hand left with his Relict to be Printed A SERMON Preached at the Funeral of Mr. James Janeway March 20 1673 4. 1 COR. 15. 55 former part O death where is thy sting I Am verily perswaded that in this great Assembly there are not many but what are real Mourners Although the pompous Ceremonies of a Funeral are wanting yet I am confident few have been attended with more sad hearts to their graves than he that is now to be carried thither The loss of a Saint is a great loss not only because such are so useful and profitable while they live but their removal also is no good Omen their departing is like Lot's out of Sodom before its overthrow Their housing in Heaven is like Noah's getting into the Ark before the Old World was drowned The Prophet tells us That the righteous are taken away from the evil to come Isa 57. 1. But the loss of a Minister that has been zealous and industrious and whose great design was to turn many unto righteousness is yet more to be laid to heart Is not Gods controversie great when the Ambassadors of peace are called home May we not justly be afraid of losing the Treasure when the Vessels that contain it are broken so fast in pieces When faithful Labourers are still growing fewer may we not suspect there are not many more among us to be gathered Surely then great lamentations aking hearts sad countenances and sadder spirits very well become this days Solemnity What David of old said over his dead and dear Jonathan 2 Sam. 1. 26 I cannot abstain from using I am distressed for thee my brother Janeway I am distressed for thee very pleasant hast thou been unto me and so thou wast to all that knew thee Thy love to Souls was wonderful and therefore every Soul should be concerned at thy leaving the world that thy work is come to an end He is gone alas he is gone he is gone We shall never see his face nor hear his voice more But as his life was exceeding so also was his death edifying He had a sore conflict indeed but afterwards a glorious conquest and was a Triumphant Saint before his expiration O death where is thy sting O grave where is thy victory In this Chapter the Apostle Paul looked by the eye of Faith to the end of the world nay he looked beyond it his Faith was the substance of things hoped for and render'd things unseen evident He saw already the Lord Jesus upon his great white Throne sitting to judg the world in righteousness He saw the bodies that were sown in corruption raised in incorruption that were sown in dishonour raised in glory that were sown in weakness raised in power He saw Believers rescued out of the prison of the grave and placed at the right hand of Christ with Crowns on their heads palms in their hands mortality being totally swallowed up of life And this makes him thus triumph and say O death where is thy sting I shall not trouble you with the various readings of this Text which I have met with nor spend time in shewing the agreement between these words and those of the Prophet Hosea c. 13. 14 O death I will be thy plague from whom many are of opinion they are borrowed though Calvin thinks that the Apostle does not professedly cite the Prophet but only does accommodate a Sentence that is very pious and was very well known to his present purpose I shall adhere to that reading which you have and being thus read the words are not only sound but very full of consolation Chrysostome here admires 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the bravery 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 B. in 1 Ep. ad Cor. of the Apostles spirit who looked upon future things as past and done 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and sings a song of Victory over that last Enemy the thoughts of which terrifie and astonish the most among the children of men In the words you may observe 1. The Person triumphing the Apostle Paul whose Faith was strong concerning the Resurrection and his assurance well-grounded of his interest in Christ who is the resurrection and the life And the Apostle triumphs that other Believers might grow fearless being emboldened by his greatness of spirit 2. What is triumphed over and that is death Death which is the King of terrors which tames the proudest which pulls down the most mighty which is an Universal Monarch and none are able to withstand but all are forced to pay homage to it by stooping and lying before it in the dust This notwithstanding is triumphed over 3. The reason of this triumph the sting of death is taken out and consequently that which renders death so dreadful is removed The Text doth afford us two Doctrines 1. Death comes to a Believer without a sting 2. The Believer may triumph over Death Doct. 1. I begin with the first of these Doctrines Death comes to a Believer without a sting It is appointed unto men once to dye Heb. 9. 27. And this Statute as it changes not so it reaches all Holy men return to the dust as well as others But though they are not exempted from the stroke yet they are from the sting of death In the prosecuting of this Doctrine I shall First Speak concerning Death Secondly Concerning the Sting of Death Thirdly Shew how Believers come to be delivered from this Sting Lastly Make Application In the first place I am to speak concerning Death And 1. I find Affliction in Scripture sometimes called by that name Exod. 10. 