give out their shine and their light make a profitable use of them to Gods honour and your own souls welfare Vse 6. Therefore I hence exhort all the friends of Christ to prepare themselves for death and to maintaine upon their Spirits a prepared posture for natures dissolution Although I know that they being united unto Christ and reconciled to God through him they Rev. 14. 13. shall undoubtedly whensoever they die be translated from earth to heaven yet there is something more to Luke 16. 22. be minded by Christians that they may be ready to die How much might be comprized in Jobs expression All Job 14. 14. the dayes of mine appointed time will I wait until my change shall come I shall not undertake to discover but I desire to leave these foure words of advice in the bosomes of Christians in tendency unto their preparation for death 1. Seek well grounded assurance of your interest in Christ and of undoubted title unto heaven through him This foundation being laid Paul could triumph over death Oh death where is thy sting thanks be to 1 Cor. 15 55. God who hath given us victory through Jesus Christ And Simeon could sing when ready to die Now lettest thou thy Luk. 2. 19 30. servant depart in peace For mine eyes have seen thy salvation Whereas there are sad shiverings upon some gracious hearts when death looketh in at the windows because they question their admission into heaven upon natures dissolution 2. Take heed of all scandalous sinnes sinnes against conscience the commission whereof may blemish Religion and lie as blocks of offence in the wayes of others It is conceived by some Divines that in this regard Saint Paul died with the more confidence because after his conversion he was no way scandalous I have fought the 2 Tim. 4. 7. 8. good fight and I have kept the faith and henceforth is laid up for me a Crown of righteousnesse Whereas Peter having dishonoured Christ disgraced his profession wounded his own conscience and prejudiced others how farre we know not by his fearful threefold denial was so full of perplexity that Christ saw cause before Joh. 21. 15 19 the foretelling of his death to confirme his heart in helping on the discovery of his sincere love notwithstanding that sad offensive Apostacy Broken bones though knit will ake towards change of weather And the remembrance of scandalous miscariages may occasion anguish in the bosomes of dying Saints 3. Settle your outward estate and concernments according to divine prudence and holy principles remembring that you must be accountable unto the Lord whose stewards you are how you dispose of the things of this life Luke 16. 2. with which he hath entrusted you This was Gods own advice unto Hezekiah Thus saith the Lord set thine house i◠Esay 38. 1. order for thou shalt die Many good people deare unto God upon this neglect are lesse comfortable to themselves and lesse serviceabl◠unto others upon their death-beds because they suspe◠the many sad consequences of their not endeavouring t◠prevent sinne and trouble by an orderly setling of all the◠earthly enjoyments 4. Leave with gracious gravity and seriousnesse charges Appropinquante morte multò es divinior and convictions upon the consciences of your nearest relations that Christ heaven and their immortal soules may be principally cared for Warne your friends to beware of the sinnes of the times and of their own inclinations Communicate your experiences for future profit prudently Here I might expatiate upon the examples of Jacob blessing Gen. 49. Deut. 31. 2. 32. 33. Josh 23. 1 2. 24. 1. Joh. 13. 1. 14. 15. 16. 17. his sonnes when on his death-bed of Moses and of Joshua their plaine dealing with Israel when ready to die yea and of Christ himself But I am necessitated to abbreviate these things with this hearty request that my friendly faithfull counsell in these things may not be forgotten And do not I pray you do not deferre these things for death may steale upon you suddenly unexpectedly as a man falls asleep sometimes when he thought not of it This lets in the next point Doct. 2. That Christs friends by death do fall asleep The Protomartyr Stephen his death is thus expressed He Act. 7 60. 1 Co◠15. 16 18 20 51. fell asleep And the Apostle Paul doth often in the fifteenth Chapter of his first Epistle to the Corinthians attest this truth This sleep is not to be applied unto the soule after its Eccles 12. 7. Luke 23. 43. Phil. 1. 23. Heb. 12. 23. departure from the body as some fondly dreame for it goeth to God immediately forth-with enjoyeth fellowship with Christ and becometh perfect But it belongs to the dead body laid in the grave which in this regard 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Mr. Calamy his Sermon upon Acts 7. 60. is called a sleeping place I shall not dilate upon the resemblance betwixt death and sleep which is fully done by others But I will only touch upon two things which are here intended 1. Death is a sleep unto the godly because thereby they are laid to rest There is a Verse 13. taking of rest by sleep They shall rest in their beds saith the Prophet speaking of the death of righteous ones And Isa 57. 2. they rest from their labours so saith the Spirit who die in the Lord. 2. Because their bodies shall be raised as Rev. 14. 15. men are awakened out of sleep This is expressed in the words which immediately follow the Text Our friend Lazarus sleepeth but I go that I may awake him out of sleep And the Apostle Paul is much upon this Metaphor Cor. 15. in that place where he undertaketh to prove the Resurrection Vse 1. Therefore true beleevers real Saints should not be afraid to die I grant that death unto nature is the King of feares and it hath its poisonous sting with which it will wound the wicked whom it doth usher into hell This with many other useful truths relating unto death is admirably Dr. Tuckney his Sermons upon 1. Cor. 15. 55. laid open of late by a worthy servant of Christ and it would be a digression if I should undertake that discovery But I only move Gods people to arme themselves against the sinking feare of death because unto them it is no worse then falling asleep And indeed there is great need of this counsel among Gods own servants every where who like foolish children are afraid to put off their cloathes and go to bed in a dark chamber As Baxter in his Saints everlasting rest Herein the forementioned Authour and others have administred much good help in which regard I may be silent Vse 2. Neither let us mourne immoderately because of the death of our Christian friends seeing they are only fallen asleep When our Saviour had spoken the Verse 12. words of the
Text Then said his Disciples If he sleep he shall do well And by the argument the Apostle seeks to prevaile with the Thessalonians that they might not mourne excessively upon such occasion For those who sleep in Jesus will God bring with him Then he addeth 1 Thes 4. 13 14 17 18. We shall be ever with the Lord wherefore comfort one another with these words Love moveth joy when our weak weary pained diseased friends are fallen into a sound sweet sleep This consideration therefore should cheere our drooping spirits in reference unto godly friends who died in the Lord. Let us minde this the rather because God who propoundeth this ground of comfort observeth both when we have need of this cordial and also what improvement we make thereof as it followeth in the next and last Doctrine which remaines to be handled Doct. 3. The Lord knoweth when his own and his Churches friends do fall asleep by death As Christ though now at a bodily distance from Bethany the place of Lazarus his abode yet told his Disciples of his death Our friend Lazarus sleepeth As God spake this to Joshuah My Josh 1. 2. servant Moses is dead This truth may be concluded strongly by these arguments Reas 1. Because Christ hath the keys of death Rev. 1. 18. in keeping the soule cannot be let out of the body without his leave And he knoweth all his own grants Reas 2. Because he also hath power in heaven keeping as it were the gate hereof into which none can enter without his allowance This is manifest by his promise to the penitent thief This day thou shalt be with me in Paradise Therefore he exactly observeth when any persons or person Luke 23. 43. hath admission thither Vse 1. Hence the deity of Christ may be proved undeniably for though there be thousands dying hourely in the several places of the world yet Christ knows particularly 1. Both their qualification whether his friends and his Churches friends or no. 2. And the time when every one of them giveth up the ghost As the instance under discourse doth evince 1. He understood infallibly that Lazarus was a faithful friend both unto himselfe and his servants Our friend Lazarus 2. And though he was not corporeally present with Lazarus in the place where he died yet he knew without any creature-intelligence that now he was fallen asleep by death Vse 2. This truth speaketh manifold comforts unto Gods children For 1. This hints his respect to them Precious in Psal 116. 15. â— the sight of the Lord is the death of his Saints He will not suffer any of them to lose life without his special observation thereof together with causes and concomitants therein considerable 2. It suggests his care of every soule when it removeth out of the body the place of its habitation it shall not miscary or be lost through Christs regardlessenesse Though thousands of devils may watch to intercept the soule yet Christ who observeth when it leaveth the body will undoubtedly according to his charge and promise secure its Passages to glory This is a Cordial to the poorest Christian for there is no respect of persons with the Lord. It came to passe that the beggar died and was carried by the Angels into Luk. 16. 22. Abrahams bosome And 3. It may relieve the sad hearts of godly ones mourning for their losse in the death of their dear Christian friends for their God and Saviour is quickly and fully acquainted with this their affliction he saw when our beloved relations breathed out their last gasp Questionlesse it cheered Hagar when she understood that God took notice when the bottle was empty and heard the cry of Ishmael because he wanted water And you may be Gen. 21. 16 17. confident that Christ who understands when your Parents your Pastors your yoakfellows your friends die he doth also consider what counsel what comfort what supports what supplies what encouragements you be deprived of by meanes of their death Is not this a choice Cordial to Gods children that their heavenly Father knoweth they need such things Mat. 6. 32. Vse 3. Lastly this Doctrine yields matter of seasonable and needful admonition Therefore upon the death of Gods servants we should seek after such dispositions as may be pleasing unto his Majesty who observeth together with such providences how we are affected therewith Here then I would advise two particulars wherein I intreat the Lord to make us serious 1. To be rightly affected with such like dispensations laying to heart the publick losse sustained when the friends of Christ and his servants are taken away by death The Lord observeth and complaineth when people do not herein answer his expectation The righteous perisheth and no man layeth it to heart And our love unto Esay 57. 1. the publick together with the consideration of the great use of such persons would help forward our humiliation in such cases You heard before that they are friends to Christ and much befriended by Christ yea that they are lovers of the cause and people of God Now is not the death of such to be bewailed When Elijah went up by a whirlewinde to heaven Elisha 2 King 1. 11 12 saw it and he cryed My father my father the Charet of Israel and the horsemen thereof And when Elisha was 2 Kin. 13. 11 14 sick Joash though not a good man wept over him and said Oh my father my father the Charet of Israel and the horsemen thereof Because they beleeved that the publick safety depended much upon the interest of godly men in God therefore their death was thus lamented And truly such friends of God are the chief stakes in the hedge and maine pillars in the building both of Church and Common-wealth Therefore in such cases it may well become us to imitate the devout men who Acts 8. 2. carryed Stephen to his grave and made great lamentation for him 2. To imitate the deceased Saints in their graces and holy conversation we should lay their lives as so many faire copies before our eyes and labour to write after them by consciencious imitation The Apostle having given in a catalogue of Old-Testament-beleevers who in their several places and ages did worthily he earnestly perswadeth Christians to be followers of them And Heb. 11. compared with Heb. 12. 1. seeing God hath given us to behold the beauty of holinesse and the power of godlinesse in their courses it will much aggravate our sinne if we labour not to be like them This leadeth me to that which you all look for viz to spread before you the exemplary life of Master Jeremiah Whitaker the late Pastor of this place whose Funeral hath occasioned this great Assembly and my Sermon in reference unto whom that I may speak unto your edification I will with the change of one word only undertake my Text again Our friend Whitaker sleepeth And truly I am very confident
