all this Gain is from Death at a distance while we are out of its possession Is there any Gain from such an enemy while we are under his power Yes even here there may be gain was not the fire an enemy to the three Children were not the Lions enemies to Daniel yet they were rebuked When a mans ways please the Lord he maketh his enemies at peace with him Prov. 16.7 Laban pursued Jacob in great anger Esau meets him as we may suppose with hostile purposes but the Lord by his powerful providence over-ruled their hearts that they could not hurt him Saul Davids Father-in-law persecutes him and Achish the King of Gath from whence Goliah came whom David had not long before slain and who could not but for that reason be hated at that place gives him entertainment God can make Moab a covert for his out-casts as he was unto the Father and Mother of David Isa 16.4 1 Sam. 22.3 4. Though Death be an enemy the Lord can weaken it disarm it pull out the sting of it and make us at peace with it But you will say All this is rather harm suspended then gain obtained Is there any more proper and gennine gain to be found in an Enemy such an Enemy having us under his power and possession surely yes We finde the Egyptians bitter Enemies to Israel furnishing them with Jewels of silver Jewels of gold and Raiments Exod. 3.21 22. Was not the Whale that swallowed Jonah an enemy a very type of our enemy here as our Saviour tells us Matth. 12.39 40. Yet by it was Jonah carried safe to land he regained life by that which devoured him he had been drowned in the Sea if the fish had not found out the Shore for him Were not the waters of the Red Sea and of Jordan enemies to those that should go into the midst of them yet through these did Israel gain liberty out of bondage victory over Pharoah and his host and possession of Canaan their promised Rest. Take it in the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Here men are absent from the Lord 2 Cor. 5.6 as Jonah is said to have fled from his presence cast out into a Sea of cares troubles fears and sorrows Death as the Whale devours us and lands us at a better shore leads us from the thraldom of Satan from the temptation and sufferings and fiery Serpents which we meet with in the wilderness of this world and brings us into our Heavenly Rest So then even under the notion of an enemy here is gain from death As a Lamprey is esteemed delicate meat when the sting of the back is taken out as the waters of Marah were made sweet by the tree which was cast into it so death being by the cross of Christ purged of its venome and bitterness is become useful and gainful unto us Secondly Let us view Death on the better side for it is as a plaited picture on the one side it looks like a grim and angry enemy as destructive to nature on the other side it hath a more calm and friendly aspect as reconciled unto us by Christ It is as a Servant sent from a Father to call his Son home as a Nurse which taketh the Childe in her arms to carry it to the Mother it is a depositary entrusted with the custody of the body and shal give an exact accompt thereof unto Christ He by his holy body hath sanctified the grave made it a bed to sleep in We find Angels at either end of Christs grave Joh. 20.12 They keep the Saints not onely in their ways but in their graves The Jaylor who before did beat Paul and scourge him and thrust him into the inner prison being converted treated him after another manner washed his stripes brought him into his house and set meat before him Act 16.33 34. Such a change there is in death before the spirit of bondage represented it with a chain and scourge it kept the soul down under the fear and dread of it But now unto a beleever by Christ it is so far altered that it is become part of his dowry and portion numbred up by the Apostle amongst those good things which with Christ are graciously bestowed upon us 1 Cor. 3.22 We will consider the Gain we have by this Friend first privatively then positively Privately It freeth us from all other evil and toilsom labours which we were by the curse pronounced against Adam subject unto It is a kinde of Canaan a Rest a Sabbath unto beleevers write saith the Lord from heaven to his Apostle Blessed are they that dye in the Lord for they rest from their labors Rev. 14.13 they enter into peace they rest in their beds Isa 57.2 1. They rest from the toilsom captivity and tyranny of sin a burden under which they complain as too heavy for them to bear There is no rest in my bones because of my sins mine iniquities are grown over mine head as an heavy burden they are too heavy for me Psal 38.3.4 6 7 8. the Apostle calleth it a weight and an encompassing sin 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Vid. Petâ—i Fabri Agonistic l. 2. c. 3. Methedius apud Epiphan haeres 64. a fat and heavy body wholly indisposeth for an Athletick imployment This body of lust being destroyed they are made perfect Heb 12.23 As Ivy which hath gotten its roots into â—ll the joynts of a wall can never he quâ—â—e killed till the wall it self be demolished so sin and corruption being deeply seated in the whole nature of man is never quite slain and subdued till the whole