27 when Egypt was afflicted with the Locusts Pharaoh cries out Intreat the Lord your God that he may take away from me this death only Afflictions have stings too which Christ only can take out As Sin turns our blessings into cursings so it makes every bitter cup poison But Believers are pardoned and sanctified and therefore though they are exercised with the Cross yet the Curse of the Cross is taken away 2. Hell is likewise called Death Rev. 21. 18 The lake which burns with fire and brimstone is the second death This death is the separation of the Soul from God the chiefest good and the enduring of those torments which the Lords power and wrath justly inflicts upon all that live and dye in their iniquities Augustine has a notable passage That death which men fear is the destruction of the body but the separation of the soul from God Enarrat in Ps 48. Mors est vera quam non timent is the true death which they are not afraid of This second death which is as it were all gall all sting Believers shall never feel 3. Death is taken for the dissolving of that union which is between our bodies and our spirits when the dust returns to the earth as it was and the spirit unto God who gave it Eccl. 12. 7. Of this death the Apostle is to be understood in the Text. Now in the death of Believers
great a God But Believers are not under the Law Christ has redeemed them from the curse of it Their guilt is all removed as far as the East is from the West and that 's far enough Psal 103. 12 As far as the east is from the west so far hath he removed our transgressions from us 2. We are to take notice of the dominion of sin Where sin is loved and preferred before God where 't is served with both hands earnestly where provision is made for the flesh to fulfil the lusts thereof we may conclude that sin reigns and has dominion and sins reigns unto death that is joins first and second death together for death is opposed unto eternal life which grace is said to reign unto Rom. 5. ult As sin hath reigned unto death even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord. The sum is that all sin though it does deserve to be yet is not the sting of death but sin unpardoned sin reigning and truly 't is unpardoned if 't is reigning is the sting of death In the third place I am to tell you how Believers come to be delivered from this sting of death 1. The Son of God was made flesh he became a mortal man that he might be capable of suffering for Believers As God he could not suffer and if he had been meerly man his sufferings would have been insufficient The Blood of Christ is the Blood of God else it could never have washed away sins The Righteousness of Christ is the Righteousness of him that is Jehovah Jer. 23. 6 else the imputation thereof would not avail for our remission Who can venture his Soul in Christs hand and with satisfaction rely upon him that eyes not his Godhead And how may we be encouraged to believe on him since he has taken our nature and is become our Brother Heb. 2. 11 He is not ashamed to call them brethren 2. Christ was made sin that he might deliver Believers from the sting of death He had none of his own but our sins were imputed to him Isa 53. 6 All we like sheep have gone astray we have turned every one to his own way and the Lord hath made the iniquity of us all to meet on him And as there was an imputation of our sins to Christ so there is of his Righteousness to us 2 Cor. 5. ult as Christ suffered for the sake of our sins which were laid upon him so for the sake of his righteousness his obedience and sufferings our sins are remitted This is the great truth preached up in the Gospel How can death be disarmed of its sting or the conscience have any true peace till the truth be believed and improved Though Papists and never so many others oppose this truth yet through grace we will hold it fast Though Angels from heaven should preach another doctrine we would conclude a second Apostacy of Angels and say they were accursed 3. Christ became obedient unto death that he might unsting death We shall presently be convinced that death was very terrible which Christ did undergo if we consider with how many stings it came armed upon him All the sins of all those that ever were or shall be saved did as it were spit their poison at Christ together If the first sin of the first Adam be so heavy that all the shoulders of his whole progeny bow under it and cannot bear it Oh what a load was all that guilt which lay upon the second Adam Well death thrust its sting into Christ the Head and there left it there lost it it has not now a sting to hurt his Members What was Christs aim when he died He aimed at the satisfaction of divine Justice he designed to justifie many and to pacifie their consciences they receiving the atonement Rom. 5. 9 11. He died that he might destroy him that had the power of death that is the Devil Heb. 2. 14. The Devil has great power to render death formidable by his accusations by his fiery darts which he is liberal of upon the least permission But Christ died to destroy him in this respect to quench his darts and stop his mouth Further he design'd the purging away of iniquity the cleansing of his Church The dominion of sin is at present pull'd down and at last the very being of it shall be abolished By all this you may perceive how death is unstung by the death of Christ 4. Christ loosed the pains of death for it was not possible he should be holden of it Act. 2. 