is made of the noble Acts Victories and Triumphs of the faith of the ancient Patriarchs Prophets and Martyrs the Worthies of God of whom the world was not worthy Among these Abel hath the Priority and leads the Van to the honour of whose faith three Things are here spoken First The excellency of his sacrifice above his Brothers By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain Secondly The justification of his person in the sight of God By which faith he obtained witness that he was righteous God testifying of his Gifts Thirdly The preciousness of his memory the voice and virtue of his remembrance after death By it he being dead yet speaketh This last as being suitable to our occasion shall be the subject of our discourse which must be not according to the merit of the occasion but according to the weakness of the Orator and the short time you thought fit to allow me for this solemn service By it he being dead yet speaketh At the very first reading of these words there may seem a paradox in the Text much greater than in the Pulpit Behold here a person naturally dead Abel the second man that was born into the world and the first that dyed having been dead now five thousand years and upward he yet speaketh The dead are indeed altogether deaf they cannot hear there is no speaking to them in vain are prayers and supplications made to Saints departed Abraham is ignorant of us and Israel knoweth us not they are as deaf to their Petitioners as Baal to his Priests but yet they are not altogether dumb they may and they do speak not formaliter not vitally and syllabically by the instruments of the throat tongue teeth and lips as a living man doth but effective eminenter in effect comprehensively as the man is said to speak with his feet Prov. 6.13 Formal speech is that which holds forth somewhat to the ears of others which is to be known and understood by them Now when a visible argumentative signification of such things is made to us by the dead then are they said to speak what the living do learn or may learn or ought to learn from the dead that the dead speak Being dead he yet speaketh the word may be rendred passively he is yet spoken of he being dead there is an honourable mention made of him The active sense seems more probable but we shall not exclude the passive Abel being dead he yet speaketh What! is this peculiarly attributed to Abel Is he the only man that speaketh and are all the rest dumb No what is here spoken of Abel is common unto others but it is peculiarly attributed unto Abel for a double reason 1. Because Abel was the first dead it is spoken of Abel as the first as the representative of all that follow in the estate and condition of Abel 2. It is peculiarly attributed to Abel because it is especially recorded of him that after his death he speaketh Gen. 4.10 The voice of thy brothers blood crieth unto me from the ground That dead Saints do yet speak is the general truth from the Text which is peculiarly exemplified in the instance of Abel Abel being dead yet speaketh Speaking in the Text must be understood in a sense of eminency and dignity speaking somewhat worthy to be heard and observed This is not an attribute to be allowed to every dead person Alas what do the ignorant worldling debased debauched prophane generation of men being dead speak They speak it may be as the Psalmist saith Psal 36.1 The transgression of the wicked saith within my heart There is no fear of God before his eyes They speak folly vanity violence wickedness and forgetfulness of God nothing else do they speak worthy to be heard God indeed sometimes by his remarkable Providences and some notorious Judgments makes them to speak when they are dead but as a wrecked Ship upon the Sands or Rocks speak unto the Mariners that is in a dangerous Sea or Voyage so Achan being dead spoke unto the covetous Zimry and Cozby speak unto the adulterer so Herod being dead speaks to the proud so Ananias and Saphira speak to the lyars but of themselves freely directly and intentionally they speak nothing they are silent in the grave Psal 31.17 They neither speak to the profit of others nor are they spoken of to their own honour This is the honour of the Saints of God to speak when they are dead By faith Abel being dead yet speaketh By the precious Graces with which the Saints are enriched by the holy life they have expressed by the good works they have wrought by the pious examples they have set before their generation by the eminent service they have done to God and his Church by their sharp tryals and temptations by their bitter Sufferings and Martyrdoms wherein they have been more than Conquerors By these the Saints being dead yet speak they speak to purpose for the vindication of truth to the shame of wickedness they speak to the honour of Religion they speak to the furtherance of the Gospel they speak to the conviction correction instruction edification and salvation of the living they speak to the glory of God This general truth we shall speak of in the particular instance of Abel Abel being dead yet speaketh he speaketh to us and he speaks to God Abel speaks to us in a fivefold respect or under a fivefold consideration Abel yet speaks Abel a man being dead yet speaks Abel a believer being dead yet speaks Abel a worshipper of God being dead yet speaketh Abel a Priest or Teacher being dead yet speaketh Abel a Martyr being dead yet speaketh 1. Abel a man being dead yet speaketh and this is it he speaks he speaks death to us all Oh my Brethren and Sisters the Sons and