large extents of deaths dominion and soveraignty above all Psal 8.6 for even these Gods Dii umbratiles die like men but they are frequently attended as the succession of months in the year with some alteration of weather many times for the worse So that where any people is blessed with good Kings and gracious Princes it is happy if they do serò in caelum redire in this part of deity Immortality come neerest to the Gods by living long and happily with their people and going as late as may be to Heaven For as good Princes are by good Subjects justly esteemed inter publica gentis bona praecipua Dei dona the chiefest worldly blessings that God can give mankind so their death must needs be reckoned inter luctus epidemicos publica damna among the greatest losses and grounds of most publique sorrow Although they die as Moses Joshua and David in good old ages full of days and honour as Augustus did among the Romans Optimum esset è Republicâ Rom. Severum aut non nasci aut nunquam denasci of whom it might truly be said as was of Severus the Emperor It had been happy for the Empire if either he had never been born or never had died for as he attained the Empire with much war and blood so he setled it with so much justice wisedom and honour for a long time that it was a felicity not possible to survive him But if good and hopeful Princes be cut off immaturely by death as Josiah among the Jews 2 Chro. 35.25 and our pious K. Ed. the 6. no wonder if they go to their graves by water with infinite sad hearts and weeping eyes becoming the piety and humanity of their people Hence the mourning of Hadadrimmon in the valley of Megiddon became not only a Proverb Zach. 12.11 but the highest pattern for publick lamentation at the sad fate and death of an excellent Prince And not without cause may this be a superlative grief because it ever follows where the Shepheard is smitten the sheep are either scattered or wounded or shrewdly warned of God to humble themselves under his mighty hand and unsearchable judgements Matth. 26.31 2. Yea when great and eminent Priests or Prophets of God and his Church as Samuel Jehojada John Baptist James die a natural death or are slain who kept up the majesty of Religion the beauty of holiness and the order of Gods worship being the chariots and horsemen of Israel as Eliah was So among Christian Churches 1 Kings 2.12 such Ministers as have been exemplary in their lives potent in their true doctrine severest exactors of discipline upon themselves burning and shining lights that have been valiant for the truth not popular not partial but unblameable venerable and admirable in all things filling that sphear in which God and the Church had orderly set them either as Bishops or Presbyters by preaching praying writing living and governing the Church worthy of their holy order and function So as did those ancient and renowned Bishops Polycarp of Smyrna Ignatius of Antioch St. Ambrose of Milan St. Cyprian of Carthage St. Athanasius of Alexandria St. Chrysostome of Constantinople St. Iraeneus of Lions St. Austin of Hippo St. Gregory of Rome with infinite other worthy of their successions in that name and order in all Churches and ages sufficient in my judgement to vindicate the office degree name dignity and use of Bishops every where and no where more then in England which had of late as worthy Bishops as ever the Church enjoyed in any place or age since the Apostles When I say such Fathers of the Church die who were in their times as was said of St. Ambrose the Munimenta ornamenta urbis orbis defence and ornaments of their Churches and Countrys the personal death of such Fathers ought to be laid greatly to heart such as was that not long ago of the most learned pious industrious humble indefatigable and Apostolick Bishop Bishop Vsher the late Lord Primate of Armagh As also that of the most eloquent and venerable and painful Bishop of Norwich Doctor Hall with many others now at rest in the Lord of whom the world was not worthy which sought to bury them in silence indignities poverty and obscurity before they were dead or any way had ill deserved of this Church and State or the reformed Religion of which they were most able defenders How much more when the very Function order and degree of that Catholick race the primitive Apostolick and most excellent government of the Church by Bishops comes in any Christian or reformed Church to be destroyed extirpated and buried as it were with the burial of an Ass cast into the graves of the common people and exposed to be trodden under the feet of plebeian contempt Which venerable Order though sixteen hundred years old in the Catholick Church and above 1400 in * In the Council of Arles in France before the first great Nicene Council about the year of Christ 230. three Brittish Bishops were present and subscribed viz. Eborius of York Restitutus of London Adelphius of Colchester as Bishop Vsher observes in his De prim Eccl. Brit. Sirmondus Concil Gall. Tom. 1. p. 9. Lucius the King of