24. By his power he overcame death as by his sufferings he had made sufficient satisfaction Death could not have been unstung if Christ had not risen Sin and Satan and Death might have triumphed if our Lord had been detained still a prisoner in the grave our faith would have been vain we should have been yet in our sins those that have fallen asleep in Christ would all have perished 1 Cor. 15. 17 18. But Christ having taken his life again which he laid down death hath no more dominion over him it is a conquered enemy 5. Believers being by faith united to Christ partake of the benefits which he has procured now remission of sin and freedom from the bondage of corruption which is freedom indeed are to be reckoned among these benefits All that are in Christ share in his victories in their head who is a common person and representative of them all they have already been Conquerors and at length all their foes will be made their footstools the last enemy that shall be destroyed is death but that shall certainly likewise be destroyed The Apostle speaks thus to the Saints All are yours and ye are Christs 1 Cor. 3. ult They that are interested in the Lord Jesus all things are theirs whether Paul or Apollo or Cephas or the world or life or death Death is theirs theirs to serve them theirs to profit them theirs to be an outlet from sin and sorrow and an inlet unto happiness The Application now follows Use 1 of Information in these particulars 1. Does death come to a Believer without a sting Then it ceases to be so great an enemy 'T is confessed that death is a terrible enemy to the Ungodly it strips them naked of all their comforts takes away their portion from them deprives them of their good things and not only so but drags them to the judgment-seat where being condemned they are delivered immediately to the tormentors Luk. 16. 25 Son remember thou in thy life time receivedst thy good things and likewise Lazarus evil things but now he is comforted and thou art tormented How great a kindness did death do to Lazarus in sending him from the rich mans gate to Abrahams bosom Death does that in an instant for Believers which all ordinances providences the greatest industry and strongest cries could never effect it makes them compleatly holy and sends them to that rest
which remains to the people of God Paul Apollo Cephas are friends but death a greater friend than any 2. Does death come to a Believer without a sting Then it ought not so much to be feared and it may truly be said that the Saints are more afraid than hurt by it As in regeneration there is a change wrought in reference to other things the world which before was idolized being now contemned sin that before was loved being now hated so there should be in reference unto death this which before was feared should be desired 2 Cor. 5. 2 In this we groan earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven Death is the less to be feared for guilt which causes fear will not be any more contracted 3. Does death come to a Believer without a sting Behold the vast difference between the end of the Believer and the Vnbeliever Indeed the breath goes away from both alike their Bodies are carried to the same grave which is stiled the house of all the living But if you could behold where their Souls go then you would perceive as vast a difference as there is between the highest Heaven and the lowest Hell The wicked man when he dies leaves perhaps children roaring wife wringing of her hands relations weeping bitterly Oh but what are these lamentations compared with those despairing agonies and sorrows that he himself is full of in outer darkness Even impious Balaam was so apprehensive of the different end of the holy and unholy that his wish was Let me dy the death of the righteous and let my last end be like his Numb 23. 10. 4. Does death come to a Believer without a sting Then departed Saints should not be mourned for without hope Ambrose says Non ammitti sed praemitti videntur They are not lost but are sent before to those mansions whither we must quickly follow if we patiently continue in well-doing Vse 2. Of Consolation to Believers they must dye indeed but they shall not feel the sting of death The Lyon in the fable was not feared when his Teeth and Claws were gone Death should not make us dismayed when its sting is taken out I shall propound these four grounds of comfort in death unto Believers 1. At death sin is quite mortified The Law in the members is no longer in force that which the Apostle calls the body of sin and death then dyes and shall never have a resurrection Filia devorabit Matrem Death the daughter will devour Sin the mother Saints then shall no longer cry out O wretched who shall deliver us Rom. 7. 