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
viz. 1. Because of the graces with which he was enriched 2. Because of the Comforts with which he was refreshed As for the first Love-tokens are real messengers of his love who sendeth them and what surer signes of divine love then the graces of the holy Ghost Now of these the Lord had given him in measure more then ordinary That which was hinted before in his love to the Lord Jesus expressed by laborious couragious endeavours to advance his praise and to continue communion with him doth manifest that he was very rich in Grace but thereunto I will add five more graces which were very shining in his crown 1. Tendernesse of heart Who ever knew man of a more melting frame before God whether in confessions petitions or thanksgivings Is there any one living that can say I have sometimes joyned with him in Prayer and he shed no teares How did his own sinfulnesse though no more then the ordinary imperfections of the fairest Saints on earth the evils of the times and the testimonies of Gods displeasure breaking out break his heart into pieces Truly I beleeve that for the space of many years he did never come off from the serious consideration of these things with dry eyes And how many thousands would account it a signe of much love from Christ if they could finde such thawings in their frozen breasts 2. Meeknesse of spirit With this precious Jewel he was adorned richly Who ever saw him transported by passion on a fire through foolish anger or disguised by discontent Though he would be warm for God yet he was a man of a cool spirit meek like Moses in all his own concernments Among many other manifestations hereof this one was remarkable that when upon warm disputes with men of dissenting principles and opinions his spirit was so even that unhansome provocations would not discompose him Hereof I could give instances but I must forbear 3. For Patience he may well be called a second Job Many who saw him under his racking pains so frequently reiterated and so long continued are confident that God did put him and keep him in his furnace to be a pattern of patience unto posterity It 's true he did roar many times till his throat was dry but who ever heard him speak one word of murmuring or discontent because of Gods afflicting providence He himself indeed would sometimes through tendernesse charge himself of impatiency because he made a noise whereas that expressed only Natures sensiblenesse not sinful frowardness And when accusing himself in that kinde causelesly he was minded of Christs roarings though free from all sin he would be silent I confesse that in desires to be dissolved he would take up Jobs complaint Wherfore is light given to him that is in misery and life unto the bitter in soul Which long for death but it cometh not and dig for it more then for hid treasures c. for my sighing cometh before I eat and my roarings are poured out like waters Job 3. 20 24. But he always concluded with submission unto the good pleasure of God When he had been asked how he did this was frequently his answer The bush alwayes burning but not consumed and though my paines be above the strength of nature yet they are not above the supports of grace 4. The Lord gave him so much of the Spirit of grace and supplications that his soul was never out of tune for that service Most of his words when under torment were holy complaints and prayers to God some of them I will record that they may not be forgotten O my God help Father of mercies pity Do not contend for ever consider my frame that I am but dust My God that hath made heaven and earth help me O give me patience and inflict what thou wilt If my patience was more my pain would be lesse Dear Saviour where are thy bowels Why doest thou make me an astonishment to my self and others Why doest thou cover thy self with a thick cloud that our prayers cannot passe Blessed is the man that endureth temptation Lord this is a sad temptation stand by me and say It is enough Am I not thy servant Consider Lord that I am thy servant O these bitter waters of Marah Lord drop sweet comfort into these bitter waters of Marah O the blood of sprinkling Lord Lord the blood of sprinkling That blood which extinguisheth the fire of thine anger O that it might allay my burning pains I am in a fiery furnace Lord be with me as thou wast with the three children bring me out refined from sinne When I have sailed through the Ocean of these paines and look back I see none of these can be wanting I flie unto thee O God hide me under the shadow of thy wings till these terrible storms be over-past 5. God added Humility as a crown to all his other Graces which did shine very bright in the eyes of all who were acquainted with him Hence it was that he would converse familiarly with the poorest Christians and with them who were of low parts for knowledge This his