are cast into Hell, where […] Worm dyes not, and the Fire […] shall be quenched. Oh! the hardne•• and the madness that possesses […] hearts of the Children of men, […] they can hear such Truths as th•se […] from the infallible Word of Go• and yet dare go to sleep before […] have made sure of an Interest […] Christ. Let that be the Use of […] has been spoken.
3. Christless Sinners have cause to b• afraid of Death, in respect of that whic• shall follow. And what is that? Yo• see what it is, Rev. 6.8. I looked an• behold a Pale Horse, and his Name tha• sat on him was Death, and Hell followe• with him. So it is when a Christle••⟨p. 25⟩sinner dyes, Hell follows with Death. Therefore Christ sayes, Luk. 12.4, 5. Be not afraid of them that kill the Body, and after that have no more that they •an do, but fear Him that after He has •illed, has power to cast into Hell. So •t is with those that dye in a Christ•ess Estate, after their Bodies are kill•d their Souls are cast into Hell. If •here were only a First Death, there would be no great cause to fear; Aye but there is a Second Death. That is the most terrible Death in respect of the Painfulness of it. Some Bodily Deaths are very Painful, but no Death •f the Body is so painful as that of the •oul. Think, and Oh! that Sinners would think seriously of it; Suppose • man to be in such Pain as some have •ndured by a grievous Disease, sup•ose the Gout, or the Tooth-ake, •nd that Pain should continue to all •ternity, what a miserable Case would •ach an one be in? Aye, but the •ains of the Second Death are far •ore intollerable than any Diseases; •nd yet the Pain and Pangs of it will
Minister of the Second Church in Boston and President of Harvard College.
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are Fearless for the present, yet 〈…〉 are not so. There are Sinners that have dismal apprehensions of the Anger of God. It is as formidable, and far more formidable than their saddest Fears concerning it. Psal. 90 11. As is thy Fear, so is thy Wrath. There are Sinners that have a servile Fear of the Great God in their minds, sayes M•ses, thy Wrath is according to tha• Fear. In some cases, the fear of Death is worse than the thing it self▪ but it cannot be said so of the Wrath of God, or of Death when it comes armed with that Wrath. It is the Wr••h of One that is of Infinite Power; the Wrath of Almighty God: the Wrath of One that is Eternal. Now sayes the Apostle, Heb. 10.31. It is a fearful thing to fall into the Hands of the Living God. Sinners who Dye under His Wrath, must needs be exposed to fearful Misery, since He liveth for ever to Punish them. The though• of this causeth Fear.
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⟨p. 13⟩
Body becomes subject unto a dismal Change. The Beauty of the Body turns into Blackness and Deformity. There was a Personable Young Man urged to have his Picture drawn; he refused it, but said to his Friends, I give you leave to do it after I am Dead a few dayes. They did so four dayes after he was Dead, but he was then a doleful Object, a rueful Spectacle. Death turns the Body into Corruption. Tis said of King David, that he saw Corruption, Act. 13.36. After he was Dead his Body saw Corruption. The Body becomes meat for the worms to feed upon, which is 〈…〉 dismal thought to Nature. Hence •ob said, a•ter my skin worms shall de••roy this Body. Worms must destroy •irst his skin, then the rest of his bo•y. In another place he sets this forth •ith a marvellous Elegancy of Ex•ression; Job 17.14. I have said to •orruption, thou art my Father; and to 〈…〉 Worm, thou art my Mother and ••ster. As a Child bears the likeness 〈…〉 his Father, so I bear the likeness
⟨p. 14⟩
of Corruption. The Mother & Chil• dwells together in the same House; 〈…〉 sayes he, I and the Worms shall dwel• together in the House of the Grave▪ This makes Death frightful.
