be put off that immortality may be put on Those 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of the first Age had this story told of them all they lived so many years and then they dyed Gen. 5. What Man is he that liveth and shall not see death The Prince and the Peasant are elemented of the same earth as Adam was like Nebuchadnezar's Image though we may have Heads of Gold yet we all stand but Lute is pedibus on feet of clay We are but like the Ark of God In medio pellium in the midst of skins living within Paper-walls walls of flesh we dwell in Houses of Clay whose foundation is in the dust and dirt which are crushed before the Moth. Job 4.19 I need say no more for confirmation of the first Proposition Let us see in the next place what use is to be made of it if we must all die and depart hence this being not our rest not our home but our way home Let us make provision in our life time for that time of dying which will most certainly come upon us though it be most uncertain when Let us think every day of dying for indeed we die daily as soon as we are born we begin to die Let us make death familiar by expectation of it by daily apprehension of it Let us at all instants go out to meet it and think our selves always upon our Death-bed He deserves not saith Jerom the name of a Christian who will live in that state of life in which he would not die Indeed it is a very great adventure to be in an evil state of life because we know that every minute of it hath a danger and we know withall that after death there is something else to be looked after which brings me to the next particular That all Men after Death must come to Judgment This is a Proposition carrying in it a very great truth which Pagans Turks and Infidels I mean the most sober and best moraliz'd amongst them have not been ignorant of How Heathens came by this knowledg whether by the light of nature or by some Revelation unknown to us or happily by some light derived from our Scriptures I am not able to say nor curious to enquire for my way hath ever been to sit down contented with my own ignorance in things which are in the dark and wherein I may spend much time in the disquisition and find but little satisfaction at last In secret things which belong to God Ignorance shall be the Mother of my Devotion That God shal judg the World is a clear truth Rom. 3.6 That he shall judg the Jews who sinned in the Law by the Law the Gentiles who sinned without Law without Law and Christians who have sinned against the clear light of the Gospel by the Gospel is a very great truth also Rom. 2.12 13 14 15 16. When this final Judgment shall be I will not determine Let curious heads meddle with these curiosities I dare not I will not so much as desire to know what God was not willing to reveal There is a day God hath appointed in the which he will judg the World in Righteousness by that Man whom he hath ordained Act. 17.31 even Jesus Christ before whose Tribunal we must all appear and receive according to what we have done in our Bodies be it good or evil 2 Cor. 5 10. God is pleased in wisdom to conceal that day that we may carefully observe every day By way of Application I add but this Knowing therefore this terror of the Lord 2 Cor. 5.11 Consider I pray you and lay it to heart What manner of Persons ye ought to be in all holy conversation and godliness 2 Pet. 3.11 And let this be a comfort to all Christians who have not their hope in this life only nor fix the Anchor of it here below that the same Jesus Christ who is now our Advocate in Heaven shal hereafter be our Judg c. Reader A Funeral Sermon of this nature may not be impertinent although not very necessary neither the Church in her Funeral Office having made such a full provision already But were the Funeral Orations and Encomiums o◠some low spirited Preachers well examin'd there is nothing in Print can appear more unseemly and misbecoming Christian profession wherein great Persons meerly for being great shall be applauded for that goodness which was never apparent in them Certainly these Elogies were intended as things extraordinary for Men of extraordinary sanctity and not else THE END The Thanksgiving of Women after Child-Birth Commonly called The Churching of Women Note 1. OUr Church of England eminent in her Liturgy and publick Offices both for her Charity to Man and Piety to God hath prescribed to Us in Her Service-Book two notable Passages as relating to Child-bearing-Women 1. In the Litany we are taught to pray in a general way for all Women labouring with Child that is for their safe deliverance in so great a danger which is so great that the Spirit of God being to lay out a danger to the full expresseth it thus As travel upon a Woman with Child 1 Thes 5.3 noting both the suddenness and sharpness of the pains Now there was a curse we know inflicted upon Woman-kind for Eve's sin