of it and fit us his Ministers that supervive to preach and live as he did To fight a good fight to finish our course and to keep the faith that so we may at last obtaine a crown of righteousness which the righteous Judge will give at the last day to all that love his appearing So prayeth Your servant in the work of the Ministery EDM. CALAMY To the Right Honourable ELIZABETH Countesse Dowager of Exeter MADAM HOw irresistible is the power of love and importunity The holy Scriptures do plentifully manifest that divine love doth set Gods All whether within or without himself on work for his childrens good and that his childrens importunity hath in al Ages prevailed with his Omnipotency to appeare for their comfort And multitudes of daily experience do evidence the prevalency of these two Arguments among the sons of men My self makes one instance for the verifying hereof by preaching at Reverend worthy Mr. Whitakers Funeral and by printing my Sermon with the Narrative of his memâ—rable life both which come abroad with enlargements because streights of time and the discomposednesse of my spirit through grief would not suffer me thus fully to dilate upon in the Pulpit Madam I am confident that your Ladyship can of your own knowledge not only attest the truth of most passages in my Narrative but adde also much more from your own observation which will render his memory precious unto posterity And will your Honour give me leave to give some further account unto the world wherefore I have presumed to dedicate unto your Ladyship these expressions of my great respect to my precious much endeared brother Mr. Jeremiah Whitaker Gratitude is at the bottom of this Dedication Madam As I shall alwayes really acknowledg your Honours favour towards my worthlesse self so I judg it meet to make known upon this occasion that more then many thanks are most due unto your Ladyship from all Mr. Whitakers Relations for your many and great testimonies of your constant respects unto him all his life long since your first acquaintance with him I have often heard him mention before the Lord with praises and prayers your Honours abundant kindnesses both unto himselfe and his family which I beleeve are on record in heaven to be fully recompensed in due time because they were the products of your sincere love unto him as the faithful Minister of Jesus Christ Madam there are not many who be so deeply sensible as your selâ—e of the great losse sustained by the death of this holy man of God What mine own losse is I had rather expresse it before the Lord then publish it unto the world He was Madam a faithful servant to your immortal soul the wel are whereof God in mercy hath given you to mind much more then all matters sublunary whatsoever In reference hereunto he was your wise counsellour in all your doubts and difficulties your compassionate comforter in all straights and sorrows your vigilant Physician to prevent spiritual sicknesse and infection your zealous Incourager in all wayes of holy service and a daily Remembrancer of you and yours before the Throne of Grace Though these things speak your losse which may warrantably afflict your heart yet I beseech you good Madam consider with comfort that notwithstanding this bucket be broken as Dr. Preston was wont to expresse it nevertheless the fountain of light life grace strength comfort and satisfaction is still at hand ever full and alwayes flowing He who is now removed out of the Land of the living to be serviceable by preaching praying conference no more was only one of those golden pipes through which the God of your mercies conveyed relief sweetly and seasonably unto your soul the wel-head is not removed and many other choice conveyances of grace and consolation from Christ be still continued to you Let this therefore be the language of your faith The Lord liveth and blessed be the 〈◊〉 oâ— my salvations who will never forsake nor faile the soule which in humility and faithfulness doth depend upon his Majesty And Madam Mr. Whitaker his rich receipts of much sanctifying grace strong confidence invincible patience undaunted courage un-interrupted peace with pure elevating joyes from the Lord may encourage the hopes of the poorest Christians to expect great things from heaven according to their necessities and desires because God is no respecter of persons but free and liberal in the communications of his peculiar goodnesse These are the words of his grace Open thy mouth wide and I will fill it Psal 81. 10. If any man thirst let him come unto me and drink He that beleeveth on me as the Scripture hath said out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water Joh. 7. 37 38. The Almighty hath given you some tastes of that incomparable fruit which comes from the Land of promise that you may be encouraged to hold on in the way thither with cheerfulnesse and perseverance Madam It is no small addition unto your honour here and it will undoubtedly make to your happiness hereafter that you do own God in unwearied attendance upon his sacred Ordinances laying forth your self for his name faithfully with that prudence self-denial and plainness of heart wherewith he hath adorned you through his rich mercy in Jesus Christ Madam I humbly beg pardon for this my boldness and crave leave to subscribe my self Madam Your Honours humble Servant SIMEON ASHE JOHN 11. 11. Our friend Lazarus sleepeth THese are the words of Christ concerning Lazarus and they speak 1. His relation 2. His dissolution First the relation was friendship wherein we are to observe 1. How far this friendship was extended viz. both unto Christ and to his Disciples our friend It is not my friend or your friend but our friend both yours and mine 2. That this friendship was acknowledged by Christ himselfe not only while Lazarus was yet alive but even now when he was dead Our friend Lazarus sleepeth In the second part of the Text viz. Lazarus's dissolution we may note 1. The truth asserted viz. that Lazarus though a friend both to Christ and to his Disciples yet he was dead 2. The Metaphor whereby it is expressed which is taken from natural sleep He sleepeth 3. The notice which our Saviour took of Lazarus his decease This he reporteth unto his Disciples he saith unto them Our friend Lazarus sleepeth Thus from this plaine division of the Text I proceed unto the observations which do from hence offer themselves naturally unto our consideration And the doctrines will be six in number viz. three from each part into which the Text hath been divided Doctr. 1 The first is this viz. That there is a mutual friendship betwixt Christ and true Christians Our Lord himself here calleth Lazarus friend And that this friendship was mutual it is evident from this history First the love of Lazarus towards the Lord Jesus was witnessed by the many entertainments and hearty welcomes which he received
them who will consider it as in other regards so because their love draweth our prayers unto God as need requireth Psal 122. 6 â— 2. From hence they may infallibly conclude their regeneration by special grace Let us love one another saith Saint John for love is of God and every one that loveth 1 Joh. 4. 7. Noscitur ex socio c. 2 Tim. 3 3. is born of God Whereas persons under the power of depraved nature are despisers of them who are good 3. And as they may upon this evidence lay claime to the comforts of grace upon earth so may they raise confidence of future glory in heaven We know that we 1 Joh. 3. 14. have passed from death unto life because we love the brethren Vse 4 The last Use is exhortation wherein two duties might be perswaded First to love Christians because they are like unto Christ and belonging unto him in the nearest relations The holy Ghost is often and earnest in this perswasion 1 Pet. 2. 17. and 3. 8. Col. 3. 14. Love the brotherhood love as brethren and above all things put on charity which is the bond of perfectnesse As helps herein let these meditations be moulded believingly upon your hearts 1. That they are in regard of spiritual beauties the lovelyest people under the Sun Exceeding beautiful The Church is called the fairest among Ezek. 16. 13. Cant. 6. 1. 5. women And this is not the judgement of persons subject to mistakes but even of Christ himself which he gives in again and again both as a ground of his own love and requiring attention unto his testimony Behold thou art Cant. 1. 15 16. and 4. 7. faire my beloved behold thou art faire behold thou art faire yea pleasant Thou art all faire my love there is no spot in thee Therefore that you may beget love in your bosomes towards Saints do not so much pore upon their blemishes as their beauties look rather upon their vertue then their vices as Titus by remembring the obedience rather then the disobedience of the Corinthians found his affections enlarged 2 Cor. 7. 15. towards them 2. That the obligations of love which the Gospel hath laid upon you are many and commanding Here I will only name without enlargement the particulars whereby Saint Paul perswadeth the Christian Ephesians to keep Eph. 4 3 4 5 6 the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace There is one body and one spirit one baptisme one God and Father of all who is above all and through all and in you all 3. That no persons whatsoever have been or are likely to be so useful to your selves and to the publick as these Saints and servants of the most high God This argument Paul presseth upon Philemon to move his affections towards Phil. 11. converted Onesimus because now saith he profitable to thee and me These are repairers of breaches and restorers of paths to Isa 58. 12. Isa 1. 9. dwell in And these are the remnant which if God had not left we should have been like unto Sodom and Gomorrah I forbear to report how they bestead the publick 1. By their prayers As if Moses had not stood up in the breach to turne away Gods wrath Israel had been destroyed Psal 106. 13. 2 And by their presence As God told Lot he could do nothing till he removed from Sodome By this reason Gen. 19. 22. Jonathan speaketh to move Saul's bowels towards David For he did put his life in his hand and slew the Philistine and 1 Sam. 18. 5. the Lord wrought a great salvation for all Israel Secondly I might from this doctrine deale with all sorts by perswasion to endeavour to become godly that they may be admitted as friends into the bosomes of Gods people Although I know that there are higher ends to be intended in undertaking the practice of piety viz. Gods glory and our own salvation yet this consideration under hand would not be slighted if these particulars which I shall onely name were well weighed 1. That the love of Gods people towards us will Phil. 1. 4 6. produce their frequent and fervent addresses unto heaven for us according to our serviceable necessities 1. That their applications unto the Lord are very Job 42. 8. prevalent in regard of their great favour with his Highnesse 2. Their love will work them unto readinesse in any other kinde to serve us with their interests and abilities Heb. 6. 10. counsels and communication of their experiences as opportunity may be offered 3. And their expressions of loving respect may administer some relief unto the faint hopes of self-suspecting soules because they are to be looked upon as best able in regard of their principles and experiments to judge of the spiritual conditions of other Christians I proceed to the third circumstance considerable in the first part of the Text viz. That Christ himself doth testifie the forementioned relation of friendship betwixt Lazarus and himself with his Disciples Our friend Doct. 3 That Jesus Christ knoweth and acknowledgeth them particularly who are friends unto himself and his peculiar people The Lord knoweth them that are his This 2 Tim. 1. 