THE LIFE AND DEATH OF DORCAS VVHEREIN HEE that pleaseth to reade may finde both good direction for the ordering of his Course AND A necessary warning to be prepared for his End By SAMVEL HIERON Psalm 92. ver 12. The righteous shall flourish like a Palme tree and shall grow like a Cedar in Lebanon LONDON Printed by MELCH BRADWOOD for SAMVEL MACHAM and are to be sold at his shop in Pauls Church-yard at the signe of the Bulhead 1612. TO MY MVCH HOnoured Lady the Ladie MARGARET HELE of Weuburie in Deuon MAdame many things which I haue obserued in you do euen assure me that this small present shall finde some fauour with you these two especially your reuerent estimation of the ordinance of God the word preached and your more particular respect vnto my ministrie Other things I could name but that I do abhorre the very smell and shadow of flatterie It hath pleased you some time to craue of me the notes of some things which I haue in your hearing taught in publique Being much desired by many to commit to printing that which God enabled mee very lately to deliuer at the funerals of a worthy gentle-woman of these parts I thought to inscribe it vnto your Ladie-ships name as a pledge of my true desire to further you all I may in your iourney towards Heauen The matter is of a woman in the Scripture well reported of both for her holy profession and for her gracious fruit to whom the more like your Ladie-ship shall become the better shall your assurance be of entring into rest I commend the Sermon to your reading the person treated of to your Imitation and your bodie and soule to the protection of the Almightie my selfe remaining Your Ladie-ships ready seruitor in any Christian office SAM HIERON Tabitha or Dorcas of Ioppa her life in which her Profession A Disciple Fruit Generall full of Good workes Almes Particular full of Good workes Almes death she was sicke died THE LIFE AND DEATH OF DORCAS ACTS 9.36 There was also at Ioppa a certaine woman a Disciple named Tabitha which by interpretation is called Dorcas shee was full of good workes and almes which shee did 37. And it came to passe in those daies that shee was sicke and died THis which I haue read is the entrance into a very memorable storie The generall state of the place touching a testimonie which God gaue to the word of his grace by enabling Peter to restore a dead woman vnto life I am now to treat of it as an entire parcell in itselfe and being so considered I may terme it A compendious or briefe report of the life and death of a certaine worthy Matron whose dwelling was in Ioppa whose name in the Syriacke tongue Tabitha as much in effect as that which in Greeke is called Dorcas a name very honourable now because it was hers though in it owne natiue signification not so gracefull it being as much to say as in English Roe or Goat no more preiudice to her who was a sheepe of Christs then it was behoouefull to traiterous Abshalom that by the purport of his name he was the father of peace I will not spend time about these circumstances of her name and dwelling though both might astoord vs good matter of instruction the one to shew how that â— God said to Moses a Ex. 33 17. the religâ—ous finde that fauour in the sight of God that he knoweth them by name and that although it bee their portion heere to haue their names put out as euill b Luk 6 22. yet still they are written in heauen c Luk. 1â— 20. in the Booke of life of the Lâ—e d Deu. 13 â— out of which they shall neuer bee razed e Reâ— 3.5 whereas the wicked though they thinke to get them a name f Gen. 11.4 and lay plots to keepe their name in remembrance g 2. Sam. 18 1â— and to that end doe call their Lands by their names h Ps 49 11. yet their name shall not i Pro. 10 7. and shall bee left by them as a curse vnto Gods chosen k Isa 65.15 the other of her dwelling might bee brought to minde vs that the Lord knoweth our dwelling l Isa 27.28 Reu. 2.13 and so by consequence is accustomed to all our wates m Pâ— 139.3 If we walke in obedience before him no place can hinder our acceptance with him his ere is as well to Ioppa as to Ierusalem and if wee walke stubbornly against him n Leuit. 