tryalls of thy faith loue obedience patience and constancie in the true service of God If therefore thou find the hand of God to be heauie vpon thee inquire by a strict examination of thy selfe Referred to examination what the cause thereof should be If thy owne Conscience shall informe thee of thy loue to God How this may be done and his true worship and of thy holy desires to please Cod and that thou strivest daily against the corruptions of thine owne heart and the like then out of question thy afflictions are but tryalls But if vpon examination thy Conscience shall intimate vnto thee a great neglect of many holy duties and that thou liuest in some sinnes not as yet repented of then doe thou wisely suspect the worst that by these afflictions layd vpon thee haven doth chalenge thee for the same Therefore my counsell vnto thee is this Counsell not to be reiected or refused of any If vpon inquirie thus made as thou findest thy selfe to stand with thy God if thou takest these afflictions to be tryalls exercise all Christian patience vnder them but if for thy sinnes then hasten forward an vnfained reformation and let me answere thee with CHRISTS wordes in the Gospell i Ioh. 5.14 Sinne no more lest a worse thing come vnto thee To shut vp this poynt The finall cause of the affliction of the Saints the finall cause of afflictions of Gods elect is this namely Gods purpose by them to bend not to breake yea where he bendeth he never breaketh Elihu answered Iob truely that the marke that God aymeth at by those afflictions that he sendeth vpon his owne is k Iob 33.16.17.18 to open the eare of man to cause him to harken vnto his word And that thereby he may cause man to turne from his owne enterprise and that he might hide the pride of man And by these corrections he intendeth to keepe backe his soule from the pit and that his life should not passe by the sword To this well agreeth that saying of Paul l 1 Cor. 11.32 We are chastned of the Lord that we should not be condemned with the world And thus much of the first part of my Text. The second Aphorisme followeth which is this The second Aphorisme That all the afflictions of this present time although they be many and great yet are not to be compared to the glory that shall be shewed vnto vs. I count sayth the Apostle c. The Rhemes Testament readeth it thus I doe thinke that the afflictions of this present time but to thinke leaueth it to vncertaintie The originall word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Statuo Beza Repeto Zuinglius Arbitror Trimelius Existimo vulg latin is better by learned Interpreters translated thus I count c. As if the Apostle should haue thus sayd I haue summed vp together all the sorrowes and afflictions of this life having first examined every particular I count what I finde for by experience I know what they are namely that they will not hold weight with that glory that shall be revealed to the Saints in the life to come Non sunt paria sayth Beza Non sunt paria Beza Pares passiones Trimelius If you put them all into the Balance they will proue too light much like to that of Iob m Iob 6.2 Oh that sayth he my griefe were weighed and my miseries were layd together in the Balance for it would be heavier then the sand of the Sea c. Even so if all the troubles of this life were balanced with heavenly ioyes they would proue much lighter then the same Which Metaphor the Apostle also vseth in his Epistle to the Corinthians n 2 Cor. 4.17 Our light afflictions sayth he which are but for a moment causeth vnto vs a farre more excellent and an eternall waight of glory When as Paul was taken vp into Paradise he speaketh of himselfe that he there heard o 2 Cor. 12.4 Beza 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Ineffabilia verba sayth the Latin translation Words not possible for man to vtter No doubt but it was a more harder taske to expresse what was then seene I meane the glory of God then to vtter those words that were spoken vnto him Saint Peter calleth the ioy of Heaven begun here on earth p 1 Pet. 1.8 Gaudium ineffabile You doe beleeue and reioyce sayth he with ioy vnspeakeable and glorious If heavenly ioy in the heart of the Saints when as it is but begunne while it is but in the bud when man hath but a little taste of the same by the worke and operation of the Spirit of God be Gandium ineffabile that is vnspeakable ioy how vnable is man to expresse the perfection of it even that glory sayth my Text that shall be revealed vnto vs. Saint Paul also to the Corinthians doth much magnifie this glory but he explaneth it not q 1 Cor. 2.9 The things sayth he which eye hath not seene neither eare hath heard neither came into mans heart are which God hath prepared for them that loue him Yea he proueth the truth hereof by Scripture r Isa 64.4 according sayth he as it is written but not explaining