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Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
death_n	advantage_n	fall_n	great_a	23	3	2.1046	3	false

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
B08802	Faith & experience:, or, A short narration of the holy life and death of Mary Simpson, late of Gregories Parish in the city of Norvvich: who dyed, anno 1647 in or about the thirtieth yeare of her age after 3 yeares sicknesse and upwards. Containing a confession of her faith and relation of her experience, taken from her owne mouth. To which is added a sermon preached at her funerall, upon Rom. 14. 6,7. / by John Collings.	Collinges, John, 1623-1690.; Collinges, John, 1623-1690. Life & death of a true Christian deciphered in a sermon.	1649 (1649)	Wing C5316A; ESTC R231574	44,489	160

thus made him and all things else for his use and service I believe That all that God made amongst which was man was exceeding good and whatsoever was afterward not good was through the defect of the Creature I believe That man being thus made and engaged to serve his God yet was made liable to fall Concerning the Fall of man VI. I believe That Man fell and that wholly from God and that being thus fallen God might justly have taken advantage upon fallen man and have cast him and his posterity off to all Eternity as hee did the fallen Angels Concerning Gods workes of grace 1. Of Election VII I believe There is an Election of Grace and that according to that Election there shall be but a few that shall participate of the way of recovery by Iesus Christ. Concerning the work of Redemption and Reconciliation VIII I believe That there was no cause in man being fallen to move God to recover him from that fallen estate but onely he was moved from his owne bowells I believe being moved so from himselfe hee found out a way himselfe for mans Recovery I believe That the way so found out and the meanes by which alone fallen man can be restored was by a Mediator taking upon him our Nature that so he might pacifie the wrath of God for the sinne of our Nature that wee might thereby be fit to live with God in our Nature Concerning Originall sinne IX I believe That our Nature was sinfull and that the sin of our Nature was the cause of all our sorrowes temporall and Eternall we dyed spiritually at the instant of the fall and all shall certainly dye a temporall death and only some shall be delivered from dying eternally Further. Concerning the worke of Redemption and Reconciliation the sole Redeemer the fruit of Redemption the mysterie of conveyance c. X. I believe That as the whole Trinity did worke in the Creation of the world so they did also equally worke in the worke of our Redemption God the Father and the Holy Ghost sending and the Son being sent and comming But I believe that Christ hath alone performed the worke of redemption and reconciliation fully satisfying the Iustice of God to the utmost for all his I believe also that every man in the world is beholding to God for Iesus Christ for the enjoyment of their lives and of the creatures and that for the present they are reprieved from hell and damnation I believe That Reconciliation is to be found in no other but in Iesus Christ who is the alone great Reconciler betwixt God and his people I believe That the worke of Redemption is a great mysterie for the divine Nature to take upon him the humane nature O it is a great Mysterie I believe also That it is a great Mysterie in regard of the way of its particular conveyance And that Christ hath not onely purchased this salvation but also makes a particular Declaration of it 1. By his Word 2. By the Worke of his spirit on the soule And 3. By the witnesse of the spirit I believe That in this worke Jesus Christ purchased strength for every beleever to withstand Sin Death and Hell Concerning Perseverance in Grace XI I believe That by the Lord Jesus Christ there is power purchased for every Believer to withstand Sinne Death and Hell Notwithstanding that the fallen Angels the Devils as they were the first occasion of the fall so they are great hinderers of this worke of Grace and Restauration they having us at such an advantage Concerning Death and the Resurrection and the Immortality of the soule XII I believe That all men according to Gods appointment must dye and continue in the Grave The bodies I meane of every Man and Woman that so they might be made fit for eternity some for eternall wrath others for eternall glory I believe That the soules of all immediately after death goe to God that gave them there to give an account for what they have done in the flesh I believe that the Resurrection of the Saints to grace here and glory hereafter is purchased by the Death Resurrection and Ascensian of Jesus Christ I believe That the same bodies both for substance and forme every joint and limbe