VINCENTIUS REDIVIVUS A Funeral Sermon Preached Octob. 27. 1678. Upon Occasion of the much bewailed Death of that Reverend and Eminent Servant of CHRIST Mr. THOMAS VINCENT Formerly Preacher at Maâ—dlins Milk-street London By SAMUEL SLATER an unworthy Servant of Christ in the Gospel Psal. 112. 6. The righteous shall be in everlasting remembrance Quae caecitas animi quaeve dementia est amare pressuras poenas lachrymas mundi non festinare potius ad gaudium quod nunquam possit auferri Arnob. LONDON Printed for Tho. Parkhurst and T. Cockerill at the Bible and three Crowns in Cheapside near Mercers Chappel and at the three Legs in the Poultrey over-against the Stocks Market 1679. To my Honoured Friends Mrs. Mary Vincent and that Flock of Christ over which thâ— Holy Ghost had made dear Mr. Thomaâ— Vincent Overseer AT your request this Sermon was Preached and is now published Such as it is you arâ— welcome to it and much good may it do you 〈◊〉 the Lord grant all those may meet with 〈◊〉 blessing in it who shall read it out of a real desire to geâ—â— good for their souls other Readers we care for none 〈◊〉 take your invitation of me to this work as an evidenâ— token of that love and esteem you have for me howeveâ— unworthy Therefore I did not draw back but humblâ—â— bless God for the assistance he hath afforded me in it 〈◊〉 all you find here according to his Will came from hiâ— Spirit I would be very very low in mine own eyes yet I do neither dread the censures of men nor am I 〈◊〉 vain as to court their applause by making Apologies What I have here presented you with are the Truths oâ— God which deserve your acceptance I desire you to trâ—â— them and having seen their Fathers name in their foreâ— head give them a ready admission a most friendlâ— and honourable entertainment I shall speak nothing 〈◊〉 you here by way of advice having said so much in thâ— Sermon but only signifie to you that you are much upo◠〈◊〉 heart and in my prayers I will not be unmindful you at the Throne of Grace but speak many a good â—â—rd for you the Lord comfort your hearts and sanâ—â—ifie to you his hand that out of the eater may come â—eat out of this Providence which hath removed your â—everend Pastor specialâ— advantage may come to your â—â—ls the Lord send you another undâ—r whose shadow 〈◊〉 may sit with delight finding his fruit sweet to your â—â—ste the Lord supply all your need according to his â—â—ches in glory by Iesus Christ. My dear Friends wisely â—â—d graciously improve this dispensation submit to the â—â—od pleasure of a taking God be much in the study of â—ur hearts and ways be you sincere and thriving Chriâ—â—ians And the Father of mercies bind you up in the â—â—ndle of life and grant you a glorious Inheritance aâ—â—ong them that are sanctified by faith in Christ so â—â—ayes Your Friend and Servant in our dear Lord Jesus Samuel Slater â—ctob 29. â—1678 Hebr. XIII 7. Remember them which have the rule over you who have spoken to you the Word of God whose saith follow considering the end of their conversation THIS excellent Epistle is not without good reason reckoned to Paul as its Author the great Apostle of the Gentiles who having obtained mercy burned with zeal for God and had such yearning bowels over the blind unbelieving obstinate Iews his brethren and kinsmen according to the flesh that for their sakes he could have found in his heart to wish himself accursed from Christ Rom 9. 3. which was a rapture of love a pang of affection highly becoming him who was a brand plucked out of the burning and of a chief sinner made an eminent Saint of a cruel furious persecutor a blessed and most successful Apostle unto these Iews he wrote this Epistle and for weighty reasons without doubt concealed his Name Herein he made it his business so to set forth the Lord Jesus and commend him to them as that they might receive him with all acceptation as the promised Messiah and High-Priest over the house of God and persevere in faith and obedience to him and likewise to lay down such rules for their lives and carriages in the world as that by an holy and exemplary conversation they might honour his Name and adorn his Gospel The Union between Faith and Holiness is so strict that they never were nor can be separated and it is pity they should being most amiable in conjunction Faith giving encouragement unto holiness and holiness reflecting a glory upon faith Several precious Commands or Exhortations you meet with in this Chapter which though primarily ordered out to the Hebrews do remain a burden upon all persons in all Ages who profess themselves Christians unto them it is our duty to attend and according to them to walk The Text is a fruitful Bough consisting of three Branches 1. Remember them which have the rule over you who have spoken to you the word of God 2. Follow their faith 3. Consider the end of their conversation Or if you please you have here a double duty enjoyned Remember them that have spoken to you the word of God and follow their faith and you have a choice means prescribed for the commending those duties to you and encouraging you in their performance Consider the end of their conversation Of all these I shall God willing speak in the prosecution