your Armour of Proof on your spiritual Armour Object But to what purpose is that I shall be conquer'd let me do my best Was ever man able to grapple with Death and so to overcome Doth it not alwayes get the Victory where ever it comes Is it not called a Aequa legâ— Necessitas sortitur insignes et imos Hor. Necessitas So Iob 18.14 According to the Seventy b 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Let necessity lay hold on him We reade it The King of terrours c Sol a insuperabile fatum c. Ovid. Metamorph. lib. 15. Can any one man overcome that which overcomes all men Resol It is true there is no man is or can be death-proof by any Armour of proof the thickest Walls it can pierce it can scale the highest Walls it can cut through the strongest Coat of Mail. But yet as it was said of d Vtque animadvertit undique se strictis pugionibus peti togâ caput obvolvit simul sinistrâ manu sinum ad ima crura deduxit quo honestius caderet etiam inseriore corporis parte velata Sueton. Iulius Caesar when he saw there was no remedy but die he must the Assassinatours pressing so hard upon him and adding so many wounds to him He covered his head with his Gown and with his left hand drew down the fold of his Garment over his legs that he might fall modestly Covering his lower parts that the nakedness of life might not be seen and covering his face that the Deformities of Death might not be lookt on So if thou canst not avoid the mortal wound of Death yet laboul in another sense honestè cadere Die with a good Name and a good Report and a good Conscience 2. This preparation will serve for an after Victory for as Christ led Captivity captive and triumphed over Death which had before triumphed over him so shall we if we die in Christ and live to Christ We must be content to lose the Victory that we may gain it and give ground at first that we may gain ground at last of this our Enemy And mark what pieces of Armour are necessary against Satan or the World the same are necessary against Death Yet when we have done all we can We are but poor Souldiers it is our Cheiftaine that gets the Victory for us The Weapon of this Enemy wherewith he doth all the mischief that is a sting that Death carries a sting with it A sting is first telum naturale Nature gives stings to those Creatures that have stings it is not any artificial Weapon as the Sword or Bowe 2. Poenale it puts the Creature that is stung be it Man or Beast to a great deal of smart and pain for the time it is very a terrifying pain 3. Lethale some especially are so poysonsom viz. of Adders and Vipers and other Serpents that they corrupt and enflame the bloud and poyson the body and in short time bring Death This sting the Apostle sayes is sin vers 56. For as the Scorpion by the sting transfuses a deadly poyson into those upon whom it fastens so (a) Aculeum enim mortis esse peccatum utque multò gravius malum ipsa morte utpote in quo suas illa vires habeat omnes jam manifestum est Death kils by sin Were it not for sin Death would be weaponless and stingless a toothless thing (b) Or rather it would not be at all For it is Sin only stings men to death It would be to us but as it is to herbs and plants which die in the Winter but live again in the Summer So it would be but as a benumming for a short time whereas sin by which Death stings leaves such a poyson in the nature of man that he shall never recover himself by any natural power as the herb or flower but onely by the mighty power of God in Iesus Christ. Therefore we can never be sufficiently thankfull to him Sequel 1 that shall disarm Death for us and draw out the sting And who is it that can disarm such an universal Enemy but he that hath the universal Militia of all the World the Lord of hosts is his Name But of this more anon in the fourth part If Death carry a sting with it and that sting be sin as Sequel 2 appears by what follows or which is the Apâ—stles meaning as Aquinas well notes [c] Sciendum est autem quod strimulus mortis potest dici vel stimulans ad mortem vel quo utitur seu quem facit mors Sed literalis sensus est stimulus mortis i. e. stimulans ad mortem quia qomo per peccatum est impuâ—sus et dejectus ad mortem Aquin. in 1 Cor. 15. if sin sting men to Death How can we sufficiently wonder at the fool-hardiness of mortal men who make nothing of it to dally and play with sin as if it were some toothless harmless thing as if it were some harmless play-fellow To see people play with Dogs or Birds to see them stroke them and take them in their arms is not strange but to see people play with Snakes and Adders with Scorpions and Cockatrices is a most strange sight and what do men do otherwise in dallying with sin The Serpent in the Garden left a sting in Adams disobedience Adam could not be content with the fruit of Paradise and so was stung to Death by his disobedience As the Israelites could not be content with (a) Numb 21.6 These serpents fiery teeth being the just punishment of their fiery tongues Or the serpents tongue which is his sting being the just punishment of their tongues become stings Manna and so God sent amongst them fiery Serpents which stung them to death that they who murmured at mercies might now have something to murmur for (b) The greatest of boasters is vanquisht by one of the least of creatures Orion boasted that the earth could not produce any such Monster which he would not undertake to encounter and kill and yet this man was after killed by a Scorpion Thus the proud sinner that dares Heaven and Earth Angels and Men nay God himself and all is killed with the sting of one sin It (c) That was applied to him to wound which is ordinarily used for healing was a strange death that Marcus Arethusius the Martyr was put to by Julian the Apostate which was to be annointed all over with honey and so to be stung to death with Waspes and Bees But this is the death of every sinner he annoints himselfe with the sweetness and pleasure of sin and so is stung to death for his labour You that are yet in your sins that draw iniquity with cords of vanity and sin as it were with carr-ropes will no warning serve you Hath not sin been represented to you in the Book of God and by the Ministers of God and through the judgements of God as the most infectious poyson-some