shall rise againe and not a bone shall be wanting A substantiall body both for flesh and bones that I prove by Christs resurrection who was raised with the same body Object But you will say Christs body lay but three dayes in the Grave and so his body was not rotted in the dust but ours will lye so long that our bodies shall be turned into dust Ans I Answer The same power that made the body of Adam out of the dust the same power can raise our bodies again although turned to dust So that the worke of Resurrection is a curious worke and secretly wrought in the wombe of the earth as the child is secretly wrought in the womb of the mother There shall be the same matter to make the bodies of in the Resurrection at the last day that there was when God first formed the body of Adam viz. The Dust of the earth The same power shall raise all our bodies though turned to dust Concerning the day of Iudgement XII I believe That Christ shall come personally to judge the world and that with an audible voice by the word of his mouth he shall raise the dead And that at the day of judgement all the sins of the godly shall be laid upon Iesus Christ. They here in the world accuse themselves for sinne and so shall be excused at the last day It is the office of conscience to accuse here or hereafter Conscience having done its office there shall be nothing objected against them at that day But they shall heare that blessed Sentence Come ye blessed of my Father Concerning Glorification heaven XIV I believe The godly at the day of Iudgement shall heare that blessed Sentence Come yee blessed of my Father inherit the Kingdome prepared for you before the beginning of the world I believe In Heaven there shall be no Infant of dayes nor old man of yeares The corruptible life of of the creature shall not inherit eternall life there shall no weaknesse no deformity what ever accompany that life there shall be no eating nor drinking in it but singing Hallelujahs to God for ever I will conclude with the Psalmist Psalm 139. I will praise the Lord for I am fearefully and wonderfully made marvellous are thy works and that my soule knowes right well Reader Thou hast thus far read her Faith now hear her Storie that was faithfully taken from her own mouth And so also was this that followes being the Relation of Gods dealings with her Psalm 34. 8. Taste and see how good the Lord is Psalm 66. 16. Come and I will tell you what God hath done for my soule I shall speake nothing but what God hath done in me and for me THe

whom we may pronounce this text while he lived he lived to the Lord and when he dyed he dyed to the Lord And yet this must be pronounced of all those that when they dy shall be the Lords O remember your latter end 4. This may instruct us in the right way to dye comfortably He that knowes he is the Lords cannot dye sadly now wouldst thou find this while thou livest live to the Lord when thou dyest dye to the Lord. O the sweetnesse of perfumed death to the Saint I remember I have heard of an holy man that when he was about to dye profest to this effect Now saith he were all the honors pleasures and contentments of the world on one hand and death on the other I would scorne them and imbrace this O get your hearts into such a frame which cannot be without making the Lord while you live the end of your life and actions Fiftly this may further instruct Inst 5 us Of the great difference betwixt the wicked and the Godly in their deaths and of the Reason of it The worldling lives to himselfe and dyes to himselfe perhaps he makes away himselfe or dyes murmuringly and blasphemes God he cannot give God a good word at the last The beleever could be content to be present with the Lord yet he waites Gods leasure and patiently submits to what death God will have him dye whether it be Naturall or Violent sad or joyfull short or tedious and whatever his death be he dyes joyfully The One is loth to dye and cannot abide to think of shaking hands with so many Gods as he hath here below the other dyes cheerfully and in his death gives glory to God The Reason of this difference is plain Enough The Saint 1. Hath lived to God 2. Desires to dye unto the Lord. 3. In death as well as in his life aimes at the glory of God 4. Knowes that in death he shall be the Lords The other hath lived to himselfe 2. Aimes at nothing in dying but himselfe 3. Knowes that if he dyes his soule sinks in hell for ever can you blame the man for being loth to goe into Everlasting Burnings The second use may be Terror Use 2 to those that neither regard while they live to live to the Lord nor when they dye to dye to the Lord all those mentioned in the former use that live to their lusts and pleasures to the world c. Should here be deeply reproved Take only two places to reprove you Isa 50. 11. Eccl. 11. v. 9. 