That they should bring forth Children in sorrow or with sore travel at their birth Gen. 3.16 Every Child should be to her a Benoni and Filius Lachrymarum because the Woman was the cause and beginning of sin and ruine on all Man-kind 1 Tim. 2.14 However God is pleased to moderate the curse so that Woman shall be able to pass through her Child-bearing safe though not without some difficulty and danger and this curse no question is not so heavy upon Woman-kind as that sin deserved by means of the seed of the Woman the Messias which should be born from her Posterity For no doubt he would redeem that nature which he was to assume and did assume not only from the danger of Child-bearing but from a greater danger of eternal damnation upon condition that these Child-bearing-Women continue in the Faith and live in that Charity Holiness and Sobriety as they ought to do performing those Duties of Chastity and modest behaviour which Christianity requires of them 1 Tim. 2.15 Yet notwithstanding the curse of Child-bearing is moderated and mitigated it is not taken away it remains stil so as to expose the Woman to very great danger which motive puts the Church upon it constantly to pray for all Women labouring with Child I wonder ever any Women who have been sensible of these dangers should be taken captives by those spirits of errour and seducing Teachers 2 Tim. 3.6 which creep first into their houses and then into their hearts so as to be brought to a loathing and dislike of that most excellent Prayer which the Church hath inserted into her constant Morning-Service for their safe deliverance 2. Here is a peculiar Office for the purpose
own mouths and make a particular application of these general Heads to our own comfort 3. The Object GOD in God Credere Deum That he is Credere Deo That he is true cannot be deceived himself will not deceive us Credere in Deum Because a Father so willing to hear us and because Almighty so able to help us To believe in God is Facere voluntatem Dei to do as God would have us God is here manifested to us 1. By his Title Father Principium Deitatis 2. By his Attribute Almighty He can do whatever implies not a contradiction in it self or argues not imperfection in him 3. By his Works Maker of Heaven and Earth Seculum Speculum Creatura index Creatoris Artificem commendat opus Psal 33.6 Psal 95.5 Psal 96.5 Psal 104.24 Psal 121.2 Psal 124.8 Psal 134.3 Hebrews 1.2 Act. 17.24.26 Let any make such a World and let him be God He made something of nothing and of that something all things How can we distrust that God who hath proved Himself thus Omnipotent 2. Article And I believe in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord. John 3.18 Rom. 3.26 Philip. 1.29 John 14.1 This part of the Creed treats of Man's Redemption wherein we are to observe the Titles and in Them the Natures and Offices of our Redeemer 1. Jesus So a Saviour Matth. 1.21 2. Christ So a Saviour anointed Mat. 1.16 Matth. 16.16 John 4.25.29 That is anointed with the Holy Ghost the fulness of grace in him and from his fulness do we receive John 1.16 Colos 1.19 Others Christi Domini He Christus Dominus The anointing powred down upon him dropt down upon others He anointed above his fellows Psal 45. Others anointed Kings so David Priests so Aaron Prophets so Elisha None King Priest and Prophet but He. Melchizedeck King and Priest David King and Prophet Samuel Priest and Prophet these saving Offices met doubly in others but in Him they all meet Who is David's Priest Psal 110. Jeremie's King Jerem. 23.5 Moses Prophet Deut. 18.15 As a King he redeems us from danger as a Priest from sin as a Prophet from error 3. His only Son There his Divine Nature of the same Power Majesty and Eternity with the Father John 5.26 John 10.30 1 John 4.15 John 3.16 4. Our Lord. There his humane nature Nostram assumpsit naturam non deposuit suam Ours 1. By Gift John 3.16 2. By Faith Ephes 3.17 Lord. 1. By Creation John 1.3 2. By Redemption Gal. 3.13 3. By Dominion Mat. 28.18 All redeemed by Him though all not actually saved by Him as many Israelites came out of Aegypt which dropt short of Canaan That all are not saved is from our own default not any defect in the meritorious price of our Redemption Incredulitas facit esse paucorum quod alias esset commune omnium beneficium 3. Article Who was conceived by the Holy Ghost Matth. 