being and dwelling in the best of Gods people here but when once the Souls of good men are dislodged and have taken their flight from their Bodies this incroaching inmate as one terms sin shall be turned out of doors shall never have so much as any being or existence any longer in them shall never more give them any further labour or trouble The death of a Believers body shall perfectly deliver him from this body of Death as the Apostle calls sin Rom. 7.23 Christ will present unto himself in the other world a glorious Church not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing but that it shall be holy and without blemish as the Apostle assureth us Ephess 5.27 And hence the souls of just men when once got thither are said to be perfect Heb. 12.23 and death is call'd by one Peccatorum sepultura the burial or grave of sin and that is one thing that speaks out the happiness of those that dye in the Lord they shall then be at rest from the labour of sinning which is of all labours and troubles the worst and greatest the most afflictive to a good man whence the Grecians in their Language term a wicked man 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 from a word which signifieth with them labour and pains To denote as the labour and pains that wicked men are at many times to accomplish their wicked designs for they rest not except they have done mischief and their sleep is taken from them unless they cause some to fall as Solomon tells us Prov. 4.16 so possibly to denote that labour and trouble which sin and the remainders of it give to good men in this life Well from this labour from this trouble they shall be perfectly freed and delivered in the other life they shall be at rest then from the labour and sorrow of sinning any more Yea I may add here as a supplement to this Head the dead that dye in the Lord are not only at rest from sinning but from all suggestions and temptations to it there will be an end put then to all Satans temptations as well as to our sinning He is very busie here in suggesting of bad things to the minds of good men he is dayly dogging them and disturbing them in every thing they go about he buffetted St. Paul we read he desired to winnow St. Peter he stirr'd up David to number the People and whiles Joshua was ministring unto the Lord he was at his right hand to resist him as we are told Zach. 13.1 and it 's no small unhappiness to us that we are thus continually followed and haunted with such an ill Ghost yea but now Death will deliver such as dye in the Lord from this trouble also It will set them 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 out of the reach of his batteries and gun-shot though his darts be all fiery darts and so its likely he is able to fling them high as one saith yet not high enough to reach the Saints in glory The Saints on earth indeed are in a Militant Condition part of Gods Militant Church dayly sighting with him and he with them but the Saints in Heaven are in a Triumphant Condition Members of the Triumphant Church wholly above him and more than Conquerours over him and over all their other enemies thro' Christ that loved them as the Apostle assures us Rom. 8.37 His walk is indeed to go to and fro on the earth as he told God himself Job 1.7 but he can't enter the Confines of Heaven When he fell from his integrity he was turned out of that place of felicity and shall never be restored to it again This great Accuser of the Brethren is cast down neither shall his place be found any more in Heaven as we are assur'd Rev. 12.8 this spiritual Pharoth as one terms him may pursue good men to the hour of their death and it may be may then most fiercely too assault them may muster up all his forces in Battle-array against them but at death it may be confidently said unto them in respect of Satan what Moses said once to the Children of Israâ—l in respect of the â—â—gyptians Exod. 14.13 with which I shall conclude this particular Fâ—ar ye not oâ—ly stand still and see the salvation of the Lord whiâ—h he will work for you to dâ—y for the Aegyptians which ye have seen to dâ—y ye shall see them no morâ— forever 2. Such as dye in the Lord shall be at rest as from the labour of sinning and of all temptations to it so also from their labours in respect of suffering their death will put an end to all those sorrows and sufferings to which by reason of sin they are here exposed God will then wipe all tears from his peoples eyes and tâ—ere shall be no more sorrow nor crying neither shall there be any more pain fâ—r the fâ—rmer things are passed away Revel 21.4 and this indeed followeth upon the former for sublata causâ tollitur eff ctus remove the cause and the â—ff cts will ceâ—se dry up the fountain and the streams will not run Sin the cause of sorrow and suffering being removed as you have heard then it will be sorrow and suffering the effects of sin must needs then cease Now if need be saith the Apostle ye are in heaviness 1 Peâ— 1.6 now men have strong corruptions and therefore need strong corrections Now there is Chaff mingled with our Wheat and therefore there is need of Gods Fan to separate