the excellencie of this glory by reason or demonstration The Prophet Dauid also ſ Psal 45.1 whose tongue was the pen of a readie writer yet neither by pen not by his tongue was he able to expresse this glory but in generall termes t Psal 16.11 Thou wilt shew me the path of life In thy presence is the fulnesse of ioy and at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore And againe u Psal 36.9 With thee O Lord is the well of life and in thy light we shall see light c. But beloued I marvell the lesse that the Prophets of God and Apostles of our Saviour Christ haue passed by the description of this glory which we hope for in the life to come and without any particular illustration of the emminencie thereof when as the Lord Christ himselfe praying to God his Father for this glory to be given vnto his Church calleth it onely x Ioh. 17.5 that glory which himselfe had with his Father before the world was but he explaineth it not We shall all then know and not before what this glory is when as in the life to come it shall be revealed vnto vs that is when we are in the actuall possession of it For as he that sate vpon the white Horse spoken of in the Revelation y Rev. 19.12 On whose head were many Crownes Simile had a name that no man knew but himselfe So no man knoweth the excellencie of this heavenly ioy or the glory thereof but he himselfe onely that is crowned with it Brethren for my part I haue had but little time to meditate vpon this Scripture but had I had much longer time I should not
haue beene able to haue satisfied you in this poynt as by any description or demonstrations to present vnto you the perfection of this glory for z 1 Cor. 2.9 if mans heart cannot conceiue it then much lesse is mans tongue able to expresse it Neither doth my Text put this taske vpon me for the Apostle speaketh onely of this glory comparatiuely comparing it with the crosses and miseries of mans life I count sayth he that the afflictions of this present time are not worthie of the glory that shall be revealed vnto vs. Neither doe I see how the comparison can well hold betwixt the one and the other things finite with that which is infinite a Psal 30.5 The heauinesse of the Saints is but for a night the ioy that commeth in the morning will be everlasting b Psal 16.11 At the right hand of God there are pleasures for evermore as the Prophet testifieth Saint Paul also himselfe seemeth not so well to approue of this very comparison even in this very respect c 2 Cor. 4.17 For sayth he our light affliction which is but for a moment causeth vnto vs a farre more excellent and an eternall waight of glorie And albeit mans life be full of sorrowes as Iob speaketh yet sayth he withall d Iob 14.1 it is of short continuance his afflictions then be but momentary afflictions and the glory of heaven eternall Vpon this hope of eternall glory Gods children haue gone thorough with singular patience the wearisome Pilgrimage of this life And although they haue not a little beene perplexed with the violent stormes of this world yet herein was their comfort an expectation that they had of this haven where they should enioy eternall rest Saint Paul giueth this for a reason why he faynted not in his sorrowes e 2 Cor. 5.1 For we know sayth he that if our earthly house of this Tabernacle be destroyed we haue a building giuen of God that is a house not made with hands but eternall in the heavens For therefore we sigh desiring to be clothed with our house which is from heauen c. And againe there is another difference betweene the afflictions of this life and the glory which shall be revealed vnto vs which doth not a little detract from the fitnesse of this comparison namely that these afflictions are often times mixed with comfort but heavenly ioyes haue no tutch at all of any sorrowes in them Saint Peter writing to such as were vnder great afflictions yet in his Epistle mentioneth their great ioy f 1 Pet. 1.8 You sayth he doe beleeue and reioyce with ioy vnspeakeable and glorious And S. Paul confirmeth this truth by good experience in himselfe g 2 Cor. 1.5 As the sufferings of Christ abound in vs so our consolation aboundeth through Christ Now on the other side in the fruition of the glorie to be revealed we shall enioy it without any mixture of sorrow This glory will suffer no maner of eclipse at all h Rev. 7.17 Isa 25.8 God will wipe away all teares from the eyes of his people All which confirmeth the truth of this Text that the afflictions of this present time are not worthie of the glory that shall be shewed vnto vs. This glory which in a due time shall be revealed it is no worldly glory no vaine-glory these will passe away as shadowes without substance which are lighter then the wind they haue no weight at all in them i Luk. 16.25 there is no remembrance at all of earthly pleasures when as man leaueth them