1.18 20. Born of the Virgin Mary Luke 1.27 Isay 7.14 This Article sets before us Christ's Humanity as the former did chiefly his Divinity which is proved 1. From his mysterious Incarnation and Conception 2. From his miraculous Birth and Nativity Requisit it was that He should be God and Man who was to Redeem Man to God and to Reconcile God to Man Fit He should be one of both who was to make both one A Jacob's Ladder in this coupling Earth to Heaven standing upon Earth as Man reaching up to Heaven as GOD. 4. Article Who suffred under Pontius Pilate was crucified dead and buried and descended into Hell This and the Article preceding shews how and by what means the work of Man's Redemption was wrought For as to Redeem us was the thing chiefly intended so it was done by steps and there were many intervening acts to bring it about 1. His mysterious Conception By the Holy Ghost 2. His miraculous Nativity Of the Virgin Mary 3. His active obedience and holy life included in both for He could not possibly sin whose Conception was so holy and Birth so pure 4. His passive obedience and meritorious death wherein we are to consider 1. That He suffred this He did from the Cradle to the Grave from the Cratch to the Cross The whole History of his sufferings are recorded at large in the Four Evangelists all comprized in these words He suffred under Pontius Pilate was crucified dead and buried Whence Note 1. The who He. 2. The what Suffered 3. By and under whom Pontius Pilate one of the Chief to be noted in that foul murder For he was the Magistrate then in being the Judg who swayed the whole Bench although the People sway'd him 4. What manner of death he suffred Was crucified Which is marked out in Scripture for an accursed death wherein was both pain and shame and that to the highest aggravation of his suffrings 5. That he suffred death for dead 6. That he was really dead for buried The words following are not to be understood of any part of his humiliation but of the first degree of his exaltation Where by Hell we are to understand the place of the damned August Epist 99. Ne ipsos quidem inferos uspiam scripturarum locis in bono appellatos potui reperire So he Vid. August de Genes ad Lit. lib. 12. c. 33. By his descent we are to understand that as in his Body he descended into the Bowels of the Earth so in his Soul separated from his Body He descended into Hell Vid. Dr. Howel's Catechism in Locum Artic. 3. Edward Reg. 6 ti Artic. 3. Elizabeth 1562. and Artic. 1. Vid. August Epist. 99. Athanas Symbol Tertul. de anim c. 55. The end of his descending was to dissolve the power of Hell Aug. Epist 99. To triumph over Hell and to fulfill that of the Prophet Hos 13.14 5. Article The Third Day He rose again from the Dead This Article presents us with Christ's Triumphant return from Death to Life Act. 10.40 41. 1 Cor. 15.4 2 Cor. 5.15 Whence we may observe 1. That he is risen 2. That we shall rise For Resurrexit solus sed non totus He is Primitiae dormientium 6. Article He ascended into Heaven And sitteth at the right hand of God the Father Almighty In this Article is noted to us Christ's Exaltation into Heaven and his investing with all Power and Rule for the Father did put all Authority into the Sons hands and as Kings at their Inaugurations give gifts to Men so did He. Act. 2.33 33 34 35 36. Act. 1.9 Ephes 4.8 9 10. Philip. 2.9 10. Colos 1.16 17 18. Colos 2.10 Matth. 22.44 Luc. 22.69 Rom. 8.34 Ephes 1.20 21 22. 7. Article From thence He shall come to judg both the quick and the dead This Article speaks of Christ's second coming at the end of the World and the Consummation of all things a coming much differing from the first then he came as a Lamb now as a Lion then in weakness now in Power then in ignominy now in glory
people as it holds a real presence of Christ's Body and Blood in the Sacrament saying The Body of our Lord Jesus Christ which was given for thee c. The Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ which was shed for thee c. So it seems to shut the Door against Transubstantiation in saying Take and eat this in Remembrance c. Drink this in Remembrance c. Noting it to be a Commemoration only of his suffrings in his natural Body upon the Cross however spiritually his Body and Blood are both exhibited and participated in the Sacrament Again our Church is expresly both in her Book of Homilies and in her Articles against Transubstantiation Artic. 28. Indeed the form for administration in the late Directory did rather officiate towards the errour of Transubstantiation then the form in our Common-Prayer-Book 4. To with-hold the Cup of blessing from the People in the Lords Supper is looked upon by some as a very gross Popish errour especially by those who have neither given the Bread nor the Cup to the People for many Years together Now our Common-Prayer-Book expresly injoynes the Minister to give the Communion to the People in both kinds and our Church is urgent in one of her Articles to have it so Artic. 