The Character and Blessedness of the Upright
The source for this document is http://name.umdl.umich.edu/N01623.0001.001
Project Note
This is licensed under Creative Commons CC BY-NC-ND. This license allows reusers to copy and distribute the material in any medium or format in unadapted form only, for noncommercial purposes only, and only so long as attribution is given to the creator.
The source of this document is the Early English Books Online (EEBO-TCP) website. Those books were transcribed in a character for character manner and can be very cumbersome to read since there was no standard spelling during that time. Many spelling variations such as "unlesse", "vnlesse", and "vnles" regularly appear.
This project was conceived to clean up those books as much as possible and make them more accessible to the interested reader, leading to the creation of a massive list of variant spellings and their corrections. This was used to clean up the text, but is of course only as complete as the list itself. Because of the nature of the original transcription, some words have missing characters or places where the original language (e.g., Greek) was not transcribed. This effort does not change that. Be aware that the original transcription can also be faulty and in some cases entire sentences may be missing.
Although this is no substitute for a properly compared, proofed, and scholarly edition, I believe that the result is a document which is far more accessible, particularly for searching for terms using standard spelling. The document has been cleaned and presented in what I hope is a pleasing and useful format for the vast majority of Christian brothers and sisters who just want access to read these spiritually nourishing works.
However, a word of warning: The Puritans were a very diverse group of people and their age was characterized with godliness, but also much upheaval, disputation and strife. They disagreed on many doctrines and some of these works contain less orthodox or Scriptural views than others. The reader is strongly advised to read with discernment, particularly if it is unknown whether author is trustworthy.
This project took a huge amount of time and skill to bring to fruition. I would particularly like to thank David Jonescue for the initial list of Puritans he found on EEBO and the concept behind this project as well as the continuous, unceasing efforts toward seeing this complete. Without his labor, this would not be available. Alex Sarrouf was invaluable in providing the initial list of over 7,000 spelling variations he had identified and corrected, as well as continuing to review more than 16,000 additions to that list for any typos.
Logan West
(with David Jonescue and Alex Sarrouf)
www.puritansearch.org
THE Character AND Blessedness OF THE UPRIGHT. A SERMON Occasion'd by the Death of the Honorable Wait Winthrop Esq Who Expired, Nov. 7. 1717. Aetatis 76.
By Joseph Sewall, A.M. Pastor of a Church of CHRIST in Boston.
Psal. 37.37. Mark the perfect man and behold the upright: for the end of that man it peace.
BOSTON: Printed by T. Crump, 1717.
THE Character and Blessedness of the UPRIGHT.
ISAIAH LVII. 2.
He shall enter into peace: they shall rest in their beds, each one walking in his uprightness.
IN the beginning of this Chapter the Prophet Isaiah gives an account of the degeneracy and stupidity of the Times wherein he lived. The righteous perisheth, and no man layeth it to heart —They did not duly consider the operation of God's Hand in taking away the Righteous by Death, nor were they suitably affected with it. They did nor discern the signs of the Times, nor would they observe the warning which God gave them of approaching Calamities, in the removal of such as were Upright before God in their Generation: None considering that the righteous is taken away from the evil to come.
In the Second Verse wherein is our Text, the Prophet comforts the People of God from the consideration of the Peaceful End of the Upright, and of the Rest which they enjoy after Death. He shall enter into peace: or, he shall go in peace; or as some read the Words, Peace shall come; to wit, to him. They go in peace when they leave this troublesome World; and their departed Spirits are refreshed and comforted in the Paradise of God.
They shall rest in their beds. As their Souls are taken to a place of perfect Peace; so their Bodies are laid in the Grave where they shall rest 'till the 〈7 letters〉 ction, when the shadows of Death shall be turned into the light of the Morning. Here's a sudden change of the number, which is not unusual in the Prophets. Each one walking in his uprightness; or, that walketh uprightly, or in straightness, making straight paths in the way of God's Commandments, without declining to the right hand, or to the left. Before Him: So Arias Montanus, and others read the Word: i. e. before God; as in His sight, and seeing Him who is Invisible.
In the Words we may observe, 1. The Character and Description of the Children of God: They walk in Uprightness. While they live they walk with God in Sincerity, ordering their steps according to the rules laid down in His Word. 2. We have the Privilege and Blessedness of such asserted and described: He shall enter into peace: They shall rest in their beds.
In the Words there is contained this Doctrine,
DOCTRINE.
PROP. I. It is the Character of the Children of God that they walk in their Uprightness.
PROP. II. It is their Happiness, that they shall enter into Peace, and rest in their Graves, as in Beds, when they Die.
