perishing of the Righteous the taking away of men of kindnesse and godlinesse is a sad correction to the survivers which God would have laid to heart by them For proof of this There needs no more than the Scriptures already cited where we see that the servants of God take it as a heavy chastisement wo and misery to themselves the taking away of such faithful labourers and fellow-helpers with them as were instruments of drawing others in and gathering them together in clusters to the acknowledgement and seeking of the name of God in Christ and strivers together with them for the faith of the Gospel and so helpers of their faith and joy So the Apostle Paul writing to the Philippians concerning Epaphroditus his brother and companion in labours and fellow-souldier and their messenger That hee had been sick nigh unto death saith that God had mercy on him the Apostle Paul in restoring the said Epaphroditus again lest hee should have sorrow upon sorrow where he plainly signifies that it would have been a very great chastisement and occasion of grief and sorrow to him if Epaphroditus had then been taken away And how much more heavy is the correction or judgement to those societies or companies of people to whom they were more particularly messengers and set as guides to go before them in the word of the Lord and so to the people generally among whom they lived It is mentioned as a heavy judgement on the Nation and people of Israel wee see not our signes there is no more any Prophet neither is there among us any that knoweth how long Psa 74. 9. and so threatned Ezek. 33. That he would lay the land most desolate even the Mountains of Israel so as when it should come to passe they should know that a Prophet had been among them verses 28 29 33. Intimating they should then know by their being deprived of him and so know what their mercy was they sleighted by the want of it And truly it must needs bee a heavy correction and judgement to that place or people from amongst whom the Righteous so perish or fâ—â—â— from the earth and from among the children of men For these reasons 1 They are set in the world and preserved in it and from the evil of it while they are continued in it for the good of the world even of all men among whom they live yea their Persecutors to be as Instruments in Gods hand for the opening their eyes and turning them from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God They are the salt of the earth the light of the world a chosen Generation that they should shew forth the praises of him that hath called them out of darknesse into his marvellous light and shine as lights in the world by holding forth the word of life in word and conversation Joh. 17. 15-18 23. Acts 26. 17 18. Matth. 5. 13-16 1 Pet. 2. 9 10 c. Phil. 2. 12 13 14 15 16. Yea 2 Their being so preserved in the world not taken out of it that is not so taken out but that there may bee a Generation of them continued successively and they in their several Ages preserved and kept from the evil of the world to the end fore-mentioned it is one of the maine things for which Jesus Christ appears in the presence of God making intercession for the good of Transgressors therefore while any of them are graciously preserved among any people it is an evidence of the powerful mediation of Christ whom the Father hears in all his Petitions yet continued and graciously exercised for that people as Joh. 17. 15-23 Whence the Apostle exhorts not to receive this grace of God in vain because God saith In an accepted time I have heard thee that is Christ making intercession for them in a day of salvation I have helped thee which he doth in helping supporting and preserving his Servants to hold forth the Word of Life among others in word and conversation Behold this is the accepted time this is the day of Salvation namely while they the Ambassadors for Christ were instructing exhorting beseeching reproving c. while their mouth was open their heart enlarged c. 2 Cor. 6. 1 2 11. with Chap. 5. 20. These considerations demonstrate the Righteous perishing and failing from among a people to bee a heavy correction and judgement even of this nature 1 Such as in which God taketh or is taking away their Candlestick out of his place where he had set and preserved it to give light to others as Rev. 2. Yea 2 Such as in which the good man of the house appears as risen or rising up out of his place of mercy and forbearance in which hee hath been long holding open the door of life now to shut it against such a people for ever if they speedily repent not Such it is as in which there is an appearance of the end or nigh approaching of the end of his time in which hee is pleading with the Father for sparing or letting the fruitlesse Fig-tree alone that hee may yet digge about it and dung it according to that Luk. 13. 