Daughters of my Father Adam ye are all mortals mortality is your property there is a principle of corruption in you and death hastneth Dust thou art and to dust thou shalt return said God to Adam Gen. 3.19 Probatum est saith Abel being dead Gods word is truth take me for an instance Abel vanity is the signification of it and that is my name Every man at his best estate is altogether vanity Psal 39. Particularly Abel a man being dead yet speaketh He speaketh unto the young man death may overtake thee in thy youth Abel he might be forty or fifty or sixty years of age when he dyed but this was a young man then that was a small age in that age of the world when the age of man was seven or eight or nine hundred years or upward Why then what assurance canst thou have that thou art far from death who in the course of nature hast forty or fifty years to live before thee when Abel is cut off from the land of the living who had in the same course of nature as many hundreds of years of life before him as thou hast half
The Dead Saint Speaking OR A SERMON PREACHED Upon Occasion of the Death of that Eminent Man Mr. MATHEW NEWCOMEN Sometimes Minister of the Gospel at Dedham in Essex Who dyed at LEYDEN Wherein is succinctly discoursed to a popular Auditory in Dedham what Instructions are given and sealed to the Living by the Death of the righteous Servants of God By J. F. Minister of the Gospel Prov. 10.7 The memory of the just is blessed Psal 116.15 Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his Saints LONDON Printed by A. M. and R. R. for Edward Giles Bookseller in St. Andrews Parish in Norwich 1679. TO THE READER I Know not how I am induced to prefix a few lines to this Anonymous discourse unless from the great kindness I have to the memory of that Reverend person whose death gave occasion to it A person whom I had the happiness to be acquainted with for the space of about thirty years during which time and since that time I have had the happiness to be acquainted with very many learned and pious men But this I shall say I never knew any that excelled him considering him as a Minister in the Pulpit a Disputant in the Schools and a desirable companion In the first capacity his gift in prayer was incomparable He was a solid painful pathetick and perswasive Preacher I have often thought that if Moral Suasion would have done the work though God blessed him with very many yet he would have had many more Converts than he had I have known very few his fellows either in pleading with God on the behalf of men or with men on the behalf of God he had the true abilities and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of a Preacher He succeeded that great man Mr. John Rogers of Dedham of whom I remember what himself said in his Verses he made upon his Death whiles I was a School-boy in the Town Since Peters days scarce ever any Fir'd so many But their gifts were very different Mr. Rogers was a grave severe solid Divine his great gift lay in a peculiar gesture action and behaviour in the delivery of what solid matter he had prepared so as few heard him without trembling at the Word of God This Reverend persons gifts lay almost all ways and his worst enemies must say he shewed as much Art as Piety in his Sermons and Prayers and all Religious Services he was a most accomplished Scholar and Christian His Sermon preached before the Parliament upon Novemb. 5. 1641 His Irenicum indeed whatever of his appear'd to the World speak him such a one as none can dispute his want of Learning without bringing their own in question His managery of the Argument against the Toleration of the Jews though never printed made him admired by all that heard it Take him in his ordinary converse he was pleasant facetious of extraordinary humility affability and courtesie his whole conversation was both pious and amiable After he had undertaken the charge of the Church of God in Dedham which was immediately upon the death of Mr. Rogers he would listen to no temptation to any other place though he had both many and great offers but there continued till a legal death deprived them of him Anno 1662. After this in a short time he was invited to the Pastoral Charge of the Church at Leyden he was pleased to entertain several discourses with me though much his inferiour such was his great humility about his going I was no great incourager of his acceptance of it that which prevailed with him was that there he should have the publick liberty of his Ministry which he preferred to any thing besides in this world there he finished the remaining part of his course exceeding acceptable to Dr. Hoornbeck and other of the Professors there He was pleased to maintain a correspondence with me by Letters and the last Letter if I remember right which I received from him if I mistook him not hinted some thoughts of his return into England not finding that satisfaction in all points there to himself which he before he went hoped for But the Lord prevented him taking him to himself by a Fever which prevailed much in that City and swept away many in the year 1668 or 1669 I forgot which This Sermon was afterwards preached in that which sometimes was his Pulpit in Dedham by a Reverend and Learned person I cannot say I know not the person but think it not reasonable to fetch him out of his Covert who although yet alive is not willing to discover himself I shall only say that he is a Workman who needs not be ashamed Whoso readeth this popular discourse will easily conclude him a man of excellent Parts and great Piety