30. Eccles Ang. 5. To restrain the holy Scriptures from the perusal of the People is branded for Popery and that by some who have indulged so great a liberty to the People in this kind that they have abused and wrested the Scriptures to patronize Treason Rebellion Sacriledge and any gross sin whatsoever Now in our Common-Prayer-Book that Scripture which is most for edification is not only ordered to be read in the vulgar tongue but so ordered to be read and so sorted out to all the best advantages that would the People follow the Churches order and method it is not possible they should be so grosly ignorant as they are 6. To have publick Prayers in a Tongue unknown to the common People and to which they cannot understandingly say Amen is condemned for grand Popery by those who yet have devised a way of extemporary Prayer and many times in such language too that it is not possible for People safely to joyn their Amen to those Prayers which they cannot understand But the Common-Prayer sums up all lawful and necessary requests in so plain and pious formes that they may say Amen to and edifie by those Prayers if they will 7. To prohibit Marriage to Men in Holy Orders is voted grand Popery especially by those who have so much invaded the Church-maintenance that there is scarce sufficient left to maintain the Ministers in a single life wheras our Common-prayer-Book in the Office for Matrimony admits all to the holy state of Matrimony that are allowed of by the Word of God and the Church of England expresly declares the marriage of Priests to be lawful Artic. 32. 8. To indulge Marriage to Persons within the degrees prohibited by the Laws of God is accounted another branch of Popery But the Common-prayer-Book in the Matrimonial Office declares against it and so doth the Church Can. 99. 9. To tolerate the liberty of Divorce betwixt Man and Wife for more causes than the cause of Fornication is accounted Popery and yet they did both allow it and practise it who profess themselves to be the only Anti-Papists The Common-prayer now in the Matrimonial Office admits of no such thing and our Church is very cautious in so weighty a matter Can. 105 106 107. 10. To obtrude new Articles of faith upon the People which have no ground in the Word of God is complain'd of for very gross Popery especially by those who have of late years done it thrusting upon the People new Doctrines new Catechisms new Covenants which are in many things contrariant to God's Word and did it with such violence as to refuse them communion who refused to submit to these impositions Whereas our Common Prayer-Book admits of no more Articles of faith than what are contained in the ancient Creeds of the Latin and Greek Church And the Church expresly declares for them Artic. 8. and as expresly declares against any thing enforced as a matter of faith which is contrary to Gods written word Artic. 6. Artic. 20. Artic. 21. 11. The Doctrine concerning Purgatory Pardons worshiping and adoration as well of images as of Reliques and also invocation of Saints is declaimed against as very foul and intolerable Popery by those especially who made of late Years Mens lives more bitter then any Purgatory who drew People off from their subjection and allegiance to their lawful Prince and pardon'd them when they had done who defaced all Images which were only for decency and a civil remembrance with that zeal and fury as if they saw some Religion in them more then ever was intended and who were so far from the invocation of Saints that they ran fouly into the other extreme obliterating all their annual days of observance and instead of allowing them any pious and civil remembrance sordidly reviling them and disgracing so much as in them lay their very memories and names However the Common-prayer-Book and our Church teacheth them no Popery yet both may teach them more civility and moderation As for a Popish purgatory the Common-prayer is against it in the Burial Office holding the spirits of all who depart hence in the Lord to be in joy and felicity in bliss though not in their perfect consummation and bliss As for pardons and indulgencies the Common-prayer takes notice of none but only while Men are alive to beg for pardon and that of God not for the merit of any Saint but for the merits of Christ for most of the Collects conclude Through Jesus Christ our Lord. For worshiping and adoration of Images there is not one syllable in all the Common-prayer tending that way but through all the Offices our worship and adoration is terminated in God as the proper object and offred by Christ as the only Advocate Mediator and Intercessor And for invocation of Saints departed or praying to them there is no thing so irreconcilable to our Common-prayer-Book For through all the Offices of it we acknowledg no Mediator Intercessor or Advocate but Christ only indeed we honor the memorial of some known Scripture Saints by observing set days and propounding their lives as exemplary to us we praise God for their holy living here in this World Articl Eccles Anglic. 22. happy departure hence praying that our lives may be as holy and our deaths as happy but we do not pray unto them If there be any other Tenents which some are pleased to call Popery for all is Popery with some which they have not a châ—ef hand in the establishment if they fear Justifying Popery Free-will Popery Merit Popery Supererrogation Popery Satisfaction Popery or what Popery soever for they must name it I fear I have not given the names aright but if it be Popery