3. This doctrine may be applyed by way of Exhortation And O that I could perswade for God this day some or other to begin a life to him every one sayes O that I might dye the death of the Righteous that my latter end might be like his but alas who is there that lives according to his wish wouldst thou bee the Lords when thou dyest live not then to thy selfe but to the Lord Live not according to thy owne lusts live not to thy owne ends but live by Gods law and to Gods glory who would be the Lords when he dyes he must be so while he lives if God dwell with thy soule in life thy soul shall dwell with him in death O leave trading for your selves you spend your strength for nothing and your money for that which will not profit What shall it profit thee to gaine all the world and lose thy owne poore soule Or what wilt thou give in Exchange for it But I passe on my time being expired and the whole doctrine being practicall 2. Let every beleever look upon this as an Engagement of his soule to God that In life and death he is the Lords And from hence learne while he lives to live to the Lord and when he dyes to dye to the Lord. To whom should the servant live but to the master the wife but to the husband the child but to the father and the Saint but to his Saviour O quicken up your soules to this life from this principle your engagments to God are high let your life be answerable lay out the talents he hath given you for his advantage drive on his Interest pursue his ends You are bought with a price Bloody friends have you been to Christ who in this hath excel'd the love of men that while you were yet enemies he dyed for you that by his death you might be reconciled to God Let God never complain concerning you as he once complained of his Israelites Isa 1. 2. I have nourished children but not to my selfe I have brought them up but they have rebelled against me O let your conversation be such as becometh the Gospell of Iesus Christ You live in God live also unto God For none of us liveth to himselfe c. Lastly it may be applyed by way of Consolation and so I shall apply it more generally or more particularly relating to this occasion 1. Generally It may administer comfort unto us concerning our owne deaths 2. Concerning our friends deaths 1. Concerning our owne death What art thou afraid to dye Christian To let thy soule returne to God that gave it Consider first Hast thou not lived to God Hast thou been his factor and art thou afraid to see him his child and art thou afraid of returning to thy Fathers house can the faithfull Servant feare a returne to his Master Consider secondly Hath it not been thy desire to glorify God as he pleaseth to be glorified Thou hast finished thy course runne thy race done thy work God hath had his desired glory of thee in thy life and now his will is that thou shouldst glorify him by dying to him 3. Remember that in death thou art the Lords To dye to me is gaine saith the Apostle While we Phil. 1. 23. 1 Cor. 5. 6. are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord. At home doth the Apostle call it a strange home where we have neither father nor brethren nor scarce so much as a friend By death thou doest but returne like the sunbeame into the body of the Sun Thou art yet the Lords friend 2. It may comfort us concerning the death of such our friends as while they lived lived to the Lord. Hast thou a beleeving friend dead 1. Consider that he or she is where they would be it is the desire of every Saint to glorify God in that manner that he desires to be glorified by them to serve him any where whether in the Kitchin or the Parlour it makes no matter to them giving glory to him is that they desire Gods will is revealed when thy friend dyes that he would have them come and serve at court Why weepest thou Thy friend hath his wish she desired to be dissolved and to be with Christ which is best of all Nay 2. Consider thy friend hath not only his wish but his greatest happinesse thy friend is the Lords and that in a more speciall and

my spirituall condition he would have troubled me with three things as he did Christ by queries First how I knew that I was a child of God And secondly how I could make out my interest in Christ whether it it was fancy or delusion or whether reall Next thirdly he would have Her strēgth against Sathan perswaded me that I laye under the guilt of some sinne that was not pardoned my answer was to the first I knew I was a child of God by his Word Works God made it out to me to the second I answered that God had assured me of an interest in Christ by a promise of the spirit bearing witnesse with abundance of of consolation that I was his spouse thy maker is thine husband c. To the third I answered God pardoned all sinnes in respect of himselfe at once I only did lye under the guilt of some sins but God came in abundantly with a promise that God acquitted me from