It had been no great difficulty to him to have stuft his Sermon with Quotations out of Authors or to have dressed it up with six-footed words and a lofty stile if he had judged that that Language of men puft up had been proper for a Countrey Auditory how judicious soever or could have judged that folly of Preaching to have been that foolishness of Preaching mentioned by the Apostle by which God hath chosen to save elect souls I remember Augustine said of Cyprian he once preached at that rate to shew he could do it but never but once to shew he would not This Reverend Author although a very learned man knew that an Iron key was better to open a Lock it is Augustines metaphor than one of Gold Thou wilt Reader find here what is scriptural pious profitable and that clothed with a decent language and such a discovery of Wit and Art as will make thee understand the Author if he had pleased as to those little things of wit and phrase could have outdone what is here but chose to do no more for ostentation of himself that he might the more profit his ordinary Readers Souls I could have wished the Author would have himself dressed it up for the Press but he rather chose to be studying new Sermons than trimming up old ones It is not his but some Auditors importunity that hath brought it to the light and I should have checkt my self in helping the least toward it but for my fondness to have any thing publick that might tell the world the worth of so worthy a person so much my intimate friend and what England and the Reformed part of the World lost that day in which Heaven gained this Eminent Servant of God to whose Memory it is dedicated This will tell thee how he being dead yet speaketh The Lord give us all an hearing ear and an heart willing to learn Thy faithful Friend in the Work of the Gospel 〈…〉 HEB. XI 4. By it he being dead yet speaketh THIS Chapter is a short Martyrology An Epitome of the Acts and Monuments of the Church of Old wherein by an Apostolical hand guided by the Divine Spirit a true and faithful Record a good and honourable Report
scores 2. Abel a man being dead speaketh to the strong Death may overcome thee in thy strength No question but Abel was come to strength of years and that age was much stronger than this when out of the loins of one the immediate issue might be an hundred-fold and more What then speaks Abel being dead Glory not O strong man in thy strength Remember thy beauty thy vigour thy maturity thy marrow and fatness the courage of thy heart the stoutness and straitness of thy body the dexterity of thine arms and legs cannot withstand the assaulting enemy but must yield up themselves to the force of prevailing death 3. Abel a man being dead yet speaketh he speaketh to the secure and unprovided death may surprize thee unawares Abel in the Field Abel about the works of his Calling Abel conversing with his Brother Abel to whom death was so much a stranger that he never saw it who would have thought that Abel went out into the field to dye Thus Abel was taken in his calling Nabal in his feasting Belteshazzar in his cups Herod in his pomp the rich fool promising himself ease and merriment all spake the same thing 4. And lastly Abel a man being dead yet speaketh unto all Death may kill thee with thine own weapon A brother is born for adversity a brother is born for a help in danger for a defence and safeguard Oh but yet by a brother doth Abel dye What then speaks Abel being dead Why so frail is thy life that thy food thy physick thy house thy horse thy sword thy servant thy friend thy brother yea thy self may be thy death Abel a man being dead yet speaketh Secondly Abel a believer being dead yet speaketh What speaks he He speaks 1. The grace of God to be most free he hath mercy on whom he will have mercy It is Grace that makes the difference between one man and another Abel and Cain both Children of one and the same Father both lying together in one and the same womb as twins probably both partakers of one and the same means both commended to God in one and the same prayer Abel the younger and Cain the elder and yet behold Abel is a believer and Cain is a murderer Abel is loved and Cain is hated Abel righteous and Cain wicked Abel is justified and Cain is condemned Abel the Child of God and Cain a Child of the Devil What speaks Abel being dead but this That grace makes the difference 2. Abel a believer being dead yet speaketh Righteousness is by faith not by works By faith he obtained witness that he was righteous Cain had his works but he had no faith Cain sacrificed but believed not Cain is unrighteous Cain is condemned Abel hath works and faith too Abel offereth and believeth Abel is righteous he is justified God hath respect unto Abel Justification is by faith 3. Abel a believer being dead yet speaketh That it is a happy advantage to live under means Abel believed Whence hath he his faith from God as the Author from God as the principle But what without means No Abel had the happy instruction of a Father and he was taught the law by a holy Mother The Patriarchs were Priests and Prophets in their own families Adam taught his Children the fear of the Lord. Abel then being dead yet speaks this in the language of the New Testament Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God blessed are they that hear the joyful sound thereof 4. Abel a believer being dead yet speaketh this That the grace of God doth not priviledg from the greatest crosses of all evils death is the forest death is the most grievous Skin for skin and all