hopes of a Resurrection Such Ceremonies are used in exprobration to Death and Mortality By them we shew that we are not sorry for our departed friends as Men without hope we look upon them only as Herbs and Flowers cropt off for a time and to spring up again in their season We sow their Bodies in the Earth with as much faith as we do our Seeds and Herbs and equally expect the spring of both In the midst of life we are in death of whom may we seek for succour but of Thee O Lord who for our sins art justly displeased Note Our end borders upon our beginning Finisque ab origine pendet Death and Life like Jacob and Esau take hold on each others â—eel Orimur morimur We bring sin and death into the World with us Haeret lateri lethalis arundo 'T is in vain to hope for long life which is so short that it is at an end whilst we are speaking of it Dum loquimur fugit vita The Man in the Gospel sung a Requiem to his Soul for many Years when the summons came presently Stulte hac nocte Luk. 12.20 Vitae summa brevis spem nos vetat inchoare longam A Christians hope is not in this life only which is not the only life indeed not to be reckon'd of as life at all Via non vita A midling betwixt life and death Mortalis vita vitalis mors but truly my hope saith David is in Thee O Lord who canst deliver my Soul from sin and my Body from the Grave Psal 39.7 8. Thou killest and thou makest alive thou bringest down to the Grave and bringest up 1 Sam. 2.6 Yet O Lord God most Holy O Lord most Mighty O Holy and most Merciful Saviour deliver Us not into the bitter pains of Eternal Death Note As there is a two-fold Resurrection a Resurrection from sin to the life of grace which is glory begun Rom. 6.4 1 Cor. 15.34 and a Resurrection from the Sepulchre to the life of glory which is grace compleat 1 Cor. 15.54 Philip. 3.21 So there is a two-fold death The first death to which the first nature which we derive from Adam is subjected For upon Adam's sin all that are partakers of his nature are concluded under the sentence of death pronounced against him 1 Cor. 15.22 It was a statute made in Paradise a Decree not to be reversed a Debt not possible to be declined Gen. 3 19. Statutum est omnibus semel mori Heb. 9.27 All Men must die the first Death Wherein the Sepulchre like the Serpent feeds on nothing but dust it is not so much the death of the Body as the Death of the Corruption of the Body Mortalitas magis finita est quam vita And there is a second death to which all regenerate Christians who belong to Christ are not subjected but as they derive another nature from Christ so in that nature they shall be raised again to the life immortal 1 Cor. 15.22 Souls and Bodies both For however there is a death of the Soul not that it ceaseth to be but when it ceaseth to be righteous Habet anima mortem suam cum vita beata caret quae vâ—ra animae vita dicenda est August Perdere animam est non ut non sit sed ut male sit So the glosse upon Matth. 16.26 Yet they who belong to Christ who live according to his Doctrine and Example shall be raised Souls and Bodies to an endless life of endless felicities They who have a part in the Resurrection of grace shall have no part in the Second Death Which first Resurrection is proverbially applied to the flourishing condition of the Church under the Messias after a long time of Persecution Revel 20.5 According to that of the Apostle speaking of the Jews received to favour as Persons raised from the dead again Rom. 11.15 and the Second Death is applied to an â—tter final irreparable excision and cutâ—ing off Revel 20.6 Now against this Second Death the bitter pains of Eternal Death in the burning Lake where the Worm never dies and the Fire is not quenched the Church here teaches us to pray for as to the first Death which is a Debt to be paid to that nature which we derive from Adam there is no avoiding of it Palvis es in pulverem reverteris â—s Man's Epitaph written with Gods own Finger Gen. 3.19 But Libenter mortalis sum qui sim futurus immortalis is the faithful Man's subscription Thou knowest Lord the secrets of our hearts shut not thy merciful Eares to our Prayers but spare us Lord most Holy O God most Mighty O Holy and Merciful Saviour Thou most worthy Judge Eternal suffer us not at our last Hour for any pains of death to fall from Thee Note Here we pray to God who is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Maker of hearts and so 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Knower and Searcher of hearts and of actions as well as of hearts that he would in mercy hear our Prayers and in equal mercy pardon and forgive us our sins that he would sanctifie