N01109:37
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.
For,
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⟩
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
Oh! Let Christless Sinners be Awa•••ned to make sure of an Interest in Chri•• that so they may be delivered from […] in Bondage through the Fear of […] Remember you are in danger Death continually. Yea, Young […] are so. An Old Man sees Death […] his Face, but a Young Mans […] is a deceitful Enemy to him, it is […] his Back, and knocks him […] ⟨p. 27⟩•nto the Grave ere ever he thinks of •t. The Jews have a Proverb among them, That there are Skulls of all sizes in Golgotha: That is, there are Persons of all sizes in the Grave; the Small as well as the Great are there. No m•n knows how, or which way Death will come upon him. Sometimes it is by sudden Strokes that they little think of. Some by Storms and Tempests •e carried into Eternity. Sea-faring men above others had need make sure of an interest in Christ, considering what dangers they pass through. Be […] known to you, that if Death come •n you before you have made sure of •n interest in Christ, it had been better for you never to have been Born: For none b•t Christ can deliver from De•th and the Fear of it. No one Else can deliver from the Curse of the first Death, none Else can deliver from the Second Death. It is He that •a•eth fr•m Wrath. The Second Death […] called W•ath, being the terrible Effect of the Wrath of God; and con••sting chiefly in the Impressions of ⟨p. 28⟩the Wrath of God on the Soul […] ever. It is Jesus that delivers from […] Wrath to come.
Oh! Let Christless Sinners be Awa•••ned to make sure of an Interest in Chri that so they may be delivered from in Bondage through the Fear of Remember you are in danger Death continually. Yea, Young are so. An Old Man sees Death his Face, but a Young Mans is a deceitful Enemy to him, it is his Back, and knocks him
Consider also; That if you be […] Christ, you need not fear any Death ▪ For then you are delivered from […] Second Death: On such the Second Death shall have no power. And suc• are delivered also from the Curse […] the First Death; that it shall do the• no hurt in the world. If you are […] Christ you may Triumph over Death ▪ You may say, Death! Oh! Death! Com• and Welcome; I should be glad […] meet thee. If you are in Christ […] may sing at the thoughts of Death with transport of Joy; yea and […] to see the Face of Death. As […] Martyr said, When I behold the amiab•• Face of my Lord Jesus Christ, I can […] Death in the face without any Fea• ▪ Therefore make sure of Christ, […] then the day of thy Death will be […] to thee than the day of thy […] For it is said, Blessed are the Dead […] dye in the Lord, they rest from their Labours, and their Works follow them.
Consider also; That if you be 〈…〉 Christ, you need not fear any Deat• ▪ For then you are delivered from 〈…〉 Second Death: On such the Secon• Death shall have no power. And suc• are delivered also from the Curse 〈…〉 the First Death; that it shall do the• no hurt in the world. If you are 〈…〉 Christ you may Triumph over Deat• ▪ You may say, Death! Oh! Death! Com• and Welcome; I should be glad 〈…〉 meet thee. If you are in Christ 〈…〉 may sing at the thoughts of Deat• with transport of Joy; yea and to see the Face of Death. As Martyr said, When I behold the amiab Face of my Lord Iesus Christ, I can Death in the face without any Fea Therefore make sure of Christ, then the day of thy Death will be to thee than the day of thy For it is said, Blessed are the Dead dye in the Lord, they rest from their Lbours, and their Works follow them.
The Fear of Death does cause Bondage. Especially the Fear of the Second Death does so. Fear is a servile thing. Hence Rom 8.15. the Apostle speaks of a spirit of Bondage unto Fear. And […] may say of this Fear as 'tis said concerning the Sinai Covenant, Gal. • 24. It gendereth to Bondage. They […] are under the Covenant of works, […] Covenant does bind them over […] Death, until they have an interest […] the Covenant of the Gospel, which […] declare that Believers are delivered from that Bondage, from that Fear. Of Believers only it is said, •hat they are not come to Mount Sinai, •o Blackness and Darkness and Tempest, Heb. 12.18. Several things illustrate the Truth before us.