14. knowledge comprehends observation approbation and commemoration As he owned Lazarus here his friend So likewise he did his Disciples under the relation of Matth. 28. 10. brotherhood after his Resurrection Go tell my brethren And since his Ascension into glory such is his respect unto all sanctified ones That he is not ashamed to call them Heb. 10. 11. brethren If more clear Scripture-proof be demanded let these two passages be observed 1. That Christ knoweth who love him while they are alive This is manifest by Peters attestation Lord thou knowest that I love thee Joh. 21. 15 16 17. 2. That the Lord remembreth after the death of his friends that they were so during life As dead Lazarus is thus spoken of Our friend And long after Abrahams decease God speaking of Israel thus expresseth himself The Isa 41. 8. seed of Abraham my friend Reasons I shall only point at the Reasons whence this truth may be concluded 1. God knoweth his friends because himself maketh them so And therefore because he understands his own actions he cannot be ignorant in whose bosomes there Psal 33. 14 15. are these friendly dispositions 2. And God will acknowledge them because he hath undertaken torecompence them He is not unrighteous to forget labours of love Heb. 6. 10. The Application followeth This consideration may be a cooling card unto two sorts of people Vse 1 1. To all them whose consciences bear witnesse that they have no friendly frame of heart unto such godly ones whose holy conversations discover them to be chosen and called out of the world If mens hearts condemn them Gods is greater and knoweth all There will be many 1 Joh. 3. 20. rejected at the last day who
as examples of faith and holinesse he addeth these words All these died Reasons The reasons are not only 1. Because of Adams sin transmitted Sin entereth into the world and death by sin Rom. 5. 12. 2. And by reason of Gods determination with reference to his own glory many wayes to be manifested in the consequence of death It is appointed unto men once to die and after this the judgement For upon these Heb. 9 27. accounts the wicked who are Christs enemies do die also But there are peculiar Reasons wherefore Christs and the Churches friends do die I will not here speak unto that which was extraordinary in this death of Lazarus viz. for the glory of God Verse 15. that the Son of God might be glorified thereby and for the sakes of them who should beleeve upon the observation Ver. 4. of Christs power in a miraculous raising him from the dead I will only instance in those ends which God intends in a way more ordinary with respect unto his people themselves 1. Sometimes that they may be secured from common calamities coming upon the world As men do house their cattel before the storme falleth Thus God takes away Isa 57. 1. the righteous from the evil to come wherof the case of Josiah is a famous instance 2 Chro. 34. 28. 2. That they may rest from their labours both of service Rev. 14. 13. and suffering when their task and exercises are over when their work is done and the Lord hath sufficiently proved and purged them by variety of providences both crosse and comfortable in this world then he calleth them off this stage and causeth their departure hence 3. That they might enjoy immediate communion with Christ in heaven which is farre better then the best condition Phil. 1. 23. Heb. 12. 23. attainable in this life and that their spirits might be made perfect in glory before the day of the general Resurrection when their souls and bodies shall be reunited There are many profitable Uses to be made of this Doctrine Application which I shall only point at Vse 1. Therefore natural death is not the greatest evil neither are those comforts whereof death doth deprive the best good because it is absurd to imagine that the most godly shold undergo the heaviest evils and be stript of the chiefest comforts This inference is obvious and might be usefully enlarged But I must forbear Vse 2. Therefore death is not alwayes to be looked upon as a demonstration of Gods anger against them who die neither is any sicknesse bringing death to be judged a signe of divine wrath and severity Lazarus Verse 3. Christs friend died and it was said before He whom thou lovest is sick This is alledged as the reason of the death of Jeroboams childe because there was some goodnesse in him 1 Kings 14. 13. Hezekiah was sick unto death and it 's conjectured that his disease was the Plague both because of the swelling mentioned and the medicine advised Let them take Isa 38. 21. a lump of figs and lay it for a plaster upon the boile And how sad Jobs condition was I need not to relate who yet according to Gods own testimony was a man of incomparable piety Satan smote Job with sore boiles from Job 1. 8. 2. 3. Job 2. 7 8. the sole of the foot unto his crown And he took him a potsheard to scrape himselfe withall and he late down among the ashes This I do rather note 1. Because people are subject to censure severely those who undergo unusual afflictions When the Barbarians saw the venomous beast Acts 8. 4. hang on Pauls hand they said among themselves No doubt this man is a murtherer vengeance suffereth not him to live 2. Because by this uncharitable censoriousnesse men do expose themselves unto Gods displeasure Hence it was that the Lord thus spake unto Eliphaz the Temanite My wrath is Job 42. 7. kindled against thee and against thy two friends for you have not spoken of me the thing that is right Vse 3. Therefore Gods people should the rather hold up with hope comfort and patience under all sorts of their sufferings here because their death which is certain will put a period an end unto all Though the Sea Nubecula est citò transibit be stormy yet the voyage is short we shall ere long come safe to shoare For this cause we faint not though the outward man perish suppose rotting and unsavoury 2 Cor. 4. 16 17. c. for this light affliction is but for a moment Do you not remember how the holy Martyr comforted his fellow-sufferer viz. that death would cure the one of his blindnesse and the other of his lameness And doubtlesse in this sense it may be said safely that death unto the godly is the best Physician curing them perfectly of all diseases whatsoever Therefore chear up ye Saints of God under all your grievances upon the thought of death Say to your selves as the good Martyr did But one stile or two more and then I am at my journeys end Vse 4. Therefore Gods servants should be the more industrious in doing all the good which possibly they can with speed because they must die and death will take them off their work This is Solomons inference Whatsoever thine hand findeth to do do it with thy might for there Eccles 9. 10. is no work nor device nor knowledge nor wisdome in the grave whither thou goest How did our Saviour bestirre himself when he knew that his houre was come What a great deal Joh. 13. 1. of good work did he then dispatch in a short time And it seemeth to be the reason why Paul at Troas preached till midnight because he was ready to depart on the morrow The Acts 20. 7. nearer unto the center the swifter is the motion Famous Doctor Sibbs would say Could we suppose sorrow in heaven this would be our sorrow there that we did no more work for God before we came thither to receive so great wages Vse 5. Therefore we all should be perswaded to improve our Christian friends both Ministers and others in all their gifts graces and experiences so much as may be and that with speed because they must die Upon this ground the Prophet Zachary quickeneth obedience Thus saith the Lord of hosts Turne ye now Zach. 1. 4 5. from your evil wayes Your fathers where are they And the Prophets do they live for ever Our Saviour is often in this exhortation having foretold his own departure Yet a little while is the light with you walk while John 12. 35. Eph. 5. 8. Mat. 5. 16. John 5. 35. you have the light As all godly ones are called light So Ministers are the lights of the world John was a burning and a shining light Beloved death will blow out these your candles and your Torches therefore while they live while they
by the practice of Faith Patience Contentment and Spiritualnesse which he had formerly preached he was very profitable unto them who did visit him and might also prove very advantageous unto others who might be acquainted therewith through Gods grace by Christ So great was his tender respect unto his friends that when his pains were coming with violence he would intreat them to with-draw from him that they might not be grieved with his roarings He would often bless God that his compassionate friends were not necessitated to abide within the reach of his doleful lamentations I hearing the night before God translated him that he was not likely to live another day I went early in the morning to take my leave of him whom my soul loved and found his bodily strength almost spent And because he could not speak without difficulty I spake the more unto him in relation to the approach of his happy hoped for change my discourse through Gods mercy was refreshing unto his spirit Minding him that many of his friends intended to set apart that day in seeking the Lord for him I asked him in what things especially he desired to be remembred before the Throne of Grace His answer was Do not complaine but blesse God for me and intreat him to open the prison-door Hereupon laying my hand upon his cold hand covered with a clammy sweat I took my last farewel with an aking heart and upon my departure from him these were his last words unto me Brother I thank you I pray God blesse you and I blesse God for you That day was spent in addresses to God for him at Peters Cornhil where Mr. Newcomen quickened and guided our prayers in his Sermon from John 11. wherein he insisted especially upon these words Lord behold he whom thou lovest is sick ver 4. And Mr. Jenkyn endeavoured to moderate and regulate our sorrows from Luke 23. 28. Weep not for me Thus his friends having by prayers with praises on his behalf given him up to God and having prepared their hearts for their loss of him the Lord was pleased that evening to take him unto himself And now our friend Whitaker sleepeth 1. He is dead that speaketh sorrow 2. His death is a sleep this yieldeth relief First His death is ground of lamentation because Christ and his Church have now one friend less on earth to be serviceable unto both I would awaken your hearts unto sensiblenesse under this great losse and therefore wish that his great parts many interests frequent opportunities of service together with the unmovable faithfulness of his heart to improve all for good may be duly remembred viz. 1. As for his Abilities he was an universal Scholar both in the Arts and Original Languages by much study he had digested the whole Body of Divinity he was well acquainted both with the Schoolmen and the Fathers a good Disputant judicious in Cases of Conscience and second unto none in acquaintance with the holy Scripture 2. He had much interest in the hearts of persons of chiefest places and power in the Nation for the plainnesse of his spirit together with the power of godlinesse which did shine in his conversation gained him much Authority in the consciences of all sorts with whom he conversed whether in the City or Countrey 3. And his opportunities of service were many not only in Southwark but also in London Westminster Stepney where he had much imployment We read when Dorcas was dead that the widows stood weeping and shewing the coats which she had made Acts 9. 39. and that upon Pauls departure the people wept because they should see his face no more Acts 20. 