Part 6

Go boast thyself of what thy heart enjoys, Vain Man! triumph in all thy worldly Bliss: Thy best Enjoyments are but Trash and Toys; Delight thyself in that which worthless is.

_Omnia prœtereunt prœter amare Deum._

Death Expected and Welcomed.

“Welcome sweet Rest, by me so long Desir’d, Who have with Sins and Griefs so long been tir’d; And welcome Death, my Father’s Messenger; Of my Felicity the Hastener.

Welcome good Angels, who, for me distrest, Are come to guard me to Eternal Rest. Welcome, Christ, who hast my Soul Redeem’d, Whose Favor I have more than Life esteem’d.

Oh! do not now my sinful soul forsake. But to thyself thy Servant gath’ring take. Into thy Hands I recommend my Spirit, Trusting through Thee Eternal Life t’ inherit.

A Farewell to the World.

Now Farewell, World, in which is not my Treasure; I have in thee enjoy’d but little Pleasure. And now I leave thee for a Better Place, Where lasting Pleasures are, before Christ’s face.

Farewell, ye Sons of Men, who do not savor The things of God; who little prize his Favor. Farewell, I say, with your Fool’s Paradise, Until the King of Terrors you surprise, And bring you trembling to Christ’s Judgment Seat, To give Account of your Transgressions great.

Farewell, New England, which hast long enjoy’d The Day of Grace, but hast most vainly toy’d And trifled with the Gospel’s glorious Light; Thou may’st expect a dark Egyptian Night.

Farewell, young Brood and rising Generation, Wanton and proud, ripe for God’s Indignation, Which neither you nor others can prevent, Except in Truth you speedily repent.

Farewell, sweet Saints of God, Christ’s little Number, Beware lest ye through sloth securely slumber; Stand to your Spir’tual Arms and keep your Watch, Let not your Enemy you napping catch; Take up your Cross, prepare for Tribulation, Through which doth lie the way unto salvation.

Love Jesus Christ with all sincerity; Eschew Will-worship and Idolatry. Farewell, again, until we all appear Before our Lord, a _Well-done_ there to hear.

Farewell, ye faithful Servants of the Lord, Painful dispensers of his Holy Word, From whose Communion and Societ I once was kept through long infirmity This of my Sorrows was an aggravation; But Christ be thankéd, through whose Mediation I have at length obtainéd Liberty To dwell with Soul-delighting Company, Where many of our Friends are gone before, And you shall follow with a many more. Meanwhile stand fast, the Truth of God maintain, Suffer for Christ, and great shall be your Gain.

Farewell, my natural Friends and dear Relations, Who have my Trials seen and great Temptations; You have no cause to make for me great Moan; My Death to you is little Loss or none. But unto me it is no little Gain, For Death at once frees me from all my Pain. Make Christ your greatest Friend, who never dies; All other Friends are fading Vanities. Make him your Light, your Life, your End, your All; Prepare for Death, be ready for his Call.

Farewell, vile Body, subject to decay. Which art with lingering sickness worn away; I have by thee much Pain and Smart endur’d; Great Grief of Mind hast thou to me procur’d; Great Grief of Mind by being Impotent, And to Christ’s Work an awkward Instrument. Thou shalt not hencefortli be a clog to me. Nor shall my Soul a Burthen be to thee.

Rest in thy Grave until the Resurrection, Then shalt thou be revivéd in Perfection, Endow’d with wonderful Agility, Clothed with Strength and Immortality; With shining Brightness gloriously array’d. Like to Christ’s glorious Body, glorious made. Thus Christ shall thee again to me restore, Ever to live with him and part no more. Meanwhile my Soul shall enter into Peace, Where Fears and Tears^ where Sin and Smart shall cease.

A Character of the Reverend Author, Mr. Michael Wigglesworth, in a Funeral Sermon Preached at Malden, June 24, 1705. By the Reverend Dr. Cotton Mather.

He was Descended of Eminently Religious Parents, who were Sufferers for that which was then _The Cause of God_ and of _New-England_. While he was yet a youth, he was marvellously concerned that he might have an Heart filled with the Spirit of God. This Concernment upon his mind appeared especially in his watchful Endeavors to have _Spiritual Sins_ chased out of his cleansed Heart. Pride, the Sin of _Young Men_, yea, of _all_ Men; Pride, the Sin which few Men try or trouble themselves about; this Devout Youth was full of Holy and Watchful Trouble about it: And he then wrote a very Savoury Discourse, Entituled, _Considerations against Pride_, and another, Entituled, _Considerations against Delighting more in the Creature than in God_. This was to Mortify in himself the Sins rarely minded by the most of men.