ordinary expression of himself before God spake loud Poor worm sinful wretch O pardon my transgressions for they are very great Hereupon he would weep much when he was told how much he was prayed for wondering at Gods goodnesse that so worthless a wretch should have so much interest in the hearts and prayers of the people of the Lord. And his language in his Will reports how little he was in his own eyes The words are there I desire that at my Funeral there may be no pomp but that so poore a worthlesse wretch may be privately laid in the ground Thus from the rare Graces received I proceed to the rich Comforts vouchsafed as manifestations of Christs singular love towards this Saint of the most High God O what kisses of Christs mouth and what embraces from the arms of his love were bestowed upon this man of God! He enjoyed all along his afflâ—cted condition an uninterrupted assurance of Gods fatherly love in Christ In his addresses to God he constantly claimed propriety My God and my Father His inward peace and joy were the support of his heart under all his gâ—inding paines He was confident of mercies mixtures with all his grievous distempers not at all doubting of the Sanctification of them through grace Thus he spake many times in his Applications to God Consider and save me for I am thine How long Lord how long shall I not be remembred yea I am remembred blessed be thy Name This is a fiery chariot but it will carry me to heaven Blessed be God that hath supported me hitherto and he that hath delivered will deliver Thou Lord never forgettest them that put their trust in thee Alwayes when the extremity of pain was over he would with smiles speak of Gods mercies Though trembling took hold upon him when his violent paines began yet he would with confidence say Now in
pravitatecordis Aug. both these are daring and God-incensing provocations Now if any shall be awakened by these flashes of Gods anger to enquire Who are to be judged persons void of love to Jesus Christ I shall referre them for satisfaction to Christs own words both the parable and his exposition of it The Parable is this The Citizens hated him and sent a message after him saying We will not have this man to reigne Luke 19 14. over us And the Application made is thus expressed Those mine enemies which would not that I should raigne over them bring them hither and slay them before me Therefore all such vers 27. are proclaimed Christs enemies Christ-haters even by Christ himself who refuse to submit unto him as their Lord and King It s no uncharitablenesse but judgment according to the Word of truth to determine those to be no friends unto Christ whose resolutions are rather to order their lives according to customs humane traditions their own humours and the practices of the multitude then according to the commands and counsels of Christ Vse 2 It much concernes us all to examine our friendship unto Christ To quicken this search these things are considerable 1. Because many professe much love outwardly whose hearts affect him not unfainedly As David describeth some counterfeit Courtiers whose words were soft like oyle when there were drawn swords in their bosomes Never was Christ more in mens mouths with smooth language then Psal 55. 21. now when their lives speak treachery against him Thus Judas calleth him Master and giveth him a kisse yet was no friend Have I not chosen twelve saith Christ and yet John 6. 79. one is a devil What Sugered words did the devil use when he designed the ruine of Adam and of all his posterity 2. Because the comforts of the Gospel do appertain to them alone whose love is without dissimulation The Apostles benediction was this Grace be with all them who Eph. 6. 14. love our Lord Jesus in sincerity The rich priviledges of grace are appropriated unto Christs cordial friend 3. Because Christ whose eyes are like unto flames of Rev. 1. 14. fire doth discern clearly all them that are false friends though they pretend fair We read of many who beleeved John 2. 23 24 25. when they saw his miracles but Jesus did not commit himselfe unto them because he knew all men and needed not that any should testifie of man for he knew what was in man 4 Because we cannot tell how soon we shall be called to the scrutiny The Lord may be awakening our consciences and setting them as upon a rack propound that question unto us which he asked Peter once and again and the third time Lovest thou me But though he should John 27. 15. not deal thus with us in our life time yet be sure we shall be examined upon our departure hence for after death Heb. 9 27. comes judgment infallibly Therefore it will be our wisdom in the ways of self-renuing to say as Job did When God visiteth Job â—â— 14. what shall I answer him 5. Because by serious self-reflections we may attaine such full assurance of our love unto Christ that we may with confidence speak with Peter Lord thou knowest all Joh. 21. 