A Funeral-Sermon Upon Occasion of the DEATH OF Mrs. LOB, Late WIFE of Mr. Steven Lob.  
Preached by SAMUEL SLATER, Minister of the GOSPEL  Psalm CXII. 6. 
The Righteous shall be in everlasting remembrance.  
LONDON: Printed for Tho. Parkhurst, and Tho. Cockerill, at the Bible and Three Crowns in Cheapside, and at the Three Legs in the Poultry. MDCXCI.   

To the REVEREND Mr. STEVEN LOB.  
Dear Brother,  
GOD having made a great Breach upon you, by taking away her who was the delight of your eyes; and I having seen the Body she left behind, laid to Rest in its bed of Dust, was ●hen by you put upon this last Office of Love, in Preaching ●o your People on that occasion; nor did I draw back; ●ut being that very Evening seized by, and for some time continued under a Sharp Distemper, I could not Study a New Sermon, but was forced to entertain you with one I ●ad Preached in mine own Congregation, but a little before, ●pon the Death of a Young Gentlewoman, Mrs. Susan Hatchman; the Text put into my hand, as what in ●eer Health she had chosen for that purpose: Well; it ●aving been Preached, you earnestly desired the Publishing ●f it, and would needs have it from the Pulpit sent to the Press; thereupon it is done; and I have enough, so it do much good. I heartily sympathized with you; for indeed I ●ove you; the good Lord sanctify the Affliction, and sweeten ●t, and make it up to you. I said nothing in her Commendation; while many do not deserve it, she did not need it. Her works praise her, so do you, and the Tongues of them that knew her. I desire that he who can, would fill up her room, comfort your heart, help you in your work, and prosper it; and having been your God, be the God of your Seed, that those young Branches may flourish in his Courts, and bring forth much precious Fruit in their Season. I leave you where, I hope, I found you, under the healing wings of the Sun of Righteousness, which are able to cure all Wounds, and to supply all Wants; and so remain,  
Yours in the best Bonds, SAMUEL SLATER. November 20. 1691.   

A Funeral-Sermon.  PHILIP. 1.23. 
I am in a straight betwixt two, having a desire to depart and to be with Christ, which is far better.  
PAUL being a Prisoner at Rome, where that Monster of men Nero sat in the Throne, sent by Epaphroditus this Epistle to the Saints at Philippi, with the Bishops and Deacons, among other Reasons, to prevent their being offended at his Sufferings, which had fallen out to the furtherance of the Gospel; his Bonds being famous in Caesar's Court and other Places, which gave people occasion of enquiring into the reason of them, by which means they came to understand something of Christ, and the Christian Religion. Besides many of the Brethren were by his Courage and Constancy encouraged to preach the word with greater boldness than before. Some indeed preached Christ out of Envy to him, that they might lessen his Interest and Esteem, and advance their own; But others did it out of a sincere and holy purpose, to enlarge the Kingdom of Christ, and to maintain and confirm what Paul had delivered; for which he also now suffered, knowing he was set for the defence of the Gospel: And he comforted himself with such things as these: That however, t●e work was carried on, and the Name of Christ was as a Precious Oin●ment poured forth; and as for himself, his afflictions should contribute to his Salvation, through the help of their prayers, and fresh supplies of Grace from the divine Spirit, trusting according to his former Hope and Expectation, that he himself should not through any Terror be ashamed to own and stand to what he had preached; and that Christ should be magnified in his Body; whethe● it were by L●fe or by Death; of which two, which to choose he knew not, but was in a straight about it, as he saith in the Text before us Wherein I shall take notice of, and offer to your Consideration, thre● things; and having with convenient brevity spoken to them, I shal● present you with some Doctrinal Conclusions, and shut up this Discourse.  

1. Here is Paul's Judgement.  
2. His Desire.  
3. The Straight in which yet he was.   
First, I shall consider his judgement, which we have reason to coun● solid, and worthy of so eminent an Apostle. The Object about which it was exercised, is the Future State of Believers, which they shall enter into, when their Places here shall know them no more. A● for their present State, that condition in which they are, during their abode here, he had given his thoughts concerning it, elsewhere; namely, 1 Cor. 15.19. If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable. We might very well pass in the world for a company of Fools and Madmen, should we keep under our bodies as we do, and deny ourselves the free use of those outward Comforts which others do abound in; and expose ourselves to so much Contempt and Scorn, so great Hatred and Reproach, so many Losses, Crosses, Sufferings and Persecutions, if we had not a firm and well-grounded Assurance of something, yea, enough in another world, to make us an abundant amends and recompense for all the troubles and vexations of this. So that he there readily yields, That as to present Temporal Enjoyments, the condition of Wicked Men is of the two, more desirable; which hath been a great and sore Temptation to some Gracious and Holy Persons; as you may see, if you please to peruse the 73 d Psalm, from the 1st to the end of the 14 th' verse. But in the Text before us, he speaks of a Future State, into which the Saints shall enter, when they take their flight, and moun● up with wings as Eagles, unto that delightful Place which God hath prepared for their Eternal Abode. And he gives us his Judgement of this State, as to Two Things.  

1. The Nature of it.  
2. The excellency of it. And both these are worthy of our most serious and frequently-repeated thoughts.   
1. The Apostle tells us what that State will be as to the Nature of ●t; of which he doth indeed speak very briefly, but very fully. From what he saith, I may with highest confidence conclude, That it is such ● State as now deserves to be the Object of the Saints Desire; and ●hen they are once entered into it, it will be eternally their Delight. 〈◊〉 is such a state as now they may well long for, and hereafter they cannot but be satisfied with. Such a State, as that the Faith and Assurance of it, may and doth work in them Joy unspeakable and full of Glory. Then raise your Thoughts and Conceptions to the highest ●itch that you can, and enlarge them to the utmost, and tell us, if you ●an, what the enjoyment of it will do! But if you ask, What is that state? He tells you, It is a being with Christ: And that is Heaven in epitome. Canst thou, O Gracious Soul, give another fully to understand, how incomparably sweet it is to have Christ here with thee? When he gives to thee but a look through the Lattess; when he meets ●●ee at an Ordinance; when he affords thee a short Visit and away; ●●re I am, thou wilt want words significant and large enough. And if 〈◊〉 short an enjoyment be so delicious, as all the world is nothing to 〈◊〉, what then will it be for thee to be with him? If David could say, ●sal. 23. Though I walk in the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear ●o evil; for thou art with me: Thou mayest well promise thyself thou ●●alt want no good, when thou comest to be with him. Know, O ●aint, the world will be well mended with thee: For as you have it ●n the 16 th' Psalm, In his presence there is fullness of joy; and at his right ●and, pleasures for evermore. Three things may here well engage our Meditations.  
First, The Saints, when once gone from this dirty and troublesome World, shall be with Christ in the same place. Now they are in ●ome sense parted and at a distance, notwithstanding that Spiritual, Mystical, and Intimate Union which is between them. 2 Cor. 5, 6. While we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord. Now we ●●e him not: We are upon earth; he is in Heaven; and the Heaven's ●ust contain him for a time, how long we know not; but at last ●hey shall be together in the same place. One Earth could not long hold them; therefore h● said to his Disciples, john 16.7. It is expedient for you that I go away: And so it was, that he might prepare place for them; and that he might send the Comforter to them and that he might make Intercession for them. As for his people's sake he came from Heaven to Earth, to teach them, to fight for th●m, to dy● for them, to conquer their Enemies, to pay their Debts, to mak● their Peace, to work for them an Everlasting Righteousness, and 〈◊〉 purchase for them an Everlasting Happiness; so for their sakes he returned from Earth to Heaven, that he might keep the peace he ha● made, and give out to them of his fullness, and purchased blessings as in his Infinite Wisdom he see● their Necessities and Interest require▪ And when their work is finished, and they prepared, they shall follow him; they shall away to Heaven also, and that shall hold both hi● and them to all Eternity: This he gave them the assurance of joh. 14. ●▪ I will come again, and receive you to myself, that where I am, there ye m●● be also. This he also declared to his Father to be his Will concerning them. john 17. 24. Father, I will that they also whom thou hast given m● be with me where I am;— for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world: Which words of his plainly evidence his not loving distance between him and them, longer than needs, and how mu●● his heart is set for the closest and fullest Communion: It was his joy that he went to the Father, and should be with the Father, and 〈◊〉 would have his people with him, q. d. I would be with thee, and would have them with me; let us be all together; then my joy wi●● be full, and so will theirs too. Here the Lord stands at their righ● hand, therefore they shall never be moved, Psalm 16.8. And after Death they shall sit at his right hand, and therefore they shall be satisfied. Then they shall be by him, and be daily his delight; rejoicing always before him.  
