COMFORTS Against the fear of DEATH: Being some short Meditations, composed by that precious Gentle woman Mrs. Anne Skelton, late of Norwich.  
Wherein are several Evidences of the work of Grace in her own Soul, which were the Stay of her Heart, against the fear of Death; From which may be discerned the ●●able of a true Christian spirit.  
To which is added some short Notes of a Sermon preached at the Burial of that choice Servant of God in St. Andrews in Norwich.  
By JOHN COLLINGS M. A. and one of the most unworthy Embastadors of Jesus Christ for the preaching of the Gospel in the said City.  Phil. 1. 21. For to me to live, is Christ; and to die, is gain. Ver. 23. For I am in a straight betwixt two, having a 〈◊〉 to departed, and to be with Christ, which is far 〈◊〉. 
London, Printed by I. M. for Nathaniel Brooks, and are to be sold at his shop at the Angel in Corhnil. 1649.   

TO My truly honoured Friend WILLIAM SKELTON, Gent. Increase of Happiness and Comfort.  
SIR,  
IT is my happiness, that I can be acquainted a little in her writings with her, with whom God was pleased to give me so short a time of acquaintance in this life. Sir, though I could not deny my worthless labours, as my last piece of service to her; yet, had it not been to tempt out this little piece into the world, I should have denied this Sermon any further publication than the Pulpit in which it was preached. I need not excuse it to you (Sir▪) who know enough what impar opus humeris constantly lies upon my shoulders, that I had neither time to compose it, not yet since to enlarge or refine it; but have sent you my own Notes, totidem verbis, as the first day written. I shall beg, Sir, That her Notes may be prefixed to the Sermon; I shall be a little covered under so sweet a shadow, and the Readere expectation will be satisfied, before his eye reacheth my Sermon: But, Sir, (without a Compliment, which is but the folly of excuse) the Sermon holds out something of Christ, his name is precious: Reading, Rhetoric, etc. are but the poverty of the Creatures endeavours. In her writing you will be a Spectator to a pitched battle, sought betwixt her Soul and Death: My Sermon will present you with the Conqueror, singing Triumph, we sight, but Christ conquers; nay, to speak truth, he both fights, and conquers too. After I had seen her upon her deathbed, so fully triumphing over the King of Terrors, I could not but at her Funeral rejoice, concerning Death, with crying, O Death, where's thy sting? O Hell, where's thy victory? It hath often pleased my secret thoughts, to remember her, overlooking Death, when the pangs of Death had taken hold of her. Ah Sir! how sweet is it to have an assurance of Christ's love? What a nobleness of spirit is there in the true Christian, that can call Death and Hell cowards? It is no marvel to see a profane beastly wretch (whose conscience the Lord hath feared to damnation) dying quietly; but to see a knowing Christian, of an awakened conscience, to die triumphingly, and make an holiday of leaving all Creature-conte●●nents: O this is the mighty Conquest of the Soul, through the great work of him that hath led Captivity captive: Sir, methinks it should comfort you to think how willing she was to part with you, (though before more dear than her own life to her.) It argued no want of love, to desire Christ's company more than yours. Alas! Sir, you never died upon the Cross for her. Let it refresh you, Sir, to think how much you were beholden to the Bridegroom of Glory, that he would trust you with his Bride so long a time: The enjoyment of such a Saint thirty years' Sir) is a great piece of Heaven. Is she gone? No Sir; only restored: Where she is, she is in good keeping; and as wellbeloved as she loves. You have resigned her, Sir▪ And it was but Justice that the Lord Jesus should have his Wife, when he sent such a messenger for her as would not be denied: Ah! Sir, let us follow, she is gone before; It should seem her Mansion was ready before ours. or (which is most probable) her Soul was fit for it then ours: She was first dressed, and therefore is first gone to take her walk in the Paradise of God. Sir, let us blush, and get ready; how long shall her glory antedate ours? But it will be some comfort to think, that though she hath got the start in Heaven before us, yet she will be walking there till we come: It is a rare walk, that wearres not the feet of he Redeemed one's: Here we wall upon stones, there we shall have a gardes-walk, and legs that cannot be weary. ●ut yet let us make haste; there's odds betwixt Earth and Heaven; what ever our enjoyments here be. This Sermon, ●● rather her own prefixed Meditations, may mind you of her, Sir, who now is before the Throne, and is satisfied with the likeness of him who is the brightness of his Father's glory. I beseech you Sir, as it minds you of her, so let it quicken you after her. So shall God have the glory your Soul the comfort; and he the answer of his prayers, who is, Sir,  
Your most unworthy Servant in the work of the Lord Jesus, JOHN COLLINGS. From my study in Ch●plyfield house in Norwich, August 26, 1648.   

TO THE CHRISTIAN AND Ingenious Reader, Especially such as fear Death, for want of assurance of Christ's Love.  
Christian Reader,  
I Here present thee with a copy, after which I would have thee to write; some few Meditations of that precious Saint of God Mistress Anne Skelton: I need not speak for her; as those parents said of their child, so I shall say of her, She is of age, let her speak for herself: Of age she is, for she hath taken up her inheritanes in Glory; what her life was let her books speak: It was not her course to trifle away her time by sleeping or dressing; as the most of her quality use to do; God had given her another Spirit, viz. to strive to go as fast to Heaven, as most gallants do to go before each other in ●all. I was acquainted with but a few of her last days, but it was easy to discern by the honey the laboriousness of the Bee: Her reported practice was to have made Heaven her [●say] and the necessary things of this world her 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 if her time allotted for worldly affairs, would allow her any minutes for God, she would improve them, of they would do her no good, she was resolved they should do her no hurt, by committing sacrilege upon her religious hours; if her Kitchen would lend no time to her Closet, yet she would be sure it should steal not a minute from it. For her worldly employments, as she was conscientious in her relations, so she was refreshed when she could wash the pitch from her fingers, and have liberty to go sit with her God. Her Closet work was no chambering and wantonness, but a serious study to make he●●●●lling and election sure: To this end she reads with understanding, observing, and carefully transcribing the promises she had gathered up her Bonds, and knew how much God was in his Word an accountant to her Soul, and was never in want, but she had a Bond to put in suit, knowing that he was faithful that had promised. She was a conscientious attender upon God in his Ordinances, and it was her practise not to hear as one that looks his natural face in a glass, that presently goeth away and forgetteth what manner of man he was: She would observe matter all passages, and upon her retirements record them with her pen; if in any thing ●● doubted, she ceased not till she was satisfied. And whereas it is the too blame-worthy practice of Christians to seek cavils against themselves, striving by their cavillings to unsettle their spirits; she rather stadyed to make it her work to find what interest God had in her Soul, than what she might have to say against herself, nor in this was her labour without fruit. Thou shalt read here what a writing she had drawn for Heaven, to make it sure to her Soul, and 〈…〉 had striven, so the Lord had crowned her Souls endeavours with such an assurance, as failed not her Soul in her dying hour. It was my happiness to be a witness to the latter end of her life: It pleased God to continue her holy day to the last hour, in such a measure, that Death had not an ill look from her. There mightst thou have seen; Christian, what a conquest Christ had made over Death and Hell, Death had in her truly lost his sting and Hell was cheated of its victory, Captivity was led Captive. I shall commend to thee this little piece, penned with her own hand, (by which thou mayst dis●●●● with what an excellency of Graces, as well as Gifts the Lord had crowned her.) I commend it to thee, not to be read only, but that (as by a true touchstone) thou mayst try thy own Soul by it, and find whether thou be'st ready to die or no. Thou shalt find this choice Servant of God dealing truly with her own heart, neither presumptuously flattering, nor unwarrantabl● dejecting her own Spirit. For what of ●●ine is added, I beseech thee take the goodwill, that he that offers it bears to thy Soul▪ I acknowledge there is nothing of a Scholar in it; if there be the more of Christ, let God have the Glory, thy Soul the benefit, and the Author thy prayers, who is,  
Thy true Servant in the work of the Lord Jesus, John Collings. From my study▪ Aug. 27, 1648.   

Infallable Signs OF Saving Grace,  
Each one an Evidence for Heaven, each Evidence an Antidote against the Fear of Death; Death being to the Soul, endowed with Grace only Heaven's Gate, to enter in, by, or through it, to Eternal Glory and Happiness.  
IT is a irrevokable decree of Heaven, that all men must once die; yea it is the Law of the God of Nature, and must be obeyed, (not avoiding it.) The Scripture faith, it is appointed to all men once to die; Therefore, oh my Soul, seeing there is no escap●●● Death, thy only way is to prepare for in get the sting of it taken away, so shall it not hurt thee, nor be terrible to thee; no cause then to fear Death for it shall be but a messenger sent from God, thy Father, to fetch thee home to him, and free thee from all sins, which is thy greatest burden, and all sorrows and miseries that sin occasioneth, and carry thee to Heaven, to Happiness and Glory, to thy Saviour and Redeemer, the Lord Jesus Christ, to reign with him, for ever, in Heaven.  
Now the only way, to make Death thus to thee, is, to clear up thy evidences for Heaven. Wherefore, on my Soul, get thee more Interest in Christ, make that more sure to thyself, that Christ is thine, and thou art his, and then no cause at all for thee to fear death.  
As it is certain that Death will come even to thee, as well as to others, so is it most uncertain, the time when it shall come: Therefore (my Soul) defer it not, for it stands thee as much upon as thy life, may as thy eternal well being for evermore, to make that sure to thyself, even now, while it is called to day, and that upon good grounds, that thou hast a sure title to Heaven, art an heir of it, and hast an Interest in Christ, than it shall be well with thee after Death, that shall be a happy change for thee, no cause then to fear it. Therefore, oh my Soul, why art thou so cast down? And why art thou so disquieted within me? And why fearest thou Death so much? Hast thou not some Evidences of Truth of Saving Grace to prove thou art in Christ? Darest thou deny it? Thou canst not: Oh therefore now clear them up, view them well again, meditate on them seriously, bless God for them, and let them support and comfort thee against the fear of Death, at all times, in all extremities or distresles whatsoever may befall thee.  
Consider seriously with thyself, hath not God promised to support thee in, and deliver thee out of all afflictions and distresses in the best time, and mean while that all shall work for thy good? Therefore trust thou in him for he never fails any that trust in him, rest thou on his promise, and he will make it good to thee.  
