shall add will fall under these following Directions 1. Let us justifie this severe Providence of God 'T is highly dishonourable unto him when we blame and accuse his ways as if they were not equal as on the other hand 't is Honourable to God when we subscribe every Arrest that our Heavenly Judge hath pronounc't 'T is related concerning Aaron that when his two Sons were cut off he held his peace Lev. 10.2 3. He made no Objections against that tremendous severity of God when he understood that He had glorified himself by that Act. Blessed be God who enableth the Relict of the Deceas'd thus to glorifie God May this Instance of his Resignation very much exalt the Name of God and bring Reputation unto strict and serious Religion Let this conclusion be deeply fix'd in all our Souls that however severe the dealings of God are they are always Righteous and Equal 2. Let us Honour and Imitate the Holy Example of the Deceas'd Friend of Christ the worthy Mrs. Shower None I hope will expect a large Historical account of her Life or a Funeral Encomiastick this latter she needs not for her own Works praise her in the gate and are a more valuable Monument than any made by Art Her Parentage and Beauty her Wit and Charms of Conversation tho' even those were Gifts from above must now be pass'd over in silence for all these are Praeda Mortis a Prey unto Death and the Grave which consideration ought to cure the undue Esteem of them that many professing Christians discover and perhaps few places are more guilty of this Vnchristian Error than this City where it seems to be the chief Ambition of many to out-vye others in every thing rather than in real Holiness which is the only Ornament that Death cannot spoil us of accordingly I shall only take notice of those Excellencies which do fit the dignifying Character of Lazarus unto her One whom Jesus loved And however useful and honourable the Love of our Acquaintance and Fellow-creatures may be unto us yet at last this Character of Sick and Dying Lazarus will be more valued than any the most admir'd Titles of Honour To make good this Character it will not be necessary to Describe her in her Personal and Relative Capacities in both which those who knew Her will acknowledge that she had not many Equals 'T will be enough to draw the few following Lineaments 1. The Holy Wisdom which did shine in her Conduct and which she discover'd both in leaving her Native Land to enjoy the advantages of Living in a Religious Family to which she was related and in the Choice that she made when she changed her Condition Neither the prejudices of the Age or the Advantage of other offers could hinder from accepting One as the Partner of her Life from whom she could expect the best assistance in the Service of God and the concerns of her Soul and this she did at a time when there was no prospect of that Tranquility which now encourageth Persons of his Character and Profession 2. Her Conscientious Attendance upon the Publick Worship Of this I am capable to give Witness having had the opportunity of Living a considerable time under the same Roof and have observ'd how Her Love unto the Solomn Assemblies made Her overcome many difficulties which are pleaded by others in excuse of their neglect neither the Heat or Cold of the Season nor the hazard to her Health especially when great with Child could induce her to lose any Opportunity of waiting at the Gates of Wisdom such Advantages were pleasant and such Seasons were refreshing unto her Soul 3. The Acquaintance she had with Secret Religion She was not one of those Professors who shut up their Religion within the Temple Walls where they take it up and leave it at their departure No she made many secret Visits unto her Heavenly Bridegroom and from him obtain'd that Wisdom and Modesty and other Virtues which adorn'd her Conversation 4. Her submission unto the disposing Will of God and the comforting hopes she had do compleat the Character of one whom Jesus Loved in this World and hath now receiv'd in the other where she is plac'd out of the reach of Sin and Sorrow of Child-bearing Pains and Child-bed Sickness and where no Clouds shall ever interrupt the Light of God and of the Lamb But if we desire to meet her there we must imitate her Faith and Holiness And 3. Lastly Let us glorifie God by receiving the Instruction which this sorrowful Providence presents to us 1. Concerning the Vncertainty of Life when so bright and Vigorous a Flame is suddenly Extinguisht who can entertain a just expectation of a long Life What folly must it be to reckon upon many years when our Lives are in so perpetual hazard Let us number our days aright and fix upon our Hearts that Conclusion which David made 1 Chron. 29.18 Our days on the Earth are as a shadow and there is no abiding which consideration had no question a strong influence upon that famous Liberality toward the Service of God which is related in that Chapter and it would make us more active in his Service 2. Learn the Vanity of Creature-assistances could the Love of a Husband or the Counsels of Physitians or the Service of Friends have been Effectual there had not been an occasion for this sorrowful Solemnity 'T is become Natural to us to place an undue confidence in Created helps exceeding apt we are to trust in Riches or Wisdom and in the means of Health when in themselves they are empty and broken Cisterns which will send us away disappointed and asham'd 3. The necessity of speedy Preparation for Death and Judgment every Funeral presseth this upon those who are witnesses of it Many of you have lately heard * From my Br. S. on those words Matt. 24.44 Be you also ready the Nature and Importance of this great work and so many have discoursed concerning it that I need not enlarge It hath not been without a design worthy of the Wisdom of God that our Deceas'd Friend should not be called out of the World by Death until she was known unto two Societies in this City whereby her Death is rendred more Instructive And now that a Funeral Sermon hath drawn Multitudes to attend here you will receive no advantage from it yea 't will prove very hurtful to you if you do not seriously engage that you will give all diligence to prepare for Death and Eternity This work is never unseasonable and nothing can be pleaded to excuse the neglect of it You who are Young and in the Flower of your days do not put off this Affair say not as the negligent Jews once did concerning the Rebuilding of their Temple The time is not come Hag. 1.2 The approach of Death will make you of another mind when you hear the sound of that Messengers Feet who will bring you to Judgment you will then conclude that this is the one Thing necessary that all the Concerns of Trade and Offices of Civility are meer Trifles in comparison with this work upon which your everlasting Welfare depends What meanest thou then O Sleeper arise and call upon God and stir up thy self that thou perish not look often down into the Chambers of the Grave dwell by solemn Thoughts in the Valley of the Shadow of Death Be not afraid lest this should make thee Melancholly or Distracted for this path leads unto the most desireable Joy Tho no Distractedness is to be feared in comparison of the Madness which unrepenting careless Sinners are guilty of and whom Death will find unprepared And when a view of your Latter End has compos'd and awaken'd your Souls then put the Question to your selves which you find 2 Pet. 3.2 Seeing that all these things shall be Dissolved or are Dissolving what manner of Persons ought we to be in all manner of Conversation and Godliness FINIS Books lately Printed PRactical Discourses on Sickness and Recovery in several Sermons as they were lately preached in a Congregation in London by Timothy Rogers M. A. after his Recovery from a Sickness of near two years Continuance Early Religion or a Discourse of the Duty and Interest of Youth by the same Author Both Printed for J. Dunton