that a man hath will he give for his life was a truth though a lyar spoke it Abel a Saint in grace and in favour with God yet he dyed he dyed a violent death by the hand of his brother It was not an enemy then I could have born it saith David neither was it he that hated me that lifted up his hand against me but thou O man my brother mine equal mine acquaintance this was the wounding of his heart What speaks he If grace exempts not from death from such a death with such circumstances much less from lesser evils God scourgeth every son whom he receiveth 5. Lastly Abel a believer being dead yet speaketh What The greatest crosses shall not make void the grace of God Abel died he is belâ—ved of God still Abel dyed he is righteous Abel still he speaks this That God knows the souls of his Saints in their adversities God chuseth the Saints in the furnace of affliction He tells their wandrings and puts their tears into his bottle The supplication of the Saints come before him their desires and their groans are not hid from him Thus Abel a believer being dead yet speaketh Thirdly Abel a worshipper of God being dead yet speaketh what speaks he as a worshipper of God 1. God is to be worshipped by us His holy example speaks this God is to be worshipped as the Author of our beings as the Lord of our lives as the Father of our spirits as the God of our mercies as our King and Lawgiver the Mighty the Almighty Jehovah our Saviour and Redeemer whose we are and who we ought to serve we are not our own not our own free-men not independent beings but we are made by the power of God we are maintained by the providence of God we are bought with the blood of God we were subject to the Law of God we are bound by the Covenant of God and therefore ought to live to the glory of God 2. Abel a worshipper of God being dead yet speaketh That God that is to be worshipped is to be worshipped by faith By faith he offered a more excellent sacrifice by faith he worshipped God The worship of God in faith is a worship of Gods own constitution God is not to be worshipped by mens inventions but by his own appointments God is to be worshipped not as we will but as he commands 3. Abel as a worshipper of God being dead yet speaketh That God is to be worshipped with our best Abel he brought of the firstlings of his flock of the fat thereof Gen. 4. of the best The last or the least the torn the blind the lame the weak the sick the dregs of our beings the weakness of our age the deadness of our hearts the coldness of our affections the exercise of our bodies this alone is not to be offered unto God for he is a great King but the kindness of our youth the ripeness of our age the strength of our parts the zeal of our affections the intentions of our hearts the health of our bodies our whole hearts all our souls and all our strength the best improvement we can make of our selves is an offering becoming the great God 4. Abel a worshipper of God being dead yet speaketh That the best
offerings that we make unto God are not acceptable but through a Mediator God testified of Abels gifts because they were offered by faith through Jesus Christ The best we can tender to God is not worthy of Gods acceptation as from us but it must be recommended by the Mediator and without faith Cains offering signified nothing God had no respect to Cain nor to his offering Thus Abel as a worshipper of God being dead yet speaketh Fourthly Abel as a Priest or Teacher being dead yet speaketh It 's very probable that Abel had a distinct Family as Cain also had and each had their considerable stocks in the world for they offered to God of their own and so Abel in his Family was a priest and teacher However suppose Abel were yet remainining in the Family of his Father Adam yet he was the eldest but one born with Cain probably and withal was the person next to Adam that was taught of God Abel was a person instructed in the knowledg of Religion and of a holy and exemplary life and conversation and so he must needs be accounted a very useful Instrument for the hand of God to work by in the hearts of those of that generation Abel being dead yet speaketh What doth he speak He speaks this That God hath no need of the most hopeful and likely Instruments for his Churches service Though Abel dye the Church shall not dye Religion shall not dye no elect soul shall be lost for want of Abel The purpose of God shall stand God is not beholden to means much less to this means or that or another though never so likely It is all one to an Almighty Power to save by means or without means to save by few Instruments or by many by weak Instruments or by strong Joseph was an eminent Instrument for the planting for the protecting for the providing for for the ordering advancing and priviledging of the Family of Jacob the Church of God in the Land of Egypt but Joseph is a mortal man Joseph must dye What then Must the Church of God fail in Egypt must Israel perish in the Land of Ham No certainly Joseph spake to his brethren I dye but what then God shall surely visit you Gen. 50.24 Fifthly and lastly Abel a martyr being dead yet speaketh What doth he speak He speaks 1. As God spake Gen. 3.15 I will put enmity between her seed and thy seed Abel subscribes the enmity between the seed of the woman and the seed of the Serpent the Saint and the sinner the just and the unjust the righteous and the unrighteous the holy and the prophane they are opposite one unto another as light unto darkness as life unto death as east unto west as heaven unto hell There can