dangerous mortal thing that can be imagined Hath it not been laid open to you the very Monster of Nature the shame of the Creature the d Sicut putredo aufert pomo decorem colorem odorem et saporem sic peccatum aufert animae decorem vitae odorem fama valorem gratiae saporem gloriae Bonavent spot of the soul the darkness of the minde the obliquity of that which was straight the infection of that which was sound the weakness of that which was strong and the death of that which was living Hath it not been displayed as a sore a wound a stench and now as a sting and will you still venter upon it nay follow after it delight in it nay yet defend and patronize it What then shall we say to draw off your hearts Expressions will not do it warning will not effect it The Lord by the Key of David unlock your hearts that what hath been spoken to you may prevail with you That you may shun the evil and choose the good and though you cannot avoid Death you may avoid what you can the sting of Death which is sin There is a supposed Victory or Conquest which the Enemy for a time hath over all men yea over the Elect themselves O Grave thy Victory (a) Therefore death hath dominion over them that are dead Rom. 6.9 Death hath no more dominion over Christ Rom. 5. v. 14. Death reigned from Adam to Moses this Reign of Death presupposes a Victory that Death hath obteined v. 16. Death reigned by one Psal 55.4 The terrours of Death Why terrours because every one that conquers is still terrible to them he conquers Cant. 8.6 Love is as strong as Death Victorious over our Lives It as easily dissolving the hands and twists that hold soul and body together as Sampson did the cords and withes with which he was bound [a] Prima mors animam pellit volentem a corpore secunda mors animam volentem tenet in corpore Aug. de Civ Dei b This is that which cuts asunder that golden Link that knits the matter and form the body and soul into one compound and so dissolves the composition This is that Bill of Divorce that severs not onely two that were one flesh but two that were one person one man This is that two-edged sword not that divides between the joynts and the marrow the soul and spirit for that is the Word of God but that which cuts betwixt the soul and body the spiritual and fleshy part This is that sword that cuts the knot at one blow which perfection of constitution and diligence about Diet together with the Art of the Physician hath seemed to make up indissoluble It is victorious over our Bodies being dead for it keeps them down to corruption Psal 16.10 Spoken of Christ but cannot be said of us Psal 49.9 â—hat should still live and not see corruption It never leaves stamping and trampling upon us till it hath beaten us to * As Moses did the Molten-calf dust (a) It drives us to the very wals of our first matter It is a most insulting victorious Enemy it even then treads and insults over us when we are down It never leaves us so long as it can finde but one inch left of these mortal Bodies (b) No such tyrant as death because no tyrant can tyrannize more than by inflicting death Nay so it tyrannizes over us that it makes even the Wormes that rise out of us to devour us Over our very memories For it makes us in a short to be forgotten as if we had never been Psal 31.12 I am forgotten as a dead man out of minde I am like a broken vessell The Psalmist puts them fitly together as a dead man and as a broken Vessell because the dead man is as a broken Vessell Eccles 9.5 The memory of them is forgotten 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 viz. Of those that are dead Not onely they are forgotten but their memory if they have been memorable yet they are forgotten How many millions of men that have lived upon earth and that to old age and yet have left no print or footsteps of themselves behind them (c) Dignum certe est ut ipsorum memoria maneat Muscul in Math. 26. Yet this is not universally true of all some having been so famous in their generations such especially as are recorded in the Word of God as no time shall eate them out of remembrance no age but shall speak of them The manner how 1. By divine permission irresistibly Eccles 8.8 There is no man hath power over the spirit to retaine the spirit neither hath he power in the day of death It will force the Scholler to lay aside his bookes because no arguments can confute Death no Rhetorique perswade it nay no Inchantments can take hold of it It will cause the Souldier to lay down his sword or take it per force out of his hand no weapon can kill nor strength repulse it It will force the Emperour to lay downe his Crowne and let fall his Scepter for no power can master it no authoritie can over-rule it It is in vaine to lay ambushments or to contrive any Stratagems for this Conqueror cannot be ensnared It is in vaine to raise any batteries or plant any Ordnance against it for no violence can over-master it It is in vaine to dig any mines to lay any traps for Death will counter-mine aâ—l undertakings and underworkings against it self 2. According to the course of Nature irrevocably so that if we look no higher than that this all-conquering Enemy shall goe on conquering and never be conquered For (a) Sed haec fides ut est in primis necessaria ita difficillima semper habitat fuit quod humanae rationis intelligentia quam maxime videretur esse remota Estius in sentent lib. 4. part 2. dest 43. Res est creditu dissicilis ubi putredine consumpta fuerint corpora tandem suo tempore resurrectura esse Itaque cum multi ex philosophis asseruerint immortales esse animas carnis resurrectio à paucis probata fuit in quo etsi nulla fuit excusatio inde tamen monemur rem esse magis arduam quam ut hominum sensus ad se trahat Calv. Institut lib. 3. ver 25. Sect. 3. Nature doth not teach a Resurrection but rather furnishes us with arguments against it Acts 17.32 When they heard of the Resurrection some mocked Men led onely by principles of Philosophy wil jeere at such a Doctrine By experience it conquers universally Veni vidi vici I have come seen and overcome may well be the devise in Deaths black colours It hath passed over all men and reigned over all men (b) Vnde non importunè neque incongrue arbitror accidisse etsi non humnâ industria judicio forâ—asse divino ut hoc-verbum quod est moritur in latina lingua nec grammatici declinare potuerint
