Son and you of so good a Pastor so good a Friend so good a Man If you enquire of his Death because it seemed to us to be somewhat hasty 't is true he had but one great Paroxysm of an hour which ended his Life a sigh a groan and an expiration yet let no man think this a surprize that fetch'd him away to Heaven without much ado They dye suddenly that live wickedly such dye all at once but he that dyes daily though he be not sick every day yet dyes by degrees and is every day in expectation of it perhaps a tedious Sickness may make a man more willing to dye but not more fit unless his former life hath been a virtuous holy preparation both for a bed of Sickness and the gate of Death Elijah was a man of God 2 King 2.1 and he was snatcht to Heaven in a whirlwind Enoch walked with God every day and in an hour was taken away to Heaven in a moment as it were Let no man think that Death to an Holy man come it when or where or how soever can be a disadvantage let it come by day or by night abroad or at home if a mans habitual frame intentions and designs be just holy heavenly good this man dyes well enough Unhappy we if a man could not be saved unless he dyed aged or wasted by a tedious sickness a Consumption or an Ague Surely if a good mans Translation be from perfect health and strength he hath no wrong done him a pang of an hour that begins and ends his pain is rather a mark of favour than displeasure Tell me Oh men of sowre Censure Is it not a desirable posture to be found in when a servant of Christ is found doing the work of his Master This Servant of Christ was all that day he dyed as he was many dayes in the like fasting and praying and preparing for Preaching the next day and the next to that and as though he had a sight of the approaching closure of his life with the day blessed his Children solemnly and gave them such directions as they were capable of charging them to serve God and be pious to be obedient to their Mother c. saying withal It may be I may see you no more after this and said I wish I were now in Heaven Who would not desire to be in such a frame as this if he thought his appointed time was at hand Thus he dyed and I am perswaded and I think all good people are so too That the day of this mans death was better than that wherein he was born and his Change happy and of infinite advantage to him for he is in peace and bliss and thousands might be well contented to dye as he did were they so well prepared as he was And now if you would shew respects to his Memory and kindness to your selves Then Stand fast in the Faith he taught you waver not shift it not Remember his pious and heavenly Exhortations and Counsels and reduce them to Practice for that and so much of Religion which you practise will do you good and no more nor else And let every one that would dye happily let him endeavour every day to be prepared for it and not deferr because of health for Death may come at Sun rising as well as at the setting thereof To the High and most Glorious GOD the lover of Souls and the rewarder of his faithful Servants be all Praise and Glory for ever Amen FINIS
A SERMON Preached at the FUNERAL OF That Faithful Servant of Christ ROBERT BRETON D.D. Pastor of Deptford in the County of Kent Febr. 20. 1671 2. By RICHARD PARR D.D. of Camerwel in the County of Surrey LONDON Printed by W. Godbid for N Brook at the Angel in Cornhil M. DC.LXX.II To the Gentry and all other the Inhabitants of DEPTFORD Who love the Lord Jesus Christ and the Publick Ministery SIRS ' T IS not to revive your grief at the remembrance of your late deceased Pastor that I have offered to your Eye what lately I spake to the Ear but that you might have a Memorial with you of his Person of his Piety and of his Sayings while he was once yours in the Lord. I profess 't was not any opinion I had of the Discourse which as it was sudden so it is plain the things which may make it acceptable are that it was of honest design and wholesom admonition in such loose and careless times as we live in But that which will chiefly take with you it was grounded on the saying of our Lord Jesus and aimed to make men wise concerning their latter end and to shew their happiness that are preparing for it in well doing But if this should not find reception with you yet when any good thing and worthy is said of Doctor BRETON the people of Deptford cannot choose but make much of it I know of none that could give him a trivial Character his Enemies if he had any must confess that he was blameless in his life an able Minister apt to teach diligent and frequent and those that knew him well and loved him cordially can say many more good things of him And I have this advantage in my report of him that I had no occasion for an Apology or Excuse for him to answer any one Objection against him in all his Capacities as a Pastor as a Christian as a Friend only what I then said came short of what might have been said better and more fully which perhaps I could if his Funeral were again to be attended on But 't is enough that 't is sent to you who had so great value for him and so general affection to him that the meanest gift for his sake will be accepted It may be God hath regarded your many tears for your loss in so good a Man and sees how heartily you lov'd him because your Pastor and a faithful one And it may be God will provide another such Blessing for you because you will esteem him highly for his Work sake for which ye ought to pray and when you have such another Guide for your Souls to give God thanks and treat him kindly which if you be so happy to enjoy I doubt not you will do for I never yet saw so great a lamentation at once as at the Funerals of Dr. BRETON And when you have another like him I wish he may not by a speedy remove put you again to a second sorrow and my Prayers for you are That as he taught you how to live that you might dye happily so that you would observe Practically what I have offered in the Discourse that you would so order your affairs that you may be found of him in peace and well doing that you may be for ever Blessed as I make no question He did and is and I hope he will be found so doing who was his and is Your very affectionate friend in Christ R. PARR A SERMON Preached at the Funeral of Doctor ROBERT BRETON at Deptford Febr. 20. 