be no accommodation no accord or agreement between them What agreement is between Christ and Belial 2. Abel a martyr being dead yet speaketh What doth he speak even as our Saviour speaks Mat. 10.21 The brother shall deliver up the brother to death and the father the child and the child shall rise up against the parents and shall cause them to be put to death There is no hatred like the hatred of Religion This enmity of Religion it offereth violence to Nature it breaketh the strongest obligations it blots out of a mans mind the memory of the Father that begat him and the mother that bare him and the paps that gave him suck It forgetteth natural relation and affection and debaseth man into a beast a Devil incarnate Mic. 7.6 there are many instances to the same purpose 3. Abel a Martyr being dead yet speaketh and what speaks he as Paul 2 Tim. 3.12 all that will live godly in Christ Jesus must suffer persecution Christ and the Cross Religion and Persecution Holiness and Afflictions these are bound together by a bond that cannot be broken The Saints of God are strangers in the world and must expect to meet with hard things The Saints of God are warriers and soldiers under the banner of Jesus Christ against the world and must expect sometimes to meet with blows The Saints of God are travellers in a strange Countrey they are travellers in a way towards their home which is Heaven and they must expect sometimes to meet with dirty ways and foul weather 4. Abel a martyr being dead yet speaketh What speaks he as David Psal 116.15 precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his Saints The death of his martyred Saints especially is precious The death of his Saints is precious The death of Abel was precious in the sight of God He takes special notice of it Gen. 14.9,10 God presently meets with Cain and saith Cain where is thy brother Abel What hast thou done God makes inquisition for the blood of Abel ay but saith God unto Abel being dead Hast thou lost thy life for my sake Is thy blood shed for thy love unto me I will avenge thee on thine enemy with eternal death and recompence thee with eternal life 5. Lastly Abel a Martyr being dead yet speaketh What speaks he as Paul Acts 17.31 God hath appointed a day in which he will judg the world Abels Martyrdom speaks That the wrongs and injuries done to the righteous to the Saints of God in the world do undoubtedly speak that there shall be a judgment-day which is a manifest token of the righteous judgment of God seeing it is a righteous thing with God to render tribulation to them that trouble you Violence and wrongs injuries and oppressions shall not always triumph as they do God will one day cause Justice to take the Throne and to reign over his enemies Thus Abel being dead yet speaketh as a man as a believer as a worshipper of God as a Teacher as a Martyr Secondly Abel being dead yet speaketh He speaketh unto God 1. He speaketh to God first by his prayers and supplications Abel a worshipper of God no question was a praying Saint it was part of his worship and his prayers yet speak We believe the communion of Saints one considerable part whereof is this a participiation of one anothers prayers All the members of the Church the Saints that follow after they fare the better for those that went before The first age of the Church contributes to all ages following and every particular believer contributes to the whole The prayers of Abel for the Church of God that was to come they are yet before the Lord his eyes are yet upon them as they are recorded upon the file in heaven his ear is yet hearing them By his prayers Abel being dead yet speaketh unto God 2. Abel being dead yet speaketh unto God by his blood When he was dead said God to Cain The voice of thy brothers blood crieth unto me from the earth The Martyrs blood it crieth against Cain for vengeance which is not yet fully executed it cryes yet to God for himself that God would make him reparation and satisfaction that God
to provoke to labour in the Word and Doctrine Then doth he speak to us as the Apostle Paul to Timothy 2 Tim. 1.6 Stir up the gift that is in thee 4. He speaketh yet again unto us Ministers That the Preachers Doctrine must be exemplified by the Ministers life So did his great example speak he did as well live as speak the Doctrine that he preached not like the Pharisees Mat. 29.23 That said and did not And then he speaks again as Paul to Timothy Be thou an example to the believers in word in spirit in conversation in charity in faith in purity And as Christ to his Apostles You are the light of the world Let your light so shine before men that others seeing your good works may glorifie your Father which is in heaven 5. And lastly He speaketh unto us Ministers Love pity compassion to precious souls Earnest eager desires of their salvation this is a powerful Motive and Principle to be laborious in Doctrine and exemplary in Life this was his Motive herein he excelled His dear love to this Congregation fixed him immoveably in this Candlestick from which no discouragement whatsoever at home on the one hand nor no temptation from abroad on the other could ever unsettle him till removed by a power not to be resisted His labours were the labour of love It was love that moved Christ the great Shepherd and Bishop of Souls to lay down his life for the sheep and the same principle of love will move the under-shepherds to lay out their lives to spend and be spent and to call nothing dear or precious that may contribute to the saving of a soul He