ea regula qua caetera talia declinantur et c. Aug. de civit Dei lib. 13. cap. 11. Which made Augustine wittily gloss upon the word moritur I know not saies he how it comes to passe that this word is not declined as other words for mortuus doth not come regulary of moritur as ortus of oritur Cenvenienter ut quemadmodum id quod significat non potest agendo ita verbum non potest declinari loquendo very congruously and fitly that as the thing cannot be declined in action so neither the word by way of speaking Considering the effects it conquers bloodily multo sanguine vulneribus c. Death cannot but be a deadly enemy Sometimes great Victories are obtained by the flight of an enemie out of the feild sometimes by taking many prisoners without much blood shed but [c] In exorahilc fatum Virgil. death gives no quarter spares no mans life but whereas other conquerors save alive this doth not It was said of Pompey he triumphed in Asia Europe and Affrick wonne 1000 Castles and 800 Cities and as many Ships so that Octavius wisht himselfe Pompeii felicitatem It is written of Iulius Caesar that he overcame Europe by severity Asia by his celerity and Affrick by his sagacity and that he never had but three foyles but the Grave can say the like it was never deceived of Victory but three times especially viz. at the [c] Qui nec dum mortem gustavit ut aeternitatis candidatus jam nobis ostenderet etc. Tertull. advers Iud. Quod hodie Enoch et Elias nondum resurrectionis idspuncti quia nec mortefuncti quà tamen de orbe tâ—anslati et hoc ipso jam aeternitatis candidati ab omni vitio et ab omni damno et ab omni injuria et contumelia immunitatem carnis ediscunt Id. de resurrect carn translation of Enoch at the ascention of Eliah and at the resurrection of Christ else it hath conquered all the world with no less severitie then celeritie vicissim 1 Vse Is the Grave so victorious Then doe not I wonder to see so many Trophies of death every where How is it that so many Churches have their Escucheons and Flags hang upon their walls Are not these the Colours that Death hath wonne How is it that I see the mourners walke in rankes Is it not Death leading a man in triumph to the Earth How is it that I see so many monuments within and without doors Are not these as pillars upon Rachels grave Are not these as the [d] Columnae rostratae Statues and Columns which among the Romanes were erected to their Conquerors Surely all these Solemnities shew no less then that Death is the great Victor and Conquerer of the World 2. Vse Let not us that are poore mortals set up our crests speak high look big or be like the [e] Jer. 2.24 wild Asse used to the wildernesse that snuffeth up the winde at her pleasure we must at last stoope to this irresistible Commander But here is the comfort of every man that is in Christ though he may be conquered by Death and the Grave for a time he shall at last be conquerer and obtaine the victory when shall be brought to passe that saying that is written and this most certainly shall be brought to passe O Death c. Part 4. Observ 4. That Death and the Grave shall one day be conquered Sub quo By what Commander by whose Militia Resol By Christ Heb. 2.10 called the Captaine of our salvation 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 [f] Quod Erasmus alij quidam principem vertunt sed constat etiam authorem inventorem archietectum ea voce significari Estius in loc the Author or Architect or the Captaine They shall be His forces that shall destroy Death 2. Quando when Resol See verse 54. When corruption c. at the Resurrection of the dead when the Trumpet shall sound to bid battle to Death when that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 mentioned 2 Pet. 3.10 shall be as the beating of the Drum and the Elements shall melt with fervent heate and all the world shall be in a flame as a beacon kindled to let Death know that the Conquerour of death is landed and Christs word shall be Mors moriatur let Death die 3. Vbi All the Earth the whole Globe Sea and Land shall be all one field in which this battle shall be fought He shall pursue his deadly enemy Death into all Countries and Nations and do continuall execution in the pursuite where ever Death hath vanquisht it shall be vanquisht 4. Quomodo how Death shall be disarmed the sting shall be taken out To take poyson out of a serpent or to draw out the sting we clap a red cloath into their jaws a peece of that garment that was red from Bozrah will draw out the sting Object The sting was taken out at the time of death for a man ceases ro sin Resol But the power of sin continues whilst we are held under Death Death shall be destroyed by Death as David killed Goliah with his own sword Heb. 2.14 He tooke upon him flesh and blood that by death he might destroy him that had the power of death g which is the devill [a] Diabolus habet imperium mortis sicut carnifex habet imperium rotae patibuli non utique absolute sed ex nutu superioris et c. Pareus in Heb. c. 2. v. 14. 5. For whom is this great Victory It is for man 1. Not for Angels they are not dead but live they weare no corruptible dying bodies and so they do not die 2. For righteous men not for evil men for though they shall live the second time yet they shall live the second time that they may die the second death not by separation of the soul from the body but by separation both of soul and body from God who is the fountaine of life nay who is the life of our lives who as he is natura naturans nature that gives nature so he is vita vivificans l fe giving life who as the soule is actus corporis organici is actus orbis universi who (h) 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Aristot Metaph. lib. 3. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Aristot de mundo cap. 6. moves all things himselfe immoveable This great and last Victory will be for their sakes who have fought and conquered for his sake This great fight shall be in their behalf who have fought the good fight for their sakes who have overcome the world by praier the flesh by fasting and the devil by watching and reststiing for their sakes who have overcome their sins by mortification their trials by patience their lets by perseverance their fears by hope their sence by faith and their enemies by Christ the Captaine of their salvation So that we shall be able to say as it is said of Babylon Ier. 50.22 23. A sound of battle is in the
what manner of Blessing Prov. 14.11 The tabernacle of the upright shall flourish And indeed however he is pleased to suspend the performance of this from many of his precious servants for their Triall yet all this was made good to him though not for his righteousness for God did bless his increase by a special providence putting such undertakings at such times and seasons into his hands when they might be most advantageous to him 3. To be well tempered in matter of Religion For I observe there are four Constitutions in Religion as well as in bodily Compositions (a) Angeli sine zelo nihil sunt et substantiae suae amittunt praerâ—gativam nisi eam zeli ardore sustentent Ambr. in Ps 118. 1. There are some in whom a flegmatick temper is too predominant that are too cold and too slow to any profession you cannot get them forward to any Duties sluggish and drowsie Christians Matth. 