4. Deliverance will be fully come They shall no longer complain of evil present when they would do good their ignorance their unbelief their estrangement from God and unsuitableness to him will all then be removed Nazianzen speaks Orat. 32. excellently to our present purpose A Saint therefore is made to dye that sin might not be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 an immortal evil 2. At Death Believers take wings and fly out of a troublesome World the World shall no more ensuare them cross them persecute them Oh hapyy exchange to leave Meshech and the Tents of Kedar and to go and dwell in the heavenly Jerusalem here they dwell among the sons of Belial they see and hear that which vexes their righteous souls from day to day and in the very best they know they see something that is offensive But they will go to other kind of company after death Surely the spirits of just men made perfect and an innumerable company of Angels will be far sweeter society than any in this world All tears will be wiped away from Non homo 〈◊〉 miseria hominis Christiani moritur their eyes and every thing gone that may occasion sadness 3. At Death Believers are set out of Satans reach He got into the first Paradise and tempted Adam who before was innocent and prevailed by his temptation but into Heaven he shall not enter Concerning the Dragon and his Angels 't is said their place is not found any more in Heaven Rev. 12. 8. He can shoot his darts any-where here in this World even in the Sanctuary even at the Lords table he will be pestering the Saints with his injections and solicitations but Heaven is too sacred a place for that wicked one to have admission 'T is as impossible for the Devil to reach any with his darts that are in glory as it is for us with an arrow to hit the Sun in the firmament 4. At Death Believers receive a Crown of Life Rev. 3. 10 Be thou faithful unto death and I will give thee a crown of Life They shall see God face to face and that sight will transform them into his likeness they shall live with God for ever and that life must needs be holy that life must needs be joyful Psal 16. ult In thy presence is fulness of joy at thy right hand are pleasures for evermore Cyprian that Ser. 4. De mortalit p. 2â—â— he might make death comfortable sayes Ad immortalitatem morte transgredimur by death we pass to immortality nec potest vita aeterna succedere nisi hinc contigerit exire Neither can we till out of this life enter upon that life that is eternal then he goes on Who would not haste unto that which is so much better of the two Vse 3. Of Exhortation in two Words 1. Let it be your great care that the sting of death may be taken out Sin will not always be made light of perhaps when death is really within view Conscience that was stupid before may be horribly affrighted when the strength fails and Physicians are discouraged by fatal Symptoms when t is whispered in the Room there 's no hope of recovery when Friends stand by and weep because they look upon you as good as gone Oh then though never so sensless and seared before fear may come upon you as desolation and destruction as a whirl-wind distress and anguish may take hold of you Prov. 1. 27. Or suppose you die hardned immediately after death the sting of it will be felt and the unexpected smart and torment will be the more tormenting Oh how did the rich Glutton yell and roar when he felt himself tormented in the flames that before had lived in ease and pleasure It concerns you therefore highly to have Death unstung and that it may be unstung follow these Directions 1. Let your hearts be pricked for sin at present Act. 2. 37. Be afflicted and mourn and weep because you have sinned against God against your own Souls Smite upon your thighs and say What have I done blame your ignorance and madness in offending Psal 73. 21 22. Thus my heart was grieved I was pricked in my reins so foolish was I and ignorant I was as a beast before thee Thus to be troubled is the way to peace 2. Believe that help indeed lies in the Lord Jesus and
that he is able to save you from the sting of death Believe that he was delivered for our offences and that he rose again for our justification Rom. 4. ult and that his life which he gave is sufficient to be a ransom for many 3. Stick at no terms that you may partake of Christ Jesus Be not offended at any thing quarrel not at the cross be willing to deny your selves submit unto the strictest commands let no iniquity have dominion over you consent that Christ should save you in his own way and from sin it self as well as wrath And if thus Christ be accepted he will prevent death's stinging you He has the Keys of Hell and of Death Rev. 1. 18 I am he that liveth and was dead and behold I am alive for evermore Amen and have the keys of hell and of death He has power over both and though he lets you fall into the grave he will keep hell lockt against you 2. The other word of Exhortation is this Labour after assurance that death's sting is really taken out And you may be assured of this by two things if you are dead to sin if Christ be your life 1. If you are dead to sin If the gain and pleasure of sin does not now take with you and you are deaf unto Arguments that heretofore were prevalent to perswade you to evil If you have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts you may conclude you are Christs Gal. 5. 