Having had a Pious and a Learned Education, the first Publick Station wherein I find him, was that of a _Fellow_ and a _Tutor_ in _Harvard Colledge_. With a rare Faithfulness did he adorn that Station! He used all means imaginable to make his _Pupils_ not only good Scholars, but also good _Christians_, and instil into them those things which might render them rich Blessings unto the _Churches_ of God. Unto his Watchful and Painful Essays to keep them close under their _Academical Exercises_ he added Serious Admonitions unto them about their Interior State; and he Employed his _Prayers_ and _Tears_ to God for them, and had such a flaming zeal to make them worthy Men, that upon Reflection he was afraid _Lest his cares for their Good, and his affection to them, should so drink up his very Spirit, as to steal away his Heart from God._

From _Cambridge_ he made his remove to _Malden_, and was their Faithful Pastor for about a Jubilee of years together.

It was not long after his coming to Maiden that a sickly Constitution so prevailed upon him, as to confine him from his Publick Work for some whole seven of Years. His _Faithfulness_ continued when his _Ministry_ was thus interrupted. The Kindness of his Tender Flock unto him was answered in his Kind Concern to have them served by other Hands. He took a short voyage unto another Country for the Recovery of his Health; which, though he recovered not, yet at his Return I find him comforting himself with inserting of this Passage in his Reserved Papers:

“Peradventure the Lord Removed me for a season that he might set a better Watchman over his Flock, and a more painful Laborer in his Vineyard. This was one thing that I aimed at in Removing (to help the People’s Modesty in the case), and I believe the Lord aimed at it, in Removing me for a season.”

His Faithfulness now appeared in his _Edifying Discourses_ to those that came near him; much bewailing the want of a Profitable and Religious conversation in so many that profess Religion. And that yet he might more _Faithfully_ set himself to do Good, when he could not Preach he _Wrote_ several Composures, wherein he proposed the edification of such Readers as are for plain Truths, dressed up in _a Plain Meeter_. These Composures have had their Acceptance and Advantage among that sort of Readers; and one of them, the _Day of Doom_, which has been often Reprinted in both Englands, may find our Children till the Day itself arrive.

It pleased God, when the distress of the Church in _Malden_ did extremely call for it, wondrously to restore his _Faithful Servant_. He that had been for near Twenty Years almost _Buried Alive_, comes abroad again, and for as many years more, must, in _Publick Usefulness_, receive the Answer and Harvest of the Thousands of Supplications with which the God of his Health had favoured him.

How _Faithfully_ did he now Deliver the _Whole Counsel of God!_

How _Faithfully_ did he Rebuke _Sin_, both in his _Ministry_ and _Discipline!_

How Faithful was he to the _Work of God_ in the Churches of _New-England_, and grieved at every thing that he thought had any Tendency to incommode that Glorious Work! But how _Patient_, how _Loving_, how _Charitable_ to such as in lesser Matters differed from him!

How Faithful was he in the Education of his _Family_! A very Abraham for his Commands unto them, to _Keep the Way of the Lord!_ A very David for his charge unto them to _Know the God of their Father and Serve Him!_

His long Weakness and Illness made him an _able Physician_ for the _Body_ as well the _Soul_.

As he was _Faithful to the Death_, so he was _Lively to the Death._

It was a surprise to us to see a little, feeble _Shadow of a Man_, beyond _Seventy_, Preaching usually twice or tlirice in a week, Visiting, Comforting the _Afflicted_, Encouraging the _Private Meetings_, _Catechising_ the Children of the Flock, and managing the _Government_ of the Church, and attending the _Sick_, not only as a _Pastor_, but as a _Physician_ too; and this not only in his own Town, but also in all those of the Vicinity. Thus he did _unto the Last_; and he was but one _Lord’s-Day_ taken off before his Last. But in the _Last Week_ of his Life, how full of _Resignation!_ How full of _Satisfaction!_

From his Exemplary Life I will single out one thing, his EARLY RELIGION. Our _Wigglesioorth_ was a Godly child, and he held on living to God and Christ until the Seventy-Fourth Year of his Age.