24.12 The love of many wâ—xes cold so the zeal the prayers the discourse of many waxes cold they want heat 2. Some like these of a melancholy temper discontented with every way pleased with no way 3. Some again are over sanguine and credulous in love with any Doctrine constant to none giving entertainment to any but keeping true correspondency with none at all 4. Others again are over cholerick and furious in their way will hear no reason admit of no argumentation But in this our worthy deceased Brother there was such a temper as might well recommend him for an excellent Example of Religion he was no lukewarm Laodicean contenting himself with a form of goliness but denying the power thereof None of those that think enough that God have service but care not what service it be either how sluttishly performed in one extreme or how apishly in another how irreverently performed on one hand or how superstitiously on the other He professed himself an Enemy as well to all suspicious adorations as to all odious confusions in Gods service I must confess I never came into his company but I came away heated with his godly zeal what earnest Expressions have I heard from him to see the Church of God in all places settled in peace to see Religion here at home settled in the true power and purity to see a just and powerfull Magistracy in the Nation to see a pious and learned Ministery in the Church to see an orderly spiritual heavenly service in Gods house to see a spiritual charitable concord amongst all Christians worshipping the same God believing in the same Christ sanctified by the same Spirit professing the same faith rinsed by the same Baptism joyned in the same Body redeemed by the same Bloud and joynt-heirs of the same Glory This was true heat the true zeal of Gods house no feaverish distempered heat proceeding from the predominancy of Choler or from a malignant humour but a zeal sweetened with charity and enlightened with knowledge And whilest I mention knowledge I have often wondered that considering his manifold Imployments in his middle and elder part of his life how he should attain to so great a measure of knowledge as he had in so many godly Books but above all in the Book of God But it was not such knowledge as is spoken of 1 Cor. 8.1 Which puffeth up There is too much of this swelling knowledge in these Times gunpowder knowledge which puffes men up to undertakings too high for them when people commence per saltum from catechumeni to becom prebyteri It was not so with this religious personage who although rich inwardly in abundance of knowledg yet was one of the most humble lowly minded men that I have met withall O Humility the Pedestal of all Graces the Copy of Christ Learn of me the glory of Saints I am but dust and ashes sayes Abraham I am but a worm and no man sayes David I am not worthy thou shouldst come under my roof sayes the Centurion I am not worthy to be called an Apostle sayes the most painfull and skilfull Apostle (a) In Musick the higher any note stands upon the range the smaller it is in sound The higher we are in excellency the less should we seem at least to our selves The more Endowments Gods servants have the lesse they see Laodicea contrariwise was never so poor as when she thought her self so rich Because thou sayest I am rich and increased in goods and have need of nothing and knowest not that thou art wretched and miserable and poor and blinde and naked Rev. 3.17 Never was a fitter Time to preach Humility to you and to set such an Example of Humility before you than in these proud Times wherein men make themselves what they should not be think themselves what they are not and are not what to others they seem to be Never a fitter Time to learn this Lesson than in such Times when so many that teach others teach any Lesson besides thiâ— It is with Religion as with all other things there is a medium and two extremes and therefore it is called the narrow way as Pythagoras said 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 In diet let a man eat too little he sterves himself let him eat too much he surfets himselfe Let a man build a house too high and it will stand over him let him build too low and he cannot stand in his house lay too little ballast in the ship and it oversets lay too much into it and so it may sink let a scholar neglect his study he proves a Dunce let him be unreasonably intent and he may break his brains use too little Physick and the body not being acquainted with it may be overthrown use too much and the body being over-used it findes no benefit Nilus if it flow less than twelve Cubits makes a Famine and if it flow more than eighteen cubits it also makes a Famine There are a kinde of Birds that either lie flat on their breasts on the earth or else are continually flying in the air for they have no feet it is so in Religion understand me aright I mean Quoad specificationem actus not Quoad exercitum the way or kinde of Religion not the exercise When you have found the right way make what haste in it you wil presse forward towards the mark of the high Calling c. In my judgement he is a wise Christian whom no errours can make erroneous he a strong Christian whom no scandals can make to fall who because he findes the frigid Zone too cold runs not presently into the torrid or because he findes the torrid too hot runs not straight into the frigid but avoiding both Excesses keeps himself within the temperate Climate of sound Religion of this temper was the deceased and one that sailed warily betwixt Scylla and Charybdis being as unwilling to be swallowed up of one as to be split upon the other A good firm Protestant proportionably careful of the Truths purity and of the Churches unity And now in this his last sickness wherein he verily apprehended that Death waited for him his Discourse was as I am informed wholly of things spiritual and heavenly not suffering any earthly thing so much as to be interlined or come within a parenthesis shewing to all about him a wearinesse of the world a desire of a change and a thirst after Heaven and in his earnest Prayers bewailing the calamities of Christs Church and the sad condition of Gods true and faithfull People recommended the Church of God to the Mercies of God And O that the mercifull God would hear the Prayer of humble minded men and that his faithfull ones would give him no rest till he establish and till he make Jerusalem a praise in the earth That our drosse may be taken away from our silver and our wine may no longer be mixt with water When when will the indignation be over-past O that it might be but a little moment till then we will hide our selves under his wings that we may be safe under his feathers Ye that are the Neighbours and Allies of the Deceased I have set before you the Patern of a good and virtuous man but especially ye that are the Issue and Off-spring of him I have proposed to ye the Example of a good Father he hath intituled ye to his name least to ye his earthly Mansions bequeathed to ye his earthly Possessions be ye also Inheritours of his exemplary virtues God Almighty grant ye the former blessing of your Father here and the present hoped blessedness of your Father hereafter that ye may live plentifully and walk piously here and die happily hereafter conquering all sin at the time of Death and conquering Death at the Resurrection for then in the behalf of all those that are Christs shall be made good the saying that is written O Death where is thy sting O Grave where is thy victory FINIS ERRATA IN the title page for 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 read 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 In Epist to the reader for Hercules r. Achilles for way apologized r. was apologized for impartial r. partial for impartiality r. partiality for taught r. toucht In the Serm. p. 3. in marg for Paulum r. Paulam l. 24. f. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 r 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 f. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 r. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 p. 5. marg f. adjuncto r. adunco p. 6. l. r 3. f. this is as r. this is as p. 9 marg f. transit r. transitus f. laborem r. labore p. 13. marg f. volentem r. nolentem p. 14. f. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 r. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 p. 15. marg f. habitat r. habita
give an impartial Character of Mr. English And as for his way of Religion mine own experience of him and converse with him at severall times gave me evidence what it was and an encouragement to recommend it to his children friends and all others 6. What I have spoken of him as for the Matter it is true so for the Expression it is not Hyberbolicall As I dare not call Evill Good and Good Evill put Darknesse for Light or Light for Darknesse or put Bitter for Sweet or Sweet for Bitter Isa 5.20 So neither dare I with some falsifying Limners set out a Complexion with Colours beyond the life I had rather men should say the Picture is like him than that it is fairer 7. I hope that adulation will rather by rational men be expected from Time-servers then him who from his first entrance into his Ministry to his cost hath chosen still rather to swim against the streams of Sinne and Errour in what channell soever yea running contrary wayes That man should be but Penny-wise and Pound-foolish for the world that should be carefull to pleasure three or foure persons and carelesse to displease the whole world when he sees the world bent to displease GOD. 8. It would be considered also that to hunch at this Testimony given is to make the world beleive that the deceased was one that lay under some blemish which what it should be I cannot tell I know no man that can accuse him 9. Some prejudice also must needs accrue to those that the deceased hath left behind him who especially manage his Affaires as if they would be ready to approve or reward any Impartiality which is farre from them 10. For their sakes that thought too much said if any I have not onely made the good Name of this Gentleman more publick but more durable and have also added somewhat more which was not known to me till afterwards Let the Reader understand that if any few there were who tooke any pet the occasion seems to have been one short passage in the latter end about Knowledge which puffes up And more I might have sayd but lesse could not say to see how by such practises as were there and then but gently taught the Church of God is infected His Word mis-interpreted His Ordinances prophaned His Ministers neglected and His Name polluted And above all others I may well be pardoned for so little spoken when as not onely I have deeply sufferd aâ—â—â—verall times and in severall places within these tweâ—â—â— years from those people but a (a) Expertus ea quale sit hominum genus Ego vero tam barbaram atrocitatem hactenus in nullo videram Cum ego humaniter pro linguae meae more eum compellarem nunquam aliter dignatus est mecuÌ„ loqui quà m si cum cane sibi negotium fuisset Calvinus Faâ—ello Epistol Edit Genev. 1617. principall man amongst them about fifteen years since hath in a printed Booke must unworthily trampled upon the ashes of my dear Father Mr. William Bradshaw above 30 years since deceased whose Works are still usefull and whose name is stil pretious to the Church of God It is pitty that a man that stiles himselfe the Pastor of a Church should be so ill imployed as to weave the Spiders-webs of weak inferences broken consequences slender arguments thereby to catch some flye to throw into the sweet Oyntment of his good Name who when living in the defence of the Ministry of the Church of England by dint of Argument would not have turn'd his back to any one But this hath been the lot of many of Gods servants to be cowardly smitten by their fellow servants when they are downe Sicknesse giving them the foyle Death the fall and Corruption holding them downe for a season But I hope the time is not long before he and all the Members of CHRIST shall get up againe and through CHRIST shall conquer that which hath conquered them which is Death The ground of which hopes is set foth in this ensuing Sermon Thou hast it as neare as I could as it was delivered The addition made is very little Some eyes looke for Marginals for whose sake J have added a few I meddle not with State-Affaires but yet deale with matters of Life and Death or rather upon Life and Death as my subject matter I know not into whose hands these publisht Lines may come But whosoever thou art I intreat thee to looke on me as one that earnestly desires the growth of Christianity the spreading of the Gospel the exaltation of Truth the honour of the Church the settlement of sounâ—â—â—ligion and the concord of all good Christians In short that these two things may be as it were the two Gospel Tables the saving Knowledge of CHRIST Crucified and next to that the practise of firme faithfull fervent Charitie one towards another according to which two maine Pillars of Christianity I have long since chosen this for my Gnome by which I desire to be known Christus Charitas Thine in both I. B. DEATH DISARMED the GRAVE BURIED OR The Christians future Triumph through CHRIST over DEATH and the GRAVE 1 COR. 5.55 O Death where is thy Sting O Grave where is thy Victory (a) Eccl. 3.18 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Graec. adug THere is to every thing a Season and a Time to every purpose under the Heaven a time to be Borne and a time to Dye a time to Plant and a time to pluck up that which is planted a time to Kill and a time to Heale a time to Breake down and a time to Build up a time to Weep and a time to Laugh a time to Mourne and a time to Dance When the Wiseman therefore saies there is a time for every purpose his meaning is there is a time for contrary Actions for contrary Passions for contrary Conditions 1. For contrary Conditions to goe out of