the Britans as Bede tells us Hist l. 1. c. 4. received the faith by such as were sent from Elcutherius the 12th Bishop of Rome from the Apostles as Heâ—sippus tells us in Euseb l. 4. c. 22. As Calvin in Epist ad Sadoletum de Necessi Refor Eccles Zanchius Epist ad Elizab Regin am Angl. in Epist ad Grindal Archiep. Cant. Isaac Casaub Epist ad Reg. Jacob. ante Exer. Baron Moulin Ep. ad Epis Winto Beza Epist ad Grindal Archiep. Cant. Pet. Martyr ad Juelli Apolog. praefat Isa 57.1 Psal 116.15 these British Churches yet died not of old age or onely inward decays in the vitals but by force and outward violence which government in its due constitution no Christian or reformed Church not wholly under a democratick or popular spirit yea no one eminent reformed Divine but did highly approve and desire the happiness to enjoy as hath been made evident by their writings But no testimony new or old no reason or Scripture no sense of justice or civility no publick honour of Church or State can preserve where men are resolved to destroy good and all This is certainly a just ground of great and better lamentation to those that lay to heart the licentious fedities indignities insolencies popular confusions and all sorts of irreligions which must necessarily follow the want of due government in any Church yea and the extirpation of that which is not more reverend for its primitive Institution and Catholick descent from the Apostles then for its excellent use and admirable constitution carrying with it the truest and best proportions as well as benefits of grave and authoritative government in which order and counsel
thou 'T is hard for us to give a just reason and Christian account for most of our weepings and least of those that are most excessive we weep more for any loss of a momentary toy then for the absence of our Lord the loss of Gods love the loss of a good conscience the Churches wastes Jerusalems ruines and the sins of our own souls or of others which call us to mourning As our blessed Lord said to the women weeping when they saw him led to be crucified so may every dead friend or other object of our weeping say to us Weep not for me but weep for your selves Luke 23.28 who many times have most cause to sorrow then when you sorrow least some tears are to be wept for again Tears cannot profit the dead but they may the living yea I recant they may profit even dead souls who are dead as St. 1 Tim. 5.6 Prov. 8.36 John 11.35 Paul speaks even while they live who love death tears and prayers may be a means by Gods grace to revive these as Jesus his tears were to bring to life Lazarus Tears are the distillations of love resolved into drops by the coolings of some ambient sorrow We cannot love any thing in our selves or others so justifiably as our and their souls In reference to these all our passions and affections should be rightly disciplined and ranged duly and exercised and improved as most needing and deserving our cares and counsels our prayers and tears Nor can I here omit to lay to your hearts what this Noble Gentleman suggested to me when being sent for I came to him the morning before he died He told me he was very sorry that it was so late with him yea he feared very late he had been long fed with some hopes of life but now he believed his time was short which he could wish he had more improved to his souls comfort while his strength of body had been somewhat better I know men and women too have a feminine and foolish fear to dispirit or deject any patient or decumbent with the serious thoughts or speech of their dying for fear their sad physick and nauseous prescriptions should not operate well on the ill humors of their bodies But the care of removing any burthens or obstructions upon their souls and consciences this must be deferred and neglected till there is such a decline of life and spirits as hangs out the black flag of death and despair then ubi desinit Medicus incipit Theologus when Physitians have in vain done their best the Divine must God knows too oft in vain do his best also for alas he hath little time in the agonies of death and the precipitations of life to search and apply the necessary remedies or comforts of a languishing soul which is as if a man should begin to read a long letter of great and present concernment when his candle was at the last twinkling A method certainly not more preposterous then dangerous to sick bodies and diseased souls If our Physitians were meer disciples of Galen and Hippocrates I should not wonder at their dilatory indifferencies as to mens souls and intensiveness only to their bodies but being many of them very learned men and some of them very good Christians I humbly conceive it would no way misbecome them nor any way impede the success of their arts and applications if they did upon the first perception of a dubious and dangerous state of any sick body with Christian wisedom and charity advise them yea and intreat them not to neglect the care of preparing their souls for God