The Fear of Death does cause Bondage. Especially the Fear of the Second Death does so. Fear is a servile thing. Hence Rom 8.15. the Apostle speaks of a spirit of Bondage unto Fear. And 〈…〉 may say of this Fear as 'tis said •oncerning the Sinai Covenant, Gal. • 24. It gendreth to Bondage. They 〈…〉 are under the Covenant of works, 〈…〉 Covenant does bind them over 〈…〉 Death, until they have an interest 〈…〉 the Covenant of the Gospel, which 〈…〉 declare that Believers are deli•ered from that Bondage, from that Fear. Of Believers only it is said, •hat they are not come to Mount Sinai, •o Blackness and Darkness and Tempest, Heb. 12.18. Several things •llustrate the Truth before us.
1. Bondage to an Enemy is Involuntary▪ […] man is not willing to be in Bondage […] an Enemy that hates him. He may […] willing to be in Bondage to one whom he loves. Sometimes a Servant •mong the Children of Israel would […] be set free; for (said he) I love ⟨p. 30⟩my Master, Exod. 21.5. But the […] is otherwise as to being in Bonda•• to an Enemy; that no one is willing to be. Death is an Enemy, and th• fear of it is that which sinners woul• be rid of if they could. They are n• willingly afraid of Death.
1. Bondage to an Enemy is Involuntary▪ 〈…〉 man is not willing to be in Bondage 〈…〉 an Enemy that hates him. He may 〈…〉 willing to be in Bondage to one •hom he loves. Sometimes a Servant •mong the Children of Israel would 〈…〉 be set free; for (said he) I love ⟨p. 30⟩my Master, Exod. 21.5. But the 〈…〉 is otherwise as to being in Bonda•• to an Enemy; that no one is willin• to be. Death is an Enemy, and th• fear of it is that which sinners woul• be rid of if they could. They are n• willingly afraid of Death.
2. They that are in Bondage […] Enemies endeavour to be delivered fro• them. As they wish they were delivered, so they will endeavour to […] set at Liberty. Thus the Jews attempted to be delivered from the Bondage to the Romans from time […] time. Sinners would be deliver•• from the fear of Death, and therefo•• attempt it, some in one way, some […] another; although' in vain. Some e• deavour to drown the fear of Dea•• by overwhelming themselves with […] World: So did Cain, Gen. 4.14▪ […] said, every one that sees me will […] me. Thus was he subject to Bonda•• through the fear of Death all his […] time. But then that so he […] drown that Fear, he gives himsel•• building of Cities. Others […] ⟨p. 31⟩put away the Fear of Death by Mirth & Music. As we see in Saul: An Evil spirit from the Lord terrified him; the Devil was let loose on him, and terrified him with the Fear of Death; he sends for a Musician and an Harp, that he might be delivered from that Bondage. And some endeavour to be delivered from the Fear of Death by betaking themselves to Good Works, to External Devotions. Thus the Jews did; Mic 6.7. They say, Will •he Lord be pleased with Thousands of Rams, with Ten Thousands of Rivers of Oil? Shall I give my First-born for my Transgression; the Fruit of my Body for the Sin of my Soul? They would appease an angry Deity, and deliver themselves from the fear of Death & Wrath, by Sacrifices of their own. We know Papists will almost Fast themselves to Death, and cruelly afflict their own Bodies, thereby thinking to make satisfaction for their Sins, and so to deliver themselves from the fear of Death and Hell. In our own Nation, in the time of Popery there ⟨p. 32⟩were Kings & Great Men, when the• had been guilty of Murder, and thei• Consciences terrified them with the fear of Hell and Eternal Punishment they would build Monasteries, and […] take themselves to works that wer accounted Meritorious, that they might be delivered from that Fear.
3. The thoughts of being in Bondage unto an Enemy it is Perplexing and Tormenting. And so is this Fear: 1 Joh▪ 4.18. Fear hath Torment in it. The Fear of Hell and Wrath especially ha• Torment in it. And thus indeed th• Fallen Angels as well as Sinful Ma• are in Bondage, through' the fear of Hel• and Wrath: Jude 6. ver. They are reserved in Chains of Darkness to the Judgment of the Great Day. The disma• thoughts of the Day of Judgment i• a Terror to the Devils themselves. Those Chains of Darkness they ar• held in them, and can't get rid o• them. It is a Torment to them to think of the Judgment to come. Whe• they saw Christ, they Cried out, Ar• thou come to Torment us before the time ▪ ⟨p. 33⟩It is then a tormenting thing to those Evil Spirits to think of the Wrath of God, and the Hell that is reserved for them. Thus it is with some Sinners on Earth; they are always on the wrack with fear of Death and Hell. That miserable Francis Spira said, that he did believe that the Torment of Hell could not be more grievous, than that Fear he was in of going to Hell. We see then that this Fear causes Bondage.
