pravitatecordis Aug. both these are daring and God-incensing provocations Now if any shall be awakened by these flashes of Gods anger to enquire Who are to be judged persons void of love to Jesus Christ I shall referre them for satisfaction to Christs own words both the parable and his exposition of it The Parable is this The Citizens hated him and sent a message after him saying We will not have this man to reigne Luke 19 14. over us And the Application made is thus expressed Those mine enemies which would not that I should raigne over them bring them hither and slay them before me Therefore all such vers 27. are proclaimed Christs enemies Christ-haters even by Christ himself who refuse to submit unto him as their Lord and King It s no uncharitablenesse but judgment according to the Word of truth to determine those to be no friends unto Christ whose resolutions are rather to order their lives according to customs humane traditions their own humours and the practices of the multitude then according to the commands and counsels of Christ Vse 2 It much concernes us all to examine our friendship unto Christ To quicken this search these things are considerable 1. Because many professe much love outwardly whose hearts affect him not unfainedly As David describeth some counterfeit Courtiers whose words were soft like oyle when there were drawn swords in their bosomes Never was Christ more in mens mouths with smooth language then Psal 55. 21. now when their lives speak treachery against him Thus Judas calleth him Master and giveth him a kisse yet was no friend Have I not chosen twelve saith Christ and yet John 6. 79. one is a devil What Sugered words did the devil use when he designed the ruine of Adam and of all his posterity 2. Because the comforts of the Gospel do appertain to them alone whose love is without dissimulation The Apostles benediction was this Grace be with all them who Eph. 6. 14. love our Lord Jesus in sincerity The rich priviledges of grace are appropriated unto Christs cordial friend 3. Because Christ whose eyes are like unto flames of Rev. 1. 14. fire doth discern clearly all them that are false friends though they pretend fair We read of many who beleeved John 2. 23 24 25. when they saw his miracles but Jesus did not commit himselfe unto them because he knew all men and needed not that any should testifie of man for he knew what was in man 4 Because we cannot tell how soon we shall be called to the scrutiny The Lord may be awakening our consciences and setting them as upon a rack propound that question unto us which he asked Peter once and again and the third time Lovest thou me But though he should John 27. 15. not deal thus with us in our life time yet be sure we shall be examined upon our departure hence for after death Heb. 9 27. comes judgment infallibly Therefore it will be our wisdom in the ways of self-renuing to say as Job did When God visiteth Job â—â— 14. what shall I answer him 5. Because by serious self-reflections we may attaine such full assurance of our love unto Christ that we may with confidence speak with Peter Lord thou knowest all Joh. 21. 17. things thou knowest that I love thee Having thus moved the examination of your love to Christ I proceed to give in some discoveries of Christs loving friends and the rather because according to Gods institution we Ministers are set up amongst people to try Jer. 6. 29. their wayes And the characters of love being many I shall be the shorter in them all True it is that mens love burning in their bosoms they many times better expresse themselves Amor est inter ea quae melius sentiuntur quaÌ„ definiuntur by sense then Arguments yet God having in his word held forth manifold Signes of sincere love it is our duty to make our use of them 1. Love to Christ is alwayes accompanied with hatred of sinne Ye that love the Lord hate evil And the Apostle Psal 97. 10. his connexion is observable Let love be without dissimulation Rom. 12. 9. abhorring that which is evil The ground hereof is manifold First because Christ hateth all sinne he Quomodo amas Christum cùm adhuc amas quod in tâ— odit Christus Berr. suffered death for sinne and is dishonoured by it Therefore it is not possible that love unto Christ and love unto sinne should peaceably lodge together in the same bosom 2 Love to Christ is attended with care to prevent whatsoever might be injurious or displeasing unto him Thus the loving Spouse layeth this command upon all under her Authority I charge you that you awake not my Beloved till be please In like manner Jonathans love pleadeth Cant. 3. with Saul for Davids life Let not the King sin against his servant against David wherefore wilt thou sin against innocent 1 Sam. 19. 4 5. blood to slay David without a cause And Jacobs Gen. 33. affections did project the preservation of his near relation from ruine Hence it appeareth therefore that people of Gallio his temper do not love Christ who care not Acts 18. 17. what wrongs are done to Christ in the liberty or purity of his Ordinances and comfort of his servants if themselves can sleep warm in their own well-feathered nests 3. Love to Christ discovered it self by solicitous enquiries after the minde of Christ fearing least through mistakes he might be provoked How inquisitive were his Apostles to know his pleasure in all particulars relating Mat. 26. 