frame be taken down and dissolved 2. Greg. Tholos Syntagma juris l. 31. cap. 20. Bestias Asiaticae pressurae Tertul. de resurrect carnis cap. 48. They rest from the buffets and temptations of Satan it was a sore conflict for the Apostle to fight with Beasts at Ephesus whether they were truly or Metaphorically such beastly men 1 Cor. 15.32 but this combate was nothing to the messenger of Satan to the roarings of that Lion how rampant and outragious he will be against the servants of God when the Lord is pleased to leng then his chain and to give him liberty what dismal fears what hellish impressions what fiery darts what black and horrid suggestions he will amaze the souls of poor sinners withal the examples and experiences of many of Gods afflicted people can abundantly testifie insomuch that their soul chuseth strangling as Job speaks Job 7.15 Now being by death translated into Abrahams bosom they are far removed out of Satans reach he was thrown down from heaven and can never shoot up any darts or come near any of Gods servants there to affright or annoy them 3. They rest from the cares sorrows snares toils temptations of the world the examples of sinners do not endanger them the sight of their filthy conversation doth no longer afflict them the fear of their cruelties and persecutions doth no more trouble them
Deaths Advantage Opened in a SERMON PREACHED The last Summer at Northampton AT THE FUNERAL OF Peter Whalley Esq Then Mayor of the said Town And now upon the earnest desires of his Friends published by Edward Reynolds D.D. LONDON Printed by Tho Newcomb for George Thomason and are to be sold at his Shop at the Rose and Crown in Pauls Church yard 1657. To the Honorable John Crew Esq SIR HAving been prevailed with by the earnest desires of those who were nearly related unto that worthy Gentleman at whose Funeral this Sermon was preached to let it after it had been it self so long buried something unseasonably revive and go abroad into the world I have taken the boldness to prefix so honorable a name as yours before it upon a double account one relating unto the deceased Gentleman the other unto my self For the former if we may take the character of a wise and worthy man by the affection which he beareth and choyce which he maketh of eminent Examples whose prudence and piety to follâ—w I may truly and therefore without flattery to you or him pronounce this dear Friend now with God a very wise and a very good man having been frequently an ear-witness of the singular Honor he did bear to your person in mentioning of whose zeal and care to promote the glory of God the truth of the Gospel the interest of Religion and good of your Country he did greatly delight to expatiate and whom he did propose to himself as a special pattern for his imitation For mine own part as I have the same reasons which moved him to bear an honorable and high esteem towards your person and the gifts and graces of God bestowed upon you so you have by your abundant favours to me and particularly your earnest and sollicitous endeavors to have preserved my Station in the University when changes in the State caused changes there laid so great a debt upon me as I have no way to discharge but onely by putting you over to the best Pay-master and in my prayers commending you unto him who doth not forget your labour of love To his gracious Protection I commend you and all the branches and interests of your Family and remain Your humble and most obliged Servant ED. REYNOLDS THE Gain of Death PHIL. 1.21 For to me to live is Christ and to dye is Gain THE Apostle having saluted these Philippians and testified his sincere love unto them and hearty prayers for them in the first eleven Verses doth in the next place endeavor to comfort them against any offence or trouble which they might sustain by occasion of his sufferings for the Gospel vers 12 13. assuring them that they tended to the defence thereof many being thereby provoked and by the example of his courage and comfort animated to speak the Word without fear vers 14. And although some indeed had evil and envious intentions to reproach his Apostleship and to add affliction to his bonds yet Christ being preached he did rejoyce notwithstanding his own sufferings as knowing that by the benefit of their prayers and by the supplies of the Spirit of Christ his own salvation and the glory of the Lord should thereby be promoted vers 15-20 And if the Lord may be thus magnifiea and himself saved if his life may tend to the honour of Christ and his death to his own advantage he is most indifferent and contented to yeeld to Gods holy will either way for saith he to me to live is Christ and to die is gain If I live my work my conversation my ministry will be wholly to serve and glorifie him and if I dye my death will not onely be glorious unto him but gainful unto me I shall be ever with the Lord which is best of all The Apostle therefore is at a stand in a strait betwixt two which to chuse On the one side Christ will be magnified in the edification of his Church on the other side he will be magnified by the salvation of his servant the one will be fruitful to the Philippians and the other gainful