38. And is there not reason that we should be in like manner affected remembring how truth hath been defended error confuted holiness cherished wickednesse checked the cause of the poor pleaded and the violence of some passionate spirits allayed by Mr. Whitaker But now this able publick-spirited man must be serviceable on earth no more now we shall not be edified by his Ministery any more nor warmed by his prayers any more nor cheared by his company and conference any more But let us moderate our sorrow by this following consideration That our friend Whitaker is not dead but sleepeth For this assureth us both of his present ease and future Resurrection Now being asleep he is well he resteth as in a bed and we shall not see his pale face his weeping eyes his trembling hands any more we shall no more hear his deep groans and doleful lamentations He is fallen asleep in the Lord and he and we shall have a better meeting at the general Resurrection then ever heretofore and then shall we ever be with the Lord. Therefore let us comfort one another with these words 1 Thes 4. 15 18. I have but one thing more to hint viz. That Christ now knoweth that this our precious friend sleepeth From whence I infer 1. Comfort 2. Counsel This may be chearing unto all his mourning Relations Domestical Pastoral Classical For Christ understandeth that his wife hath lost a dear husband his children an indulgent father his people a faithful Pastor the Classis a chief Pillar and all good Christians a real friend And seeing Christ considering that Mr. Whitaker is dead doth also observe how we all are affected with this providence therfore I beseech you and beseech you again to study in good earnest the gracious improvement of this sad dispensation Let us hear the voice of this rod repentingly remember the forfeitures made of this blessing and make conscionable imitation of the good example he hath left us Though Mr. Whitaker is dead yet his holy life speaketh My Narrative hath told much of that which it speaketh and my prayers are that it may speak through the concurrence of Gods grace that unto all our hearts which may be for spiritual and eternal benefit by Christ FINIS POEMS And ELEGIES On the Death of Mr. JEREMIAH WHITAKER On the Death of my dear Friend Mr. Jeremiah Whitaker IF death be but a servant sent to call The souls of Saints to their original Dear St thine was a noble soul to whom Three Messengers were sent to call thee home A stone an ulcer and a gangrene too Three deaths to hastē that which one should do 'T was not because thy soul was deeper set Then ours within its house of clay nor yet Because thou wert unwilling to depart Thither where long before had been thine hear◠They were not sent to hale by violence A soul that lingered when 't was called hence God shewd how welcome one death was to thee Who did so meekly entertain all three Thus many deaths Gods Israel did inclose The sea before behind a sea of foes On either side the jaws of mountains high No way from death but unto death to flie Not to destroy them but to let them see The power of love which then would se◠them free Thus Jobs four Messengers which did relate
LIVING LOVES BETWIXT CHRIST AND DYING CHRISTIANS A SERMON Preached At M. Magdalene Bermondsey in Southwark near London June 6. 1654. At the Funeral of that faithful Servant of Christ Mr. Jeremiah Whitaker Minister of the Gospel and Pastor of the Church there With a Narative of his Exemplarily holy Life and Death By SIMEON ASHE his much endeared Friend and Brother Together with POEMS and ELEGIES on his Death by divers Ministers in the City of LONDON The Righteous perish and no man layeth it to heart and merciful men are taken away none considering that the righteous is taken away from the evil to come He shall enter into Peace they shall rest in their beds each one walking in his uprightness Isai 57. 1 2 London Printed by T. M. for Ralph Smith at the Bible in Cornhil near the Royal Exchange 1654. The Licencer's Epistle to the READER IT is reported in the life of Ambrose that when he Ambrosii vitâ per Paulinum scriptâ flebat amarissimè quotiescunque fortè nuntiatum illi fuerat de cujuscunque sancti obitu sacerdotis c. Isa 57. 1. heard of the death of any holy Ministers he would weep very bitterly The like I read of Philo that when he came into any Town or Village and heard of the death of any good man there dwelling he would mourn exceedingly becauâ—e of the great losse that place and the whole Church of Christ had received thereby How much more cause have we of this age to lament our condition who have in few years lost so many precious Saints and so many Reverend Learned and godly Ministers Surely this sad providence of God speaks with a loud voice that miseries and calamities are hasting upon this Nation For the righteous perish saith the Prophet and no man layeth it to heart and merciful men are taken away none considering that the righteous is taken away from the evil to come Thus Austin died a little before Hippo wherin he dwelt was taken And Paraeus before Heilderbergh was sacked And Luther immediately before Germany was overrun with waâ— and bloodshed * Mr. Scuddar Mr. Greslâ— Mr. Ferrihj Mr. Ludlam Mr. Nat. Ward Dr. Gouge Dr. Hill Mr. Walker Mr. Conaut Mr. Wilson Mr. Paramoor Mr. Gataker c. And now of late years many eminent Lights have been extinguished in this Nation to fore signifie the great darknesse that is coming upon us Amongst which I cannot but reckon my revereâ—d brother Mr. Jeremiah 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Whitaker at whose Funeral this ensuing Sermon was preached If I should enter upon his commendation I might truly say what Nazianzene doth of his sister Gorgonia That I have more cause to fear least I should speak below then above the Truth for he was a burning and a shining light in this our Israel a Messenger and an Interpreter one among a thousand a Bezaleel in Gods Tabernacle a true Nathanael that by his integrity humility constancy charity publicknesse and peaceablenesse of spirit and by his diligence and faithfulnesse in preaching the Gospel made his life both amiable and desirable He was yet not he but the grace of God with him 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Naz. Oratio Funebris in laudem Patris sui c. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 And though I will not say what Nazianzene saith of Athanasius that to commend him were to commend Vertue because all Vertues were contracted in him yet this I will say which is also said of Athanasius That he was 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 An Adamant and a Load-stone To all that conversed with him he was as a Load-stone to draw their hearts to love him but in the cause of God in reference to the truths of Christ he is as an unconquerable Adamant He was a Jeremiah both in mourning for and witnessing against the sins of the times He was a second Whitaker though not so eminent in learning as to be what is In vita D. Whitakeri Oratio Funebris said of him Mundi miraculum Academiae oraculum yet he was which is also said of him sound in the faith one that had no private opinion that did not in veteri viâ novam semitam quaerere seek out new pathes of his own but kept the old way and the old path That had a great wit without any mixture of madnesse It is very disputable to me whether he preached more by the heavenlynesse of his Doctrine or by the holinesse of his life Sure I am he had this peculiar dispensation That he preached as effectually by his death as by his life or Doctrine For the manner of his sicknesse and death speaketh to all that saw it or shall now know it by reading this Sermon 1. That the best of men are subject to the worst of Diseases That all things come alike to all that no man knoweth love or hatred by all that is before him 2. That though the Lord cause his chlldren to passe through the waters and through the fire yet he will be with them so as the waters shall not overflow them nor the fire burn them Though they are troubled on every side yet they are not distressed though perplexed yet not in despair though persecuted yet not forsaken though cast down yet not destroyed For so great was the patience that God measured out to this our dear Brother that though he groaned yet he never grumbled though he often mourned yet he never murmured nay though he often roared by reason of the greatnesse of his pain yet he always justified and magnified God and this he did so constantly and in such a degree and proportion that as it is said of Job so it will be said by the Saints that succeed us for their mutual consolation and encouragement Ye have heard of the patience of Whitaker He had an ulcerated flesh but a sound and whole spirit and that made him bear his infirmity he had a stone in the bladder but a very tender and soft heart he had a body gangren'd but a soul unbelepred with sin I heard him often say with thankfulnesse That under all his bodily sufferings he had a blessed calmnesse and quietnesse in his spirit that God spake peace that though he roared for pain yet the devil was chained up from roaring upon him It was no small delight to me to behold the tears that were shed at his Funeral Not that I was glad that there was such cause of sorrow but to see in these dayes especially wherein the godly Ministery is so much undervalued a Minister that neither lived undesired nor died unlamented of whom it may be said as is of Stephen That devout men carried Stephen to his burial and made great lamentation over him But I will not detein the Reader from beholding these things more largely related in the following Sermon by one that was his fidus Achates and as dear to him as Jonathan to David The Lord sanctifie this example to all that shall hear
friend His graces which are like to a most fragrant perfume do in am our the hearts of all them who are truly spiritual Because of the savour of thy good ointments thy Name is as an Cant. 1. 3. ointment powred forth therefore do the Virgins love thee And in the song of conjugal loves this is rendred as the reason of those sparklings Thou art fairer then the children of Psal 45. 2. men As there was not among the children of Israel a goodlier person then Saul from the shoulders upwards he was higher 1 Sam. 9. 2. then any of the people So Jesus Christ doth wonderfully over-top and exceed in all rich endowments the most amiable creatures in the world And as in all Israel there was 2 Sam. 14. 25. none to be so much praised as Absalom for his beauty from the sole of his foot even to the crown of his head there was no blemish in him and this might be some reason of Davids great love towards him So in the Lord Jesus there are perfect beauties without the least blemishes He is altogether lovely No wonder therefore that wise knowing Christians do chuse and value and embrace him with vigorous loves Reason 2 Because of his famous magnanimous undertakings and adventures as Mediator that he might at once advance his Fathers glory and the happinesse of his Elect. We read that Jonathans soul was knit to the soul of David 1 Sam. 18. 1. and that he loved him as his own soul because upon a Duel he had encountered and conquered the Monster Goliah who had blasphemed God and vilified his people Now this service was low and inconsiderable being compared with Christs renowned exploits who hand to hand combated with the devil in the wildernesse for the space of fourty days Luke 4. 2. Col. 2. 15. who spoiled principalities and Powers made a shew of them openly triumphing over them in his crosse Who did beare up bravely against the power of darknesse to be quell'd under the weight of divine justice to be satisfied and under the flames of his Fathers displeasure to be quenched These and the like rare actings of Christ being pondered by Christians do draw forth their hearts in friendship towards him He himself saith Therfore doth my Father love me because I John 10. 17. lay down my life And how can new-born Christians partakers of the divine Nature be otherwise affected upon the same account towards their blessed Master Reason 3 Because of their manifold rich receipts from Christ Davids heart giveth out loves to the Lord because upon his prayers he had delivered his eyes from tears and his feet Psal 116 1 8. from falling Now Christ hath rescued his people from wrath to come and that without respect to their requests yea before they sought him Our Saviour himself giveth this as the reason wherefore the sinful woman loved him Many sins are forgiven her Luk 7. 47. 1 Sam. 19. 5. therefore she loved much And Jonathan by this Argument laboureth to win Sauls heart towards David Because the Lord by him wrought a great salvation to all Israel In this respect the Apostle Paul was rationally under the 2 Cor. 5. 