2dly, They shall so be with him, as to be the joyful spectators of his Glo●ry, Men are very much taken with sights, for the Eye affects the heart and fixing upon great and amiable Objects conveys to the Soul a grea● deal of pleasure. How doth the Eye of Faith by looking within the Veil, and beholding him that is invisible, revive the spirits, and raise the Saint out of his dumps, 1 Peter 1.8. Whom having not see● ye love; in whom though now ye see him not, yet believing ye rejoice with joy unspeakable, and full of glory. And if believing do so raise and ravish them now in the midst of so many things to afflict and depress them, what will the heavenly vision do, when they shall see him as he is▪ Alas! the sights of Faith here, are weak and imperfect, they are but 〈◊〉 in a glass darkly, we s●e but the back parts; the most sanctified ●e can at present bear no more. Thou canst not see my face, said ●●d to Moses, Exod. 33.20. that is not a thing to be done. Moses ●●uld not do that, though he was a most holy Person, and had been ●aken up into a familiar Converse with God. When our Lord Jesus 〈◊〉 his state of Humiliation and Abasement, did let forth but one ●●am of his Glory, it struck the Soldiers down to the ground, ●●hn 18.6. As soon as he had said unto them, I am he, they went back●●rd, and fell to the ground: they could not stand before such an immanation; but in Heaven the Saints shall see, and be enabled to ●ar the sight, yea, to rejoice in it; the glorified Eye shall be so strengthened, as to fix upon that most glorious Object, Psalm 17. ● shall behold thy face in righteousness; not thy back Parts, but thy ●●ce; there they shall see him as he is. That Prayer of Moses, ●●ew me thy glory, shall then be fulfilled; they shall not only ●●e his Goodness that passeth before them now, the whole Earth is ●●l of it; but also they shall see his Glory, that shall be manifested, ●t to the dazzling but delighting of their Eye: This was part of christ's Will, which shall not fail of its accomplishment, john 17. ●●ther, I will that those whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am, ●●at they may behold my glory which thou hast given me: They love 〈◊〉 look, and I love they should do so, therefore let them look ●●eir fill.  
Thirdly, The Saints shall be with Christ, not only as Spectators of ●●s Glory, but as Blessed sharers and comportioners with him in Glory. ●hough much of their Happiness consist in sight, the Heavenly Visi●● being beatifical, yet that is not the whole of it; for there shall be tuition as well as Vision; the same God who doth here implant his ●race in them, will hereafter put a Glory upon them, Psalm. 84. ●he Lord God is a sun and shield, he will give grace and glory, each in the ●ost proper place and season for it; Grace on Earth, and Glory in ●eaven: Grace in their Minority, Glory when they come to their ●●ll Age and Stature. Our Dear Lord Jesus was pleased to come ●rom Heaven to Earth, and from the Bosom of his Father, to a tabernacling among men; and while here, he was at vast cost and charges as to purchase a People for himself, so all good for that People, which he doth gradually impart to them now; and when he ●ath them with him in the Mansions above, he will fill their Trea●ures, and put them into the actual and complete Possession of all that Good which he purchased for them: He himself is at the Right Hand of the Majesty on High, and they shall be at his; he overcame 〈◊〉 is set down upon his Father's Throne; and when they have ov●●●come, he will grant to them to sit down upon his Throne, Revelation He will come at the last and great Day in his Glory, and when he 〈◊〉 appear, they shall appear with him in glory, Colos. 3. It doth not yet ●●●pear, what we shall be; but when he doth appear we shall be like him, 〈◊〉 we shall see him as he is, 1 John 3.2. He shall shine forth with 〈◊〉 bright and beautiful Rays as the Eternal Sun, and they as the Firmament and the Stars; yea, their vile Bodies, or Bodies of vilen● shall be made like unto Christ's most Glorious Body, Philip. 3. N●● O Saints! It is the matter of your grief and complaint, that 〈◊〉 have so much corruption in you, and so little of Christ, and that 〈◊〉 are so unlike him; a Conformity to whose Image you ought to stu●● and were predestinated to, Rom. 8. But there you shall be as like 〈◊〉 as ever you can look, you shall be satisfied with his likeness, Psalms so satisfied with it, as not to desire more of it than you shall ha●● there your Conformity to him shall be perfect both in Grace and G●●ry. Thus much concerning Paul's Judgement of the Future State● Believers as to the Nature of it, It will be a being with Christ.  
Come we now in the second place, to consider his Judgements that State, as to the Goodness and Excellency of it, and that you ha●● in these words, it is far better: It is better then; whensoever a G●●cious and Holy Person makes his last and great change, he make● good one, he changeth so much for the better, that he will never 〈◊〉 any reason to repent of it. I pray therefore do you moderate yo● Sorrow, whom God hath deprived of such Relations, whose Godliness you have no cause to call in question; be you satisfied as to the● do not mourn over them: Weep if you please, for yourselves a●● for your Children, but not for them, because they do not lose 〈◊〉 Dying, they are not at all the worse for Dying; All things work together for good to them that love God, so Paul tells us, Romans 8. Yea, 〈◊〉 speaks of it as a thing well known; and Death doth so work as well as anything else; it works notably for them, it doth them a great deal of service and kindness; it is good for them that they Dye; It is expedient for them that they go away. You would fain have had your near an● dear Relations stayed here yet longer, and Loved and Lived with yo● yet longer: And why so? That you might have been pleased an● delighted, that they might have been more helpful and comfortabl● to you: But is that fit? God hath the numbers of our Months with him and he hath appointed us our bounds which we cannot pass; and mus● God alter his Decrees, and add to those Months, and remove those ●ounds for you? Must the Will of God be crossed for you? Must not Heaven be filled for you? Must the Happiness and Perfection of the ●aints be deferred and put off for you? Must they stand here, after ●hey are fully ripe for Glory, merely that you might be gratified ●nd humoured; or if not done, you break out into discontent? Know ●y Friend, whatever thy dark and melancholic apprehensions are ●or the present, it is better as it is; and if thou didst better understand the mind and will of God in what he hath done, thou wouldst be ●ore reconciled to it, whatever thou dost think might have been ●he comfortable fruits of thy Relation's longer continuance here; it 〈◊〉 better as it is, for certain it is better for her. So our Apostle ●●ought as to himself, and so he tells us in the Text, to be with ●hrist is (〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉) not only better, but far better; ●muliò magis melius) muc● more better. He speaks as if he wanted ●ords, and thought he could not speak enough; it is much, very ●uch better; it is a great deal better; or, as one Learned Man renders 〈◊〉, it is (infinitis partibus melius) infinitely better. But here the Question will be.  
Qu. Than what is it better?  
An. To that I Answer thus; It is better than any State that a ●hristian can be in on this side the Grave, and of Heaven: Take it in ●●ese two things.  

1. Being with Christ in Heaven, is better than any state here, when it is as good as the World can make it.  
2. It is better than the best State here, when it is as good as his Spiritual and Gospel Enjoyments can make it; when he hath both the Fatness of the Earth, and the Dew of Heaven too; when he hath both the Comforts of the Creature, and also the Smiles of God.   
First, It is better to be with Christ in Heaven, than any State here 〈◊〉 this World, when it is as good as Earth can make it, and ●here is the ●●llest confluence of Creature-delights. Suppose a Saint seated upon ●●e upper ground, having his Belly filled with hid Treasures, and re●●esh'd with waters of a full Cup, swimming in all manner of Delights; the Envy of some, and the Admiration of others: Suppose ●●m possest of a plentiful Estate, and blest with sweet and dear Relations; let him have the Honour of a Crown, with Mines of Gold and Silver, and every thing here contributing to his delight: Suppose him a Person of a most even Temper of mind, and a most athletic, sound, healthful Constitution of Body; so that no unruly Passions do transport him, no Sicknesses discompose him, no Racking and vexing pains disease him, no unexpected disappointment of his hopes, nor unkind denial of his desires do Fret and Torment him, no clouds at all do Obscure his Day, nor threaten him with a Storm; but all is well within, and all Serene and Calm round about him. In a word, He can with Esau say, I have enough, my Brother; because he hath Health and Ease, Peace and Prosperity, and indeed more than heart can wish; yet I say, to be with Christ in Heaven, is better than all this for if Moses did esteem the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt, what is the Glory of Christ? What price and estimate will you set on that? If David reckoned that a Day in these his lower and outer Courts, were better than a Thousand elsewhere what then is it to enjoy an Eternity? A constant and uninterrupted abode for ever in the Mansions above, the Habitation of his Holiness and Glory: Without all peradventure, that is an ignorant and dross Soul, which once imagines Earth to be better than Heaven; Creature● in all their Beauty, comparable to God and Christ.  