of this Doctrine Doct. There is much duty incumbent upon people upon the account of their deceased Pastors When Ministers dye their work is done they have finished their course and dispatched the business given them to do they did shine among you in Purity of Doctrine and Holiness of Conversation as long as the Lamp of life lasted when the oyl of that was spent they were taken up to Heaven there to out-shine the Sun in his greatest strength and glory But your work is not then at an end being of equal extent and duration with your lives As you have time enough for your work so have you work enough for your time none can say he sate idle one hour because he had nothing to do put forth all your strength use your utmost diligence husband your days and minutes to the best advantage you will be happy men and women you will have cause eternally to bless the hand above that help't you if you can do your work by that time death shall come to take you off I am not now to speak concerning the whole duty of man but those particular duties mentioned in the Text relating to those servants of Christ who have laboured among you one of which is remembrance Remember them who have the rule over yoâ—r In which word two things must be considered 1. The Act Remember 2. The Object about which that act is to be exercised Them which have the rule over you I shall begin with the Object those which have
is weary of them because they convince and condemn it and they are weary of the World because of its wickedness and frowardness It is terrible to think what a strugling there is when a wicked man comes to die Methinks it is something like though much beyond that of the Vine and Olive when the rest of the Trees would have made one of them King Oh saith the Vine how shall I leave my sweetness and I saith the Olive my fatness So say ungodly men upon a dying-bed how shall I leave my jovial and merry companions my honours and preferments my riches and estate my pleasures and delights if these be once gone all is gone with me there is nothing left I have nothing to take to Death ruines them at once Alas these poor crâ—aturâ—s are not branches of the Vine they are not ingrafted into the Olive they are brambles and it is not strange that they should rather chuse to rule on earth than to burn in Hell But when these holy men come to die whatever struglings there are in nature they chearfully comply Death is what they have looked and longâ—d for Pâ—ul desired to be dissolved and to be with Christ Phil. 1. 23. They groan earnesily to be 〈◊〉 upon with a robe of glory and that house which is from Heaven 2 Cor. 5. 2. They have been familiar with death they have prepared for it and waited for it and given many a long look and what should hinder their bidding of it welcome since they know it comes upon a good errand though it be a grim Messenger 2. It is a peaceable end If a wicked man should say to Death as Ioram did to Jehu is it peace Death He might expect such an answer as he had What peace so long as thy rebellions and whoredoms and abominations are so many peace no no peace I am come to arrest thee upon Actions of high Treason against the King of Heaven The Soveraignty Holiness Goodness Son Gospel Mercies Judgments of God have brought in their charges against thee and I am come to drag thee as a cursed Malefactor to the tribunal of thy Judge where thou shalt be convicted and sentenc'd But now if these gracious men should ask death as the Elders did Samuel comest thou peaceably the answer would be yes peaceably I was thine Enemy but I am reconciled A good Friend of thine hath pluckt out my sting so that I cannot hurt thee I am come to fetch thee home I am come to send thee to a place where thou hast laid up great hopes and many prayers and much treasure to a place where thy Father is and thy Saviour and an innumerable company of Angels and Spirits of just men made perfect many of them thou knowest most of them thou knowest not yet all of them one and other are ready with joy to bid you welcome Sanctifie thy self set thine house in order and come away As soon as ever I have taken off this clog of earth Angels shâ—ll according to the charge their great Lord hath given them receive thee and conduct thee to Iehovahs pallace where thou shalt quickly be no tiring by the way and no want in the Countrey It is true a malicious Devil is ready to fall upon the Saints when they are weakest and if God permit him he will bruise their heel just when they are to go their journey And sometimes there is a very sharp bout and soar conflict upon a death-bed between him and them but when once death is come he parts the fray and all is quiet The Devil may rage and storm and fret but he can do nothing else 3. It is a comfortable end I deny not but a little before there may be Clouds and this shady Valley so dark as that the Believer is at a great loss Though his Title be good yet hâ— cannot read his Evidence God may be pleased to put a Vail upon his own face and the Sun of Righteousness suspend his Beams There may be a great silence in Heaven and not one word of comfort spoken that the attentive and listening Soul can hear God is indeed by but he is not seen He doth uphold but