all And so Satans objection was fully answered and I abundandly delivered Another temptation was about the time of Gods taking away my neare relation which was a sister of mine he took an advantage by the weaknesse of my body oftentimes to trouble me with many thoughts of her death and the manner of it both sleeping and waking and I was in some question about her eternall condition at first I thought it was rather some peece of Nature than any temptation but as soone as I saw it was a temptation I set my selfe to seek God against it And I had this answer from God after a few thoughts in seeking that the Lord would rebuke the devourer for my bodies sake and from this scripture that the God of Satan would bruise Satan under my feet shortly and for my sisters condition and the manner of her death God gave this word Is thy eye evill because mine is good shall I not doe with mine owne what I will aye said my soul if she were his I could be the better perswaded to give her up to God then God told me he lookt not as man lookt but if there were any work of God he would owne his owne work but however he caused me to leave her Her stooping to Gods soveraignty to his prerogative royall who judgeth righteous Iudgement I saw a necessity of frequenting the best meanes once in speciall I saw abundance from God to Her care to honour her Parents in what she might with security to her conscience incourage me in that way my Father and Mother commanded me to goe one way to hear and I was put upon it to goe another way for which they were very fierce and violent the Lord was pleased to put me upon it to inquire what I should doe in this particular and while I was thinking the fifth commandement came into my thoughts honour your Father and Mother c. Then I began to Thinke what honour was due to them being desirous to give them that honour that I was commanded if they commanded with God I was ready and willing to obey them with cherefulnesse but seeing they commanded contrary to God I saw the command of God greater than their command and I went to the word and God met me there in such a way that he gave me incouragement to goe through opposition and difficulty in time to come whatever I should meet withall though they were stripes I was willing to give my back to the smiters rather than to give up my conscience to be racked the opposition of the creature is not much when Gods makes it easy This other experiences I have had of Gods power and goodnesse in a way Her resolutenesse for God where I met with opposition So that its good to be resolute for God though you may lose some favour with the creature yet yee shall be double gayners if you may injoy the favour of God the light of his countenance is better than life The next thing I saw was that there was a faith which was according to sight like that of Thomas He beleeved because he saw and another faith beyond sight which was to beleeve upon the sight of the actings of grace plentifully upon my soule When God withdrew the sence of his love so that I did not injoy the dayly incomes of Gods love I was constrained to live upon the immutability Strong Faith and unchangablenesse of God Notwitwstanding the great mercy and favour of God formerly convayed I was constrained with David to cry out Restore A desertion to me the joy of thy salvation and then I apprehended that Christ was absent at which time I lived solitary and in the Darke I lookt Her carriage in it upon Christ as a husband but yet as a husband going a Journey and hid behind a curtaine so that my soule was as the spouse restlesse in looking out to inquire after him but in time he sent many love letters to me which were these To you that feare my name shall the Sunne of righteousnesse arise with healing in his wings Though I did not feare him perfectly and as I ought yet I had some desires to serve him in truth And another was Hee that shall come will come and will not stay yet sometime by reason of his absence I wondred what my temper was and said what is God about to teach me oh that I knew his mind and I would doe it oh that I knew what my present condition were and in time God graciously came in with this scripture and perswaded me with Gal. 2. 20. Paul that the life I now lived was by the faith of the Son of God who loved me and gave himselfe 2 Cor. 13. for me And that his grace was sufficient Her recovery out of her desertion for me and at last I saw him behind the curtaines I saw him but could not injoy him at last I found him whom my soule loved God hath not set me a president in respect of my bodily affliction but he hath caused me not to repine against him if he make me a president to others so I may be serviceable and be made instrumentall for the good of any poore soule my soule is satisfied Her sweet Gospell-spirit in her sad Affliction and I am abundantly willing to submit so God may be glorified and any poore soule edified it is satisfaction enough to me so I may be an instrument in Gods hand for any spirituall good The paths of God are pleasant paths I could wish it were more and more my meat and drink to doe the will of my father I feare more that too much impatience should break forth for an earnest desire for heaven than any thing for I found some deceit in my heart in that particular break out once And I have cause to feare there is more of the fire if the Lord doe not quench it I being once in my owne apprehension and in the sight