speaketh again being dead unto this Congregation What speaks he unto you He speaks this 1. While you have the light walk in the light while you have the light improve it make use of a faithful Minister while you hear his voice and see his face he is not a perpetual blessing he is not always to be with you The Prophets do not live for ever I have saith he to you spoken to you in the Name of the Lord but now you shall see my face and hear my voice no more If God betrust you with a faithful Minister make use of him while you have him 2. He being dead speaks to this Congregation The impenitency of peoples hearts and incorrigibleness of peoples lives may stop the mouth may cut off the life of a faithful Pastor May I not beloved without breach of charity advise you to enquire whether Dedham's sins did not bereave Dedham of a faithful Pastor Is it not the Judgment that God threatned upon the Vineyard that did not answer his tillage Isa 5.6 I will command the Clouds that they rain no rain upon it And is it not the judgment God threatned to rebellious Israel Ezek. 3 Thou shalt be dumb and shalt be no more a reprover to them for they are a rebellious house Yet withal he speaks that God is very loath to execute such a Judgment upon a disobedient and unbelieving people How loath was God to remove your Pastor from you By degrees he executed it or at least not all at once he stopped his mouth first that he should not speak but you saw his face Then God removed his person that you should not see his face but he had communion with you by his Letters but now God hath removed him far away that there shall be no more seeing of his face nor hearing of his voice nor any communication between him and you in this world 3. He being dead yet speaks to this Congregation Dedham thy account is great see that thou discharge it well thou art not in an equal state with other places but like Capernaum hast been lifted up to Heaven and he can say as Paul to the Ephesians Acts 20.19,20 You know from the first day that I came among you after what manner I have been among you at all seasons serving the Lord with all humility of mind and with many tears and temptations and how I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you but have shewed you and have taught you publickly and from house to house Now having lived under the Ministry of so worthy so able and so faithful a Pastor your account is great To whom much is given of him much shall be required and he that knows his Masters will and doth it not shall be beaten with many stripes 4. He being dead speaks to this Congregation Hold out the profession of your faith with patience and constancy His example speaks What faith I have taught you I have asserted I have testified I have sealed by my Sufferings see now that you keep it that you lose it not by treachery or cowardise 5. He being dead speaks to this Congregation Have the Ministry of Gods faithful servants been effectual for the conversion edification salvation of any soul let him give God the glory Thus he speaks again as Paul to the Corinthians We have this treasury in earthen vessels that the excellency of the power may be of God and not of men It was not his gifts and graces his pains and industry that wrought grace in any of the hearts of his people but this was the power of God he was an earthen vessel but now is broken and the word he spoke was not the word of a meer mortal man but of the everliving God that endures for ever that God may have the glory of his converting mercy 6. He being dead yet speaks to this Congregation Weep not for me but weep for your selves I would not prophesie of evil things but who can tell but some dreadful Judgment may be at hand some dreadful Judgment may hang over the head of England and this righteous man may be taken away from the evil to come Who knoweth but God hath said to him Thou shalt dye in peace and shalt not see all the evil that I will bring upon the land of thy Nativity 7. He speaketh unto all and that he speaks is this The testimony of a good conscience the power of faith the joy of Gods salvation overcometh the very King of terrors So far was this holy man of God from the fear of death that in the sight and presence of it with his dart ready to strike him to the heart he begins to sing his heavenly Hellelujah He died in full assurance and great joy in the sight of Heaven in the very arms and embraces of the Lord. Lastly He being dead yet speaketh he speaks unto God He speaketh unto God by his cryes and supplications his fervent prayers are continually before God before that God that heareth prayers His prayers speak to God for the Church of God in general His prayers speak to God for this Church in particular the Church whereof we are all Members And more especially his prayers are before God for this place the Souls that were his charge His ardent entire affection prompted his most earnest cryes to Heaven for their salvation Thus Abel being dead yet speaketh Thus Newcomen being dead yet speaketh Now may God hear the dead that speak And may we hear the dead that speak That when the dead that speak shall speak again and hear again as one day they shall we may also hear with them the voice of the Archangel the sound of the trumpet the voice of the Son of God that shall raise them and us from the dead and the voice of the Son of God upon the Throne saying Well done good and faithful servant enter thou into the joy of thy Lord. Come ye blessed of my Father inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the World FINIS