endeavour to recollect after I have considered the extraordinary Instance of this Text where we find the Prophet Ezekiel is forbidden by God to mourn for the death of his Wife having receiv'd an express order not to testifie his Affection by any of the Funeral Rites and Customs of Mourning used among the Jews on the like Occasion Also the Word of the Lord came unto me saying Son of Man behold I take away from thee the Desire of thine Eyes with a stroke yet neither shalt thou mourn nor weep neither shall thy Tears run down For the better understanding of this Passage you must know that this Prophet had for several years publish't the orders of God and denounc'd Judgments in his Name unto Judah and Jerusalem but without the desired fruit of his Ministry without the success of his important Messages and Commission The generality of the People applauded his Rhetorick but continued to do after the Lusts of their Hearts and the sight of their Eyes and would not hearken to his repeated Calls to Repentance or be awaken'd by the most awfull Threatnings of approaching Calamity Hereupon God resolves to take another Method and try if his Sufferings would not be instructive unto those to whom his Preaching had been little so The Prophet himself should be a Sign unto 'em and the surprizing Death of his Wife be made a Warning of what God would do against that Nation And his not being permitted to mourn for her should signifie the (a) Uxcrem nolo lugeas ut signisices in maximis malis con vacaturum Ipsis ut lugeant Grotius Extremity of that Judgment which would quickly overtake them and represent the Horror of their Distress that they should not have leave or opportunity to perform Funeral Rites or make a regular mourning for their Dead Relations The following part of the Chapter declares this to be the general scope and meaning of this Passage Wherein we may consider First The Literal Sence of the words in relation to this Prophet Secondly The Parabolical meaning of them in relation to the People of the Jews Thirdly The Practical Improvement of this Instance as to Ordinary Cases of the Death of Relations and Mourning for ' em The former will tell us what these Expressions signifie in themselves the Second what they were designed by God to represent to the Jews which will make way for what may be instructive from both whenever God takes away the Desire of our Eyes by Sickness or any other stroke Under the First Enquiry we may take notice of three things 1. The Title here given to the Prophet Son of Man 2. The Calamity threatned Behold I take away the Desire of thine Eyes with a stroke 3. The Prohibition in that case not to mourn or weep or use the ordinary Expressions of Funeral Sorrow First This Title of Son of Man we find given him almost an hundred times in this Prophecy That it should be given him as a Type of Christ who is so often called the Son of Man I know no sufficient reason to prove for that Appellation seems to have respect to his Mediatory Office as that true Son of Man or promised Seed who was to bruise the Serpents head and not only to be the Saviour of Israel but a light to the Gentiles and allied unto all Mankind Vnto whom all Power and Authority is given and all Judgment Committed because he is the Son of Man Joh. 5. It may either referr to his mean Original and frailty as a Son of Adam whose Body was formed out of the dust of the ground and must return to it which might help to prevent his being lifted up by the extraordinary Visions and Revelations God had favour'd him with that he might not think of himself above what was meet 2 Cor. 12.7 or count it strange that he should be called to so difficult a Service and prov'd by such an afflicting Stroke since he was but a Son of Adam Or the expression may (b) Cameronis Prelect ad 16 Matth. 27. import no more but simply O man which is usual in all Languages when a Superiour directs his discourse to an Inferior So Rom. 9.20 Secondly N. The Calamity threatned by God I take away the Desire of thine eyes with a stroke By a Plague or Apoplexy or some very surprizing more immediate Hand of God such as the First-born of the Egyptians were smitten with Exod. 12.29 where the word is used The Desire or * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Desires of thine Eyes as the Septuagint Translation renders it who this was the eighteenth verse tells us So I spake unto the people in the morning and at Even my Wife dyed 'T is manifestly supposed that she had many qualifications to render her Desireable and make the loss exceedingly afflictive otherwise the dreadful Calamity that was coming upon the Jews would not have been properly represented by it If the Spirit of God had not reckon'd this Instance to have been one of the most smarting and afflictive of all private and particular losses it could not have been fitly made use of here If the loss of a tender Parent or of a beloved Child or any other Relation had been superior or equal to this the death of some or other of those Relations would rather have been mention'd instead of this It may therefore be thought reasonable that when the Inferiour Priests were forbidden under the Law to defile themselves for the Dead save only for their nearest kindred Levit. 21.3 4. that the Wife must be comprehended thò not express'd Allowance being given them to mourn for a Father or Mother a Brother or Sister a Son or Daughter this Relation is much more supposed for whose sake a Man is to leave all others It were needless to tell him he might afflict himself in that case when it is granted as to the lesser and more remote Relatives The Margin of some Bibles would intimate it was forbidden unto a Priest being an Husband among his People to defile himself by Funeral Mourning for his Wife but it may better be read He shall not defile himself for a Chief man or Magistrate among his People therefore much less might he do so for any other save his nearest Kindred and Relations The general reason of such (c) Dr. Spencer de Ritiâ—us Jud. lib. 1. cap. 7. §. 2. a Prohibition seems to have been to keep up the Reputation and Respect due to the Sacred Office and Ministry which by being ordinarily present at Funeral Solemnities might have been lessen'd that he might not being a publick person and employed about the worship of God by any sorrowful indecorous Ceremonies disparage his Office or lessen his Dignity and esteem among the people for it follows v. 6. They shall be holy unto their God and not profane the Name of God i. e. They are peculiarly separated for the service of God and the Offices of Religion and obliged to greater strictness and
much otherwise it was with them not long ago And can we wish them back again while we sigh and weep and mourn we know all Tears are wiped away from their Eyes and they are singing the Song of the Lamb. They are now seeding on the pleasant Fruits of Paradise and would we have them back again to eat the Bread of Affliction and drink the Waters of Affliction Would we they should return from the state of Triumph after Victory to engage again in new Combats From the Port and Haven of Eternal Rest to be tost again upon a Tempeltuous Sea And this because they were 〈◊〉 Kindred and our Relations for you do not mourn that the Prophets and Apostles 〈◊〉 all the Faithful mentioned in Holy Scripture or since in former Ages that they are gone to Heâ—â—â—n The ancient Christians kept Days of Thanksgiving for the safe Departure of such But how dear soever they were to us we shall go to them they shall not come to us We are very unkind if we desire they should have Tarryed longer when God hath made them ready they are gone to better Friends than those they have lest behind And if you Loved me said Christ you would rejoyce that It said I go to my Father and your Father to my God and your God The Friends they have left are imperfect Sinning Sorrowing troublesome and unsuitable compared with those they meet above And there only our Friendship and Affections to one another will be without any mixture of Grief or Sin without any Infirmity Suspicion Discontent or other allay by their Weaknesses Sins or Sufferings There shall we have all our Wishes and Desires for our Friends as well as for our Selves and converse continually together without being weary of one anothers Company they had once such a vile Body as we have and such disorderly Passions such Errors and Mistakes and Actual Sins as we are guilty of they were troubled with such Temptations Doubts and Descrtions as we complain of but their probationarry State is now over their Warfare is accomplish'd their Work done their Race ended their Course finish'd and they are enter'd into the Joy of the Lord Oh let us remember that they are so while we Weep and Mourn partly for their Departure and more it should be for our unfitness as yet to be with them But we have the same God and Saviour the same Way and Rule the same blessed Recompence of Reward propos'd and promis'd and prepar'd the same Grace and Assistance offered to enable us to Persevere and Overcome It is but a little while since they had as malicious Enemies to oppose and conquer and as difficult a work to mind as we and were as unlikely to hold out as some of us their inward and outward Troubles were like to ours their bodily Weaknesses and Spiritual Distresses like to ours but they have overcome them yet a little while and we hope we may do so too And it is but a little while let us not then grieve immoderately being our selves to follow so soon after to partake we hope in that Blessedness with them for ever which we have often joyned together in Prayer to ask of God for them and for our selves And this we need not question if we choose the same Felicity * Mr. Baxters Life of Faith ch 26. as our End and Christ as the Captain of our Salvation to direct and lead us in the way thither if we build on the same Word of Promise and follow the Conduct of the same Spirit of Holiness if we live in the exercise of the like Grace and are conform'd to Christ our Head in Spirit Purpose and Behaviour and hold on in doing and suffering his Will with constancy to the Death If we do thus we shall shortly be with them and because we were wont to mourn with them when they mourned and to take part in their Afflictions let us do so in their Joys also Thanking God for their Deliverance and Rejoycing in their Felicity Fourthly The last Argument for our Support is the Belief and Hope of the Resurrection of the Dead when