17. things thou knowest that I love thee Having thus moved the examination of your love to Christ I proceed to give in some discoveries of Christs loving friends and the rather because according to Gods institution we Ministers are set up amongst people to try Jer. 6. 29. their wayes And the characters of love being many I shall be the shorter in them all True it is that mens love burning in their bosoms they many times better expresse themselves Amor est inter ea quae melius sentiuntur quaÌ„ definiuntur by sense then Arguments yet God having in his word held forth manifold Signes of sincere love it is our duty to make our use of them 1. Love to Christ is alwayes accompanied with hatred of sinne Ye that love the Lord hate evil And the Apostle Psal 97. 10. his connexion is observable Let love be without dissimulation Rom. 12. 9. abhorring that which is evil The ground hereof is manifold First because Christ hateth all sinne he Quomodo amas Christum cùm adhuc amas quod in tâ— odit Christus Berr. suffered death for sinne and is dishonoured by it Therefore it is not possible that love unto Christ and love unto sinne should peaceably lodge together in the same bosom 2 Love to Christ is attended with care to prevent whatsoever might be injurious or displeasing unto him Thus the loving Spouse layeth this command upon all under her Authority I charge you that you awake not my Beloved till be please In like manner Jonathans love pleadeth Cant. 3. with Saul for Davids life Let not the King sin against his servant against David wherefore wilt thou sin against innocent 1 Sam. 19. 4 5. blood to slay David without a cause And Jacobs Gen. 33. affections did project the preservation of his near relation from ruine Hence it appeareth therefore that people of Gallio his temper do not love Christ who care not Acts 18. 17. what wrongs are done to Christ in the liberty or purity of his Ordinances and comfort of his servants if themselves can sleep warm in their own well-feathered nests 3. Love to Christ discovered it self by solicitous enquiries after the minde of Christ fearing least through mistakes he might be provoked How inquisitive were his Apostles to know his pleasure in all particulars relating Mat. 26. 17. to the Passeover The Disciples came unto Jesus saying Where wilt thou that we prepare for thee to eat the Passeover And how tâ—morous was Abraham Gods friend lest he might Cen. 18. Res est soliciti plena timoâ—is amor by overmuch boldnesse incense him when he was mediating for Sodom Shall they therefore be accounted friends to Christ who walk at all adventures without any fears of his frown or enquiries after his will 4. Love causeth flowings forth of thoughts upon its object The beatings of the pulse are according to the heat in the heart In the Song of Loves this is the first Psal 45. 1. clause My heart is inditing of a good matter I speak of the things which I have made concerning the King Sparks do not more naturally arise out of a flaming furnace then musings upon Christ from the soule which is fired with loves towards him With how much intention frequency Amor meus est pondus meum and steddinesse do people think upon the persons and things which are greatly loved This consideration therfore casts them off as no friends to Christ of whom it may be Psal 10. 4. truly said in respect of diligent meditation The Lord is not in all their thoughts 5. Longings after Christ together with satisfactions
while he is abâ—ent are evidences of love unto him The Cant. 3. 5. Amor currit pâ—r desiderium Aug. loving Spouse shakes off sloth gets out of bed in the night and goeth abroad to seek him whom her soul loved Neither ease in a warm bed nor chamber comforts nor City-contentments could satisfie her Her Beloved she must have and her Beloved she will have for she is sick of love Love like the Load-stone is attractive and the needle touched with it will uncessantly move till it stand directly Northward In like manner will the heart which is well warmed with love to Christ this is its language Whom have I in heaven but thee and there is none that I desire on earth Psal 73. 25. besides thee Give me Christ or I die 6. Contentation in the enjoyment of Christ doth demonstrate 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 quasi 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 valdèacquiesco Amor quiescit per gaudium Aug. Ad Deâ—m apud quâ—m invenies summam tranquillitatem Vatabl. in Ps 116. 7. Cant. 8. 5. Cant. 1. 13. Phil. 3. 