PROP. I. It is the Character of the Children of God that they walk in their Uprightness. Every true Believer, who is a Child of God by Faith in Jesus Christ, is a perfect and upright Man. Under this Proposition, I shall endeavor to show what is implied in walking in Uprightness, and so explain and illustrate this Character.
Here we may observe, that this Word as used in the Scriptures, is of much the same import with Perfection. Sincerity, Integrity. As it is here used, it cannot intend Sinless Perfection, We read, Eccl. 7.29. God hath made man upright; but they have sought out many inventions. The Word for Man is Adam. God made our first Parents right in sinless Perfection: But Adam sin'd, and we in him. And since the Fall all are conceived in sin, and go astray from the Womb. And there is no Man but hath the remains of this Original Corruption abiding in him. The Law which is the rule of Right between God and Man, and an Eternal rule of Righteousness demands perfect Obedience, and threatens the Curse upon the least defect. Gal. 3.10. Cursed is everyone that continueth not in all things which are written in the Book of the Law to do them. And therefore the Psalmist deprecates God's being strict to mark iniquity, Psal. 143.2. The holiest Men that ever lived had Sin remaining in them. Noah was a just Man, and perfoot in his Generations, Gen. 6.9. And yet he was overtaken with the Sin of Drunkenness. Job was perfect and upright: And yet he makes that confession, Job 9.20. If I justify myself, mine own mouth shall condemn me: if I say I am perfect, it shall also prove me perverse. How passionately doth the Apostle Paul cry out, O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? There was never any Man since the Fall, excepting the Man CHRIST JESUS, (who is GOD as well as Man) persectly free from Sin. Indeed God is said to see no iniquity in Jacob, or perverseness in Israel. The perfect Righteousness of Christ covers all the Sins of His People; God beholds no iniquity in them so as to impute it. However, all want of conformity to, or transgression of the Law of God, is Sin, under the Covenant of Grace, as well as under the Covenant of Works: But here is the difference; the Sins of Believers do not expose them to the condemnation of the Law, and to the Sword of Vindictive Justice; because their Surety hath born their iniquities, & made Reconciliation for them. The Children of God know but in part, and are sanctified but in part. Eccl. 7.20. There is not a just man upon earth that doeth good and sinneth not. While they live in this World they sin daily, and therefore they live a life of Repentance and Godly Sorrow, and must daily go to that Fountain which is set open to the house of David,—for sin and for uncleanness. The best Men upon Earth come short in every duty: None are able perfectly to keep the Commandments of God. Their houses of Clay must be pulled down, before the leprosy of Sin will be wholly taken away; and their Souls must be separated from their Bodies by Death, before they can attain the spotless purity of the spirits of just Men made perfect. The brightest Lights that ever shone in the Church Militant have had their spots.
But to speak Positively.
1. Walking in uprightness presupposeth this, that the Dominion of sin is destroyed in God's People, and the image of God, in all the Graces of the Spirit, is created in them. Every Child of God is renewed in the whole Man, after His Image. All the Divine Laws must be written on our hearts by the Finger of God, and we must be set right with God, or our ways cannot be upright before Him. Every Man is by nature under the dominion of lust, and the way of sin is the way of his own heart. And therefore unless God create in us a clean heart, and renew within us a right spirit; it is as much impossible for us to walk in uprightness, as it is for the Dead to arise and walk. The motion of natural Bodies is according to their principle, and the laws impressed upon them. And thus the motions of the Soul in moral actions are according to the bias that is upon it. While our inclinations are corrupt, our ways will be unclean. While we are governed by the law in our members, we cannot walk in uprightness. This doth therefore necessarily suppose that the People of God are renewed in the spirit of their minds; being delivered from the dominion of sin. Their Understandings are savingly enlightened to see the path of Life; their Wills renewed, so that they choose the ways of God's Testimonies: their Affections sanctified, and by them their Souls are forwarded in the way of God's Commandments. Thus every Power is rescued from the bondage of Corruption; and Grace takes possession of every faculty. The image of God is engraven on the hearts of His Children in every line of it. There is an integrity and perfection of parts in the new Man: For of Christ's fullness they receive and Grace for Grace; though' it be imperfect as to degrees. And though' every lust remains in some degree, yet there is no lust but what is cast down from it's usurped Throne. Every Child of God is born of the Spirit, and is denominated from his better part, a perfect and upright Man. All old things are passed away, and all things are become new.