14. constraint of commanding Loves to Christ because of quickning grace received by his death Now if I should here discover our large enjoyments from Christ it would abundantly appear to every ingenuous soule that there is sufficient cause wherefore he should be accounted and affected as an incomparable friend By him we are delivered from sin and hell as is hinted even now from the curse of the Law the hater of God the Gal 3. 13. Eph. 2. 14 16. Gal. 1. 4. 1 Cor. 15. 55. Ephes 1. 3 6. 1 Cor. 1. 30. and 2. 1 20. deadly snares of the world and the poison-sting of death We are blessed with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places We are accepted in the Beloved He is made unto us Wisdom Righteousnesse Sanctification and Redemption And all the Promises of God are in him Yea and in him Amen How rationally therefore doth living love to Christ spring out of this root Reason 4 Because of their full expectations from him for the future even unto soul-satisfaction and that to eternity Many chearing cordials are handed to Christians from Christ here upon earth in which regard he doth lie as a bundle of myrrh between their brests but he reserveth the best wine for Cant. 2. 13. the last Whatsoever for kind or for measure the believing John 2 10. Christians comforts are here yet to be with Christ in heaven Phil. 1. 13. will be far better and this this in glory is looked for through Christ This consideration causeth their love unto Christ to break forth in a great flame Let the words of the Apostle be weighed for the evidence hereof who having spoken both of the Inheritance incorruptible and undefiled 1 Pet 1. 3 4. that fadeth not away reserved in heaven as also of the assured Perseverance through Gods Power and all this by Christ he adds Whom having not seen yet ye love Ingenuous 1 Pet. 1. 8. Christians duly weighing the worth of their future happinesse dearly purchased by Christ and undoubtedly to be possessed by them through Christ do hereupon practically conclude that nothing can be imagined more reasonable then this that they should love him as their special friend Thus from confirmation I proceed to the Application of this Truth by way of Use which I will propound under three heads viz. 1. Information 2. Examination 3. Exhortation Vse 1 Sad therefore is their condition who are not loving friends unto Jesus Christ For doubtlesse though they be by profession in the estimation of others true Christians yet they are but only Slips in Christianity As Judas c. Our Saviour speaketh roundly unto such If God were Joh. 8. 42. your Father you would love me And if God be not their Father they are questionlesse the devils children children of the curse How open and expresse are the words of the Apostle to this purpose If any man love not the Lord Jesus let 1 Cor. 16. 22. him be Anathema Maran-atha The heavy and lasting maledictions of God hang over the heads of all them who love not Christ This is the great severity of God against such who are not friends unto Christ and that the righteousnesse of his Majesty herein may be manifested I wish that this may be minded viz. that unfriendliness to the Lord Jesus in Gospel-times wherein his excellencies deservings are so fully laid open doth proceed either from 1. Infidelity Or 2. Contumacy Either people hearing from Scripture of Christs loveliness do give God the lie to his face by not believing him or else their disregard of Christ ariseth from malignity and stubbornnesse of will though they yield to the report of his incomparable worth And 1 Joh. 5. 10. Non à câ—citate mentis sed Ã
Christum quam timet gehennam Bern. Amanti nihil impossibile nihil difficile Aug. only but to die at Ierusalem for the Name of the Lord Iesus for whom I have suffered the losse of all Much was lost already and life it self was now at stake Let all go saith Love for Christ Love looketh upon nothing as impossible or as too difficult to be undertaken The fearful Hen will flie fiercely at the devouring Creatures which would devoure her chickens and the timorous sheep will turn head upon a mastiff dog to secure her beloved Lamb. Love is strong Cant. 8. 6 7. as death many waters cannot quench love neither can the floods drown it Mary whose bosome was full of burning love to Christ is a rare example of that metall and fortitude which love breedeth in Christs friends She seeking Christs dead body and meeting with the Gardener as she imagined she speaketh thus Sir if thou hast borne him hence tell me where thou hast laid him and I will John 20. 15. take him away Neither the ghastly looks of a dead body could affright nor the weight of it discourage her resolutions to bear it away Though she was not able good soul by her own strength to carry such a burden yet her love made her confident that she could do it and therefore was resolved to undertake it 12. All these forementioned actings and adventures of love in Christs friends do arise neither only nor principally from self-advantages received from him but from his excellencies and respect to his honour Because of Cant. 1. 3. the savour of thy good ointments thy Name is an ointment poured forth therefore do the Virgins love thee And in this Saint Paul centered as the last end of his love that Iesus Christ might be magnified in him whether by life or Phil. 1. 20. John 6. 26. death Whereas when Christ is looked after rather for loaves then for his divine lovelinesse it 's rather to be judged a trucking with him then a loving of him When men seek Est mercatura non amicitia Amor amicitiae non acquiescit in aliqua extrinseca adoptione sed quaerit amatum Aqui only to serve their turn of Christ as it were by merchandizing they may be called friends to themselves but will never be reputed faithful friends unto him This discovery lies inward and close in our bosoms in which regard the more cautiousnesse is needful that we may not be deceived Lastly and for our help in the former I adde this as the conclusion of this search upon which I have held you so long That sincere friendship unto Christ will raise rejoycings in our hearts upon his advancement though this may seem to tend to our personal detriment Here the words of Christ to his drooping Disciples fearing that themselves should be damnified by his departure from them are very considerable If you loved me you would John 14. 28. rejoyce because I said I go unto the Father John the Baptist is a rare instance to evidence this character of true friendship for he being told that Christ was likely to carry away credit from him returned this answer He that hath Joh. 3. 29. 30. the Bride is the bridegroom but the friend of the Bridegroom which standeth and heareth him rejoyceth greatly because of the Bridegrooms voice This my joy therefore is fulfilled He must increase but I must decrease And the Apostle Paul Phil. 5. 16 18. was another example of this ingenuous love Some saith he preach Christ of envy and strife supposing to adde affliction unto my bonds Notwithstanding Christ is preached and I therein do rejoyce and will rejoyce Make application hereof and ask your selves this question whether you can be content that Christ should be set upon your shoulders and that your credit should be cropt rather then it should hinder his shine and prospect can you lay your selves down in the dust that the crown may be sâ—t upon Christs head can you willingly be little or nothing in the account of the world that Christ may be all in all among the children of men By sincere answers returned upon serious considerations of all these foregoing particulars you may be able to give a right judgement of your own estate whether you be in deed and in truth friends to Jesus Christ Vse 3 The Use of Exhortation followeth wherein I am to bespeak your love unto Jesus Christ And O that I knew what Arguments to use that I might prevaile with you to become friends unto Christ Might not the remembrance of the forementioned Reasons wherefore beleevers love him being faithfully pressed upon your spirits be hopefully operative for this end Take into your consideration 1. His incomparable beauties 2. His famous exploits 3. Your former rich receipts 4. Your future expectations from him and hereupon command your soules to give in their answer whether it be not reasonable that you should love Christ But forbearing the enlargement of those heads I will deal with you upon principles of self-love to love the Lord Jesus So many and so precious are the priviledges belonging unto them who are thus affected that David knew not how to desire more at the hand of God Look thou upon me and be merciful unto me as thou usest Psal 119. 132. to do unto those that love thy name Shall I mention and do little more then mention some particulars 1. Thus you shall work your selves into Christs bosom which will be no small advantage I love them that love Pâ—ov 8. 17. me said our Lord long since It is reported that Vespasian commanded a large recompence to be given unto a woman Item Vespasiano adamato that fell in love with him and ordered that it should be recorded that such a summe of money was given upon that account More beautiful wil Christ be unto his friends That I may cause those that love me to inherit substance and I Prov. 8. 21. will fill their Treasures Riches substantial riches substantial riches making treasures and all this by the right of inheritance shall be the reward of them who love Christ 2. Hereupon you may confidently expect familiar fellowship with Christ and his Father which is the Christians Heaven upon Earth If any man love me my Father will love him and I will love him and manifest my self to him and Joh. 14. 21 23. we will come unto him and make our abode with him 3. Hence issueth assurance that all events and exercises shall prove spiritually advantageous Also we know that Rom. 8. 28. all things work together for good unto them who love God Every winde will undoubtedly bring in their profit and their gain shall come in at every doore 4. And the Crown of glory is promised to them who love the James 1. 12. Lord. Now if you shall demand How may we kindle the fire of love in our brests towards Christ I answer 1. By informing your selves
most truly be applied unto our loving friend Christ Jesus This the Text suggesteth for Christ did not only love Lazarus while he lived but called him friend even now when he was dead Our friend Lazarus sleepeth Secondly the efficiency of his love is admirably comfortable to all such who enjoy it For first it worketh their deliverance from whasoever may be grievous and dangerous He loved us and washed us from our sins in his blood Rev. 1. 5. Gal. 3. 13. 1 Thes 1. 10. And hence follows deliverance from the curse of the Law and from the wrath to come Secondly it procureth whatsoever may be joyous unto a spiritual heart 1. He hath made us upon this account Kings and Priests unto God and his Father Rev. 1. 6. 2. He feedeth the soul plentifully by the dainties of sacred Ordinances Eat O my friends and drink yea drink Cant. 5. 1. abundantly O my beloved 3. This his love running through all providences maketh blessings the more sweet and supporteth the sinking soule under crosses As Hezekiah's recovery was the Isa 38. 17. Heb. 12. 5 6. more pleasant because God in love to his soul wrought it so the Apostle puts this as a prop under a fainting afflicted Christian that the Lord correcteth with paternal love 4. And his love will prepare his beloved for glory Christ loved the Church that he might sanctifie it with the washing of water by the word that he might present it to Eph. 5. 26. himselfe a glorious Church not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing but that it might be holy and without blemish If unto all these which I mentioned without enlargement we add the complacency which he taketh in all communications of his love it will be a great addition to their joy The Lord will rejoyce over thee he will rest in his love he will Zeph. 3. 17. joy over thee with singing God seemeth to take such content in his loving transactions them-ward as though he desired nothing more Let the friends of Jesus Christ feed and feast themselves with these expressions and provisions of his love Vse 2 How should the remembrance of such rare refreshings belonging to them who are the beloved friends of Christ quicken endeavours in all sorts to gain a share in his friendship To enforce this exhortation I will cast these few thoughts into your mindes 1. Whereas Solomon telleth us What every dayes experience also speaketh that many seek the Rulers favour Prov. 10. 