24. and then Death will not be the forerunner of Condemnation When Christ was Crucified they lookt upon him as a deceiver and they slew him Then our lusts may be said to be crucified when we look upon them as deceitful and so indeed they are and we cry out earnestly to have them killed and are glad when they are slain 2. If Christ be your life If you live by faith upon him and derive life more and more abundantly from him If you live to him and not henceforth unto your selves 2 Cor. 5. 15. then death will be no death to you Hark to the Apostle Phil. 1. 21. To live to me is Christ and to die is gain Thus of the first Doctrine Death comes to a Believer without a sting Doct. 2. The second Doctrine is this The Believer may triumph over Death Thus does the Apostle in the Text he dares Death to do its worst he was assured of victory over it The Reasons of the Doctrine are these 1. Believers may triumph over Death for Christ is risen the Captain of their Salvation has encountred this enemy and overcame him and they have a share and interest in his Conquest Methinks these words seem to be spoken with joy and an exulting spirit Luk. 24. 34. The Lord is risen indeed Though he came not down from the Cross yet he came out of the grave We see that Death is not an invincible enemy Christ has been too hard for it 2. Believers may triumph over Death for their Resurrection is certain there is so strong a connexion between Christs Resurrection and ours that the Apostle sticks not to say If there be no Resurrection of the dead then is not Christ risen 1 Cor. 15. 13. The time will certainly come when all that are in the grave shall hear Christs voice and shall come forth they that have done good to the resurrection of life as they that have done evil to the resurrection of damnation Joh. 5. 28 29. The Grave shall at last become sick of Believers bodies and cast them out and being then made Spiritual bodies Death shall no more have dominion over them 3. Believers may triumph over Death for Christ died not only that he might deliver from the sting of death but also from that bondage which the fear of death causes Heb. 2. 15 And deliver them who through the fear of death were all their life-time subject to bondage Our Lord consults the peace and joy as well as safety of his followers and saves them not only from the evils feared but from the fear of evil for fear has much torment in it 4. Believers may triumph over Death for death is exceeding gainful they are not losers even in reference to their bodies The Corn gains by being sown in the ground and whereas 't was but a single grain rises again sixty or an hundred fold so the bodies of Believers shall gain by the Grave they shall rise glorious Chrysostom illustrates this by the similitude of a Founder who breaks a more vile vessel all to pieces that melting it he may cast it into a vessel of honour 5. Believers may triumph over Death for this is the last enemy and if they pass the pikes well here and are not hurt by this their warfare is accomplished and no other enemies shall meddle with them any more for ever Vse 1. To the ungodly and hypocritical All you that allow your selves in sin whether more openly or under a profession of Godliness you have no reason to triumph but to tremble at the thoughts of Death Consider 1. When you die the day of Grace will end not another accepted time nor day of Salvation is to be expected you will no more be intreated to be reconciled nor called upon to turn and live 2 When you die your joys will die The triumphing of the wicked is short and the joy of the hypocrite but for a moment Job 20. 5. That man that said Soul take thine ease eat drink and be merry thou hast goods laid up for many years when upon the sudden even that night his Soul was required Oh what became of his carnal mirth and jollity 3. When you die your hopes will die the hope of the unjust and of the hypocrite shall perish Their hope shall be cut off and their trust shall be a spiders web Job 8. 13 14. 'T is reckoned among some of the notable Sayings of Aristotle that being Diog. Lur. in vita Aristot asked what Hope was he answered 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the dream of one that is awake All the hopes of those that are not really new Creatures concerning the Love of God and Life and Salvation are but dreams and when they awake in Hell they will find they are meer dreams Thus the hungry man dreameth and behold he earth but he awaketh and his soul is empty the thirsty man dreameth and behold he drinketh but he awaketh and behold he is faint Isa 29. 8. 4. When you that are ungodly die your sorrows will be extream but they shall never die Our Lord says thrice together That in hell the worm dies not the fire is not quenched Mark 9. 44 46 48. Vse 2. To the weak and doubting Saints Labour to haue your Spiritual state cleared 'T is a wild thing to suffer matters that concern Eternity hang at uncertainties Oh watch more against every sin for this feeds your doubts and 〈…〉 unto Jesus and understand his Righteousness 〈…〉 that Grace may be more evident