that as they will do their best with Gods help to cure their bodily distempers so it will no way hinder their skill or cure to carry on the concurrent welfare of their souls so as becomes good Christians because the event of all sickness is uncertain diseases oft flatter where they destroy therefore Physitians and Friends should be with all speed faithful to their Patients souls as well as bodies It bears no proportion for a sick patient to be visited twice or thrice in a day by Physitians in order to the bodies health and by a Divine once in a week it may be and this not till the last exigent and gasp of life as if this would abundantly serve the turn When men begin more to value their pretious and immortal souls they will more prize the help of true Divines whose prayers connsels and spiritual assistance being Gods indulgence and ordinance in his Church is usually followed with most gracious and comfortable successes toward sick persons that desire their help and send timely for them as St. James 5.14 James adviseth yea commandeth to do when Christians are cast down in bodily or spiritual dejections and when they are desirous to have the comfort of forgiveness of sins further sealed to them yea who is there so able so knowing so self-confident so comfortable in health that may not and usually doth not finde great damps dulness and difficulties of soul in sickness these are prone to be dispirited as well as the bodies of the best Christians and may well bear with nay most earnestly desire to have their weak hands supported and feeble knees strengthned by the counsel prayers and comforts of true Ministers Yea in the most desperate cases when dissolute livers are catched in Gods net or toile and now begin to make their addresses to God and preparations for eternity even in these cases the diligent and frequent assistance of discreet Ministers helping poor creatures to search and try their hearts to see their sins to look to God in Christ to turn to him and lay hold upon him doth many times work miraculous effects both to sanctifie sickness and to save souls so much doth God blesse the means he hath appointed when duly used which supinely neglected the end must needs fail I know many men and women too are now turned Preachers as not a few are turn'd Physitians which truly in my judgement amount no higher for the most part then Empiricks and Mountebancks in both making more work for able Divines and Physitians too This I am sure few men in their wits and willing to live but court the best Physitians nor do I see less reason why they should not desire and employ the best and truest Divines such as are most able and skilful most willing and faithful most authorized and commissionated by Christ and his Church to assist and comfort to instruct and absolve if need be dying sinners beyond what any man ordinarily can do in his health much less in the distempers dejections and darknesses of his sickness both corporal and spiritual who yet now affect in it most what in the frolick of their lives to be their own Teachers and Preachers their own Ordainers and Confessors their own Bishops and Presbyters too contrary to the judgment of all pious Antiquity who thought the Evangelical Ministry not an
arbitrary business but of Divine Authority and Institution of highest necessity in the Church so esteemed and so used by all good Christians The modern neglect and indifferency to it either argues the Clergy miserably embased in all points from their ancient dignity or the minds and actions of Christians to become very degenerous and licentious unholy and unthankful not to be mended till the majesty of Religion and the double honour of the Ministry be restored 11. Lay to heart upon the whole matter drawing all the beams of my discourse and your meditations into one point arising from this or the like Funeral-occasions in what posture thou art for death how furnished fitted and prepared I once told this Noble Gentleman two months before he died when I saw his tedious cough very importune and his dispiritings so great that I could say little to him Sir you have nothing so much concerns you as to prepare and to dare to die Ask thy soul O poor mortal not what goods thou hast laid up for many years not what beauty and virtue thou hast married not what honours thou enjoyest not what lands thou possessest or expectest but what preparation thou hast made to meet thy God what defensative to encounter death how far the power of sin is weakned how far the progress of grace is advanced what viaticum aeternitatis provision for eternity thou hast made A Christian must not onely look to Augustus his 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Sueton. in vita Augusti a gentle and civil or well-natured death but to a gracious a comfortable death for himself and also hopeful and exemplary to others about him The last lightnings or coruscations of a good Christian should be if his natural spirits permit his brightest as the preludium of eternity 