Secondly, It is better to be with Christ in Heaven, than in an● State to be enjoyed here, though it be as good as Spiritual and Gospel Enjoyments can make it; and if any thing doth make it good indeed, if any thing do render it grateful and delicious to an Holy Soul, i● is these things; these are the best and sweetest of all his Enjoyments these the Cream, the Flower and Quintessence; were it not fo● something of these, Earth would be an Hell to him, yea and s● would Heaven be too, Psalm 73.25. Whom have I in Heaven but the● and there is none upon Earth that I desire beside thee. Let the Ark (which was the Symbol of God's presence, and the place before which Israe● was to Worship) be taken by the Philistines; and the good Wife o● Phinehas thought it was not worth her while to outlive so great loss; but being told that a manchild was born unto her, she calle● it Ichabod, and said, the Glory is departed from Israel, for the Ark o● God is taken, and died presently. It is the Gospel, and Communion with God in the ways of the Gospel, that an Heavenborn So●● doth value a Nation by, and itself by; these are the things in whic● he placeth his chief Joy, and from which he fetcheth his stronge●● and most sovereign Cordials: The good man tells us, Psalm 84. 1ST That He had rather be a doorkeeper, (or as the Margin hath it, chu●● rather to sit at the threshold) in the house of his God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness; he had rather choose to pick up the Crumbs under Christ's Table, than to sit at the upper end of the Creatures Board, when it is furnished with the choicest Dainties: Where is the experienced Christian that doth not find himself at a loss for a word, when he undertakes to tell others what God hath done for his Soul? Who can express, with how much ravishing delight, he sits under the shadow of Christ at an Ordinance, and how sweet his Food is to his Taste! How he enjoys himself when he is led into the Banqueting-house, and there hath he the Banner of his Saviour's love spread over him? How greatly is he ravished when there is Peace spoken to him ●n a Sermon; that passeth not only all expression, but likewise all understanding? How is he raised up to the highest Admirings and praises, when Divine Love is shed abroad in his Heart by the Holy Ghost; and an interest in Christ, and the Covenant, is Sealed to him ●t a Sacrament? or when he finds his Sails (after he had lain for a ●ime Becalmed or Wind-bound) filled with a fair or fresh Gale from ●he Spirit, or his Soul enlarged in Duty, so as to run the way of the Commandments; and in its Holy motions made like unto the Chariot's of Amminadib. When the Spirit of God darts into him Beams ●f light; and by them so irridiates his Graces, that he can see them ●o be what indeed they are; and bears such a plain and full Testimony to his filial Relation to God, as he thereby is emboldened to go to ●he Throne of Grace, and Cry Abba Father: Then indeed is his ●oul satisfied as with marrow and fatness; and then he doth with Triumphs sing; The lines are fallen to me in pleasant places, and I ●ave a Goodly heritage: Yet to be with Christ is far better than all ●his; and that upon a Threefold account, viz.  
Upon account of, 

1. The Purity of that State.  
2. The Perfection of that State.  
3. The Immutability of that State.    
First, The Future State, when the Saints shall be with Christ in ●eaven, will be a Pure State. In this life when things are at the best ●here is a mixture; there is no Saint that hath so bright a Day, as ●hat there is not in it something of a Cloud: He that is washed in ●he fountain opened for Sin and for Uncleanness, and hath made it ●he great part of his business to cleanse himself from all filthiness ●oth of Flesh and Spirit: will upon a review, find there is still need of washing his Feet: He is indeed made light in the Lord, and b● shines before men; yet when his Candle burns most bright, it stand in need of snuffing: Suppose him to be truly Gracious, yea eminently so; there have been upon him plentiful effusions of the Spirit and out of the fullness of Christ he hath received Grace, yea Grac● for Grace; yet after all this, there is in him Corruption as well a● Grace, Dross as well as Gold, and Flesh as well as Spirit. Th● Apostle Paul, as far advanced as he was toward Heaven and Glor● could not for his heart suppress his Complaints and Groans; bu● must give himself a little ease by uttering them, and telling God an● Man, what to his pain and sorrow he felt within, viz. A Law i● his Members warring against the Law in his Mind; which was 〈◊〉 powerful as to be often prevalent, and bring him into Captivity 〈◊〉 the Law of Sin and Death, which was in his Members; and he coul● not choose but in a pang of desire call and cry out for deliverance, 〈◊〉 a poor Galleyslave would from his Chain and Oar, Romans 7. 〈◊〉 O wretched man that I am, who shall deliver me from the body of th● death! They that have the Comeliness of Christ put upon them, an● not without something of their own Deformities; and may in th● case say, as the Spouse did in another, I am comely and black to● comely as the Curtains of Solomon, yet black as the Tents of Ked●● And Oh! How do the thoughts and consideration hereof ma●● them ashamed and blush to lift up their faces towards God: But 〈◊〉 the Future State, they will be clean every whit, and without Spot, 〈◊〉 Blemish, or Wrinkle, or any such thing. Then there will be in the● nothing to offend God; nothing to offend themselves; nothing th● shall be a cause of displeasure to God, or of grief to them; nothing that shall fully their beauty, or eclipse their light; nothing that sha●● disturb their pleasant rest, or retard their Holy motions: The Inh●●bitant shall not say, I am Sick, nor shall he say, I am sinful; He sha●● neither be Sick of Love, as the enamoured Spouse was, nor Sick of Si● as the humble and brokenhearted Penitent is. It is in that Stat● in which the Church and her Children shall be Clear and Glorious 〈◊〉 the Sun; here they are, and while here, they will be but as th● Moon with their Spots; which yet they are not, as some, proud o●  
Secondly, That Future State in which the Saints shall be wit● Christ, is a Perfect State: Whatever some deluded Souls have an● do fancy to themselves in this World, there is no such thing as pe●●fection to be attained to here; though that be not above the desire an● hope of the Babes in Christ, the meanest and weakest Saints; yet i● is out of the reach of the tallest, and best grown, and improved Saints while here: It is the mark that they have in their eye and aim, and at which they levelly; but when they have done their best, the best of them do while here, shoot short, they cannot hit it; and while they are thankful for attainments, they must own and acknowledge defects and wants: There is a dimness in their eyes, and so their knowledge is imperfect; there is a weakness in their hearts, and so their Graces are imperfect; as a child, so they are perfect as to parts, but not as to degrees; there is something lacking in their Faith, and in their Love, and in every Grace: They are progressive in their motions, going on and on every day, and from strength to strength, and yet at the end of every day they find that they have further to go, and therefore had need to gird up the loins of their mind; growth is the constant duty and business of a Christi●n: That precept, 2 Pet. 3. Grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour jesus Christ, doth oblige the Saints as long as they live; there is none here can say, ●hey are got from under the authority and binding power of that Command; and therefore none here have arrived at the measure of their stature: You know Paul had got much, he came not behind the chiefest Apostles, yet he had not enough, nor was he satisfied; and what was his cas●, is also the case of all the Saints while on this side of Heaven: Yea, and observe this, you will find it always true, those of them that be the most Holy, are the most humble and hungry; those that have most Knowledge, and most of the Spirit, are of all others lest in their own eyes, and furthest from dreaming of a present Perfection; they are most free to own it, that they have not already attained, and that they are not already perfect, Philip. 3, 12. But what was their desire here, shall be their delight there; and all that which they hoped for here, they shall enjoy there; they shall see Christ as he is; clearly, immediately, face to face, as fully as humane Nature is capable of seeing him; and there they shall be like him, as like him as they would be; for a perfect Vision of him will produce a perfect assimilation to him: There it is that God doth fill his People's Treasures; and because he deals so bountifully with them, there their Souls will enjoy a completeness of Rest; there it is that they will for ever take up, because there is (â n● plus nultra) no further they have to go, no higher that they can aspire.  
Thirdly, The Future State in which the Saints shall be with Christ, shall be for ever unalterable. Here, alas! There is very little of a consistency, the best of men are subject to vicissitudes and changes: David indeed said, My heart is fixed, O God, my heart is fixed; but notwithstanding his fixedness, he had his fluctuating. Neither he nor his house was as a Morning without Clouds, or the clear Sunshine. God lifted him up, and again cast him down; sometimes he was in the heights, and sometimes in the deep, Psal. 130.1. Out of the depths have I cried unto thee, O Lord. Here they are Travellers, and but in the Wilderness, and therefore none have cause to wonder that they are frequently at a loss; now for this, anon for that. How often do they find changes within them; their hearts are not always in the same frame now lively, anon dead and dull; now enlarged, anon straitened▪ now full of Faith, anon full of fears; now they mount up with wing● as Eagles, anon they lie like Logs, or creep like Snails; and at other times they find a change upon them; their Bottle is empty, and their ways bedged up with Thorns. Many, very many of these Changes are for the worse, so that sometimes they are brought to a great loss, not knowing themselves, nor state, but ready to conclude themselves a company of Hypocrites. Their day is clouded, and the●● Evidences blurred, and their Peace broken. God withdraws the Beams that sometimes he darted in upon them, and instead of cheering Smiles, they see nothing but angry and terrible Frowns. H● withholds those gracious Assistances, that sometimes he was please● to afford them, and now they are so troubled, that they cannot spea● as they should, nor hear, nor pray, nor meditate as they should; the● cannot do any thing that they can savour, nor taste any sweetness i● the Ordinances they attend; are as the white of an Egg, and the Duties they perform, are to them Abomnination. From the forme● they go away disappointed, from the latter ashamed, and from both disconsolated, and possibly under a Temptation of throwing of all. But in the future state, there shall be none of this; no such afflictive Changes, there shall be no Soul-sickness, no spiritual Infirmity or Weakness, no indisposition of Mind, no angry hidings o● God's part, no vexatious disturbances, no Weight to depress, no Sin to beset, no Devil to assault; his Arm is neither long enough, nor strong enough to through one fiery Dart among that blessed and peaceful Company; the old Serpent cannot wriggle himself into that Paradise of God. He that would not stay there to be happy▪ shall not return thither to be troublesome; there shall be nothing to defile them, nothing to offend them. They shall be always with the Lord, and always fit to be with him; always singing Allelujahs, having their Souls ever in tune; some do conceive that there shall be continual Additions to their knowledge, though never any want, yet an charging of their Capacities, and at the same instant a filling of ●●em too. I do not contradict that Notion, nor will I dispute it, it 〈◊〉 pleasant, the day will declare it; but whatever further Additions ●ere may be, it is certain, there shall be no Diminution, they shall ●●ld fast what they have. Their Sun shall not go one degree backward, but being come to its Zenith, it shall continue; and of that knowledge, and Happiness, and Glory, of which they are there ●ade partakers, they shall lose none, but be so far immovable, as ellars in the House of God, in a fixed and permanent Condition. So ●●ve I given you up my thoughts concerning Paul's Judgement about ●●e Saints future State in the other World, which is a being with ●●rist, and far better that the best Estate they are, or can be in, on ●●s side of it.  