the freenesse of Gods act in it A fourth Argument is drawne from the joint designe that these dissenting Christians and that in this very businesse carried on with those whose Spirits were more cleare in the thing viz. The glory of God Indeed if they were such base prophane wretches as kept up these ceremonies out of a superstitious humour Holy dayes meerly to eat and drink in and rise up to play in to be dayes of prophannesse c. or if they kept up these meerly to disturbe the Church of Christ or to deny Christ to be come in the flesh then it were something but being the case is so that they are such persons as truly aime at the glory of God in this action and dissent because they are not yet fully convinced that they are freed from these ceremonies and think they should dishonour God in disobeying his command if they should not Beare with them Yea may some say but how should we know this First the Apostle proves it 1. From the manner of their observation of these dayes and eating these meats 1. They observed them to the Lord. They ate to the Lord giving God thanks they did not barely observe the Ceremonies but with a great deale of holinesse that the shell and the kernell went together Secondly he proveth it from the generall scope and aime of every true Christian both in his life and death For none of us liveth to himself c. They are some of us saith the Apostle true beleevers in whom the grace of God dwells Now None of us liveth to himselfe and No man dieth to himselfe For whether we live we live unto the Lord and whether we die we die unto the Lord whether we live therefore or die we are the Lords Thus I have brought you to my text which is a short Account of a Christians Pilgrimage The life and death of a Saint In it consider First The particular of a Christians Life and Death Secondly The Summa totalis of it The particular of it is set down first Negativè None of us liveth to himselfe and no man dieth to himselfe Secondly Affirmativè Whether we live we live unto the Lord and whether we die we die unto the Lord. Then there 's the Totall summe Whether therefore we live or die we are the Lords Or if you please Here 's the doctrine No beleever lives to himselfe nor dies to himselfe but if he lives he lives to the Lord and if he dies he dies to the Lord. Secondly Here is an Inference from the Doctrine a Consolatory Application whether therefore we live or dy we are the Lords Or as a learned Commentator Pareus ad locum well notes here 's a Reason of the Doctrine why we should in our life live unto the Lord and in our death dye unto the Lord Because in life and death we are the Lords There is no great matter difficult in the words that which is to be opened about them I shall open in the Doctrine And that I may contract all as short as may be I shall summe up both the verses in this one Proposition of Doctrine Doct. That all beleevers who while they live live not to themselves and if they dye dye not to themselves but whiles they live they live to the Lord and when they dye they dye to the Lord whether they live or dye are the Lords and because in life or death they are the Lords It is their duty not to live nor dye to themselves but to live and dye to the Lord. It is large but easy to be remembred because in the words of the text For my better proceeding in the handling of it and for the helping of your memory I shall branch the doctrine into these four particulars which I will handle distinctly and apply joyntly 1. That the beleever in his life is the Lords 2. That because of it he ought not to live to himselfe but to the Lord. 3. That when he dyes he dyes not to himselfe but unto God 4. That in death he also is and shall be the Lords First of the first 1. That the true beleever in his life is the Lords I shal open it and shew you in what respects and prove the particulars as I passe them by shortly I shall open it but in three particulars 1. He is the Lords by purchase 2. He is the Lords by Possession 3. He is the Lords by neare Relation First of all He is the Lords The Lords Purchase by purchase and a deare purchase he hath purchased them with his owne blood Acts 20. 