17. to the Passeover The Disciples came unto Jesus saying Where wilt thou that we prepare for thee to eat the Passeover And how tâ—morous was Abraham Gods friend lest he might Cen. 18. Res est soliciti plena timoâ—is amor by overmuch boldnesse incense him when he was mediating for Sodom Shall they therefore be accounted friends to Christ who walk at all adventures without any fears of his frown or enquiries after his will 4. Love causeth flowings forth of thoughts upon its object The beatings of the pulse are according to the heat in the heart In the Song of Loves this is the first Psal 45. 1. clause My heart is inditing of a good matter I speak of the things which I have made concerning the King Sparks do not more naturally arise out of a flaming furnace then musings upon Christ from the soule which is fired with loves towards him With how much intention frequency Amor meus est pondus meum and steddinesse do people think upon the persons and things which are greatly loved This consideration therfore casts them off as no friends to Christ of whom it may be Psal 10. 4. truly said in respect of diligent meditation The Lord is not in all their thoughts 5. Longings after Christ together with satisfactions
friend His graces which are like to a most fragrant perfume do in am our the hearts of all them who are truly spiritual Because of the savour of thy good ointments thy Name is as an Cant. 1. 3. ointment powred forth therefore do the Virgins love thee And in the song of conjugal loves this is rendred as the reason of those sparklings Thou art fairer then the children of Psal 45. 2. men As there was not among the children of Israel a goodlier person then Saul from the shoulders upwards he was higher 1 Sam. 9. 2. then any of the people So Jesus Christ doth wonderfully over-top and exceed in all rich endowments the most amiable creatures in the world And as in all Israel there was 2 Sam. 14. 25. none to be so much praised as Absalom for his beauty from the sole of his foot even to the crown of his head there was no blemish in him and this might be some reason of Davids great love towards him So in the Lord Jesus there are perfect beauties without the least blemishes He is altogether lovely No wonder therefore that wise knowing Christians do chuse and value and embrace him with vigorous loves Reason 2 Because of his famous magnanimous undertakings and adventures as Mediator that he might at once advance his Fathers glory and the happinesse of his Elect. We read that Jonathans soul was knit to the soul of David 1 Sam. 18. 1. and that he loved him as his own soul because upon a Duel he had encountered and conquered the Monster Goliah who had blasphemed God and vilified his people Now this service was low and inconsiderable being compared with Christs renowned exploits who hand to hand combated with the devil in the wildernesse for the space of fourty days Luke 4. 2. Col. 2. 15. who spoiled principalities and Powers made a shew of them openly triumphing over them in his crosse Who did beare up bravely against the power of darknesse to be quell'd under the weight of divine justice to be satisfied and under the flames of his Fathers displeasure to be quenched These and the like rare actings of Christ being pondered by Christians do draw forth their hearts in friendship towards him He himself saith Therfore doth my Father love me because I John 10. 17. lay down my life And how can new-born Christians partakers of the divine Nature be otherwise affected upon the same account towards their blessed Master Reason 3 Because of their manifold rich receipts from Christ Davids heart giveth out loves to the Lord because upon his prayers he had delivered his eyes from tears and his feet Psal 116 1 8. from falling Now Christ hath rescued his people from wrath to come and that without respect to their requests yea before they sought him Our Saviour himself giveth this as the reason wherefore the sinful woman loved him Many sins are forgiven her Luk 7. 47. 1 Sam. 19. 5. therefore she loved much And Jonathan by this Argument laboureth to win Sauls heart towards David Because the Lord by him wrought a great salvation to all Israel In this respect the Apostle Paul was rationally under the 2 Cor. 5. 14. constraint of commanding Loves to Christ because of quickning grace received by his death Now if I should here discover our large enjoyments from Christ it would abundantly appear to every ingenuous soule that there is sufficient cause wherefore he should be accounted and affected as an incomparable friend By him we are delivered from sin and hell as is hinted even now from the curse of the Law the hater of God the Gal 3. 13. Eph. 2. 14 16. Gal. 1. 4. 1 Cor. 15. 55. Ephes 1. 3 6. 1 Cor. 1. 30. and 2. 1 20. deadly snares of the world and the poison-sting of death We are blessed with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places We are accepted in the Beloved He is made unto us Wisdom Righteousnesse Sanctification and Redemption And all the Promises of God are in him Yea and in him Amen How rationally therefore doth living love to Christ spring out of this root Reason 4 Because of their full expectations from him for the future even unto soul-satisfaction and that to eternity Many chearing cordials are handed to Christians from Christ here upon earth in which regard he doth lie as a bundle of myrrh between their brests but he reserveth the best wine for Cant. 2. 