three things are remarkable 1. Their Souls immediately are with Christ. The Apostle for encouragement-sake seems to put this into death's definition Phil. 1. 23 For I am in a strait betwixt two having a desire to be dissolved or to depart and to be with Christ which is far better The Saints as soon as absent from the body are present with the Lord 2 Cor. 5. 8 9 We are confident says the Apostle and willing rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord wherefore we labour that whether present or absent we may be accepted of him That opinion of the Souls sleeping and dying with the Body and resting sensless till the resurrection is absurd and impious Christ says Fear not them which can kill the body but are not able to kill the soul Mat. 10. 28. If the Sould did dye with the Body man would have power over both and might cast the Soul as well as the Body into a dead sleep But our Lord affirms man is not able to kill the Soul which is an undeniable argument to prove its immortality and surviving after its separation it goes immediately to Christ if it hath been sanctified Stephen commended his spirit into Christs hands Act. 7. 59. 2. Believers bodies after death has divided their Souls from them are still united unto Christ Our very Bodies are called the Temples of the Holy Ghost and the Members of Christ 1 Cor. 6. 15 19. And the mystical Union between Christ and his Members is lasting nay everlasting The dead Saints do sleep in Jesus they are in Jesus while asleep 1 Thes 4. 14. 'T is comfortable seriously to meditate upon that relation and consequently that respect and care that Christ has to and of the carcasses of his deceased Servants even these are still his Members and by vertue of that Union shall rise again at the last day 3. The death of Believers is compared to a sleep for after a while they shall be awaked I grant the ungodly shall wake too but in order to punishment 't were better for them to sleep eternally Believers Bodies and Souls that are parted by death shall one day be reunited 'T will surely be a joyful meeting of those two dear Companions that have been so long separated especially they being both changed so much from what they were when before together for the Soul will in the most perfect manner partake of the Divine Nature and the Body that is now a vile one will be like to Christs glorious body Phil. 3. ult Not another Body but the same for substance shall rise again else 't would not be a Resurrection but a new Creation 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 This mortal shall put on immortality and this corruptible shall put on incorruption 1 Cor. 15. 53. In the second place I am to speak of the sting of death Now if you ask what that is the Apostle explains his own meaning in the verse following the Text The sting of death is sin As sin has caused death it self so all the terror and bitterness of it is the effect of sin Sin is certainly committed upon a very great mistake only those keep their sins who know not what they are The Apostle cautions against being hardened through the deceitfulness of sin Heb. 3. 13. None are obstinate in sin but those that are deceived by it Sin is fancied to be full of pleasure and 't is represented as if 't were all honey but 't is a sting the very sting of death It may be compared to a sting in these three respects 1. Sin like a sting pierces It pierced Christ it pierces us That which no weapon can reach sin can wound and that 's the Soul Diogenes Laertius tells us that when Anaxarchus was In vitâ Anaxar 〈◊〉 driven to Cyprus and taken by Nicocreon the Tyrant there and horribly beaten as in a Mortar with a Pestle he cried out 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Beat on beat on the windbag of Anaxarchus for Anaxarchus himself thou canst not hurt But though weapons cannot touch the Soul sin strikes deepest there Against this the Apostle says our fleshly lusts do war and therefore beseeches us to abstain from them 1 Pet. 2. 11. 2. Sin like a sting pains Cain was thus pained when he cried out My punishment is greater than I can bear Pashur was thus pained when he deserved the name of Magor Missabib Terror round about Judas also was thus pained when in the height of despair and horror he put a period to his burthensom life with his own hands Oh the horror and raging torment that sin causes in the conscience A wounded spirit who can bear says Solomon Prov. 18. 14 intimating there is no pain like the smart of those wounds 3. Sin like a sting poisons 'T is compared to venom and that of creatures most venomous Deut. 32. 33 Their wine is the poison of Dragons and the cruel venom of Asps This was all the fruit which those which the Lord had once planted a noble Vine yielded How harmless soever sin is thought 't is rank poison Job 20. 12 14 Though wickedness be sweet in his mouth though hide de it under his tongue though he spare it and forsake it not yet at length it proves the gall of Asps within him You see in what respect sin is called a sting But here it may be demanded Is all sin the sting of death Miserable then must the end of all needs be for all have sinned and come short of the glory of God Rom. 3. 23. In many things all still offend Jam. 3. 2. There is not a just man upon earth that does good and sins not Eccl. 7. 20. I answer in these particulars 1. All by sin have deserved death accompanied with its greatest horror We read Rev. 6. 