estate called Morgengab Dr. Hammond So Abraham gave gifts to his other Sons v. 6. A Learned man observes that the same custome is in Denmark to this day yet waving any further disquisition or search further into the context I shall come at last to those considerable circumstances which are in the Text it selfe concerning the death and burial of Abraham 1. The Person dying Abraham 2. The manner of his death He gave up the Ghost and dyed 3. The time when he dyed In a good Old Age an old Man and full of yeares 4. How he was disposed of after death and was gathered to his people These parts are plainly in the text without either straining it or obscuring them with any termes of art I must begin with 1. The Person dying Abraham And Abraham gave up the Ghost Abraham a great Prince a great Prophet a great man in estate the friend of God the Father of the faithful Titles enough one would have thought to have struck a we into death it self as * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 impudent or disrespecter of persons as it is yet notwithstanding all this pomp and grandeur Abraham gave up the Ghost and dyed No prerogative whatsoever will exempt us from death though we be the favorites of Heaven the Potentates of the Earth the darlings of the people yet our breath is still in our Nostrils we are as much obnoxious exposed to the arrowes of death as the poorest Mushroom or Shrub the meanest peasant that crawls on the surface of the Earth The Psalmist puts it to a negative question What man is he that liveth and shall not see death Shall he deliver his Soul from the hand of the Grave Psa 89.48 The word is not Adam or Enos but Geber What rich what mighty what great Man is there that liveth and shall not see death And that we might not passe from that text without serious considering the purport of it he arrests our spirits with that signal and emphatical note Selah First or last we must all travel this common road which hath been beaten by the feet of all our forefathers And indeed this is also a common beaten truth that I am upon none doubt of it in their understandings retired thoughts yet because there is a great difference betwixt a simple notional and speculative knowledge of a truth swimming upon the understanding and a practical sanctified experimental reduplicative knowledge when we know the truth as we ought to knowing by influencing our wills tempering our affections and steering all the courses and passages of the outward man which is called by the Apostle a knowledge according to godliness or Knowing of the truth as it is in Jesus I fear we do not know this truth in this sense as common as it is else what means the bleating of the Sheep and the lowing of the Oxon in our eares what is the reason that so many live as if they should never dye set their hearts upon their habitations as if their habitations should endure for ever As if they should dye in their Nests and multiply their daies as the Sand Job 29.18 They are ready to say with David in his prosperity that they shall never be moved or with the Whore of Babylon I shall sit as Queen for ever Had those Atheistical wreches learned this lesson who put far from them the evil day and said Come I will fetch wine and we will fill our selves with strong drink and to morrow shall be as this day and much more abundant Esa 56.12 David well knew the difficulty of taking forth this truth therefore about to make a Sermon of mans frailty he begins thus I will encline my ear to a parable I will open my dark sayings Ps 49.4 And the Prophet being about to proclaim All Flesh is grasse and all the goodlinesse thereof as the flower of the feild He brings it in with a solemnity of a dialogue betwixt a voice from Heaven and himself The voice said cry and he said what shall I cry Isa 40.6 That saying was so dark and our natures so averse to digest it that there is need of crying and crying again Hence it is that as it was in the daies of Noah and Lot So it is in our daies ther 's eating drinking building and beating by oppression of our fellow servants untill the Flood of death like the river Kison sweep us away Hannibal ad portas the great Philistin or last enemy is upon us yet we are not drawn forth into battalia mounted our battlements or have our weapons fixed The Bridegroom is coming a pace yet our lamps were neither trim'd nor furnished with oyle Did Abraham give up the Ghost though he was the friend of God then let us not only make a good use of good men whilst we have them by sucking and drawing from them the hony of advice and Counsel for there is no direction or knowledge in the grave though the lips of faithful and able Ministers whilst alive may drop as the hony-comb yet their Sepulchres cannot edifie or instruct us the living the living shall praise the Lord. But since Abraham Gods familiar and intimate friend gave up the Ghost and dyed sure death is not so terrible as most apprehend it to be otherwise his dearest servant should not have tasted of it The Apostle casts some spice into the cup of affliction and endeavours to sweeten chastisements by this argument because they fall upon the Sons and children of God Heb. 12.7 8. As the grave it self methink's is perfumed for us in that Christ himself was pleased to sleep in that Chamber Though Abraham was great in power estate yet he gave up the Ghost and dyed therefore let 's not make flesh our arm in relying upon any of the Sons of men though never so mighty They are but as so many dreams shadowes or puffes of wind cease from man whose breath is in his Nostrils for what excellency is there in him Isa 2.22 Trust not in Princes nor in any of the Sons of men Psa 146.3 And lest we should be left utterly destitute of any support to bare us up David adds v. 5. Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help whose hope is in the Lord his God As if all staies were but as so many broken Reeds in comparison of this Rock of ages Alexander as great as he was once the Idol of his Court was content at last with a coffin And Diogines Sarcofago contentus erat Juv. is brought in by Lucian as jearing the Ghost of Alexander after death 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 what is Alexander dead as well as Diogenes Alexander had then learned that he was not immortal and could say T is ‖ 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Lucian 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Clem. Alex. p. 61. no wonder that I am dead seeing at best I was but a man Saladine also that great Commander who won Jerusalem gave order
to have no other solemnity at his funeral than to have a Cryer to goe before his herse to give notice to the people that there was Saladine the Conqueror of the East and how that of all his riches and glory he carryed nothing with him but his shirt And what help can they afford to others that have not been able to help themselves 2. 2 2. Part. The manner of his death He gave up the Ghost 1. Expiravit or as it is said of Christ himself 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 he breath'd out his last breath to shew that we are but as so many bubbles or bladders touch or prick us and we are gone we presently shrivel together and as the heavens shal be at the last day are contracted and drawn together like a Scrowl if God blow upon us like so many untimely figs we fall and shatter our ruddy cheeks become pale and wan thou changest his countenance and sendest him away Job 14.20 2. He gave up the Ghost that is he wilingly surrendred his Soul into the hands of God So Christ bowed his head upon the Crosse as it were to salute and welcome death it self even as he expanded and streched out his armes to signifie how ready he was to imbrace penitent sinners Gods people hath some presentments of a better Countrey Some assurance of going to more glorious company They have an interest in Christ and so love his appearance as well at the day of death as of judgement they have fought a good fight and therefore are willing to receive that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that Garland that crown of Glory which is reposited and laid up for them in the bands of a faithful Creator They have tasted that the Lord is gracious by the relish of those first fruits those bunches of Grapes which the holy spies the Ministers of the Lord have brought unto them from the Land of Canaan and therefore with the spouse Cant. 6.4 They long to goe to the vineyard it self to the beds of spices to feed in the Garden and to gather Lillies with Simeon they are ready to sing nunc dimittis now let thy servant depart in peace or with St. Paul to desire to be desolved 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 migrare revertere Scultetus to depart and to returne unto Christ This is to inform us concerning the great difference betwixt the death of Gods servants and the wicked The one resign up their lives and give up their ghosts willingly from the other they are wrested and hal'd The world sticks so close to them that they know not how to shake it off they are clogged and pressed down with so many weights they are pinion'd with so many sins that do easily beset them that they cannot mount upwards Their darling sins and bosome corruptions come about them as once St. Anstins lust did cling about him Non erimus tecum in aeternum What shall we never be drunk prophane and unchast any more Their Souls are fetcht from them violently as it were with a Pursevant this night shall thy Soul be taken from thee Luke 12.20 like rusty swords they are hardly drawn out of the Sheathes of their bodies to this Daniel alludes Cap. 7.15 Myspirit spirit was grieved within me the Chaldee reads it my spirit was grieved within my Sheath and good reason they have to hang back seeing they can discerne nothing before them but flames of ever-burning fire ready to devour them as 't is reported of the Infants of Saguntum many Plagues and Judgements threatning that place they started back into the wombs of their Mothers as it were abhorring to be born into so troublesome a world 3. 