13. the last Whatsoever for kind or for measure the believing John 2 10. Christians comforts are here yet to be with Christ in heaven Phil. 1. 13. will be far better and this this in glory is looked for through Christ This consideration causeth their love unto Christ to break forth in a great flame Let the words of the Apostle be weighed for the evidence hereof who having spoken both of the Inheritance incorruptible and undefiled 1 Pet 1. 3 4. that fadeth not away reserved in heaven as also of the assured Perseverance through Gods Power and all this by Christ he adds Whom having not seen yet ye love Ingenuous 1 Pet. 1. 8. Christians duly weighing the worth of their future happinesse dearly purchased by Christ and undoubtedly to be possessed by them through Christ do hereupon practically conclude that nothing can be imagined more reasonable then this that they should love him as their special friend Thus from confirmation I proceed to the Application of this Truth by way of Use which I will propound under three heads viz. 1. Information 2. Examination 3. Exhortation Vse 1 Sad therefore is their condition who are not loving friends unto Jesus Christ For doubtlesse though they be by profession in the estimation of others true Christians yet they are but only Slips in Christianity As Judas c. Our Saviour speaketh roundly unto such If God were Joh. 8. 42. your Father you would love me And if God be not their Father they are questionlesse the devils children children of the curse How open and expresse are the words of the Apostle to this purpose If any man love not the Lord Jesus let 1 Cor. 16. 22. him be Anathema Maran-atha The heavy and lasting maledictions of God hang over the heads of all them who love not Christ This is the great severity of God against such who are not friends unto Christ and that the righteousnesse of his Majesty herein may be manifested I wish that this may be minded viz. that unfriendliness to the Lord Jesus in Gospel-times wherein his excellencies deservings are so fully laid open doth proceed either from 1. Infidelity Or 2. Contumacy Either people hearing from Scripture of Christs loveliness do give God the lie to his face by not believing him or else their disregard of Christ ariseth from malignity and stubbornnesse of will though they yield to the report of his incomparable worth And 1 Joh. 5. 10. Non à câ—citate mentis sed Ã
as examples of faith and holinesse he addeth these words All these died Reasons The reasons are not only 1. Because of Adams sin transmitted Sin entereth into the world and death by sin Rom. 5. 12. 2. And by reason of Gods determination with reference to his own glory many wayes to be manifested in the consequence of death It is appointed unto men once to die and after this the judgement For upon these Heb. 9 27. accounts the wicked who are Christs enemies do die also But there are peculiar Reasons wherefore Christs and the Churches friends do die I will not here speak unto that which was extraordinary in this death of Lazarus viz. for the glory of God Verse 15. that the Son of God might be glorified thereby and for the sakes of them who should beleeve upon the observation Ver. 4. of Christs power in a miraculous raising him from the dead I will only instance in those ends which God intends in a way more ordinary with respect unto his people themselves 1. Sometimes that they may be secured from common calamities coming upon the world As men do house their cattel before the storme falleth Thus God takes away Isa 57. 1. the righteous from the evil to come wherof the case of Josiah is a famous instance 2 Chro. 34. 28. 2. That they may rest from their labours both of service Rev. 14. 13. and suffering when their task and exercises are over when their work is done and the Lord hath sufficiently proved and purged them by variety of providences both crosse and comfortable in this world then he calleth them off this stage and causeth their departure hence 3. That they might enjoy immediate communion with Christ in heaven which is farre better then the best condition Phil. 1. 23. Heb. 12. 23. attainable in this life and that their spirits might be made perfect in glory before the day of the general Resurrection when their souls and bodies shall be reunited There are many profitable Uses to be made of this Doctrine Application which I shall only point at Vse 1. Therefore natural death is not the greatest evil neither are those comforts whereof death doth deprive the best good because it is absurd to imagine that the most godly shold undergo the heaviest evils and be stript of the chiefest comforts This inference is obvious and might be usefully enlarged But I must forbear Vse 2. Therefore death is not alwayes to be looked upon as a demonstration of Gods anger against them who die neither is any sicknesse bringing death to be judged a signe of divine wrath and severity Lazarus Verse 3. Christs friend died and it was said before He whom thou lovest is sick This is alledged as the reason of the death of Jeroboams childe because there was some goodnesse in him 1 Kings 14. 