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 He should adorn his death as the last act of his life with speaking good of God with telling all about him what the Lord hath done for his soul what experiences of trials and conflicts of comforts and refreshings by Christ his Word and Spirit I allow any mans or womans death-bed to be their pulpit let them then turn preachers as much as they can let them shew forth the loathsome and deadly deformities of sin the worth and excellencies they have found in Christ and his grace the benefit found in his Word Spirit Ministrations and true Ministers that so the surviving world may be the better for those nayles which as Masters of the Assemblies as now candidates and expectants yea percipients of Heaven dying Christians do happily fasten in the minds memories and consciences of their weeping auditors The best Sermons are those that dying men and women preach before their own Funerals Gen. 29. Deut. 32. 1 Kings 2.1 Joshua 23. John 14 15 16 and 19. Chapters 1 Sam. 25.37 as Jacob Moses Joshua and David did yea our blessed Lord Jesus most expressed his inmost and sublimest sense to his Disciples a little before he died as to heavenly comforts prayers and praises A Christian should avoid what possibly may be to die like Nabal as if his heart were first quite dead as a stone within him I mean when God gives spirits and strength to express themselves None are such Infidels as not to believe these dying Orators who are got beyond our pulpit-strains and affected forms above all human fears and flatteries all studies of sides and factions Illum vita nondum dissimulatio deseruit Sueton. in vita Tiberii then or never they are in good earnest Few with Tiberius can be such hypocrites as to act a part only of piety when they are going off the stage of life If we are grafted in the tree of life we shall bear some good fruits living or dying I know the best experiments of grace and the surest both 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signes and indications of sincerity are from a good conscience kept up in our lives not hudled up in haste a little before death as goods in a scare-fire only upon the alarm of sickness and death but wisely leisurely gravely and practically methodised and digested yea expressed in our health in the humble and impartial constancy of attending holy duties private and publique in orderly waiting on the true and duly ordained Ministry of Christ in his Church in frequent devout and fervent partakings of the Lords Supper in righteous holy charitable and exemplary lives toward all men which are both useful to mankind by good works and acceptable to God in all humility adorning the Christian and reformed Religion highly magnifying the glory of the grace of God in Jesus Christ An humble heart and an holy life are the best cordials in our deaths for without peace and holiness as the Apostle tells us no man shall see God And Heaven it self will not be welcome to us if holiness be not Heb 12.14 Nec coelum ipsum placebit cui sanctitas displicet for its happiness is no other but perfected holiness then we shall be such as we would be hereafter when we like to be such as God would have us here 12. Last of all The neerer the more remarkable and emphatick any object of death or Funeral-occasion is the more we should lay it to heart As when great wise valiant and honest men like mighty Cedars of Lebanon fall by death either natural or violent by open hostility or treachery as Abner died 2 Sam. 9.33 whose Biere David himself followed honoring by a most generous example that virtue loyalty and fortitude which he found in an enemy toward him nor doth he do it in a courtly formality but with ample publick and unfeigned sorrow even to weeping looking upon that sad and shameful accident as a great reproach and affront to his own party and cause as a dehonesting of his own honour and that Religion which he professed to remove so great a scandal and dishonour from his person conscience Kingdom and profession as attends all treacherous murtherings even of reconciled enemies and rivals David himself doth Abner this honour at his burial to follow the Biere 1. So in the deaths of such excellent Princes as have been or were like to be the Patres patriae Fathers of their Country maintainers of law and justice provident for the publick good in peace and plenty Patrons of learning virtue and established Religion wise and valiant assertors when need requires of their own honour and their peoples safety merciful dispensers of such favours and remissions as may abate the rigors of law with regard to human surprises and infirmities and yet neither weaken the hands of justice nor strengthen the hands of malicious offenders Such Kings and Princes yea any soveraign Magistrates under any title as Joshua and other Judges that are not wholly degenerate from their dignity duty and place are to be duly lamented and their deaths are seriously to be laid to heart because they do not only shew us the