to himself He is wholly therefore indifferent whether he live or dye because Christ will be both ways an advantage unto him and he shall be both ways serviceable to the glory of Christ We see the coherence connexion and scope of these words Some versions as ours make them two distinct Propositions To me to live is Christ To me to dye is gain Some others make them but one proposition thus In life and in death or whether I live or dye Christ is to me gain In the words there are two parts considerable First The Propositions themselves Secondly The specification of the Subject to whom they belong The Propositions are according to both readings these three First To live is Chrst Secondly To Dye is Gain Thirdly Christ is both in life and in death gain The specification of the Subject of these Propositions to whom they belong To Me a Beleever who am willing and desirous that Christ may be magnified in my body whether it by my life or by my death as being much more tender and sollicitous of his honour then of mine own particular safety First then To live is Christ or Christ is life unto us It is true many men live who are without Christ in the world an animal or a natural life to themselves to other men to carnal to secular to sinful purposes but being alienated from the life of God we may say of them as the Apostle doth of sensual and delicate Widows that they are dead whilst they live Our true life is founded in thâ— life of Christ Because I live you shall live also Jâ—h 4.19 He that hath the Son hath life he that hath not the Son hath not life 1 Joh 5.12 Now Christ is our life in every way of causality First Vid Fr Gomar To. 1. p. 288. He is thâ— Author and efficient of our life whether we speak of life natural In him was life and the life was the light of men he lighteth every man that cometh into the World Joh. 14.2 By him all things consist Col. 1.17 In him we live and move and have our being Act. 17.28 He formed us in the belly his hands made us and fashioned us round about Job 10.8 Jer. 1.5 Psal 139 15 16. In every work of continued Creation the Son worketh as well as the Father My Father worketh hitherto saith he and I work Ioh. 5.17 Or whether we speak of life spiritual the life of Grace I live saith the Apostle yet not I but Christ liveth in me Gal. 2.20 In him is the primitive seat of life and grace from whom it is diffused upon his body For as the Head and the Members are animated by one soul so Christ his Church by one spirit we being joyned unto the Lord are one Spirit 1 Cor. 6.17 Vid. Aug. de Gen. ad lit l. 4 c. 12. lib. 5 c. 20.
there the wicked cease from troubling and there the weary be at rest there the prisoners rest together they hear not the voice of the oppressor Job 3.17 18. 4. They rest from the difficulties of duty it self those hard conflicts which the heart hath against corruption to keep it self close unto God for though the spirit be willing yet the flesh is weak Matth. 26.41 and though to will be present with us yet how to perform the thing that is good we finde not Rom. 7.18 19 21. Lastly As they are delivered from these past evils as brands snatched out of the burning so are they likewise taken away from evils to come as Lot was from the destruction of Sodom when the Angel by a merciful violence laid hold on him and brooght him forth Gen. 19.16 Isa 57.1 Secondly Positively this gain by death appears in the many real good things which we receive with it and by it 1. It brings us home to our Country and inheritance here in this life Gods servants are Pilgrims Strangers Sojourners amongst enemies such as neither know nor value them we are called out of the world and separated from it not numbred among the Nations living by different and contrary Laws and hence it is that the world hates us 1 Pet. 2.11 Ioh. 15.19 Numb 23.9 1 Ioh. 3.1 Hence the Body is called a Tabernacle 2 Cor. 5.1 Digest de verborum significat l. 239. sect 2. M. Anton. l. 2. sect 17. Tertul. de resur c. 41. Diodor Sic. 1. M. Anton. l. 3. sect 11. 2 Pet. 1.13 14. in allusion to the Tabernacles wherein the Patriarchs sojourned as strangers Heb. 11.9 unto which pilgrimage and unfixed condition the Apostle there opposeth a City which hath foundations vers 10. a sure house an abiding Kingdom which cannot be shaken Heb. 12.28 Here indeed we are said to be in Christ and Christ in us Gal. 2.20 Ephes 3.17 but there we shall be with Christ and in his presence which the Apostle tells us is best of all much better then our best condition here Phil. 1.23 1 Thess 4.17 2 Cor. 5.8 Here we are in the same family indeed for the Church in heaven and the Church on earth is but one family Ephes 3.15 but we are yet but in the lower rooms of the family in the work house death leads us to the upper chamber to the Banquetting-house to better company where we shall see and know and love and possess Christ perfectly and herein is the answer of Christs prayer Joh. 17.24 Father I will that they also whom thou hast given me be with me where I am that they may behold my glory 2. It estates us in life takes away one life to carry us to another and a better That life which we leave is mortal and perishing that which we go unto is durable