26.23 no place can throud vs from his hand For Whither shall wee flee from his presence o Ps 139 7. And The eâ—e of the Lord in euery place shall behold the euill and the good p Pro. 15.3 Those things I could vrge from these circumstances but because I am now like to a poore traueller that hath farre to goe and little to spend much matter before me in my text but not much time before me to deliuer it in I will therefore select such things as may sort with the purpose of our meeting which as it is to solemnize the funerall of a deceased Matrone so it should bee to take occasion thereby so to number our daies that we applie our hearts to wisedome Ps 90.12 and so to order our daies by passing the time of our dwelling heere in feare 1 Pâ—t 1â— that which is the reward of godlinesse God may doe vs good in our latter end Dâ—u 8.16 I come therefore to those two generall points the Life and Death of Dorcas the one The diuision in the place into 2. parts vers 36. the other vers 37. Touching her life there are two things considerable 1. Her profession a Disciple 2. The fruits of her profession full of good workes c. The things considerable in the first part two things which ought to kisse each other in the life of a Christian A profession without fruit is groste hypocrisie A kind of fruit for so there may be without a right profession is boote lesse formalitie but both together knowledge to guide obedience and obâ—dience to testifie the truth of the knowledge that is Christianity In whom I can finde these two of him I may saâ— Behold indeed an Israelite in whom is no guile t Ioh. 1 4â— This is the man of pure heart and innocent hands that shall ascend into the mountaine of the Lord u Psal 21. â— Let me speake of both a-part I may diuide them in my discourse but inâ—o â—r course neither you nor I may sunder them 1. Her profession a Disciple The 1. thing in the â— part Disciple was the customarie name by which those that professed the truth were called in the prime daies of the Gospell In the beginning it was a title more peâ—uliar to those that gaue their ordinarie attendance vpon our Sauiour The twelue Apostles are called the twelue Disciples x
passeth from out of the bodie into Heauen Death in it selfe is as a Sergeant to arrest and to bring to iudgement but to the elect of God it is as the Angell which guided Peter Å¿ Act 12. and leadeth them from the vale of Teares into the land of Righteousnesse Thus the Holy die but not to damnation for to them which are in Christ there is no damnation t Rom. 8. â— It is a piece of their happinesse that they die Except the wheat corne â—all into the ground and die it bideth alone u Ioh. 12.24 and oh foole that which thou sowest is not quickned except it die x 1. Cor. 15.35 A foole or a childe seeing a goodly cluster of grapes thinketh it pity to put them into the presse and to deface them but hee that is wise knoweth that by this meanes the liquor in them is preserued and that this timely gathering is a meanes of keeping from corruption So wee thinke sometime Oh it is pity such an one should die so soone as one might haue said of Dorcas alas so good a woman so pitifull a creature can ill bee spared But God in his wisedome knoweth it to bee good and if hee cut of the life of good Iosiah as it were in the middle of the stemme doubtlesse it is that his eyes may not see the euill to come y 2. King 22.20 The Vse The speciall vse I will driue this point vnto is to vrge vpon vs all a due meditation of our end For surely if euen the holiest die then all must die If death seaze euen vpon the house of God where shall the vngodly and sinners appeare z 1. Pet. 4.17.18 If Dorcas doe die surely Iezabel shall not escape If the tender hearted women that wept for Christ then the stonie-hearted men that scoffed at Christ if those that embalmed him then those that buffered him if shee that poured ointment on his head then hee that spate in his face there is no auoidance It is appointed vnto Men that they shall once die a Heb. 9.27 It is heauens decree and it cannot bee reuoked And what is that to die to be no more No happie then were Cain and Iudas and happie you that now make a mocke of sinne but to bee still for euer either in endlesnesse of blisse or perpetuity of woe What shall wee then doe shall wee reason as the profane Let vs eate and drinke for to morrow wee shall die b 1. Cor. 15.32 God forbid that were to bee like the Diuell whose maner is to play reaxe and to haue great wrath when hee hath but a short time c Reu 12.12 or shall wee gull our owne soules and put far away the euill day d Amos 6.3 and dreame of many yeares like the Rich Foole in the Gospell e Luk. 12.19 Farre bee these things from vs let vs rather endeuour by this to apply our hearts to wisedome f Psal 90 12. and what wisedome verily in a word the skanning of this one point often in our mindes Hinc abâ—dum quo trâ—â—ium Hence I must and whither then like men that trauell who bee no sooner come to their lodging but they are talking of their next Inne The debatement of this question in the