3. Part. The time when Abraham dyed In a good Old Age and old Man and full of Years In a good old age 1. Naturally being free from those Aches Fevers and noysome diseases which are incident to old age As 't is said of Moses His eye was not dim nor his natural force abated Deut. 34.7 2. Morally Not only an old Man but a good old man full fraught with so many vertuous excellencies as might denominate him good as his years did proclaim him old Full of years Annorum Satur even faciated and satisfied with years Having lived so long that he desired not to have his daies prolonged or else full of yeares that is having fulfilled that for which he came into the world finishing his course with joy and with David serving his generation before he fell asleep Acts 15 36 In opposition to whom are months of of vanity or empty months Job 7.3 when men die and leave no Testimony behind them that ever they were alive and so they are buried in death Job 27.15 Seeing it is here recorded of Abraham as a mercy that he died in good old age an old Man and full of years We may observe that old age is a blessing So 't was promised unto Abraham Gen. 15.15 Thou shalt goe to thy Fathers in peace and thou shalt be buried in a good old age Paul glories in it being such an one as Paul the aged Philem. 9. This is the promise which is annexed to the fifth Commandment That thy daies may be long in the land And it is part of that blessing which the Lord will give to them that fear him They shall see their childrens children Psa 128.1.6 Sure I am the contrary is threatned as a judgement to the house of Eli That an old man should not be of his house 1 Sa. 2.32 Bloody and cruel men are menac'd that they should not live out half their time He shall shake off his unripe grape as the Vine and shall cast of his flower as the Olive Job 15.33 It is observed that from the beginning of the world to some generations after the flood the Son never dyed before the Father Haran an Idolater is first noted to have died before his Father Terah in the Land of his nativity Gen. 11.28 The experience of many ages hath also confirmed an other observation viz. That God hath commonly Crown'd the reverend Bishops Fathers of the Church with this blessing of the Patriarch Abraham even a good old age It is a blessing in a special manner 1. Because 't is honorable the same word which signifies honour 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 may be fetched from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 an old man because of that veneration that is due to old age The hoary head is a Crown of glory Pro. 16.31 Gray hairs are the beauty of old men Pro. 20.29 Tertullian vehemently reproved those old men who were ashamed of their own haire and took Exuvias alieni capitis forsan immundi forsan gehennae destinati Grande nesas morte piandum cum vetulo juvenis non assurrexerit Juv. the excrements of other men those it may be who have been unclean or else malefactors The Lacedemonian Embassadors being in the Theatre at Athens rose in solemn reverence when an old man came
divine providence He took his Bible in his hand and so his spirit was calmed as it were from Heaven in reading Psa 31. 1 2 3. In thee O Lord do I put my trust let me never be ashamed deliver me in thy righteousnesse Bow down thine eare to me speedily be thou my strong Rock for an house of defence to save me for thou art my Rock and my Fortresse therefore for thy names sake lead me and guide me And may not he justly be called the Son of Abraham who could thus live upon prayer and promises and by faith evaded and conquered the greatest difficulties We shall confront this Father and Son with their due distances in a closer parallel and draw to a conclusion Was Abraham an indulgent husband So was he * We look for the effect of those prayers in his surviveing off-spring Sure children of so many prayers canmiscarry◠as is said of Austin in respect of his Mother Monica Was he a praying father for his children O that Ishmael might live before thee So was he Was Abraham tried and exercised with Crosses and afflictions So was he Was Abraham the Father of a numerous seed according to the spirit so was he according to the flesh A seed the branches whereof are transplanted into several Countries like a constellation of stars broken up and set in distinct orbs where they are the heads of their Tribes Did Abraham command his houshold after him So did he never did child resemble his father more in any bodily Symmetry and proportion than he did Abraham in this particular like another Antoninus he oft visited his family ejecting such persons as were prophane and scandalous as so much Froth and Scum with David a wicked person would he not know Ps 101. 6 7. Zim and O chim with Satyres and other unclean birds were not suffered to dance there Isa 13.21 22. This was a reddy way to bring a blessing upon his own affaires and to convince the vilest servants of their Errors to the intent they might repent and reform That so their spirits might be ‖ Quorum non zelas salutem subicetionem nimis ambitiose vendicas Ber. Ser. 23. in Cant. saved in the day of the Lord Jesus Christ Had Abraham his failings and infirmities witness his cowardise in Gerar Gen. 20.2 So that you may not say I have made an absolute Saint of him had he also yet I must do him so much right that when I laid before him his impatiency fretting to which he had been prone with humility he acknowledged his fault but withall ascribing the praise to the grace of God He told me that he bad much mortified wea kned and conquered that once