1671 2 Text. Matth. XXIV 36. Blessed is that servant whom his Lord when he cometh shall find so doing OUR blessed Lord and Saviour a little before his departure out of the World by the gate of Death entertains his Disciples with a Sermon long full and weighty the Contents of that serious Discourse are comprehended in this and the next Chapter after Wherein he foretells them 1. What should happen to that renowned City Jerusalem and dwellers therein viz. That it should be layd in heaps utterly destroyed and its Inhabitants scattered which afterward came to pass as he said 2. He acquaints them also what would be the previous notices of that downfal There will be false Christs and false Prophets making great shews doing strange feats deceiving very many there will be Wars and there will be wickedness Charity among men will be very rare but Iniquity will abound and deep Security will possess men so that their misery will come as a furprize all at once and unavoidable And when he had told them of these things which would infallibly come to pass he warns them charging them to be watchful bidding them not to give heed or credit to delusions nor be tamely betrayed into their sinful security nor yield complyance either to false impostuers or corrupt morals but they should immoveably keep the Faith and do their duty as Christ had given and commanded And he is not careful to answer the curiosity of his Disciples about the time year day or hour these things should be thus finished this was not fit for them to know But he commands them to watch and always to be prepared for every change This was to them at that time Yet still as to us there are two Events of things and change of states which every one is concerned in which will without peradventure come upon us most certain 1. The one is the final dissolution and consumption of this material visible World and though this was then a great way off yet the Apostle Peter said 't was hastening stealing on and as it were at the door and he calls it the day of the Lord 2 Pet. 3.10 Coming to Judgment 1 Thess The day of the Lord will come in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise and the elements shall melt with fervent heat the earth also and the works that are therein and then see the Application he makes vers 11. Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness And our Lord said to them much after this manner Matth. 24. vers 42. Watch therefore for you know not what hour your Lord doth come Therefore be ye also ready for in such an hour as you think not the Son of man cometh vers 44. 2. The other Event infallible is the death and dissolution of every Man living this is determined there is a Law which makes Death necessary Heb. 9.27 'T is appointed for all men once to dye and the universal slaughter death hath made by the appointment of God since the World began makes it most evident Psal 89.49 What man is he that liveth and shall not see death shall be deliver himself from the hand of the grave Eccles 8.8 no discharge in this But though this change by Death be ever certain yet the day and hour is concealed from us that we may wait
and make ready and be every day prepared for we know not the day wherein we shall be taken One dyeth in his non-age another at full growth one in his bed another in the field the wise and the fool the King and the Subject the Pastor and his Flock c. all must taste of Death and be layn up in the grave Now the improvement wise men and good make of these notices of the end of the World altogether at once and of the end of every particular Mans being in this World is this That every man while he hath the space and the warning should especially look after his great concernment how he may be fit and prepared for such a change such an encounter that so Death may not spoil him for ever So to order our conversation and discharge our duty and dispatch our work which our Lord hath given us to do that so we may give up our accounts with joy alwayes doing what faithful servants of our Lord and Master Christ should be doing that may expect the blessing here promised to such who are faithful and diligent and constant in the work of the Lord and finish your course so doing And for this the Text is a mighty motive when it saith Blessed is that servant whom his Lord when he cometh shall find so doing Sirs the Affair I would at this time invite you to and engage you in is the business and exercise of those Religious duties as our Lord and Master Christ hath appointed for us in this present life in order to our eternal happiness in the other World to which this Text gives a direction and an encouragement 1. How are the parties assigned to this excellent employment under the title of Servant and in a peculiar manner the servant of the Lord in what place or condition the man be in for externals provided he be the Lords servant 2. And then how is the Blessedness designed for this servant or these servants 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which term is comprehensive including all felicity This stock spreads it self into many branches every one bearing fruit of its kind to make the man compleatly happy the favour of God the riches of the Promises the vision of God the fulness of Joy The servant that is blessed of the Lord thus shall be admitted into the joy of the Lord and the inheritance of the Saints in glory Matth. 