The first ground work of Grace in thee ●s this, God hath given thee the sight of thyself, thy sinful, wretched and miserable, yea damnable condition by nature, thy sins, both many and great, as well thy in●●nd corruption, of which David complains▪ Psalm; 51. 5. As also thy continued, actual transgressions, all thy life along, which are the fruits of that bitter root, either outward or inward, to wit thy natural averseness to all good, proneness to evil, perverseness of heart, rebelliousness of will, disorder of affections, and distemper of thy whole Soul, in every part; not as a mere natural disturbance only, but as a spiritual disease, a wicked and wretched disposition, evil in itself, & of itself, displeasing to God, and deserving his curse, and damnation of thy Soul and body, although it should never break forth into any actual excess. And now, my Soul, hath not God also in some measure humbled thee, and broken thy heart too, for thy sins? Are they not a burden, too heavy for thee to bear? Wert thou not once in thirte own apprehension, in a most desperate condition, ready to sink under the load of them? Therefore, oh my Soul, ●o Christ calleth thee to come to him, and promiseth, he will ease thee, Mat. 11. 28. There is a promise for thy faith to rest on, apply it to thyself, to support thee; Dost thou not confess th●● to God, bewailing 〈◊〉 with great grief and sorrow of heart? Yea dost thou not abhor thyself, judge and pass on thyself the sentence of condemnatior. to be thy due desert, and that it were just with God if he had cast thee into hell long ago?  
No, no hypocrite, ever was willing to have this filthy sink of his wholly laid open to God, as thou, my Soul, art.  
But did God leave thee in this miserable, wretched, desperate and damnable condition thou art in by nature, since the fall of Adam, whose 〈◊〉 thou wert then in, and so guilty of his sin, and not only so, but deprived of that Image of God, that there is in thee nothing that is good, no● a strange averseness and unp●ness to all good, and a proneness and readiness to all evil?  
No, no, for ever blessed praised and magnified be my good God, that out of his own free and unspeakable love, infinite mercy, and abundant goodness; he hath found out a way, and shown thee a way, and means, to free thee from this misery, save, and make thee eternally happy, that neither Angels not men could do, no way whereby no ●●eature, no means in Heaven or Earth 〈◊〉 do it; as Acts 4. 12. Neither is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under Heaven given amongst men, whereby we must be saved. Even than God manifested his superabundant, surpassing, unsearchable, unexpressable, incomprehensible love to the utmost, to give his only begotten, and dear beloved Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, the second Person in the Trinity: God to take upon him our nature, and die and shed his most precious blood for sinners, of whom thou art chief; and in the Gospel God offereth his Son Christ freely, to all that will come, and drink of this water of Life freely, as Rev. 22. 17. therefore as freely to thee as any other.  
Yet further, to heighten this wonderful Love of God, consider the time when he did this, even then when thou desiredst it nor, nor soughtst it, nay when thou wert an enemy and traitor to him; and then, for God so infinite in Majesty, so to condescend to poor, wretched, sinful man, that had so fal● and plunged himself into such a woeful, sinful and damnable condition; Oh how great is the riches of his mercy and love! Yet God 〈◊〉 not there; but behold more in the Gospel, he opens the worth; Excellency, All sufficiency and Fitness of Christ; to save thee, in particular; and he helps thee with grounds and encouragements to believe in Christ, though but weakly, and he doth, in some measure, strengthen thee, to rest; and cast thyself, on his mercy in Christ, because of his promises; yea at such times as there is a sense of the wa●● of him, so David, Psalm 42. 5, 8, 9, 11. And now, my Soul, ●ast thou not not accepted of, and embraced this free offers, or render of Christ, made to thee, by God thy Father, in as much as the Gospel is preached to thee, and that upon his own terms, in all his offices, applying him to thyself, to be thy King and Sovereign Lord to rule and govern thee, by his Laws, his Word, and his Spirit, to be thy Prophet, to discover the Coun●ile of God to thee, and reveal himself to thee in his Gospel, and to guide and instruct thee in his Baths? Dost thee not as much, and hearty desire, to have Christ rule thee, as to love thee, or ●o●he a Priest, to offer up himself a Sacrifice for thee? Thou darest not, thou canst not deny it.  
A second Sign or Evidence of Saving Grace, ●o, thy earnest and unsatisfied, restless desire of Christ: Nothing but Christ can satisfy my Soul; I thirst after him, my hearts pants for him, as the Hart after the rivers of water, so panteth my Soul for thee, O Lord, and I will never give thee rest, but will wrestle with thee, as thy Servant Jacob once did, I will never let thee go, thou that hast promised to give Christ to them that ask, till thou give me Christ, and make me to know, that he is mine, and I am his. I can in truth say so for as I can search and know mine own heart, if it do not deceive me, as the Apostle saith, Phil. 3. 7, 8. The things that wer● advantage to me, I now account loss, for Christ's sake; yea I esteem all things but as dung incomparison of Christ.  
Dost not thou, my Soul, prize Christ sat afore all outward contentments? Even in the height of them, they are but as withered flowers to thee; no pleasure not sweetness in them without Christ: Nay, no inward corruption but thou art right willing to part with for him.  
It's not the manner of Hypocrites to be thus willing to relinquish all outward contentments, much less to ●a●don all inward corruptions for Christ, but in them is still some private Reservation.  
But the earnest desire of my Soul is, to have all sin subdued in me. Lord, Lord, by the power of thy holy Spirit, mortify and kill every sin: Oh! let not any one sin rule in me, that I should obey it, in the lust of it; though sin do well in me, yet let me overcome it; truly it is my heavy burden, that I am in yoked with sin, therefore long I to go out of myself; for in me is nothing that is good.  
But in Christ is all ability to duty, and against sin, all life and profit from the Ordinances, and Christ conveys all, especially to his Members, by their resting on him for it, which we call believing.  
Now Gods gracious invitations, to come to Christ, thou, my Soul, dost embrace, and upon the serious consideration of the all-sufficiency; fitness and willingness of Christ to save thee, and the infinite love of the Father to give his Son for thee, and the unspeakable love of Christ, in his condescension to the Father, so to die, and undergo all the wrath of God, and all for thee, and the freeness of the mercy of God, offering Christ in the Gospel, and his Commandment to believe, as 1 John 3. 23. And this is his Commandment, that we should believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ. Also the sweetness and freeness of his promises to them that believe. Now in obedience to the one, and confidence of the other, thou, my Soul, are at length thereby emboldened and encouraged to repair to Christ●, and by the freeness of the promises, art encouraged to apply them to thyself, not daring to exclude thyself, but dost believe, though but weakly.  
A third. Sign or Evidence of Saving Grace is, thy Faith, thy full purpose of heart, and settled resolutions, and endeavours, still ever to rest and 〈◊〉 upon the Lord Jesus, and his merits alone, for the discharge of thy sins, thy Sanctification, Justification, thy Soul's safety and salvation; this indeed is the very act of justifying Faith, to which life and salvation is so oft in the word promised, and shall unsailably be made good, well therefore mayst thou rest satisfied in it; yet I rest on him to strengthen my weak faith: I say not, that Faith, as my act, doth justify me; but it is instrumental, as it's hand to receive Christ, and unite thee to him; those righteousness alone is the meritorious cause of thy Justification.  
Now here is a promise for thee to rest on, John 3. 16, 36. Whosoever believeth in Christ shall not perish, but have everlasting life; And he that believeth in the Son hath everlasting life.  
Now, my Soul, exercise thy Faith, apply this promise to thyself: I believe, and therefore I shall have everlasting life: Labour for that reflect act of thy Soul, to know more, that thou dost believe: The sincerity whereof in thee, is in some measure approved, by thy resigning, and giving up thyself wholly to him, as the Apostle, Gal. 2. 20. I am crucified with Christ, nevertheless I live, yet not I, but Christ liveth in me, and th● life which I now live in the flesh, I live by the Faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. Desiring, as well to be ruled and guided by him, as saved by him, purged, as pardoned, freed from the power, as the punishment of sin, cleansed from the filth, as discharged of the guilt of sin.  
What though thou art not able wholly to put it in practice, but lost full of, and come short in performance thereof; was not this the Apostle Paul his own case which he so ●●●gely deploreth, Rom. 7. 15. 23. I allow not that which I do, for what I would that do I not, but what I hate that do I. I see another Law in my members rebelling against the Law of my mind, and leaving me Captive to the Law of sin which is in my members. It sufficeth to warrant the sincerity of thee, my Soul and Spirit in this case; that with the same Apostle in the same place: Thou takest notice of thy failings, art grieved for them, there is in thee a nature or part that abhors them, thou watchest against them, & endeavorest what thou canst, to reclaim thyself, upon discovery of falling, labourest by earnest prayer to God against them, and continuest constant in the use of the means sanctified by him, for spiritual strength and ability, and restest on Christ, and expectest from him power to overcome thy corruptions; Therefore comfort thyself herein, (O my Soul,) and apply this to thyself, for thou art but in the same case that Apostle Paul was then in, who at that very time had truth of grace, and was even then in a most happy and blessed condition; Therefore fear not, though thou findest many temptations, either to despair, or to think all thy hope but presumption; none of the Saints or Servants of God was ever heard praying to be rid utterly of their corruptions forthwith, and at once: Suffice them and thee; it may, and must, that he will one day rid them utterly of all; and mean while, to support thee: Know that thy corruptions shall never so prevail against thee as to reduce thee again to the sway and sovereignty it once had in thee, when it had its throne in thee; these show that there is a part in thee that is regenerated as Paul had.  
Now to such as these are the promises of God made good, Malla. 3. 16, 17. A book of remembrance was written before him, for them that feared the Lord, and thought upon his name: And they shall be to me, saith the Lord of H●sts, in thee day a flock, and I will spare them, and man spareth his own son that serveth him. 2 Chron. 30. 18, 19, 20. Hezekiah prayeth to the Lord to be merciful to him, that prepareth his whole heart to seek the Lord God, though he be not cleansed according to the purification of the Sanctuary; And the Lord heard Hezekiah, and healed the people. Psal. 33. 18, 19 Behold, the eye of the Lord is upon them that fear him, and upon them that trust in his mercy, to deliver their Souls from death, and to preserve them in famine. Psal. 37. 40. The Lord shall help them, and deliver them from the wicked, and shall save them, because they trust in him. Psal. 34. 22. The Lord redeemeth the Souls of his Servants, and none that trust in him shall perish. Oh my Soul, set thy Faith a work, lo here are promises for it to rest on, apply them to thyself, for they are precious.  
Another Sign or Evidence of Grace is, thy constant desire of, and love to the Ordinances of God, whereby these may be attained, and that for this very end, that thou mayst know what God requires of thee, and be enabled to practise it, and get strength against thy corruptions, endeavouring to apply thyself thereto, with delight in the use of them: This evidently testifies the sincerity of thy desire, love and affection to God, as David urget●● oft, and presseth the like for himself, Psa. 119. 11. I have hid thy promise in my heart that I might not sin against thee. Also, Vers. 24. Thy testimonies are my delight and my counsellors. And Ver. 33. Teach me, O Lord, the way of thy statutes, and I will keep it even to the and. Also, Vers. 40. Behold I desire thy commandments; quicken me in thy righteousness.  
