Rachel wept for her dead Children because they were not. Thus righteous men as well as others perish. No Eminency of Place can prevent the Stroke of death. The greatest Kings are Mortal as well as the meanest of their Subjects, and some of them have commanded their Servants to put them in Mind of it. There is a King whose blaspheming flatterers call him, The Immortal Man, but it was said to the Prince of Tyre, Wilt thou yet say before him that slayeth thee, I am God! but thou shalt be a Man, and no God in the hand of him that slayeth thee. No Eminency of Wisdom can Save from death. David who was wise as an Angel of God: Solomon who was wiser than all men, is dead. No Eminency of Grace can Save from death. The Holiest men that ever lived on the Earth in all former Generations, are dead. No Eminency in respect of Serviceableness can Save from death. Was there ever a Man in the World more Serviceable to God and to his People than Moses? Nevertheless, the ⟨p. 12⟩Lord said of him, Moses my Servant is dead, Josh. 1.2. The holy Prophets were very Serviceable and useful Men in their Generation. But did your Fathers live for ever, and the Prophets where are they! Zech. 1.5. It is well for good men that they may die, and that they must die, that so they may be happy. For blessed are the dead which die in the Lord. It is a great Mercy not to be kept over long in this present Evil World. It is true, that long Life is a very great blessing: A good Old Age is a singular favour of God. Nevertheless, for a Man to live long an Unserviceable Life and to be only a burden to himself and others is a Judgment. The good Lord (if it be his Will) in Mercy grant that that may never be my Portion; I had much rather die this very day. It is related concerning Mr. Bolton, that when he was sick of the Sickness whereof he dyed, one asking whether he was not willing to live longer, he replied, I acknowledge that Long Life is a great Mercy, and I will use means for the Preservation of my Life and Health, and I submit to the will of God, as to the continuance of my Life: Nevertheless, if I might have my ⟨p. 13⟩choice, I had infinitely rather die now, than continue longer in this sinful World: God has filled my Soul with Christ, and I long to be with Him.
Rachel wept for her dead Children because they were not. Thus righteous men as well as others perish. No Eminency of Place can prevent the Stroke of death. The greatest Kings are Mortal as well as the meanest of their Subjects, and some of them have commanded their Servants to put them in Mind of it. There is a King whose blaspheming flatterers call him, The Immortal Man, but it was said to the Prince of Tyrus, Wilt thou yet say before him that slayeth thee, I am God! but thou shalt be a Man, and no God in the hand of him that slayeth thee. No Eminency of Wisdom can Save from death. David who was wise as an Angel of God: Solomon who was wiser than all men, is dead. No Eminency of Grace can Save from death. The Holiest men that ever lived on the Earth in all former Generations, are dead. No Eminency in respect of Serviceableness can Save from death. Was there ever a Man in the World more Serviceable to God and to his People than Moses? Nevertheless, the ⟨p. 12⟩Lord said of him, Moses my Servant is dead, Josh. 1.2. The holy Prophets were very Serviceable and useful Men in their Generation. But did your Fathers live for ever, and the Prophets where are they! Zech. 1.5. It is well for good men that they may dy, and that they must dy, that so they may be happy. For blessed are the dead which dy in the Lord. It is a great Mercy not to be kept over long in this present Evil World. It is true, that long Life is a very great blessing: A good Old Age is a singular favour of God. Nevertheless, for a Man to live long an Unserviceable Life and to be only a burden to himself and others is a Judgment. The good Lord (if it be his Will) in Mercy grant that that may never be my Portion; I had much rather dy this very day. It is related concerning Mr. Bolton, that when he was sick of the Sickness whereof he dyed, one asking whether he was not willing to live longer, he replyed, I acknowledge that Long Life is a great Mercy, and I will use means for the Preservation of my Life and Health, and I submit to the will of God, as to the continuance of my Life: Nevertheless, if I might have my ⟨p. 13⟩choice, I had infinitely rather dy now, than continue longer in this sinful World: God has filled my Soul with Christ, and I long to be with Him.