we shall meet them and all the Children of the Kingdom in the presence of the Lord. We know that those who sleep in Jesus he will bring with him and openly absolve and own them before all the World and give them the full possession of the promised Inheritance We are bid to Comfort our selves and one another with such joyful words 'T is Comfort that there is a Redeemer and that he is their Redeemer as well as ours that he Lives and will come again and that we know this on certain and infallible grounds and that when he shall appear we shall be like him by seeing him as he is It is Comfort that even these Bodies that must be buried out of sight and putrifie in a silent Grave shall be raised and enlivened and made like the glorious Body of our Redeemer Thô Death devour their Beauty and the Grave hold them Prisoners for some thousands of years tho they should be burnt to Ashes or devour'd by Worms Beasts or Fishes however crumbled and divided into little parts and these scatter'd and dispers'd into a thousand distant places yet he will raise and re-unite and restore them fresh and spritely beautiful and glorious That Power which at first did form and fashion them in the Womb hath engaged to do it This Corruptible shall put on Incorruption and this Mortal put on Immortality and Death be swallowed up in Victory What was sown in Weakness shall then be raised in Power our Bodies shall then be Active and Nimble quick and free easily passing in a little space to a great distance and readily obeying the Motions of our Glorified Spirits What was sown a Natural Earthly Body shall be raised Spiritual suited to the spiritual State and Life and work of Heaven not needing the supplies of Food or Physick or any of those things which now employ so much of our Time and Care in reference to the Body In a word they shall be raised in Glory however vile they now are as the Bodies of our Humiliation And shall shine brighter than the Sun in it's Meridian Splendor with a Glory suitable to the Excellency of that Power exerted in their Resurrection suitable to the Dignity of our Glorified Souls suitable to the Glory of that Place where they are to inhabit and of the Noble Services wherein they are to be employed and especially suitable to their Excellent Exemplar the Glorious Body of Christ whose Resurrection and Exaltation is the Cause Pattern and Pledge of ours And this we may depend upon for our Lord hath not only left us the Earnest of his Spirit to assure us of the Resurrection that our Mortal Bodies shall be quicken'd by the same Spirit that raised him from the Dead but he hath carried the Earnest of our Flesh into Heaven with him to assure us that all his Friends Favourites and
Truth Yea to be able to say This was the Person with whom I lived and so journed in yonder World whose sincere Affection I so much valued whose delightful useful Company I so much prized whose Sickness and Removal I so much lamented c. But lest I run too far let me draw to a Close Let us therefore after what hath been said resolve to have Communion with them though they are Departed by Contemplating what they are and where they are and what they do and what they possess and by Rejoycing in their Blessedness more than we would have done for their Temporal Advancement in any kind on Earth Let us desire and endeavour to be as like 'em as we can by imitating their Temper and Work above in the Love of God and the delighful thankful Praises of the Redeemer When we look up to Heaven let us think they are there When we think of Christ in Heaven let us remember they are part of his Family above When we think with hope of entring into Heaven our Selves let us think with Joy of meeting them there Oh welcome welcome happy meeting with Christ and them Never more to Part never more to Mourn never more to Sin O Happy Change O Blessed Society shall we then cry out with whom we shall live for ever to Know and Love Admire and Praise and Serve our Common Lord We formerly Sinn'd together and Suffer'd together But this is not like our old Work or State Our former Darkness Complaints and Sorrows are now vanisht This Body this Soul this Life this Place this Company these Visions these Fruitions these Services and Employments are not like what we had in the former World And yet which is the Quintessence and Spirit of all this Happiness shall last to all Eternity and after Millions of Ages be as far from ending as when at first began Fit us Lord for such a Day and Come Lord Jesus Come quickly Amen THE END Prepare to Follow OR THE SECOND DISCOURSE FROM MATTH XXIV 44. Occasion'd by the DEATH OF M rs Eliz. Gearing Prepare to Follow A Funeral Sermon Occasion'd by the DEATH OF M rs Elizabeth Gearing Late Wife of Mr. Henry Gearing who Departed this Life the second of July 1691. By JOHN SHOWER 2 SAM 12.23 But now he is Dead wherefore should I fast Can I bring him back again I shall go to him but he shall not come to me LONDON Printed for J. Dunton and A. Chandler 1691. Prepare to Follow OR A DISCOURSE FROM MATTH 24.44 Therefore be ye also ready for in such an hour as ye think not of the Son of Man cometh UPON a like Exhortation of our Blessed Lord to Watchfulness and Prayer to Faithfulness and Diligence in Expectation of his Coming the Apostle Peter makes bold to ask the Question whether it concern'd only the Apostles or was spoken to all Luke 12.41 The answer whereto doth sufficiently express the Universal Obligation of such a Duty For our Lord replies Blessed is that wise and faithful Servant who when his Lord comes shall be found doing his Masters Work And yet more expresly by another Evangelist where the like Parable is apply'd with this addition What I say unto you I say unto all Watch Mark 13. last which Watching is the general Comprehensive word for being Ready This is the repeated Voice of Christ in his Word where-ever he speaks of his Second Coming This is the distinct and loud call of his Providence unto this Congregation by the Death and Funerals of one of our number you know I mean our Friend Mrs. Gearing which speaks the same language to all of us Be ye also ready And being desired on this Occasion to preach from these words I shall reserve the mention of some things that were Instructive and exemplary in the Deceased for the close of my Discourse and in the mean time consider this seasonable Admonition of our Blessed Lord Therefore be ye also Ready for the Son of Man cometh in such an hour as ye think not of This and the foregoing Verses are part of the Answer which our Saviour made to the Disciples question in the beginning of the Chapter v. 3. Tell us when shall these things be and what shall be the sign of thy coming and of the end of the World According to the common Apprehensions which the Jews had of the alteration of the present state of things among them by the coming of the Messiah and that general destruction of the World and the State of Eternity which would thereupon follow they enquire of both to gether as reckoning his Coming and the End of the World would be at once And throughout this Chapter we find our Lord's Answer to both Questions are intermixed some whereof referr to the destruction of the Jewish State and his coming to execute judgment upon that Nation and others to the end of the World whereof the former was but a figure It is plain that some passages referr to the Jewish State several of the signs of his coming were literally fulfilled a little before their destruction by the Romans as Josephus and Tacitus and others mention particularly the 15. and 16. verses When ye therefore shall see the Abomination of Desolation spoken of by Daniel the Prophet stand in the Holy place whoso readeth let him understand then let them which be in Judea flee into the Mountains And again 34. v. he says This Generation shall not pass away till all these things be fulfilled There is yet no reason to confine the whole of this Chapter to the Calamities which befell the Jewish Nation which was but as a Type and Representation of the general Judgment preceding the final Doom of the World for some passages do as plainly referr to the end of the World As when he speaks of â—â—s coming in the Clouds with power and great glory and of the Angels sounding the Trumpet and of two men in the Field and of two Women grinding at the Mill one taken and the other left referring to the great Discrimination of persons that shall be made at the end of the World as when it is said in the 36. verse Of that day and hour no man knoweth no not the Angels of Heaven but my Father only And by another Evangelist the Son himself is excluded from knowing that hour Mark 13.33 But did not Christ know the time of the destruction of the Jews their Temple City and Nation when he himself foretells the time when it should be And therefore those words in the 35. v. Heaven and Earth shall pass away but my words shall not pass away seem to be a transition from answering the first Question concerning the Destruction of the Jews to answer the other question about the End of the World whereupon follows the Exhortation in the 42. v. Watch for you know not what hour your Lord will come But know this or you do know this as the Original word will bear and may better be
