adorned 〈◊〉 Righteousness filled with his Grace 〈◊〉 for his Kingdome and so in his light 〈◊〉 light 〈…〉 the terrour and sweeten 〈…〉 your dissolution For though 〈…〉 this as a priviledge of the 〈…〉 appearance yet it is an 〈…〉 every dying Believer is immediately 〈◊〉 in respect of his Soul It is true the bodily eyes shal see the Man Christ then which will be a complement of our Glory but this sight is mainly intellectual and one would think it should comfort a Child of God in the darkest hour of death to think that as soon as his soul is enlarged from his body he shal see the King in his glory Christ as he is This made Paul be so desireous to depart Phil. 1. 23. To be with Christ which is best What can you fee here that is so desireable as to hold your eyes and make you loth to look off and leave it to see Christ I am sure here are many sorrowful sights to be seen here you may see abundance of sin committed God's Name greatly dishonoured you may see the pride and insolence of the World and oppression and groans of the godly in summe the most that you see here is vanity madness and folly these are undesirable sights and how oft doth your eye affect your heart in seeing of them and fill you with 〈◊〉 and sorrow The best and only happy 〈◊〉 that ever you had here is to behold 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in his Temple to see Christ in an 〈◊〉 and to solace your Souls in fellowship 〈◊〉 Psal 27. 4. 63. 2. And if ever 〈…〉 ravished with this it may then tell 〈…〉 porting it must needs be to see 〈…〉 lace Christ at the right hand of the 〈…〉 Majesty and me thinks this very thought 〈…〉 bring you to Paul's Conclusion 2 Cor. 5. 8. â— We are confident and willing rather to be absent from the Body and present with the Lord. USE III. For Consolation to the Children of God in respect of theirs that are departed Let not your hearts be troubled mourn not as they that have no hope Oh the happy exchange that they have made from seeing you to see Christ as he is Not whose Angels do for them but who do themselves stand in the presence of the Father Might an Apostrophe be here admitted I would be so farr from bewailing their hard fate that I would congratulaâ— their great felicity and say Thrice happy soul that have received a blessed discharge from alâ— the vain sights and soul-disquieting objects of a miserable World to see and behold him that bought and saved you Whiles we are here â—â—oping in the dark and looking with purblind 〈◊〉 upon imperfect looking glasses and are 〈…〉 up with transient glances and shaded 〈…〉 you dwel at the Wel-head of 〈…〉 scarce see enough to estab 〈…〉 confirm our hope you are ga 〈…〉 into extafies and drinking your 〈…〉 light beholding his facâ— in 〈…〉 is knowing him as you 〈…〉 whiles we have 〈◊〉 sight of 〈…〉 some cloud o◠〈◊〉 or unbe 〈…〉 above clouds aâ—â—â— fogs your 〈…〉 you but you are refresht with 〈…〉 beams of purest light from the face of Jesus Christ We dare not envy we would not call you back from that felicity who our selves also are waiting for that happy time and our only comfort and support under all the sins and sufferings of this present life ariseth from the hope of ere long enjoying that which you are at the present possessed of Live happy in seeing of him in whose presence is fulness of joy whiles you are living in full fruition it shal be our endeavour to live in this hope that when he shall appear we shal be like him because we shall see him as he is FINIS The Righteous Man's DEATH A Presage of evil aproaching A SERMON Occasioned by the Death of Major Thomas Savage 〈◊〉 Preached 〈…〉 By Sâ—muel Willard Teacher 〈…〉 in Boston 〈◊〉 Isa 57. 1. The Righteous is taken away from the evil to come BOSTON in NEW-ENGLAND Printed by Samuel Green 1684 The Righteous Man's Death a Presage of evil approaching Isa 57. 1. The Righteous is taken away from the evi◠〈◊〉 come THese Words are one 〈◊〉 of the 〈◊〉 phet's mournful lamentation 〈◊〉 Godly Man's Funeral and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 sibly look back to the death of good Hezekiah that pious Prince which fell out 〈◊〉 long before whose removal was introductive to the sad and miserable condition unto which the Jewish Nation was soon after reduced The Text with the Context so far as is contained in the two first Verses of the Chapter doth represent to us 1. The common lot wherein the best of Men 〈◊〉 share with others Righteous and Merciful 〈◊〉 yea Perish i. e. as some interpret it they may be taken away not only by a natural but also by a violent death thus it befel that worthy Prince Josiah 2. The unaffected inconsiderate frame of heart in the generality of men at the godly Mans death No man regards nor considers i. e. There is very little notice taken of it much less is it a grief to them 3. The happy state of the People of God in and at their death They are taken away from the 〈◊〉 to come they rest in their beds c. Though 〈◊〉 world 〈◊〉 ready to think they perish yet as to themselves it is certain that they are safe and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 â—ill 〈◊〉 that there is in the death of 〈◊〉 to the World it is a poâ—tent and 〈◊〉 preâ—aâ—e to them that are left behind that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Which last Particular