6. 29. 26. 1 Tim. 6. 15. Mat. 28. 18. Prov. 8. 15 16. Jesus Christ is the King of kings and the Lord of lords the only potentate unto whom all authority in heaven and earth is committed by whom Kings reigne Princes rule and all the Judges of the earth 2. That it will be an high honour to be called Gods friend In holy story Hushai and Zabud have this title of 2 Sam. 15 27. 1 Kings 4. 5. respect put upon them that they were the kings friends And it will be for the everlasting credit of father Abraham that he is recorded in sacred pages to be the friend of God Isa 41. 8. 3. That Christ is and ever will be in favour with God to make and to maintaine our peace with his Majesty though we frequently and fearfully do provoke him every day The inhabitants of Tyre and Sidon made Blastus Acts 12. 20. the Kings chamberlaine their friend when Herod was highly displeased with them because their countrey was nourished by the Kings countrey And is not our dependance more upon God And do not we hourly give the Almighty great occasion to reject us yea to take up arms against us And is there any one either on earth or in heaven that can asswage Gods anger and procure his favour besides Jesus Christ Therefore should meanes be used to make him our friend 4. The people of God conceiving hope that Christ regardeth us they will be encouraged with the more affectionate confidence to pray for us in the times of our need As the sisters of Lazarus making addresse unto him in the behalf of their dear brother pleaded this Lord he whom thou Joh. 11. 3. lovest is sick 5. Hereby we shall be heartned with the more hope to apply our selves unto God by prayer for our selves Our Saviour suggesteth this in the parable of the man who goeth Luk. 11. 5. 6 9. at mid-night to his friend to borrow bread he applieth it to incourage prayer 6. Because all our creature-friends may either fall off by unfaithfulnesse or forsake us by death or be forced from us other wayes This the doleful complaints of sundry dear unto the Lord recorded in Scripture do declare My lovers and my friends stand aloof from my sore and my Psal 38. 11. and 88. 18. 1 King 16. 11. Luke 16. kinsmen stand aloof off Lover and friend thou hast put far from me and my acquaintance into darknesse Upon this consideration the humane prudence of the unjust Steward is commended in projecting to provide friends against the time of need How far our experience at this day speaketh our losse of creature-friends viz. of some by death and of others by an unfaithful deserting I forbear to speak But I do upon this consideration move your care to gaine the friendship of Christ who will love and live for ever Now if these arguments shall force resolutions in your bosoms to seek Christs love and thereupon means to attain it shall be enquired after I give these short directions 1. Accept of God and of Gospel-righteousnesse with him by a self-outing and a Christ-prizing faith The Scripture saith Abraham beleeved God and it was imputed Jam. 2. 23. unto him for righteousnesse and he was called the friend of God 2. Upon the serious consideration of his worthiness and hopeful expectations of happinesse by him labour to endear Christ unto your hearts Although our love to him doth not merit his love yet it will clearly make manifestation thereof unto our souls I love them saith he who love me Prov. 8. 17. 3. And as an expression of your love submit obediently unto his government studiously conforming unto all his commands This is his own promise which he will perform infallibly He that hath my Commandments and Joh. 14. 21. keepeth them he it is that loveth me and I will love him Vse 3 The third Use is to be directed unto them whom Christ embraceth as friends with love and they are to be perswaded unto real gratitude for his love The Disciple whom Christ loved having touched upon his incomparable love addeth this doxology To him be glory and Rom. 16. dominion for ever and ever Amen From whence might be noted 1. That the glory to be returned unto Christ for his love should not be verbal onely but real also expressed by subjection unto his dominion 2. That this obediential gratitude should not be confined to term of time
but extended unto eternity for ever and ever 3. And all Christians should heartily give in their assent and attestation hereto by annexing their Amen In the amplification of this perswasion I might call you back to the review both of the proof of this doctrine and of the qualities and efficiency of his love spoken unto in the first Use But that I may not tautologize by telling the same things again I wish you to meditate upon these particulars which will yet further commend Christs love and may call you forth in thankfulnesse for it 1. His love was primary to us and ours secundary succeeding it as the effect and consequence thereof we loved 1 Joh 4. 19. him because he loved us first If he had not fired our hearts with the flames of his love we should never have bestowed one spark of spiritual affection upon him 2. His love was free when there was much loathsomnesse and no lovelinesse at all in us When thou wast Ezek. 16. 5 6. 7 8. cast out in the open field to the loathing of thy person in the day that thou wast born And when I passed by thee and saw thee polluted in thy blood when thou wast naked and bare Now when I passed by thee and looked upon thee behold thy time was the time of love 3. His love worketh him unto a familiar conversing with them which himself expresseth by feasting with them He brought me into the banqueting house and his banner over Cant. 1. 4. me was love I will sup with them and the shall sup with me Rev. 3. 20. and by acquainting them with himself I will manifest my Joh. 14 21. self unto them as also by revealing his secrets I have called you friends for all things that I have heard of my Father I Joh. 15. 15. have made known unto you As also by conjugal embracings His left hand is under my head and his right hand doth imbrace Cant. 2. 6. me Now if Christs beloved friends thankfully disposed towards him for his love shall demand how their gratitude should be really discovered I answer in the words of Solomon A man that hath friends must shew himselfe friendly Prov. 18. 24. which is done 1. By a cautious declining of whatsoever may be offensive unto him as the returning of evil for good is very sinful and a practise prejudicial to our selves so is it taken very unkindly by the Lord. Thus David complaineth of Achitophel and as some conceive Christ of Judas My friend that did eat of my bread hath lifted up his heel against Psal 41. 9. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 me As Caesar was most afflicted with the wound received from his own sons hands And thou my son too Therefore upon remembrance of Christs kindnesse learn to beat back temptations as Joseph did How then shall I do this wickednesse and sin against the Lord Gen. 39 9. 2. By an inseparable adherence unto Christ in dayes of deepest difficulty and danger The servant engaged to his Master by his favours is willing to have his eare bored that he may dwell with him for ever Ruth upon the receipt Exod. 21. 5 6. of lesse love a great deal from Naomi her mother in law taketh up this resolution Nothing shall part thee and me Ruth 1. 16. but death God forbid that ever we by our Apostacy should give Christ occasion to speak by way of reproach to us as Absalon did to Hushai deserting David as he apprehended Is this thy kindnesse to thy friend Why wentest 2 Sam. 16. 17. not thou with thy friend So be you sure that this one circumstance will gripe your hearts with great grief for your backslidings As Peter in this regard wept bitterly because he Mat. 26. 75. had denied and deserted Christ so good a Master so well deserving a friend 3. By unfained love unto all them who are the beloved friends of Christ This is the inference of Saint John from this consideration under discourse that therefore we ought to love one another and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren But of this more in the doctrine 1 Joh 4. 11. and 3. 16. following Doct. 2 That all Christs friends are mutually loving friends unto one another As Christ here saith not my friend but our friend Lazarus thereby intending to declare the friendship which was betwixt Lazarus and his Disciples as betwixt himself and Lazarus In the proof of this doctrine I will point at two particulars which I conceive this instance under hand may hint 1. That there is friendlinesse and love amongst all good Christians In this respect the Apostle Paul in his Eph. 1. 15. Epistle to the Ephesians joyneth their faith in Christ and Philem. 5. their love to all Saints And in his Epistle to Philemon he connexeth his love to Christ and his love to all Saints Yea our Saviour maketh this the livery whereby his servants may be distinguished from others By this shall Joh. 13 35. all men know that ye are my Disciples if ye have love one to another 2. That there is a peculiarity of friendly respect in Christians unto Christs Ministers as here in Lazarus towards Christ his Apostles This is observable in the Letter sent from Jerusalem to Antioch wherein their expression of special love is recorded viz. Our beloved Barnabas Acts 15. 25. and Paul But I will not deal with the Doctrine in both these branches distinctly The handling of it more generally for brevity sake shall be alone undertaken And the Reasons of the point are foure Reason 1 1. Because of their relation both unto Christ and amongst themselves They stand related unto Christ as his subjects servants children Spouse Members which all will acknowledge and therefore needeth no proof And hence issueth love As David was ready to shew kindnesse to the house of Saul for Jonathans sake 2 Sam. 9. 1. And among themselves they are related many Pâ—ilemon 16. 1 Pet. 3. 8. aâ—d 2. 17. 1 Cor. 12. 25. wayes most nearly They are brethren and the brotherhood is to be loved And they are fellow-members and therefore to have mutual respect one to another Reason 2 2. Because of Christ his expresse command which is repeated and strengthened with his own example This 1 Joh. 4 21. command we have from him that he who loveth God loveth his brother also A new Commandment I give unto you John 13. 34. and 15. 12. That ye love one another as I have loved you that ye love one another And again This is my Commandment That ye love one another as I have loved you Reason 3 3. Because of the image of God engraven upon them 1 Joh. 5. 1. expressed by their holy conversation The Apostle John asserts this That every one who loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him Because the childe is the picture as it were of his