3. The thoughts of being in Bondage unto an Enemy it is Perplexing and Tormenting. And so is this Fear: 1 Joh▪ 4.18. Fear hath Torment in it. The Fear of Hell and Wrath especially ha• Torment in it. And thus indeed th• Fallen Angels as well as Sinf•l Ma• are in Bondage, thro' the fear of Hel and Wrath:
That although' the Children of God are some of them subject unto the Fear of Death, they have no just cause to be so. Two Particulars are contained in the Proposition now before us.
That altho' the Children of God are some of them subject unto the Fear of Death, they have no just cause to be so. Two Particulars are contained in the Proposition now before us.
1. That Gods Children are some of them subject unto Fear, by reason of Death. We find Examples of it in Scripture: Hezekiah was an Excellent Holy man, yet when the Prophet Isaiah came to him, and told him he should set his House in order, for (said he) thou shalt Dye and not Live, Isa. 38.3. Hezekiah wept sore. The tidings of his ⟨p. 34⟩Death caused him to weep sore. […] man was a very Pious man, yet […] says, Psal. 88.3. My Soul is full […] Trouble; my Life draws nigh unto […] Gravepunc; The apprehension of his be••ing near unto the Grave, was a trouble to his Soul. And although' Davi• when he wrote the Twenty Thin• Psalm was above the fear of Death as in the fourth Verse, I will not fea• although' I walk in the valley of the shadow of Death: Yet at other times the apprehensions of Death was a terror […] him; Psal. 55.4. The Terrors of Death are fallen upon me. And there are se•veral things which are the Reason […] that fear of Death, which Gods ow• Children are sometimes subject unto▪
1. That Gods Children are some of them subject unto Fear, by reason of Death. We find Examples of it in Scripture: Hezekiah was an Excellent Holy man, yet when the Prophet Isaiah came to him, and told him he should set his House in order, for (said he) thou shalt Dye and not Live, Isa. 38.3. Hezekiah wept sore. The tidings of his ⟨p. 34⟩Death caused him to weep sore. 〈…〉 man was a very Pious man, yet 〈…〉 sayes,
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⟩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.
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 ⟨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.
2. They that are in Bondage 〈…〉 Enemies endeavour to be delivered fro• them. As they wish they were del••vered, so they will endeavour to 〈…〉 set at Liberty. Thus the Iews a••tempted to be delivered from the Bondage to the Romans from time 〈…〉 time. Sinners would be deliver•• from the fear of Death, and therefo•• attempt it, some in one way, some 〈…〉 another; altho' in vain. Some e• deavour to drown the fear of Dea•• by overwhelming themselves with 〈…〉 World: So did Cain, Gen. 4.14▪ 〈…〉 said, every one that sees me will 〈…〉 me. Thus was he subject to Bonda•• through the fear of Death all his 〈…〉 time. But then that so he 〈…〉 drown that Fear, he gives himsel•• building of Cities. Others 〈…〉 ⟨p. 31⟩put away the Fear of Death by Mirth & Musick. As we see in Saul: An Evil spirit from the Lord terrified him; the Devil was let loose on him, and terrified him with the Fear of Death; he sends for a Musician and an Harp, that he might be delivered from that Bondage. And some endeavour to be delivered from the Fear of Death by betaking themselves to Good Works, to External Devotions. Thus the Iews did; Mic 6.7. They say, Will •he Lord be pleased with Thousands of Rams, with Ten Thousands of Rivers of Oyl? Shall I give my First-born for my Transgression; the Fruit of my Body for the Sin of my Soul? They would appease an angry Deity, and deliver themselves from the fear of Death & Wrath, by Sacrifices of their own. We know Papists will almost Fast themselves to Death, and cruelly afflict their own Bodies, thereby thinking to make satisfaction for their Sins, and so to deliver themselves from the fear of Death and Hell. In our own Nation, in the time of Popery there ⟨p. 32⟩were Kings & Great Men, when the• had been guilty of Murder, and thei• Consciences terrified them with the fear of Hell and Eternal Punishment they would build Monasteries, and 〈…〉 take themselves to works that wer• accounted Meritorious, that they might be delivered from that Fear.