When he lay a Dying, some one spoke to him about his having secured his _Interest_ in the Favor of Heaven, and his _Assurance_ of that Interest. He Replyed, [Methoughts like my _Polycarp,_]

“I bless God I began that Work betimes, and ere I was Twenty Years Old I had made thorow work of it. Ever since then I have been pressing after the Power of Godliness, the Power of Godliness! For more than Fifty Years together I have been Laboring to uphold a Life of Communion with God; and I thank the Lord I now find the Comfort of it!

Words that contain in them _A History of a Life_ more Valuable than I have seen a Volume in Folio.

Epitaph. (Believed to Have Been Written by Rev. Cotton Mather.) The Excellent Wigglesworth; Remembered by Some Good Tokens.

His Pen did once _Meat from the Eater_ fetch; And now he’s gone beyond the _Eater’s_ reach. His _Body_ once so _Thin_, was next to _None_; From hence he’s to _Unbodied Spirits_ flown. Once his rare skill did all _Diseases_ heal; And he does nothing now _uneasy_ feel. He to his _Paradise_ is joyful come, And waits with joy to see his _Day of Doom._

Contents.

Memoir of the Author Autobiography To the Christian Reader On the following Work Prayer unto Christ The Day of Doom Security of the World before Christ’s coming Suddenness and Terror of his appearing Resurrection — All brought to judgment The Sheep separated from the goats The several sorts of reprobates described The Saints justified — Election — Atonement They are placed on thrones The wicked brought to the Bar Secret sins brought to light Hypocrites plead for themselves Another sort of hypocrites Civil honest men’s pleas Pretended want of opportunity to repent Plea of examples of betters Godly men’s examples misleading Scripture, darkness, and difference of interpretation Fear of persecution Plea of God’s mercy and justice Vessels of mercy Mercy abused — Day of grace past Shutting out by God’s decree The Heathen’s plea Reprobate infants’ plea The wicked all convinced and silenced Hopeless and helpless estate of the ungodly Sentence of condemnation Sentence executed — The wicked cast into Hell Their unsufferable torments The saints rejoice thereat They ascend in triumph to Heaven A Short discourse on Eternity A Postscript unto the Reader Vanity of Vanities Death expected Ill A Farewell to the World Funeral Sermon Epitaph

[1] Luke 12:19.

[2] Matt. 25:5.

[3] Mat. 24:37, 38.

[4] 1 Thes. 5:3.

[5] Mat. 25:6. 2 Pet. 3:10.

[6] Mat. 24:29, 30.

[7] 2 Pet. 3:10.

[8] Rev. 6:15

[9] Mat. 24:30.

[10] Rev. 6:15, 16.

[11] Mat. 25:21.

[12] Rev. 6:14.

[13] Thes. 4:16.

[14] John 5:28, 29

[15] Luke 20:36. 1 Cor. 15:52.

[16] Mat. 24:31

[17] 2 Cor. 5:10. Matt. 25:32.

[18] Mat. 5:10, 11.

[19] Heb. 12:5, 6, 7.

[20] Luke 7:41, 47.

[21] John 21:15. Mat. 19:14. John 3:3.

[22] Rev. 6:11. Phil. 3:21.

[23] Mat. 24:51.

[24] Luke 11:24, 26. Heb. 6:4, 5, 6. Heb. 10:29.

[25] Luke 12:47. Prov. 1:24, 26. Job 3:19

[26] Gal. 3:10. 1 Cor. 6:9. Rev. 21:8

[27] Exod. 20:7, 8. 2 Thes. 1:6, 8, 9.

[28] Heb. 13:4. 1 Cor. 6:10.

[29] Zach. 5:3, 4. Gal. 5:19, 20, 21.

[30] Rom. 2:13

[31] Acts 4:12.

[32] 1 Cor. 6:3.

[33] Jude 6.

[34] 2 Cor. 5:10. Eccl. 3:17. John 3:18

[35] Job 17:6. Eph. 1:4.

[36] Rev. 1:5.

[37] Eph. 2:1, 3.

[38] Mat. 23:13, 15. Rom. 9:20, 21.

[39] Isa. 53:4, 5, 11.

[40] Acts 1:3, 48. Jam. 2:18. Heb. 12:7. Mat. 19:29.