8 of a pale horse and the name of him that sat on him was death 'T is represented as on horseback to shew the speed and haste it makes but behold a terrible second it follows Hell followed with him and truly 't were just that Death and Hell should be inseparable The Grave in the Old Testament is frequently called Hell to signifie that sin has indeed joined the Grave and Hell together and how righteous 't is that one should always follow upon the other 2. In sin we are to take notice of two things the strength of it and the dominion of it and those that are under both these death comes with a sting to them But whoever are redeemed and made free from sins strength and dominion are under grace and death is unstung before it comes to them 1. We are to take notice of the strength of sin Now the Apostle informs us that the strength of sin is the Law 1 Cor. 15. 56. Therefore sin is so powerful to bind over to condemnation because the transgression of a Law and therefore to such dreadful and eternal vengeance because the Law transgressed is the Law of so
Try your selves 〈…〉 seech the Lord to search you and discover sincerity to you And when once you know that God is yours and you his then you will be above the fear of Death Vse 3. To those few that upon good grounds are not afraid of dying 1. Be thankful for victory Thanks be unto God who giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ 1 Cor. 15. 57. 2. Be stedfast and unmoveable always abounding in the work of the Lord forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord 1 Cor. 15. 58. Thus have I finished both the Doctrines and both are verified in this eminent servant of Christ who is now to be interred Death came without a sting to him which is the common happiness of all the Saints he triumphed over death and that is peculiar What I have to say concerning my dear deceased Brother I shall speak in this order I shall tell you wherein the Lord made him to excel in his life-time And what his Carriage was at his Departure For the first there are these following Particulars very remarkable 1. Great was the sweetness of his Natural temper and disposition And this excellency of Nature was very much hightned and ennobled by the grace of God He was far from moroseness and bitterness of spirit Candor was to be discerned in his very Countenance and by conversing with him 't was much more apparent And in his kindness and affability and proneness to oblige he had a design of good upon Souls for he knew he could not more oblige any than to endeavour their Eternal welfare 2. He made it his business to be Religious he practised himself what he preached to others and was a follower of Christ as he exhorted others to follow him his works were good as well as his words and Oh how oft and seriously did he lift up his Soul to God desiring nothing more than to be a man and Pastour after the heart of the Lord 3. He was a serious mourner for the decays of Godliness in this backsliding age How would he mention the old Puritan strictness and circumspection and bewail the excesses and licentiousness of professors 4. His heart was inflamed with love to Christ And though his affections were so strong and vehement yet they were still aspiring higher His expressions sometimes shewed unusual raptures and extasies of love He would beg that he might equal Paul or John nay the very Seraphims in loving that he might be sick and dye of love Blessed Soul thou hast now thy fill thou lovest thy Lord now and enjoyest this love to the uttermost of thy capacity 5. His bowels of compassion yearned towards immortal souls He knew the worth of his own and the souls of others and as he was acquainted with the value of souls so he was sensible of their danger How earnestly would he warn them to flee from future wrath How eagerly and sweetly would he woo them to give their consents to be espoused to Christ How admirably would he expostulate with them concerning their egregious folly in refusing He pitied the souls of all old young nay he was deeply concerned for little Children witness those books which he styles tokens for them 6. He laboured abundantly spending himself in his Masters work If he had wrought less he might in probability have lived longer but he chose rather like the Candle to consume that he might give light to others He preached he visited he catechized he was instant in season out of season and truly the Lord honoured him exceedingly in making him instrumental to convert the prophane to strengthen the weak in Grace to speak comfortably and healing words to the distressed and wounded in their Spirits 7. He was a man mighty in prayer there was an elegant fluency in his Expression both when he prayed and preached but oh the Spiritual and Heavenly matter was most to be admired Augustine tell us of a certain person who prayed as if he De Civ Dei lib. 22. cap. 8 would expirare orando breath out his very soul and life in prayer and adds quas tuòrum preces si non has exaudis What Supplications will be prevalent if not such as these This may be applied to my Brother Janeway He was a mighty wrestler with God and would not be put off without a blessing 8. He was much for Vnity and Love though according as it was foretold Love is grown so cold in most 't was warm in him he followed peace as well as holiness and was of a most yielding Spirit ready as far as he might to comply with any rather than a breach should be or be continued 9. He abounded in works of Charity having seriously ponder'd that saying