13. Hezekiah was sick unto death and it 's conjectured that his disease was the Plague both because of the swelling mentioned and the medicine advised Let them take Isa 38. 21. a lump of figs and lay it for a plaster upon the boile And how sad Jobs condition was I need not to relate who yet according to Gods own testimony was a man of incomparable piety Satan smote Job with sore boiles from Job 1. 8. 2. 3. Job 2. 7 8. the sole of the foot unto his crown And he took him a potsheard to scrape himselfe withall and he late down among the ashes This I do rather note 1. Because people are subject to censure severely those who undergo unusual afflictions When the Barbarians saw the venomous beast Acts 8. 4. hang on Pauls hand they said among themselves No doubt this man is a murtherer vengeance suffereth not him to live 2. Because by this uncharitable censoriousnesse men do expose themselves unto Gods displeasure Hence it was that the Lord thus spake unto Eliphaz the Temanite My wrath is Job 42. 7. kindled against thee and against thy two friends for you have not spoken of me the thing that is right Vse 3. Therefore Gods people should the rather hold up with hope comfort and patience under all sorts of their sufferings here because their death which is certain will put a period an end unto all Though the Sea Nubecula est citò transibit be stormy yet the voyage is short we shall ere long come safe to shoare For this cause we faint not though the outward man perish suppose rotting and unsavoury 2 Cor. 4. 16 17. c. for this light affliction is but for a moment Do you not remember how the holy Martyr comforted his fellow-sufferer viz. that death would cure the one of his blindnesse and the other of his lameness And doubtlesse in this sense it may be said safely that death unto the godly is the best Physician curing them perfectly of all diseases whatsoever Therefore chear up ye Saints of God under all your grievances upon the thought of death Say to your selves as the good Martyr did But one stile or two more and then I am at my journeys end Vse 4. Therefore Gods servants should be the more industrious in doing all the good which possibly they can with speed because they must die and death will take them off their work This is Solomons inference Whatsoever thine hand findeth to do do it with thy might for there Eccles 9. 10. is no work nor device nor knowledge nor wisdome in the grave whither thou goest How did our Saviour bestirre himself when he knew that his houre was come What a great deal Joh. 13. 1. of good work did he then dispatch in a short time And it seemeth to be the reason why Paul at Troas preached till midnight because he was ready to depart on the morrow The Acts 20. 7. nearer unto the center the swifter is the motion Famous Doctor Sibbs would say Could we suppose sorrow in heaven this would be our sorrow there that we did no more work for God before we came thither to receive so great wages Vse 5. Therefore we all should be perswaded to improve our Christian friends both Ministers and others in all their gifts graces and experiences so much as may be and that with speed because they must die Upon this ground the Prophet Zachary quickeneth obedience Thus saith the Lord of hosts Turne ye now Zach. 1. 4 5. from your evil wayes Your fathers where are they And the Prophets do they live for ever Our Saviour is often in this exhortation having foretold his own departure Yet a little while is the light with you walk while John 12. 35. Eph. 5. 8. Mat. 5. 16. John 5. 35. you have the light As all godly ones are called light So Ministers are the lights of the world John was a burning and a shining light Beloved death will blow out these your candles and your Torches therefore while they live while they
give out their shine and their light make a profitable use of them to Gods honour and your own souls welfare Vse 6. Therefore I hence exhort all the friends of Christ to prepare themselves for death and to maintaine upon their Spirits a prepared posture for natures dissolution Although I know that they being united unto Christ and reconciled to God through him they Rev. 14. 13. shall undoubtedly whensoever they die be translated from earth to heaven yet there is something more to Luke 16. 22. be minded by Christians that they may be ready to die How much might be comprized in Jobs expression All Job 14. 14. the dayes of mine appointed time will I wait until my change shall come I shall not undertake to discover but I desire to leave these foure words of advice in the bosomes of Christians in tendency unto their preparation for death 1. Seek well grounded assurance of your interest in Christ and of undoubted title unto heaven through him This foundation being laid Paul could triumph over death Oh death where is thy sting thanks be to 1 Cor. 15 55. God who hath given us victory through Jesus Christ And Simeon could sing when ready to die Now lettest thou thy Luk. 2. 