assist them hereafter as now otherwise it is as uncertain whether you shall Repent hereafter if you live as whether you shall live to that hereafter wherein you say you intend to Repent 6. Consider How great and Important a thing it is to Dye and to meet the Lord our Judge It is so even for good men that are habitually Ready after such a life of sense and the deep Impressions we are under by sensible Objects after our many Backslidings and actual Sins to look into the House of darkness and think of lodging there to lay down these Bodies to corrupt and Putrifie there to bid adien to all our Relations and take a solemn leave of all our Friends to think of passing thro' this dark Entry through which as we go right or wrong we are made or undone for ever to think of the Majesty and Holiness of God his Truth and Justico to consider the strictness and Spirituality of his Holy Law and the awful Solemnity of the Tryal and Judgment that all Mankind must come under These and such things consider'd which are obvious to any considering man make it no easie matter to dye even for the best But for an unprepared Soul that is Unready as to his State who hath done little or nothing ever in his whole Life of such Work no Expressions can describe the Terrors of that mans case especially for careless carnal Professors that attend the preaching of the Word and are deceived by the Devil to think they are in the way to Heaven while yet they live in secret Sin and are Enemies to God what killing disappointment will they meet with one moment after Death when they expect with the foolish Virgins to enter Heaven and find the door to be shut Sirs believe and tremble If you are not ready for the Coming of Christ you are ready for his condemning Sentence and ripe for Ruine If you are not ready as Vessels of Mercy prepar'd for Glory you are ready as Vessels of Wrath fitted for Destruction That Place and Portion which you are fit for you shall have at Death If you are not fit to be with Christ if you are not made meet for the Inheritance of the Saints in Life if you are not formed and wrought by the Spirit of Christ for this self-same thing you shall have another Place and Company and Portion with the Devil and his Angels in unquenchable Fire where is weeping and wailing and gnashing of Teeth for ever 7. You need not fear that you shall hasten your Death by Thinking of it and being Ready Christs Summons will not be hastened tho' thy Preparation be The stroke of Death will not be sooner but the easier and make Life and Death it self sweeter by now endeavouring to be Ready You will not then be afraid of every Sickness and threatning Danger that brings you to the borders of the Grave They were the foolish Virgins who were affrighted at the Midnight cry The Bridegroom cometh because their Lamps were out and they had no Oyl they were struck to the Heart their Hope 's dyed and they presently sunk into Despair But of such as are Ready we find them speak of Dying as of an easie sleep I must put off this Earthly Tabernacle shortly saith one Apostle The time of my Departure is at hand and I am ready to be offer'd up saith another 2 Pet. 1.14 2 Tim. 4.6 But as Christ will not delay his Coming tho thou be unprepared so neither is thy Readiness for Death a likely means to shorten thy Life 8. Consider It is for this end that our Lives are continued and all the mercies of our Lives that we may be ready What have you Life given you for why were not you cut off many years ago but that you might have Time and space to Repent and Prepare for the Coming of Christ How many years have some of you been spared It may be twenty thirty forty fifty years and yet after all you are not ready What have you been busie about all this while How have you employed your Time What is the end of God do you think in all the merciful helps He concinues you Such as Ministers and Books Ordinances and Providences your own Sickness and others Funerals You lose the benefit and use of all your Mercies of Life Health and Time and some of you of Wealth and Honour c. of all the Sermons you have heard of all the Providential warnings of God to Awaken you you have lost them all if they have not furthered your Readiness for the Coming of Christ And if you shall live many years to come you must say it was all lost Time and wish you had never had an hour of it while this preparation for Death and Judgment is neglected 9. Consider the unspeakable Difference between a prepared and unprepared Soul in a dying Hour The one is going to see the things he hath Believed and possess that which he hoped for and hath the promise of God that he shall enjoy The other is going to feel what he would not in time believe to endure the threatned Wrath he would not Fear so as to escape The one is come to the end of all his Prayers and Patience Labours and Sufferings The other to the end of all his Ease and Pleasure Mirth and Joy The one hath the promised Felicity with God and Christ and all the blessed Spirits above in view before him the other hath Death and Hell the Judgment of Christ and an Eternity of Misery before him ready to overwhelm his Soul The one can look back with Comfort and reflect upon his upright Holy persevering Obedience mixt with Repentance for many Sins and Failings and yet can hope in God for his acceptance thro Christ the other must review his Heart and Life with horror and regret and read over the black Items of his careless Impenitent Course with Bitterness and Torment and the fears of greater The one is leaving this World where he spent his days in preparing for Eternity thô he heartily laments that he began no sooner and minded it no more the other is passing into the invisible Eternal World for which he hath made no provision The one by Death shall be translated to a blessed State of Holinefs Love and Peace in the everlasting joyful Praises of God his Maker Redeemer and Sanctifier the other sort are passing into the Regions of Darkness and Despair among Devils and unholy miserable Souls with whom they must dwell under the Hatred and Curse of God and the unspeakable Terrors of his Wrath for ever O the difference between one that is ready and one that is unready when the Summons from Christ shall come to call them both away Consider this endeavour to be Ready for the difference between one mans Death and anothers depends on the difference between Heart and Heart Life and Life Preparation and Unpreparedness 10. Consider that all the Readiness you now can get
their Deaths too if we be not awakened to prepare for our own But alas How soon do the Impressions wear off of such awakening Spectacles It may be the ghastly looks or dying groans of dear Friends or departing Relatives gasping out their last breath and just passing into the other World for the present may affect us a little It may be when we see an open Coffin in our own House or a Grave gaping to receive the Body of one we knew and loved and lately conversed with this may move and startle us a little It may be when we behold the mournful Looks and Habit the Funeral Pomp and Solemnity that attends them to the House of Darkness some serious Thoughts are excited our Minds are aw'd into some reflections upon our own Mortality But when the Ceremony is over and we are gone from such a Spectacle when the Dead are buried out of our sight and we engag'd among the living World again how soon alas is all this forgotten and how few are Gainers by such a Loss in the manner they should be i. e. To take the Warning to be Ready and Prepared for the Coming of Christ to us which is as sure as if we were already dead One Help to get Ready our Selves for Death and Judgment is to consider and improve the Death of Others Either of such who were called and not Ready whose case speaks loudly to us not to delay and trifle as they did or of such as were Prepared and fit to Dye their Death hath also the like voice of that in the Text Be you also Ready Our Deceased Friend Mrs. Gearing I am perswaded was of this latter sort § 1. I Know very well that the praising of the Dead hath been scandalously abused as a more close way of flattering the living Relations and therefore would be cautious what I speak on such Occasions But the Honour of Gods Grace is not a little concern'd in the Honour of those in whom it did remarkably appear and he hath promis'd that they who serve and follow him shall be honoured To mention what was really imitable and praise-worthy needs no Apology or Excuse the matter carries its own Justification § 2. You of this Congregation could not but observe her Diligence and Constancy in attending on the Publick Worship of the Lords Day and to show forth the Lords Death every Month in the other Solemnity of the Supper Her early Attendance here before the publick Worship began thô she liv'd at a more remote distance than many of you is not unworthy of your Imitation § 3. Her strict Seriousness in Family-worship and Closet Duties by which the Life and Vigour of practical Godliness is to be kept up they who knew her best were well acquainted with § 4. There was one thing in her daily Course which should shame and awaken most Professors viz. the Conscientious daily practice of