the World is contrary to our Birth and coming into the World the one is our Genesis and the other is our Exodus there is a time for both these 2. For contrary Actions Planting and plucking up building and breaking downe killing and healing renting and sowing speaking and silence 3. For contrary Passions so weeping and laughing mourning and dancing loving and hating Whether things be positively contrary as planting and plucking up or (a) 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. Aristot Metaph. lib. 4. De natura privationis et contrariorum et quomodo contraria sunt privationes contrariorum consule Julium Scaligerum Exercit privatively as Silence and Speech God hath dealt out seasons for all these opposits the world being made up of Chequer work consisting either of the white of position or the black of privation either consisting of the lucid part of bearing and planting and healing and gathering and getting or the dark part of dying of killing of pulling downe of plucking up of loosing of War The Earth which is the pavement of the world
is inlayd with this Mosaick worke of severall coloures But then Solomon teaches us another lesson that these as they have their time in generall so they have their season in speciall as they are conjoyned in one common time so they are disjoyned in a peculiar season all under one roofe of a generall allowance but parted into severall roomes and partitions of a special appropriation (c) Planeta est stella peculiari motu infra octavam sphaeram per signiferum vagans moving like b Planets in one common motion of all the Orbs and yet having peculiar motions of their owne From both which conclusions of Solomons we may derive a third that the season of one condition action or passion is not the season of the opposite the day of the one is not the day of the other at least the moment of one not the moment of the other (c) Apes peragunt opus suum non statis diebus sed quoties cali commoditas invitat ita suo quaeque tempore capienda est occasio Plin. lib. 11. cap. 6.10 And therefore it may seem strange that I should joyne both together that as the Israelites did unseasonably to Mourne upon a Festivall as it is Nehem. 8.10 so we should sing a Triumph and handle a Text of Triumph upon a day of Mourning But much shall not need to be spoken of the fitnesse of this Text. It pleads sufficiently for it selfe It is sure it is a Text sounding out the Triumph of the Righteous man over Death and over the Grave and it is as true it is a day of Mourning and considering the losse we have of the deceased deserves to be a day of mourning we doe not triumphum canere or agere either Triumph or sing a Triumph but onely discourse of or concerning that triumphant Victory every righteous man that dies in Christ shall shortly have over Death and over the Grave Yet if we did so if we should flourish our Ensigne and hang out our Streamers and make it a kind of Iubile considering it is Death and the Grave we insult over now when Death and the Grave seeme to bid battle to us surely it is very opportune So that that though the sence of Deaths prevalency over the Righteous may teach us mourning yet Faith shewes the future prevalency of the Righteous over the Grave and that teacheth us to be comfortable and though Nature may and doth require a Tribute and Custome of Teares (a) Cur dolemus quenquam mortuum An ad hoc nati sumus ut maneamus aeterni Abraham Moses Isaias Petrus Iohannes Paulus electionis vas et super omnia filius Dei moritur et nos indignamur aliquem exire de corpore Lugeatur mortuus sed ille quem gehenna suscipit quem tartarus devorat in cujus panam ignis aeternus aestuat Nos quorum exitum angelorum turba comitatur quibus obvià m Christus occurrit gravemur magis si diutius in tabernaculo isto mortis habitaemus S. Hieronymus ad Paulum c. Grace will not let the Spirituall eye shed one teare but lifts it up to a comfortable expectation of a future Conquest But let me first untie a knot which may hinder our smoother passage This Text is cited out of Hos 13.14 The Hebrew is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Rendred thus in our English Translation O Death I will be thy plague O Grave I will be thy destruction But who knowes not this sounds more like to the Septuagint 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 O Death where is thy Cause O Grave or Hell where is thy Sting I list not at present to raise a Controversie betwixt the Septuagint Translation and the Hebrew Vowels with their first founders However I doe not finde that the Apostle doth punctually follow the Greek For first he makes a manifest Metathesis for the 70 set together 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Besides they write 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and the Apostle 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Not to stand to shew that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 are like in sence as well as in sound That the Metathesis makes no materiall change That Ehi the Hebrew word is either a Verb or an Adverb and signifies either ero or ubi Nor yet to trouble you by shewing how the other Hebrew words by other interlineary appurtenances might be made to speake otherwise then you finde them in your Bibles for the Hebrew Vowels beneath the letters are like the Keyes to the Organs which open and stop the sound of the Pipes above at pleasure I say not to trouble you with these speculations this you may conlude that either the Apostles manner of Citation makes it the Authentick Translation of the place or else at least the undoubted Interpretation for I cannot thinke that here he onely alludes and no more I might from the Coherence observe to you that our future Victory over Death and the Grant was formerly prophesied of That this Prophesie is to be found in the Prophesie of the Old Testament before Christs coming That this and all other Prophesies of the like kinde shall in their time be fulfilled That the special time for the impletion of this which is written shall be at the Resurrection of the just But I rather desire to handle the Text intirely by it self The Words afford these Parts 1. The Enemy Death or the Grave 2. The Weapon of this Enemy a Sting 3. The whilom prevalency of this Enemy it had the Victory for a time 4. The Conquest of this victorious and all vanquishing Enemy Where is thy Sting Where is thy Victory 5. The Ioy and Triumph in this Victory the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of gladness O Death where is thy Sting c. The Enemy is powerfull and prevalent and that is Death the Weapon is dangerous and mortal that is a Sting the Victory is general and universal Death hath passed over all men (a) Qui per Osee quondam tibi rigidus minabatur ero mors tua ô mors ero morsus tuus inserne illius morte tu mortua es illius morte nos vivimus devorasti et devorata es dumque assumpti câ—rporis Christi sollicitaris illecebra et avidis faucibus praedam putas interiora tua adjuncto dente confossa sunt Gratias tibi Christe salvator tua agimus creatura quod tam potentem adversarium nostrum dum occideres occidisti Hier. in epitaphio Nepot ad Hâ—lidor The vanquishment of this Enemy and the regaining of the Victory shall be certain and joyfull this joy shall be triumphant and permanent For then shall be brought to passe that saying that is written by the infallible spirit of Prophesie written for our everlasting comfort Death is swallowed up in Victory O Death where c. That Death is an Enemy Here is a Triumph and that is still over an Enemy And we may say of it as David said of his