6 7 8 9. like that Isa 5. A judgement of a far higher nature than a famine of Bread Amos 8. 11 12. These are such providences as in which in some measure God is declaring men reprobate silver on whom the bellows is burnt the lead consumed the founder melteth in vain and therefore fit to bee left as Refuse and no more pains to be taken with them Vse The Position thus opened let it admonish us to consider and lay to heart even this sad providence before it be too late before the Decree bring forth and we be as chaffe that passeth c Jeremy in his Lamentation on such an occasion teacheth us to make this use of such Providences viz. To search and try our waies and turn to the Lord Lam. 3. 39 40. If when his hand is lifted up and his Judgements begin sadly to be powred out upon us we yet learn righteousness he will yet bee gracious and in the midst of wrath remember mercy let us then be so wise as to hear the Rod and who hath apponted it consider the meaning of the Voyce and that we may understand it let us consult with the Scriptures what manner of iniquities are usually punished with such Judgements We shall finde one great Head of Iniquity that is found in many Branches and in divers branches of it to have been punished with such Judgements is The not discerning the Lords Body for this cause saith the Apostle 1 Cor. 11. 30. not only many are weak and sickly but also many sleep which though a mercy to them that sleep in Jesus to be so taken away from the evil yet a Judgement to the survivers procured to themselves by their not discerning the Lords Body The Lord Body is first and primely his Personal Body and of that he was speaking immediately before ver
sin because they beleeve not on Christ and evidences it to be great unrighteousness from the consideration of what great things he hath done for them as also from the faithful evidences thereof to them instructing and moving to it as their reasonable service so that indeed they render him hatred for his love and evil for his good will and are without cause his adversaries yea against and contrary to all right reason or cause They not regarding the work of the Lord nor the operation of his hands which was true in him for and towards them that through him they might have beleeved Joh. 16. 8. 14. 1 Sam. 12. 24 25. Psal 68. 18-21 2 Corinth 5. 11-21 6. 1 2. Psal 28. 5. 109. 4 5. 3 This work of faith in Jesus is a righteous work directed in truth as may be seen in every act or branch of this faith of the operation of God For 1 Such it is as in which they acknowledge God to be true in his testimony concerning Christ which is the great things of his Law and in all the instructions and sayings thereof and therein acknowledge and disown themselves and all their own imaginations and the traditions of men as discovered and detected in the light of Gods testimony to be vanity and lyes he that hath received his testimony hath set to his Seal that God is true whereas on the other hand hee that beleeveth not God hath made him that is the God Fountain of all truth a Lyar because he beleeveth not the record that God gave of his Son even this record that God hath given us eternal life in his Son so as to bee received in receiving him in his testimony c. Joh. 3. 33. 1 Joh. 5. 10-12 What greater unrighteousness than to make God a Lyar and yet this is done by all that when they hear beleeve not the record of God concerning Christ but in the faith of Gods operation God is acknowledged to be true and every man a lyar his Word received as his and reverenced and preferred before all the Traditions or Precepts of men if never so many and those never so learned or holy 2 Such it is as in which they ascribe righteousness to their Maker and make their boast of his righteousness and of his only Job 36. 2 3. Psal 71 15 16. As that in which Law is answered Truth fulfilled a Door of approach to God opened and without which they must have been for ever cast out as an uncleane thing so as in this they acknowledge their owne sinfulness and vileness as therein evidenced They are the true confessors of sins that doe in the belief of that testimony of God concerning Christ owne them as theirs according to the discoveries of the true Light and so confess and disowne and give them up as filthy as thereby detected to be purged and such confession and acknowledgement of our owne vileness is certainly included in this faith of the operation of God If a man with the heart beleeve Gods testimony concerning Christ then doth he therein beleeve what it faith concerning himself or concerning Sin or Righteousness to bee true and so beleeving ownes its reproofs whence the Apostle John faith If we any of those great Apostles and so consequently any beleever in this life say we have no sin we deceive our selves and the truth is not in us If we say that we have not sinned we make him a Lyar and his word is not in us 1 Joh. 1. 8. 