not revive And hereupon there follows sad questionings and hot disputes if it be so why am I thus will not God vouchâ—afe me one smile now and can I think he owns me for one of his Children Is his mercy clean gone for ever Hath he forgotten to be gracious or resolved he will not be so to me But when it is thus very dark the dawning of the day is near at hand And oftentimes the Clouds scatter and the case is rightly stated and things are brought to a good issue before the last blow be given God comes in and takes off the sackcloth and puts upon his beloved Child a Garment of praise so that now he lies in state upon his Bed of languishment But however as soon as Death hath done his work the dispute is at an end and the controversie is determined on the Souls side And this is done when things have been at the worst After the lowest ebb there then is a spring-tide of consolation Then the enlarged Soul doth magnifie the Lord and the Spirit rejoyceth in God its Saviour But how often is it otherwise have you not known have you not heard that some of these precious Sons of Sion these heirs of joy and glory have triumphed over Death even while they were under its assaults When Death hath been making its most furious batteries then have they been singing their Song of praise in the Apostles language and strain 1 Cor. 15. 55 56 57. O Death where is thy stiâ—g O Grave where is thy Victory The sting of Death is sin and the strength of sin is the Law But thanks be to God which giveth us the victory through our Lord Iesus Christ. What raptures have they been in and what extasies of joy so that their pains and throws have been forgotten or neglected How have some of them told by-standers hic sat lucis here is light enough meaning in their breasts And others that they were as full of joy as they could hold God had anointed them with the oyl of gladness against their burial and made their cups run over so that their Hearts have leaped within them at the thoughts of their being upon the borders of Eternity and so near the company which they lov'd so well Witness that more than Swan-like Song of good old Simeon Luke 2. 29. 30. Lord now lettest thou thy Servant depart in peace according to thy word for mine eyes have seen thy salvation Having got his Heart and Christ in his Eye he would set up his Sail and his Frait Grace inbe gone for the other World 4. It is an Honourable end Wicked men go out in a stink not only the grosly profane but the hypocritical professors if discovered as often they are Their putrid carasses are not so unsavoury as their Names
and everlastingly obliged And such injustice will cost them dear that are guilty of it Labour we to make men and women â—ound Believers Shew them the insufficiency of all they do to justifie them that they may never with the besotted Iews go about to establish their own righteousness but submit to the righteousness of God and by Faith put on that perfect spotless Robe which our dear Jesus hath wrought for humbled sinners It is that and that alone that can cover all our shame and adorn our persons and make our beauty perfect and us lovely in the sight of God Teach them to look after the inward glory which the King's Daughter had Psal. 45. 13. but withall to put on this clothing of wrought gold And let us also live up to the Laws of our Religion Away with covetousness and debauchery Away with envy malice and contention Let not the noise of Axes and Hammers and evil Tongues be heard among us Verily these things will not be for our honour Bespattering one another is not a likely way to beautifie our selves it is a diâ—ty trick and some of that dirt which you throw upon others will fly back upon your selves or if not the same yet some as bad This very work defiâ—es you That person hath no love in the family who is of a cross sâ—irit and delights in abusing Walk holily and humbly and in love Let not head-divisions cause heart-divisions Hatred variance â—mularions wrath sâ—rise envyings are works of the flâ—sh as well as seditions and 〈◊〉 These gratifie the Devil and please Papists but offend God and dishonour you Let all of us that fear God and love godliness keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace for we are Brethren We see the common Adversary is at work to ruine and destroy us all let not us strengthen his hands for it by weakening our own and devouring one another Vse 2. I would exhort you that are the People to remember your deceased Pastors and follow their Faith And in particular do you set upon these duties my dear friends who are the Members of this Congregation who sate under and rejoyced in the Light and Labours of my dearest Brother your late Reveâ—end Pastor Mr. Tâ—omas Vincent Concerning whom much very much may be said in his high and just commendation My acquaintance with him hath been short not full three years so that I cannot look back so far nor inlarge so much upon this noble and copious Subject as some of my worthy Brethren could have done had you pleased to have invited one of them to this service Blessed be God there is no need of many words for his works praise him in our Gates they will â—peak though I should be silent But I know you do expect something