land how is the [i] Hoc est Babylon quae quasi malleus adamantinus percussit et contudit totam terram ita ut nihil quantumvis durum vel aeneumei resistere aut ejus ictum sustinere possit quin confringereturet dissilâ—ret A Lapid in loc Haec ipsa de morte dici possunt quae omnia confringit a Christo tandem confrigenda hammer of the whole earth cut asunder that like Iael's hammer doth not onely kill but nailes us to the earth for a certaine time Rom. 16.20 The God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly So Death under your feet shortly to shew that we are to enjoy the benefit of this Victory But God shall bruise to shew that he must have the glory of the Victory and therefore Christ triumphed over his own death when he was carried up into heaven in a cloud as in a chariot for so Elias his vehiculum was called my Father the Chariots of Israel and the Horsemen thereof And one will have it that when Christ ascended up to Heaven the Angels went before and proclaimed Lift up your heads ye gates and be ye lift up ye everlasting doors and the King of glory shall come in 6. Why is this great Victory obtained 1. That no enemie may be left and this is the last enemie Object But is not the hell of wicked men an enemie No To them it is an enemy but not to Christ and his Members because it is the very execution of his enemies This Ark will not leave one Dagon standing 2. That man may be made up again that Death hath taken and kept asunder 3. That his wonderfull Power may be manifest Victory declares Power Psal 49.15 We reade of the power of the Grave but Christ will have all the World to see that which now onely some of the World believes that his power is greater than the power of the Grave Psal 106.8 He saved Israel at the Red Sea to make his power to be known 4. That his glory may appear in his power as his power in Victory [a] And having spoyled principalities and powers he made a shew of them openly triumphing over them in it Vt autem praeclaram hanc Christi victoriam mentis nostrae oculis visendam praebeat utitur illustribus metaohoris desumptis a consuetudine triumphantum imperatorum Nam illud verbum 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 alludit ad illam consuetudinem qua victores solebant victos armis spoliare eadem que pro trophaeo illîc figere ubi in fugam hostes versi sunt Quod autem addit 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 spectat illam triumphantium pompam in qua solebant ignominiae causâ ducis captivos inter se junctos agere ante curium suum triumphalem toto populo inspectante acclamante Cicero in Pisonem hunc morem triumphantium hisce verbis depingit quid tandem habet iste currus quid vincti ante currum duces quid simulacra oppidorum quid aurum quid argentum et c. Daven in Coloss Coloss 2.15 He will raise himself glory out of the confusion of his Enemies and honour out of the destruction of his Adversaries Shall Death be disarmed and the Grave conquered Corol 1 and shall we sit still and do nothing Shall Christ overcome for us hereafter and shall not we overcome for him now Are we such perfect men and such compleat Saints that we have no lusts to mortifie no temptations to vanquish Poor men Lusts God knowes too many and temptations too frequent but we neither feel the burden of the one nor know the danger of the other When King Francis the first of that name was resolved to go into Italy to recover the Dukedom of Milan he advised with his Privy Councel which way to get into Italy his Fool met him as he came from the Councel-board and told him his Councel had dealt unwisely with him for they had told him how to get into Italy but not how he should get out again It is so with us our carnal Friends can shew us the way into dangerous temptations into a Noli conscentire concuiscentiae tuae Non est unde concipiat nisi de te Aug. homil 42. cap. 8. consuming lusts that consume our Estates by prodigality our bodies by luxury our repute by infamy but they cannot shew us the way out again but leave us in the lurch Thou feeble faint-hearted Christian whom every slight temptation proves a Coward who knowest not how to deny the inticements of a sinner either to commit a sin or to do that which probably will lead thee to commission of sin remember what is written Rev. 2.7 To him that (b) Insidiae repunt in hoc seculo et in cautos repente occupant Repentes autem tentationes quis numerat Repunt sed cave ne surripiant vigiletur in ligno et c. Aug. in Psal 103. enarratio conci quart overcomes will I give to eat of the tree of life not to him that is overcome 1 Pet. 1.13 Gird up the loins of thy minde be sober and hope to the end Ephes 6.14 Stand therefore having your loins girt with truth and having on the breast-plate of Righteousnesse It is better to conquer with pains than to yield with sorrow To him that is regenerate sin is worse than Death and grace is better than life Let him never look to have a share in the Conquest of the Death of the body that hath not before a share in the Conquest of the body of Death Corol 2 If Death shall be disarmed and the Grave overcome let us make up our 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 with the Apostles Doxology Thankes be to God who hath given us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ Glory be to God on high the mighty God that gives Victories the mercifull God that gives us this Victory through Jesus Christ our Lord. What praises can we use to set out this benefit or what words can we use to set out his praise who when he searches into things hidden is above all most wise When he rewards every man is most just When he bestows his Gifts is most liberal And when he conquers his Enemies is most valiant And who is it for for us Hath given us the Victory Vs Why should the great God bestow so much honour on us What are we or what is our fathers house that wee should have such Victory given us (a) Nonne fragiliores sumus quaÌ„ si vitrei essemus vitrum enim etsi fragile tamen servatum diu durat et invenis calices ab avis et proavis in quibus bibunt nepotes et pronepotes Aug. hom 28. c. 7. We whose original is dust whose excellency is vanity and whose life is sin We that have received so many Benefits returned so little thanks and deserved so much anger Whom before our Conversion no Benefits could perswade to come to God whom since our Conversion no mercies can