10. If any object against the righteousness of this act of faith That it is affirmed of Zacharias and Elizabeth that they were both righteous before God walking in all the Commandements of the Lord blameless to this we answer This confirms what we have already said for if they walked in all the Commandements of the Lord blameless then they walked in this of confessing our sins always acknowledging our owne vileness and wretchedness And truly this was contained in all those Commandements and Ordinances of the Law under which he served in the Priests Office for in those Sacrifices there was a remembrance againe of sins every year Heb. 10. 3. yea the High Priest himself ought as for the people so also for himself to offer for sin 8 Heb. 5. 3. And now the prefect Sacrifice is offered and the Purgation for all Sins compleatly made in the vertue of the bloud of Christ men are in the testimony of this Foâ—untainepened discovered to be sinners and all their righteousness as filthy raggs and so their owne vileness and the need of coming to this Fountains for washing always shewed in the opening of it so that he that walks not in the confession or acknowledgement of his sinfulness vileness and wretchedness as there discovered ascribing righteousness only to his Maker he doth not righteousness hee makes God a Lyar the truth is not in him hee walks not blameless for by the deeds of the Law shall no man be justified as blameless in the sight of God for all have sinned and are sinners have Sin in them as well as Death upon them while in this mortal body rendring it vile and wretched Phil. 3. last Rom. 7. 18-24 And for a sinner to hide his sin is most worthy of blame the just are they that live by faith in the righteousness of another even of Jesus Christ the just and righteous one Behold his Soul which is lefted up is not upright in him Galath 3. 11 12. Rom. 1. 16 17. Hab. 2. 4. Hence the confessing of our sins answers to and is put for the walking in the light as he is in the light 1 Joh. 1. 7. 9. and good reason for God is always in the discovery and demonstration of Christ the true light discovering our sinfulness and vileness that we may not trust in our selves but receive the sentence of Death there that we may learn in the beleife and mindfulness of his testimony concerning Christ to trust in him that raiseth the dead So that if we bee walking in the light beleeving and acknowledging Christ in his testimony we must needs be found in the beleeving view and remembrance of what he hath done and is become for us and Gods glory in him confessing our sins and so he that is borne of God that is led of the Spirit of God that always leads into and in Christ for all righteousness and life though he have sin in him for which simply God holds no man underblame or Condemnation by Christ yet so farre forth as he is born of God that is as he abideth in Christ he sinneth not hee doth not commit or serve sin no not in hiding his sins which is the first step of making provision for it which who so doth shall not prosper truly he should sin with a very high hand even to the making God a Lyar if he should say that hee had no sin in him warring and moveing for service or that he had not sinned yea
A LAMENTATION Over the Dead in Christ not as those without hope with instruction admonition and encouragement to the Survivers As it should have been delivered to the People had not Satan hindered at the Funeral of Mr. Henry Rix of Cambridge Jan. 19. 1656 7. in pursuance of his earnest request on his Death-Bed Now published for the benefit of those that will hear By THOMAS MOORE junior David lamented over Jonathan I am distressed for thee my brother Jonathan very pleasant hast thou been to me thy love to me was wonderful passing the love of Women how are the mighty fallen in the midst of the Battel and the Weapons of Warre perished 2 Sam. 1. 25 26 27. And Jeremy lamented for Josiah and all the Singing-men and Singing-women speak of Josiah in their Lamentations to this day and made them an Ordinance in Israel Behold they are written in the Lamentations 2 Chro. 35. 25. But I would not have you ignorant Brethren concerning them that are asleep that yee sorrow not even as others that have no hope for if we beleeve that Jesus dyed and rose again even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him 1 Thess 4. 