2. Walking in uprightness intends that we make the Word of God our Rule in our way, & have a respect to all His Commandments. The Upright endeavor that their obedience may be extended in some good measure, in proportion to the breadth of God's Law; and none of God's Commands are grievous to them. They delight in the whole Law, and are obedient to every Precept in it; they make Conscience not only of obeying those Commands which immediately respect God, but also of those which respect their Neighbor. They neither separate the Tables of the Law, nor dash them in pieces one against another. They do not pick & choose, and say, These Commands we will do, those we will leave undone; but earnestly desire that their hearts may be directed to keep all God's Commandments. They allow not themselves in the omission of any known duty. Secret as well as open duties bear the stamp of the Divine Authority, and therefore are impartially regarded by them. The Children of God take His Word for a light to their feet, and a lamp to their path. In the Law of God our duty is marked out to us, and the way to Blessedness laid out before us; and therefore the Upright do take care to walk in the Law of the Lord, and dare not allow themselves in passing over these lines and bounds which their Lawgiver hath set and described therein. They make it their business to order their Conversation according to this Law of Liberty. They take the Word of God for their directory, and worship Him according to His own Institutions and Appointments. They labor to understand the Orders and Ordinances of God's House as revealed in His Word, and keep close to them. In a Word, the Grace of God which hath appeared to them in the Gospel, teaches them to live soberly righteously and godly in this present evil World.
3. Walking in uprightness intends that we hate every false way. The upright do not allow themselves to walk in any forbidden path, or to turn aside to the crooked ways of sin. There is no way of wickedness, though' it seem to be never so pleasant and gainful; but what they heartily desire to forsake. They lay aside the sin that doth most easily beset them, and thro' the Spirit they mortify the deeds of the Flesh, even those beloved lusts, which their Constitution, Employment, or Coversation might most incline them to. Psal. 18.23. I was also upright before him: and I kept myself from mine iniquity. They are cleansed from secret faults, and kept back from presumptuous sins, so that they have not dominion over them.
4. Walking in uprightness intends that Believers do walk as being sensible that God's Eye is upon them, and as seeing Him who is Invisible. We have already observed that some translate the Word, before Him. They order their Life and Conversation under a realizing view of the Presence of God. They believe that truth, Prov. 15.3. The Eyes of the Lord are in every place beholding the evil and the good. And they act as of sincerity in the sight of God. The Hypocrite is ready to say in his heart, Doth God know, can he judge through the dark cloud. But the Upright Man makes that confession of his Faith, Psal. 139.3. Thou compassest my path, and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways. And this belief of the Omniscience and Omnipresence of GOD governs him in his walk, and makes him take care to approve himself to God, by having his Conversation in simplicity & godly sincerity. The Children of God do live in Obedience to that command, Gen. 17.1. I am the Almighty God, walk before me, and he thou perject. They live and act under this apprehension, that they are continually in the presence of that God who is their Judge and Rewarder: And therefore they desire truth in the inward parts, and see to it that the inward temper and frame of their minds be agreeable to their outward profession. By Faith they see Him who is Invisible to sense. They are sensible that He sees all their though'ts afar off, and therefore walk circumspectly. They behold God in His Providential Dispensations, wherein He passeth before them; and they labor to keep their eyes fixed upon Him in all their ways, and to act as in His sight. This is to walk in Uprightness; and such may appeal to God and say with Hezekiah, Lord thou knowest that I have walked with an upright heart.
5. Walking in uprightness implies that we have upright Aims and Intentions in our Lives and Actions. Believers do make the Glory of God their chief and ultimate end. As far as we are sincere and upright we have a single eye and pure aims; and labor to move in a direct and straight line towards that glorious End, the advancement of God's Honor. In this respect, Their eyes look right on, and their eye-lids look straight before them, as Prov. 4.25. The Upright seek to promote God's Glory in all their ways: Whether they eat or drink, or whatever they do, they do all to the Glory of God. And endeavor to subordinate their inferior interests to this grand Design.
6. It intends that they act thus in the whole course of their Lives. A Man's way is that which he accustoms himself to. Agreably, to walk in uprightness, is to be upright at all times, and under all circumstances. Integrity and uprightness do preserve God's People in all company, in all conditions of life, and in every affair they engage in. This is the way and manner of their life. They are upright in a constant and continued course of actions. In the frame and tenor of their lives they are upright, exercising themselves in this, to keep a Conscience void of offense both towards God and towards Men. Indeed the Upright Man may fall once and again. They do sometimes go out of the way of God's Commandments; but then they do not walk in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stand in the way of sinners. Tho' they fall seven times, yet they rise again by Repentance, and return unto the Lord. The Upright are steady and constant in walking in the path of God's Commandments; they persevere in their duty till they finish their course, and obtain the end of their Faith. Psal. 119.33. Teach me, O Lord, the way of thy statutes, and I shall keep it unto the end. Thus we have briefly considered a few particulars, to illustrate the Character which is here given of the Righteous, when it is said, That each one of them walketh in his uprightness.
PROP. II. It is their Happiness that they shall enter into Peace, and rest in their Graves, as in Beds. We proceed now to consider the Privilege & Blessedness of the Upright.