from me which you may please to take thus Reverend Mr. Thomas Vincâ—nt was a man really set for God having chosen him for his portion and for his Lord too He was devoâ—ed to his fear and honour and delighted greatly in communion with him him he served with his spirit in the Gospel of his Son Prayer was his daily work and great delight he was much at it mighty in it and successful too Many a gracious answer was given him from Heaven This wrestling Iacob was a prevailing Isâ—aâ—l a Prince with God He was a painful and industâ—uous Labourer in God's Vineyard laying out himself to the utmost for his peoples good Oh! how great was his zeal in the Pulpit what his hand found to do there he did it with all his might You his Auditors could not but conclude his Heart was in his work He put up his requests to God and delivered his messages to you with inlargedness of soul and in the sweat of his brows I can assure the world he was none of those idle drones those â—lothful servants who did the work of their Lord negligently He stayed with you here in the time of thâ—t noisom and greedy Pestilence which raged so furiously and devoured so hastily and numbred out many thousands and ten thousands to the Grave when others fled for their lives he kept his station all the while knowing he could not go out of Gods reach the arm of omnipotency could so bend his bow and draw his arrow to the head that it should flie as far as he could run He knew his duty and his safety lay together He was however freely willing to venture his life for the salvation of sâ—uls He was sound in his judgment and turned not aside to any errours upon the right hand or the left Hâ—s Doctrine speak his faith in Chriâ—t and both thâ—t and his life exprest his lovâ— to Mâ—râ—liâ—y and Piety I will tell you one passage which came from him about three or four daies before his death Asking him how it was within He answered me very well adding withal Blessed be God for an imputed Righteousness and blessed be God for an inherent Righteousness Dear Brother I must tell you if I had not an inherent Righteousness I could take no comfort from an imputed Righteousness He was of an unblameable Conversation I never heard of one dead flie in his Box of Ointment Did I say he was of an unblameable Conversation it was too little a word too short by much He was of an exemplary Conversation He reduced precepts into practice and was not only in his Doctrine but in his way too a shining light He was a sweet Companion Ah! my dear Brother how pleasant how very pleasant wast thou unto me Grace was poured into his lips and they dropt as an hony-comb I was beholding to him for frequent visits And though sometimes my own occasions were very pressing and urgent yet was his company never burdensom for he still detained me from business with delights and sweetnesses And if at any time I was not a gainer by his company it was mine own fault He was a warm Christian and carried up and down with him a heavenly fire a Divine heat both in his heart and his discourses Some opposition he met with in his work and discouragements yet he was not discouraged but held on his way and grew stronger and stronger Sub ponderâ— crevit storms made him root the faster and flourish the more He did not count liberty nor life dear to him so that he might finish his course with joy and the ministry which he had received of the Lord Iesus to testifie the Gospel of the grace of God And his blessed Master crowned his labours with admirable success he did not draw up his net empty nor had he cause to complain of labouring in vain spending his strength for nought in vain He did see of the travail of his soul in the conversion of many and will be able to say at last Lord here am I and the Children which thou hast given me But alas alas this bright and orient Star must fall he must fall not by the rail of the
secretly mock him as well as those that publickly affront him Make sure work therefore for your precious souls see that you have that faith which is unfeigned the faith of Gods Elect that you do cordially imbrace the Truths of the Gospel and â—lose with an offered Jesus that you have that faith by which you may live that faith by which you may walk until you come to walk by sight I would not have any of you deceived and cheated to your own destruction as many poor creatures are who run away with a lie in their right-hand build hopes of Heaven and Happiness upon a sandy bottom please themselves in a lifeless Image of Religion which the holy One of Israel will despise when he awaketh unto judgment their faith is no better than a fancy their Godliness is not a Godliness of Gods making nor approving they walk about in the sparks of that fire which themselves have kindled and at last lie down in sorrow Be you wise for your souls and deal prudently get that faith which upon tryal will be found to praise and honour much more precious than gold that perisheth be ye provided with that Oyl which will keep your Lamps burning when the blessed Bridegroom cometh 3. Follow them in the actings of their faith Grace is given you not only for Ornament but also for use we are not only to be justified by faith and saved by â—aith but to live by