and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Verse consists of two parts 〈◊〉 1. A discription of the great incogitancy of men under such awful Providences none considering the word signifies inwardly and in the mind to ponder and distinctly to Judge of a thing It signifies also to know and hence some read it no man knows others no man ponders or weighs in his mind and thoughts which is the same with considering 2. The subject matter about which this incoâ—gitancy is declared or expressed Which is sure and evident conclusion that followed from the death of the Godly viz. That the Righteous is taken from the evil to come Which conclusion being of it self a full proposition and also here insinuated as a matter worthy of deep meditation may be the subject of our present discourse In which Conclusion observe 1. The subject the Righteous or the Just man Which is not to be understood in a Legal sense for one that is in all parts compleat answerinâ— the Moral Law in every point for so the assertion were of no comfort at all since among Adam's Progeny descending from him by natural Generation there is no such Eccl. 7. 〈◊〉 There is not a Just Man upon Earth that doth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and sinneth not Pro. 20. 9. Who can say 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 made my heart clean Hence that Prov. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 A Just Man falleth seven times But 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Evangelical in which Men are said to 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 teous partly by the
sweet and excellent to him he shall then know their content and what a vast unconceivable treasure of infinite and everlasting good was laid up in them what God engaged when he promised to be his God and his Portion what Christ meant when he told his Disciples that he went to prepare a place for them and then shall his experience tell him that these Epithetes of exeeeding great and precious were deservedly put upon the promises of the Scripture sed manum de Tabula let Gods Children but tarry a while patiently you will need neither Man nor Angel to tell you what it is Touching the evidence of the Doctrine that this Vision is truly beatifical or that thus to see Christ is a great part of the happiness of glorified Saints needs not many words to evince happiness consists in the perfect closure of the faculty with the Object God in Christ is the proper ultimate Object of all our faculties and so of the understanding when therefore the understanding is filled full of the knowledge of Christ it shall be blessed happiness requires the full attainment of the Creatures end Man as to his understanding was made for light or knowledge hence Truth must â—â—â—â—ifie the understanding and when it is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 â—hrist it is full of truth it self Happineâ—◠〈◊〉 â—iledge which none but a reasonable beiâ—◠〈◊〉 able of irrational Agents attain their ends but they are not happy in so doing because they are irrational the satisfaction of the understanding must therefore be a main and principal part of happiness because it is a faculty without which no Being can be conceived to be happy needs then must the Children of God be very blessed in this Vision when they come to see Christ as he is for all necessary and desirable knowledge whether speculative or practical shall be comprehended in it and if David could account of a little glimmering light a day-break faint beam of it to be more worth than gold Psal 19. 10. what compleat satisfaction then must that full knowledge of him yield when this Sun shall shine upon them in his noon-day brightness if it be life eternal to know God and Christ as he is here known Joh. 17. 3. we cannot then conceive much less express what it shall be when a perfected understanding shall receive a perfect intimate and immediate irradiation of this Knowledge USE I. For Information Learn hence 1. That a perfect and through knowledge of God in Christ is not to be expected by any in this life this is a priviledge reserved for glory aâ—d not here looked for much less presumed upon by any but such as are enfatuated our Organs are not as yet accomodated to it nor shall be till the body of death be laid off sin remaining in the understanding is so much darkness there nor are our present means ordered to be the deferents of perfect light to us but are Glasses fitted to our sore eyes lest instead of helping them to see they should put them out Believers are not stark blind their eyes are blessed because they do see but they are imperfectly blessed for they see but confusedly men like trees Paul as a Saint knows but in part and as an Apostle or a glass to give light to others prophesies but in part 1 Cor. 13. 9. the air through which the Sun of righteousness beams down his light upon us is though diaphenous yet hazy and thick There is indeed enough revealed to direct us in our way but not so much as to set us down satisfied Hence the Ordinances and all helps to the knowledge of God in Christ will be of use to us as long as we are in this life and though it should be a comfort to us to think that the time will shortly come when we shall no more need this Glass when that Oracle shal be fulfilled Jer. 31. 