it Dross with our Gold and therefore need of his Fire to refine it Now his Rod and Châ—stiâ—ements are very necessary to teach us out of Gods Law aâ— the Psalmist tells us Psal 89.32 but at Deâ—thâ— thâ— Scholar in Christs School will have perfectly learn'd his Lesson and herefore there will be no further need of correâ—tion Thus De th will set good men at rest from the labour of suffering as well as of sinning yea and that both with reference to their bodies and with reference to their souls that I may enâ—arge a little here 1. Death will set good Men at rest from all Sufferings with respect to their Bodies Many and Gâ—eat are the Suâ—fâ—rings which good Men meet with here by reason of their crazy inâ—irm Bodies by reason of the greâ—t variety of Disea es that are inc dent in this Life to them to mention now none of those other sufferings which some have been forced to undergo by reason of the Racks and Wheels of Persecutors Jo had we know his Botches Hezekiah his Boyl David his Sores the poor Widow of the Gospel her Issue of Blood One Man wasteth away with a Consumption till all his Moisture is Exhausted another is Burnt up with a Feaver a third is as it were Drowned with a Dropsy In one the kâ—eepers â—f the House that I may Allude to that Elegant Allegory of Solomon Eclâ—s 12. Tremble in another the sound of the Grinders is brought low in a third those
that look out at the Windows are darkned in a fourth the Dâ—ughters â—f Musick are brought down Physâ—cians tell us of hundreds of diseases at leasâ— that are thus Incident to Mans Body and by reason of these he spends his Days many times in Pain and his Nights in Sorrow But here is the comfort of good Men death will be a remedy against them all It will deliver them or set them at rest from them all there shall be saith St. Joâ—n Speaking of the New Jerusalem no more Death nor any more Pain Râ—vel 21.4 As the Blind Martyr told the Lame when they met at the Stake yâ—â— may throw away your Crutches now if you please Dâ—â—th will â—uâ—e us both you of your Lameness and me of my Blindness The great Physician of Souls the Lord Jesus Christ will by Death cure all the Diseases and remove all pains from good Mens Bodies And consequentially they shall then be at rest from all sufferings with respect to the Body 2. They shall be at rest too then from all sufferings with respect to the Soul Many and Sore are the sorrows and troubles of a Christian in this Life in this respect also Sometimes the Afflictions of the good set him on weeping By the Rivers of Babylon we sate down and Wept when we remembred Zion Ps 137.1 viz. The Afflictions and Desolations of Zion and of Gods People that had once lived there Sometimes the Transgressions of the wicked fetch tears from his Eyes Rivers of Waters run down my Cheeks Saith David because wicked Men keep not thy Laws Ps 119.136 Sometimes the Sense of his own corruptions stabs him as it were at the very Heart When they heard this they were pricked in their Heart And said unto Peter and to the rest of the Apostles Men and Brâ—thâ—ren what shall we do Acts 2.37 And O Wrâ—tched Man that I am cries St. Paul who shall deliver me from the Body of this Death Rom. 7.24 Sometimes God hides his Face and he is troubled thou hidest thy face and I am troubled Ps 30.7 And Tears have been my Meat Day and Night whiles they continually say unto me where is thy God saith he Ps 42.3 Thus the Christians whole Life here many times is as it were a field of Sorrows but now Death will set him at rest from them all It will be the Funeral of all his sorrows and the resurrection of all his joys The Day of Death is the good Man's Marriage-day and at that Marriage day of his Christ will turn again as one Expresseth it all his Water into Wine all his Sighing into Singing all his Mourning into Mirth Then indeed shall the ransomed of the Lord return and come to the Heavenly Zion with Songs and Everlasting Joy upon their Heads They shall obtain Joy and Gladness and all Sorrow and Sighing-shall flee away that I may Allude to and Conclude this particular in the Prophets words Isa 35.6 But that is the first reason that is given in my Text why the dead that dye in the Lord are Blessed Because they dye that they may rest from their Labours And that both in respect of all further sinning and all further suffering I come now to the second that is here given us why they are Blessed and that is 2. Because their works shall follow them their works i. e. the good fruits and good eâ—fects of their works or rather the reward of them the great reward that God will then give them though not for yet according to their good works and this is and will be indeed very great so great as that no mortal can declare the greatness of it for Eye hath nâ—t seen nor ear heard neither did it ever yet enter into the heart of man to conceive what great thinâ—s God hath prepared for them that love him As the Apostle tells us 1 Cor. 2.9 The Eye of man hath seen wonderful things in nature and the Ear possiâ—ly hath heard of more and as for the heart or mind of man what almost can't that conceive And yet it can no way conceive the