19 30. servant depart in peace For mine eyes have seen thy salvation Whereas there are sad shiverings upon some gracious hearts when death looketh in at the windows because they question their admission into heaven upon natures dissolution 2. Take heed of all scandalous sinnes sinnes against conscience the commission whereof may blemish Religion and lie as blocks of offence in the wayes of others It is conceived by some Divines that in this regard Saint Paul died with the more confidence because after his conversion he was no way scandalous I have fought the 2 Tim. 4. 7. 8. good fight and I have kept the faith and henceforth is laid up for me a Crown of righteousnesse Whereas Peter having dishonoured Christ disgraced his profession wounded his own conscience and prejudiced others how farre we know not by his fearful threefold denial was so full of perplexity that Christ saw cause before Joh. 21. 15 19 the foretelling of his death to confirme his heart in helping on the discovery of his sincere love notwithstanding that sad offensive Apostacy Broken bones though knit will ake towards change of weather And the remembrance of scandalous miscariages may occasion anguish in the bosomes of dying Saints 3. Settle your outward estate and concernments according to divine prudence and holy principles remembring that you must be accountable unto the Lord whose stewards you are how you dispose of the things of this life Luke 16. 2. with which he hath entrusted you This was Gods own advice unto Hezekiah Thus saith the Lord set thine house i◠Esay 38. 1. order for thou shalt die Many good people deare unto God upon this neglect are lesse comfortable to themselves and lesse serviceabl◠unto others upon their death-beds because they suspe◠the many sad consequences of their not endeavouring t◠prevent sinne and trouble by an orderly setling of all the◠earthly enjoyments 4. Leave with gracious gravity and seriousnesse charges Appropinquante morte multò es divinior and convictions upon the consciences of your nearest relations that Christ heaven and their immortal soules may be principally cared for Warne your friends to beware of the sinnes of the times and of their own inclinations Communicate your experiences for future profit prudently Here I might expatiate upon the examples of Jacob blessing Gen. 49. Deut. 31. 2. 32. 33. Josh 23. 1 2. 24. 1. Joh. 13. 1. 14. 15. 16. 17. his sonnes when on his death-bed of Moses and of Joshua their plaine dealing with Israel when ready to die yea and of Christ himself But I am necessitated to abbreviate these things with this hearty request that my friendly faithfull counsell in these things may not be forgotten And do not I pray you do not deferre these things for death may steale upon you suddenly unexpectedly as a man falls asleep sometimes when he thought not of it This lets in the next point Doct. 2. That Christs friends by death do fall asleep The Protomartyr Stephen his death is thus expressed He Act. 7 60. 1 Co◠15. 16 18 20 51. fell asleep And the Apostle Paul doth often in the fifteenth Chapter of his first Epistle to the Corinthians attest this truth This sleep is not to be applied unto the soule after its Eccles 12. 7. Luke 23. 43. Phil. 1. 23. Heb. 12. 23. departure from the body as some fondly dreame for it goeth to God immediately forth-with enjoyeth fellowship with Christ and becometh perfect But it belongs to the dead body laid in the grave which in this regard 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Mr. Calamy his Sermon upon Acts 7. 60. is called a sleeping place I shall not dilate upon the resemblance betwixt death and sleep which is fully done by others But I will only touch upon two things which are here intended 1. Death is a sleep unto the godly because thereby they are laid to rest There is a Verse 13. taking of rest by sleep They shall rest in their beds saith the Prophet speaking of the death of righteous ones And Isa 57. 2. they rest from their labours so saith the Spirit who die in the Lord. 2. Because their bodies shall be raised as Rev. 14. 15. men are awakened out of sleep This is expressed in the words which immediately follow the Text Our friend Lazarus sleepeth but I go that I may awake him out of sleep And the Apostle Paul is much upon this Metaphor Cor. 15. in that place where he undertaketh to prove the Resurrection Vse 1. Therefore true beleevers real Saints should not be afraid to die I grant that death unto nature is the King of feares and it hath its poisonous sting with which it will wound the wicked whom it doth usher into hell This with many other useful truths relating unto death is admirably Dr. Tuckney his Sermons upon 1. Cor. 15. 55. laid open of late by a worthy servant of Christ and it would be a digression if I should undertake that discovery But I only move Gods people to arme themselves against the sinking feare of death because unto them it is no worse then falling asleep And indeed there is great need of this counsel among Gods own servants every where who like foolish children are afraid to put off their cloathes and go to bed in a dark chamber As Baxter in his Saints everlasting rest Herein the forementioned Authour and others have administred much good help in which regard I may be silent Vse 2. Neither let us mourne immoderately because of the death of our Christian friends seeing they are only fallen asleep When our Saviour had spoken the Verse 12. words of the