they vanish away as it were in a smoake but the glory of God is ever lasting And this is the portion and inheritance of the Saints wherefore as the Apostle sayth else where k 1 Thes 4.18 Comfort your selues one another with these words But principally I commend these words of comfort to all that are afflicted that groane vnder persecutions and are distressed by reason of many crosses and miseries that haue taken hold on them To all such our Saviour ministreth the like words of comfort l Math. 5.12 Great sayth he is your reward in the kingdome of heaven This was Moses comfort in his afflictions as the Apostle sayth m Heb. 11.26 He had an eye to the recompence of the reward Saint Stephen also the Martyr in his afflictions was supported by the meditation of this glory n Act. 7.55 Behold sayth he I see the Heavens open and the sonne of Man standing at the right hand of God c. And this is it which Paul presseth to the Colossians o Col. 1.5 for the hopes sake which is layd vp for you in heaven c. So then all the afflictions of this present time are not worthie of the glory that shall be revealed vnto vs. Finally if all the afflictions of Pauls time which haue beene the greatest that ever were I meane the persecutions in the primatiue Church as Ecclesiasticall Stories at large will informe you If all those troubles yea sufferings for Christ and Martyrdome it selfe be not worthy of heavens ioy Good vvorkes cannot iustifie then no other workes certainly can of themselues merit eternall life or procure for man the salvation of God And so much for the Interpretation of this Scripture Now touching the occasion of this present meeting somewhat is to be spoken TO speake much of little sayth one needeth the helpe of Art And certainely no lesse Art is required in him that intendeth to speake little of much fully and yet in few words In which poynt I suspect I may fayle having but little time left and so plentifull a subiect of my speech At my comming into this Church when I beheld the people here assembled I remembred that report which the Evangelist giueth of our Saviour Christ p Math. 9.36 When he saw the multitude he had compassion vpon them because they were dispersed and scattered abroad as sheepe having no Shepheard It cannot be but a pittifull spectacle indeed to behold a people distressed in this kinde This being your owne case my beloved I may fitly compare your sorrowes to the sorrowes of Ierusalem lamented by the Prophet Ieremy q Lam. 1.1 How doth that Citie sayth he remaine solitary that was full of people she is as a widow that was great among the Nations c. The like say I to this present people How commeth it to passe that this Congregation lyeth desolate as a lamenting widow without a Teacher or Comforter who of late for the plentie and puritie of the Word reioyced aboue all other Parishes and Villages round about her Alas the reason is soone rendred You haue lost a most painfull Pastor and a carefull Shepheard that attended you Vt Zancheus de Caelvine Fuit optimus interpres Scripturarum A man called forth to the worke of the Lord and plentifully inabled of God to the worke wherevnto he was called He was a judicious
A SERMON PREACHED AT THE FVNERALL OF THAT PAINFVLL And faithfull seruant of Iesus Christ Mr THOMAS WILSON in his owne Church at St Georges in Canterbury the 25. day of Ianuary In the yeare of our Lord God 1621. By WILLIAM SVVIFT Preacher of GODS Word at St ANDREVVES within the Citie of Canterbury IOSHVA 1.2 Moses my servant is dead ZACHARIAH 1.5 Doe the Prophets liue for ever LONDON Printed by I. D. for Fulke Clifton 1622. TO MY NEIGHBOVRS AND VERY LOVING Friends the Inhabitants of the Parish of St ANDREVVES within the CITIE of CANTERBVRY BELOVED being of late requested by some of you to Preach the Funerall Sermon of that worthy Preacher of the word of God and a lecturer for many yeares in this Citie M. Thomas Wilson a man for his singular gift and facultie in Preaching and worthie works which he hath penned of good note even among such as neuer saw his person in the flesh And of great esteeme among his owne people and many others that haue profited by his Ministery You found me readie to tender my service as the last dutie of my loue to my fellow labourer in the Lords haruest and now with the Lord. But to a second request made since by some namely to publish what was then deliuered To this I deferred my answere for a time yet after a pawse hauing in the interim duely considered that it is a thing too common in these dayes among the enemies of truth secretly and cunningly to depraue such after their death who haue beene worthie instruments of Gods glory in the time of their life and that by the publishing of what was then spoken of him many abroad may truely vnderstand the excellent resolution of this faithfull Pastor the watchfull eye he hath had alwayes ouer