father therefore beloved for his fathers sake I here forbear to discover how Beleevers begotten again 1 Pet. 1. 3. Isa 9. 6. 1 Cor. 15. 49. by Christ as the everlasting Father do bear his image but this I propound as the reason of Christians mutual love As the inward affection of Titus was more abundant towards 2 Cor. 7. 15. the Corinthians whilest he remembred their obedience And as it 's reported of Beucer and Calvin that they loved all them in whom they could espy aliquid Christi any thing of Christ So doubtlesse it is with all others who are friends unto Christ Reas 4 Because of the habitation and operation of Gods Spirit in their hearts The Apostle Paul calleth this love Col. 1. 8. love in the Spirit And the Apostle Saint John discoursing of this Christian affection and consequently of Gods dwelling in us being thereby evidenced giveth in this as the confirmation of both Because he hath given us of his Spirit 1 Joh. 4. 12 13. This I place as the last Argument because it is the true reason which maketh all the former concluding For neither spiritual relation nor divine injunction nor Christs image upon the Christians soul could have any commanding influence to draw forth this holy love amongst Believers if God did not co-operate by the power of the holy Ghost Thus from the confirmation I proceed to the Application of the Doctrine which I shall make in four Uses viz. 1. Conviction 2. Examination 3. Comfort 4. Exhortation Vse 3 Hence two sorts of persons are cashier'd as people who are strangers to friendly fellowship with Jesus Christ First Such who are rather enemies then friends unto the people of God as their own consciences witnesse to themselves and their practices proclaim to the world this being their design and endeavour if they could effect it to ruinate them in their comforts and lives altogether They have said in their desires though not with their lips Come let us cut them off from being a Nation that the Psal 83. 4. name of Israel may be no more in remembrance Whatsoever shew of love unto Christ these persons make among men doubtlesse they are adversaries to him as sundry passages surrounding the last quotation do clearly express Keep not Psal 83. 1 2 5. thou silence O God hold not thy peace and be not still O God Lo thine enemies make a tumult and they that hate thee have lift up the head they are confederate against thee As 2 Sam. 3 17. Joab took Abner aside to speak peaceably but smote him under the fifth rib that he died So these though they smile upon Christs face with a salute yet they stab his body or as one wittily expresseth it they kisse the mouth and tread upon the toes Such unfriendlinesse to godly Christians 1. Argueth an unregenerate estate The upright in his Prov. 29. 27. way is an abomination to the wicked And he that loveth not those who are like God is one of the children of the Devil 1 Joh. 3. 10. 2. And is not consistent with meetnesse to be made partakers Col. 1. 1â— of the inheritance of Saints in light For it is not a heaven but a hell rather to be confined to the company of 1 Joh. 3. 14 15. such as are hated He that loveth not his brother abideth in death c. As this doctrine falls thus heavy upon all those who are enemies rather then friends unto ordinary Christians so upon such especially who are professed adversaries to the Ministers of Christ You know how the holy Ghost doth stigmatize Ahab who hated Michaiah that he was a man who sold himself to do wickedness whereas unto true Gospel 1 Kings 21. Rom. 10. 15. Beleevers the very feet of them are beautiful who bring the glad tidings of peace Secondly those much more are by this doctrine set aside as no friends to Christ who are Boutefeuz and Incendiaries seeking to kindle coals of contentions and to increase the flames of discontent and animosities among the people of God This practice proveth them to be Factors for the Devil and exposeth them to the wrath of God It was an evil spirit that made division betwixt Abimelech and the men of Shechem The Devil is pictured with a cloven foot Judg. 9. 27. to signifie that it 's his work to cause and continue divisions in the world And those who sow those seeds of discord are Prov. 6. 16 19. reckoned by Solomon among them whom the Lord hateth and who are an abomination unto him Vse 2 From this open Conviction I proceed unto Examination because there are many who upon trial will not be found real friends unto Gods people though they be not such notorious opposites as were described in the former Use Therefore take those discoveries of them who are right in their loves to real Christians First from the object of love viz. Sanctifâ—ing grace There are many lovely qualifications in Gods faithful servants Mark 6. 20. which an ingenuous moral man may value as Herod reverenced John the Baptist but it 's holiness which is the loadstone to draw the love of the regenerate Christian Because Saints therefore excellent in a gracious eye And hence Psal 16. 2. Eph. 1. 15. 2 Cor. 7 15. followeth universality of Love to all such and the abounding of respect according to the increase of Grace Secondly from the qualities of his friendship It is accompanied 1. With an honourable estimation of them The heirs of heaven do honour such who sear the Lord. Psal 15. 4. Psal 16. 2. 2. And with complacency All my delight saith David is in them Thirdly from the Effects of this love viz. 1. Readiness to perform real offices for their comfort Thus S. Paul proved the sincerity of the Corinthians love by 2 Cor. 8. 8 24. their contribution for the relief of poore Saints 2. And compassionate sympathies when they are in trouble To him that is afflicted pity should be shewed from his Job 6. 14. friend By this David did demonstrate his real respects unto some who ill deserved them When they were sick my cloathing Psal 35. 13 14. was sackcloth I behaved my self as thoâ—gh he had been my friend These short hints I leave to your amplification and faithful application that your selves may understand whether your love unto godly Christians be such as will evidence your regenerate estate Vse 3 The third Use is for the comfort of all them who can in this grace of Christian love and friendship approve their sincerity unto God not doubting but that Christ himselfe will give the like testimony unto them herein as he did unto Lazarus in the Text. Our friend For 1. It is no small priviledge to partake in the love of all heavens favourites and this love is mutual Those who are cordial friends to Christians are cordially beloved by Christians which is a matter of much joy to
of Martyrdome Robert Wilde Upon the Pious and painful Preacher Mr. Jeremy Whitaker An Epitaph I Eremy's not here into the dungeon thrown 'T is heav'ns Whit-acre onely newly Mown Now Angel-reapers gather'd have to Barne The seedsman of Gods Word like full ripe Corne. In teares he sow'd now the heav'nly Qâ—ire To give him joy of Harvest all conspire In his sick bed this Paradox we found The thorny and the stony are good ground The gowt and stone as milstones ground the man To finest flower for Mancher here no Bran These sisting times could finde nere did man say The Preacher spake as mealy-mouth'd to day Gallants you mealy heads capes that have Go take perfumed powder from his grave The dust off's feet was beautiful and he Your powder and your looking-glass may be His life a Sermon was his dust doth cry All flesh is grasse go home and learn to die England may ever glory Rome despaire In Whit acâ—e i' th Pulpit and i' th Chaire Thomas Hodges B. D. An Elegy upon the Death of Mr Whitaker IF passion can make Poets or grief raise Expressions great enough to speak thy praise Then might â— Whitaker thy worth reherse And with my strowings deck thy sacred Herse A Synod's only fit to speak thy fall And bear a part in this their Funeral Divines must grieve that with thee tomb'd doth lie What now we vainly seek Divinity If we would hear such pray'rs as could heaven move And tune the spheres into a Quire of love Sweeter then Angels Anthemes then we must Ransack thy grave and reinspire thy dust There scatter'd lies that voice which could inspire All hearts and fill them with an holy fire As flames get flames Who thunder did defie Six words of thine could melt and purify Such Callous souls which at their sins ne're vext Did finde thy Sermons keener then the Text. Thy Doctrine still was edg'd against mens crimes And serv'd to lance the ulcers of the times Who now shall teach the wicked their sad doomes Or else convince that faith by hearing comes For whosoe're heard thee were caught by th' eare And went out converts that came curious there But those who nâ—'re were wearied with thy voice Do now complain of too much length and noise For since blest Oâ—ator thou parted'st hence The Pulpit only suffers violence Edw. Bagshaw On the much lamented death of that Reverend man of God Mr. Jeremiah Whitaker his dear friend and old neighbour both in City and Countrey IF Reason Vertue Wisdom make a man If Faith Hope Charity the Christian If faithful useful cheerful grace a friend Arts Tongues choice Wit rare Memory commend The Scholar if Humanity Divinity Candor Humility bowels integrity If parts pains zeal sound Doctrine utterance tears Faith courage prudence patience fasting prayers Success crown Preacher Lo of thousands ten That Man Friend Christian Scholar Preacher then Never in times unfixt a man more fixt Never in heart so pure graces more mixt Mildnes with boldnes courage with courtesie High parts low thoughts yielding with constancy Well to conceive and speak to speak and do And do so much so much to suffer too For Love a Jonathan for Truth Nathanael For Meeknesse Moses and for courage Daniel Call'd when a child a second Jeremiah For spirit prayer power the third Eliah For firmnesse Câ—phas for sympathy a Paul For pains success exceeding most or all One thing was lacking yet to make him higher As gold or Job he must into the fire As gold or Job he was unto the last For patience prov'd Integrity held fast Who ere saw such sharp pains heard such sweet prayers Strong cryes but stronger faith praises with tears Ouâ— Lord by suffering did to perfection grow In suffering obedience he did learn and show This man of God came to that altitude By suffering of sore pains that multitude The racking Gowt the tormenting Stone In Kidneys Ulcers two in bladder one Made pains sharp sore long thick but respite small Yet faith and patience overcame them all Now after well spent life and restlesse pains And heaveÌ„ assur'd we reckon death for gains Death when by self desired by friends bewayl'd And a sweet memory left have still prevail'd To call dead happy Then our loss to thee Was greatest gains compleat felicity Weep Berm'sey London wail mourn England all Heâ—e did thy Crown Chariots Horsmen fall John Sheffield Pastor of Swithins London-stone Of the same Author OLd Jeremy a Prophet was and childe Yet was a brazen wall and Pillar stil'd He liv'd in troublous times sad changes saw He suffered much yet kept he fast Gods Law By all good honour'd by enemies approved By many censur'd by none faulty proved He dealt with persons highest and with low He warned all but wished no mans woe Son of Contentiâ—n called when of peace The greatest friend and of his Lands increase He preached much of Christ Gospel-days The Covenant new he taught and its rich grace Yet was his last a doleful lamentation Sad to himself sadder to the Nation Thou art or wast the same His Baruch he Companion had to him let me to thee An Elegy upon the much lamented death of my late dear and reverend Friend Mr. Jeremiah Whitaker ENgland wil soon grow poor if in one year Kent lose a Wilson we a Whitaker A Thames and Medway from our heads arise Their streams our tears their channels are our eyes Our many losses call for teares not fewer The brest a Bason makes the eye an Ewer No longer now shall Isis part the Burrough From London since that both sides meet in sorrow Not as of old by striving whether side Should for their own obtain the Silver tide No not to gain the water wee 'l contend But wee 'l by weeping strive who most can spend Conduits give wine indeed when th' Crown 's put on Now run they tears because our Crown is gone Our Friends Decease and Death our troubles were We nor his Sickness nor his Med'cines bear His Pulpit he esteem'd his rest his bed We thought his bed a Pulpit where he read Lectures of patience these he loudly utter'd By silence oft he groan'd but never mutter'd Of mournful Magdalen Bermonsey bears The name and with her Title hath her tears And our dear Whitaker was Jeremy In name in weeping and in Prophecy But he no Prophet now no sackcloth wears His work is done and so are all his teares May Bermonsey of him the late possessor Mourn for her sins but joy in his successor GUIL JENKYN Pastor of Black-fryers London Vpon the Death of the Reverend his never to be forgotten friend Mr Jeremiah Whitaker O That affection could but make a Poet If grief could rhime with Art sure I should do it Though so disus'd to versify We 'l try The Subject's sad and so 's the Poetry The tender son that never spake before To save his fathers life turn'd Orator Shall I forbear in silence Write I must When such
