CONSIDERATIONS OF DEATH.

Containing some few reasons why men fear it; and opposite reasons, by way of answer, why they should not fear it.

Object. 1. Because thereby we are deprived of the exercise of all our senses, so that whatever delight, either our taste, smell, hearing, sight, or feeling hath afforded us, we shall enjoy the same no more, whilst, perhaps, many generations after us, shall have the fruition thereof.

Answer, 1. As the exercise of our senses afford opportunity of delight, so are they capable of annoying and grieving us; as the taste of bitterness and sharpness, &c. The smell by noisome pollution, corruption, &c. The hearing by terrible and hidcous noise, and evil tidings; the sight by loathsome, affrighting and miserable appearances; the feeling by tedious pains, &c.

Again, we have had the benefit of surviving former generations, who are liable to what we are: and so shall be those who shall succeed us.

Object. 2. But that which aggravates the evil thereof, is a man's being cut off in the flower or strength of his age; whereas, if he lived the com mon age of men, he should the more contentedly leave this life.

Answer. Why, what is man? Is he not a flower, as grass, and the like? And are they not cut off

in their best state? And may not God when he walketh in, or vieweth his garden of human flowers, have as much liberty to crop them, as men have of theirs? Surely, yea, for all are his.

Secondly. And though God permit some men to live as long as an ordinary course of nature, or be it seventy years, (which is judged the most common) or more; yet he hath not promised them so long to live.

Thirdly. And though so many live long, yet considering the wars, plagues, and other diseases among men, it is not without reason, though there are many more that die who have not lived according to the course of nature.

Fourthly. As we conclude, that no person, better, or so well as the gardener, or such as sowed, planted, dressed, and frequently practiseth about the flowers and plants, knows when, and for what reason, to gather and pluck up, so no person knoweth better, nor so well as God knows, when to cut, or pluck up what he hath planted in the world, who doth all his actions upon good and weighty reasons, even greater and better than any gardener, or other person hath, for what he doth in his concernment.

Object. 3. In death a man becomes a loathsome spectacle to all beholders, insomuch that the sight and smell of the survivors find not more noisome offence from, and account not more vilely of the most loathsome creature in this world, than of a dead and rotten corpse of mankind; and is not that very grievous to become from a delightful compan ion, an abhorrence of all people.

Answer, 1. True, being dead, a man becomes a loathsome spectacle to all beholders; and do not many diseases to which a man is incident in this life effect the same in beholders.

2. Though men do become by death what is suggested, yet hath he not sense thereof; and in that is the proverb verified, What the eyes see not, the heart rues not; For look on man in that case, as we may, as a dead lump of corruption, and what misery can we apply thereto! Who looks on a dung hill, or a jakes, and saith, Alas! for its misery? The same feels not, and knows not any. So that although the thoughts of such a condition by death, grieve us whilst living, yet in that condition itself we shall be free from such grief.

3. Again, consider that we are but earth before we had life; and being dead, we return to our first es tate; and though withal we become for a season more impure and corrupt than barely earth, yet in time we shall become very dust, when the purification is consumed, and in that sense, but especially în a more excellent, will that saying be fulfilled, to wit: Corruption shall put on incorruption.

Object. 4. Death deprives man of his society, with whom he hath sweet converse.

Answer, 1. True, but it is in order [if he dies in God's favor] to enjoy in due season, better society than men on earth have.

2. Besides, as thou loosest thy friends on earth, so thou art rid of thy enemies there too.

Object. 5. Though death may make way for bet ter society than we have been used to here, yet we

know not what it shall be; the body not being to receive new life till the general resurrection, which may be very long delayed.

Answer. Suppose it be so, as the most of Christians believe, that the best part of men receive glory and happiness immediately after death; yet from the time of death, to the general resurrection, at which time all knowing Christians believe the reward of the righteous will not fail, the space between death and it, is but as one day; and he, who by means of an apoplexy, or the like occasion, sleeps many days and nights without waking, cannot esteem the time he hath slept, answerable to the measure thereof; but it may be to him as one day or night. And in this sense may death be reckoned (as usually it is in holy scripture) a sleep.

Object. 6. Suppose a man should die by the hand of a cruel man-slayer, who delights in torturing and destroying the body of man, as have been seen; would not the conceit of one so cruel, coming to act his mind upon a person, make the thought of such a death more terrible, when therein as man is no more to be regarded than a dog or the vilest person.

Answer, 1. Yea, but do not many by reason of wounds and gangrened members in their lives, for pain, and tremble as much at the sight of the chirurgeon when he comes to do his office on them, as a man doth at the sight of the executioner to do this? And consider that all tha. is commonly done as such a death causeth less pain for the party, than

some do suffer by cutting off one limb, in curing sorne one wound or disease.

2. Again, consider that the more of torments a man endures in this life, whether at death or o wise, the less he is like to suffer after this life, and the more blessing he is like then to enjoy, if he be a good or worthy man, suffering here as a child of God and not as a reprobate, Rev. xxviii. ver. 7, chap. xx. ver. 4, 5, 9.

Object. 7. But in our present state we have being, life, sense, and reason; and in death we shall have (at the most) only being, and is not that very grievous to consider, that we shall be reduced to no better a condition than a piece of earth or stone.

Answer. It is true that this consideration is very grievous in itself; but yet whilst men have reason as well as being, life and sense, let him use it to consider also, that he hath no more cause to complain than for a piece of earth he now treads on; if it should please God as at the first, to create thereof a man like himself, and shortly reduce it to its former state; for thus it is now with mankind in general.

Object. 8. It is confessed, that there is a proverb, For one pleasure a thousand dolors, but it seems no better than a flourish of learned men to color over a bad matter; for although the miseries of man in this life are many; yet if the benefits therein do not surmount these miseries, it is likely that men would not so much desire to continue therein, as now they do; and therefore who would fear death.