domineering passion But to keep to the text Abraham was great and rich yet he gave up the Ghost willingly submitting himself to the stroke of death So had this his Son a very large estate a beautiful and pleasant * Wadley has a commodions site a wholsom and delicious aires it is a rich and pleasam Seat Burton p. 259. habitation All other comforts whereon wordlings set their hearts yet he had so far studied the nature of them all that he had found them to be only bracteata felicitas nothing but as a little gilded Copper and therefore set his Heart no more upon them than on so many fleeting empty and miserable comforters this he signified to me when I spake my feares unto him vizi That the great things of the world do clogg and retard our motions towards heaven and stake us down so fast unto the Earth that we are unwilling to dye ready to preser a palace in Paris before Paradice it self His resolution and answer was like that of ‖ 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Anton. Antoninus no more to be in love with any thing below than within sparrow flying over his head which perhaps he might never see again He had also studied the charter of heavenly joyes when he cry'd out of his paines I told him that in Heaven no malladies should attatch him there all tears should be wipt from his eyes True in deed said he there I shall have rest and not till I shall come thither And can he chuse but give up the Ghost willingly who meditates aright upon the vanity of this world and the blessings of that which is to come therefore he was observed towards his latter end to be as earnest to have his Coach and Horses to be prepared to bring him to this place of his burial as ever the was to goe a progresse of pleasure looking for the messenger of death as Jacob did for those Charriots which should carry him to his Son Joseph 2. He dyed in a good old Age. Caesar etsi gloria celum latissimus ideoque sibi satis vixerit non tamen satio Reip. quae praesidio carere non possit ipsius tutela Sleid. Wis 4.9 It was observed of him that he was an old man at twenty in respect of us his Allies the Church and whole Kingdome so his death was immature but in respect of himself so he was a good old man for wisdome is the gray hair to men and an unspotted life is old age In this sense it is that Abraham is called a good old man for his age was far inferiour to many that liv'd before him but an hundred threescore and fifteen yeares in the v. before the Text yet he is said first of any to be an old man and full of years because his many vertues did crown his age in making it the more awful and * Invida quem Lachesis raptum rtiete ride nova Dum numerat palmas credidit esse sevem Mart. li. 10. Epist 58. illustrious 3. He is brought hither to be gathered to his people and to sleep with his Fathers untill the day of resurrection that as he injoyed many of Abrahams mercies in his life so he might be like him in his death too that like Saul and Jonathan in death they might not be divided Heitherto I have been conversing with the dead and tracing the footsteps of two Heroick Ghosts Now a word or two at parting to you that are yet alive that so I may end as I began 1. To all in general give me leave to make such a dole amongst you as Nazianzen did amongst his auditors after he had made an oration upon the life of Athanasius Vertutes illius inter vos partiamini now fall a dividing his vertues amongst your selves But be sure that every one take some This will be a better badge of being at a funeral than either Rosemary or Ribbons when you are dismiss'd goe also musing with your selves who may be the subject of the next funeral and say with the Apostles Master is it I Master is it I Only let me prompt you to so much humanity as to take your leaves of this our Reverend Father before you goe speak to him in the words of Luther to his dying daughter
own sense And since I am faln upon this subject I call to mind what a ‖ Mr. V Parson of Weddington Prophet of your own I mean a Minister of the next adjoyning parish hath left upon record 'T is irkesome saith he for wild birds to be cooped in a cage of discipline and order or to be strait lared after they have gone loose so long I wish we were not writing a commentary upon that Text. 2. As a Magistrate so he was an ornament of that order He put on Righteousness and that ploathed him Judgement that was a Robe and a Diadem Job 29.14 Eyes to the blind Feet to the â—ame 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Justice is self set forth to the life Justice animated his grave regular life was enough to put sin out of countenance Vira censura pulns imderium and the intimation of his pleasure his nod had the authority of a command Ready he was whilst he had his health to execute the lawes especially in punishing scandalous offenders and relieving such as were oppressed Pharaoh would have them to be Rulers over his Cattle who were men of activity Gen. 47.6 Much move ought they to be active who are Rulers over men Hear this ye great one draw forth that sword which God hath in rusted to you to the terror of evill works and workers but remember to be like God himself a Sun and a shield to the poor and perseouted If