We now proceed to consider the second thing observable in the ●●xt, that is, the stirring or working of his Will and Affections in a ●●et Correspondency with his Judgement; and this working of them ●s in a way of desire, Having a desire to depart. As when good old ●●eon had seen God's Salvation, and got Christ in his Arms, he said, ●●w, Lord, lettest thou thy servant depart in peace. So did Paul here, ●●ing looked within the Veil, and seen something of that which ●●d had there prepared for them that love him, He had a desire to ●●art. From whence, by the way, it will be worth our while to ob●●●ve this.  
That Paul's Desires were, and so ours should be, under the com●●nd and conduct of Reason: We should be rational in our affecti●●, and in our actions: He was for that which was better; the ●●at and joint Cry of the many, was, Who will show us any good? 〈◊〉. 4. So that if it be good, let us have it, though it be an infe●●●r good, an unsatisfying good; though it be a fading and transitory good. But a gracious Soul, who hath been taught of God, ●●●●ghs, considers, and compares things, and measures out his affe●●●ons to them, according to that degree of Goodness which is in 〈◊〉. Upon less and lower goods, he bestoweth a smaller love, con●●ding wisely, That is enough for them, as much as they deserve; 〈◊〉 so his endeavour is to maintain, and to carry toward them with 〈◊〉 indifferency of Spirit, according to that Command, 1 Cor. 7. ● 30. Let them that have wives, be as though they had none, and they 〈◊〉 weep, as though they wept not; and they that rejoice, as though they ●●●iced not; and they that buy, as though they possessed not. And then they bestow a greater Love upon a better Good; and the dearest Love upon the best and highest Good. It is good to have Communi●on with the Saints upon earth; and I love that, saith David, Psal. 16▪ O Lord, my goodness extendeth not to thee, but to the Saints, those excellent ones, in whom is all my delight. He had a love of Benevolence fo● others, but a love of Complacency for these: Upon others he b●●stowed his Pity, upon these only he placed his delight. It is bett●● to draw nigh to God, and to have fellowship with him in Ordinances: And David was more pleased with that, Psal. 27.4. One thi●● have I desired of the Lord, that will I seek after, that I may dwell in 〈◊〉 house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lo●● and to inquire in his Temple. He loved the Habitation of God's Hous● and the place where his Honour dwelled; but of all things it is best 〈◊〉 be in Heaven: It is better to be with him there, than to be with 〈◊〉 people here; better to see him face to face there, than to see him the glass of Ordinances here; and therefore, saith our Apostle, have a desire to depart; a strong, ardent, and impetuous desire; I● almost long to be gone; were there not one thing in the way, I co●●● be impatient of any continuance here, in this dirty world.  
Having a desire, 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉; to depart; the Original Wo●● hath divers significations, and accordingly is diversely rendered; 〈◊〉 it signifies to be dissolved, or resolved; which is done when thi● mixed or compounded, are separated and divided into the seve● principles or parts of which it did consist. Man is the compound made up of a Spiritual and Terrene part, the Soul and the Body; 〈◊〉 Death these two are divided, the Soul and Body are parted the 〈◊〉 from the other.  
Again; the Word doth signify to depart; so by our Learned Tr●●●slators it is rendered in the Text. I have so long had mine abode h●● and truly to me it seems full long enough: I can very willingly move to another and better Country: I am with all my heart rea●● to take my leave of Persons and Things here: I wait but for 〈◊〉 word of Command, and so will draw up mine anchor, and lo●● from hence, I will hoist up and spread my Sails, and with all poss●● speed make toward another Port, that Haven of Peace and R●●● which lieth in the uppermost Region.  
Once more; This word signifieth to return; and so, as some the Learned conceive, Paul doth here refer to that passage of S●●mon, in Eccles. 12.7. The body returns to dust, and the spirit to God 〈◊〉 gave it. If you please, we will conjoin all these, and you may 〈◊〉 ●ake them together. I know there will be a Dissolution; my Soul and ●ody, which like two loving Friends have lived so long together, and ●●ken part one with another in Weal and Woe, in Joy and Sorrow, ●ust one day be parted; that knot which now most strictly holds ●●em together, must be untied; and I am not in the least troubled at ●●at Dissolution, since I am fully assured, That it will be followed ●●th a closer Union, and fuller Communion between Christ and me. When once I have dropped this mantle of Flesh, I shall be taken up to ●●e Father of Spirits. I know that I must go from hence; this world 〈◊〉 not my last home, nor the place of my constant abode. I am but a pilgrim and Stranger here, as all my Fathers were; and I am ready 〈◊〉 be gone, so soon as the Messenger comes, that shall be sent for me. 〈◊〉 us pleased with the thoughts of my Journey, because it is but a de●●rture from Earth to Heaven; from Friends, to a God; from poor ●●●●nty and leaking Cisterns, to the Fountain of Being, the Springhead of Comfort, the Infinite Ocean of all Delights. I must return; was sent by my great Creator to act my part in the world; and ●●en that is done, and my time is spent, I must go to him, to give 〈◊〉 account how my time hath been improved, and how my part hath ●●en acted. I must go from whence at first I came, and I am heartily 〈◊〉 of it, for than it will be better with me than it is 〈◊〉: I care not how soon, for the sooner the better; for ●●ough my body must be laid up in a dark and lonely Grave, 〈◊〉 there putrify and become meat for worms, and be crumbled into 〈◊〉, and so continue (for aught I know) hundreds of years; yet 〈◊〉 Spirit, my precious and Immortal Soul, shall return to God that ●●de it, by whom it shall be graciously received, and welcomed, and ●●th whom it is best to be. This was that which he desired. And here ●ould have you exercise your Thoughts and Meditations, upon that ●●pression of his, I desire it; and shall I offer you mine, which may ●ord you some Light and Assistance: Let us see whether there be 〈◊〉 something of Greatness in it; whether it be not a lofty strain, 〈◊〉 a pitch as every man cannot fly; no, not every Good man. 〈◊〉 so take these Three Things with you; 

1. He doth not speak of a bare Submission in the case; nor,  
2. Of being only contented to depart: But,  
3. Of a Desire he had to it.    
First, He doth not say, I submit to the will of God herein. If he ●ease to call me away, and will not allow me a longer continuance ●●re, I submit, He shall dispose of me. This indeed is unquestionably our duty, as in all other things, so particularly in this. It is 〈◊〉 revealed will of God, that all the living shall die, only some 〈◊〉 excepted, and those that shall be alive when the Lord shall descend fr●● Heaven with a shout, with the voice of an Archangel, and with the tru●● of God, shall not sleep but be changed, and caught up into the cloud● meet the Lord in the air, and so they shall ever be with the Lord. 1 〈◊〉 4.16, 17. Otherwise it is appointed for all once to die. This is 〈◊〉 Divine appointment, the standing and unrepealable Law of Heaven, that all those who inhabit these houses of clay must go out them, and put off these Tabernacles; and we must submit, we ou●●● to do it; the will of God (who is the supreme Governor and Le●●●slator) is to be the commanding and ruling Law, and therefore th●● must be no quarrel nor disputes, but yielding when death knock● our doors, and summons us: Whatsoever agonies and struggling in nature at the time of dissolution, there must be no rebellion 〈◊〉 our wills. And such aught to be the frame and temper of our So●● when it is the good pleasure of God to make breaches in our Fa●●●lies, and to take away from us our dearest and most desirable Relations; a Child out of the arms of its Mother, an affectionate 〈◊〉 out of the bosom of her Husband. Though you greatly delighte● their company, and would have been very thankful if the threa● their lives had been spun to a greater length, yet when the wi●● 〈◊〉 God is made known, and their time is come, you ought to stoops God: While the Child was sick, David besought God, fasted, 〈◊〉 lay all night upon the Earth, neither would he eat bread, but w●●● he heard it was dead, he rose from the earth, washed and anoint himself, and changed his apparel, went into the house of God, 〈◊〉 worshipped, then to his own house, and did eat bread, 2 Sam. ● In dispensations of this kind there must be no discontent, no ri●●●● and Swellings of heart, no tearing yourselves in your anger, no ●●●ing the reins upon your passions, no extravagant expressions, no ●●●cessive sorrows, for even in that there is a spice of rebellion; and such a time God in a special manner hath his eye upon you, and 〈◊〉 very curiously observe you throughout, not only your outward ●●●●portment, words and gestures, but also the inward frame of 〈◊〉 hearts; what order is there, and whether your Souls keep sile●●● before him. And if you will be unruly, as Bullocks unaccustomed the yoke, sinning in your sorrow, and kicking at the hand 〈◊〉 smites and wounds you, you may hear of it afterward, and fee● to your cost, for God doth know how to repeat his blows, and multiply your wounds, and make deeper ones than he hath yet done. ●herefore it is your wisdom to submit to God, and hold your peace, ● Aaron did when God destroyed his two Sons with a most tremendous stroke in the very act of their sin. This then is your duty, wisdom and interest; an humble yielding to God doth nearly concern ●●d highly become you. But holy Paul did not stop here. It is not a ●●re submission that he speaks of, without all peradventure he was ●●me up to this; but then he went beyond it. Nay more,  