greatness of the glory which God hath prepared and laid up in the other world for those that love and fear him in this and yet that hath been and will be still done by all that have love shall die in the Lord therefore all that die in him are and shall be blessed 'T is true indeed this blessedness that I may prevent all mistakes will not 1. Be given out to all alike as there are different degrees of grace upon Earth so there will be different degrees of glory in Heaven There is oâ—e glory of the Sun another glory of the Mâ—on another glory of the Stars for one Star differs from anotâ—er in â—lâ—ry i. e. shines more gloriously than another so also shall it be saith he in the resurrection of the dead 1 Cor. 15.41 42. And they that be wise saith Daniel speaking of the same thing shall shine as the fiâ—mament and they that turn many unto righteâ—usnâ—ss as the Stars for ever and ev r Dan. 1â— 3 Now there are we know different degrees betwixt the light of the firmament and the light of the Stâ—rs and so there will be betwixt the glory of one Saint and the glory of another in the future life 'T is true indeed all good Men when once got to Heaven shall have glory enough He that hath the least glory there shall have enough to make him unspeakably and unconceivably happy every Vessel of glory shall be full but some shall have more of it thâ—n others as being more capacitated to receive it God will then and there reward every mâ—n accordâ—ng to his wâ—rks as the Scriptures do abundantly assure us Now look as there are diversities of gifts and graces amongst Gods people here upon Earth so there are of works some do and suffer more for God others less and therefore some shall have more glory others less because every mans glory shall be proportionâ—ted according to his works since mens labours are different in this world their reward and glory will be different also in the world to come This happiness therefore I say will not be given out for degrees alike to all 2. Nor secondly will it be consummated or compleated to any till the last day till the general day of Judgment when their bodies shall rise again be reunited to their Souls though good men such as die in the Lord are immediately admitted to happiness after their death yet not to all that happiness that God intends hath designed for them in the other world this is indeed reserved for that great and general day of Judgment so often mentiâ—ned in the Holy Scriptures when Christ to whom the Judgment of the world is committed shall come in the glory of his Father with his Holy Angels to render to every man fully according to his works as you have it Mat. 16 27. But in the interim and as soon as they
tell thee this that say so but the divine Spirit the Holy Ghost himself who is equal with God the Father saith so and that not only in multitudes of places in the Scriptures but in the hearts and consciences of all good men of all true believers This Holy Spirit saith yea to what I have said gives his 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 his Amen or vâ—â—â—ly to â—t and hath commanded me to tell thee as much and therâ—fore thou hast reason to believe it For what he saith and declares is as he saith it is and as he declares it to be and whatever he promiseth or threatneth shall accordingly in time he performed and made good He is as we are told a Spirit of Truth a faithful Witness one that cannot lye as the Apostle expresly tells us Tit. 1 2. his word shall be made good to a tittle Heaven and earth shall pass away but not one Iota not the least tittle of what he hath said shall go unfulfilled as our Saviour assureth us Mat. 5.18 He is not a man that he shâ—uld lye neither the Son of man that he should repent hath he said it and shall it not be made good said Balaam Numb 23.19 the sons of men indeed are often lyars men of low deâ—ree saith the Psalmist are vanity and men of high degree are a lye Psa 62.9 they will say and unsay many times with the same breath we have no sure hold of their word no sure ground to build upon their assertions but it is not so with the Spirit of God we may safely build upon his word 't is impâ—ssible that he should lye or deceive any as the Apostle tells us Heb. 6.18 Truth is of his very nature and essence and he may as soon cease to be as cease to be true but that is the second ground given in my Text why we should believe that such as die in the Lord are Blessed because the Holy Spirit hath affirmed it and gives his yea to it Blessed are the dead that die in the Lord yea saith the Spirit But then 3. As the Spirit saith so as it is evident and clear from what the Spirit tells us in the Holy Scriptures and in the hearts and consciences of all good men so the Ratio rei the reason of the thing speaks as much or it is evident that it must be so from reason it self I might name many but I shall content my self at present with what we have in my Text and we have Two here given for it The dead that die in the Lord must needs be Blessed For 1. They rest then from their labours And 2. Their works will follow them 1. Then if we consult Reason Good Men such as die in the