In this World God's Providence towards the Righteous and Wicked is very promiscuous, so that no man knoweth love or hatred by all that is before them. Eccl. 9.2. All things come alike to all. There is one event to the righteous and to the wicked— Job 9.22. He destroyeth the perfect and the wicked. The Upright must die as well as the Sinner, and to an eye of sense, the Righteous perisheth; But then, Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his Saints. When they go the way of all the Earth, they go in Peace. Every Upright Man is a Son of Peace. The Lord Jesus Christ hath purchased Peace for His People, and that in the most comprehensive sense of the word, and He will bestow it upon them. Psal. 84.11. For the Lord God is a sun and shield: the Lord will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly. When our SAVIOUR was about to leave this World He bequeathed Peace to His Disciples as a rich Legacy. Joh. 14.27. Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you, — The Lord Jesus Christ is our Peace-maker. Col. 1.20.— Having made peace thro' the blood of his Cross—The chastisements of our Peace were upon Him. He who is the Fathers only begotten Son, in whom He is ever well pleased; was bruised and wounded for the transgressions of His People, that God might with Honor to all His Attributes, receive them into favor, and embrace them in the Arms of His Everlasting Love. God hid His Face from Him for a time, when He uttered that strong and vehement Cry, My God! My God! Why hast thou forsaken me? Now, this was that His People might enjoy the manifestations of His Love, and walk up and down in the light of His Countenance.
And as our Lord Died to purchase this great and comprehensive Good for His People; so He ever Lives to communicate it to them. Now He is in Heaven, He doth not leave them Comfortless; but comes unto them in the holy Influences and Consolations of His Spirit, who is the Comforter. All Divine Peace is laid up in Him, He is the proton decticon, the first Recipient; God hath anointed Him with the Oil of gladness above his fellows, and from Him who is the Head this flows down to the Members of His Mystical Body, as the Oil that anointed the Head of Aaron ran down to the skirts of his Garments. In His light they see light. Being justified by Faith they have Peace with God. Being delivered from the guilt and bondage of Sin, they have peace of Conscience and joy in the Holy Ghost; And thro' Christ become Heirs to the Inheritance of the Saints in Light. Thus I have endeavored to show the ground and foundation of that Peace which the Righteous do and shall enjoy. I proceed to speak more directly to the Proposition before us, in a few Particulars.
1. Sometimes God gives unto the Upright abundance of peace, and more than ordinary tranquility of mind towards the end of their lives; so that they finish their course with Joy. God reserves the best Wine 'till last, and gives the Upright strong and refreshing Cordials when they lie upon a Death-Bed, and stand in most need of them. Thus it is sometimes, and it may be many times, when thro' their weaknesses, others cannot observe, and intermeddle with their Joy. As they draw nigh to the borders of the Heavenly Canaan, God sometimes takes them up into the Mount, and gives them such tavishing views of that better Country, as make them even desire to pass over Jordan, that they may possess it. Phil. 1.23. Having a desire to depart — It may be they have walked in darkness; but at evening there is light. They are sometimes enabled to say with the Psalmist, Tho' I walk thro' the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me, thy rod and thy staff they comfort me, Psal. 23, 4. Thus God lets His Servants depart in Peace, and they finish their course with joy.
To be sure, The Upright Die in a state of favor and friendship with God thro' Jesus Christ. Suppose God should hide His Face in the hour of Death; yet still He is their God; they die in the Lord, and therefore there Death is safe. There's not one drop of vindictive Wrath in this bitter cup. Their Savior hath tasted death for them, and thro' death hath destroyed him, which had the power of death, that is the Devil; and therefore Death cannot do them any real harm. They go in Peace when they leave the World, whatever doubts and fears may cloud their minds in the hour of Death; and even these shall all vanish away as the morning Cloud, when their Souls are separated from their Bodies. Which leads me to the Second thing.
