too weak and feeble to admit of so lofty a flight Let nature and the power of it be never so much commended by its admirers the natural man without a supernatural principle and the sweet yet mighty assiâ—â—ance of special grace never did never can make God his highest end No no self sâ—icks too close to him and is predominant it is both at the top and bottom of all his actions and doth indeed run quite thorough them Whereupon Theophylact said you cannot instance in one good Heathen because they did all for vain glory 2. Your deceased Pastors desigâ—ed the salvation of their own souls interest in God communion with him and fruition of him tasts of his sweetness sights of his beauty now and satisfaction hereafter They were of David's mind and rejoyced in the same hopes David had been speaking of the men of the world how they had their bellies filled with hid treasures Oh! that is good say some we wish we had our belly full too but stay that which spoiled all is this that they had their portion in this liâ—e The comforts of the wâ—â—ld are good enâ—oymenâ—s but they are a bad portion that holy man did think them so and therefore closed most sweetly thus Psâ—l 17. 15. As for me I will behold thy â—â—ce in rightâ—â—usâ—ess I shall be sâ—tisfied when I awake with thy likeness It is as if he had said Every one as he likes if these men see so much in the world let them take it and much good may it do them when they have their bellies full let them go to rest and sing themselves asleep in the lap of pleasures at the breast of creatures when God awakens them they will find emptiness and pain having fed all along upon wind and ashes As for me I will not be put off with these things they are but for the body but for the belly which must be destroyed for that part of man which shall never be glorified As for me I study the good of my precious soul and am set for a portion for my soul I would have my portion to take when their portion is spent I am for beholding the face of God and satisfaction with the likeness of God and when I once have that I am sure that I shall have enough both of his love and of his glory Paul laboured more abundantly than all if you should ask him what it was he laboured for he tells you I and my faithful Brethren labour that whether present or absent they might be accepted of God 2 Cor. 5. 9. We would gladly be accepted of the Saints but our chief desire and ambition is to be accepted of the God of Saints and to be received to live with him as his Children for ever And surely their greatest Adversaries may well allow them this We all know there is a scantiness in the creature and a narrowness in the world from whence proceeds shouldering and justling and scrambling but the Divine Love is infinite the fulness of a God inexhaustible and in Heaven there are many mansions room enough and happiness enough and glory enough for all that shall come thither let us not quarrel by the way nor at the Inne at home at our Fathers house there is fulness of joy and pleasures for evermore 3. Lastly They desir'd and aim'd at the spiritual good and eternal welfare of your souls To bring you unto Christ to build you upon Christ to keep you from departures from him and from unstedfastness with him in a word to be instrumental for the making you meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the Saints in light Your selves are witnesses of the pains they took among you God is witness of their studies for you the tears they shed in private the prayers they made in which they wrestled with great wrestlings that you might live in his sight and neither fall short of the grace which is bestowed upon his people nor of the Rest which remains for them I dare with highest confidence affirm these were the ends at which they principally aimed and do not fear being put to the blush at last as one that is found a lyar 2. But now let us consider the end of their daies their 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 last end their going off the stage of the world and out of this vail of tears What Exist have they how come they off at last for that is the import of the word in the Original which saith a Learned Critick is a metaphor taken from those who being incompast about with thieves are in danger on every side how do they escape Faithful Pastors are tha light of the world but how many are there every where puffing at them They are the Salt of the earth but how do the wicked endeavour to cast all this Salt upon the dung-hill and what an unsavoury world should we have then They are troubled on every side and in all revolutions of Kingdoms and Nations none are so much exposed to hazard as they Well now observe and consider the end the last Act and blessed be our good God you shall find that in the Evening it is light Finis coronat opus Their End is such as that it crowns their works such as makes them free to tell the world that their labour hath not been in vain in the Lord because it fully answers all their hopes and expectations nay doth unspeakably exceed them It is such an End as is desirable for all men Even a Balaam wished thus Let me die the