. h•e. 〈…〉 have seen Him as a Judge. A• Death when the Soul of a man or woman is gone out of the Body, they see the Great God sitting as a Judge upon a Glorious high Throne▪ Souls are therefore said to Return unto Him, •ccl. 12▪7. The Sp•rit returns to God that ga•e it. When the Body returns to the Earth, the Spirit, the immortal Soul returns into the hands of God, •o be Judged by Him, to receive a •entence from Him: Heb 9.27. Tis
⟨p. 16⟩
appointed unto men once to dye; but afte• this the Iudgment. Whenever any Dye, immediately they go to Judg•ment. The Great God passes tha• Judgment on them, that in the hearing of the whole world will be passed o• them at the Last Day.
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⟨p. 19⟩
the Sadduces, who said there was no Angel nor Spirit, or immortal Soul. Why should such fear Death? One of the Popes being a great Atheist, 〈…〉 ready to dye uttered such 〈…〉 words as these, Now (says 〈…〉) I shall know whether three things be true, that I could never Believe: (1.) I shall know whether there is a God or no. (2.) Whether I have an immortal Soul or no. (3.) Whether there is an Heaven and an Hell or no. Such Atheism as this makes Christless Sinners that they fear not Death. Yet it is not so with all of them. As for some, yea many of them, the prospect of Death is most dismal to them. I have Read of one going to dy, who Cry'd out, Oh that I might live, tho' it were the life of a Toad. Some great Men have been dismally afraid of Death. A Great Man in Rome, the Emperors greatest Favourite, was hor•••ly afraid of Death. He profess he 〈…〉 be content to be in any misery, 〈…〉 loofe the use of all his Limbs, and 〈…〉 in Poverty 〈…〉 always in Pain, so
⟨p. 20⟩
he might live and not dye. One o• the Kings of France, the thoughts o• death was so dismal to him, that he Commanded on a great Penalty, that no man should mention Death in hi• hearing;
one of th•m in this world again. There are some whose Hearts are set upon Vanity and mad Mirth, among their Ungodly Companions. A Christless sinner as for Heavenly Joy he is a stranger to it; but as to his Earthly Joyes, Death puts an End to them all. The Destruction of Babylon is set forth by that, Rev. 18.22. The Musician, the Trumpeter, the P•p•r shall be h•ard no more at all in thee; and the Light o• a Candle shall shine no mo•e at all in thee; and the Voice of the B•ideg•oom and the Bride shall be heard no more at all in thee. So it is when Death comes, all these things they are no more at all heard of. Therefore a Great Emperor when he saw 〈…〉 must dye, Cryed out d•lefully, O 〈…〉 tre•ula, quae tanden abitura 〈…〉 in loca. Nec solitos dabis jocos: Oh! my trembling Soul, whither art thou going now! Thou shalt never have any more sport; thou usest to •elight in merry Company, and in •assing Jokes, but now no more of •hem. And which is a much sadder
⟨p. 24⟩
thing, at Death the Christless sinne• is deprived of all means, and of a• offers of Grace and Salvation. H• shall never hear one Sermon more he shall never see one Sabbath more and the Holy Spirit of God will ne•ver strive with him any more. A• long as sinners are in this world the•• is hope; Eccl 94. To him that is joyne• to the Living, there is hope. There is som• hope he may be Converted, and hi• Soul Saved.
⟨p. 26⟩
continue for ever. The Second 〈…〉 is that which the Sinners in Sodom 〈…〉 now suffering; of whom tis said, 〈…〉 7. They suffer the Vengeance of 〈…〉 Fire. Sinners that dye in a Christl••• Estate are cast into Hell, where 〈…〉 Worm dyes not, and the Fire 〈…〉 shall be quenched. Oh! the hardne•• and the madness that possesses 〈…〉 hearts of the Children of men, 〈…〉 they can hear such Truths as th•se 〈…〉 from the infallable Word of Go• and yet dare go to sleep before 〈…〉 have made sure of an Interest 〈…〉 Christ. Let that be the Vse of 〈…〉 has been spoken.