Self-reflection and Examination reviewing and calling over the passages of every Day in the Evening She made Conscience every Night to look back on the Duties she had performed and the Manner of 'em on the Mercies she had receiv'd on the Errors Weaknesses and Omissions she had been guilty of c. in order to Repentance or Thanksgiving Oh that there were more of such concerning whom this may be truly said We should be more Ready for the Table of the Lord every Month and more Ready for the presence of Christ at the Hour of Death if we did thus review the Actions of every Day at the close of it § 5. Not to insist upon her Faithfulness and Prudence Tenderness and Affection Affability and Friendly Carriage in every Relation with divers other things very Commendable in her Life I shall only take notice of a few things concerning her last Sickness which after ten days determin'd in Death § 6. Her Patience Submission and Resignation was answerable to the other part of her Character and Deportment that is truly Christian When sometimes by intervals her Distemper did affect her Head as soon as she recovered the use of her Vnderstanding and a composed mind very pertinent and earnest Supplications to Heaven discovered the holy Seriousness of her Heart and Frame When she could hardly speak more than Yes or No yet she did sufficiently signifie her Assent and cordial Approbation of any seasonable Religious Discourse that was made to her § 7. She owned her Hope and Trust in the Mercy of God thro' Jesus Christ for Pardon and Eternal Life and under the disorders of so painful and violent a Feaver yet acknowledg'd she had Peace within § 8. The day before she dyed she told a near Relation that she had a great work to do on the morrow And when it was replyed that 't is true It is a great and difficult Work to dye yet one moments Enjoyment of God in Heaven will make amends for all She very affectionately cries out I so it will I know that my Redeemer lives and that I shall go to him and be with him § 9. The Evening before her Departure after I had prayed for her in the presence of several Relations and Friends and seriously endeavour'd to commend her Soul into the hands of Christ I ask'd her Whether Jesus Christ were not the Chiefest of ten thousands to Her whether she did not desire and prize him above all whether she had not given up her self to him again and again with all her Heart and Soul entirely and without reserve and endeavour'd humane Infirmities and Backslidings repented of excepted to walk and live as a Follower of Christ under the Conduct of his Spirit and according to the Rule of his Word and some other such Questions that might assist her to discern the Truth of her Grace c. She answered in the Affirmative with extraordinary Modesty Humility Thankfulness and Affection And gave me her hand at Parting with thanks for my Prayers and Assistance begging of God the best of Blessings for me and mine which were her own words § 10. After which in a difficult struggle with the King of Terrors we hope and trust she was supported by the Everlasting Arms of that Powerful Grace of Christ who hath conquer'd Death and him that had the Power of it the Devil So that we may now say O Death where is thy Sting c. God grant those lively impressions of Death and another World which the Relations then present seem'd to have on that occasion may not easily wear off or lose their proper Influence And now Christians let us mix our Sorrows for our Deceased Friend with the Joys of Faith on the account of her being made meet and ready for the Presence of Christ Some Sorrow is allowable were it but as Death enters into the World as the fruit of Sin But she being Prepared for Death and made meet for the Promised Blessedness beyond the Grave that ought to be the matter of our Joy which we believe is so of hers
but such as are Taught of God and have their spiritual sences exercised so as to be acquainted not only with the form of Godliness but also with the Power thereof these men do say that the Character which the others do give of this eminent persons teaching are most true and they do further also say that it is extraordinary Clear and convincing most Evangelical and Scriptural greatly practical and profitable and yet very Sublime and Spiritual Now Reader consider whether many if any such have finally miscarryed whose Natures were gentle and easie to be entreated whose hearts were Soft and Tender who had the Benesits of such Education and such Example who enjoyed such Teaching abroad as well as such Counsel at home and all accompanyed with fervent Prayer unto God for a Blessing which I am sure that she did not want it being reported of her Father that his Custom was with the Psalmist 119.164 Seven times a day to pray unto the Lord and to praise him Moreover I am informed that this deceased Gentlewoman was observed to spend much time in Closet Prayer of late consider then I say whether we may not hope considently that the Grace of God had savingly and effectually wrought upon her who was both visibly in Covenant with God and whose heart also God had disposed and prepared by such special Means of Grace which he had bestowed upon her And this is yet more evident if we reflect upon God's dealing with her in her last Sickness whereby God did seem to seal Instruction deeply upon her Soul Her distemper was one of the worst sort of Small Pox At her first being taken she had strong apprehensions that she should dye she therefore did fall closely upon the work of Examination desiring the assistance of some Ministers therein and she was visited by many she opened her case to us all and God was pleased to make her to suspect and be jealous of the worst and to confess and condemn herself for her Sins both of Omission as well as Commission and humbly to inquire after the only way of Pardon And it pleased God so to bless these last helps as that none of us who visited her do doubt but the same Spirit who convinced her of Sin and of Righteousness did at length seal her up to the day of Redemption The Alpha the first Beginning and Foundation of all practical Religion is that act whereby a Soul doth deliberately resolvedly freely and expressely dedicate and devote it self unto God and his Service Thus the Saints in 2 Cor. 8.5 The Omega the last concluding and consummating work of a devout Soul is to commit and commend its Spirit into the hands of God as to a faithful Creator thus did Stephen Acts 17.59 Yea thus did our Lord Jesus himself Luk. 23.46 Thus also did this blessed Person she did I hope begin well in an early Consecration of her self to God I am sure she did end well and 't is the end that Crowns the work she did reckon that she had not fully Finished her Course nor rightly laid the Top-stone of her spiritual Building so as to cry Grace Grace unto it untill she had most devoutly and humbly offered up her Soul to God in Prayer by the assistance of some Friend and Minister Accordingly although it were midnight and although my Habitation was far from hers yet in the very last Agonies of her Death she did send for me and with the clearest use of her Reason and the most servent desires of her Soul she did entreat me that I would in her Name solemnly and expresly furrender and give up her Soul into the Arms and Bosom of her Saviour in whose precious Blood she did hope that all her sins were now fully washed away I did readily obey the Call and did comply with her desire for I did and do judge that this desire of hers proceeded from some extraordinary Impulse and work of the Holy Ghost And Reader thou walt think as I do if thou shalt read and observe the effect and consequence hereof as it is related to thee in the close of the following discourse Almost such another extraordinary Impress as it may be thought was made upon her Spirit on occasion of this Author 's presenting her with a * Exhortation to Touth to prepare for Judgment 11 Eccl. 9. Funeral Sermon which he had preached but a little kefore she was taken sick which Sermon she having received and read and diligently considered she was heard to say That she did think that her own change would not be far off and that she could wish that the Author might preach her Funeral Sermon also and she then named the Text now insisted upon and said That she hoped that God would make her Funeral Sermon as profitable to other young Ones as the Former Sermon had been to her self Her Prognosticks were too true as to the shortness of the time which she lived after those words were spoken by her God grant that her hopes be not frustrated but that all her dying words may prove truely prophetical and especially those which related to the profitable success of the Sermon here before thee The Author hath done his part like himself as well in this as in the former Discourse Oh that he might find as diligent and as considering Readers as she was many excellent Considerations very subservient and conducing to thy Conviction and Salvation are proposed herein but all will be in vain and to no purpose without thine own Meditation and the Spirits application Concerning the Discourse I must say no more and I can do no less than to allude to the words of the Holy Ghost Eccl. 12.9 And moreover because the Preacher was wise therefore in this Discourse he hath Taught the People Knowledge and hath given good heed and sought and set in order many Arguments for thy preparing for Death and moreover for preferring of Death before Life The Lord convince thee by them and also carry thee comfortably through all Time to Eternity My Paper is short and my Time shorter I must therefore conclude for the Sermon is wholly Printed and stops only untill I have told thee that I am Thy Friend and Souls Servant S. Fairclough THE SAINTS DESIRE TO Be with Christ PHIL. I. 23. For I am in a strait betwixt two having a desire to depart and to be with Christ which is far better SAint Paul writing from Rome to the Church at Philippi in this Chapter acquaints them with his Bonds and other Discouragements which he tells them by their Prayers and the Assistance of the Spirit of Christ obtained thereby would turn to his Salvation and the furtherance of the Gospel and had already been attended with some considerable success in that kind V. 12 13 14. to fortifie and confirm the Professors of the Christian Faith and to propagate and promote it even in the Court of Caesar and in other places And if Christ might be magnified