Hypocrites desire the and only, delight in them; for by and sinister ends; not enduring them, where they find they cross their corruptions: But the closer they come home to thee, and most strike at thy corruptions, the better thou likest, and more lovest them; thou dost not spare any sin: I have sworn that I will 
Psa. 119. 106  keep thy righteous judgements.  
Another evidence of Saving Grace, is, thy hatred of every false way, desiring God to discover to thee thine iniquity, that thou art most prone, or aptest to fall into, by natural inclination, custom, or company; This was made an argument of David's integrity. Therefore, O my Soul, make thou the same application to thyself also, to uphold and comfort thee.  
And dost thou not groan under the ●urthen of thy inward corruptions, and thoughes, as well as actual transgressions? Wouldst not thou fain be rid of them? Is it not thy greatest grief, that thou dost daily so sin against God, who is so good, so loving and merciful to thee? Thou darest not deny it. Oh that I might and could so live, as never to commit any one sin more, so long as I live, to offend so good a God as he is to me, not no more grieve nor quench his holy Spirit in the motions of it ● I resolve so to do, Oh that I could do so!  
Another sign of true Grace, Hast thou not respect unto all God's Commandments, desiring universality of sincere obedience to all alike? not shunning any one, nor reserving any sin to thyself. So David, Psa. 119. 5, 6. O that my ways were directed to keep thy Statutes: Then should I not be ashamed, when I have respect unto all thy Commandments. And when fallen, dost thou not loathe thyself the more for that, and renew thy faith in Christ, and repentance as sin is renewed, and seest it more and more vile, judging thyself miserable, because that which is contrary to Gods will prevails over thee▪ And so thou dost overcome sin, though oft soiled by it, that which yet may stand with grace, though it abide to death in thee. Now, my Soul, dost thou not mourn under this, Pray earnestly, and rest withal on Christ for help and assistance of his Spirit to enable thee to overcome all thy corruptions, still striving against them; (thou darest not deny it:) And with unfeigned purpose never entertaining any known evil with full consent of will, but cordially embracing the contrary grace and command, longing after more grace out of the fence of want of it? This is an infallible sign of true grace, as Math. 5. 6. Blessed are they that hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled. Therefore my Soul, apply this by faith; Bless God with humility, and take the comfort of it, that so thou mayst walk the more thankfully, and love him more who hath so loved thee; and be more careful of all thy ways.  
Another evidence, or mark of true Grace is, thy resolving in the sense of God's absence, yet then to stick to and rest on his mercy through Christ, even unto death, by his assistance; Psa. 13. 1. How long wilt thou forget me, O Lord, for ever? how long wilt thou hid thy face from me! Verse 5. But I have trusted in thy mercy; my heart shall rejoice in thy salvation.  
So still continue thou testing on Christ alone as to work in thee all grace; both to will and do, so to strengthen and perfect it to the day of Christ, as Philip. 1. 6. And begging of God his Spirit, who is the Spirit of Grace, to help and enable thee, it being the sap to make thee fruitful, for of thyself thou canst do nothing pleasing to God; but all thy services, as of thyself, are an abomination in God's presence: But now if they come from Christ and the Spirit, than God is well pleased with them, and accepts them: And remember God hath promised to give the Spirit to them that ask it, Mat. 21. 23. Whatsoever we ask in Christ's name, if we believe, we shall receive. And Luke 11. 13. If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children; how much more than shall your● heavenly Father give the holy Spirit to them that ask him?  
Let that comfort thee; this was as argument to David of grace in him, let it be so to thee.  
Another evidence of Grace, is, thy confident resting on God's mercy because of his pror●is●; it's that upholds thee, knowing he is most faithful, as he cannot be deceived; so he will not deceive any that trust in him: So David did, Psa. 119. 81. My Soul sainteth for thy Salvation, yet I wait for thy Word. When David heart fainted, this very thing stayed him, namely, that he trusted in God's Word: Psa. 34. 8. Blessed is the man that trusteth in the Lord. Psa. 2. 12. Blessed and all that trust in him. Psa. 3. 18 Blessed are they that w●l● for him: Blessed is the man that trusteth in the Lord, and whose hope the Lord.  
And dost not thou, my Soul, still seek, wait, pray, hope, and with on humbl● dependency desire still to trust in God always, though with much opposition? Yea when thou feelest no sensible evidence of God's love and savour to thee, yet even then God's Word comforts thee; thou hast given me more joy of heart than they have whose outward comforts abound, as Psal. 4. 7. So thy Word comforts my Soul, in the midst of great doubtings, distress and trouble, yet thou, my Soul, hast still some hope, by casting thyself on thy God, when other hopes still, as David, Psal. 142. 2, 3. I poured out my complaint before him, though my spirit was even over whelmed. Yet Vers. 5. Even than said he, I cried unto thee, O Lord, and said, thou art my hope and my portion in the land of the living. Now Oh my Soul, is not God thy portion also? Indeed he is: Hast not thou taken him so to be? Yes truly, even to be thy All; and thou hast, I hope, with a cordial resignation, given up all thy interest to the Lord and his service, at lest desirest and endeaverest so to do in thy resolutions. Good Lord put forth thy mighty, yea almighty power, and give me thy Spirit that may reach me, and enable me to walk as becometh such a one as hath given up himself to serve thee; That I may, in the remainder of my l●st, express all sincere and humble obedience to the Word delivered: O that I could!  
Another evidence of Saving Grace, is, Thou dost often afresh renew thy faith and confidence in Christ, and resign and give up thyself wholly to Christ to be guided and instructed by his Word and Spirit; and this purpose is firm in thee: And dost thou not in bitterness of soul bewail end grieve for thy exceeding unfruitfulness and unprofitableness under such sweet, precious, and powerful ordinances as thou hast so long a time enjoyed; and implot● the throne of Grace for the Spirit to show forth its present virtue to make them become life and power to thee, and thou usest them with hope in Christ? And since that the way to make them more profitable, is to be more, sensible of thy particular wants, and to prise the ordinances very highly, as the very breasts from and through which God conveys all nourishment to his; Therefore quicken up thyself, O my soul, to use them with what care and diligence thou canst, and rest on Christ, rest not in the ordinance, but on God: Consider what God can and will do for thee; expect daily help and strength from him, in the use of his ordinances, and especially in that of the Sacrament, act faith, and reject all discouragements, for they hinder the growth of grace as frosts do tender fruits. Oh when shall the time be that the ordinances shall be so powerful and efficacious as to kill all my corruptions, that I may 〈◊〉 the virtue of Christ his death killing the body of sin in me, and the power of his resurrection raising me up to newness of life, that holy frame of heart that hath been in other the servants of God? Sure there hath been such a changing, quickening, raising, comforting power attained from God in the use of his ordinances, both to beget, and so to strengthen and increase Grace; therefore I will never 〈◊〉 the Lord alone until he make, them ●● to me, seeing he hath promised, Hea●● maketh shall receive: Ok, and it shall be given; seek, and you shall finds; knock, and it shall be opened unto you Math. 7. 7. Lord, I ask, I seek, I knock, let me obtain [Lord] it's thine own free and gracious promise, (though free,) thou wert not any way tied to make it,) (yet Lord) it's now thy promise, that thou wilt give Grace to them that seek it; and ask it, and hunger after it. Lord, I desire it more than my appointed food; [thou Lord] sure, I trust, will be prevailed with: Seeing the unjust Judge was so through importunity, shall not the just and righteous, yea merciful God, be prevailed withal, when importuned for that which he promiseth to give? Yes surely, he will most certainly make good even that promise to thee [my soul] in particular. Do but trust in him, and press him with his own Word: nay more, it's a part of that new Covenant that God hath made with his servants, that he will take away the heart of stone, that is, all that hinders Grace; and he will give them a new heart, and put his Laws in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be his people, Jer. 31. 33. and Ez●ek. 36. 25, 26, 27.  
And that he will put his Spirit within us, and cause us to walk in his statutes, believe so, and it shall be so to thee. Be encouraged; and wrestle still, for thou shalt obtain in the end. Hath God said it? Build thou on it: Only go on in use of his means, limit not the holy one, he is a free Agent, he may work when and how he pleaseth; he delights to hear his children beg and cry oft to him; and remember how prevalent prayer in Faith hath been with God, how great things it hath obtained of God, for particular Servants of God, as that of Peter's delivery by the prayers of the Church, Acts 12. when condemned to die the next morning, and no way or means that he knew ●t to escape; And so for Nations too. Doth the Lord than say, seek my face? Oh let my heart Answer, Lord thy face I do, I will still seek, and wait till thou Answer.  
Another Evidence of Grace is, Thy earnest desire to serve the Lord, in sincerity, with an upright heart, above the desire of Life itself, so far as thou canst search, and knowest aught by thyself; this must needs be an infallible sign of true Grace; for nothing but truth of Grace can possibly desire this.  
Another sign of true Grace is, Thou fearest, at some times, that thou hast no true Faith, or, at least, that it is decaying, & dying with thee, when as no true Grace, either stands at a stay, or decays, which makes thee full of discouragements and disquietness of spirit, fearing thy estate is not good; but what ever change is in thee (O my Soul) of seeming decay in Grace, or increase of corruption, yet thou canst not but be sure in the main; for where there is a sense of sins evil, and a groaning under it, a high Valuation of Christ, and Grace, and longing after it with a self-emptiness, a desire and purpose to hang on Christ, (as thou darest not deny, but 〈◊〉 in some measure in thee,) there is ground of comfort, and therefore apply it to thyself, else thou wrongest thyself, and the spirit also. Thou fearest falling into sin, let it make thee more watchful, and trust more and more carefully in Christ; the view of thy wants should not discourage thee, but abase thee in thine own esteem, quicken thee to use the means, and press thee to go to Christ, and rest on him, who can and will help all that thus repair to him: Therefore fear not falling off, for God hath promised to put his Fear into the hearts of his, that they shall not departed from him, Jer. 32. 40. Apply that promise to thyself by Faith.  
Having once true Grace, it can never be lost; why therefore (O my Soul) art thou so cast down, and why art thou so disquieted within me? Trust still in God, for I will, or shall, yet give him thanks; he is my present help, and my God, Psalm 42. 5, 11, verses. Or art thou thus disquieted, because thou art often foiled by sins, that thou resolvest against?  
O● consider, thou hast an Advocate with the Father Jesus Christ, who is thy Reconciliation; he sitteth at the right hand of God, and there he plead thy cause for thee. Or is it because thou art still full of fears, that thy Grace is not true? Thou didst once believe it was true, and that upon good ground; Therefore question not that groundwork now, that were to go about to rip up, or undo, all that work of Grace that God hath wrought in thee.  
Why then is it, O my Soul, because of those inward corruptions within thee that rebel against the Law and Will of God, and such effects of them as thou canst not be rid off, with whatsoever care and caution thou canst use? Or such sins, slips, and oversights, as thou art unwillingly overtaken withal, or dost inconsiderately slip into? For thou dost not allow thyself in any known sin.  