2. After Death the departed Spirits of the Upright do enter into Peace, and enjoy undisturbed Rest in the Paradise of God. The troubles of good Men and their lives end together. Death is a Messenger of Peace unto them, and brings them the joyful news, that there Warfare is accomplished. When an Upright Man Dies, God dismisseth Him to Rest, and speaks to him in the voice of His Providence, as to Daniel, Dan. 12.13.— Go thou thy way till the end be: for thou shalt rest —. The faithful Servants of God who have born the heat and burden of the day, and have been worn out almost with hard labors and bitter sufferings, find ease and refreshment at Death. Not as if the Souls of Believers were then laid asleep in a stato of inactivity; or did wholly cease from business; No! No! They live and act, in a separate state. They go to God, and join an innumerable company of Angels, and the general Assembly and Church of the first born, in praising and glorifying God in his Temple above. As the Four Animals, of whom it is said, They rest not day and night, saying, Holy, Holy Holy, Lord God Almighty —: But then they enter into Peace, inasmuch as they are delivered from all those hardships and difficulties which attend the service of God in this Life; in that they are delivered from all the calamities of this present evil World, and received to a place of inconceivable Delight and Refreshment; to the Heavenly Jerusalem where the Prince of Peace reigns, and they enjoy Visions of Peace. The Souls of Men donit perish with their Bodies; Death cannot kill the Soul. The Man dies, the vital Union between the Soul and Body being dissolved; and then the Body is sown in Corruption. But the Soul is an indivisible, immaterial, immortal Substance. Indeed the Souls of Men depend on God for their continuance; in Him they live and move and have their Being. God alone hath Immortality independently. But then they have no principles of Corruption in themselves; no created power can destroy them. Mat. 10.28. And fear not them which kill the Body, but are not able to kill the Soul. This Truth, that the Souls of Believers do live, act and enjoy, in a separate state; is written as with a Sun-beam in the Holy Scriptures. 2 Cor. 5.8. We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and present with the Lord. Luk. 23.43. And Jesus said unto him, Verily, I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in Paradise. Heb. 12.22, 23. But ye are come unto Mount Zion,—and to God the Judge of all, and to the Spirits of just Men, made perfect. Phil. 1.23.— Having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better. There is a double comparative in the Original, word for word, by much more better. These and many other Texts of Scripture do plainly declare that the Spirits of the Saints do exist in a separate state.
Under this Second Particular, I shall mention a few things briefly.
(1.) When the Upright die they enter into Peace, all their painful Labors being at an end. At Death they accomplish as an hireling their day, and go to reap the precious fruits, and receive the gracious rewards of their Labors. They are then released from the burden of their Secular Employments: There is much toil and fatigue in our particular Callings. God said unto Adam after his fall, Gen. 3.19. In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat Bread, —But now at Death Believers are called off to higher Employments, wherein they exercise themselves, being altogether free from care, and pain, and weariness. Again, The People of God meet with many difficulties, and great opposition in working out their Salvation. Strait is the gate, and narrow is the way which leads unto life, —Mat. 7.14. It is a perplexed, afflicted, persecuted Way. We must Agonize, as the word used, Luk. 13.24. signifieth. We must wrestle, sight, endure hardness—. But at Death the Saints rest from these toilsome Labors. Rev. 14.13. Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord,—that they may rest from their labors; and their works do follow them.
(2.) At Death the Upright enter into Peace, being perfectly delivered from the body of death. In this life they have the remains of sin in them, as we have heard. They see a law in their members, warring against the law of their mind —; They sigh and groan to be wholly delivered from the bondage of Corruption. The Sins of Believers do many times disturb their peace. Sometimes they provoke God by their iniquities to bide His Face from them, and to write bitter things against them. Psal. 38.3. There is no soundness in my flesh because of thine anger: neither is there any rest in my bones, because of my sin. ver. 8. I have roared by reason of the disquietness of my heart. But after Death they will no more complain that their Sins interpose as a thick cloud, and hide the light of God's Countenance from them. No more shall they be bowed down heavily under the weight of their Sins; but their Spirits being made perfect in Holiness, they shall be presented faultless before the presence of God's glory with exceeding joy. While they are in this World, there are two contrary Principles in them, striving for the mastery. Gal. 5.17. For the flesh lusteth against the spirit, and the spirit against the flesh —. It is impossible therefore that they should enjoy perfect peace, while their Souls are the seat of war. But at Death the Graces of the Spirit obtain a complete victory over Sin, being perfected in Glory. Now they complain that when they would do good, evil is present; but in Heaven they will serve God continually without the least molestation from this enemy. And as Conquerors they shall sit down with Christ on His Throne, as he Overcame and sat down with His Father on His Throne.
(3.) At Death the Upright enter into Peace, being delivered from Satan, and wicked Men. The Devil is the Tempter and Accuser of the Brethren. He hates the Children of God, envies them their Happiness, and doth his utmost to hinder and disturb them in their way to it. Indeed this roaring Lion who goes about seeking whom he may devour, shall never be able to destroy so much as one of these little Ones, who put their trust in Christ. However while they are upon Earth, he bussets them with his temptations, shoots his fiery darts at them, and when permitted, raiseth Storms of Persecution against them. But now at Death God sends His Holy Angels to convoy the departed Spirits of Believers thro' the darkness of this World; and these Spiritual wickednesses in high places, shall not be able to annoy them in their passage. To be sure, this foul Serpent cannot enter the Heavenly Paradise, to tempt God's People. Their Adversary the Devil shall never be able to shoot an arrow into the Jerusalem which is above. At Death, the God of Peace doth in an eminent manner bruise Satan under their feet. Again, The Upright are at Death delivered from wicked and ungodly Men. These are the rod of God's Anger whereby He oftentimes chaftiseth His own Children. They many times have reason to complain something as the Psalmist did, Psal. 120.5,—7. Woe is me that I sojourn in Mesech, that I dwell in the tents of Kedar. My soul hath long dwelt with him that hateth peace. There is enmity between the seed of the Woman and the seed of the Serpent. Wicked Men who are set on Fire of Hell, do persecute God's People; tear and devour the Lambs of Christ's Flock. But their power extends no further then this life. At Death the wicked cease from troubling; And the Upright shall have dominion over them in the Morning.