he was perfectly indifferent to Live or Dye v. 19 20. For to me to live is Christ and to dye is gain v. 21. His Life he hop'd might advance the Honour of Christ and his Death would be subservient to the same design By his further service if he live and by his sufferings if he dye by his Ministry supposing his Life and by his Martyrdom in case of his death But if I live in the flesh this saith he is the fruit of my labour v. 22. or it is worth my Labour to glorsie the Redeemer by continuing in this World Yet what I shall choose I wot not For I am in a strait betwixt two having a desire to depart and to be with Christ which is far better To Depart or be dissolv'd The Original word is used both by Christian and Heathen Writers for a departure from any place to return home Luke 12.36 And when the same Apostle speaks of his approaching death he tells us that the Time of his departure was at hand 2 Tim. 4.6 Having a desire to depart a vehement and earnest desire as the word imports and to be with Christ to be absent from the Body and present with the Lord 2 Cor. 5.8 with that merciful Saviour who had compassion on me when as an ignorant Blasphemer I persecuted his Members who call'd me to be an Apostle and enabled me by his Grace to own his Truth in the face of Dangers and hath hitherto comforted me in all my Tribulation I desire to depart that I may be with him With him not with the blessed Angels or departed Saints though their Society will make a part of the heavenly Joy Not the former they are but ministring Spirits and menial Servants employed under him and though they shine as Stars yet he is the enlivening Sun from whom they derive their Lustre and borrow their glory Not the latter they have no Blessedness but by his Donation and Purchase no Crowns of Life but what He puts on Therefore 't is not to be with them only or chiefly that made them thus groan to be dissolv'd thus earnestly desire to depart but to be with Christ Which is far better simply and in it self more desirable by much more better the Comparative being double in the Greek Text and yet I wot not what to choose for I am in a strait betwixt two On the one hand his Love to the Philippians who needed his presence many false Teachers being at that time crept in among them made him willing to abide in the Flesh and deferr his own Felicity for a time upon their account v. 24. But the Glory of Christ's presence on the otherâ— and his own unspeakale advantage by it made him desirous of a Departure and therefore though he determines for the former and was content to live and 't is probable had some secret intimation from Heaven that all his Work in this World was not yet sinish't yet he grants the latter to be simply more eligible having a desire to depart and to be with Christ which is far Better Which words are not more suitable to a Funeral Solemnity than expressive of the dying Thoughts and Temper of our deceased Friend and were chosen by her as the Subject of my present Discourse That I may comprehend the Substance of the Text according to the desire of the Dead for the Benefit and Instruction of the Living let us consider 1. When and how far it is Warrantable for a Christian to desire Death 2. In what respects to depart and to be with Christ is far better than to abide in the Flesh 3. On what Grounds and Principles a Christian may expect a future Blessedness with Christ after his departure so as to encourage and excite his desires after it 4. Whence it comes to pass that even those who acknowledge it far Better to be with Christ than to continue in the Body are yet Vnwilling to depart in order to it and what Remedies are proper to the case of such 5. The Application of the whole particularly with respect to the sad Occasion of our present Meeting 1. When and how far is it Warrantable for a Christian to desire to be dissolv'd This Inquiry may be answered in the following Propositions 1. Our Dissolution and Departure as a natural or penal evil as contrary to Nature or as the Punishment of Sin cannot possibly be the Object of a rational Desire If God hath promised a long Life as the Encouragement and Reward of our Obedience and threatned an hasty death as the punishment of Impiety If it be universally true that the Soul of Man desires Union with the Body and unavoidably dreads a separation from it If torturing pains and loathsome Diseases are the usual Antecedents of dying If the Corruption of the Body and it's Imprisonment in the Grave till the general Resurrection be the certain Consequent of our dissolution We cannot but think of Death as a matural Evil and as such decline and fear it Much less desirable will it appear if considered as the Wages of Sin and the fruit of Gods Displeasure and the Just Sentence of his Vindictive Justice but how far our dissolution in this latter Notion of it is changed by the death of Christ in reference to Believers is another question and will more properly be considered under the third Inquiry 2. Our dissolution and departure ought not to be desired Only as a freedom from Temporal Evil as preventive of present suffering or delivering us from it The Apostle doth not mention the uneasie Circumstances of a Prison or the continual hardships to which he was exposed from the malice of his Adversaries as the ground of his desire to depart but to be with Christ He knew very well that a Christian may serve the end of Gods glory and be useful to others in a state of suffering and therefore when he saith in another place We that are in this Tabernacle do groan being burden'd he adds the limitation in the following words not to be uncloth'd but cloth'd upon that Mortality may be swallowed up of Life not meerly to avoid the inconveniencies of our abode in so poor a dwelling but to come to the possession of the Building not made with hands eternal in the Heavens 2 Cor. 5.3 4. Not meerly to find relief and deliverance from our present burdens when through melancholly or discontent we are weary of Life Job 7.13 Jon. 4.3 when we have set our Hearts on somewhat we cannot obtain or struggle with some Difficulties we cannot master or are impatient under bodily Pains or quite dispirited by the sad prospect of approaching Calamities in such a case to wish for Death and desire to depart is unbecoming the Character the Encouragement and Hopes of a Souldier of Christ Much Iess will the Gallantry of a Roman or a Philosopher legitimate the desire of Death only to prevent Slavery or avoid Disgrace or miss the sight of an unwelcome object As
than to abide in the flesh what is the difference between What we are and What we shall be that the expectation of the Latter should even make Death and dissolution desireable in order to it And here it will be necessary to consider 1. The Expression of our Felicity after death here used by the Apostle Being with Christ 2. In what respects 't is far better to Depart and be absent from the Body that we may be present with him 1. The Expression of our future blessedness by being with Christ Till we are present with the Lord and see him face to face and know as we are known we must content our selves with such Representations of it as God is pleas'd to reveal in his Word Such as our ignorant earthly minds can bear and may be most affected with But when once the vail of darkness is remov'd by death we shall see him as he is and all our Faculties be purified and inlarg'd and suited to the blessed company and work above We shall see him whom our Souls love and reap a Happiness by doing so bigger than our present Hopes and far above our highest thoughts about it For in his presence is fulness of Joy and at his right hand are Everlasting pleasures And can we imagine that a Blessedness purchas'd by infinite Merit contriv'd by infinite Wisdom and prepared by infinite Power and bestow'd at length through infinite Grace will in any thing be defective Doth not our Apostle describe it best by assuring us it cannot be describ'd that 't is greater than we