[41] 1 John 3:3. Mat. 25:39, 40.

[42] Isa. 53:11, 12. Rom. 8:16, 17, 33, 34. John 3:18.

[43] Luke 22:29, 30. Mat. 19:28.

[44] Mat. 25:34.

[45] Cor. 6:2.

[46] Rom. 2:3, 6, 11.

[47] Rev. 6:15, 16. Isa. 30:33.

[48] Eccl. 11:9, 12, 14.

[49] Ps. 139:2, 4, 12. Rom. 2:16

[50] Eccl. 12:14.

[51] Mat. 12:36. Rom. 7:7

[52] John 5:40, and 3:19. Mat. 25:19, 27.

[53] Rom. 2:4, 5.

[54] Isa. 1:5. Jer. 2:20

[55] John 3:19, etc. Prov. 8:36. Luke 12:20, 21.

[56] Luke 13:34. John 5:40, and 15:22.

[57] Rom. 3:10, 12.

[58] Rom. 6:23.

[59] Mat. 7:21, 22, 23.

[60] John 6:70. 1 Cor. 9:27.

[61] Rom. 2:19, 21, 22, 23.

[62] John 9:41. Rev. 2:21, 22.

[63] Luke 12:47. Matt. 11:21, 22, 24.

[64] Luke 13:20.

[65] Luke 13:27. Matt. 22:12.

[66] 1 Cor. 11:27, 29.

[67] Mat. 6:21, 24. Rom. 1:25.

[68] 1 Cor. 11:27, 29.

[69] Acts 8:13. Isa. 58:2, 3. Heb. 6:4, 5.

[70] 2 Pet. 2:20.

[71] John 2:24, 25.

[72] John 6:64. Psal. 50:16. Mat. 15:26.

[73] Rev. 3:17. Mat. 13:20.

[74] Mat. 6:2, 4, 24. Jer. 8:5, 6, 7, 8.

[75] Psal. 78:34, 35, 36, 37.

[76] Zach. 7:5, 6. Isa. 58:3, 4. 1 Sam.15:13, 21. Isa. 1:11, 15.

[77] Mat. 6:2, 5. John 5:44.

[78] Zech. 7:5, 16. Hos. 10:1.

[79] Luke 18:11.

[80] 1 Sam. 15:22.

[81] Eccl. 7:20.

[82] Deut. 10:12. Tit. 2:12. Jam. 2:10.

[83] Luke 18:11, 14.

[84] 1 Sam.16:7. 2 Chron. 25:2.

[85] Heb. 11:6. 1 Cor. 13:1, 2, 3.

[86] Heb. 11:6.; 1 Cor. 13:1, 2, 3.

[87] Rom. 10:3.

[88] Rom. 9:30, 32. Matt 11:23, 24 and 21:41.

[89] Mat. 6:5.

[90] Prov. 26:23. Mat. 23:27.

[91] Prov 15:8. Rom. 2:3.

[92] Prov. 27:1. Jam. 4:13.

[93] Eccl. 12:1. Rev. 2:21.

[94] Luke 13:24. 2 Cor. 6:2. Heb. 3:7, 8, 9.

[95] Eccl. 11:9. Luke 14:18, 19, 20.

[96] Amos 6:3, 4, 5, 6. Eph. 5:16. Luke 19:42.

[97] Luke 13:21, 25, etc. Phil. 2:12.

[98] Mat. 18:7.

[99] John 7:48.

[100] Psal. 19:8, 11. Exod. 23:2. Psal. 50:17, 18.

[101] 2 Tim. 3:5.

[102] 1 Cor. 11:1. Phil. 4:8.

[103] Psal. 32:5. 2 Chron. 32:26. Mat. 26:75. Prov. 1:24, 25.

[104] 2 Pet. 3:16.

[105] Prov. 14:6. Isa. 35:8. Hos. 8:12.

[106] Matt. 11:25. Prov. 2:3, 4, 5.

[107] Acts 28:22.

[108] John 12:42, 43.

[109] Luke 12:4, 5. Isa. 51:12, 13.

[110] Luke 9:23, 24, 25 and 16:2.

[111] Luke 9:26. Prov 8:36 John 3:19, 20.

[112] Psal. 78:38. 2 Kin. 11:26.

[113] Psal. 30:9. Mic. 7:18.