engage to walk close with God 3. When is this The Apostle saith he hath done it to shew that it is as certain as if it were done already But it is then when in all outward appearance we are both hopelesse and helplesse When Death and the Grave have gone on conquering and to conquer to the last Generation of men But b) Gratias misericordiae ipsius Quid dicam aliud quam gratias gratiae ipsius Nos enim gratias agimus non damus nec reddimus nec referimus nec rependimus gratiam si tantum verbis agimus retribuimus Aug. in Psal 88. Enarrat what shall we content our selves to be onely thankfull in Word shall we not adde Action to it also We read of an Hunter in Italy that at first when he ever took any thing in the Forrest or Field by hunting he used to offer up the head and the feet to Diana but happening once to catch a Boar of a vast bigness he resolved to leave off that Custom in part and said Diana should be content with the head onely which he hung upon a Tree but falling a sleep the head fell down and gave him a bruise of which he died The Moral of this historical Fable may teach us to take heed how we content our selves to give God onely our head in praising him so as to invent and utter praises but even our hands and our feet to act to his praise and to walk to his glory For whilest we professe we honour God in our lips and dishonour him in our lives the very head will fall upon us our very Words will condemn us I am sorry I have not Time to urge this Duty all that I now desire is that you may overcome my over bold prolixity with your patience and that I may overcome the rest of my work with such truth and sobriety that whilest I speak somewhat of our deceased Brother I may neither weary you nor flatter him but may onely lay before you the hopes I have that for his sake also and to his comfort the saying shall come to pass which is written O Death where is thy sting O Grave where is thy victory One of the Kings of Athens made a Law that when any one died at the Funeral there should be a speech made to them that were nearest of kin Some People are so satyrical they cannot endure to hear any thing spoken in honour of the Dead but when we go about by the sweet unguent of their good name to anoint them to their Burial they are ready to say Why was all this waste This waste time and these waste words If there be any such here as perhaps among so many there may be many I hope they will give me leave to speak of him amongst his Kindred of which here is a considerable number Sure a man may without any offence [a] Nothing sooner stirs up children to vertue then the example of parents as contrariwise nothing sooner corrupt them then their ill example Si natura jubet velocius citius nos corrumpunt vitiormm exempla domestica magnis cum subeant animos authoribus Iuven. Satyr 14. ubi quam plurima de hoc argumento propound the example of a Father to his Sons (b) Syri non cremabant sed condiebant cadavera myrrha aloe cedâ—o melle sale bitumine et resina odoribus et unguentis delibuta Alexand. ab Alexandr lib. 3. They use in many places to stick the Corpse or Coffin with sweet smelling herbs and flowers I know not why I may not also stick a flower or two in the Coffin of this well-deserving person lately deceased Master Henry English Something therefore would be spoken but yet at present but little It is true indeed at present Death seems to triumph over him and to lead him here in Triumph to the Grave But O Grave is this thy Victory to insult over a man full of years and full of pains and full of weakness Well I doubt not but the day is coming apace when in his behalfe it shall be sayd as in the behalfe of all other dead in Christ O Death where is thy sting c. I make no doubt of it but as it was said of Christ He lead Captivity captive so he and all others dead in the Lord shall through the power of Christ for the merits of Christ and to the praise of Christ trample on Death being disarmed triumph over the Grave being overcome nay I expect that he and all others shall not onely be Conquerers but more than Conquerers Rom. 8.37 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 1. More than Conquerers Because Conquerers in the World gain the Victory by power but we in weaknesse they by resisting but we by persisting they by kill ng but we by being killed it may be said of all that die for Christ that they are more than Conquerers because they cannot conquer but by being conquered 2. More than Conquerers because the Victory is so easily attained Christ fights and we get the Victory c. 3. More than Conquerers that is triumphant Conquerers such as reap the fruit of their Conquest The Apostle saith Cor. 9.2 He that gets the Mastery is temperaâ—e in all things He must be a well tempered man that must be a victorious man 1. Well tempered in his speeches not rash not censorious not quarrelsome not contentions then when he hath meanes and opportunity so to be 2. Well tempered too for his desires either to pleasures or profits to be free from luxury on one hand or avarice on the other hand When Riches increase not to set the heart on them and when they are multiplied not prodigally to waste them such a tempered man was the deceased There is also a very good temper which is temperamentum ad justitiam not in the Philosophers sense How ever he had many men to deal withall and that in many things know not the man alive that can tax him with any fraudulency or injustice (a) Agnosâ—unt omnes sani justitiam esse omnium moximum communissimumque bonum et postea apud philosophos totum chorum virtutum significat juxta versum 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Illyr Clav. Iustitia est reddere unicuique quod suum est Tribue ergo tribus qua sua sunt superiori aequali inseriori c. Bern. And this truly is so excellent a virtue that all virtues towards men are often called Righteousnesse yea all graces are frequently termed by this name and therefore as Anselm sayes well Justice gives to every one according to their worth according to their condition to our Betters reverence to our Equals correspondence to our Inferiours favour to God obedience to our selves sobriety to our Enemies patience to the needy mercy And to such large promises are made in Scripture Prov. 2.21 The upright shall dwell in the Land But what dwelling shall he have Prov. 3.33 He blesseth the habitation of the just But with