(4.) After Death the Upright enter into Peace, being join'd with the Spirits of just Men made perfect in the Business and Enjoyments of Heaven. When they Die they are carried by Angels into Abraham's bosom, where they are Comforted. They sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in their Father's Kingdom. When they remove from this World, where they are Strangers and Pilgrims, they go to dwell in that City of the Living God, where they enjoy a peaceable Habitation, sure Dwellings, and quiet Resting Places; in that City which hath no need of the Sun, neither of the Moon to shine in it; for the Glory of God doth enlighten it, and the Lamb is the Light thereof. There they are before the Throne, and serve him in His Temple: And He that sitteth on the Throne dwells among them. The Lamb who is in the midst of the Thorn seeds them, and leads them unto living Waters; and God wipes away all tears from their Eyes. Thus they wait in a certain hope, and joyful Expectation for the redemption of their Bodies.
3. The Bodies of the Upright de Rest in their Graves, as in Beds, when they die. Sleep is the image of Death; and Death is in Scripture frequently compard'd to Sleep. Deut. 31.16. And the Lord said unto Moses, Behold, thou shalt sleep with thy Fathers — Joh. 11.11. Our friend Lazarus sleepeth — ver. 13.— Jesus spake of his death —. When the Children of God leave this World, they enter into their Chambers. Their Souls return to the Lord, and enjoy Peace in the presence of God, as we have already heard; And their Bodies do rest in the Grave, which is the House appointed for all living. Job 17.13. If I wait, the grave is mine house; I have made my bed in the darkness. ver. 16. — When our rest together is in the dust. While they are in this World, they sometimes complain with Job, 7.4. When I lie down, I say, when shall I arise? — and I am full of tossings to and fro to the dawning of the day. But after Death, their Bodies are at rest, free from pain and all uneasiness. At Death the bodily Organs cease to discharge their respective offices. The Eyes see not, the Ears hear not, the Hands handle not, the Feet move not. There is no work in the Grave. At Death the Night comes wherein no Man can work, and the People of God go to rest; they are put to Bed in the silent Grave, free from the noise and hurry of this present Life: There they lie still and are quiet; they sleep and are at rest. And in the Morning of the Resurrection they shall awake, and arise with fresh vigor. We lie down in our beds at Night, that our exhausted spirits may be recruited, and that we may with renewed strength engage in the business of the Day. Agreably, When the Bodies of God's Children are laid in their Graves, it is in order to their arising recruited and refreshed at the last Day. The bars of the Pit shall not be about them forever. No, No. At the time appointed in God's Unchangible Decree, He will call, and they shall answer, He will have a desire to the work of his Hands. Then the Upright who sleep in the dust of the Earth shall awake to Everlasting Life. The Dead in Christ shall rise. The dead Bodies of the Saints shall arise and shine, with the Glory of the Lord arisen upon them, strengthened to the Work and Enjoyments of the Heavenly World. Then their glorious change shall come. For their vile bodies shall be changed, and fashioned like to Christ's Glorious Body. And then shall they behold God's Face in righteousness: they shall be satisfied, when they awake, with His likeness. Their Bodies will then be redeemed from the power of the Grave. Their Corruptible shall put on Incorruption, their Mortal Immortality, and Death shall be swallowed up in Victory.