any one of you shall upholster prophanesse either by your power or example I may justly Alarum you in the words of Zach. 10.20 Howl O ye Oaks of Bashan great men are called Oaks in Scripture as men in general are often compared to trees If you like Oaks shal bring forth Acorns for hogs that is favours for wicked men Then howl O ye Oaks of Bashan This was the reason that the Lord commanded the Heads of the people to be hung up before the Lord against the Sun Numb 25.4 And that at the end of the world the Kings of the Earth the great men mighty men shal hide themselves in Dens and rooks of the mountains and say to the mountains and rocks fall on us and hide us from the face of him that sitteth upon the Throne Rev. 6 15.10 Because all these had abused their power and as Lucifer falling from Heaven drew the third part of the Stars after him So these have corrupted others by their example therefore their judgement shall be the more signal 3. His Divine Capacity Moralia cum side sunt divina divina sine side sunt moralia as a Christian though his former excellencies both moral and civil were both divine and spiritual in him as they were acted by the strength of Grace and directed to the glory of God yet that which we call Religion in a more immediate sense was his greatest delight and those that were Godly indeed and truly Religious were highest in his esteem Et scias eos vertutibus abundare c. we may safety conclude that those men have a great stock of vertue in themselves Plinie epist who set their affections upon vertue in other men We know that we have passed from death to life because we love the brethren 1 John 3.14 Neither was his Religion of any novel date All the Locusts of old new furbushed heresies and Schisms which have swarmed out of the bottomlesse pit in these later times could never fasten upon him to blast and deface the verdure of his more ancient and Catholick profession but still 〈◊〉 the sweet breath of pure truth in the Church of God * Bp. Morton He was none of those who having drunk old wine strait-way desired Now Luke 5.39 Or rejecting the old ‖ Apostolicae doctrinae manna revomentus haertieae novitatis sordibus obiectantur Vincent Cap. 12. Mamna of found doctrine longing for the Mushrom inventions of brain-sick 〈◊〉 which sprang up but the other night And that he might be assisted in his domestick and more publick devotions in his family which were daily as frequent as his moals He borrowid 〈…〉 from the Altar by commonly keeping in his house a Chaplain in orders and he his absence that the duty might neither beneglected nor prophan'd by rash evaporations and daring effusions He had a form of prayer read constanily twice a day in his family c. So diligent was he in hearing the word that when through weaknosse he could neither go disstand yet we had his presence at sermon untill at last I thought he would have breathed his last whilst I had been preaching A good Emperour should die in the feild a good Minister in the Pulpit and it seems A good Christian could willingly expire in the Congregation Indeed he was so far from running forth into heats about Religion especially about shuffers and philacteries and other circumstances of lower moment as if these should rather be the subject of his obedience than disputes that eyen in other matters he was observed to expresse more Religion in his practice than in his words like deep wavers that make the least noise and hot like the Indian figtree whose leaves are as broad as a targer but its fruit no bigger than a bean This reservednes might easily suggest unto strangers an occasion of suspition that his heart did scarce abound with goodnesse seeing his mouth was no forwarder to set it forth But when he was in private O how have I been affected to hear him give a large testimony of his faith when we have been mingling experiences bringing forth oâ— evidences for Heaven how have I exulted to hear him relating the way and method he had walked in How he and his former Sarah did constanly take sweet counsel together by entring into their closet besides family exercises and praying jointly unto Almighty God there in stâ—â—â—â— Happy couple so to live together in this world that they might live together to all eternity Besides this act of devotion every night before he took his rest he sat him down in his own studdy there he pass'd a severe scrutinie upon himself examining and calling to the test the several actions of the day and wherein he had miscarried thereto abhor himself and implore the pardon of his Heavenly Father in cancelling that debt His account shall be lesse at the great day of recompences that often thus sincerely and impartially reckons with himself As he was conscionable in giving to God the things that were Gods So he had a sweet return from God as of many other blessings so of gracious assistance and support in time of his extremity that he might resemble his Father Abraham and his deliverance upon the Mount when God had taken from him by a lamentable stroke his dear spouse the joy of his heart and delight of his eyes when his Children were dispers'd with the tempest of Warr his estate rent and torne and he himself pensive at these rugged transactions of