For this remember what was once my Cousin Gatakers Answer hereunto; to wit, consider S. Paul his case, read but what he saith of himself, Rom. 7. from vers. 15. to vers. 24. That which I do, I allow not; for what I would, ha● do I not; but what I hate, that do I. If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the Law, that it is good. Now than it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me: For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) dwelleth no good thing. For to will is present with me, but how to perform that which is good I find not. For the good that I would that do I not, but the evil which I hate that do I. I find then a Law, that when I would do good evil is present with me. For I delight in the Law of God after the inward man; but I see another Law in my members, warring against the Law of my mind, and bringing me into Captivity to the Law of sin which is in my members.  
And if you can say more of yourself, than he there doth of himself, I much marvel; if not, you may conclude, your estate to be no worse than his was.  
God indeed hears the prayers of his, but yet he doth not presently give in kind the thing prayed for: The Apostle Paul was heard, when he prayed to be rid wholly of some corruption and temptation that he was annoyed and often foiled with. 2 Cor. 12. 7, 8. Lest I should be exalted above measure, through the Abundance of the Rovelations, there was given to me a throne in the flesh, the massinger of Satan to buffet me. For this thing I besought the Lord thrice; that it might departed from me. Remember Gods Answer to him, vers. 9 My Grace is sufficient for thee. So shall it be, my Soul, to thee; if thou rest on his Word it shall be so. But mark, he was not presently freed from it, but upheld in it. Or is it out of the sense of thy want and great need of more Grace? Oh let not that discourage thee! indeed thou hast the more need to go to Christ by Faith, who is the Fountain and Spring of all, he hath enough, and so fetch virtue and strength from him; believe more, and thou shalt have more Grace; that is the only way to obtain it.  
And remember Mr. Archers Answer once to thee, concerning this particular. (Dear Sister) Let not that make thee doubt thou christ no truth of ●ence, which is an Evidence or effect of Grace, and is not until Grace be: ●t is no sign thou hast not Grace, but their thou hast Grace. These things which make thee doubt, added to the former, make me assumed of the goodness of thy state. Satan ever makes that to be feared and doubted that is true and good. These be conflicts of corruption & Satan; which company Grace: These be that smoke that argues fire; and Christ will not by 〈◊〉 the smonking Flax: They be effects of Sanctification; therefore be comforted here with, I beseech you,  
Another sign of truth or Grace is, Thy very fear and jealousy of thy own unsoundness and deceitfulness of thy heart; this acquits thee of hypocrisy, and justifies thy sincerity; this is a holy jealousy, fear of falseness to God, and that th●se are not in sincerity in thee.  
For first, These dispositions in thee, desires and endeavours, being signs or Grace, must of necessity be granted to be signs of sincerity; since, that that is no grace in truth, that is not sincere.  
Secondly, thy diligent search and inquiry into thyself, and jealousy of thyself, is an evident argument of the sincerity of thy heart, and that thou wouldst not deceive thyself with flattery, false or vain hopes.  
Another sign of true Grace, is, thy putting thyself upon trial of others, that thou didst not rest satisfied with thine own trial of thyself, but desiredst Gods Ministers, whom thou didst judge most sincere, strict and faithful; much pressing them, to deal truly, plainly and freely with thee, without any flattery, as they will one day answer it to the great God of Heaven. And they bear witness to thee, my soul, from Gods own Word, of the much of Grace in thee. Thou didst not account thy own poor weak endeavours, ●o search and try thyself sufficient, although thou didst it to the utmost of thy power and ability; apprehending, that they might be more able to discover, some deceit of thy heart, that thou couldst not find out.  
There follows another sign of saving grace, that is yet farther, Thou hast put thyself upon the Lords own trial. How often hast thou in secret, gone to thy God on thy knees, and earnestly entreated, and beseeched him to search thy heart and reins, thy most secret sins, and intimate corruptions; and that he would show thee thine iniquity, and cleanse thee from thy sin, not willing to hid any one from him? so David, Psal. 39 23, 24. Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me, and know my thoughts, and see if there be any wicked way in me.  
And the Lord hath at sometimes made answer to thy heart, That he is thine, and thou art his, shown some little glimpse of his love and favour to thee, as it were at 〈…〉, which hath been more joy of heart to thee, then if thou hadst a thousand worlds. Therefore▪ O my soul, praise thou this God of love; and all that is within me, praise his holy name; as Psal. 103. 1.  
Oh magnify his freegrace, mercy, and love, that he hath given thee some love-tokens, as pledges of more hereafter. Oh my soul, raise up thyself to sound out the praises of the Lord; and all that is within me, bless his great and glorious name: For truly, he hath dealt bountifully with thee. Oh how can I, how shall I, express my thankfulness unto him? Surely, I will tell others, what the Lord hath done for my poor soul, that they also may trust in him. For truly, it's never in vain to seek and wait, and trust in the Lord. Therefore, O my soul, do not be no more cast down, and so disquieted within me. Trust in God, for I shall (that is, he will give me cause to) give him thanks; he is my present help, and my God. As David said, so say I. Oh, that I could chide my soul out of its unquiet condition! seeing I cannot, I will complain to God of it, and desire him to do it for me, as David did, Psal. 43. 6. O my God, my soul is cast down; do thou raise and comfort it; for thou art able to do it. Though I cannot, I know thou Lord art able, to cheer and revive my drooping spirits; and thou wilt cause me to taste how good thou art, that I may set forth thy ravishing sweetness unto others, acquainting them, what great and unexpressible goodness, the Lord hath manifested to me. O dwell my soul a while here! suck more sweetness out of this love of God. O how great is this love of God, that pardons all thy sins of nature, and custom! o● long continuance, as well as later; great as well as smaller; of omission, as well as commission; sins of ignorance, and knowledge; secret sins, and more open sins, sins in thought, word and act; sins of thy youth and ●●per age: He blots them out all, as a creditor that takes his pen and blots out all debts, leaves none to condemn. O the greatness of this infinite love of God▪ O stand still and behold, what love the Father hath showed! wonder, and be amazed, and ravished with this love of all loves! O the riches of this love of God to thee! O admirable superabundant, surpassing love! O excellent, precious, sweet, unheard of love! O wonderful indeed, rare, unspeakable, unutterable, unexpressible, incomprehensible love! O love everlasting! one dram whereof, is better than life itself, much sweeter than the honey, and the honey comb.  
Another Evidence of Grace, is, the sweet intercourse that hath been betwixt God, and thee my soul. Sometimes thy praying to him, his answering thee. God's upholding and quieting thee sometimes, in greatest dangers; so Job and David. Therefore, stir up thy faith and live by it, for time to come. Thou hast humbled thy soul, and God hath comforted thy soul. Now he hath this communion with none, but his own children.  
Another Evidence of Grace, is, Thy hearty sorrow and grief, for thy sinning against mercies, and unthankfulness for them, and not profiting by them; arising from the consideration of God's goodness to thee, whom thereby thou dost offend. These are undoubted signs of Grace. Psal. 51. 3, 4, 5, 6, 10. I acknowledge my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me. Against thee, thee only have I sinned, and done evil in thy sight, that thou mightest be justified, when thou speakest, and be cleared when thou judgest. Behold, I was shapen in iniquity: and in sin did my mother conceive me. Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts; and in the hidden part, thou shalt make me to know wisdom. Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Psal. 19 12, 13. Cleanse me from my secret sins; keep thy servant also, that presumptuous sins reign not over me. Rom. 7. 14, 15, 22, 23, 24. For we know that the Law is spiritual, but I am carnal, sold under sin: For that which I do, I allow not; for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I: For I delight in the Law of God, after the inward man. But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind; and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin, which is in my members, O wretched man that I am, who shall deliver me from the body of this death. 2 Cor. 7. ●●. Godly sorrow causeth repentance unto salvation, not to be repent of. Lord give me more of that sorrow.  
Now God reckons not thy failings, nor imputes thy corruptions to thee as thine; as by his Apostle, and his Spirit, speaking in him, he assures thee, Rom. 7. 16, 17. If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the Law, that it is good. Now than it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. But God accepts thy person and performances in his Son (as he did Paul there) though never so poor▪ and imperfect he regardeth not so much, what thou art or dost, as what thou would●● be, and do.  
Another evidence of Saving Grace, is, thy hearty and true love to the children of God for Grace-sake, merely for the good thou seest and believest to be in them, even those who otherwise thou couldst not love: this the Apostle John makes to be a sign, That we are translated from death to life, because we love the brethren, as 1 Joh. 3. 14. Therefore as it gives attestation for thee my Soul, so take thou the comfort of it from Gods own Word, and bless God with humble thankfulness for it: so David, Psa. 119. 63. I am a companion to all them that fear thee, and keep thy precepts.  
Another sign of Grace, is this, Thy joy, and hope, and love is fixed and set not on things below, but on things above, in heaven; this argues that thou art risen with Christ, and is that which may well be a pledge and earnest to thee, that thou shalt one day appear in, and enjoy Glory with him: See Col. 3. 1, 2, 3, 4. If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God: Set your affections on things above, not on things on the earth: for ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God▪ When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in Glory. Yea, thy present  and undervaluing of all worldly honours, profits preferments or greatness, in the height of them, accounting them vain and of small value to thee: And indeed let worldlings hunt and scramble for them that have no better portion in heaven; But thou my Soul, I bless God, seest better, sweeter, and more precious and durable riches, spiritual things, that last for ever, that will satisfy the Soul: The love and favour of God, Heaven, and Glory everlasting, that shall never perish; and peace of conscience and pardon of sin, these indeed are well worth the desiring and labouring for: Alas! the other cannot afford one jot of comfort, nor satisfy the conscience when troubled for sin, or when death cometh. Oh then nothing but Christ will serve the turn, or stand in stead I Therefore now labour to get Christ to be thine, and then he will not leave nor forsake thee, no not when thou comest to die, and hast most need of him, when friends and all creature-comforts will leave us: And truly the greatness of the world doth oft steal away our hearts: These are b●●●s and snares, both worldly credit and profit, I mean, that take many a soul in their nets, by means whereof many come to lose their souls ere they are ware of it; because they have no 〈◊〉 or else no hearts to look after their precious Souls, that must last for ever, after these bodies, with all the fading comforts here below, are gone and perished. We do or may see how fleeting and uncertain all creatures and all comforts here are; every day sounds it in our ears, and continually our eyes may see it in the corpse daily carried to their graves, and how riches take their wings & f●●e away, as Prov. 23. 5. I am sure, within these few last years, God hath abundantly showed, and fulfilled that Scripture. How many thousands, not only of the meaner sort, but of the great ones of the world, even now in these our days, worth very many hundreds a year, now have not bread for their families. Men get goods, that many times know not who shall enjoy them. But I will seek the Lord, for at his right hand are joys, and pleasures for ever more, that shall last to all eternity. My Soul, this thy settled resolution is a pregnant testimony of thy love and affection to God; As also that God hath created a new heart, and put a new spirit within thee; and thou therefore art become a new creature.  