3. love Some note this from the Greek word which signifieth Love viz. that wherein the heart taketh rest When any thing cometh to its centre there it is quiet and still So it is with the heart which loveth God This was Davids meaning as some Expositors judge when he having expressed his love to God speaketh thus in an holy Soliloquy Return to thy rest O my soul This rest the loving Christian attaineth in Christ by complacency and dependency The Spouse leaneth resteth her selfe upon her Beloved and he for delight is a bundle of myrrhe between her breasts whereunto the words of the Apostle suit very well We have â—o confidence in the flesh but rejoyce in Christ Iesus For the soul which possesseth Christ and knoweth what it hath in having him will say I have enough I have all I need no more for in him all wants are either supplied or sanctified In him justifying grace will make up all defects in service And what is wanting in the streames of creature enjoyments is given in with more sweetnesse in the full fountain of his Al-sufficiency 7. Communication of secrets speaketh friendship Haman Esther 5. 10. 6. 13. doth unbosome himself to his friends by laying open unto them all his concernments both crosse and comfortable And Christ bids him who was dispossessed of a devil Go home to thy friends and tell them how great things God hath Mark 5. 19. done for thee We can put that into a friends bosom which we would not have blazed abroad in the world Thus Christs friends do tell him of all their troubles fears wants temptations lusts as also of their comforts receipts experiences upon all occasions they step unto him and he knoweth from them by prayer how things go with 1 Sam. 1. 15. Psal 103. 4. them whether by encouragement or discouragement in their course I here remember the speech of Sampsons wife when he concealed what she desired to know How canst thou say I love thee when thy heart is not with me And doubtless Judges 16 15. our estrangement from Christ in not laying open our selves upon all occasions before him doth more then intimate our unfriendliness 8. Readinesse to comply with Christs command will undeniably prove that we are his friends Our Lord is often upon this Argument You are my friends if you do whatsoever I command you He that hath my Commandments John 15. 15. 14. 21 23. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or ab 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and keepeth them he it is that loveth me If any man love me he will keep my words Thus Abraham made it manifest that he was Gods friend by being ready to offer up Isaac upon his call And the Apostle speaketh of the labour of love because love will not withdrw from any work wherein God seeth cause to imploy his friends The woman who Heb. 9. 10. loved Christ much will wash his feet and wipe them with the haire of her head This is the language of Love I Luke 7. 38. account no work too mean wherein I may serve Christ 9. Love is content to be at any cost for Christ Hearken unto the expressions of the loving Spouse At our gates Cant. 7. 13. are all manner of pleasant fruits new and old which I have laid up for thee O my beloved And I would cause thee to Cant. 8. 2. drink of spiced wine and of the juyce of Pomgranates The best of all kinds and the best of the best is provided for Christ if he be Beloved She who loved much brought a Box of oyntment very costly In like manner whatever Luke 7. 37. with John 12. 1 2 Sam. 24. 24. duties Christs friends discharge or whatever Ordinances they frequent they are wont to say with David I will not offer to the Lord that which costs me nothing They scorn to give him the chaff and bran when others eat the Kidneys of wheat To be warm and vigorous in creature communion and all a-mort chil and cold conversing with Christ is an abomination to Christs friends 10. Love is liberal and free not grudging any kindness laid forth for a friend This is the love of God saith the beloved 1 John 5. 3. Disciple that we keep his Commandments and his Commandments are not grievous When the most is done and endured for Christ the soul saith How little have I either acted or suffered for Christ Oh that it had been more Oh that it had been more How little is all my service how small are all my disbursments for Christ When Iacob had passed two Apprentiships for Rachel under a sowre Uncle and churlish Master wherein he had been pinched with cold and parched with heat They seemed to him but a few days Gen. 29. 10. for the love he bare unto her And when Ionathan had stripped himself of the robe that was upon him and gave it to 1 Sam. 18. 3. David and his garments even to his sword and to his bow and to his girdle we read not of any repinings afterward and the reason was because he loved him as his own soul Christs friends look upon him as deserving over and over againe infinitely more then they shall ever be able to requite and therefore are troubled that Christ hath had so little service never repenting that he hath received so much They know that God giveth liberally James 1. 5. and upbraideth not Worthy Doctor Sibs was wont to say Supposing a possibility of sorrow in heaven this would be the grief of the Saints there that they have done so little for Christ upon earth from whom they have received so much 11. Love maketh couragious for Christ Every one knoweth that St. Paul was Christs cordial friend which he expressed by his magnanimity I am ready not to be bound Acts 21. 13. Phil. 3. Discipulus plus amat