ever saw beyond what we ever heard and far above what we can ever think Doth not the very hopes of seeing him revive our drooping hearts Oh what will be the Glory of that blessed sight is not the pledge and Assurance of it by the Harbinger of his holy Spirit exceeding comfortable Oh what transcendent Satisfaction will his presence give us We now comfort our selves with the Contemplation and one another with the Discourse of it and if our dark Faith and our faint Hopes can give us such a Joyful prospect of what shall be consequent to our dissolution into what ravishing Joy shall we enter by the open Vision and full enjoyment Is the encouragement and support of a Christian now from his presence with us here and will it not be far better to to be present with him above to be for ever with the Lord When we shall never question his Love to us or doubt of ours to him but have a full assurance of the one and a glorious exercise of the other And because our knowledge will be still encreasing our flames of Love shall still rise higher But what additional bliss the Soul shall have by the Resurrection of the body and the great Transactions of the Judgment Day we know but in part Blessed be God we know so much in this imperfect state enough to excite our desires and quicken our preparations and encourage our Perseverance And let 's bless him more that he hath prepared such a glory for us in the presence of the Redeemer as we cannot fully understand till death convey us to him But to be with Christ is not only eligible in it self as expressive of our future Glory but much rather to be desired if considered comparatively Therefore 2. In what respects is it preferrable to an abode in the flesh so as to make us rather choose to depart that we may be with him than continue in the Body and be absent from the Lord 1. Is not a state of Rest and Joy much more desireable than to be continually harrass'd with Trouble and Sorrow We ordinarily begin this World in Tears and solemnize our own Nativity as we do the Funerals of our dearest Friends as if we were then sensible of that universal Curse which hath afflicted Mankind since the first Transgression and had a clear prospect of the miseries we are born to and must afterward suffer And in all the Portions of our little time what and how many do we every where encounter How many things are there which we find are wanting both as to our Accomplishments and Enjoyments and how much are we disappointed if we look for satisfaction from the lusts of the flesh the lusts of the eyes and the pride of life which saith the Apostle is all that is in the world 1 Joh. 2.16 Earthly Pleasures Wealth and Honour Do we not find that what doth rejoyce and please us one day appears with another Face when we view it next or if we think it would please us still 't is gone e're we are aware and with all our skill and power we cannot protract it's duration Do not evil accidents overtake us on a sudden and our most probable designs miscarry in the birth as if all things were governed by Chance and there were no Intelligent Director to oversee and regulate the Affairs of the World and the Actions and Conditions of men Insomuch that the Race is not to the swift nor the Battle to the strong nor Bread to the wise nor Riches to men of understanding nor Favour to men of skill but time and chance happens to them all Eccl. 11.9 Our Pleasures flatter and deceive us and our Afflictions trouble and disquiet us We are imposed upon by our Senses and misguided by our Passions cross'd in our Desires and frustrated in our Hopes griev'd by present evils or perplext with the sears of future and our Spirits for the most part discompos'd either by personal or relative Calamities Some rueful Spectacle is ever now and then presented before our Eyes some evil tidings or unpleasant sound doth grate our Ears We bewail the wants of the poor which we cannot supply or envy the prosperity of the Wicked which we cannot hinder or grieve at the Afflictions of the Righteous which we cannot remedy We have some suffering Friend with whom to sympathize some distressed or deceased Relation to lament some unhappiness of our own or of those we love to be concerned for Besides the Treachery and unfaithfulness of our seeming Friends the Hatred and Malice of our open Enemies the scandalous Actions of professing Christians their Divisions and Animosities among themselves and their despiteful usage and entertainment from the World the Complaints of the miserable the Groans of the Sick the Cries of the Oppressed and our own bodily infirmities weaknesses and pains c. enough one would think to make us desire to depart and render us extreamly willing to lay down and dye if God think sit that we may be at rest especially having the expectation of being for ever with the Lord. For otherwise even * M. Anton. lib. Arr. Epict. lib. 4. c. 10. Boâ—th Consol Philosâ—â— Heathens have spoken excellently of the Advantages of Death as the period of our present Sorrows 2. Is not a state of Holiness and Perfect purity far better than a Life of Temptation Corruption and Sin How are we now buffeted
to Life He hath brought sweetness out of the Strong and meat out of the Eater 1 Cor. 3.21 and therefore Death as well as Lise is reckon'd in the Inventory of the riches of the Saints All things are yours because you are Christs and Christ is Gods 2. His Resurrection and Exaltation his rising from the Dead not only discovers the possibility of our Resurrection and gives us a pledge and assurance of it as declaring the sufficiency and acceptation of his Sacrifice that therefore the Dead in Christ shall live and with his Dead Body arise Rom. 8.14 Isa 26.19 But being punctually effected according to his prediction and promise it confirms the Truth of all his Word and seals the promise of eternal Life unto all Believers He hath open'd the Prison doors and loos'd the bands of Death and roll'd away the heavy Stones from the Graves of his people he is now become the first fruits of them that sleep in Jesus And hath the Keyes of Death and Hell Rev. 1.18 even the two most formidable enemies are under his Dominion who though once he were dead doth now live for evermore And for this very end did God raise him up that our faith and hope might be in him in reference to the Blessedness of another Life 1 Pet. 1.21 Yea saith the Apostle concerning that he raised him from the dead no more to see corruption Act. 13.34 God said I will give you the sure mercies of David or an Everlasting Covenant which Death shall not dissolve Isa 55.3 And his being risen is the Ground of our Faith and Hope that the Promise shall be fulfill'd For the Resurrection of Christ is the evidence of the validity and efficacy of his Death and Sacrifice and a sufficient proof that his precious Blood shed upon the Cross was the blood of an Everlasting Covenant Heb. 13.20 Establishing a Covenant of Grace and making it truly Everlasting for we know that he is a Priest for ever after the power of an endless Life Heb. 7.16 And therefore know to our unspeakable Satisfaction Incouragement and Joy in whom we have believed and that he is able to keep unto that day what we have committed to him 2 Tim. 1.12 to perfect what he hath begun Phil. 1.6 and at last present us blameless before the presence of his glory with exceeding Joy Jude 24. v. For our Life being hid with him in God we are fully assured that when he who is our Life shall appear we shall appear with him in glory Col. 3.3 4. and because he lives we shall live also and when he shall appear we shall be like him for we shall see him as he is 1 Joh. 3.2 4. Let us consider Whence it comes to pass that notwithstanding the Blessedness of being with Christ and our assurance of it by his Death and Resurrection that yet we are so backward and unwilling to depart What is the true reason why so many of those who acknowledge it far better to be with Christ yet cannot say with the Apostle That they desire to be dissolv'd that they may be with him 1. The weakness of Faith concerning the Invisible World and the future Glory of the Saints is the reason why so many Christians are unwilling to dye They are very sensible of the inconveniencies of their present abode they complain to God and men of Corruption Temptation and Sin and they hear of a blessed Deliverance from all these by Death and a perfect Felicity in the presence of the Redeemer after their dissolution but unbelief makes them stagger at the Promise They are not fully satisfied that such a transcendent Glory will be consequent to Dying Did they but soundly believe the Testimony and Revelation which God hath given in his Word concerning it they would choose to be absent from the body Some of the Ignorant Heathens have been desperate in their Choice of death only as the Period of present Calamities but others who were doubtful of the Consequence have yet entertained it with an hearty Welcome As Socrates for instance who profess'd That he ought not to fear death because he could not tell whether it were good or evil And shall not we who understand the Grounds and Principles the greatness and certainty of a future Blessedness after Death be as willing to depart A confirmed