Lord will be blessed after death For then they will rest from their labours they will then be at their rest there the wicked ceasâ— from trouble and the weary be at rest saith Job speaking of the grave or the other world Joâ— 14.13 There remaines a rest for tâ—e pâ—oâ—lâ— oâ— God saith the Apostle Heb. 4 9. And such as die in the Lord are said to rest or sleep in Jesus 1 Thes 4.14 Thâ—y shall â— ter â—â—to peace thâ—y shall rest in their beds saith the Prophet speaking of righteous men that are taken away from the evil to come Isa 57.1 Look what a bed of rest or slâ—ep is to the weary labourer such is Death to good men their dying day is their resting day they shall then rest from their labours Not neither for I would not be mistaking here that the souls of good men after death are without all motion or operation till the Resurrection of their bodies not that they turn sleepers till then as some have imâ—gined not that they dose away all their time or indeed any of it from the last breath or gasp that the body takes to the blowing of the last trumpet as some do fondly dream For the soul is of such a nature as that it can no more be and not act than the wind can be and not blow than the fire can be and not burn than the sun can be and not shine its very nature and essence consisteth in alwayes thinking in constant cogitation as some both of the old and new Philosophers tell us They rest not day and night saying holy holy holy Lord God Almighty which was which is and which is to come saith St. Jo n of the four and twenty elders and so of the souls of just men made perfect Revel 4.8 The resting of the soul then is not a cealing or a rest from all kind of motion or operation But a rest 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as 't is phrazed in my Text that is a rest from all those toilsome labours and troublesome pains whâ—â—h they are forced to undergoe whilst here in the body â—oth in the pursuit of their particular callings as men and in the pursuit of their general callings as Christians They rest from all toilsome labour with reference to both of these and that too both with reference to all sinning and suffering in either of them To mention no more 1. The Souls of good men which die in the Lord rest from all their labours with respect to sinning their death puts a period and an end to all their sinning in both the issue of sin shall then be quite dryed up shall run no longer Here the heart of a Christian is like Rebekahs womb it hath as it were twins strugling in it the old man and the new flesh and spirit the law in the members warring against the law of the mind The flesh lusting against the Spirit and the Spirit against the flesh and these are contrary one to the other as the Apostle tells us Gal. 5.17 and by means of this contrariety there is a great conflict many times much strugling and striving much labour and trouble in the heart of a Christian So that the good which he would do he doth not and the evil which he wâ—uld not do that many times doth he as the Apostle phrazeth it in his own person Rom. 7.22 his very life by means of this is like a Book fraught full of Errata's who knows the Errours of this Life saith David there is not a just Man upon earth that doth good at all times and sinneth not saith Solomon Eccles 7.20 If any man saith he hath no sin he deceiveth himself and the truth is not in him saith St. John 1 Jo. 1.8 And in many things we offend all saith St. James Jam. 2.3 Our very righteousness is but as filthy rags as the Prophet tells us Isa 6.4 Our best graces saith one are not without their defects Lord I believe help mine unbelief cryes he in the Gospel Mark 9.24 Our best duties not without their defaults When I would do good evil is present with me saith the Apostle Rom. 7.21 The purest fire we know hath some smoak the richest wines some dregs Sin in short will have a
very harbinger and fore-runner of their glory a boat sent on purpose to fetch them off from the troublesome sea of this world and to land them safe at the pleasant harbour of eternal rest their Fathers Messenger sent to fetch them home to their Fathers House And should not such an Harbinger such a Boat such a Messenger be welcome when he comes Their dying day is their great resting day the day wherein they shall rest from all their labours as you have heard and was ever any wearied labourer unwilling to go to his rest 'T is their great pay-day the day wherein they shall receive their full wages their reward for all that they have done and suffered here in the flesh And what Servant is there that is not well-pleased when the pay-day comes The Servant earnestly desires the shadow as Job tells us and the Hireling longs for the wages of his work Job 7.2 good men have no reason to be troubled but indeed to rejoyce when the day of their death comes for then they will find that they shall not only rest from their labours but that their works will follow them that they shall then receive their wages wages infinitely beyond all their work beyond all that they can think or conceive For eye hath not seen nor ear heard neither ever yet did it enter into the heart of man to conceive what great things God hath prepared for them that love him as the Apostle assures us in that place so often quoted 1 Cor. 2 9. 