us by his Holiness imparted to us that he would defend us by his power save us in his infinite mercy and as we must all stand before him at the day of Judgment so he would stand by us at the Hour of Death that so the Devil who assaults us in the heel Gen. 3.15 and is most busie at the end and close of our life may have no advantage of us but that by the Shield of Faith we may put by all his Fiery Darts and never come into those everlasting Burnings but dying as Moses did Ad osculum oris Jehovae At a kiss of the Mouth of God So the Chalde paraphrase in Deut. 34.5 We may depart in the arms of God and so pass by Death temporal to Life Eternal Rubrick Then while the Earth shall be cast upon the Body by some standing by the Priest shall say Note This is left arbitrary for any by-stander to perform by which it is implied that it shall be the state and condition of every One one day He that casts earth upon the dead Body to day may have earth cast upon his tomorrow Hodie mihi cras tibi For as much as it hath pleased Allmighty God of his great mercy to take unto Himself the Soul of our dear here departed Eccles 12.7 we therefore commit _____ Body to the ground earth to earth ashes to ashes dust to dust Eccles 12.7 Eccles 3.20 Gen. 3.19 in sure and certain hope of the resurrection to Eternal Life Psal 16.9 1 Cor. 15.20 21 22. 1 Thes 4.13 14. through our Lord Jesus Christ who shall change our vile Body that it may be like unto his glorious Body according to the mighty working whereby he is able to subdue all things to Himself Philip. 3.20 21. Note When we perform these officia postremi muneris as the Fathers call them and decently commit the Bodies
Peter's Sermon did and work compunction upon our Spirits Will it not bring the guilt of our sins to our Remembrance Act. 2.37 2 Cor. 5.19 and make us as the Jews once did passionately sue to those Ministers to whom Christ hath committed the word of reconciliation that they would administer a seasonable word of comfort to us and give us directions what to do in such a case as this I know the Scripture Rule is Is any sick among you let him call for the Elders of the Church Jam. 5.14 That is seek out to some spiritual Person who is over the Congregation that he may contribute his assistance afford the sick man his best directions pray to God with him and for him that God would pardon his sins asswage his pain remove the disease restore him to his former health and the like this being a duty injoyned would not be omitted Better then in time of sickness than not at all but better in time of health I think than in time of sickness In the midst of life we are in death therefore in the midst of life we should prepare for death whether sick or well that message to Hezekiah concerns us all Set thine house in order Isay 38.1 There is a time when all Men will be glad to seek God and that is Cum occiderit when he lays any scourge or sickness upon us when he slew them then they sought him and turned them early and enquired after God Psal 78.34 Even they who kept not the Covenant of God before Vers 10. who forgot his works Vers 11. who siâ—ned provoked him tempted him in their heart and spake against him Vers 17 18 19. who neither believed in him nor trusted in his salvation Vers 22. but spent their Days in vanity and their Years in turmoil in the World Vers 33. never thinking upon God at all in a pinch of danger and extremity when he slew them did all turn seekers to find help from the same hand which hurt and wounded them This is the very Atheists time and the time of the most debauched Person in the World to seek God in this is the time which brought home the Prodigal they who loose him in time of health will be glad to seek and sue to him in time of sickness Therefore let me recommend to you another time when ye will be more certain and sure to find him because it is God's acceptable time and that is in time of health when your Mountain is strong your Hedge and Fence about you safe and untoucht when you have other dependencies yet then to slight them all and to depend upon God that 's the time which pleases him Now now saith Solomon in the days of thy youth in thy prosperity before the evil days come Eccles 12.1 Remember now thy Creatour However our memory is placed in the hinder part of the Head yet we must not defer our remembring to the hindermost part of our Life I know it is the desire of all Men when they are going out of the World to have a secure Passport and to get as much an assurance of their happiness and future estate as can be Now give me leave to be plain with you I can give you no better assurance then what the Scripture affords God's word is the best security If ye look for an assurance of faith Faith is but the substance of things hoped for the evidence of things not seen Heb. 11.1 If ye look for an assurance of hope Heb. 6.11 Hope carries us to that