Secondly, Paul doth not say say here, I am contented to depart. It 〈◊〉 true, he tells us in this very Epistle, Phil. 4.11. That he had ●●arned in whatsoever state he was, therewith to be content; and it must 〈◊〉 granted that is a great and excellent Lesson, and we should all of 〈◊〉 beg of God that he would teach it us, and be ourselves studying ●●d cunning of it. And they are all very happy Men and Women, ●ho have taken it out, as Paul hath done, for therein they have ●●cured themselves from those inward Gripes and Convulsions with ●hich others are tortured, and have admirably provided for a com●●rtable Enjoyment of themselves, whatever Changes and Afflictions ●●ey may meet with in their passage through the World. We should 〈◊〉 pray and labour, that we may be brought to such a pass, as to 〈◊〉 able to say, Here I am, let the Lord do to me, and with me, what ●●meth good in his sight. If he doth not see fit to bring my Condition 〈◊〉 to my Spirit, I will make it my endeavour to bring my Spirit own to my Condition. I could indeed be glad to have a larger ●are in the comforts of the Creatures, that so I might be the more ●ee from those solicitous Thoughts and carking Cares that now 〈◊〉 much oppress me. I could be glad to enjoy a greater fullness, and 〈◊〉 be placed in an higher Orb and Sphere of Activity, that thereby I ●●ight be put into a better capacity of being useful and serviceable in ●y Generation; but if my God will have me mean, and low, and ●oor, I am content to be so, for he best understands my Temper, ●●d my Distempers; what will be my Advantage, and what my prejudice; what Sail I can best bear, and what Condition I can best ●anage, therefore he shall choose for me. I could be glad to live yet ●●nger in the World, and so see the good of his chosen, and the ●eace of jerusalem, and my Family comfortably provided for, and ●y Children all brought home to God, disposed of in the World, ●nd happily settled; but if God will shorten my days, and cut asunder the Thread of my Life, before these things be effected; if God will have me to die shortly, and so break off the purposes of my heart, I am content. I will live at his ordering, and I will die t● at his ordering. He knoweth what is best, and therefore what 〈◊〉 doth, I will count so; whatsoever pleaseth him, shall please me, 〈◊〉 for no other reason, yet for this, Because it pleaseth him. But th● great Man Paul did not take up here neither. For,  
Thirdly, He saith, He had a desire to depart, or to be dissolve▪ What others do fly from, his Soul did work out to, as a desirable O●●ject. What! barely to submit to a departure, merely to be conte●●ed with it, is too low, and too little. It would be a dishonour 〈◊〉 God; if there were that, and no more, it would be a disparagem● to Heaven, and a base unworthy casting of Dirt and Reproach 〈◊〉 the Face of that Glory which is above; it would give People ca●● to think the state of Saints in Heaven is no better than their 〈◊〉 here; nay, that it is not altogether so good; and of this our Apos●●● would by no means be guilty. Content to depart! yes, that I am, and abundantly satisfied about it, that I do desire it. I long to have 〈◊〉 Summons, Oh! when will that day come that will close mine E●● and on which Angels will come to carry my aspiring Soul into 〈◊〉 bosom of Abraham! I was once in Paradise in the third Heaven, 〈◊〉 what I saw, did so delight me, that I long to be there again, to 〈◊〉 fixed there, and there to take up my eternal abode; when, 〈◊〉 when will it be that my Father will send for me home, 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉. I have an ardent and flaming desire to depart. I stand up●● Tiptoes, and am reaching out unto that state. Never did Boy School more long to break up, and go to his Mother, than I do to 〈◊〉 to my God and Saviour. Never did Bride or Bridegroom more 〈◊〉 for their Wedding-day, than I do for my Dying-day. These wo● in the Original do, as Learned Zanchy observes, signify more 〈◊〉 barely to desire; for simply to desire, may amount to no more than 〈◊〉 a sudden Mot●on, a transient Flash, a momentary Passion, which 〈◊〉 Iona's Gourd, starts up on a sudden, and doth as quickly van● Whereas, when the Apostle saith, Having a desire, he doth plai● intimate to us, both the vehemency and permanency of the thi● that his Soul stood that way, it was immovably set for a Depart●●● His desire was such, as had a great strength and ardour in it, 〈◊〉 which would last, and not abate any thing until it was accomplish●● I desire to depart, and shall go on to desire it, until that wished- 〈◊〉 day comes, in which I shall actually go; till my Soul be set at liber●● and upon its flight under the heavenly Convoy, to that blissful pla●● where my Lord and Saviour is. So I have finished the second th●● observable in the Text. We now come to the third, which there in●●ed obtains the first place, viz.  
The straight in which at this time our Apostle found himself, 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉. I am in a straight betwixt two. The word, according to 〈◊〉 Critics, signifieth such a straitning as is that of a City, when it is ●●sely besieged by a strong and vigilant Enemy; so that there is no ●●tting out, nor coming in; such a perplexity of mind as that a man ●●at an utter loss, not knowing what to do, nor which way to turn 〈◊〉. This was Paul's case, unto this loss was he brought: He had two ●●ings before him, one of which must of necessity be, but which of ●●em, considering his Circumstances, he should make choice of, he ●●d not know. He was in a kind of AEquilibrium, the Scales did hang ●●en, and he could not tell to which side he should incline.  
Quest. But here it may be asked, How came this to pass? What acount is to be given hereof? Or what was it that did thus puzzle the ●●ostle, and reduce him to so great a straight? Unto this I shall answer, ●st, Negatively; and then Affirmatively. First, Negatively, and 〈◊〉 in these three things.  
First, Paul was not brought into a straight by the forethought of these ●●ins and Agonies which dying Persons feel; those great difficulties there 〈◊〉 in shooting the Gulf. It is very hard and tedious for some to unless in the Evening of their day, the Garment of Flesh goeth hardly 〈◊〉. The pangs of Death are many and great in some poor Creatures. ●s true, it is not so in all; there are those to whom an easy and com●●●table passage is granted: there are no bonds in their death; they pass ●ough their day with a great deal of comfort, and at night are ●ought to bed with a great deal of ease; they have not any violent ●rows, nor strong Convulsions, nor mighty Wrestle, but they 〈◊〉 away in a Sleep, and sweetly breathe out their precious and prepared Souls into the Arms of God, the Bosom of Jesus, that Bed of vices, and pleasant restingplace. But it is not thus in all, no, no, 〈◊〉 to some, yea, to many, death comes like its self, a King of Terrors, ●●th a most grim and ghastly countenance, handling them roughly, 〈◊〉 the great affliction of the Relations, who are forced to withdraw, as unable to bear so dismal a sight; and to the astonishment of 〈◊〉- standers, who cannot give the Narrative of it unto others, with●●t mingling it with Sighs and Tears. How hard a matter do some ●or Creatures find it to die? Fain they would, but cannot: How ●●ng are they about the work, before they can dispatch and finish 〈◊〉? How many a Sigh is fetched, and Groan is spent, before they can send forth the last breath? Specially they find it difficult to die, 〈◊〉 are called out to suffer Martyrdom; those who are slain for 〈◊〉 Word of God, and the Testimony of Jesus, which they hold, 〈◊〉 have felt the very worst that Death could do, the utmost of 〈◊〉 Rage and Fury, being put to the most exquisite Tortures that 〈◊〉 Wit and Malice of enraged Enemies, assisted by Hell its self, co● possibly invent. Some being put upon the Rack, where all their Bo●● have been dislocated; and others upon the Wheel, where all th● Bones have been broken; and others made a Burnt-Sacrifice, bei●● committed to the fury of merciless Flames, and gradually consume in a slow Fire, and at last reduced to Ashes; which human Nat● could not have born with that invincible Patience which they expre●● had they not been supported by the Divine Power, and had preci●● Cordials given them by the Invisible and Gracious Hand of the 〈◊〉 Com●orter, which our dear Lord Jesus promised to send his Chur●● and People, that he might be with them; and who being a Spirit● Wisdom and Love, will not fail to afford them the most Sovere● refresh, in the time of their most pressing necessities. But th● dying agonies did not move Paul; we do not find him concer● about them: As he made it his great desire to live as God wo● have him, holily, exemplarily and fruitfully, fight the good fig● and keeping the Faith; so he was free to die as God would h●● him. That God who did order and cut out the work of his 〈◊〉 should choose the kind and manner of his Death. I have indeed hea●● some truly Gracious Persons say, They were not afraid to be de● because sure of an Eternal Happiness in the other world; hav● their Evidences for Heaven so fairly written, that they could 〈◊〉 and read them; but for all that, they were afraid to die, because the difficulty of the passage: So was not Paul; for he did not at● doubt of his Care and Goodness, who having loved his own, lov● them to the end, and in it too. He did not in the least question, 〈◊〉 the same God who was with him in the Work of his Ministry, and the way he did take, would never leave him nor forsake him, 〈◊〉 be also with him in the valley of the shadow of death; and therefore 〈◊〉 there, he would fear no evil.  