death of the righteous and let my last end be like his The vile wretch did not like the righteous mans life that was too refined and strict for him who loved the wages of unrighteousness but he would fain have his end And you will see no cause at all to wonder at it if you will but retire a little and in good earnest consider these things 1. The End of your faithful Pastors yea and of faithful Christians too is a welcome end Others like the fool in the Gospel have their souls taken from them there is a force put if they could resist they would in a sullen mood and disconted fit they will call for death but when it comes indeed they wish it â—arther off Whereas these resign their souls and give up the Ghost and commend their spirits into their Saviours hand They did according to their duty love their work and Relations and Friends and Comforts yea and glory in the Cross of Christ but they can freely bid farewel to all when they know they shall and think they do go to God Though their daies be few yet they depart hence full of daies because they have had their fill of living they do not only submit to God when he sends for them but also are well pleased the World was crucified to them and they to the World when things are once brought to that pass it is no hard matter to part the World
praises from you When you are under smarting rods sore afflictions pore not so much upon them as to become by that means injurious to God Some that did too little mind and prize and improve mercies whilest they were in their hands do view them and curiously study them when taken away until their spirits be imbittered and discontent raised up against the Providence But Christians beware you of that I advise you to be sensible of your loss Let the Widow be sensible what an husband she hath lost the Children what a Father if their tender age will admit it the Family what a Governor the Society what a Shepherd I and others what a Friend and Brother But let us all remember to bless God that we had him once that we had him so long let this Congregation bless God that ever it was committed to the care and charge of such a Minister that ever such a shining and burning light was set up in this Candlestick that ever such a labourer was sent into this Vineyard My dear friends I do most earnestly beg this of you for my dear Master Whatever your loss is how great soever how painful and afflictive soever let not your and my God be a loser look carefully to that as you love your selves Gods loss is your loss Therefore how sad soever your case is how dark soever your day how low soever your spirits do not now do not at any time withhold from God those praises which are his due Truly he hath been good to you and he is so now and he will be so still if you will but do your duty therefore be sure to love him and bless him let the holy God ever inhabit the praises of Israel 2. Remember them so as to bewail the loss of them You ought indeed to moderate your sorrow keeping it within the bounds of Reason and Religion as becomes those that have hope nay let there be a mixture of joy with your sorrow being sure it is well with them perfectly unspeakably and everlastingly well their happiness doth exceed their thoughts and not only afford satisfaction to them but likewise raise admiration Oh what am I that God should ever bring me hitherto Yet mourn It becomes you to be both affected and afflicted in your spirits What! shall the Father be smitten and the Children not grieved the Shepherd taken away and the Flock not troubled that would be a grand Solecism both in Nature and Religion When Samuel dyed all Israel were gathered together and lamented him 1 Sam. 25. 1. The tears of an whole Nation may well be poured out upon a Samuels death When Stephen the Proto-Martyr was carried to his burial there was great lamentation made over him Acts 8. 2. Those devout and holy men broached their sorrow they went on weeping as they went When Elisha was arrested and confined to his bed by his last sickness Ioash the King of Israel wept over his face and said O my Father my Father the chariots of Israel and horsemen thereof 2 King 13. 14. And well may there be such great sorrow else it will hold no proportion with the occasion Losses of such persons are great how little and vile soever in the worlds eyes while they lived for they were their peoples blessings the Nations pillars the stakes in our hedg and their death is not seldom ominous it speaks a storm-brewing evil to come When they are hous'd in the silent and safe chambers of the grave what may we look for next but that the great God should come out of his place cloathed with righteousness and armed with vengeance to punish the inhabitants of the world for their iniquity This know for certain the Lord is greatly offended it angers him at his very heart when he sees men stupid and insensible under such dispensations specially when they become ordinary when the righteous perish and are taken away none considering or laying it to heart It is true there is now joy in Heaven but let there be sorrow on Earth that will not be jarring Angels and perfect spirits