Faith is therefore necessary and adviseable in the present case and the rather that thereby we may quench the fiery darts of Satan who if he cannot hinder us of our Crown would rob us of our Joyful Prospect of it if he cannot prevent out future Glory would render us dejected in our passage thither if he cannot prevail to exclude and banish us for ever from the Presence of Christ would darken our present comfort by the desire and Hope of it but more especially at the prospect and approach of Death for that is his hour and the power of darkness But by this shield of Faith we may be able to stand even in that evil day of our dissolution Eph. 6.11.16 2. The Pains of Death They pray that God would hasten his Glorious Kingdom and bring them to it and believe it to be most eligible to be with Christ yet are loth their own Prayers should be answered and the end and object of their Faith obtain'd through the discouraging apprehensions they admit of a dying hour Would we not be with the the Lord and know him better and Love him more and enjoy him fully and shall we stick at a little pain as introductory to so great a Happiness A Pain that will speedily convey us to Eternal ease and rest which thousands of Holy Souls in Glory have indur'd more of than we can fear But suppose the Agonies of Death are ne're so frightful to Flesh and Blood hath not our Redeemer a Rod and Staff to comfort us in the dark Valley Ps 23.4 Doth he not know what it is to dye and how much we dread it doth he not understand our weakness remember our frailty pity our infirmities and bid us ask for support and Strength yea hath he not promis'd that when Heart and Flesh shall fail that he will be the Strength of our Hearts and our Portion for ever Psal 73.26 Shall ignorant hopeless Heathens without God in this world without the expectation of being with Christ in the next be so desirous of Immortality as to dispatch themselves and be their own Executioners to force an escape from the Body And shall we resist and struggle draw back and fear object and be unwilling when our Saviour calls us to endless and unspeakable Felicity Is not this the last Experiment of our Faith and Patience and holy Resolution the last essay of our Christian Courage Are not the antecedent pains of dying the fruit of sin no less than the throws and pangs of Travelling Women and are the latter tolerable in hopes of Children and their own deliverance and may we not support the Former by the assistance
publick that they may be a lasting Monument of the Gratitude and Respect I owe unto your Deceas'd Consort and with the Divine Blessing may be useful to those who may be call'd unto like Tryals Many of your Brethren would have performed this Service with far more justice unto both the Subjects of the Discourse than one who is in a journeying State But when your self and some near Relatives desir'd this last Office I was not unwilling to comply especially having the advantage of knowing by how singular a Providence your Marriage-Vnion was brought about and how happy it was to you both I need not tell you how this sorrowful Event makes the thoughts of my intended Voyage much more uneasie to me who must leave so dear a Friend depriv'd of his delightful Half But an Interest in the whole Deity who cannot dye will abundantly compensate this loss which together with your long continuance in Temple Service and the desirable success of your Labours is with utmost earnestness prayed for by London Sept. 1. 1691. SIR Your Affectionate Faithful Servant J. Spademan Sickness and Death for the Glory of Christ A Funeral Sermon c. JOHN XI 4. When Jesus heard that he said This Sickness is not unto Death but for the glory of God that the Son of God might be glorified thereby THE first hearing of these Words which speak of Sickness and Death may give some Indication of the sorrowful Occasion that hath drawn more than usual Numbers unto this Place From which it hath pleas'd the All-wise God to remove One who was a principal Ornament of it One whose constant Attendance and Christian Deportment in it carried an exciting Influence unto all who were Witnesses of ' em And therefore it is no small loss unto this whole Society that they shall no longer enjoy the advantage of such an Example but even the privation of such whose Lives were exemplary is capable of affording very considerable advantage As we know that not only the Light of the Heavenly Bodies is useful unto this lower World their Eclipse have their advantages too which are therefore thought worthy of peculiar Observation It hath been a received Opinion that the Eclipses of the Sun and Moon have an Instructive signification by which the Inhabitants of the Earth are warn'd and admonish'd The Truth of that Opinion hath been question'd but 't is certain that the Death of a Christian who did shine as a Light in the World hath an Instructive Language and is proper to teach very profitable Lessons unto them who survive Such Providences do indeed call unto mourning and sorrow but this is not the principal intention of them there is something of far greater importance to employ our minds on such sad occasions and that is to receive the Spiritual Instruction that is then presented unto us It hath been counted an instance of the folly of some superstitious Heathens that they would make a hideous noise whenever they saw the Sun or Moon darkned and variously express'd their fears of losing those Luminaries but made no useful enquiries into the Causes and Nature of those Phaenomena And 't is very reproachful unto professing Christians when they imagine that a passionate sorrow is the only or chief business that the Death of Christian Friends calls 'em to Our deportment on such occasions should correspond with our Christian Hope which assures us that they who are fallen asleep in Christ are not lost which in the Apostles Judgment is a self-evident absurdity 1 Cor. 15.18 A deceased Christian is not only more safe but far more happy and honourable than he or she was in this World so that they need not our tears which yet on other accounts are just and reasonable but they must not hinder our serious enquiries into the Nature and Uses of such a Sorrowful object When therefore we have lost a living Example in the Deceased Mrs. Shower we are oblig'd to make such enquiries with relation unto her Death that we may get some considerable and lasting advantage from it and in order unto this I have thought these words of the Redeemer spoken upon a like occasion would afford seasonable Meditations that may assist us to improve the late sorrowful Providence And when I have laid down the general Instructions contain'd in 'em I shall endeavour to apply 'em unto the particular subject of our Sorrow To understand the grounds and occasion of the words read to you we need only look back to the few Verses which precede the Text and in the first verse we find that a Friend and Favourite of Christ Lazarus the Brother of Martha and Mary is arrested by a threatning Sickness The favour and friendship of Christ do not exempt from Sickness and Death A Lazarus whom Jesus loved is sick and dieth His Sisters seem to have concluded that the affection which Christ had for their Brother should have secur'd him from these Calamities and t is probable they thought that nothing but the distance of place could hinder Christ from relieving their Brothers Case which therefore they take care to acquaint him with and send this sorrowful Message unto the Redeemer Lord behold he whom thou lovest is sick ver 3. They choose indeed the fittest Argument to plead on this occasion with Christ when they represent to him the Interest that their Brother had in his peculiar Affection They don't say He who is our Brother and Beloved by us or he who loveth thy Person and Service is sick They knew that such Considerations tho very forcible among men could have but little weight upon him who cannot be made a Debtor by all the Kindness and Service that any can express toward him No they rightly conclude that the Redeemers Love is free and without any Obligation and must be the only Original of all that Relief which he at any time bestows Thus far I say these Sisters were in the right but the particle Behold which is a Note of Admiration intimates the Mistake which they were guilty of and that they were surpriz'd at the sickness and danger of their Brother because he was one whom Jesus loved Had this been the Case of a Scribe or a Pharisee two Orders which Christ had no kindness for this would not have appeared strange unto them as it did that one whom Christ loved should languish under a painful and threatning Disease No question they had often seen and heard the Redeemer expressing a peculiar kindness unto their Brother whose sickness and danger made him now a Spectacle of Pity And they knew not how to reconcile these two together and therefore were inclin'd to hope that his love unto their Brother as soon as he had an account of his danger would induce him to make the greatest haste to visit and heal him both which he had done unto others who were strangers But he intended to do neither he determin'd to delay his visit unto Lazarus until he had been four days dead