a friend lies sleeping in the dust The blessed Saint dear Jeremy is gone And who shall write his lamentation Had we his eyes which always showry were Such is our loss each word should have a tear Another Whitaker in a Coffin plac'd The first the Chair this the Pulpit grac'd Reader would'st know his worth then cast thy eye Upon the Narrative there 's his excellency Rings hold not Histories who can rehearse His vast perfection in a narrow Verse Take Vertues Graces Gifts and all you can All are concentred in this holy man A brighter star in all our orb there 's none None do exceed few equal him that 's gone Ah pious soul What mortal man can speak out Thy rare humility Who ere meanly thought Of thee besides thy self What mov'd thy passions But Eulogies and Commendations 'T is well th' art gone from us shouldst thou but look Into and read thy praises in this book I 'm sure by this thou would'st be somewhat moved And Simeon himself should be reproved He speaks thy worth so much yet but little 'T is scarce enough but true to every tittle Thy personal endowments who would commend Should neither know where to begin nor end Thy Minister'al accomplishments were rare Thy constant pains thy diligence thy care For souls in holy things who can expresse Thou might'st have longer liv'd had'st thou liv'd lesse O melting Suppliant who e're did know Thy prayers to heaven without some tears to go The secret ravishings which poor souls have found When from thy mouth the Word of life did sound Our very Pulpits wonder where thou art In which thou didst such spiritual gifts impart But 't is enough we 'l weep the rest we can Launch out no farther in this Ocean Could prayers and teares have kept thee here thy stay It had been longer in this house of clay Pray'r barr'd thee in some time till death would throw Open the door by force to let thee go At last thy soul did finde the way to blisse And now is steep'd in heavens happinesse O blessed change for thee the painful bed Is now a Throne where not a tear is shed No dismal groaÌ„ings now from thee do come But everlasting Triumphs in their room Farewel blest Saint farewel and since 't is thus We 'l hast to thee thou wilt not come to us THO. JACOMB of M. Ludg. Vpon the death of the reverend Learned and Faithful Servant of Jesus Christ Mr. Jeremiah Whitaker late Minister of Magdalene Bermonsey in Southwark WHat speaks this sudden storm of brinish teares What means this doleful volley in mine ears Is the Sun darkned Do the Lamps above Resolve their fiery station to remove And shine no more on earth Doth the Creation Intend to melt it self with Lamentation The holy Whitaker is stept away Late Angel of the Church of Bermonsey A Pillar in Gods house a sweet Musitian That gladded drooping hearts A soul-Physician A Sun whose beams did consolation shine A faithful skilful guide a rare Divine He was a Watchman could not wel be blamed A workman needed not to be ashamed No Proteus that could change to every shape No servile spirited Preacher that could scrape And cringe to please the lusts of wanton men He could not say and then unsay agen Learned yet very humble prudent dear To God to men meek holy wise sincere He lov'd the Truth he hated Heresie A strong opposer of all Blasphemy His heart was toward a holy Reformation But set against a godlesse toleration Of lewd Opinions Great was his care To keep the holy Covenant which he sware The marrow of Gods O acles was iâ— him No Scripture Mystery was hidden from him Cases of Conscience he could well unty Scruples and Doubts from Scripture satisfie His holy Function was his consolation His Pulpit work to him was recreation His pray'rs were zealous heavenly steep'd in teare His Doctrine Orthodox convincing clear Ful of the spirit of life and Power his words Did pierce like nailes did cut like sharpned swords He durst tell Ahab of his great oppression What! dost thou kill and after take possession He durst tell Herod though it cost his life 'T is wickednesse to take thy brothers wife Had strangers heard him Preach they would have sed Sure John the Baptist's risen from the dead His carriage holy harmlesse free from strife His Sermons were imprinted in his life His body was infirm diseased weary His soul still vigorous active strong and cheary The more the Cabinet did waste and wear The brighter did the Jewel stil appear Goodness of nature made the world admire him The brightness of his grace made Saints desire him The Church on earth hath lost a precious plant The Church in heaven hath gain'd a glorious Saint Ra. Robinson Minister of Mary Wolnoth Lumbard street London Jeremiah Whitaker ANAGRAM I have hit everi Mark THou didst not shoot at rovers in the dark Thy polisht shaft could hit the smallest mark Gods glory was thy scope his Word thy guide His stable Spirit did teach thee to divide The word of truth aright A signal Teacher An useful pious fruitful powerful Preacher God made thee to his Chuâ—th None better knew Then Whitaker to carve to each his due The mark of saving grace was first obtain'd And now the mark of glory thou hast gain'd Enjoy it and let other Archers see Thy happy pattern and take aim by thee Ra. Robinson Minister of Mary Wolnoth Lombardstreet London Vpon the death of his most dear friend that eminent servant and Minister of Jesus Christ Mr. Jeremiah Whitaker Pastor of Mary Magdalen Bermonsey in Southwark THus Cedars fall thus Stars do disappear Prophets though Angels yet but mortals are Our Prophet Jeremy's dead and now there 's none That 's fit to make his Lamentation Plato once wisht that vertue could appear To mortal eyes his wish was granted here If any Breviator would comprize All vertues in a word then let his eyes Be fixed here keep Whitaker in minde And there you have the vertues all defin'd Or would you know what all the graces are In short hand writing they make Whitaker Would any have the Bible in a word And what the vastest comments can afford Read Whitakers Works peruse his conversation And there 's the Bible and th' Interpretation That Book was in his brest so well ingrost He could restore it if it had been lost He that by thee blest Saint shall calculate Will finde that Miracles are not out of dare Who e're was so far blest to hear him teaching Was prone to think a Seraphim was preaching 'T was Austin's wish i'th'Pulpit Paul to hear He had been satisfied hadst thou been there Me thought when thy sweet soul was poured out In fervent prayer I began to doubt Whether Elias was come down again And mounting heaven-ward with his fiery train In this thou didst excel he scal'd the sort Alone but thou thy hearers didst transport But whither goes my doleful Muse to
The doleful story of his ruin'd state And his three friends which acted Satans part He on his flesh and these upon his heart Who by disputing him unto a curse Would make his spirits tormeÌ„ts the far worse Were by Gods wise disposal sent to show The strength he on his Champion would bestow Thus Painters put dark grounds where they intend To overlay with finest gold lend By deeper shadows luster to that face On which they mean their choicest skill to place Thus workmen season much with sun wind Those greatest beams which must the building binde Whilst smaler peeces haply are put in When they come bleeding from the wood green Oft where is greatest grace God's pleas'd to send Great conflicts those great graces to coÌ„mend As the six finger'd Giants sword did bring The more renown to little Davids sling The vanquisht Lion and the conquered Bear Prepar'd that holy head a Crown to wear The Angel wrastled first and then did bless And made the greater servant to the lesse Pain was to great for thee Gods grace for pain And made the greater serve the lesse again Thy pains serv'd thee to glory and did sit The head on which a Crown of life must sit This is Gods method to fetch joy from grief To turn our sorrows unto our relief To save by killing and to bring to shore By the ships planks which was quite broke before And thus a barren womb first took the seed Which did six hundred thousand people breed That seed too must from knife and alter rise And be before a fire a sacrifice Great Preacher of thine heavenly Fathers will Thy tongue did many years with Manna fill Thy life out-preacht thy tongue O blessed strife Thy sicknesse the best Sermon of thy life Before each Doctrine must be prov'd anew Thine end was one great proof that all was true Before thou preacht by weeks but now by houres Each minute taught thy mourning Auditors Each patient groan and each beleeving eye Was a new Sermon in Brachygraphy When nature roars without repining words Grace in the mouth wheÌ„ in the bowels swords In midst of torments to triumph o're hell To feel Gods Arrows yet his praises tell Through thickest clouds to see the brightest light In blackest darkness to have clearest sight And with our Lord to cry my God my God Upon a Crosse under the sharpest rod. This is indeed to preach this is to show Faiths triumph over natures greatest wo. Then welcome fiery SerpeÌ„ts scortching sting Which did thee thus to th' brazen Serpent bring Then welcom Whale which though it first devour Renders at last the Prophet to the shore Well might'st thou bear the stone which death did throw Who hadst the white stone the new name to show Wel mightst thou be with such an ulcer calm Whose soul was heal'd before with heavens balm When spirits wounds are cur'd though nature groan An heart of flesh can heal a back of stone Let conscience have her feast and let flesh roare This pain shal make the others joy the more As many times those flowers most fragrant smell Which nearest to soÌ„e noisom weeds do dwel Thus have you seen the forge most clearly glow On which the Smith doth drops of water throw Keen frosts make fire the hotter deep night Causeth coelestial lamps to shine more bright And by a dear Antiperistasis The childs distress sweetens the father kiss A wounded body yields to a sound soul The joys of this do th' others paines controle As in the day that the Sun beams appear All other lesser stars do disappear When heaven shines and divine love doth raign The soul is not at leasure to complain Internal joyes his heart so well composes That they have judg'd their flames a bed of Roses Mr. Gataker Mr. Whitaker But what shall England do from whence are lopt Two of her richest acres to heaven dropt By losse of these two acres shee 's more poor Then if she'had lost a hundred Lordships more 'T were a good purchase to gain these agen By giving to the sea all Lincoln-fen Two little mines of gold do far surpasse Huge Mannors where th' whole vesture is but grasse Learn we by them what al men wil once say One Pearch of heaven 's worth the whole globe of clay Ed. Reynolds D. D. To the memory of Mr. Jeremy Whitaker powerful in Prayer and Preaching pious in life patient in sicknesse c. NAy now forbear for pity sake give o're You that would make the Clergy none or poor We are made miserable enough this year That we have lost our Reverend Whitaker Losâ—e above Deans and Chapters had but he Liv'd stil preacht Ziba take all for me Nay I beleeve had Sacrilegious hands Finger'd our poor Remains of Tyths Lands Whilst he surviv'd they had but sin'd in vain Whitaker would have pray'd them back again As Luther did a young mans soul repeal Giv'n to the Devil under hand and Seal A Chariot and an Horsman we have lost In whose each single pray'r incamptan Host How have I heard him on some solemn day When doubtful War could make all London pray Mount up to heav'n with armed crys tears And rout as far as York the Cavileers Have you not seen an early-rising Lark Spring from her turf making the Sunne her mark Shooting her self aloft yet higheâ— higher Till she had sung her self into heav'ns Quire Thus would he rise in pray'r and in a trice His soul become a Bird of Paradise And if our faint devotions prayers be What can we call his lesse then Extasie On his Preaching If with th' Almighty he prevailed so Wonder not that he wonders wrought below The son of consolation and of thunder Met both in him in â—thers are asunder He was like Luke Physitian of both kindes Wrought cures upon mens bodies and their mindes The falling sicknesse of Apostasie Dropsie of drunkennesse prides trimpany The Megrim of opinions new or old Palsy of unbelief Charities Cold Lusts burning Feaver Anger 's Calenture The Collick in the conscience he could cure Set the souls broken boneâ— by holy Art He hath dissolv'd the stone in many a heart Harder then that he dy'd of O come in Yee multitudes whom he hath heal'd of sin And thereby made his debtors pay him now Some of those tears which he laid out for you Interest-tears I mean for should you all Weep over him both use and principal 'T would wash away the stone which covers him And make his Coffin like an Ark to swim Now wipe thine eyes my Muse and stop thy verse Thy ink can only serve to black his herse Yet stay I 'le drop one tear sigh one sigh more 'T is this Although my Poetry be poor O what a mighty Prophet should â— be Had this Elija's mantle falne to me Oh might I live his life I 'de be content His sore diseases too should me torment And if his Patience could mine become I would not be afraid