Again, That change, which God hath wrought in thee, is not always alike; not at all times so lively: Neither yet again at all times alike, cold, dead, and dull; not always dejected, not always comforted, because as there is something in thee spiritual, so also there is a part of flesh in thee that wars against the Spirit: so is it with God's Saints, with the Apostle Paul, & so with David, and the rest: and when thou confessest thy sins to God in secret, thou bewailest thy sins of thought, which never trouble Hypocrites or other sort of sinners.  
Another sign of God's love to thee, is this, Though thou hast had sore conflicts of long continuance, yet hast thou not been overwhelmed, nor overcome, but upheld; and that thou usest in them spiritual weapons, arguments from the power of God, and from the all-sufficiency and goodness of God, and thine own experience of the same, having found the presence of the Spirit of God in power so supporting thee, that thou hast not fallen away, nor sunk under them, but resolved still to trust in God by his assistance, though he should kill thee, as Job did, Job 13. 15. at that time when thou hast had no present comfort.  
Another sign of true Grace is, Thy searching and earnest inquiry for what sin God layeth his hand of affliction upon thee; and thy mourning, that thou art no more bettered by afflictions, for that is God's end in afflicting his; yea, that thou desirest to be drawed nearer to God by them, that thou mayst say, that it was good for thee that thou wert afflicted: And before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I keep thy word: As David, Psalm 119. 67. Lord make good to me that promise, That all things shall work together for good; and therefore afflictions, to them that love God, to them who are called according to his purpose. Rom. 8. 28. Lord I would fain love thee, The desire of my Soul is to thy name, and to the remembrance of thee: With my Soul have I sought or desired thee in the night, and with my spirit within me will I seek thee in the morning. As Isaiah 26. 8, 9 For whom have I in Heaven but thee, and I have desired none in the Earth with thee. As Psalm 73. 25. And thou hatest sin, as it is a breach of Gods Law.  
Another Evidence of God's Love to thee, That at such times as thou hast renewed thy Faith in Christ, and again given up thyself in more solemn manner wholly to him; God thereupon hath given ease to thy heart, which is a sign that he accepted what thou gavest him, and that he will not cast thee away. I know whom I have believed, that he is able to keep that which I have committed to him, as 2 Tim. 1. 12. And I am persuaded he will do so. And, my Soul, since thou hast found favour in the eyes of God, that he hath been pleased to manifest his Grace to thee, consider what cause thou hast of comfort and joy. Now that it may be aright conceived what Grace I mean; There is a twofold meaning of the word Grace in Scripture.  
First, It is taken for the gracious good Will or Favor of God, where by he is pleased of his own free love, to accept of some in Christ for his own: This Divines call first Grace, because it is the fountain of all other Grace, and the spring from whence they flow; and it's therefore called Grace, because it makes a man gracious with God; but this is only in God.  
Secondly, Grace is taken for the gifts of Grace, and they are of two sorts; Common or special. Some are common to both Elect and Reprobates, Believers and Hypocrites; As Knowledge, a gift of prayer, and the like. Some are special Graces, and they are proper to the Saints, therefore called saving Graces; whereof, some are most principal, and absolutely necessary unto Salvation; such as is Faith, without which, none can be saved. And some other which are very comfortable, as the feeling of God's love, Peace of Conscience, Joy in the Holy Ghost. Now if God have, first, of his gracious good will, and free love, accepted thee in Christ: And secondly, if he have given thee, any evidence of the same, by the saving graces of his holy Spirit wrought in thee, (which thou darest not deny;) then, O my soul, bless, praise, and magnify, this God of love, for this his infinite, unutterable, and superabounding love to thee. Hath he given thee any grace? It's because he loves thee; and truly, no cause at all; why God should love thee, as thou art in thyself; but the clean contrary, rather to hate and abhor thee. But he looks upon thee, in his only begotten, and dearly beloved son, the Lord Jesus Christ, God-man; and seeing no other means in all the world to save thee, God's love was so great, That he gave his only begotten son to die for thee. And see here also, the exceeding great love of Christ to thee, that gave himself to die for thee, took thy nature on him, stood in thy steed, fulfilled the Law, satisfied the justice of God for thy sin. He suffered on the Cross for thee, he procured pardon of sin, salvation, and heaven for thee, he merited it all for thee; for his was worthy; his righteousness is the meritorious cause of thy justification. He is now thy Redeemer, thy Advocate, that pleads thy cause for thee to God; he makes peace with God for thee; he ●its at the right hand of God the Father, and makes intercession for thee. God, is now become of a just, severe, and angry Judge, a loving Father in him.  
Therefore now my soul, receive all from him by promise, that shows his love as a Father. Oh, the free, and sweet love, that is in an uncompelled promised I will love thee freely, saith the Lord, Hosea 14. 4. It's free love indeed, in God to thee wards. Oh therefore, let this special free love of God, cause thee to study, how to return love to him, and live to him. Remember what he hath done for thee; how thy sins wounded thy Saviour, pierced and crucified him, and nailed him to the cross: how thy sins made his most precious body, be overrun with his heart blood: how thy own betraying and selling thy soul to sin, and Satan, made him to be betrayed, and fold to suffer and die: yea, how he endured the torments of Hell, as it were, the most heavy and sorest wrath of his Father for thy sin. What, O what great and vehement love, was in Christ thy Saviour, that made him sweat drops of blood for thee my soul? These are as so many cords of love, from Christ to thee, to cause thee to love Christ. Oh, that I could love thee, my dear Saviour, as I should. It's my heart's grief, that I cannot so love thee, as I would. Oh my dull, and drowsy soul, awake, rouse, and quicken up thyself, and stand amazed at this love of Christ. Shall, or can so many sweet expressions of such unexpressible love of Christ to thee, pass without Echo? Shall every passage of Christ, from his birth to his death, all preach forth love to thee? And shall thankfulness be wanting in thee towards him? Shall his birth, work thy new birth; his cross take away thy curse? Shall his pains procure thee rest? Shalt thou ●e cleared by his sorrowful sadness? Thou be made free by his bonds, happy by his misery, fed by his hunger, refreshed by his weariness, rejoiced by his anguish? [Thou, my Soul] be excused before God, by his being accused before men? And shall not love flush and burn in my breast to him? Oh, my God, do thou inflame my heart with this Love; kindle some further heat of Love in me; give me one dr●● more of it; draw up my Love, and most entire & intimate affections. Shall I, as it were, frieze, for want of Love to my Saviour, when his Love is so hot to me? Far be it from me. No, my loving Lord, I do love thee, I will love thee dearly: Oh help and enable me to love thee more. Oh my Soul, sleep not under such Comforts, never forget such love as this is; it is sufficient to fill all thy senses, all thine affections.  
And yet see more, This Love is not only for some years, but for eternity; Whom he once loves he loves to the end; as John 13. 1. He is a never failing Fountain of Love: Oh my Soul, therefore distrust not, despair not of his Love; though thou art so full of sins, which indeed of all things God hates most, yet behold the Love of God: all these, though so great, so many they cannot separate between thee and thy God; but in and through Christ he still loves thee, accepts thy person and services.  
It's not some slips or falls, that thou art overtaken withal, that are hated, resolved against; not wittingly, willingly, deliberately committed, nor delighted in, nor allowed, but slipped, and fallen into unawares; These cannot finite his infinite Love: He that died and bled for thee, will not lose thee, now he hath done so much for thee: No, thy sins shall not eternally separate ●h●e from him: Sin may over-cloud the beams of his Love, but it shall not cut off the Being of his Love to thee; Be thou sensible of thy load of sin, and thou art capable of his Love. He that suffered not a cup of cold water to go unrewarded, will not permit a ●ar, for thy sins, or for his Love, to go without reward: Let not the sense of thy own wretched, miserable, and undone condition discourage thee, not the fear of his displeasure dishearten thee, there is Love enough in him for all that: there is a Sun within these Clouds; there's Love within these frowns: Can Christ forget thee, whose burning Love made him sweat drops of blood for thee? No, he cannot, he will not; he may withdraw himself to sharpen thy desire; he may ●●em lost to inflame thee to seek mor●●arnestly and instantly: It may be, my Soul, thou thinkest thou wantest him, because thou desirest him, and dost not sensibly, at some times feel thou hast him, but know thou desirest him, because thou lovest him: you know it's so in natural love, and thou couldst not love him, had he not first loved thee: But if thy sinful neglects have sent him away from thee, let thy future diligence draw him home to thee. If thou hast lost him by sin, seek him by true repentance, and he will be sound of thee: He cannot be long absent from a weeping Soul. He is Love, and that will yearn and melt when it sees tears. If thy sins fear the hand of Justice, ●o Love is a Sanctuary. If thy sins make thee tremble before the Judge, Love is an Advocate; there's nothing but the Love of Christ to thee will do it for thee, and supply it to thee. Oh my dear-bought Soul, that cost so precious a price as the very heartblood of the Lord Jesus Christ, wrap up thyself in this consideration, Want not comfort while thou hast or mayst have enough, yea abundance; but make him, that is all in all, to be thy All, in all thy Wants and Necessities; Thou canst want nothing but his ABUNDANT LOVE can supply thee.  
Art thou cold in holy duties? His love can warm thee. Art thou flat in thy spirit? His love can rouse thee. Art thou still hard under the means? His love can soften and melt thee. Art thou liveless under ordinances? His love can quicken thee. Art thou incorrigible under afflictions? His love can bend thee. Art thou fallen by any sin? His ardent love can raise thee, and revive thee, and make thee alive. Oh excellent comfort, joy unexpressible, and love surpassing! Oh thou who art Love itself, who art only amiable, thou whom my Soul loveth, longeth for, and thirsteth after, panteth for, as the hunted Hart after the rivers of water! Oh God, my God, come thou, oh come thou, and do all this to my poor soul. Oh warm, heat, and inflame me with love to thee who hath so loved me. Oh melt my heart with thy love; revive and quicken me that am so dull and dead in myself; shed thy love abroad in my heart more and more, which may enable me to express sincere, cordial and hearty love to thee, all the days of my life, by walking more closely with thee, and trusting more in thee, and resting more on thee. [Oh my soul] make that good the Scripture saith, They that know thy 
Psa. 9 10.  name will trust in thee. It's the work that God appoints thee to do, to believe in Christ; as Joh. 6. 29. Also it's his commandment that we believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ; 1 Joh. 3. 23. And Christ himself calls thee, that art weary of, and heavy laden with the burden of thy sins, to come to him, and he promiseth to ease thee, or give thee rest, Math. 11. 28. And he calls out to any that will come, Ho every one that thirsteth, come ye to to the waters, and ye that have no money; come, and buy, and eat you, come buy wine and milk without money and without price, Isa. 55. 1. And so Revel. 22. 17. Every one that thirsteth, let them come: and who ever will come and drink freely of the waters of life. And whosoever comes to him he will not cast off, Joh. 6. 37. And besides all these offers of Christ and his command to believe, there's abundance of sweet promises which God hath made to them that believe; as Joh. 3. 16. God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him, should not perish, but have everlasting life. Also Verse 36. He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life. He is as sure, and as certain of it, as if he had it already in possession. And God delights in them that hope in his mercy, Psa. 147 11. And the Lord redeemeth the souls of his servants, and none that trust in him shall perish, Psa. 34. 22. The Lord is a shield and a helper to all them that trust in him.  