above welcome those departed Saints with shouts and acclamations let us part from them with tears at least with sighs Possibly there are some who do rejoyce at such a mans death but whether they will believe me or no I will tell them they have no cause God will make them change their note even they shall mourn at the last 3. With your remembrance of them joyn heart-grief and trouble that you gained no more by them consult and listen to your own consciences see what they will say deal impartially and ingenuously Have not you been asleep in your seats when they have been at work in their Pulpits Have not your minds been wandring after vanity and your eyes gazing about upon this body and that this face and that fashion while they have been fixed and intent wholly taken up about the good and salvation of your souls Have not you been cold at heart while they were fervent in spirit serving the Lord They have mourned but you wept not they have piped but you danced not when they poured out their souls in confession of sins you were not humbled your hearts not broken within you many a sad and foul story hath been told of you yet you did not blush neither were you ashamed They have mightily wrestled with God and tug'd hard for mercy mercy for you your pardon and your lives but you have sate and seen all this with a most wretched indifferency as if you were persons altogether unconcerned and did not care whether they prevailed or no. How have you slipt the precious truths they delivered to you and been disobedient to the counsels they ordered out and have been little the better though they came to you in the fulness of the blessing of the Gospel of Christ They have come and blown upon your garden now with the North-wind of dreadful threatnings then with the South of gracious promises yet your spices have not flown forth nay are not too many of you unto this very day like the dry and barren Heath And surely you have cause to be troubled and oh that you may be so the good Lord trouble you kindly let your souls have these losses and afflictions still in remembrance and be humbled within you 4. Remember them so as to be quickned by that remembrance Think of their death and go to their graves and fetch life and liveliness from thence We Ministers should do so When our fellow-labourers grow fewer it stands us in hand to work the harder What! shall some drop on our right-hand and others upon our left yea many round about us and shall any of us notwithstanding be idle and lazy and half asleep at our work Oh that the ratling of deaths Chariot-wheels might awaken and rouze us up When Elijah is taken up to Heaven let every Elisha look out for a double portion of the spirit and go forth in all
is weary of them because they convince and condemn it and they are weary of the World because of its wickedness and frowardness It is terrible to think what a strugling there is when a wicked man comes to die Methinks it is something like though much beyond that of the Vine and Olive when the rest of the Trees would have made one of them King Oh saith the Vine how shall I leave my sweetness and I saith the Olive my fatness So say ungodly men upon a dying-bed how shall I leave my jovial and merry companions my honours and preferments my riches and estate my pleasures and delights if these be once gone all is gone with me there is nothing left I have nothing to take to Death ruines them at once Alas these poor crâ—aturâ—s are not branches of the Vine they are not ingrafted into the Olive they are brambles and it is not strange that they should rather chuse to rule on earth than to burn in Hell But when these holy men come to die whatever struglings there are in nature they chearfully comply Death is what they have looked and longâ—d for Pâ—ul desired to be dissolved and to be with Christ Phil. 1. 23. They groan earnesily to be 〈◊〉 upon with a robe of glory and that house which is from Heaven 2 Cor. 5. 2. They have been familiar with death they have prepared for it and waited for it and given many a long look and what should hinder their bidding of it welcome since they know it comes upon a good errand though it be a grim Messenger 2. It is a peaceable end If a wicked man should say to Death as Ioram did to Jehu is it peace Death He might expect such an answer as he had What peace so long as thy rebellions and whoredoms and abominations are so many peace no no peace I am come to arrest thee upon Actions of high Treason against the King of Heaven The Soveraignty Holiness Goodness Son Gospel Mercies Judgments of God have brought in their charges against thee and I am come to drag thee as a cursed Malefactor to the tribunal of thy Judge where thou shalt be convicted and sentenc'd But now if these gracious men should ask death as the Elders did Samuel comest thou peaceably the answer would be yes peaceably I was thine Enemy but I am reconciled A good Friend of thine hath pluckt out my sting so that I cannot hurt thee I am come to fetch thee home I am come to send thee to a place where thou hast laid up great hopes and many prayers and much treasure to a place where thy Father is and