28. The mother that hath had a painefull travell sayes to the child A deare child thou hast been to me and Zipporah to Moses surely a bloody husband hast thou been to me God may say Bellevers Children you have been deare Children bloody children unto me you have cost me my owne heart blood a great ransome They are called the Purchased possession Eph. 1. 14. And a dear purchase too that cost the owners heart blood Christians speak truth doe you not think you cost Christ more then ye are worth bodyes and scules and all It is true to purpose too that the Apostle sayes 1 Cor. 6. 20. For ye are bought with a price therefore c. a price indeed yet neither silver nor gold of that Christ had none but what he had he gave you and gave for you even his own life for a ransome for the sins of many never was there so deare a bargaine and yet never fewer words spent about one He bought them of the Father Joh. 10. 29. and Joh. 17. Indeed there it is called giving but he gave his blood for them and yet there was an act of grace in the Father giving the Elect to Christ It is true you may say that they were the Devills Captives Eph. 2. v. 2 3. But I answer that the Devill was but Gods jayler hee keeps them by nature in a Captivity but it is for a debt due to the Fathers justice Now God gave them to Christ paying such a price One would wonder to think he should meddle with so hard and unprofitable a bargaine but yet he did and with such alacrity that there was scarce too words betwixt his Father and him about it The Father writ downe in his book If you will have them that 's the price you shall goe and doe my will which is taking upon you their nature Suffering Dying c. Christ presently subscribed Done and by such a day it shall be all paid Psal 40. v. 7. Heb. 10. 8. In the Volume of thy book it is written of me Lo I come to doe thy will O God! There shall no more words be made of it saith Christ I will doe it Thus there was a Covenant stroke betwixt the Father and the Son for The purchased possession Thus they are the Lords by Purchase Pretium Sanguinis the price of his owne deare heart blood They are the Lords

habit will not live from her when she dyes to the world she hath drest her head and then is more lovely in his Eye but by that time the day of judgment comes she wil be wholy and compleatly drest to come out to Dinner and everlasting banquetting in the chambers of love with the King of Glory Lastly When he dyes he is the Lords by neare Relation this is an undoubted consequence of the other but yet a little more Death breaks all Relations but the Relation that is betwixt God the beleeving soule and its knife is not sharp enough to cut this asunder see this but in two instances 1 Josh 2. God sayes Moses my servant is dead Dead yet my servant we cannot say such a one my servant is dead or if we doe say so it is but an improper phrase of speach for if he be dead he is not my servant he does me no worke he takes none of my wages We can say such a one that was my servant is dead but if the person be dead the cord of our Relation is broken Job speaking of death Job 3. sayes There the servant is free from his Master But God sayes Moses my servant is dead though he be dead yet he is my servant And we may say concerning any holy man or woman concerning this remarkable Saint such a one Gods deare Servant is dead Dead yet Gods servant she hath changed her room and work yea and her wages too but not her Master she is but taken to be his chambermaid in glory from being his Kitchin-maid in the world her work was before below staires now it is above Take but one instance more it is Joh. 11. 11. Christ sayes Our friend Lazarus sleeps he sleeps yet he is Our friend O sweet we say when such a one dyes we have lost a deare friend But God loseth not his relation by his Saints death he is our friend then more than ever and so are we his And thus I have gone through the severall branches of the Doctrine And now what a sweet doctrine were here for application if I had any time but I must but hint at things and lay the letters and leave them to God to stampe upon your hearts I will apply it or rather shew you how you may apply it by way of Instruction Reprehension Exhortation and consolation First of all by way of Instruction Use 1 and so it might be very profitable 1. To shew you the infinite love of God to poor dust and ashes That he will be pleased to owne us in life and death to come and dwell in houses made of clay nay not in all the houses of clay neither some he will not bestow the paines to make them cleane and tenantable for himselfe some great famous built houses built of free stoned Nobility Gentry learning and honour adorned with parts and esteem in the world he leaves to be an habitation for Owles and Ostriches and comes and dwels in the poor Cottages of his Elect ones The poore of this world hath God chosen God loves the house well in which he will dwell you only have I knowne above all the Nations of the Earth c. O