Secondly, Paul was not in any strait upon the account of any unce●●tainty about his future State, not knowing what would become of hi● or where his lines would be cast next, or whither he should go a●t●● Death. He was a wiser man than not to secure (as the Proverb 〈◊〉 the main chance; and I heartily wish there were more of that 〈◊〉 Wisdom to be found among the Children of Men; and that they ●●uld live less for time, and more for Eternity. As for mine own 〈◊〉, it is to me no matter of wonder that some wicked men are ●aid to die; I rather wonder, that any of them are not. Such as ●e lived all their days in a total Neglect of God, and Disobedience to his known Law, and the commission of Sin with greediness; 〈◊〉 whom there is-left nothing, but a fearful expectation of Fiery ●ignation, that shall devour them: they are many of them self-condemned, and what can they look for but a like sentence from the ●ream Judge? if conscience within cast them as a company of Per●s worthy of Death, and fit Fuel for the burning, they may well ●nclude the same from him who is greater than Conscience, and ●oweth all things: Nor do I think it strange, that some good men 〈◊〉 unwilling to die, those I mean who are clouded and benighted, ●●d in the Dark about their spiritual State, know not what to make 〈◊〉 themselves, but want their evidences for Heaven and Glory; ei●●●r never knew they had any, or now they are so blurred and blot●, they cannot read them; they dare not go to God as their Fa●r; nor look to, and lay hold on Jesus as one that loved them, and ●ve himself for them, and washed them in his Blood; they are not ●e to fix the Anchor of their hope within the vail. How can he be ●ling to go, that knows not whither he goes? Such do understand ●ething of Heaven and Hell, and consider what it is to lie in the bo● of Abraham, and what in a Bed of Flames; what to be satisfied ●h the love of God, and what to be tormented with the divine Furio 〈◊〉 what to sing Allelujah with Saints, and what to roar with De 〈◊〉. They consider the length of Eternity, what it is to enter into 〈◊〉 immutable State, and they cannot possibly be reconciled to Death, 〈◊〉 they know it will do them a kindness; they cannot be willing to 〈◊〉 with it, till they know it will carry them to a comfortable place 〈◊〉 Rest and Happiness. Would you be delivered from the fear of ●eath? Would you be able to bid it welcome, and Triumph over 〈◊〉 Then clear up your Evidences, that you are turned from Darkness 〈◊〉 Light, and from the power of Satan to God; and that having ●en indeed born of the Spirit, and made Partakers of Grace, you ●●e likewise the Heirs of Glory; for they must of necessity be in a headful agony of Soul, who see and feel they must die, their Flesh ●nsumes, and their Strength fails, and they have much ado to fetch ●eir Breath; they must die, that Disease will carry them off; but 〈◊〉 the same time they conclude, at least, greatly fear they shall be damned, as well as die, and go down not only into the Grave, 〈◊〉 into the bottomless Pit, from which there is no Redemption.  
But this was none of Paul's case: He had been wiser for himself and God had been better to him than that his great concern sho●●● be so uncertain. He knew that since to him to live had been Christ, 〈◊〉 die would be gain; this he had told the Philippians but a little beathe did in the Text mention this his strait. He also tells us in 2 Cor. 〈◊〉 That he knew that if our earthly house of this Tabernacle were dissolve we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal 〈◊〉 Heavens. He should change a sorry Cottage for a Glorious Pal● And he also knew, 2 Tim. 4.7, 8. That having fought a good fight, 〈◊〉 finished his course, and kept the faith, there was laid up for him a 〈◊〉 of righteousness, which he was sure God the righteous judge would give 〈◊〉 at that day. All was safe, and he was sure, knowing whom he 〈◊〉 believed; and that he was able to keep that which he had comm●● to him. And Oh that all that read this Sermon would be persuade to bestow their care and pains this way; give all diligence to 〈◊〉 your Calling and Election sure, and by your present faith and 〈◊〉ness, your humble, close and exemplary walking, so order things that the testimony of your Consciences may be the matter of 〈◊〉 present rejoicing, and when you come to die you may be at no● about it, but ready at a call, counting the day of your death be●● than the day of your birth, and so going with gladness out of 〈◊〉 world, into which you came crying.  
Thirdly, Paul was not brought into this straight by any jealousy 〈◊〉 spition that he should lose by the change, and be a sufferer by his de●●●ture from hence. He had no such thoughts as these, that it wo●●● make more for his interest to continue where he was; or that the● move which he was to make at death, would be to a more uncom●●●●table place; he had felt the burden of sin, and met with the unknownness of the world, and had a great deal of hard usage. He 〈◊〉 that at death he should go not out of an Egypt into a Wilderness, out of an howling Wilderness, and from among beasts of prey in●● Canaan flowing with what is inconceivably better than milk and 〈◊〉 neigh. Death indeed will be to the detriment and prejudice of all 〈◊〉 wicked of the world, profligate and profane wretches, unsound 〈◊〉 rotten hypocrites, lifeless formalists, who having a form of go●●●ness deny the power thereof. It is highly desirable for them to 〈◊〉 tinue here; because whensoever they die, dying what now they 〈◊〉 they are utterly undone. Many of them now have high places, 〈◊〉 ●●t honour, and plentiful estates, they are the world's darlings, idled upon her knee: but when once they die, they lose all: they 〈◊〉 it behind, and carry nothing with them but sin and guilt. Death 〈◊〉 it comes, strips them to the skin; as they came into the world, ●hey must go out naked; and there will be no merciful compassionate hand found to cloth them in the next. Here the rich Glutton 〈◊〉 deliciously every day, and had doubtless his bottles of wine, it 〈◊〉 be his Healths and Hazza's too; but in the next World, he ●●d not by all his entreaties obtain of Father Abraham one drop of 〈◊〉 for the cooling of his tongue, though he was grievously Tor●ted in Flames. But though wicked men lose all by dying, Paul 〈◊〉 sure he should lose nothing; for he had told us before, that to 〈◊〉 to die was gain; no loss at all, but great gain; it was a very 〈◊〉 bargain he should make; and in the Text he tells us, that to ●ith Christ is far better; this he knew, he was sure of it, he had 〈◊〉 the least doubt in the case; he was sure he could leave nothing so 〈◊〉 behind him, but that he saw those things before him that were 〈◊〉: What loss was it to Elijah to drop his Mantle, as he was ●●nding and mounting to Heaven? Where he should at his first en●ce be clothed with a Robe of Glory: God doth by Converting ●ce call his Elect and chosen people out of the world, so that the 〈◊〉 knows them not, owns them not, but hates and persecutes them, 〈◊〉 they lose nothing by it, for than he calls them out of darkness innis marvellous light; then he calls them unto his Kingdom and Glory. 〈◊〉 doth at death call them to come up to another place, come up 〈◊〉. He sends for them from all their beloved Friends and Relati●here, from all their comfortable possessions and enjoyments, so 〈◊〉 these places shall know them no more; but then he calls them 〈◊〉 the Church militant, where they are often put upon hard service, 〈◊〉 have their conflicts and wounds, to the Church Triumphant, where 〈◊〉 shall have their Palms, and Thrones, and Songs of Praise. He 〈◊〉 them from waiting at the Posts of his door, and sitting at his household, to a lying in the Bosom of his Everlasting Love: So that 〈◊〉 can in none of these things find what we are enquiring after, viz. 〈◊〉 thing which had put this Holy man into a straight: What then was it? answer.  