Now God that made these rich, free, and precious promises, is Truth itself, and therefore is [so] in performing all his promises. God is not as man, that ●e should lie; neither as the son of man, that he should repent. Hath he said, and shall he not do it? And hath he spoken, and shall he not accomplish it? O yes: as Numb. 23. 19  
Nay more, it's a part of his Covenant with his people; therefore (Oh my Soul) press the Lord with his Covenant▪ and he will perform it, even to thee; and so all his promises also. What good thing dost thou or canst thou want, either spiritual, temporal, or eternal, that God hath not promised to give thee? And what evil thing caused thou fear, or suffer, that God hath not promised to save thee from the evil of it at least?  
Are there not promises of giving thee Christ, and with him perfect Righteousness, and Justification? and in this life, such a measure of Sanctification, as he will accept of, both all the necessary graces of the Spirit, and victory over every lust, and perfect Sanctification after death; as also a sufficient ability to every service and duty; a passing by, and covering of all imperfections, and perseverance to the end, and in the end, life everlasting? Again, a sanctified use of all Afflictions, either preservation from, or deliverance out of them, in the best time; with such Administration of all outward necessaries, as he shall see best, for his glory, and thy good. Assistance also in any sufferings for his name, and a reward for them. And what now can be thy estate, in which thou mayest not hope yea, and joy in that hope too? as Rom. 12. 13.  
Art thou under the guilt of some sin, power of some lust, want of some grace, absence of God's Spirit, or assurance of God's favour; or under some persecution, or outward affliction? Hath not God promised to supply that good, save from that evil? Why then my soul, shouldst not thou joy in hope of it; or mayest thou not have hope, since God hath promised it? And why doth not thy hope beget joy? in outward things it doth so.  
Thou mayest see the full joys of Heaven, Christ's presence, God's face, perfect glory; and these all enjoyed by thee, all enjoyed, I say, by hope; and that by such an hope as cannot fail, Rom. 5. 5. as makes not ashamed. It's sure, and presents the things hoped for; most sure, for it hath the certainty of Faith for its ground, and that is the certainty of God himself. For Faith buildeth on God's promises, and they are most certain; confirmed by two immutable things.  
First, The Word of God.  
Secondly, The Oath of God.  
Heb. 6. 16, 17, 18, 19 For men swear an oath for confirmation, it is then an end of all strife. God willing more abundantly, to show unto the heirs of promise, the immutability of his counsel, confirmed it by an oath: That by two immutable things, in which, it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation. Which Hope, we have as an Anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast: Yea, thy Faith, and Hope hath, as the immutability, so the fidelity, and truth of God to rest upon: he can as well cease to be God, as not to be so good as his Word It hath also the purpose and de●ree of God; for God's promises are only the expressions of his purpose and decree. And as the Mercy of God, so it hath also the Merit of Christ; the efficacy of his Obedience, Passion, and Intercession. And thus also its sure; for Christ hath merited all good things, for thee, present and to come; whether it be p●rdon of sin, victory over sin, subduing thy corruption; the favour of God, or what ever else thou wantest. And it's necessitated now by God's Justice also, That being satisfied by Christ, and his satisfaction by God accepted. Oh, why then shouldst not thou joy in hope of all these? O consider the strength of all these Arguments, to cause and increase, Hope and Joy in thee. The joy of the Lord is our strength, Neh●. 8. 10. Therefore, O my soul, be thou no mo●e so cast down, for time to come; why art th●u, o● why should●st thou be so? O rouse up, and encourage thyself in thy God; and strengthen thy Faith by meditating, on the truth and goodness of these promises; their excellencies, sweetness, and usefulness to thee, and by Resis●ing doubtings; and so stir up thy Faith in them.  
This is the place of living by Faith: therefore, O my soul, live thou by Faith, (that is) find out a promise of what ever thou wantest, and ●enture on it with expectation, hoping above hope; and so fetch every thing thou needest f●om the promises. O that tho● wouldst sing that triumphant Song, that the Apostle Pa●l doth, Rom. 8. 38, 39 I am persuaded, that neither de●th, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor thin●s present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate the●, from the ●●ve of God, which i● in Christ Jesus our Lord. O my soul, pray, and strive so to do. O that thou couldst say, as the same Apostle doth, Phil. 1. 23. I des●re to be devolved, and be with Christ, which is best of all. Truly, in the mean while. God alone is thy portion; for thou hast taken him so to be. And if God alone be present with thee, it's enough: He were not God, i● he were not All-sufficient.  
Now thou hast him in Faith, in pledges, and earnest, yea, in possession; why then dost thou not enjoy him? why dost thou not shake off that senseless, drowsiness, which makes thy life unpleasant, and uncomfortable; as though thou hadst none of God? O leave off over-heaviness, to those that want God, to those that either know him not, or know him displeased, not in Christ.  
Thou Lord shalt guide me with thy counsel, and afterwards bring me to glory, as Psal. 73. 24, 25, 26, 28. Whom have I in Heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth, that I desire besides thee. My flesh and my heart ●aileth, but God is the strength of my heart, and my port●●n for ever. It is good for me to draw near to God. I have put my trust in the Lord God; and ●o, he answers, I will not leave thee, nor forsake thee; no never, as Heb. 13. 5. No, at no time. When thou art therefore in any straight, or distress, that thou knowest not what to do; then go freely, and boldly to the throne of grace, in the Name, through the Mediation of Christ: There's a friend that will help thee, and relieve thee; sustain, and deliver thee. When all other helps ●ail, yet I say, he will never fail thee; do I say so? nay verily, of a truth, it is God himself saith it, by his Spirit, speaking in his Apostle. Therefore, build on it, ●●st on it, as most certain: For as God is truth itself, so are all his promises; let them be believed by thee. Press the Lord with his own word or promise; and he will perform them even to thee. Lord, thou hast said, that sin shall not have dominion over us, as Rom. 6. 14. O let it not have have dominion over me, make good that word of thine to me. O when shall that time once be? O, that thou wouldst this day, nay, this very hour, at once, kill all sin in me. Lord thou hast said, Thou wilt 
Mich. ●. 19  subdue our iniquities. O Lord, do thou it in me, for they are too strong for me. Is any thing to hard for God? no sure, surely thou hast power enough to do it. And thou saidst thou ar● willing; O, what then hinders? O my God, let thy Spirit come, s●nd it with power; and make its virtue to appear, in subduing all sin in me; and raising me up to a new, a holy life; such a life, as thou wouldst have me live. Lord thou hast said, That we shall seek thee with all our hearts; and that thou wilt befo●●d of us, Jere. 29. 13, 14. O remember thine own everlasting Covenant, made with thy servants, Jere. 32. 40. That thou wilt put thy fear in their hearts, and they shall not departed from thee. And thou hast said, Thou wilt comfort us, and we shall be comforted, even as one ●hom his mother comforts, I●. 66. 13. Lord make good these promises, in which thou hast caused thy servant to trust. O keep thy servant, that ●o presumpt●ous sins prevail over me. And cleanse me from ●y secret sins; yea from all my sins of thought; then shall I be ●pright, and I shall be innocent, and free, from the great transgressions. Let the words of my mouth, and the meditations of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my Strength, and my Red●●mer.   

A SERMON Composed for the FUNERAL Of that pr●●ious Woman M ANNE SKELTON, of S. Andr●w● in Norw●●●.  HO●●● 13. 14. O death! I will ●● thy plagues: O grave▪ I will be thy distraction! 
THis Chapter easily divideth itself into three parts:  
1. A grievous Reprehension, to v. 10.  
2. A sad Comination from the 10. to the 14. verse.  
3. A seasonable Consolation from the beginning of the verse, where my Text is co●ch●, to the end of the Chapter. My Text gins the last part of the Chapter: The sense of which is ambiguously controverted by Expositors. Some will have it to be a promise merely relating to the deliverance of the Jews out of Captivity; in which sense some conceive the same phrase (almost) taken, Isai. 25. 8. But it is plain from the Apostles Commentary, 2 Cor. 15. 55. that it is not to be restrained to that sense. The Hebrews opinion is altogether for it; But Christian Interpreters, g●ided by the Apostle, generally render it a prediction of the deliverance of the Elect from Sin, Death, and Hell, by the Lord Jesus Christ. Some Controversy there is yet amongst them about the direct sense, some amongst which is Calvin, and Oecolampadius will have it to be a spiritual promise, but conditional; as if the sens● were this: If they had repent and turned unto me, I had delivered them even from the gates of Death. But Jerom, with others, make it an absolute promise of a Redemption from from Sin and Death by Christ, and will make the words to be the speech of Christ promising Redemption to his Elect. Join both together, and the sense is perfectly this; Christ doth here promise Redemption to his Elect, under the type of the deliverance of the Children of Israel ou● of Babylon. The deliverance of the Children of Israel out of Babylon was typical: That's promised here, viz. That after a certain time he would redeem them out of the power of the Babylonish Captivity, where they should lie as buried for a while. But the Antitype was the Elect of God, ●o whom Christ promiseth a Redemption from Death and the Grave. [I,] I, the Lord Jesus Christ, Jehovah, the second Person in the Trinity. [Will Ransom,] Redeem: It signifies to deliver out of some bondage, by virtue of a price paid by another for his friend. I will pay the debt due to my Father's Justice and Wrath, and buy them out of their natural slavery. [Them] The Elect, in a spiritual sense; the Jews, in a plain sense; as the words are a promise of a deliverance out of the Babylonish Captivity. [From the hand of the Grave,] that is the power of the Grav●: To be in ones hand, is to be in their power; therefore our Translation readeth it power. [Of the Grave,] The Ba●ylonish Grave, if you look upon the promise, as merely respecting them. 1. Sin, 2. Death, and 3. Hell, are all here understood: So the Apostle applies it, 1. Cor. 15. Thus Christ hath fulfilled it for his Saints. [I will redeem th●m from death.] It is but a repetition of wh●t was promised before: The word is doubled for it is certain. [O death!] Christ speaks O death, Spiritual, Temporal, Eternal: [I will be thy plagues,] O grave, I will be thy destruction!] I, Jesus Christ, [will be,] by my coming, and dying, and rising again, [will be,] in time; 'tis yet but a little while, but I will come and tread upon thy neck, [thy plague's,] Jerom and Ambrose read ●t 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, thy contention. I will, engage in the quarrel betwixt thee, and my elected ones. Death had a quarrel against all the children of Adam, by virtue of that original word, In the day that thou ●atest thereof thou shalt surely die. Others read it, [Plagues or Destruction▪] The difference ariseth from the nearness of kin that is betwixt the Heb. words, signifying Contention, and the Hebr●w word, signifying Plagues. The Greeks read it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, Victory: I will be thy Conqueror. Others read it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, Punishment, just Punishment, etc. I will be thy ●in● with Justice. [O grave. I will be thy destruction.] Thy sting, thy cutting off. Here Christ saith, I will be. The Apostle triumpheth, as of the thing done, 2 Cor. 15. 55. O death, where's thy sting? etc. Christ having then died, conquered death, risen, and ascended. You have now the sense.  