[114] Mic. 7:18. Rom. 9:23.

[115] Rom. 2:4. Hos. 11:4.

[116] Luke 13:34.

[117] Luke 19:42, 43. Jude 4.

[118] Rom. 2:5, 6. Isa. 1:24. Amos 2:13. Gen. 18:25.

[119] Mat. 25:3, 1, 2. Prov. 12:8, 29, 30.

[120] Isa. 5:18, 19. Gen. 2 : 17. Rom. 2:8, 9.

[121] Rom. 6:23. 2 Thes. 1:8, 9.

[122] Ezek. 83:11. Exod. 34:7, and 14:17. Rom. 9:22.

[123] Rom. 9:18, 19.

[124] Heb. 22:17. Rom. 11:7, 8.

[125] Luke 13:27. 2 Pet. 1:9, 10, compared with Mat. 19:16.

[126] Acts 3:19, and 16:31. 1 Sam. 2:15. John 3:19. Job 5:40. 2 Thes. 2:11, 12.

[127] Ezek. 33:11, 12. Luke 13: 34. Prov. 8 : 33, 36.

[128] Gen. 2:17. Mat. 25:41, 42. Ezek. 18:20.

[129] 2 Pet. 1:10. Acts 13:46. Luke 13:24.

[130] Mat. 7:7, 8 Gal. 5:22, 23.

[131] John 3:19.

[132] John 15:22, 24. Heb. 2:3. Isa. 66:34.

[133] Mat. 11 : 22. Luke 12 : 48.

[134] Mat. 11:22.

[135] Gen. 1:27. Eccl. 7 : 29. Hos. 13 : 9.

[136] Mat. 11 : 25, compared with 20:15.

[137] Rom. 1:20, 21, 22.

[138] Rom. 2:12, 15 and 1:32. Mat. 12:41.

[139] Rev. 20:12, 15, compared with Rom. 5:12, 14 and 9:11, 13. Ezek. 18:2.

[140] Psal. 51:5.

[141] Ezek. 18:20. Rom. 5:12, 19.

[142] 1 Cor. 15:48, 49.

[143] Rom. 5:12. Psal. 51:5. Gen. 5:3.

[144] Mat. 23:30, 31.

[145] Rom. 9:15, 18. Rom. 5:15.

[146] Mat. 20:15.

[147] Psal. 58:8. Rom 6:23. Gal. 3:10. Rom. 8:2, 30, and 11:7. Rev. 21:27. Luke 12:14, 8. Mat. 11:22.

[148] Rom. 3:19. Mat. 22:12.

[149] Rev. 6:16, 17.

[150] Psal. 139:2, 3, 4. Eccl. 12:14.

[151] Mat. 25:45.

[152] Mat. 22:12. Rom. 2:5, 6. Luke 19:42.

[153] Mat. 28:18. Psal. 137:7.

[154] Isa. 33:14. Psal. 11:6. Num. 25:19.

[155] Mat. 25:41, and 25:10, 11, 12.

[156] Luke 12:20. Psal. 49:7, 17. Deut. 32:2.

[157] 2 Pet. 3:10.

[158] Luke 16:28.

[159] Rev. 21:4. Psal. 68:10.

[160] 1 Cor. 6:2.

[161] Compare Prov. 1:26. with 1 John 3:2, and 2 Cor. 5:16.

[162] Luke 16:25.

[163] Psal. 58:10.

[164] Mat 25:41.

[165] Luke 13:38. Prov. 1:26.

[166] Mat. 25:46.

[167] Mat. 13:41, 42.

[168] Mat. 25:30, Mark 9:42. Isa. 30:33. Rev. 21:8.

[169] Mat. 22:13, and 25:46.

[170] Rev. 14:10, 11.

[171] Luke 16:24. Jude 7.

[172] Isa. 33:14. Mark 9:43, 44.

[173] Luke 12:47.

[174] Mat. 11:24.

[175] Luke 16:23, 25, and 13:28.

[176] Luke 13:24.

[177] Mat. 9:44. Rom. 2:15.

[178] Psal. 68:10. Rev. 10:1, 2, 3.

[179] 1 John 3:2. 1 Cor. 13 12.

[180] Rev. 21:4.

[181] Psal. 16:11.

[182] Heb. 12:23. Rev. 1:6, and 22:5.