mercy that God should say to one that it may be hath not a rag to cover him with nor a place where to lay downe his head Here is the soule in which I have chose to dwell to pitch my name there who are we that Our Lord should come to us we have not a room either in head or heart fit for to entertaine him If he will come he must bring his stoole to sit down on and be welcomed with his own meat and yet he will come and be a father an husband a friend and call us his servants his children his spouse yea his members Think O think what honour it is to be allied to the family of Heaven yea incorporated in it It is a big word amongst men when they can say my Cosen of Essex or Norfolk c. to be allied to Earles Dukes c. We think we mightily speak our honour when he can speake it is it not a far greater when we can say My brother of heaven nay my Father my Lord my husband c Such honour have all his Saints Secondly It might instruct us Inst 2 of the happinesse of beleevers both in life and death we are the Lords possession there is no feare of a bad Landlord Are we his purchase his redeemed ones no feare of any slavery then his yoke is easy his burthen is light his service a perfect freedome Is he our Father our Master our Husband our friend we have then one that is able to help us willing to succour us ready to pitty us a kind father a loving husband a carefull master The Lord is our Shepheard what can we want Surely nothing that All-sufficiency can help us to We are the Lords in our life Nor is our portion in this life Whether we live or dye we are the Lords we are yet his friends his servants Jos 1. 2. Joh. 11. 11. We are yet his temple in which he doth more manifest his glory than in our tabernacle while it comes to be dissolved we are yet his purchased possession Eph. 1. 16. Dying loseth us not that friend O happy truly happy and Blessed are they that dye in the Lord for they rest from their labours It was a lesson that John was commanded to write do you remember it It was written for your Instruction and comfort Whether ye live or die ye are the Lords Thirdly this may Instruct us Instit 3 that there are but a very few that are true beleevers that in death shall be the Lords No more then those that live to the Lord and dye to the Lord. And ah how few those are 1. What shall become of all prophane wretches all drunkards swearers adulterers all those rabbles of wretches Rev. 20. v. 8. Eph. 5. 5. 1 Cor. 6. 8 10. that in stead of living to the Lord live to the Devill to their base lusts and corruptions and all their study is how to obey the flesh in the lusts of it Ah Lord what will become of these poor wretches when they dye when you shall cry out Animula quo vadis poore soule whither goest thou It was a dreadfull passage I lately heard to have been the dying breath of such an one Now goes my prore soule to pay all its debts 2. What shall become of all those that live to the world and make their gain the End of their life whose whole life sounds nothing else But what shall we eat or what shall we drink or what shall we put on What will you gaine friends when to gaine the world you shall weep over your lost poore soules how will you ransome your selves from the pit And so for any other that make any thing below God the End of their lives And ah where shall we find a man concerning

glorious manner now than ever Let this stop thy mouth Thy friend is with the Lord he hath him he ownes him the Sun-beame is but in-bodyed in the Sun the blood is but runne to the heart Ah! but we have lost What hast thou lost Christian 1. Was not thy friend the Lord's while he lived the Lords by right thine only by loan was he not the Lords purchase shall not the Lord come when he please and take possession of it may he not pull it down build it up again at his pleasure shal he not do what he will his own we use to say A man may take his owne where ever he finds it hath not God the like liberty he hath found one of his lambes in thy pasture it will argue an ill mind in thee not to bee willing he should take it home what because hee hath let thee keep it for him wilt thou deny his right His Saint can be spared out of heaven no longer 2. Is he not the Lords possession and shal not God take his house into his owne hands if he will when the tenants lease is out God useth not to renew leases Once I confesse he did it to Hezekiah but his ordinary custome is as leases of Saints lives expire to take them into his owne hands till he hath got in all his redeemed morgages and the full day of redeeming the purchased possession shall come Mayest thou remove thy house and shall not God remove his whither he pleases The Saints are Gods dwelling place here he lives in Cottages of clay now when the beleever dyes God puls downe his clay-Cottages intending to fetch away the timber and bricks to build up himselfe a temple