span I'th'hollow of thy fâ—st the Ocean Or to describe his boundless hidden worth Nor tongue nor pen can set his praises forth This only I will adde he that would draw His Portraiture must use Apelles Law When to paint Lady Venus with a grace This beauty gave a hand that gave a face The third a colour gave the next a feature Al joyn'd together made that lovely creature In the same manner whosoe're would paint The beauty of this thrice illustrious Saint Must rifle all the world and look apart For that wch shines most in each noble heart One must Humility give another Zeal Another Prudence brethrens rents to heal Learning a fourth in its high'st elevation A fifth must give a spotless conversation His preaching one man cannot imitate Here we must have Beza's triumvirate And when we'ave travel'd all the world to find Or make a copy of this matchlesse minde When other mens perfections al do fail We must with that old Limner draw a vail Upon his peerlesse parts or for the rest Say here lies that which cannot be exprest Sic flevit Mat. Poole Minister of Michaels at the Quern in London An Epitaph HEre lies Saint Whitaker the rest Cannot need not be exprest Great sorrows noise not Give some years For the world to speak in tears First this age must vent its grief In sighs the next may finde relief And joyn their sorrows to compute Till grief returning strikes them mute And makes them silently confesse Their loss his worth was fathom'esse Another Epitaph UNder this stone intombed lies An heap of contrarieties One that 's dead yet doth remaine For person place and work the same His precious person was combin'd Of soul and body firmly joyn'd So still these parts though distant yet In Christ are to each other knit To earth his body was confin'd Alwayes heaven had and hath his minde His work was preaching so 't is still And preach his name for ever will Mat Poole To the memory of the learned that eminently Religious Minister of the Gospel his Reverend brother deceased Mr. Jeremiah Whitaker WHitaker sleeps spices you need not bring For 's body death it self 's embalm'd to him Ah blessed Saint his Sermons were not done When preach'd he liv'd the Application When sick his pangs were mercy for when e're A sigh was breath'd out God breath'd in a pray'r Lie gently on him dust this seed is sown To spring again at th' Resurrection Oh for a verse in black Reader prepare thus For every drop of ink to melt a tear Yet stay with grief there 's cause of joy then Joy shal shed tears for him and grief for us Benjamin Needler Minister of the Gospel at Margarce Moses Friday-street Lond. In obitum eximii tam Doctrinâ quam pietate Theologi Jeremiae Whitakeri funebre ' ΕΤΚΩΜΙΑ ' ΣΤΙΚΟΠDr. Gouge Dr. Walker Mr. Whitaker DEfleat occiduos aetas ingrata Prophetas Liquit Evangelicum collapsa synastria caelum Lugentem moesto Whitakerus funere mundum Deseruit lachrymis squallentem liquerit urbem Jam pereat mendax de florido opinio seclo Mortuus hic Vates nostrum sepelivit honorem Corruit Verax foecundi gloria rostri Patronum amisit Pauper populusque Lutherum Amisitque pium mutilata ecclesia gnatum Pastorem coetus Patrem amisere Ministri Gens mala praeconem immotam synodusque columnam J. Wells Old Jewry Lond. Pastor To the memory of his dear friend and Pastor Mr. Jeremiah Whitaker deceased BEhold the shadow whose admired worth Nor pen nor tongue is able to set forth He whose vast soul walk'd through the Isle of Man Is here confined in a shorter span Whose worth the world though 't were as big again Were much too short and narrow to contain Sweet were his life and death his well spent dayes Began with goodness and expir'd with praise His lamp was ever burning never hid And when his tongue preacht not his actions did And to his death he still fought faiths good fight And then his Lamp exchang'd his borrowed light For an immortal lustre and here lies Enshrin'd not dead for Vertue never dies R. B. Parishioner Upon the Life and Death of that precious Servant of God Mr. Jeremiah Whitaker whose name like that of his Lord and Master is an ointment poured forth JEREMIAH WHITAKER or Etymologie He shall exalt God His work Jer. 20. 13. God shall exalt him His wages Jer. 5. 10. White-aker A field white for Harvest John 4. 35. His fitnesse for Heaven BLest Saint how well thy name and worth agree In name and office thou art Jeremie A God-exalter and by God exalted A Priest a Prophet one that never halted Twixt God Baal twixt the truth error Nor couldst be made to start for hope or terrour Heroick Champion thou deaths venemous sting Hast conquer'd and with Christ now raign'st as King A wise and faithful Labourer for thy Lord To gather in his harvest by the word Thou hast approv'd thy self to Earth and Heaven Witnesse thy life and Doctrine purg'd from Leaven Both Labourer and Harvest were thy part The former living this thou dying art The Field being for Harvest Jer. White-aker Is reapt and of a better soile partaker Thy melting tears now cordial-water be Let me thy sorrows taste thy joys to see Roger Drake Pastor of Peters West-cheap A Funeral Elegy upon the reverend his deare deceased friend