3. And Lastly It may comfort us as against our own death if we be good men so against the death of our godly friends They are blessed they do rest from their labours and their works do follow them Their death is their great gain and if it be so much their gain why should it be so much our grief I know indeed and we read in thâ— Scriptures that great mournings sore lamentations have been made at the interment of many deceased Saints And if ever any People had reason to make them we of this place have so now and yet we must not over-do here neither as we soon may we must be careful that we do not sorrow as thâ—â—e that hâ—â—e no hopes as the Apostle adviseth us in this Case 1 Thes 4.13 weep we may that will speak us to be men but yet it must be with moderation and that will speak us to be Christians Our pious Friends have only left us for a little time we have not lost them but shall receive them again or rather be received to them at the last They are the Gainers though we are the Losers their death is but a departure to a better life and therefore it would be rather a piece of Envy in us than of real Piety excessively or over-much to bewail it especially since we are so well assured to meet them again in a better World where we shall never part more but shall be together with them forever with the Lord as the Apostle doth assure us we shall 1 Thes 4.17 And therefore we that survive may as well comfort one another with those Words as he in this Case also adviseth us there to do These things might have been some of them at least more enlarged upon but I have trespassed I fear too much already upon your patience and yet I must borrow a little time more from it if it be only to tell you in a few words what kind of Person he was which we have brought here now to be interred And now I have mentioned this worthy Gentleman I have started as it were another Text and might well give you another Sermon upon it if I had time and ability for it I never indeed took any great delight in making long Panegyricks or large Encomiums of the dead For not to mention the frequent abuse of them I have ever thought that silent tears are the best Oratours at Funerals and that the good works which the deceased have done whiles they were living and the good names which they have left behind them when dead are their best embalmings and do speak out their praises more effectually than the tongue of the Preacher could do And in this respect I should not have needed to have said any thing now for this worthy Gentleman hath obtained a good repent amongst us And his own works will praise him more in the â—â—teâ— than any of my words can do yet least I should seem to be injurious both to him and to you at once to Him in denying him his due and deserved praise and to You in concealing so Excellent a Pattern for youâ—â—â—â—â—ation I â—â—st say something of him and the Brief Character which I shall give of him shall be chiefly in such things as mine own knowledge â—â—d the great Honour that I do and shall ever bare to his Name do both warrant and prompt me to give And so 1 To begin with such things as relate to Gods Service and Worship a due regard to which doth be sure as much commend us as any thing we can shew regard unto he was a great lover of his Church of Gods House and publick Worship Did constantly attend when at home unless when he was hindred by great Sickness and that both Morning and Evening upon the Prayers and other Ordinances here dispensed And seemed always most aâ—tentive to reverent and devout in all Yea such was his zeal always to attend here upon Gods publick Worship as that he came very often to it when in the Judgment of others it had been fitter for him by reason of his great illness and weakness to have been at home in his Bed He seemed always to be greatly offended and angry with his Friends when they knowing his weakness did at any time but desire him to stay at home Neither was he only thus diligent to come himself but careful to bring his Family and Servants also along with him as resolving with good Joshua that what ever others did that he and his Houshould would serve the Lord. He was likewise a most diligent and devout receiver of the Lords Supper an Ordinate God knows is too much slighted and neglected by too too many I do not remember that for the space of â—0 years and more in which I have had the Happiness to be acquainted with him that ever he missed when at home above 2 or 3. Sacraments and them sore against his will being forced to it by reason of great Sickness or Weakness Neither was be only thus careful to Worship God thus publickly every week here in his House But likewise took care to have him Worshipped dayly in his own by keeping up a constant course of Family-Duties there ever since I knew him which is a thing I am afraid too too much neglected by too too many not only of the Vulgar buâ— of Men of his rank and quality Neither did he rest in this but it was his usual course as I have