25.34 Come ye blessed of my Father inherit the kingdom prepared for you and Rev. 22.14 Blessed are they that do his Commandments that they may have right to the tree of life and may enter in through the gates into the City 3. The persons for whom this Blessedness is designed such servants as are doing servants but well doing actively obedient to the Commandments of our Lord faithful and diligent constant to the end the servant doing so shall be blessed in so doing when the servant shall have finished his course and called home to the blessed pay and to receive from his Lord whom he hath served that bountiful reward and full blessing of Eternal felicities Well done thou good and faithful servant enter thou into the joy of thy Lord Matth. 25.21 There is such a connexion between the duties of Christianity performed aright and in obedience to our Lord and the blessings promised to such that nothing can cut asunder or disjoyn them yea there is such a blessing that waits upon the faithful constant diligent service of Christ that 't is reward enough in its performance to encourage any man to the service and employment And when these things are seriously considered this Position will be easily granted That 't is a blessed thing Doct. to spend and to end our dayes in doing the will of our Lord in his service Blessed he when found so doing This needs no more proof than the probation our Lord hath said it in the Text and those who have done so have found it by experience and have given in their Testimony to it S. Paul 2 Tim. 4.6 7 8. I have finished my course I have kept the Faith I am now ready the time of my departure is at hand Henceforth there is laid up for me a Crown of Righteousness which the Lord the righteous Judge shall give me at that day c. And the Exhortation he gives to such of the believing Galatians Gal. 6.9 for encouragement is to this purpose also Let us not be weary of well doing for in due season we shall reap if we faint not And Rom. 2.7 To them who by patient continuing in well doing seek for glory and honour eternal life and lastly observe what you find 1 Cor. 15.58 Wherefore my beloved brethren be stedfast and unmoveable alwayes abounding in the work of the Lord for as much as your labour is not in vain in the Lord. The man who renounceth ungodliness and worldly lusts and lives soberly righteously and piously in this present World may look for that blessed Hope i. e. may hope for that Blessing promised at the appearing of our Lord Tit. 2.12 13. and shall never be disappointed of his hope Thus you see what assurance the Gospel gives and how fully it confirms by frequent repetitions That 't is a blessed thing to do the will of God to spend and end our days in so doing 2. There is another account to be given why it will prove so to the faithful servants of our Lord. 1. For besides the dignity worth and content which waits on a constant course of Godliness that were there nothing else did follow after yet 't were enough to encourage any man of reason that understood the nature of true honour and pleasure to become Religious and to continue in that service How can it but be esteemed a blessed thing to be employed in the appointed affairs of the Lord of glory in his Court the Church about such things which conduce to the attainment of the highest advancement any man is capable of which the faithful servant may be sure of without disappointment The attendance on the greatest King that ever was or ever shall be on the earth is not once to be named with this The happiness of Solomon's servants was extoll'd by the Queen of Sheba with reference to them and their employments Happy are thy men 1 King 10.8 happy those thy servants which stand continually before thee and that hear thy wisdom Yet this was but a trivial complement in comparison of the servants of the King of glory who stand before him as every faithful obedient servant of his doth and employed by our Lord in service infinitely more gainful more honourable and more grateful And David though a King himself accounted it his greatest honour to be the servant of God and admires the blessed state and happy condition of such who are so Psal 84.4 Blessed are they which dwell in thy house and a little after vers 10. he professeth That he had rather be a door-keeper in
wherein all our deeds are recorded and 't is but a very little time e're we must all appear at the Judgement seat of Christ that every one may be judged 2 Cor. 5.10 and receive according to that he hath done whether it be good or bad and then happy the man only that shall be found well doing Within a few dayes perhaps hours it will infallibly be every ones lot to exchange this Life for another a better or a worse as this our excellent Brother hath shewn us and 't will be our wisdom to prepare for it as he did that though it come in the day or in the night slowly or swiftly in our working or in our waiting we may be ready for it that our change may be for the better and not for the worse That the day of death may be better than the day wherein we were born Eccles 7.1 3. Thirdly To which Preparation I would in the last place invite and exhort you 1. And first If thou wouldâ—st be fit to dye and prepared for thy death and ready for the coming of our Lord and desirest to be blessed then be perswaded to a serious constant course and exercise of Religion as our Lord hath taught and commanded for let no man think to be Blessed that is not found in that state to which the Promise is made Let him therefore give up himself to an holy life according to the will of God And let him for ever cast off the works of darkness and cease from doing evil let him give over sinning wilfully Isa 1.16 Job 11.11 12. 