his flocke his constancie in the truth peaceably and comfortably shutting vp his eyes in that Religion and Faith which he professed in his life And also on the other side that others may take notice of the vnfained affection true zeale feruent loue of so great a multitude within this Citie to the Gospell of Christ taking to heart the losse and deprivation by death of so emminent a Teacher who by the providence of God was planted among them whom I may terme a painfull labourer and withall a skilfull builder in the house of God In respect hereof I haue at length rather satisfied others then my selfe in publishing by my pen what I lately deliuered by word of mouth The reasons why I haue dedicated this Sermon vnto you my good neighbours and friends are these First because I am perswaded many of you were well affected to the deceased even for his message sake as you are readie at all times to harken to all such as come vnto you in the name of the Lord. Your diligent attention to the word of God both at home and abroad deserveth a due prayse Secondly to whom more fitting can I tender the first fruits of my pen then to such on whom in my yonger yeares I bestowed both the first fruits of my ministery in the preaching of the Gospell and also the residue of my labours even now to a riper age Thirdly to signifie hereby vnto you my thankfulnesse for the continuance of that loue vnto me your Minister and Pastor now 30. yeares In which loue of the Inhabitants of this Parish my most louing Father Mr Thomas Swift my predecessor in the Parsonage of S. Andrew the space of 22. yeares a Preacher of Gods word among you did not a little reioyce Yea I boldly affirme vpon sure knowledge that in his declining age he ioyed not more in any worldly blessing then in the loue of his people who on his death-bed when as it was questioned by his friends where his body should be interred charged his Executor in his last Will in these very terms that his bones should rest in that Church where his people so intirely loued him The premisses considered I intreat you to accept this small token I send you And as I haue so many yeares past as you all know by the preaching of the Gospell indevoured to the vttermost of my power to build you vp in the faith of Christ So my prayers still are as they haue beene daily made vnto God on your behalfe that you and all yours may grow in grace and in the knowledge of Iesus Christ to the salvation of your soules vnto whose blessed protection I leaue you Yours in the Lord. WILLIAM SVVIFT A SERMON PREACHED AT THE FVNERALL OF Mr THOMAS WILSON in his owne Parish Church at S. Georges in the Citie of Canterbury the 25. day of Ianuary 1621. ROM 8.18 For I count that the afflictions of this present time are not worthie of the glory which shall be shewed vnto vs. THis Chapter the 8. to the Romanes may fitly be termed a store-house or treasury of spirituall and heauenly comforts wherein the Apostle S. Paul vseth sundry arguments to prepare arme a Christian against the stormes and miseries of this present life My Text that I haue read hath a dependance vpon the former Verse wherein the Apostle comforteth the afflicted in this maner Si cum eo patimur vna cum illo glorificemur If we suffer sayth he with him we shall also be glorified with him His meaning is this That if we now participate with Christ in his sufferings the time will come that we shall participate with Christ in glory Obiect Ob But here flesh and bloud will obiect that heauen indeed may be glorious but the way to heauen is long grieuous vnpleasant full of troubles feare discontent and the like so that wkile we here remaine in the participation of these sorrowes our hearts faint within vs. Answered by the Apostle The Apostle returneth answere to this Obiection in the words of my Text read vnto you not denying the bitternesse of the potion but sweetneth it with the hope of health that will insue vpon it he gain-sayeth not the troubles of the righteous to be great troubles but yet not so great as is the glory in the life to come which is the portion and inheritance of the Saints This is that which the Apostle resolveth and determineth in the words I haue read vnto you I count sayth he that the afflictions of this present life are not worthie of that glory that shall be reuealed vnto vs. Out of this answere of the Apostle wee may gather these two seuerall Aphorismes being the two parts of my Text. The two parts of the Text. First that Christians are subiect and lyable to the afflictions of this present life Secondly that all the afflictions of this life although they may be many and great yet are not to be compared to the glory that shall be shewed vnto vs. And thus much for the method order and disposition of my Text. For I count that the afflictions c. That which the Apostle here termeth afflictions in the former Verse he