34. They shall teach no more every man his Neighbour for they shall all know me c. Yet except we can be content here to live without any â—ight of Christ at all we must not be weary of nor throw aside the Glass as long as we are herâ— We must be glad that we may and thankful that we do see the Sun in his beams till we come to dwell in the Fountain of Light 2. See here who they be that enjoy the most of Inchoate felicity in this World viz. They that see most of God and Christ if this vision when perfected be so great a part of eternal Glory the beginnings and irradictions of it here must needs have a degree of blessedness in them There is indeed a knowledge in this life which is repleat with misery and the encreasing of it is but the encrease of sorrow and indeed miserable objects cannot be expected to do any other than to reflect trouble on them that seek acquaintance with them But could we acquaint our selves with Christ see him in all we should be able to pick up crumbs of felicity out of every thing Be therefore much in this study and contemplation use all helps to get as near unto Châ—â—st as you can get acquainted with him and that shall give you quiet in trouble satisfaction in all changes And the way to get a sight of Christ and fellowship with him is to get amongst the Children of God get to be such as 〈◊〉 fear him it is to such that he makes himseâ—s known Psal 25. 14. The secret of the Lord is with those that fear him and he will shew them his Covenant They are the most unhappy Souls that know not Jesus Christ every degree of distance from him is a further degree of infelicity How ignorant then is the World that can content themselves to live estranged from him Destruction waits on them that are far from him USE II. For Exhortation to the Children of God in two things 1. Be preparing for this glorious sight The Apostle mentions it as a great Priviledge to be made meet for this glory Col. 1. 12. And as it is of God to make us worthy through the worthiness of Christ and to prepare us for it by the Sanctification of the Spirit so it concerns us to be making ready It is your Marriage-day in which your Bride-groom will shew himself to you in his glory you therefore should be diligent in making ready to meet him Would you then have a full and satisfying sight of Christ now turn away your eyes from beholding vanity you must labour so to walk as that you may be accepted of him What manner of persons should they be who look for such an happy sight as that The more you love Christ now the more grateful will the sight of him then be Labour to make sure of your interest in him to see him in all his Royalty with an appropriating sight and to be able to challenge a title to him as your Saviour will be the very happiness of this hap 〈…〉 〈◊〉 to be found in him
who is subtle and watcheth all advantages against but he is alwayes giving them his Fatherly advice warning them of their danger shewing them a way how to escape it they have the voice of his Spirit behind them telling them this is the way Isai 30. 21. they have the guidance of his most wise counsel to keep them in the right way unto glory Psal 7424. 5. He will assist and strengthen them he will lend them an helping hand to carry them through all their difficulties temptations straits that they are engaged or involved in in their Christian course and the discharge of their duty in all of them 2 Tim. 4. 17. The Lord was with me and strengthened me they have a great work to perform to serve God in their Generation but his Grace standing by them becomes their sufficiency a Fathers love draws forth his helping hand to assist his Son and carry him well through all that is before him 6. He will Correct and Chasten them for their Faults Heb. 12. 6. He chastneth every son whom He receiveth They like foolish Children may now reckon this for their damage but it is indeed none of the least of those benefits which the Children of God do enjoy God lets wicked men alone to go on in their pernicious wayes They have their wills in the world that they may be destroyed for ever But God here afflicts his Children that their souls may be saved in the day of the Lord 1 Cor. 11. 32. We are chastened of the Lord that we should not be condemned with the World 7. He will commend and encourage them when they do well see what an high commendation he gives Abraham for his love and what a precious promise he gives him upon it Gen. 22. 16 17. the poorest services which they do being done in sincerity to him if it be but a cup of cold water given to one of his Disciples in that Name shall not lose its acceptance and reward yea such is his Fathers respect that he owns and crowns the very good will and purposes as much as if they really performed them David doth but resolve to build an House to his Name and Glory and God takes it kindly and promiseth richly upon it 2 Sam. 7. these things belong unto them as they are Children in the Family and carry Consolation in the very mentioning of them 3. They receive the spirit of Adoption Rom. 8. 15. Gal. 4. 