and abounding Joh. 10.10 The ordinary Manna which Israel gathered for their daily use did presently corrupt and breed worms Exod 16.20 But that which was laid up before the Lord the hidden manna in the Tabernacle did keep without putrefaction vers 33. So our life which we have here in the wilderness of this world doth presently vanish and corrupt but our life which is kept in the Tabernacle our life which is hid with Christ in God Col. 3.4 that never runs into death Natural life is like the river Jordan empties it self into the Dead Sea but spiritual life is like the waters of the Sanctuary which being shallow at the first grow deeper and deeper into a River which cannot be passed thorow water continually springing and running forward into everlasting life Ezek. 47.4 5. Joh. 4.14 7.38 Haec brevis est illa perennis aqua 3. It makes us perfect in our spiritual part Vid. Stuck Antiq conviv l. 2. c. 26. The spirits of just men made perfect Heb. 12.23 it gives us our white and triumphal robes Rev. 6.11 7.14 It fits us to be presented unto God without spot or wrinkle Ephes 5.27 the bodies of the Saints when they were dead were washed Act. 9.37 both as a pledge of the resurrection and also as an Emblem and testimony of that cleanness and purity wherein death did deliver their souls up unto God 4. It keeps our relicks and remainders safe for a glorious resurrection will give a faithful and a just accompt of all that it hath received and will restore in honour what is received in dishonour 1 Cor. 15.42 43. It will say to us as the keeper of the Prison to Paul Act. 16.36 The Lord hath sent to let you go now therefore depart and go in peace We see the Paradox cleared the difficulty removed the gain demonstrated onely we must remember it is not gain to all it is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 To Beleevers as such and therefore onely to them To wicked and impenitent sinners that die in their sins death is a King of terrors Job 18 14. A Jaylor a tormentor with his keys his shakels his hot iron his halter his ax his gibbet He is still a stinging and a fiery serpent a trap-door unto hell Death is never our gain but where Christ is our life he to whom to live is is lust and not Christ to dye is loss and not gain And now since Gain is one of the Diana's of the world Vid. August in Psal 48. every one will say who will shew us any good Psal 4.6 Our wisdom must be to distinguish true gain from counterfeit to make godliness our gain 1 Tim 6.6 for then death will be our Gain too There is some Gain like Manna in the house perishing Gain exposed to moth and rust Matth. 6.19 Gain proper to one place or Country like some farthing-tokens which are current in one Town or Shop and signifie nothing in another Such is worldly wealth current here but is not returnable or transportable into another world 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. De Nino Phaenix Colophon apud Athenaeum l. 12 when a man dieth he carrieth nothing away his glory shall not descend after him Ps 49.17 But there are durable riches Prov. 8.18 A treasure of good works which will follow a man into another world Rev. 14.13 this is the gain we should look after to lay up a foundation in store against the time to come that we may lay hold on eternal life 1 Tim. 6.19 Now sith Death is gain let us consider whether and in what manner this Gain may be desired In answer whereunto we say 1. That death is considerable two ways One way as it affecteth nature the other as it relateth to a supernatural end In the former respect as an evil Nature abhors it and shrinks from it and had much rather be clothed upon that mortality might be swallowed up of life But as an unavoidable medium to a better condition so it may be desired as sick and bitter phisick is desirable not per se but in order unto health and dangerous chargeable voyages by Sea
are not in themselves beneficial at all but onely as they are necessary to make rich returns from remote Countries Mercatura est amittere ut lucreris It is good husbandry to sell all for an invaluable pearl 2. Death is not to be desired out of fretfulness passion weariness of life impatience of sufferings as Job and Jonah desired it Job 3 20-23 Jon. 4.3 and in great anguish men are apt to do Jer. 8 3. but in faith and an humble submission to the will of God out of a weariness of the body of sin and pilgrimage in the valley of tears suspiring after the presence of Christ and consummation of holiness thus it may be desired So Jacob waited for the salvation of God Gen. 49.18 So Simeon desired to depart in peace Luk. 2.29 30. and so our Apostle here I desire to depart and to be with Christ which is far better Phil. 1.23 3. We may not for all this use any compendious way to be partakers of this gain we may not neglect our body nor shipwrack our health nor do any thing to hasten death because we shall gain by it He that maketh haste even this way to be rich shall not be innocent Prov. 28.20 When men grew weary of the long and tedious compass in their Voyages to the East Indies would needs try a more compendious way by the North-west passage it ever proved unsuccessful our times are in Gods hands as the Psalmist