which is within the Vail Heb. 6.19 which we hope for but cannot see if ye look for an assurance in that which we call Election I know the foundation of God standeth sure having this Seal The Lord knoweth who are his Yet have a care Let every one who nameth the Name of Christ depart from iniquity 2 Tim. 2.19 Make your calling and Election sure How is that by giving all diligence to add to your faith vertue to vertue knowledge to knowledg temperance to temperance patience to patience godliness to godliness brotherly kindness to brotherly kindness charity for if ye do these things ye shall never fall 2 Pet. 1.5 6 7 8 9 10. We can be no further assur'd of our Salvation by Christ than we can be secur'd of our being in Christ and conforming our lives to the Christian Rules The security we can have in this present state of grace may not be imagined to be the same with that we shal have in the state of glory It is only the Saints departed who have enter'd the Ark of Heaven can sing that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of the Apostle Death is swallowed up in victory 1 Cor. 15.54 We that are below in this Church militant must be ever upon our Watch saying with holy Job All the days of my appointed time or warfare here on earth will I wait till my change come Job 14.14 And our change will come sooner or later The wheel of nature Jam. 3.6 is ever turning and turning some off into the dust every day like Peter and John we are continually running one after another to the Sepulchre The best Antidote I can prescribe unto you I will not say against Death but against the terror of it that Death may loose its sting and the Prince of Terrors may not be terrible is this to look upon your selves all your life time if of the number of the predestinate to be predestinate to be conformed to the Image of Christ Rom. 8.29 To live as he lived to walk as he walked to make his spirit your guide his word your rule his life your example In all Scripture the holy Spirit of God hath revealed unto us but one way of preparing for death and securing our future estate which is by an holy life Faith may shew us Heaven as Moses saw the Land of Canaan at a distance but it is holy life and an habitual sanctity must land us there The Text I have now pitched upon may settle us upon this bottom if we will but seriously weigh and consider of the two Propositions which are indeed two undeniable Doctrines arising out of it 1. That all men must die 2. That all Men after death must come to Judgment As the Tree falls so it lies and as Death leaves us so Judgment will certainly find us 1. All Men must die This is so unquestionable a verity that I never yet heard or read of any that durst offer at a confutation of this Proposition Jews Heathens Turks and Tartars all confess it and have in one kind or other their Justa or Funeral rites their Officia postremi muneris which they perform at the Funerals of their dead This statute of dying was made in Paradise Gen. 3.19 not yet repeal'd Debemur morti nos nostraque to die is as good a debt as any the world knows for the levying of which there is an extent upon all Man-kind Rom. 5.12 This mortal must
as being to sit in a more eminent place in the Congregation to pay her thanks to God for her safe deliverance from so great a danger which Veil may not only mind her of her subjection but teach her also to make reflexion upon that first sin wherein the Woman was the first which brought the Sex first under subjection and withall subjected them to the great danger of Child-birth Indeed some superstitious Persons who are apt to create fears to themselves where there is no ground of fear which is the right meaning of superstition taken in a bad sense scruple more at this Vestment than at the committing of a gross sin and where-ever this Veil is used I verily believe it may be to convince these pittiful Christians of their gross ignorance who scruple so at every indifferent thing that they do not only destroy all Christian duty but all Christian liberty too which they so much contend for I do not read it injoyned by any Ecclesiastical Canon nor by any injunction of the Church only it is a civil custom and fashion of the Country and hath no more offence in it than the wearing of new Gloves at Marriages or blacks at Funerals Dr. Whitgift Defence of his Answer to the Admonition Fol. 537. 