5 6. and here we are to observe that the Spirit of Adoption doth not decipher any distinct spirit but that it is one and the same spirit who doth illuminate convince humble engraft the soul into Christ c. but it deciphers to us a distinct and peculiar observation of the Spirit of God in us so that the dignity of this priviledge is to be discovered in the effects which are consequent upon it and they are such as these viz. 1. The obsignation or sealing up of Believers to the certain and infallible enjoyment of their inheritance Eph. 1. 13. 4. 30. when God hath once admitted a poor Soul into the number of his Children he now confirms and ratifies to him all the promises and makes them unto him surer than the foundation of the World yea so sure that neither outward Enemies nor inward Evils shall ever be able to deprive them of this Title Rom. 8. 39 39. I am perswaded that neither height nor depth c. shall separate us from the love of God which is in Christ It is possible that they may not alwayes with alike clearness discern it some cloud or other interposing but it is ever with an equal certainty therein inasmuch as it is a gift of God that is without Repentance 2. The testimony which the spirit of God gives in to their state of Adoption witnessing in them that God hath numbred them to his Children and joyned them in the inheritance of all blessings with his own Son Rom. 8. 16 17. The spirit it self leaveth witness c. The effect consequent upon this testimony is assurance which assurance is in it self a piece of inchoate Glorification but the witness which the Spirit of God bears in us by vertue of which we are confirmed in this knowledge is a priviledge of Adoption and though Believers do not alwayes so distinctly hear him testifying and to be able to draw the comfort of it to their Souls yet they have alwayes this witness in them because the Spirit of God is ever with them 3. The enlivening of their Faith and thereby enabling of them to God to God as a Father and claim this Relation and upon the claim believingly to plead with him for the acceptance of their persons the audience of their Prayers the granting of their requests and supplying of all their wants Rom. 8. 15. Ye have received the Spirit of Adoption whereby we cry Abba Father yea the spirit of God enables them thus to act Faith in consideration of this relation not only in times of outward favour when the candle of the Lord shineth upon their Tabernacle and all things go well with them but also in the most cloudy times of darkest dispensations when God hides his face from them and carries it towards them as if he were their Enemy hence that chalenge of Faith at such an hour Isai 63. 17. Doubtless thou art our Father 4. The powerful preservation of them in a state of Grace 1 Pet. 1. 5. Who are kept by the power of God through Faith unto Salvation Believers are weak in themselves and ly open to many strong temptations and if they were left to themselves those floods that assail them would easily and quickly drown them But the spirit of God is still blowing upon this spark and supplying of it with new fuel whereby he makes the faith of Believers to live and flourish in dispite of all those endeavours that are used to extinguish and ruin it 5. His constant assistance in spiritual duties enabling them to perform them acceptably and particularly in the great duty of Prayer to God Rom. 8. 26 27. We know not what we should pray for as we ought but the spirit it self maketh intercession c. they are weak to do duty and carry about in them a masse of corruption a body of Death which presseth them down evil is ever present when they would be doing of good so that without him they can do nothing and it would be a vain thing for them to set about any service to God in their own strength but he stands by them and is ready to put to his helping hand supplying them with the influences of spiritual Grace whence when they are weak in themselves they are strong in him 6. To communicate to them the discoveries of the love of God and thereby to fill them with spiritual rejoycing Rom. 5. 5. The Love of God is shed abroad into our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us he applies the precious promises to
their souls he gives them cordials of comfort communicates unto them the sips and foâ—e tasts of glory fills them with inward joyes and refreshings God by his spirit comes into the heart and taking possession of it for himself makes known his love there which produceth joy unexpressible this benefit is also a part of Glorification it is something of Heaven meeting us in our way it is a bunch of those Gâ—apes which grow in the celestial Canaan brought us to tast of in the Wilderness but the application of it is by the spirit of Adoption and that is that which the Scripture calls the earnest of the inheritance 4. They are made to partake in Christian liberty Joh. 8. 36. If the Son therefore shall make you free you are free indeed which liberty is not as vain men would have it a freedome to live as they list a liberty discharging them from holy Obedience to the commanding power of the Law of God and withal bidding them to trust in Christ for life and salvation as Libertines plead but it is an holy spiritual Liberty a Liberty from Bondage or Servitude Gal. 4. 