faith Have you got it then suffer it not to lie dormant but exercise it Act your faith upon Christ his Mediation Merits and Intercession He is a full Christ it hath pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell a fulness that is far beyond your emptiness live upon him therefore and draw from him you can never draw him dry Act your faith upon the Covenant it is an everlasting Covenant ordered in all things and sure God is ever mindful of it with it holy David comforted himself in it he placed all his happiness and sum'd up all his desires Act your faith upon the Promises these are exceeding great and precious you cannot measure them nor over-rate them In them there is an answerableness to every case a complete suitableness to every condition in which you either are or can be And you cannot over-trust them being Yea and Amen of most sure and certain accomplishment The Womb of Divine Promise never miscarried but shall bring forth at the time of life all the mercies and blessings with which it travails Ever count Gods Promise abundant security and believe that all Mountains which lie in the way of its performance shall be made a plain the darkest Providences are still subservient to the promise Iosephs being sold for a Slave and clapt up in a Prison were steps to his being made the second man in the Kingdom Act your faith upon the wisdom and power the love and care of your heavenly Father know he endears you and will look after you His Glory shall not be lost nor given to another his Truth is great and shall overcome his Church is built upon a Rock and the gates of Hell shall not prevail against it Iacob though small shall rise and though a worm he shall thresh the mountains the Beast and the false Prophet shall be cast into a lake of fire burning with brimstone and the glorious victory shall be the Lambs for he is King of kings and Lord of lords and they that be with him are chosen and faithful and true Believe and rejoyce while you believe that when Gods desperate Enemies are at work He himself is not idle but observes them is in the Conclave and the Cabal undermines them counter-acts them and will turn their counsels backward or headlong so that no weapon shall prosper which they form against his cause and people but he will accomplish the thoughts of his heart which shall stand in all generations and effect his own designs and be absolute Master of all his ends finishing all the work which he hath to do in the world and that without losing either time or ground as our days go off so Gods work goeth on it is never out of hand Thus act your faith upon God in all conditions and under all dispensations when you are high and when low yea at the lowest for still still still the everlasting arms arms are underneath In these actings of faith those holy men lived and so must you otherwise you will never be established much less in such gloomy tottering turning and tumbling times as these are 4. Lastly Follow them in the fruitfulness of their faith Your gracious Pastors were not neither may you be Solifidians As they did believe so they maintained good works and by that means obtained a good report While you know that faith justifieth you you must also know it is your duty to justifie your faith that faith which is alone is stark naught it is dead and rotten and stinks above-ground shew me and shew the world your faith by your works If you ask me what fruits they are which grow upon the root of faith and prove it genuine I Answer all the fruits of the spirit in which you must abound if you would have an abundant entraâ—ce into the glorious Kingdom of our God and Saviour But I shall speak only to three Holiness Love Ioy. 1. Follow them in their Holiness A wicked Believer is as meer an impossibility as a gracious Devil such a faith as will consist with the love and life and reign of sin is no better than what may be found in Hell among lapsed Angels and damned Spirits who as the Apostle Iames tells us Believe and tremble Wheresoever true faith is it purifies the heart and reforms the life and orders the footsteps according to the word As it cloathes the soul with the beautiful Robe of Christs Righteousness so it subjects the soul to his governing Scepter and Law it lets Christ in and casts corruption out when Christ dwells in the heart by Faith he shines in the life by Holiness The pearl of faith is never found in the dunghil of profaneness Study then study holiness and perfect it too in the fear of God think with your selves what manner of persons ye ought to be how acurate and exact in your whole course remembring That grace of God which bringeth salvation and hath appeared unto you teacheth you that denying ungodliness and worldly lusts ye should live soberly righteously and godly in this present evil world 2 Tit. 11 12. And that you ought to be like your Father who is holy in all his ways and righteous in all his works When therefore a temptation to any sin assaults you resist it with utmost indignation and say as Nehemiah did in another case Shall such a man as I do this or as Ioseph How shall I do this great wickedness and sin against God or as that good Woman Christiana sum I am a Christian. This my dear Friends