3. Note The Woman is to kneel in a convenient place For kneeling I suppose no just exception can be taken out against that for it hath ever been the manner in Christ's Church Note 1. Book of Edward VI. unto the Quire Door whether we offer to God or receive ought offered from him in this wise to do it Vid. Bishop Andrews Serm. on Phil. 2.8 9 10 11. Now the Woman at this time hath a peculiar offring of praise and thanksgiving to offer up to God for her deliverance and therefore it is fit she do it in most decent and humble manner But as to the convenient place we must take our directions from custom and the Ordinary however in case it be more within the publick view and the publick hearing than any other place the Chancel and as neer to the Communion Table as may be approached the Woman not pressing or presuming within the Rail which is a place peculiar to the Priest only is the fittest place and hath ever been so accounted in the Churches practise For that is indeed properly the Sacrarium where Oblations were wont to be made They who brought any gift were to bring it unto the Altar or to the Holy Table which in Ignatius is frequently termed 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or Altar According to that of our Saviour If thou bring thy gift to the Altar Mat. 5.23 which is clearly a Christian injunction implying when we bring any special gift to God for any special mercy received thither we must bring it It was the usual place whither all oblations donations and gifts devoted to God and the maintenance of his Service were brought Vid. Capital Caroli Magni Wormatiae lib. 6. c. 285. And then the Priest shall say unto Her For as much as it hath pleased Almighty God of his goodness to give you safe deliverance and hath preserved you in the great danger of Child-birth you shall therefore give hearty thanks unto God and say Rubrick Then shall the Priest say this Psalm Note 1. In the former Liturgy this Preface For as much as it hath pleased c. was left arbitrary to the Priest these words or such like as the case shall require but since our Reformers very prudently noting of how dangerous a consequence it is to leave things arbitrary in publick Offices especially when some extravagant Ministers took occasion thereby to depart clearly from the sense sometimes as well as from the words and assumed such a liberty as did exceed the due bounds of modesty and sobriety therefore to avoid all such extravagancies for the future have tied up the Ministers to use these very words which words are to be applied to the Woman who is to return her thanks and that she may discharge this duty of thankfulness with the more fervency and devotion she is in few words put in mind 1. Of the greatness of her danger 2. Of God's goodness to her in her deliverance Note 2. The Minister is to go before the Woman I suppose in the reading of the Psalm and she to make her Response of every Verse after him for in the Preface she is to say as well as the Priest is to say in the Rubrick The usual Psalm both in the Scotch Liturgy and our former Liturgy was Psalm 121. which was a Psalm not abused but very appositly applied in regard the Contents of it are expresly thus That the faithful ought only to look for help from God But in regard some Persons have made their exceptions against it by reason of some passages in the Psalm which were not plain enough to their capacities in their literal meaning therefore our late Reformers being willing to give satisfaction to all truly tender Consciences have laid that Psalm aside and made choice of two other less liable to exception for to supply that defect Psal 116. This Psalm is a grateful acknowledgment of God's seasonable deliverances and gracious returns to the prayers of his afflicted distressed Servant which are to be answered with vows of new obedience and intire affiance in God This Psalm indeed was not Penn'd for such a particular occasion as this but yet it is thought seasonable at this time to be used and may very fitly be applied to this occasion Paraphrase Vers 1. I desired of the Lord in whom I reposed my chief and only confidence that he would be pleased to hear my prayer and in his good time consider my distress and send me a seasonable and gracious deliverance Vers 2. Now seeing he hath thus graciously heard my request and bestowed upon me the mercy which I prayed for I shall when ever my calamities approach me or seize upon me apply my self by my prayers chiefly and solely to God and however I neglect not any other lawful means yet will I make him my chief trust and dependance Vers 3. My dangers indeed which by the strength and goodness of my God I have escaped were very great menacing death Vers 4. And when I had small or no hopes of rescue left me from any humane means I made my address to God's over-ruling help and providence I humbly and fervently besought him in my Prayers that he would send me a seasonable deliverance Vers 5. For certainly thought I be my dangers what they will yet I have a merciful and faithful God in whom I trust who will make good his promise of mercy to all who depend upon his promises and faithfully by prayer solicite him for performance Vers 6. It is his proper attribute to be the supporter of the weak and the reliever of those who are in distress and accordingly hath he dealt with me in my greatest destitution Vers 7. And now being thus rescued