4. After the Resurrection the Upright, their whole Man, Soul and Body, being glorified, shall enter into perfect Peace, and enjoy Everlasting Rest in the Heavenly World. At Death their departed Spirits enter into the joy of their Lord. At the Day of Judgment, their Souls and Bodies being reunited; they shall be openly acknowledged and acquitted; And when the Business of the Great Day is finished, they shall ascend with their Glorious Redeemer, and ever be with the Lord. Then God will open the Gates of the Heavenly Jerusalem, and the Righteous shall have an abundant and triumphant Entrance into that high and holy Place, where they shall be kept in perfect Peace forever and ever. There is a Rest which remains for the People of God in Heaven, an Eternal and uninterrupted Sabbatism. There are Mansions of Glory prepared for them, and when they are six'd and settled in them, they will dwell at ease, and move no more. There God's Countenance will be hold the Upright with the greatest complacency, and they shall rejoice in the Lord with an exceeding great Joy. There they shall have the full Enjoyment of the God of Peace, and in His Presence obtain Fulness of Joy, and Pleasures forever more. God the Father will embrace them in the Arms of His Everlasting Love; God the Son will dwell with them, and they shall behold His Glory; God the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Glory, shall rest upon them, and fill them with Grace and Comfort. The Kingdom of God in this World is Righteousness and Peace; what then shall the Kingdom of Glory be? Then they will Rest indeed; for all their wants shall be fully supplied, their desires perfectly satisfied, and their Blessedness consummated. In Heaven they will have the clearest Knowlege of God, of His Glorious Perfections, and Counsels and Works; particularly, they will have a most ravishing view of the most wonderful and mysterious Work of Redemption in its perfection and Accomplishment. Then they will reach the Centre of their wishes, hopes, and desires, and therefore they will Rest. There will be nothing to hinder them from the perfect exercise of their Graces. They will act and enjoy in the most perfect manner, all their Powers being exerted in the Service of God, and being completely satisfied in Him. I might go on, and say, They will then be made Equal to the Angels in Heaven, and meet Companions for those Glorified Spirits. They will then enjoy the Communion of Saints in its full beauty and perfection. At present there remain much sin and imperfection in the best, which is apt to weaken the Union, and disturb the Peace of the most holy Societies upon Earth. But in Heaven all the hindrances of Peace will be done away, and the Children of God will be of one Heart, and one Soul. There will be no difference in opinion, no distance in affection, their knowledge & love being perfected. There are no misunderstandings, no ill humors, no envy, no uncharitable jealousies among the Saints in Light.
APPLICATION.
USE. I. Shall the Upright enter into Peace— Learn, that the Upright are Blessed. Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the Lord; Psal. 119.1. Light is sown for the righteous, and gladness for the upright in heart. And in a little time they shall reap the full Harvest. When they shall eat of the peaceable fruits of righteousness, and be satisfied. Let their troubles be never so many in this Life, yet it shall be well with them in the Conclusion: Isai. 3.10. Say ye to the righteous that it shall be well with him: for they shall eat the fruit of their doings. They have their fruit unto holiness, and therefore their End shall be Eternal Life. Their Condition must needs be good and happy, which ends so well. The Upright are the blessed of the Lord, and therefore they are blessed indeed.
USE II. Shall the Upright enter into Peace, — Then the Wicked can have no true peace, either in the hour of Death, or after their Dissolution. Contraries have contrary Consequences. If the Righteous hath hope in his Death; then the hope of the Hypocrite shall perish. Isai. 48.22. There is no peace, saith the Lord, unto the wicked. When they cry Peace! Peace! sudden destruction shall come upon them. If their Consciences awake in this Life, they must needs be like the troubled Sea when it cannot rest. But suppose they should doze on in their Carnal Security; and there should be no bands in their Death, yet after Death they will awake, and lift up their eyes in Torment. Then distress and anguish shall seize upon them, and they will be utterly consumed with terrors. They must make their bed in Hell, where the Worm never dies, and the Fire is not quenched. They must lie down in sorrow, and awake to shame and everlasting contempt, at the Great Day, when they will call to the Rocks and Mountains to hide them from the Wrath of God and the Lamb, but in vain: For in that terrible Day of the Lord they shall be forced to appear before the Judgment Seat of Jesus Christ, and be doomed to suffer the pains of Eternal Death. O that secure Sinners might be awakened, and be persuaded by the terrors of the Lord to be reconciled unto Him, and to make their Peace with Him. Consider this, ye that forget God, lest he tear you in pieces, and there be none to deliver.
3. Infer. That Believers should never be weary of well-doing; nor yet faint under their Sufferings. Shall they enter into Peace, and Rest when they Die? Surely, they are then strongly obliged to work the Works of Him that sent them, while they live. O it becomes them to be not slothful in business; fervent in spirit serving the Lord! Seeing that when they die, they shall rest from their Labors, and their Works shall follow them. O Believer! there is a Glorious and Eternal Rest remains for thee in Heaven; and wilt thou not be diligent in thy Lord's Business while upon Earth? Certainly it is thy Duty and Interest so to be. Yea furthermore, if God in His Providence should call you to suffer Affliction, it becomes you to bear His Hand with a quiet Submission, neither repining nor fainting when rebuked of Him; For these Troubles which are for the present not joyous but grievous, shall yield the peaceable fruits of righteousness. By your present Sorrows God is doing you good for your latter End, and preparing you for perfect Peace in Heaven. Lift up your heads then, Behold! the time of Refreshment draws nigh. In a little time you will have your Quietus. In a little time you shall ascend to the Heavenly Zion with Songs, and Everlasting Joy upon your heads; you shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.