34.32 and doing foolishly and do no more such things let him deny and renounce with great resolution all ungodliness and worldly lusts and resolve upon a Sober Righteous and Godly Life as we are taught Tit. 2.12 And let every man be careful Tit. 2.12 as much as he can so to order his Conversation that he be not found either over-charged with the cares of the World or with surfetting and drunkenness or wronging our fellow-servants as our Lord hath warned Luke 21.34 Luke 21.34 and so that Day come upon you unawares And think this with thy self Would I be found at any time doing that which is sinful in it self or that may prove of evil example to others when I am gone 2. And then secondly for Practicals that thou mayst be at all times prepared And let no man think that the business of Religion the service of our Lord can be acceptably done by the bye or when we have nothing else to do or to be put off to such a time when we can do nothing but groan under pains and dye But if we mean to be prepared let us do what we have in duty let us do it now in health and with our strength as we are counselled Ecclus. 9.10 That which thy hand findeth to do Ecclus. 9.10 do it with thy might for there is no work nor wisdom in the grave whither thou goest and our Duty is told us Ecclus. 12.13 To fear God and to keep his Commandments this is the whole duty of man Now this Consideration invites us all to be doing such Duties which are necessary 1. First in respect of God To perform constantly those acts of true and devout Worship Obedience and Love to him freely willingly and with all chearfulness 2. Secondly in respect of our selves necessary for us to do To subdue our own evil dispositions to mortifie our own corruptions to Repent to amendment of life to rectifie the disorders and irregularities of our Passions and to be fruitful in Good works 3. Thirdly in respect of others To do good to as many as we can to their Souls by instructing them and perswading to Piety and a Religious conversation by Precept and Example and to their Bodies by relieving them in their necessities visiting them in their sickness by delivering them as we are able out of bondage and oppressions and praying to God for them in every condition And to conclude let every Christian be doing such things as are True Phil. 4.8 Whatsoever things are honest whatsoever things are just whatsoever things are pure whatsoever things are lovely and whatsoever things are of good report let every one resolve upon such things and be doing accordingly all virtuous acts that when-ever Death comes either hastily or gradually it may find thee in such a frame and disposition or in some good action or soon after it And then how comfortably might Christians live in expectation of Christs speedy coming and how happy might they be in their End with such preparation and as Tertullian observed in the Primitive Christians that they were expeditum morti genus a people alwayes prepared for Death so is every Holy man Of which sort was this Excellent person deceased this once shining Light now extinguished who both as a Divine and a Christian hath given ample Testimony and left a good Example who faithfully served his Master and was found so doing Concerning whom you may justly expect very Excellent things might be spoken I may not therefore dismiss this great Convention in this House of great mourning without some Remarques about the subject of this Occasion and indeed when we have to speak of Doctor BRETON no man need rack his Invention for things Worthy to be said and if a Tongue like His once had this employment words would flow apt charming But we must do as we can 1. This Excellent person was Born in London the great and splendid Metropolis of England Anno Dom. 1628. and 't is no diminution to its Grandeur when it is said That this Man was Born there 2. The University of Cambridge had the good luck to nurse him to which he carried a prompt Wit and pregnant Parts improved with what inferiour Schools could furnish him From thence he came with a stock of Humane Learning and Sacred Knowledge an excellent Scholar and Learned to make an able Divine His Honorary Degrees were not above his Merits he was as much a grace to his Title as Doctor to him When he was called to the Sacred Function he engaged in this Ministry and the Duty too he had a Commission to Preach the Gospel and he laboured abundantly and instantly not of force but of Choice he did it willingly not so much by any other constraint as that of love to his Master Christ and the Souls of men and yet he remembred also Wo unto me if I preach not the Gospel He was rarely qualified for an excellent Divine Gifts from above good and perfect pure and peaceable sober just holy temperate and apt to Teach He alwayes held fast 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the model and express form of Sound words in Faith and Charity 2 Tim. 1.3 in opposition to all growing Heresies and Arts of men of corrupt minds and evil manners and kept the Depositum as a faithful Steward and wise Master-Builder without wavering or shifting a Workman