fourthly, and Affirmatively, thus, The Apostle had two things be 〈◊〉 him, two Interests in his eye; and for each of them there were 〈◊〉 strong and weighty Arguments; by means of which, he was 〈◊〉 a Needle between two Load Stones, and by them drawn first one way, and then another: so that as he had said in the foregoing Verse, Which of them he should choose, he wot not. If you ask, W●●● these two things were, you will easily understand by consulting 〈◊〉 context, take it thus: One thing was Dying, and thereupon a go●●● to Christ, and being with him, which he knew would be gain to 〈◊〉 the other was an abiding here, and continuing yet longer in 〈◊〉 Flesh to attend upon his Office as an Apostle and Servant of Je●●● Christ, and to engage yet further in the work of the Gospel; w●●● he knew would through a concurrence of the Divine Spirit and ●●●sing turn to the gain and advantage of the Church, by bringing in 〈◊〉 that were without, to the acceptance and obedience of Faith; 〈◊〉 also by strengthening, comforting, establishing and building up 〈◊〉 higher in Knowledge and Grace, those that had been alre●● brought in. Now these two things, the Apostle doth according 〈◊〉 the Wisdom and Grace given him of God, compare togerher 〈◊〉 one Scale of the Balance he laid his own Gain and particular Adv●●●tage, which would be the infallible and immediate consequence 〈◊〉 his Death: In the other Scale of the Balance, he laid the Chur●●● gain, which he rationally concluded would be the desirable and ●●●py effect of his Life and Ministerial Labours; and in his judg●●● the Scales did hang even, so even, that if a liberty of Elect●●● Choice should by God be granted to him, he should be at a very 〈◊〉 loss, not well knowing to which side he should incline, whi●●● these two he should choose. And thus, good man, he was as a p●●●prest and straitened between two things, and two affections co●●●ry the one to the other: Namely, a desire of being present with 〈◊〉 Lord, though absent from the Brethren; and a desire of being ●●●sent with the Brethren, and helpful to them; though in order the●●● to, he must consent to a being for a time absent from the Lord. 〈◊〉 this case he scarce knew what to do: That ardent and im●●● Love which he did bear unto the Lord Jesus Christ, would pu● upon choosing and desiring a departure hence; for where the ca●● is, there would the Eagles be: and where Christ is, there would ● Christian be: That principle of levity which is in the spark, 〈◊〉 not more naturally carry it upward, than a principle of sa●● Grace in the heart of a Believer doth carry him out in earnest d●●● and longings to be with Christ: But then again, That sincere 〈◊〉 very great Love which he had to the Brethren, did produce in 〈◊〉 an humble and holy willingness to continue yet longer here: He 〈◊〉 desirous to die, that he might enjoy Christ; but he had learned t● 〈◊〉 himself for the sake of the Brethren. These two things had ●●ch weight and worth in themselves, and such an influence and pow●● upon him, that he was divided in himself, and knew not well upon ●hich he should fix his choice: Upon the consideration hereof, I find ●e Learned Zanchy breaking out into this pathetical and admiring exclamation, O cor vere Apostolicum, in quo & Dei & proximi perfecta vi●●bat dilectio: O Heart truly Apostolical, worthy of so excellent a ●aint, so great a man as Paul, highly becoming so eminent an officer, as an Apostle of Jesus Christ, in which there was such a ●●re and vehement Flame, both to God and to his Neighbour! ●●ere was indeed the Spirit of a Saint; here was a Christian in his beauty and Glory; here was Love doing its perfect work, both ●ward Christ and to his Interest; toward first the Person of Christ, ●hom it longs to embrace and enjoy; and towards the people ●f Christ, whom it is also free to serve. Thus have I done with the ●ird and last thing in the Text, viz. the Straight in which Paul was, ●nd how he came to be brought into it; wherein there is an evident discovery of the excellency and nobleness of this great man's Spirit: ●ut he was enlarged and set at liberty again, as you find in the two ●erses immediately fellowing the Text, Nevertheless to abide in the ●●sh is more needful for you; and having confidence, I know that I shall ●●ide and continue with you all, for your furtherance and joy of Faith; ●●at your rejoicing may be more abundant in jesus Christ for me, by my ●●ming to you again. This he knew would be, and so long as it was ●●r the Glory of God and their good, he was very well pleased: ●●ne request indeed he had to make to them, that while he continued ●mong them, he might live comfortably among them; that they ●ould not be his Grief, but Joy, while they prectice what he ●reached, and lived up to the Mysteries he revealed, and those excellent Rules he laid down, Verse 27. Only let your conversation 〈◊〉, as it becometh the Gospel of Christ. Thus have I with all the convenient speed I could make, run through those things which are con●●ained in this Scripture, and endeavoured in an expository way to explain and open them to you. The only thing which according ●o promise at our entrance into this Discourse, doth remain ●urther ●o be done, is to draw up some Doctrinal conclusions from the ●hole, and present them to you, which I shall with God's Assistance ●o, and in few words dispatch every one of them, leaving you to ●nlarge upon them in your own Meditations, and commending both ●hem and you to the Divine Blessing for improvement.  
First, observe from these words, that Death is a departure, or going fro● hence; Here you are now, and some of you have been so a long while, s● long as that others are weary of you, and possibly you are weary o● the World, but you will not be here always; there is a day comin● which will be your last day here, and there is not one of you can te●● when that day shall come. In the Morning the Sun arose upon Serfdom, in all his Beauty and Splendour; but before Night the City with all its Inhabitants were made a Sacrifice to revenging-Justice and burnt to Ashes. How many Young ones are taken from us on 〈◊〉 sudden in their beauty and strength, when their bones are full o● Marrow, and their breasts of Milk; and in that Providence God dot● speak to you that survive, and gives you fair warning you had need be serious while you are Young, for you m●●die while you are Young; there is great Reason why yo● should betimes be weaned from the world, from the sins, vanities and follies of it, from the comforts and delights of it; for it ma● be you shall leave the World while you are Young. Oh that suc● thoughts as these may be repeated, and frequently return upon o● minds, and make due impressions; since you must be gone from henc● set not your hearts upon any of those things which are here; though they seem never so admirable, and you have found them never so d●●lightful, yet use them and love them as becomes them that are P●●●grims and Strangers. Often think of leaving all, and so sit loo● from all. While you have these things in your hands, keep them o● of your hearts, and provide for your departure: He that mu●t g● and that at a minute's notice, and cannot tell when that will be, an● is undone if he be unfit, had need lose no time, but speed his pr●●paration as much as he can: It is the great Command and most Gr●●cious Council of our dearest Lord, Be ye ready. Let other thin●● alone, take no thought what ye shall Eat and Drink, or wherewith ye shall be Clothed; bestow your thoughts, and care, and pai● about this, that ye may be ready, fit to die, and fit to appear biafore your Judge: For any thing that you or I can tell, we may D●● presently, for the number of our Months is with God, not with u●● our Breath is in our Nostrils, and it may be stopped in a Moment: 〈◊〉 every one therefore set their houses in order, and let all labour to set their hearts in order, as that though we should die presents yet we may die preparedly, and go to our Grave as a shock of Co●● in its season: It is no matter at all how quickly any of us dies, n● of what disease, nor in what manner, so that we be but fit to dy● he that is prepared to die, may very well be free to die.  
Secondly, When Gracious and Holy Souls go from hence, they go to Christ: It was the joy of our Dearest Lord, when he had the prospect of his nearly approaching Death, that he could say, joh. 17.11. Holy Father, now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come unto thee. I must leave the World; and I must leave these too, but I come unto thee: So it may well be a matter of joy to a Godly man or woman, when the day of their departure is at hand; when they must say, I shall be no more in the World, my dear Relations and Friends I shall be no more with you; we have so many years lived comfortably together, and in the Fear of God, and now we must part; yet a little while, and ye shall see my face no more; and then they can say, Now my dearest jesus ay come to thee. Alas! When Graceless and Wicked Wretches go out of the World, they go to a company of ugly Devils and Damned Spirits; they had a communion with Devils here, and that out of choice, and they shall have a communion with them hereafter whether they will or no. But as for you, O Saints, be glad and rejoice; you at Death shall go to Christ; and let the consideration hereof promote your care of doing your present Duty: Now labour for as great and intimate acquaintance with him as you can possibly get; now let your hearts work and run out to him with the strongest vigour of an entire affection; bid him most heartily welcome, and use him with utmost kindness whensoever he comes to you; when he doth by his Spirit at a Dyty, at an Ordinance, or any other time give you a Gracious visit, be sure to make much of him, and rejoice in him, and be his joy, and then you may delight yourselves in this assurance, that when you go to him, he will bid you welcome, and to all Eternity rejoice over you, as the Bridegroom rejoiceth over his Bride.  
Thirdly, A being with Christ in Heaven, is the best of beings. This is the top of the Saints perferment; this the highest round in the Scale of the Creatures happiness; there is no imaginable life to be compared to a Life unto Christ in this World, and a Life with Christ in the world to come; there is no Company like unto his Company, no Presence that hath in it such a fullness of Joy and Pleasures for evermore, as are to be meth wit in his Presence, and his Father's, and Spirit's: It is good to be with Saints, very good to sit under Ordinances, but it is best of all to be with Christ in Glory. When our Lord jesus was transfigured upon Mount Tabor, and had there with him Moses and Elias, with three of his Disciples, Peter in a Transport cried ou● It is good, Lord, to be here: But how good soever it was to be there, it is unspeakably better to be with Christ now that he is glo●rified, and in Heaven, where he hath with him and innumerable com●pany of Angels, the general Assembly and Church of the Firstborn As I said before, so I say again, Call to mind all the Comforts tha● this world is capable of affording you, and let there be the fullery confluence of them; suppose that every step you take should be upo● Roses, and every meal you sit at, should be a Splendid Royal Feast made up of the Choicest Dainties, a Composition of Delights: Sup●pose all the days you live should be Halcyon, and every night you sleep should be sweet to you; and each morning as soon as you awake you should be entertained with glad tidings of great joy; yet a● these things put together, would not make up a life by the thousandth part so sweet, as is a life with Christ. The Sunshine of the Creature is nothing to the Shadow of a Saviour; What then are hi● Beams▪ What his Glory? Paul tells you; It is far better: And upon this i● follows, That  
Fourthly, Death is desirable; not indeed for its self, because it is the fruit of Sin, and a part of the Curse; but upon the account of 〈◊〉 Consequences: As Physic is not at all desirable for its self, being bitter and unpleasant, yet it is desirable for the sake of that Health and Ease, which through the Blessing of God it doth produce in the Patient that takes it. Death hath but a bad look, a grim countenance, but yet it comes upon a good Errand; it hath the hands of Esau, which are very rough, but its voice is the voice of jacob, speaking Peace and Comfort to a Child of God. You see here in the Text, that Paul desired it; and he very well understood himself; he knew there was sufficient, yea, abundant reason for his doing so. It must be acknowledged, That Death was at first threatened as a Curse, and since the Fall it hath been inflicted as the Punishment of Sin. But God for the great Love wherewith he loves his People; and for the sake of his Son our dear Lord Jesus, hath as to them turned that Curse into a Blessing. That which was a part of the Curse, is now the highway to all Blessedness, as matrers do now stand; not to die would be a loss, a prejudice to the Saints, job 7.16. I loathe it, I would not live always; if I might I would not, i. e. here in this world; It is a very great aggravation of the misery of the Damned in Hell, that they cannot die, death flees from them; though they desire it and seek it, and earnestly call after it, yet it will not come, nay it cannot; The hopes of Annihilation would be grateful and pleasant to them; fain they would not be, but be they must whether they will or no. But Death will come to a Child of God; would he not live always? then ●hall not. Only to him Death comes in the fittest season, not till work be done, and he be ripe for Glory; he goeth to his Grave 〈◊〉 shock of Corn in its season. If Spiritual Death be taken away, ●●ch separates between the Soul and God, Natural Death can do hurt, though it doth for a time separate between the Soul and the ●●ly. Now from this Truth, two things do necessarily follow.  