Here I might say that this Consideration affords a refreshing Cordial to such as are Mourning, being bereaved of Pious Relatives. They Sleep in Jesus, and are entered into Peace. O let not this Consolation of God be small with you! While you sow in Tears, they reap in Joy. Let this then mitigate your Sorrow, asswage your Grief. Weep not for them, but for yourselves: Your Loss is their Gain.
4. It is therefore our duty to mark the Perfect Man, and behold the Upright. Psal. 37.37. Mark the perfect Man, and behold the Upright: for the end of that Man is peace. We should observe Upright Men in their holy Walk with God, that we may follow their Faith, considering the end of their Conversation.
A Person of this Character, the Honorable Major-General WINTHROP, was carried to his Sepulcher the last Week. He was descended of Honorable Ancestors, who were famous in their Generation, and their Names are deservedly precious in New-England.
His Excellent Grand-Father was One of those Worthies who left a pleasant Land, and fair Possessions, that they might follow their Lord Jesus Christ into this part of the New World, when it was an howling Wilderness; and enjoy Communion with Him in the purity of His Ordinances. He was a principal Founder of this Town, and of this Province, where he was for many Years Elected Governor, and Died while invested with that Authority.
His Honorable Father was for several Years an Assistant of this Colony, and afterwards the Governor of Connecticut, for whom He procured the Charter under which They now enjoy their Precious and Valuable Privileges.
This Honorable Person was Himself a Friend and Father to his Country, and had the Religion and Liberties of New-England much at heart, being a Lover of Truth and Justice.
He was a skillful Physician, and generously gave, not only his Advice, but also his Medicines for the healing of the Sick, which by the Blessing of God, were made successful for the Recovery of many. He was well skilled in Philosophy: But above all, we have good reason to believe that he had learnt CHRIST, and that he now Sleeps in JESUS.
It is an honor to Boston, that it was the Place of his Nativity.
By this repeated and awful Bereavement there is a great Gap made in our Hedge. May the Repairer of our Breaches raise up and qualify such from time to time as shall make up our Hedge, and stand in the Gap.
I cannot here forbear to mention that Aged Handmaid of the Lord, who departed this Life the last Week. She was a genuine Daughter of Sarah, and hath left us an excellent Example of pure and undefiled Religion.
5. Let us all be Exhorted to Walk in Uprightness before the Lord: Let us diligently improve His Providences and Ordinances; particularly the Lord's Supper, to prepare us for this Rest, and to give us the Assurance of it. The Providence of God hath been very observable in the many great Breaches which He hath made upon this Church of late, especially since our last Communion. And His Voice to us now is, Be ye ready also. O let it not be said that God stretched out His Hand, and we did not regard it. But let us now be awakened to search and try our ways, and to return unto the Lord. In a particular manner, Let us draw nigh to this Holy Ordinance of the Supper, with reverence and godly fear; And labor so to show forth our Lord's Death, that we may be prepared for our own. This Ordinance is of excellent use for this end. O that we may be enabled to improve it in a right manner! Here we have Jesus Chrift evidently set forth Crucified, before our Eyes; and may by Faith behold our Victorious Redeemer, thro' Death, destroying him that had the power of Death. Come then, and see the Salvation of God; that you may be able to say with Simeon, Now lettest thou thy Servant depart in peace; For mine Eyes have seen Thy Salvation. Come, Behold your Savior Who Liveth, and was Dean, and behold He is Alive forever more, and hath the Keys of Hell and of Death. Come to this Table, and by Faith eat that Bread which came down from Heaven, that you may live forever. Come, and take this Cup which exhibits a Sovereign Antidote against the Sting of Death, and a rich Cordial to cheer and refresh your Spirits in the Approaches of that King of Terrors. For the true and faithful Witness testifieth; Joh. 6.54. Whose eateth my Flesh, and drinketh my Blood, hath Eternal Life, and I will raise him up at the last Day. Here are the Bread and Waters of Life. And the Master of the Feast bids us Welcome, and says, Eat O Friends! yea drink abundantly, O Beloved! God doth here prepare a Table before His People, and their Cup runneth over, and they may sing, The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want —yea, though' I walk thro' the Valley of the shadow of Death, I will fear no evil: for Thou art with me — But then we must look to it, that we come in Uprightness, and keep the Feast, not with old leaven —; but with the unleavened bread of Sincerity & Truth. Then by this Supper we shall be prepared to sit down at the Marriage-Supper of the Lamb, and to drink New Wine with our Glorified Redeemer in His Father's Kingdom.