7. viz. 1. From the servitude of the Law not from the regulating power of it for it still remains to be the directory of the People of God in their whole course and hath the strongest tye to obedience that can be from the Gospel Joh. 14. 15. If ye love me keep my Commandment nay whatsoever flesh may plead to the contrary it is certain that so to be losed from the Law were not a priviledge but a misery but it is a freedome from slavish subjection to the Law i. e. 1. From the servitude of the Law or condemning power of it from the thundring curses of it Gal. 3. 13. Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the Law The Law hath doomed all its offenders to eternal death and by the sentence of it they are held under guilt but Gods Adopted are set at liberty from this doom it speaks nothing that needs to appall them there is no spirit of bondage in it to them they are not under the law as a Judge but only as a Guid a Light and a Lamp 2. From any dependance upon the Law for happiness in a way of works or doings Rom. 3. 28. We conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the Law This is a miserable bondage to fallen man thus to depend upon the Law Because it presents those that are under it every day with that which may assure them thâ—â— after all their labour and pains taken in legal obedience they shall certainly lose all and finally fall short of Blessedness for by the deeds of the Law shall no flesh be justified for by the Law is the knowledge of sin Rom. 3. 20. 3. From servile Obedience to the Law their service is now a service of love for faith worketh by love before this he had the workings and stirrings of his Conscience which by amazing terrors and dismal frights drave him to the performance of known duty and restrained him from the commission of many erronious sins but all this was against his will and glad he would have been might he but have enjoyed some relaxation but now the case is altered and he takes delight in the Law of God and it is a great pleasure to him to be found exercising of himself therein Psal 1. 2. 2. From sin Rom. 6. 7. For he that is dead is freed from sin Hence that 1 John 3. 9. Whatsoever is born of God doth not commit sin not but that there are the remainders of active and stirring corruption to be found in the best of Gods Children as long as they bear about with them a body of Death and hence Paul's so earnest complaints Rom. 7. But 1. Though sin be in him yet it reigns not Rom. 6. 12. Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body it hath not the full compliance of the heart with it but whenever it gains upon him it is by leading of him captive Rom. 7. 23. he is enthralled by it and that appears because he is grieved at it as one that is taken a Prisoner by his Enemy and hence he sighs and groans for a delivery ver 24. 2. Though sin be yet God imputes it not 2 Cor. 5. 29. Not imputing their trespasses unto them the sin of Gods Children being set upon the account of Jesus Christ it is no longer charged upon them for God having taken full satisfaction for it at his hands and he having answered for it we are righteous in his account 3. Though sin be yet it shall never condemn them Rom. 8. 1. There is no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus he complains of the presence and oppression of it Cap. 7. but is here comforted against the condemning efficacy of it he is freed from the dominion of that slavish Spirit or spirit of bondage and needs not to go up and down in fear of suffering the eternal weight of Gods wrath 3. From the World 1 Joh. 5. 4. Whatsoever is born of God overcometh the World they are delivered and kept from being drawn away with those snares baits and temptations and terified with those threatnings which the World sets before them hence they have such liberty of spirit granted them that they can both trample in disdain upon the large proffers of the World to seduce them by from their profession and undauntedly hold up their hands against all the menaces that are made against them 4. A liberty to serve God For 1. That opposition which was in their hearts against God is taken down and they are brought under voluntary obedience to his Holy Will their wills that were disordered are set in their right place again 1 Pet. 4. 1 2. 2. They love God and all his wayes yea they dearly love him Psal 18. 1. their whole soul is now devoted to him and his service 3. They perform filial obedience to God 1 Pet. 1. 14. As obedient Children they have not only the state and condition of Sons conferred upon them but also the hearts of Children put into them Hence Adoption comes in upon Conversion 5. All the creatures of God as it were put under them being used by him for their service and that in three respects 1. They have the service of the good things of God 1 Cor. 3. 20. All is yours they are made beneficial to them they are their own all that a Believer enjoys in this life he may truly call his own as he is a child of God the right using of the Creatures is again enlarged and restored unto them wicked men indeed have an outward civil right a providential right but still they are liable to answer for all they have and by their misusing of these things and dishonouring of God by them they encrease their condemnation and lay up for themselves treasures of wrath Rom. 2. 4 5. but they have a