Master Jeremiah Whitaker O Let me weep and even like a spring Unto the sea of grief some tribute bring These cheeks of mine with tears bedew'd shall swell For this Seraphique St. who lately fel. To lose a Friend is sad but for our Nation To lose a Jeremy is Lamentation Could he from death some way released be His vertues surely might have set him free But 't was a debt and what enflam'd desire Had he to leave his mantle and flie higher How shal I praise his worth and not dispraise Say more and not say lesse darkning his rays Meeknesse humility in this Orbe shin'd In him the chaine of Graces was combin'd How was he fir'd with zeal even froÌ„ his youth And though he lost all would hold fast the truth With Jeremy he was a man of strife Yet not for Tyths but Souls this was his life A downright upright man he was a Star Whose sacred influence diffused far And that of these an end I may inclose His faith in Christ he solely did repose This made him when he felt the sharpest paine Upon the flinty rack not to complaine Nay when he at the point of death did lie Did as the milky Swan most gently die What did he die his soul as in a Câ—ll In heav'ns bright Paradise is gone to dwell Among the Cherubims where he doth ring With them that joyntly Hallelujahs sing Where he for tears in joy doth much encrease Pleasure doth him of former pain release He never shall of Stone or Ulcer heare He never need any more sicknesse feare Dear Saint I sooner had adorn'd thy hearse But grief first vents by weeping then by verse Thomas Watson Pastor of Stephens Walbrook London Vpon the Death of that reverend Divine Mr. Jeremiah Whiraker STay and lament all you that travel by 'T is sin to passe and not to cast an eye Upon this mournful spectacle the herse Of one whose name can dignifie a verse Loe here th' exuvium of that heavenly soul Who living did by ' s words works controul The pow'r of sin and Satan whose breath Redeem'd poor souls from darkness and from death And by his pious Doctrine did convince The sly Temptations of that airy Prince He whose whole life was a continued Tract Of practical Divinity each Act A Sermon and each word an explanation So that his Audionts might by imitation Of him and of his life to Heaven come Although they had been deaf or he bin dumb But that Almighty pow'r who from above Does all things order and in whom we move Wrapt all these treasures up in brittle Clay Death gav 't a crack and so took all away And now our griefs amount to such a sum That to expresse them best is to be Dumb. They that can count their wealth are counted poor And who can speak his griefs can suffer more 'T is diminution to his worth to weep With single tears we his whole flock of sheep Joyne in one Lamentation and let fall Our general tears at this sad Funeral Of our Dear Shepherd in whose fatal grave Both he and we one joint interment have From hence there 's no return for him to us But we must by degrees all follow thus He 's gone before to usher us now dead What all his life he wrought is perfected Living he shew'd the way to heaven whither Now dead he 's gone to clear our passage thither Parishioners of Bermonsey FINIS ERRATA Reader BEsides the oversights of the Printer in false spelling ill pointing and misquoting some Scripture proofs thou art intreated to correct these Errata's following p. 4. l. 8. for me r. was p. 6. l. 25. for hater r. hatred and l. 26. r. poysonous sting p. 8. l. 9. r. in the. p. 9. l. 4. r. friends and l. 13. for be r. by and l. 20. r. reviewing p. 10. l. 3. for First r. viz. and l. 17. r. relations and l. 23. r. discovereth and l. 24. r. lest p. 11. l. 7. for diligent r. affectionate and l. 9. r. dissatisfactions p. 13. l. 4. r. of my p. 16. l. 27. for beautiful r. bountiful p. 13. l. 33. for him r. himself l. 34. r. which did cost p. 20. l. 9. r. being also the fountaine p. 21. l. 23. for these r. the p. 24. l. 12 r. which I have p. 36. l. 22. for gods r. God p. 46. l. 26. r. this p. 47. l. 11. r. in his p. 53. l. 1. r. Sermons p. 58. l. 22. r. contemned
have pretended much respect to Christ Maâ— 7. 22 23. 2. To all those who are ashamed to own Christ in his cause and his friends in their holy conversation for all these our Lord observeth and of them he will be ashamed when he cometh in the glory of Mark 3. 32. his Father with the holy Angels And I leave it to your consideration how miserable their case will be at the last day when Christ who knoweth all his friends and foes shall separate the sheep and the Matth. 25. 32. goats And shall come to execute judgment upon all and to convince all that are ungodly amongst them Jude 15. of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him And of the individual unfriendly neglects of his necessitous servants these must depart with a curse from Christ and go away into everlasting Mat. 25. 41. 46. punishment Vse 2 This truth administreth sweet comfort unto all them who are faithful friends unto the Lord Jesus Christ and his real Relations The testimony of their own consciences 2 Coâ— 1. 12. will in this case reflect refreshing and this will be a great addition unto their comfort that expressions of friendly respect both to God and his servants are thus observed and will be acknowledged The Lord himself to enâ—ourage Israel in captivity giveth them to Jer. 24 5. understand that he will own them in that estate No doubt it was good news to Cornelius when he heard Acts 10. 