minde would bring forth an excellent fruit euen a care to bee assured of admission into euerlasting habitation Luâ— 1â— 9 A man would thus reason I must remoue and whither then Hell is my desert how shall I escape it Heauen is the only place how shall I come to it Thus one good thought would make way for another and lead vs on by degrees to that which we do most neglect the prouiding for the future estate Oh that we were wise to vnderstand this and that we would consider our later end h Deu. 32.29 or that we did conceiue the happinesse and sweete comfort of a prepared and long expected end This promised the day of death a godly man may say of it when it commeth as the people triumphantly sometime spake of the day of Dauids coronation This is the day which the Lord hath made i Psa 11â— 24 The children of God whose care hath beene to keepe themselues vnspotted of the World k Iam. 1 2â— may call death as Iacob did the place where hee came Mahanaim because there the Angels met him l Gen. 32.2 so there those Ministring spirits which are sent forth for their good which bee heires of life m Heb. 1.14 shall receiue their soules to beare them into Abrahams bosome n Luk. 16.22 Oh that Religion and godlinesse might bee more sweet vnto vs which will bring a man such peace at the last As for the wicked it is not so with them o Psal 1.4 In their death they be like vnto him of whom the Prophet speakes who did flee from a Lyon and a Beare met him p Am. 5 9. they escape one misery and irrecouerably fall into an other This life hath it may be afflicted them with rods but death shall come vpon them with scorpions God shall shut them from his tabernacle and not suffer them to come neere the land of the liuing Oh that wee could make hast to breake of our sinnes q Dan. 4.24 by repentance which will bring so much woe at the last This is the vse Dorcas is dead the holiest must die if holinesse must yeeld profanenes cannot stand out whither holy or profane all must die and come to iudgement Let him that is holy bee holy still r Reu 22.11 and hold fast that none may take his crowne Å¿ Reu 3.11 Let him that is profane I will not say bee profane still but let him cast away his transgressions for why will yee die oh house of Israel t â—e 18 31. Nullus penitentiae locus nullus satisfactionis effectus Cyâ—r ad Demetrium Non Job non Daniel non Noe rogare â—ssunt c. Hiero. Yet there is hope but if wee bee once stept ouer the threshold of death there is no place for repentance no vse of any Satisfaction If Iob Noah Daniel should entreate for vs God would not heare vs. So an end of this admonition touching our end which if we suffer it to die in our thoughts we shall surely die without comfort FINIS
Which thing speaking of remembring the poore I was diligent to doe a Gal. 2.10 Aboue all wee haue the example of examples the practise of Christ Iesus Generally this is noted of him that being rich for our sakes hee became poore that wee through his pouertie might bee made rich b 2. Cor. 8 9. Particularlie though hee himselfe liued by contribution yet hee gaue out a share to the poore c Ioh. 13.29 Heere are examples Now for benefit and good that followeth heerein First wee are assured that whatsoeuer flesh and bloud may imagine yet that which is giuen is not lost After many daies thou shalt finde it d Eccle. 11.1 Hee that hath mercy vpon the poore lendeth to the Lord and the Lord will recompence c. e Pro 19.17 The liberall person shall haue plentie c. f Pro. 11.25 Hee that soweth liberally shall reape liberally g 2. Cor. 9.6 So that heere is one good turne a man is sure this way to bee no looser rather hee prouides a stocke for himselfe against the time of neede Secondly heereby a man brings vpon himselfe a continuall blessing thorowout his whole life The Lord shall deliuer him in the time of trouble the Lord will keepe him and preserue him aliue hee shall bee blessed vpon earth c. h Psal 41 12. c. Hee bringeth a blessing also vpon his posteritie His seede enioteth the blessing i Psal 37.26 Thirdly this is a meanes to bring vs to the right vse of our wealth Giue almes and behold all shall bee cleane vnto you k Luk. 11.41 It is like the aduise of a Physitian to helpe a surfet by forbearance so saith Christ you that haue beene giuen to oppression and cruelty if you shall repent heereof and make knowne the truth of your repentance by the fruites of Charitie this will bee a good medicine against greedinesse and a meanes to bring you to the pure vse of Gods blessings Fourthly it is a good pledge to a mans soule of his future inheritance Paul calleth it a good foundation