COncerning Death the first Question is whether it be a thing to be contemned?

1. Ans. Death is not simply to be contemned, 1. because it is in its own nature a grievous judgement of God against the sinnes of men, and so doth represent, both our desert and Gods wrath, 2. because it is in its owne nature, a passage to an eternall separation from God, so that it is a point either of desperate security, or affected wisdome, and valour, to contemne death after that manner that some of the heathen have done, who have been prais'd for so doing. But yet comparison being made betwixt death and those things which after death are prepared for the faithfull, death may, and ought in some sort to bee contemned by all believers, Heb. 12. 2.

The second Question is whether a believer ought to desire and pray for death?

Answ. Death is not simply and absolutely to be desired, 1. Because it is in it selfe a evill, 2. Because God as a Generall hath placed us in our station of this life, and without his Commandement we ought not to forsake, nor simply to desire to be dismist before the time that hee hath appointed, 2 Cor. 5. 4. 9. But yet the faithfull may and ought so to expect the life which is to come after death that they do account it much more pleasing to them then this present life,

2 Cor. 5. 8. And to tend thither, with the des[gap]e that is moderate, [gap] subject to the will of God, as being a condition much better, Phil. 1. 13. Ro. 8. 23. 2 Tim. 4 8.

The third Question is, by what arguments the mind of a believer may be strengthned against the feare of death?

2. Ans. First, if he seriously consider, and by faith apprehend that Christ hath by his Death destroyed the power of Death, H[gap]b. 2. 14. and taken away its sting, 1 Cor. 15. 56. So that death hath beene swallowed in victory by Christ, and that victory is imparted to beleevers, Ibidem & 54. 57.

3. Secondly, if he consider also that this was one end of Christs death, to free us from the feare of death, as being a great bondage, Heb. 2. 15.

4. Thirdly, if he consider also with faith, that the love of Christ and of God in Christ is so firme and constant that no death can seperate us from it, Ro. 8. 35.

5. Fourthly, if he consider with himselfe that for Christ the death of the faithfull is pretious in Gods eyes, Psal. 72. 14. And be also fully persuaded that the good hand, and fatherly providence of God, is present with, and watcheth over the faithfull for good both in life and death, Mat. 10. 28, 29, 30, 31.

6. Fifthly if he well consider from how many, and from how great evills hee shall be freed by death, as, 1. From sin, 2. From those miseries that follow sinne, Esay 57. 1. 2. 5. Which cause others often times to seeke for death, Apoc. 9. 6. 3 From the temptations of the Devill Apoc. 12. 8. 4 From the opposition and vexation of the World and the flesh, Apoc. 14 13. Eccles. 4. 1. 2. Hence it is that death is ca[gap]'d a rest and a sleepe, Esa. 57. 2. 6. 1 Thess. 4. 13▪ 14. Thus much the Devill himselfe in the shape of Samuel did acknowledge 1. Sam. 28. 15.

7. Sixthly, if he cast his eyes alwayes upon that happinesse to which we shall come by death, For after death. 1. The grace of God shall be perfected in us, 1 Cor. 13. 10. 2 We shall be with God, 2 Cor. 5. 8. With Christ and the blessed spirits, Phil. 1. 23. 3. We shall injoy a firme and immutable estate of heavenly life, 2 Corinth. 5. 1. Heb. 11. 10. 16. Luke 16. 9.

8. Seventhly, if he seriously set his minde to consider the vanity of all those things which depend upon this preseut life, and which we forsake at our death, Eccl. 2. 18▪

9. Eighthly, if he persuade himselfe that Gods providence without him is sufficient to provide for all those things concerning which he can be carefull, and do know withall that without it, no good can be done, though he should continue in life.

The fourth Question is what a beleever ought to do that he may injoy this consolation?

10. Ans. First, he ought to labour that he may have a speciall faith in God through Christ, and that this faith be lively, and strong, Luke 2. 28. 2 Tim. 1. 12. 1 Iohn 5. 4.

11. Secondly, he ought with all care to preserve his Conscience pure and without offence, Acts 24. 15, 16. Heb. 10. 22.

12. Thirdly, he ought with this faith and Conscience to live in a continuall expectation of the comming of the Lord, so carying himselfe here as becomes a Citizen of heaven, Phil. 3. 20. 2 Pet. 3. 12.

13. Fourthly, he ought alwayes to thinke the hower of his death to be neare and at hand, Psalme 19. 20. Esa[gap]. 28. 15. 2 Tim. 4 6.

14. Fifthly, he ought alwaies to exercise himselfe to a deniall and forsaking of the world, 1 Cor. 7▪ 29, 30, 31. Gal. 6[gap]4.

15. Sixthly, he ought to make death familiar in a sort to himselfe both by a frequent meditation of it, and by those exercises to which God calls him, 1 Cor. 15. 31. 2 Cor. 1. 9. & 4. 10, 11.

16. Seventhly, he ought to labour that as the outward man drawes to corruption, so the inward man may be renewed more and more, 2 Cor. 4. 16.

17. Eighthly, he ought not to thinke so much upon death it selfe, as upon Gods grace both in death, and in those things which follow after, 2 Tim. 4. 8.

18. Ninthly, he ought in all humility to commend his soule unto God as unto a faithfull Creator, 1 Pet. 4. 16.