If you look on the whole Verse, you have in it these three parts.  

1. A redemption promised, in which you may note; 

1. The Redeem●●; I Christ.  
2. The Act; I will redeem.  
3. The Redeemed; Them.  
4. The time; I will.  
5. The slavery; Death, the Grave.    
2. The manner of this redemption: 

1. By himself; I being ●●aths ●uine.  
2. With a price paid; I will redeem.  
3. The confirmation of it: Repe●●●ance shall be hi● from mi●● eyes. I cannot change or eat my words; I have said it, and it shall be done.     
My Text contains the second part, where you have Christ threatening death to be its plagues, and the grave to be its destruction. The Doctrine is shortly this.  
Doct. Christ for his Believers is become deaths plague, and the graves destruction.  
There is no change in the Doctrine from the very words of the Text; only what Christ here spoke in the future tense, I will, I have put in the preterperfect tense, (as the Apostle.) Christ prophesied his coming by Hosea, we preach the prophecy fulfilled.  
Two things would here for Explication be enquired into.  

1. What death Christ is a plague to.  
2. How Christ became the plague of death, and the destruction of the grave to his people.   
The distinction of death is ordinarily known.  

1. Spiritual; which is the souls death in sin: We were all of us dead in sins.  
2. Temporal; which is the separation of the soul from the body.  
3. The third is Eternal; The death of body and soul for ever.   
The first consists in the separation of the soul from God: The second in the separation of the body from the soul: The third in the separation of both body and soul from the presence of God for ever. If it be asked concerning which of these Christ speaks, and to which of these Christ is a plague and destruction.  
I shortly answer to all: First, he is a plague to the Spiritual Death, a destruction to that grave. Ephes. 2. 1, 5. You hath be quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins. By reason of Adam's fall all the elect became dead in sins, and children of wrath by nature, as well as others. Christ coming quickens the dead soul with his enlivening Grace. Ezek. 16. 6. I said unto thee, while thou wert in thy blood live; yea, I said unto thee, while thou wert in thy blood live. O death! Spiritual Death, he hath been, he is, he will daily be thy plague.  
Secondly, He is a plague to Temporal Death: Indeed it is the last enemy that shall be put under the Conqueror's feet, before he resigneth up the Kingdom to his Father.  
First, He is a plague to it; for he hath delivered us out of the power of it, he hath made the door stand merely by the latch: When Adam had his mittimus made to the Gaol of the Grave, Death turns the lock, bolts up the door, when he had gotten him but once in his custody, never intending to part with the prisoner more: Christ seeing the Gaoler so confident in his Tyranny, Well, saith he, let him be good of his office, for I will ransom them from tho power of the grave; I will make Death know, he is but to keep his prisoner till further order. Indeed this was decretally done, before the beginning of the world, by Christ's Word given to his Father: and Christ ever and anon, in the time of the Jews, let his elected one's know there was an evasion out of the grave, by the resurrection of several persons; but the time of Christ's actual and full becoming the plague of death, and the destruction of the grave, was when he died, and rose, and led captivity captive. Thus Christ is the plague of Death, and the destruction of the grave, for all men and women in the world; but to his Elect, only for good, there is an escape-way out of the deepest grave already; and at the last day there shall be an actual freedom.  
Secondly, He is to Believers the plague of this Death, and the destruction of this Grave, by taking away the cause of fear of this death out of all their hearts, they can stand upon the top of the grave, and sing, O Death, where is thy sti●g▪ O Hell, where is thy victory? The Elect (●ad it no● been for Christ) for ●ea● of death had all their life time been subject to bondage▪ Heb. 2. 15. ●●rasmuch therefore as the children were partakers of flesh and blood, he also took part with them, v. 1●. that ●e might deliver them. The Saints of God can stand over the grave and say, Surely the bitterness of death is past, though they cannot say the time o● death is past.  
3dly, Christ to his Elect is the plague of Death temporal, ●n that he hath taken away the final evil of it, and hath made that which would have been thei● ma●●e● for ●●ine and evil, to be their desire and servant for good. Death thought to have been go●ler of the bodies of God's Saints, till the day of judgement, and then Hell should have had them delivered up. God says, No; their bodies shall be in thy custody, but thou shalt deliver them up refined to Glory, to Eternal Rest, to be with me for ever: So that now it is the voice of God's child, I desire to be dissolved, and to be with Christ: And in this we groan earnestly, being burdened, not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality may be swallowed up of life. Death is ease now to the Saints of God, the hard stones are but pillows of down: The grave, from a place of terror, is turned into a retiring house, from the busy sweeting world. O death! Christ is thy plague: O grave! ●e is thy destruction.  
Thirdly, Christ is the plague and destruction of Eternal Death: they shall never taste of that; Believers are passed from death to life; He that is the Amen, that was dead and is alive, yea alive for ever more, he hath the keys of Hell and Death, Rev. 1. 18. Christ is the Angel that came down from heaven, R●v. 20. 1. that hath the key of the bottomless pit; and he that hath a part in the first resurrection, on him the second death hath no power: Rev. 2. 11. Overcoming Saints shall not be hurt by the second death: Now this is our victory that overcometh the world, even our faith: Believers are Conquerors in and through Christ, and Christ hath conquered hell for them; for the lake which burns with fire and brimstone is the second death, Rev. 21. 8. Christ now hath saved them from this; this hath no power over them. O death! he is thy plague: O grave! he is thy destruction. Thus I have opened the first, and shown you what Death, what Grave Christ is a plague to.  
Now let me show you in the next place, How Christ is the plague of death & the grave of destruction? To this I shall answer in three or four particulars briefly.  

1. By his enlivening Spirit.  
2. By his dying Love,  
3. By his rising Power.  
4. By his ascending and reigning Glory.   
First, By his enlivening power: Thus he is the plague of spiritual death; he comes and sees the soul that he hath chosen, dead in ●respasses and sins; it neither speaks, nor hears, nor sees, nor moves spiritually; it is more cold than the frozen earth: Christ breathes into it the breath of life. The Son quickeneth whom 
Joh 5: 21. john 6. 63  he will. Christ doth it meritoriously: The Spirit doth it instrumentally; Joh. 6. 63. It is the Spirit that quickeneth: He maketh the dead soul to begin to hear the voice of the Son of God, and live; to begin to relish heavenly things, and savour things which are above; to stand upon its legs, and walk a little in the ways of godliness.  
Secondly, By his dying Love: Christ's death was that which destroyed death; He was the first of those that risen from the dead, by power from himself to live for ever: Christ dying showed the grave his power: Christ's dying was the plague of death:  
1. In his own example: He broke through the bol●ed door of the Grave, though the stone was rolled and sealed: He was he that was dead, and is alive; yea, that lives for evermore. O Death! he was thy plague in himself; he was 
● P●t. 3 18  dead and is alive, thy lock could not keep him.  
2. In the merit of it: Christ's death in the merit of it, was the plague of death, and the destruction of the grave: The sting of death is sin, (saith the Apostle.) Christ dying satisfied his Father's Wrath and Justice. So that though death lives for a while, yet he lives without a sting; it can do no member of Christ hurt; and it shall not live long neither: for though it be the last en●my that shall be destroyed, yet it shall die too, 1 Cor. 15. 26. Christ's death was the graves destruction, it destroyed sins life, which is the spiritual death; for Christ having died, sin is dead too, Rom. 6. 6. Our old man is crucified wi●● him, that the body of sin might from henceforth be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. Vers. 9, 10. In th●● he died, he died once unto sin. Vers. 11. Likewise r●ckon you yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin. By Christ's d●ath, temporal death is destroyed, in the power of it, for he himself led captivity captive: In the fear or it, Forasmuch as ●●e children were partakers of flesh and blood, ●e also himself took part with them, that through death ●e ●ight destroy him that had the power of d●●th, ●ven the devil: And deliver them that through fear of death were all their life time subject to bondage, Heb. 2. 13, 14. In the bitterness of it; for now we know that while we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord. O death! Christ dying hath been thy death; And so for eternal death: for he hath, by his death satisfied, so satisfied his Father's Wrath, that now the second death shall have no power over us.  
●ly. Christ is the plague of death, by his rising power: The power of Christ's Resurrection is great upon death: Therefore the Apostle tells us, Rom. 6. 4. That like as Christ was raised from the dead, by the glory of his Father, even so also 
Col. 3. 1.  we should walk in newness of life, being first planted into the likeness of his death, then of his resurrection, Vers. 5. Christ rising in himself was the plague of temporal death; Dying, he was a servant to it; Rising, he became the Conqueror over it: Being the first fruits of them that sleep in the grave, 1 Corinth. 15. 20. And rising, he became the plague of death for his people: His Resurrection was but a type and a prophecy, that those that that sleep in the dust shall have a morning to awake in: this the Apostle fully proves in the former part of his 15. Chap. of the first Epistle to the Corinthians; it is a pillar upon which all the Saints of God ought to build their faith, in the Article of the resurrection of the body: And from that premise, an undeniable argument may be brought to confirm ou● Faith in the resurrection of the body, as the Apostle disputes there: yea and his resurrection was the plague of eternal death: for by his resurrection the love declared in his death become victorious, and his death mansorious: it would have argued, that the debt had not been paid to infinite Justice, if the prisoner had not been se●●t liberty by the resurrection of his body: Now who shall lay any thing to the charge of Gods elect? It is God that justifieth. Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that dy●d; yea rather that risen is again: Rom. 8. 34. But the freeing of the prisoner argues the ransom is paid, and Justice satisfied.  