14 15. Printed at London by R. I. for Livewell Chapman at the Crown in Popes-head Alley 1657. To the Reader and especially to those at or near Cambridge ON the sad news of my dear Brothers Sickness to death I went as soon as I could if happily I might to have seen him and that I might have been refreshed together with him before his departure but it pleased our gracious Father the wise Disposer of all things in whose hands are all our lives our times and ways to deny me of that by speeding another Visitor to him farre better to take him away from the evil against which he had been long striving in the light and strength of the Lord that he may henceforth be with him and at rest from all his Labours and Combates though yet waiting for the compleating of the Adoption that is the Redemption of the Body till the rest of his Brethren have finished their course as well as he He departed the night before I got to Cambridge where I understood That it was his earnest request on his Death-bed that if I came in time I should be desired as from him to give the people a word if Exhortation at his Funeral and also that the Minister of the Parish on his desire was freely willing with it on which considerations I consenâ—ed to it and knew not of any Blocks in the way until the time was almost come that I should have performed the will of the Deceased in this matter â—â—to which service apprehending from the fore-mentioned considerations God calling me and making the way hitherto clear enough I was very ready to have offered my self notwithstanding some reports I know not how raised of some Schollars threatning incivility to me which I did not much credit of at least feared not purposing by the grace of God not to resist evil if 〈◊〉 and trusting in a greater power than that of man for protection In some others thought it convenient to take me off yet could I not be satisfied without publishing what I then intended to have spoken and that for these Reasons 1 I cannot but judge the removal of this Israelite indeed and at such a time to be a sad Correction and Judgement especially to the place and people among whom he lived he being one whose heart through the grace of God in Christ our Saviour towards man was fixed trusting in â—â—◠〈◊〉 and walking in the hearty belief and acknowledgement of the truth of the Gospel and waiting for the hope of it and thence filled with the constraining operation of the love of Christ perswading men and seeking the good of all by all means within his capacity shining as a light in the world and amongst a crooked and perverse Generation holding forth the Word of Life in word and conversation and how much as to these things he was alone is that place I spare to speak yet he through that grace of God that bringeth Salvation to all men teaching us as Tit. 2. 11 12. so demeaned himself that he had a good report of all men as well as especially of the truth itself for cleaving to which though he had many adversaries chiefly of those that sometimes in some measure acknowledged and rejoyced in the truth with him but now have turned away their ears from it and are â—â—â—ned aside to fables yet they could finde nothing against him but in the maâ—ters of his God and were made ashamed wherein they falsly accused his good conversation in Christ 2 That which follows was much set upon my spirit as a very needful and seasonable Instruction and Admonition to the people there and at that time and I knew not but God by his providence called me thither at such a time for such an end though I could not but judge my self most 〈◊〉 to present it 3 Some that observed could not but take notice of a great hand of Satan with great diligence exercised to the hindring it Therefore that I may both doe what in me lies to performe the desire of the deceased and also not to rebell against him that pressed my spirit to give my sence of the meaning of the voyce of this providence as by bringing to remembrance and opening the Scriptures to my understanding he gave it me if peradventure any may be awakened by it I here present it to view and commit it and my self to him in whom I desire to be Servant to all THO. MOORE From my house at Lynn Febr. 10. 1656 7. On the Subject of the following Discourse upon the Death of Henry Rix. Here hast thou first a Paradox explained Evincing some have Righteousness attained Nevertheless this truth remains there 's none Righteous in as of themselves not one Yet in the Lord and 't is in him alone Righteousness and strength some have and they In him are justified and glory aye Xpecting still its Crown of Immortality Henry in 's Lot shall then with Christ affix And we with Christ shall meet our Brother Rix. Next we present thee with our cause of grief Desiring God from Heaven to send relief He 's gone in whom no guile an Israelite Is there in 's stead left such another Light Then had we not such cause as now to mone Yet mourn we not as those that hope have none First in behalf of him that 's faln asleep We have great cause to joy and not to weep For we beleeving Christ did Dye and Rise Do know that with him he shall come likewise And then possess with all the Saints the Crown The righteous Judge shall give when he comes down And in mean time he rests in blessed peace Where from his warres and labours he doth cease Then for our selves our God our Rock's alive And will not fail at need us to