4. from heaven Thy Prayers and thine Alms are come for a memorial before God So the Psalmist cheareth himself by this consideration I have preached Righteousnesse in the Psal 40 9 10. great Congregation Lo I have not refrained my lips O Lord thou knowest it This consolation will be admirably sweet at two seasons First When we may be injuriously suspected and censured for falsnesse and unfaithfulnesse either to God or to his people How well was it for Mordecai Esther 2. 21. when himself with his Countrey-men were decryed and condemned as enemies to the State that his fidelity in a particular instance was recorded And to bring this home to the knowledge that God taketh of his servants sincerity Jâ—b being reproached Job 23. 10. as an hypocrite hath recourse to this He knoweth the way that I take And Jeremiah being suspected to be one ill-affected towards the place where he lived maketh this appeale to the Lord Jer. 17. 16. I have not desired the wofull day thou knowest Secondly At the day of Judgement when God will measure out unto people according to their wayes The Prophet Malachy having mentioned both Gods hearing the good conferences of such who feare his Name in evil times and the book of Remembrance recording all he addeth And these shall be mine Mal. 3. 16 17. saith the Lord of Hosts in the day when I make up my jewels c. And this cordial is contained in Pauls Prayer for Onesiphorus The Lord give mercy to the house of Onesiphorus for he refreshed me and was 2 Tim. 1. 16 17 18. not ashamed of my chaine But when he was at Rome he sought me diligently and found me The Lord grant unto him that he may finde mercy of the Lord in that day But most comfortable is that full promise of Christ himselfe unto all such who are friendly unto him in his Matth. 25. 34. 40. 46. relations recorded in Matthew 25. from ver 34. to ver 40. from whence these particulars are worthy consideration 1. That he will at the last day remember all the individual offices of friendship to his members and will mention much that themselves never minded And they shall say when saw we thee an hungred Ver. 37. c. 2. That all acts of love and pitty towards his relations even the least and lowest shall be interpreted as a special kindnesse shewed unto himself In as Ver. 40. much as you have done it to one of the least of these my brethren you have done it unto me 3. And the recompence shall be exceeding great Then shall the King say Come ye blessed of my Father inherit Verse 34. 46. the Kingdom prepared for you And the Righteous shall go into eternal life Vse 3 I will conclude this Doctrine and this first part of my Text with a double short Exhortation First to real friendlinesse both unto Christ and to all those who peculiarly belong unto him Suppose ye saw Christ sitting in a chaire of Majesty and heard him speaking thus in the audience of all the inhabitants on earth Who is on my side Let all my faithful friends gather themselves before me In this case would not multitudes come in with professions and protestations of love Now it is thus in truth for our Lord looketh from heaven and considereth exactly who are his friends and who are not Therefore bethink your selves what you will do And if you be content to come in to Christ as faithful friends then befriend for his sake those especially Gal. 6. 10. who are of his houshold for this will be observed and rewarded Therefore my beloved be ye stedfast and 1 Cor. 15. 58. unmovable alwayes abounding in the work of the Lord for as much as you know that your labour is not in vaine in the Lord. Secondly to beware of all kinds of doubling and hypocrisie both in the profession and practice of love whether towards Christ or faithful Christians It is the admonition of the Apostle Let love be Rom. 12. 9. without dissimulation And the Doctrine is a strong Argument to back it because of the notice which our Saviour taketh thereof Christ himself by this consideration moveth sincerity in all services whether of piety towards God or charity towards men because an eye Matâ—h 6. 4 6. from heaven doth espie whatsoever is done on earth with greatest secrecy This motive will be the more prevalent if we minde Christ who as the Judge of all men will manifest and recompence Luke 12 1 2. 2 Cor. 5. 9 10. their services according to their nature and manner of performance The second part of my Text followeth in the handling whereof I shall be the shorter because I have been so large in the former Lazarus sleepeth In the division of the Text there were three things noted thence which I shall speak unto very briefly in three points of Doctrine Doct. 1 1. That such who are Christs and his peoples friends are subject to death This word Sleepeth is by our Evangelist himself thus Verse 13. Verse 14. expounded Jesus spake of his death and it is added Jesus saith to them plainly Lazarus is dead There is no need of Scripture quotations here because experiences from age to age every where give in sufficient proof of this Truth When the Apostle Heb. 11. 13. had particularized many Worthies