Fourthly, Christ, by his a●c●nding and living in Glory, is become the plague of death: Spiritual death is thus destroyed, as soon as it gins to ●reep upon the Saints of God. Christ sitteth at the right hand of God to make intercession for them, Rom. 8. 34. And now we know that if we sin, we have an Advocate with the Father, even Christ the Righteous, 1 Joh. 2. 1. Thus Temporal death was destroyed; for it appeared by this, That he did not come out of the grave with deaths leave, upon condition to return a prisoner again. Rev. 1. 18. He lives that was dead, and is alive for evermore. He risen no 
Eph. 4. 8.  more to go down to the prison again; thus Eternal Death is destroyed too. For, In that we know our Redeemer lives, we know we shall see him with these eyes, and live with him in Glory. Therefore the Psalmist putteth them together; He hath ascended up on high, and led Captivity [all kind of Captivity] Captive: In that he is ascended to his Father, and our Father; our God, and his God; We know 
joh. 20. 17 joh. 14. 3.  he is not amissus, but praemissus, not lost, but gone before to prepare a place for us, and that he will one day come again, and receive us to himself, that where he is, there we may be also.  
Lastly, He will yet be the plague and destruction of death and the grave, by his freeing and acquitting power, at the great day, when he shall come to judge the quick and dead, when he shall come in his Glory, and shall sound the Trumpet to a Resurrection: Gather my Saints together, those that have made a Covenant with 
1 Cor. 15. 16  me by Sacrifice: Then shall there not the least smell of the death of sin remain about the bodies or souls of his Servants; then the prison of the grave shall fly open, and be shut no more for ever; all the bars and locks of the grave shall fly off, and death itself shall be destroyed, and all bodies have a liberavit; then shall the Robes of Righteousness be put on the souls and bodies of his Saints, and the Crown of Glory shall be put upon their heads, even the Crown of Everlasting Life; then shall all the redeemed one's of the Lord be actually declared before all the world to be free for ever, not only from the first, but the second death; and the Saints that have been buried in Christ's Death, and quickened by his Resurrection, shall for ever live with him in Glory, and sing for ever, O death, where's thy sting? O hell, where's thy victory? Thus Christ is the plague of Death, and the destruction of the Grave.  
I have done with the Doctrinal part, and am come to Application.  
First, It shall serve for Instruction; secondly, for Consolation; and lastly, for Exhortation.  
First, For Instruction: It may instruct us how wonderfully beholden every Saint of God is to the Lord Jesus Christ.  
1. Do but consider what he hath done for thee: He hath delivered thee; Is that all? No, he hath redeemed thee; it argues a price paid for thee, to deliver thee from sin, the grave, and hell: We●t not thou all mired with sin, under the power and command of sin, a slave to thy base lusts and corruptions, dead in trespasses and sins? Who hath quickened thee? Who hath said to thee in thy blood live? Was it not h● that hath here said, O death, I will be thy death? Who shall deliver me from this body of death? (saith the Apostle.) O wretched man that I am, etc. 
Rom. 7. 24 25  I thank God through Jesus Christ o●● Lord. O death, he is thy death!  
2. Thou art redeemed from the power of the grave, and from the bitterness of it: Who hath done this? Was it not he again that took flesh, and became partaker with us of it, that through death he might destroy him that had the power of it, and deliver them that all their life time; through fear, were subject to bondage.  
3. Who hath saved thee from the second death, from hell, and eternal torments, but thy Saviour who hath put this song into thy mouth, O hell, where's thy victory? B●t consider again how Jesus Christ hath done this, by his own dying. Christ died in the flesh, that thou mayst not die in thy sins; himself tasted the bitterness of the cup, that he might leave it sweet to all his children. Is not thy heart won with his love, Christian? Dost thou see him encounter thy three great enemies, the first, the second, the third death? for so I may call them: Dost thou see him dying in the fight, and conquering by his dying pains? O my Soul, thou art drawn with strong cords of love, run after him.  
Secondly, From hence we may learn of what use and comfort every Act of Christ is, and may be, to believers. His death, his rising, his ascension, nothing of what he did was too little, nor any thing too much; there could have wanted nothing, and there was nothing redundant; if he had not died, he had not merited deliverance from Spiritual Death; if he had not risen, he had not conquered Natural Death; if he had not ascended, he had not led all Captivity Captive. Let every action of Christ comfort thee, who did all that he did for thee.  
Thirdly, From hence we may be instructed, why so many are afraid of death; Temporal Death I mean. The cause may be double, either a want of Christ, or a want of Faith. 1. Wicked, vil● wretches they are afraid to die: Oh that that cup might ever pass from them; they know not how to think of that day, and parting hour; and truly no great marvel, death with its sting in it, will fear the stoutest man in the world: For a poor wretch to be ready to die, and cry out, Now goes out my poor soul to answer for all my oaths and blasphemies, for all my Sabbath breaking and profaneness; now must I take my leave of all comforts, friends, wife, children, all adieu for ever. If death be not killed itself, it kills the heart of the stoutest, the poor wretch cannot see that Christ hath redeemed him from the power of the grave. 2. God's own dear children may fear death, through a want of faith, not applying, with such a confidence as they ought, the merits and virtue of Christ's death to their souls. Those now that the Lord hath given a persuasion to, that they have an Interest in Jesus Christ, those dye without fear, they know their Redeemer lives; and this was the happiness of this precious Saint of God, that he hath now taken from us: She had comforted herself against the fear of Death, that she could say, O death, where's thy sting? Therefore in a book she had composed and written for her own use, to 
Her book ●s annexed to this Sermon.  comfort her against the fear of Death. She makes it her work to prove her interest in Christ, and did it by several marks, which made her die without giving death an ill word, or countenance; death came, but he had lost his sting, Christ had been its plague.  
A second Use may be of Consolation to comfort the children of God against the fear of death: Lift up your heads, O ye righteous! be glad ye upright in heart! All your enemies are trodden under foot: fear not sin, death, nor hell. Death hath lost its sting, Hell hath lost its victory. 1. Fear not spiritual death: Sin shall no longer have dominion over your mortal bodies; for Christ hath died to free you from the guilt of it, and to deliver you from the power of it. It may live, it shall not reign; it may fight against, it shall not conquer you. 2. Fear not temporal death. Consider the Wasp hath lost its sting. What hurt can it do thy soul? It is not thy ruin Christian! It is thy perfection. Luke 13 32. I do cures, saith Christ, to day, and to morrow, and the third day I shall be perfected. Thou art not perfected here Christian! there is a crown of glory, that the Father will set on thy h●ad with the black hand of death. Who fears the Serpent, that hath lost its teeth? the Bee that hath lost its sting. O death, Christ hath been thy death! Though thou mightst be afraid to take up death, when it was a Serpent, yet see its turned into a rod. What is thy life Christian? is it not full of frowns? are not all thy days almost tears and sorrow? Doth not the wicked world look a squint upon the Saints of God? is not suffering an hereditary disease, that runs in the blood of Mighty Jesus? that every Saint is born to inherit the Cross, and through Golgotha, to take his way to glory? what should wed thee to the world Christian? not thy desire of life; and sure it cannot be thy fear of death. Death hath nothing formidable in it: Say to it Christ is dead. O death where is thy sting then? Much less can they fear eternal death; for they are passed from death to life, and the second death hath no power over them.  
I have but a word more, and that is of Exhortation. First, To all, to get an interest in Jesus Christ. Thus prepare yourselves for the day of dissolution: It is a statute in the Records of Heaven, That all men should once die, and afterwards come to judgement. Death is a bitter cup to those that know nothing to sweeten it. Learn here to get a part in the Lord Jesus Christ, a title to him, an interest in him: He hath taken out the sting of death; he hath been its plag●e, but not for all, see therefore for thy interest in him: Hic labour, hoc opus est; Christians, here is your work, you spend else your time for nothing, and your labour for that which will not profit. Work out your salvation; give all diligence to make your calling and election sure. This is your land-work Saints; and while it is done, you will never be prepared to go to Sea, to set sail for eternity; he will never be satisfied with time and days, that hath not some grounds to hope for eternity. O that you would labour to make this work, your work: You spend your days in labour and sorrow; and when you die, you will lie down in sorrow. Believe it, you that spend your strength, for that which will not profit; you will see the day when your souls will be troubled for the hours lost in dressing & vanity, in the following the lusts of the eye, and of the flesh. O make this your work, to get a portion in Christ, and believe him (who though he knows but little, knows that) you will find it a difficult work; a work, that will be enough for the time, and for the strength you have to spend. If you have Christ, you are well, if not, you die a slave to death, and will be a galleyslave to Satan in Hell for ever. O that you would be wise, and consider your latter end, before you come down wonderfully. This was the work, and constant work of this precious Si●●er of ours, whom God hath now taken from the evil to come. It was her practice to hasten over the business of her family, as a thing to be done, yet not her great work; and then to apply herself to the great work of making her calling and election sure. In which, her pains were as unweariable, as others are in vanity. That she hath lest behind her several Books written, which are as the Chronicle and Annuals of her life; collecting those promises on which her soul rested; framing the objections of her own spirit, and seeking out satisfaction from God's Word. If in any thing she doubted, she ●nquired at the lips of them that should preserve knowledge, and pens down their answers, observes Gods ways with herself, and her own frame towards him; and from all, gathers up a posy of such evidences of saving Grace, as she could find in her soul, to comfort her in her latter hour. And if any asks, what profited this labour? I could only have wished, that such persons had been (as I was) a witness to her dying happiness; to have seen with what a peace of Spirit, what a fullness of assurance, what hope, what joy, she entertained her last affliction, the messenger of death: There they should have seen this promise made good; the grave destroyed; the Saint delivered; hell trodden under foot; death desired, conquered, despised; this song sung, O death where is thy fling? O hell where is thy victory?  
Be exhorted, O ye that have a portion in Christ, be exhorted to tread under foot your conquered enemy. What is there in death, that is terrible or bitter, to those that have a portion in the Lord Jesus Christ? Why are you afraid to be made perfect? there is no taste of hell in the cup. The prison doors shall not be locked; the bolts are broken off; the bitterness of death is past. O desire to be dissolved, and to be with Christ: Love the winding-sheet that wrapped up your Saviour; the stones and gravel of the grave, have nothing in them that is hard or harsh. Christ hath been the plague of death, and the destruction of the grave. I heard a voice from henceforth, saying, Blessed are they that die in the Lord; yea, (saith the Spirit) for they rest from their labours.  
Lastly, From this Text may those that mourn for the dead, in the Lord, be comforted. Hast thou lost a believing friend? Weep not for her, weep for thyself: Not that she is gone, but that thou art here. Death hath our friend in his hands, but not in his power. It is Christ that hath said, I will redeem you from the power of the grave. Is not Christ dead? is not he risen again? and ascended? hath he not led captivity captive? why mournest thou then for a Saints freedom? is there any thing of bitterness in the cup, that thy and her Father, hath given her to drink? Triumph, because she triumpheth; rejoice, because all tears are now wiped from her eyes; show a faith in Christ's death, Resurrection, Ascension, conquest over Sin, Death, and Hell. The work of Righteousness is peace; and the ●ffect of her Righteousness, quietness, peace, and assurance for ever.  
FINIS.