thy Saviour and an innumerable company of Angels and Spirits of just men made perfect many of them thou knowest most of them thou knowest not yet all of them one and other are ready with joy to bid you welcome Sanctifie thy self set thine house in order and come away As soon as ever I have taken off this clog of earth Angels shâ—ll according to the charge their great Lord hath given them receive thee and conduct thee to Iehovahs pallace where thou shalt quickly be no tiring by the way and no want in the Countrey It is true a malicious Devil is ready to fall upon the Saints when they are weakest and if God permit him he will bruise their heel just when they are to go their journey And sometimes there is a very sharp bout and soar conflict upon a death-bed between him and them but when once death is come he parts the fray and all is quiet The Devil may rage and storm and fret but he can do nothing else 3. It is a comfortable end I deny not but a little before there may be Clouds and this shady Valley so dark as that the Believer is at a great loss Though his Title be good yet hâ— cannot read his Evidence God may be pleased to put a Vail upon his own face and the Sun of Righteousness suspend his Beams There may be a great silence in Heaven and not one word of comfort spoken that the attentive and listening Soul can hear God is indeed by but he is not seen He doth uphold but not revive And hereupon there follows sad questionings and hot disputes if it be so why am I thus will not God vouchâ—afe me one smile now and can I think he owns me for one of his Children Is his mercy clean gone for ever Hath he forgotten to be gracious or resolved he will not be so to me But when it is thus very dark the dawning of the day is near at hand And oftentimes the Clouds scatter and the case is rightly stated and things are brought to a good issue before the last blow be given God comes in and takes off the sackcloth and puts upon his beloved Child a Garment of praise so that now he lies in state upon his Bed of languishment But however as soon as Death hath done his work the dispute is at an end and the controversie is determined on the Souls side And this is done when things have been at the worst After the lowest ebb there then is a spring-tide of consolation Then the enlarged Soul doth magnifie the Lord and the Spirit rejoyceth in God its Saviour But how often is it otherwise have you not known have you not heard that some of these precious Sons of Sion these heirs of joy and glory have triumphed over Death even while they were under its assaults When Death hath been making its most furious batteries then have they been singing their Song of praise in the Apostles language and strain 1 Cor. 15. 55 56 57. O Death where is thy stiâ—g O Grave where is thy Victory The sting of Death is sin and the strength of sin is the Law But thanks be to God which giveth us the victory through our Lord Iesus Christ. What raptures have they been in and what extasies of joy so that their pains and throws have been forgotten or neglected How have some of them told by-standers hic sat lucis here is light enough meaning in their breasts And others that they were as full of joy as they could hold God had anointed them with the oyl of gladness against their burial and made their cups run over so that their Hearts have leaped within them at the thoughts of their being upon the borders of Eternity and so near the company which they lov'd so well Witness that more than Swan-like Song of good old Simeon Luke 2. 29. 30. Lord now lettest thou thy Servant depart in peace according to thy word for mine eyes have seen thy salvation Having got his Heart and Christ in his Eye he would set up his Sail and his Frait Grace inbe gone for the other World 4. It is an Honourable end Wicked men go out in a stink not only the grosly profane but the hypocritical professors if discovered as often they are Their putrid carasses are not so unsavoury as their Names
Dragon but by the hand of death did I say he fell no no he rose higher and is now in the highest with the highest This Star is removed into another Orb His Mantle of flesh he dropt and left behind but his Spirit mounted and returned to God that gave it And Si verbis audacia detur give me leave to saâ— a great man is fall'n in London His work was done and his dear Master would not permit his stay after it but took him home and gave him his Crown Hear a little my Brethren of those precious sayings which fâ—owed from him abundantly that Night before a full surrender was made What he spake was taken by the Pen of a ready Writer Out of that large Garden I have pickt some few flowers which I thus make up and present unto you He had his light of comfort in that day of trouble though not a bright Sun-shine yet under the thickest Cloud he could see grace in his Heart and read his Evidence These words assure us of that Dear Iesus dost not thou know that I love thee though not with that activity which others do yet with truth of love Oh! thou knowest that I love thee and wilt not thou love me and manifest thy self to me Lord thou knowest the bent of my heart was