●irst, That Death is not to be feared by a Believer: There are other ●●gs enough which are the proper Objects of our Fear; and it would our ●olly not to fear them: Of these things, Sin is one: Do not li● to its voice, nor comply with its motions, nor set your hand to work; though it come with the most tempting smiles, and alluring ●rms, stand at a distance from it, and bid defiance to it; for its 〈◊〉 is more bitter than wormwood. God is another, Jer. 10.7. Who ●●d not fear thee, O King of Nations, for to thee it doth appertain? It ●art of that natural worship which is due to him; fear him as ●●ldren a Father; rejoice at the remembrance of his Holiness, and 〈◊〉 the Lord and his Goodness; fear to break his Commands, and abuse his mercies, and thereby provoke him to withdraw from 〈◊〉 his assistances and comforts, and to set upon you the marks of displeasure. Your own hearts are another; if he that trusts in his 〈◊〉 heart be a fool, then to be afraid of ourselves, and of our own ●●ts is a special piece of wisdom. As the heart of man is knotty ●crabbed, so it is treacherous, deceitful above all things, and de●ately wicked; therefore let us watch our hearts, and be jealous 〈◊〉 ourselves with a godly jealousy. But be not afraid to die. A ●●●istian aught to be at God's ordering. Be willing to live as long as 〈◊〉 will have you, though it be an afflictive and troublesome life, ●●gh it be a sickly and painful life, though it be a mean and poor 〈◊〉 job could say upon his Dunghill, in the midst of outward and ●●●ard anguish, job 14.14. All the days of my appointed time, I will 〈◊〉 till my change shall come. Wait with patience; live out of a prince of obedience to God, and then be willing to die when God will 〈◊〉 you. Death hath lost its sting, and now you may play with it. 〈◊〉 reconciled, and therefore will not be unkind, nor do you a mis●f. It is your Father's servant, and therefore cannot go beyond his ●●mission; the Scripture tells you, 1 Cor. 5.21, 22. Death is yours, ●ell as life. It is a part of your interest. You owe a great deal to ●●th, as it puts an end to all your sins and sorrows, and as it is a pas●●, though a dark one, to Heaven and Glory.  
Secondly, The Death of those who died in the Lord, is not upon 〈◊〉 account to be bewailed by those their near and dear Relations that super● them. Indeed, as it is a loss to the Family and Friends, and to 〈◊〉 Nation, and to that part of the Church which is here, a sense of 〈◊〉 and a sorrow for it is to be allowed them, and commended 〈◊〉 them; for it is no other than their duty. It is a sign of a bad hea● and of approaching evil, when the righteous perish, and no man 〈◊〉 it to heart, Isa. 57.1. Only that Sorrow is to be kept under command, and within those bounds that Religion and right Reason 〈◊〉 set it. Tho over their Graves we may drop our Tears, we must 〈◊〉 drown ourselves. But the more deeply sensible we are of our loss, 〈◊〉 more careful and diligent we ought to be, about the improving 〈◊〉 making it up. Have we lost much of the Creature? then let us lab● to get so much the more of God and jesus Christ? There is not 〈◊〉 loss here below, that we can meet with, but if we will be foun● the way of our duty, it may, yea, for certain it shall be repa● and made up to us. But the Death of Holy, Gracious Persons, is to be bewailed upon their account: They stand in no need of an● our Sighs or Tears: Their case doth not call for it. Tho they di● their Strength and Prime, in their Youth, or in their consistent 〈◊〉 yet they did not die too soon. They lived as long as God would 〈◊〉 them, and that was long enough. They do not die too soon, who 〈◊〉 they die go to Christ. Rev. 14.13. Blessed are the dead that dy● the Lord. They are not miserable then, but happy, yea, more ha●● than ever they were before. When thou thinkest, My Relation is d●● follow that thought with this, My Relation is blessed. Now she 〈◊〉 indeed; now she is happy indeed. The life she had here, 〈◊〉 not deserve the name of a life, if compared with that life which now hath with Christ.  
Fifthly, A truly, yea, an eminently Gracious Person may be in a 〈◊〉 about dying-work. When David was almost consumed with the 〈◊〉 of God's hand, He prayed, O spare me, that I may recover stre●● before I go hence, and be seen no more, Psal. 39.13. When Hez●● was commanded by the Prophet from the Lord, To set his hous● order, for he should die and not live; he turned his face to the wall, 〈◊〉 prayed and wept sore, Isa. 38.1. etc. Paul here was in a straight, 〈◊〉 that proceeded from a more noble Cause, than that of many▪ 〈◊〉 was brought into it by the dear love he bore to Christ and the Ch●●●● But how many are brought into it by a fond and foolish love to 〈◊〉 world: They could be willing to go to Christ, were they not lo●● 〈◊〉 leave their Earthly Comforts, Relations and Possessions. They ●●uld live to see their Children grown up, well disposed of, and provided for in the world; but they may live to see them their Sorrow ●●d Shame, their Vexation and Torment. Others are in a straight, and ●aid to die, because they do not know whither they shall go when ●●ey die; they want assurance of the Love of God, and their own ●●ernal Salvation; for which want, they may possibly thank their ●●n supine carelessness and neglect, not having given, as they ought, ●●●igence, yea, all diligence to make their Calling and Election sure. ●●hers are in a straight, by reason of those severe Rebukes and Wounds ●hich they receive from their own Consciences: They have been off ●om their watch, and Temptations from Satan or the world have ●oke in upon them, and mastered them; and their own Corruptions ●●ve prevailed against them; and their Consciences, instead of being ●●eet Comforters, prove their dreadful Tormentors; by means where●● they, poor Creatures, know not how to look God in the face; ●●d so they know not how to look Death in the face: And indeed it ●●nnot but be very sad and dismal with any one who is in this condi●●on, and at the same time thinks in good earnest, that his death is 〈◊〉 hand: Therefore let it be your work by utmost diligence and con●●nt care of holy walking with God, to prevent such straits as these; ●●t weaned hearts; sit loose from the world; do your duty; keep ●ur selves unspotted; commit your all to God; clear up your Evidences; make up your Accounts; and get all things set in order, ●●at when you come to die, you may have nothing else to do.  
Sixthly, The Interest of Christ and his Church should be preferred be●●re our own particular Interest: Thus john the Baptist did, when some 〈◊〉 his Disciples told him, He to whom thou barest witness, baptizeth, and 〈◊〉 men come to him: They thought their Master's Glory would be ●●ereby eclipsed: Observe now his Answer thereunto, john 3. ●●, 30. The friend of the Bridegroom, which standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth greatly because of the bridegroom's voice; this my joy therefore is fulfilled; he must increase, but I decrease. They could not bring him ●etter and more welcome news. Our Apostle here judged his abiding 〈◊〉 the flesh was more needful for the Saints, in order to their furthe●●ance in the way to Heaven, and the increasing of their Joy of ●aith, and thence concluded, he should abide and continue with ●hem, and was, upon mature deliberation, free to do so. It ought to ●e so with us. We should be willing to be kept out of our Rest, so ●ong as we have any more work to do for God. We should be content to stay for our future Reward, so long as we may be further service● in the world. And indeed it is richly worth a Believers while to 〈◊〉 here until he hath dispatched all that for which he was sent hithe and not to have Death put in its sickle to reap him before he be t●● rough ripe. You have a great deal of Reason to long for Hear● because of the Company, Happiness, and Glory, which are there be enjoyed; and because of that noisome body of Death, which 〈◊〉 you carry about with you; and because of the Temptations, A●ctions, and various Troubles you meet with here. Yet be not imp●●●ent; but all the days of your appointed time, do you as job 〈◊〉 wait till your change shall come: You will lose nothing by stay 〈◊〉 God's time; which is in all things the best. The greater Service y●● do for him either in an active or passive way, the more weig●● shall your Crown be.  
Lastly, Whensoever, and about whatsoever it is that we are brought 〈◊〉 a straight, it is our wisest way to commit the business to God, and leave the 〈◊〉 termination unto him. When the Scales do hang even in our Judgement let God, before whom all things are naked and open, have the tur●● of them. It is said of Moses, Deut. 34.5. That he died according to 〈◊〉 word of the Lord; at the Mouth of the Lo●d; so it is in the Hebr●● Some read it, The Lord commanding him. 〈…〉 Annotations ●●●der it, by the Ordinance of the Lord, or at the Appointment of G●● It is not fit that we should have the prolonging or contracting of 〈◊〉 Lives in our own hands; that Power is best and sa●est in the ha●d that God whose right it is. The Church said, He should choose their heritance for them; let us also say, He shall choose for us the time 〈◊〉 our continuance here, and of our departure from hence. If we w●● to choose for ourselves, very few, if any, would choose well, but so●● of us would die too soon, and others of us would live too long. Let therefore refer it to God: While he is pleased to add to our day, us conscientiously mind our duty, living to the best purpose that can, and serving our Generation according to the Will of God; 〈◊〉 than we may satisfy ourselves with this, That we shall be sure to 〈◊〉 in the best time. In a word, Let every one of us be willing to 〈◊〉 here, until God send for us: And then the good Lord put us i● such a frame, as that when we are sent for, we may be willing to  
FINIS.