of our Lord 'T is more blessed to give than to receive As he was liberal in importing the treasure of the Gospel so of his own substance which God had given him 'T was his constant course whatever he received to give two shillings in the pound that is the tenth unto good uses He endeavoured to perswade others to be Charitable the Widows and the Fatherless had a great interest in his Compassions and may well bewail his departure by whom now they can be no more relieved 10. Which crowned all his other excellencies he was exceeding humble he was much in praising and admiring and adoring God and had very low thoughts of himself and in honour preferred others before himself He would say he was the least of Ministers less than the least of all Saints In these particulars you have something of his Character but the half has not been told you yet enough has been said to make you sensible how heavy the stroke was which took him away The loss of him is not only his Relations loss but Redriffs loss Londons loss Englands loss the Churches loss for he was of such a publick Spirit that all are like to miss him In the next place I am to speak of his carriage at his death He had a great Conflict with Satan somewhile before his leaving the world and truly I do not wonder that the Devil should buffet him who had with such vigour and success endeavoured to overthrow his Kingdom To prepare him for the encounter the Lord at first did shine upon his soul and gave him some assurance that Heaven was his Inheritance But afterwards there interven'd a Cloud and Satan's Chain was lengthned that Lion roared upon him and endeavoured to disturb his peace The great thing he blamed himself for was his aptness to slubber over private duties since he was so much engaged in publick work The Accuser of the Brethren was Let Ministers take especial notice of it very sierce in his accusations and so far prevailed that Mr. Janeway cryed out I am at infinite uncertainties as to my future state I thought I had been sincere but Satan tells me I have been an hypocrite And then added Whatever you do do not dally in Religion 't is only godliness in the power of it that can strengthen against the fear of death Satan would not yet give over but having begun to batter his faith gives a fresh assault then with a mournful voice he cryed out Eternity Eternity Eternity Infinite Infinite Infinite Everlasting Everlasting Everlasting A Relation that stood by added An Eternity of Glory To which he replied Of Horrour of Horrour unspeakable Horrour This was his Conflict and truly 't was a sore one But after this blackest darkness followed the break of day Satan prevailed so far that he might be the more remarkably foiled for the God of Peace did tread the evil one under his feet The Comforter even the Spirit of Truth did visit him and bore witness with his spirit that he was a Child of God and helped him to discern and look back upon the uprightness of his heart with satisfaction Not long before he died he blessed God for the assurance of his love and said He could now as easily dye as shut his eyes and added Here am I longing to be silent in the dust and enjoying Christ in glory I long to be in the arms of Jesus 'T is not worth the while to weep for me Then remembring how busie the Devil had been about him he was exceeding thankful to God for his goodness in rebuking him Afterwards he brake forth saying though so weak with a loud voice Amen Hallelujah Hallelujah Hallelujah and desired others to joyn with him which they not presently doing he added James Janeway is the only Singer He was quickly seized upon with another rapture of joy and thus expressed it Millions of praises to the most High Jehovah Heaven and Earth praise him ye Mountains and Hills praise him all his Hoste praise him all ye Saints bless him who hath visited us in our low estate and redeemed us unto himself All must be ascribed to Free grace from the beginning to the end Then he begged of God That he would bless his people and take away animosities and names of division from among them And these were the last words which he was heard to speak distinctly Thus triumphantly he went to Glory thus an abundant entrance was administred to him into the Everlasting Kingdom But if his joy and praises were such before he was got quite thither when he was actually come within Heavens Gate and first saw the Lord face to face Oh who can conceive his joy and wonder To draw to a Conclusion His Spirit is now where Christ is and is made perfect he is joyning with the Church of the first born in the Heavenly Jerusalem in that Song Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power and honour and glory and blessing for thou hast redeemed us unto God by thy blood out of every tongue and kindred and people and nation His Body is now to make its bed in the dust and upon his Grave such a kind of Epitaph may be inscribed Siste Viator Passenger stay and understand Here lies a faithful Shepherd unto whom the Flock was dearer than his own Life He excelled in Wisdom for he was wise to win Souls He lived not long but lived well and did much in a little time His end was Peace And though Satan did his worst be foil'd him and died Triumphing O Death where is thy sting O Grave where is thy victory FINIS