toward thy self thou knowest I laid up my treasure with thee and made choice of Heaven for mine Inheritance thou wilâ— not forget it nâ—w He had his experiences ready to produce as Cordials to himself and Arguments with his God will you hear them Oh dear Iesus a glimpse of the light of thy Countenance is worth an age of pains and prayers I have had formerly not only tasts but large draughts sometimes Ah my dear Father thou hast given me sweet encouragement in waiting upon thee and of late thou hast not wholly turned thy back Oh my dear Iesus didst thou not manifest thy self to me at the Sacrament when I was so very weak didst not thou give me some tasts that thou art gracious and that thou didst love me in particular and that thou wouldest never leave nor forsake me nor suffer me to depart from thee is this so long a time ago He had high thoughts of God when he was at the lowest he justified him and that in this very Lauguage O my Lord I will not complain of thee though I must complain to thee I complain of my self but not of thee I have deserved thou shouldest let me die in a Cloud and though I do I doubt not but I shall be happy He could with a composed Spirit take his leavâ— and shake hands with all His expressions were these Farewell the world the pleasures profits and honours of the world farewell sin I shall ever be with the Lord. Farewell my dear Wife farewell my dear Children farewell my Servants and farewell you my Spiritual Children whom he was at leisure thus to advise be careful in your choice of a Pastor choose one who in his Doctrine life and manners may adorn the Gospel I shall be glad to meet you all in Heaven This spake a calm within a sedate frame of Spirit He could welcome death observe how his words were dipt in oyl when its hands were to be imbrewed in his blood Oh noble Death welcome welcome Would you know how this came to pass these words tell you Death hath wounded my head death hath wounded my breast which was full of pimples but he hath not wounded my conscience blessed be God He could with importunity call for Death Hasten hasten oh hasten Death where is thy bow where thine arrows come come come I am yet in the body I am yet on earth but it is Heaven Heaven Heaven I would fain be at I seek death but 〈◊〉 find it How long O Lord holy and true He would scarce be reconciled to the means of rebuking his disease and prolonging his 〈…〉 was conscience of duty that put him upon use of them That learned and excellent Physitian who applied to him in his sickness and whose heart was set upon his recovery though he much question'd it told me he said to him why do you come to keep mâ— out of Heaven Hâ— could play with Death thus Praythee take possâ—ssion of my Body see whaâ— thou wilt get by it fatten thy Grave with thy Sacrifices He had high and admiring thoughts of Jesus Christ read them thus Oh dear Iesus what or who art thou Oh! that glorious Spirit that laid â—he foundations of the Earth and stretched out the Heavens like a Curtain Oh what an excellent person aâ—t thou oh what an excellent person art thou thou art all lovely in every part from the Crown of the head to the Soal of the foot thou art all love all excellent thy bounty is divine thy love is divine thy beauty is divine He was not satisfied with what he had of Christ. Observe how desires flam'd Dear Iesus dear sweet Iesus come unto me and manifest thy self unto me that others may see and know that thou lovest me Now if ever now now now if ever now if ever O dear Iesus I am going out of the body to be with thee to deal only with Spirits Oh that I might have the light of thy countenance the sense of thy loâ—e oh bome unto me I see but a little of thy beauty and excellency oh that I might see more and taste more and enjoy more that I may have more than ever I had and â—ast more than ever I did And he longed to be with Jesus was in a kind of holy impatience sick of love and desires to delight himself in clear vision and full fruition of him Witness these groans Dear Iesus come and take me away I have no business hear my work is done my glass is run my strength is gone and when my work is done why shall I stay behind Oh come come be as a Roe upon the Mountains of spices How long shall I wait and cry how long shall I be absent from thee And again O come and take me to thy self and give me possession of that happiness which is above the vision of thy self perfect likeness to thy self full fruition of thy self without any interruption or conclusioâ— And yet again O come deâ—r Lord Iesus how long before thou â—end thy Chariots O come thou down to me and take me up to thee Having â—ain some time silent and still a Friend desired him to give him his hand if the clouds were scattered whereupon he reached out his hand and said as those present understood him I am upheld in the Arms of a Mediator Thus died this precious Saint this eminent Minister thus he lived and thus he died Let him never be forgotten he shall not he cannot be forgotten And let us who survive be followers of him and others who serv'd and walked with Christ on earth and now sit and reign with Christ in glory FINIS