against the time to come l 1. Tim. 6.19 not that our Saluation is built vpon Almes but the bowels of compassion in vs towards others is as it were a print or stamp of the mercy of God set vpon our hearts Thus wee see how Almes gâ—g is recommended to vs in the Scripture I could adde the penaltie annexed to the contrarie Hee that stoppeth his eare at the crie of the poore hee shall likewise crie and not bee heard m Pro. 11.13 Iudgement mercilesse to him that sheweth no Iudgement n Iam. 2.13 The vse and exhortation solloweth The Vse Be pleased I pray you to giue entertainement to this point also It deserueth to bee harboured It is the glorie of a Christian Hee hath distributed and giuen to the poore his horne shall bee exalted with honour o Psal 112.9 As it deserueth harbour so wee doe generally neede to be perswaded to open our doores to so worthy a guest Fruites of mercy in these daies are exceeding scarce The contrarie euils oppression violence gaping ouer the heads of the Poore deuouring widowes houses selling the poore for olde shooes rackings enhauncings gripings vsuâ—ies immoderate takings these things depart not from our streetes p Psal 55 11. The portion of the poore is spent away in gaming in reuelling in contending in gay cloathing in smoke in dogges in drinking c. How much is vented away by such meanes by which many a poore soule might bee comforted many a prisoner ransomed many a decaied labourer and industrious husbandman restored many a painfull Student in the Vniuersitie maintained many an impouerished and spoiled Church re-endowed many an Hospitall for the sicke and aged erected many an house of correction for the sturdie and incorrigible builded I am euen ashamed for our vnfruitfulnesse but especially I cannot but pitie that pitifull account which men will make when they shall come at the day of the great Audite to giue in their billes of expense to the Lord Paramount to whom for these things we must bee countable Alas alas how shall men looke the Lord in the face when there shall bee seene such large summes about vanities about contentions at Law about buildings about belly-cheere about the furtherance of wicked pleasures nay perhaps so much to the maintenance of secret whoredomes so much to the commuting of punishments so much to the keeping and shifting of vnlawfull issues and so little so nothing to holy vses to the Church of Christ and to the Saints of Christ Thinke vpon it I intreat you and propound this vertuous woman for an example and as in other particulars so remember to follow her in this That which you will doe in this kinde put it not off vntill your latter end These her Almes were fruits of her life course not of her Legacies at her death While wee haue time let vs doe good c. q Gal. 6.10 I condemne not funerall beneficence simply onely I preferre the vitall before it They which doe nothing but by way of a testamentarie beneuolence are rightlie said to bee men of good willes but of euill deedes Thus farre of the life of Dorcas Now of her death verse 37. It came to passe in those daies that she was sicke The second part and died I cannot speake at large of euery thing I must still as hitherto select the principall and that in this part is this The fourth Doctrine That euen the holiest and most religious among the sonnes of men are subiect vnto death Dorcas notwithstanding shee was a Disciple notwithstanding shee was zealous of Good Workes and full of Almes-deedes yet heere in those daies shee sickened and was dead This may easily bee instanced by a World of examples Righteous Noah faithfull Abraham zealous Lot meeke Moses religious Dauid innocent Iob painfull Paul penitent Zache charitable Cornelius all the worthies of the first times and whomsoeuer else the word of God hath well reported of where are they Are they not all dead Doe they not all see corruption Are they not all gone downe into the slimie Valley Haue they not long since made their bed in the darke None of them all was able to deliuer his life from the power of the graue How is it then true will some say that Christ hath destroied death sith death hath still power ouer Gods Saints I answer Christ did not die to take away death as yet but to change death not to ouerthrow the being of death but to plucke out the sting of Death r 1. Cor. 15 55 not quite to stop vp the graue but to remooue and quell the victorie of the graue The holiest therefore doe still die but death cannot sting them the graue cannot triumph ouer them Death in it selfe is the way to Hell It is altered to the children of grace and become a Portall by which the soule