in the paradise of glory 3. Nay are they not the Lords by nearer relation than thine shall not the father take home his child because the Schoolmaster shall lose the best Scholler of his schoole shall not the husband take home his wife because her friend shall lose a good companion Hath God any thing from thee but his owne wouldst not thou take it ill if thy friend should keep thy wife or child for his owne pleasure when thou sendst for them after a long absence Lastly consider shouldst not thou thy selfe live to and rejoyce in the glory of God Earth is a loser of what was none of its owne ever but heaven is a gainer there is one Saint more there one starre more in the firmament of glory Wilt thou weep because thy friend hath a Kingdome and one jewell more is set in Christ diademe should not the child rejoyce at the increase of his fathers family If at the Increase of the family of Grace then surely at the Increase of the houshold of glory There 's one servant more added to the Bedchamber Thy friend lived to the Lord and died to the Lord and now in Death is the Lords and more the Lords than ever I have done with my Doctrine and my generall Application Let me add a little in particular relating to this occasion You that mourne for this our sister removed Mourn not neither weep while she lived she lived not to her selfe but to the Lord when she died she dyed not to her selfe but to the Lord. In her life she was the Lords and now in her death I question not but she is the Lords You know it is not my custome to speak any thing concerning any upon these occasions But there are two sorts of persons concerning whom I think it is fitting that if they have lived to the Lord while they lived and dyed to the Lord in their death their examples should be held out like Dorcas her clothes 1. Eminent persons in the Magistracie 2. Eminent preachers in the Church Of the first sort she was not Not of the Noble and great persons of the Earth but out of a poor family did the Lord chuse this elect vessell to declare the Riches of the glory of his grace in But you shall pardon me the expression if I say that while she lived she was an Eminent preacher and give her the character which our Saviour gave S. Iohn she was a burning and a shining light and I am confident did more good to poore soules in the three yeares of her sicknesse by telling them her experiences directing quickning exhorting strengthening satisfying them than God hath honoured any of us who have been preachers of his word to doe in much more time I meane not that she was a Pulpit-preacher No God had taught her to be wise to sobriety she preached as Noah by making the Ark nay more as Priscilla Aquila by privately instructing others in the wayes of God I shall speake but little of her who while she lived spake her selfe so much I meane the strength and grace of God in her self for I must not exalt her whose constant designe and practice was so much to debase her selfe and all creatures that the Creator might have the glory of all I shal not commend her for her mor all vertues and naturall duties which is too usual upon such occasions as these surely because better things cannot be spoken But I shall set out her example to you so as to exalt the infinite grace of God towards her and to let you see who they are whom the Lord delighteth to honour and how acceptable it is to him for yong ones to returne to their Father early and for the poor to receive his gospell Give me but leave to repeat my text and Sermon over her and I have done While she lived she lived to the Lord when she dyed she dyed not to her selfe but to the Lord. It was but a little acquaintance I had of her not yet two full years in which time too my multitude of occasions were too much enemies to my happines in denying me so many opportunities of seeing her as I desired I shall not speak any thing from others but only what I have heard and seen will I declare Her whole time since I knew her was a Schooling time of Affliction without any cessation As I remember she wanted some yeares of thirty when she dyed and for three yeares and upward before that time she was Gods close prisoner and the greatest part of that time so bitter was her cup was spent in her bed I have heard her relating the beginning of her conversion and for that I shall referr you to her owne account penned by a faithfull See the precedent Relation friend from her owne mouth Her life was a life of afflictions 1. Inward then outward Inward by the temptations of the Devil terrors of conscience and such usuall pangs as accompany the first birth besides that her God was sometimes afterward behind the Curtain and when he hid his face she was troubled when after much seeking she had found him whom her soule loved and had got inward peace that she was as it were rapt into the third heavens then lest she