speaks Psal 31.15 and therefore to his holy providence we must leave them We have work to do and therefore must not be so greedy of our Sabbath day our rest as not to be willing and contented with our working day our labour A composed frame of heart like the Apostles here an holy indifferency of soul either to stay and work or to go and rest is the best temper of all I conclude all with but naming the last Proposition from the other reading Christ in life in death is gain unto beleevers If the Apostle live he shall serve Christ if he dye he shall enjoy him if he live he shall glorifie him by his ministry if he dye he shall glorifie him by his martyrdom When Christ is ours every condition life or death prosperity or adversity is gainful to us It is hard to say whether it be better for a wicked man to live or dye being in both equally miserable If he live he encreaseth his sin if he die he entreth upon his sorrow But unto a godly man either condition is comfortable and blessed his life is fruitful his death is peaceable the grace of Christ is manifested in his life and the glory of Christ is manified in his death Let us be careful to secure the Pronown heâ—e 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 To Me that we be such as Paul was who rejoyce in that Christ is preached though we should suffer by the means who are not ashamed of the afflictions of the Gospel but are willing that Christ may be magnified in our body whether by life or by death and then we may boldly conclude as our Apostle doth whether I live or whether I die Christ will in both conditions be advantage unto me COncerning this worthy Gentleman who with one spring of his soul gave so sudden a leap from Earth to Heaven I confess I have been so surprised with sorrow that I thought it hardly possible for me to undertake this service but that I must have covered over my affections and his Elogies as the Painter did Agamemnons grief for Iphigenia with a vail of silence He was a copious subject a man one of a thousand as Elihu speaks which way ever we take the view of him we shall finde him to be as Aristotles character is of his honest man 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a four-square man that had in every capacity a Basis of honesty and integrity to fix upon How tender and dear an Husband how loving and careful a Father how wise and prudent a Disposer of his domestical affairs your eyes and their sorrows can abundantly testifie Towards others abroad I do not know a man fuller of love and faithfulness more ready more active to lay out himself upon the good and interest of his friend There are some drags very wholsom but very bitter good in the operation but unkind in the palate and some friends are such real in their love but morose in their expressions of it that a man is almost afraid of their very kindnesses But this our dear friend was full of sweetness as of fidelity His love was not like a Pill that must be wrapped in something else before a man can swallow it but the candor and sereness of his disposition made his love as amiable as it was useful unto his friends so that he well deserved the character given to one of the Roman Emperors Neminem unquam dimisit tristem He was indeed in his disposition made up of love and sweetness of a balsom nature all for healing and helpfulness He was not a friend in pretence and complement that can bow handsomly and promise emphatically and speak plausibly and forget all but he was serious and cordial in his affection Some mens love is like some plants in the water which have broad leaves on the surface of the water but scarce any root at all lik Lemons cold within and hot without full expressions empty intentions speak loud and do little Like Drums and Trumpets and Ensigns in a battel which make a noise and a shew but act nothing But this our dear Brother was an active friend his reality exceeded his expressions His words were the window of his heart truly as Aristotle calls them 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the notifiers of his affection And his fidelity to his friend was ever seconded with wisdom as our Saviour saith of John the Baptist he was a burning and a shining Lamp we may say in this case of him he had not onely an ardent but a prudent love was not onely affectionate to intend good but able to counsel and contrive it Some friends are like a vine fruitful but weak their love is sweet but their strength small he as able by his wisdom to advise as ready by his love to help and tender Nor was this disposition of his narrow and contracted towards a few but it was diffusive The mildness and moderation of his soul made him willing to do good to all and so far as would consist with integrity to preserve every man from peril Some mens love is like some flowers which open onely towards the Sun which come out onely in the hottest seasons like the load-stone that points onely one way and bend onely towards them that do not need it But his love would grow in the shade as well as in the Sun and though it were specially directed to those of the houshold of faith yet he had learned of the Apostle to do good to all men and to speak evill of none But