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
that if Jesus Christ was here in his bodily presence among us he would not be unwilling to speak these words Our friend Whitaker sleepeth Before I begin my Narrative I crave leave to premise this viz. that though in some respects I know a more meet man might have been chosen for this work who could have done it more exactly and gracefully yet I acknowledge that my selfe am not the unmeetest considering my long and familiar acquaintance with him especially if this be added viz. that in Summer was twelve-moneth I riding with him unto Tunbridge Wells he was pleased to give me the History of his life from his youth till that time and since that time it is well known to many that no one hath had more frequent and familiar converse with him then my selfe Oh how often and with what meltings hath he poured forth his heart into my bosome in reference to all concernments personal relative private publick comfortable and uncomfortable which have deeply affected him My forgetfulnesse will necessitate the omission of many things and my faithfulnesse with prudence command me to conceal much of that which to my heart spake aloud his great goodnesse and high commendations I will suggest the sum of what I judge most convenient to discover in the report whereof my soul desireth I hope to honour God and to profit his people He was borne at Wakefield in Yorkshire in the yeare 1599. When he was sixteen years old he was sent to Cambridge and placed a Sizar in Sydney Colledge where he was much valued for his pregnant parts and Scholarship At twenty yeares of age having commenced Batchelor of Arts he was sent unto Okeham the chief Town in Rutlandshire to teach the free-School there About foure yeares after he married Chephtzibah the daughter of Master William Peachy Minister of Okeham an eminent linguist a godly man and as I am informed a painful Preacher of the Gospel who dearly loved and highly valued Master Whitaker from his first acquaintance to his end whose affections to him wrought on the marriage betwixt him and his daughter By whom God gave him foure sonnes and three daughters one sonne died at Cambridge two are ordained Ministers and the other is to be educated for the Ministery Having stayed about seven years at Okeham he was removed unto a Pastoral charge at Stretton in the same County where he continued thirteen yeares from whence he was called to Mary Magdalen Bermondsey with the approbation of many godly Ministers whom he consulted in the case where he after twelve yeares spent in his Ministerial charge finished his course upon the first day of June 1654. and fell asleep in Jesus He was betwixt fifty five and fifty six yeares old when the Lord was pleased to take him unto himself He was buried in Bermondsey Church June the sixth with expressions of much love from a very great multitude of godly persons both Ministers and others of several ranks and conditions who attended his corps to the grave By reason of much study and manifold imployments in his calling he was filled with various bodily distempers from his youth In the latter part of his time he was for sundry yeares exercised frequently with the painful diseases of the gowt and of the stone Notwithstanding the reiteration of these tormenting paines he attended upon his Ministery both at home and abroad while he was able to creep into the Pulpit or to crawle unto the Congregation But about the beginning of November last past the violent paine of the stone did in such measure and manner arrest him that from that time he continued Gods prisoner in his bed or chamber till he was set free by a long expected death Most Physicians in the City were consulted and were from time to time very ready to serve him with their advice who did unanimously conclude his sharp paines to proceed originally from an ulcer in the kidneys but immediately from an ulcer in the neck of the bladder caused by a continual flux of ulcerous matter dropping down upon that part And by reason of the acutenesse and quickness of the sense there his paines were almost altogether in that place though the fountaine of them was from the kidneys Towards his end about two moneths the paine grew more extreame yet divine indulgence vouchsafed some abatements and intermissions both in the night day As his death drew nigh his fits of pain were more frequent either every half hour or many times every quarter yea two or three times in a quarter of an hour wherby nature being quite spent he died in the Lord. After his death Master Holiard opend his body in the presence of Dr. Cox Dr. Micklethwaite and Dr. Bevoyr some other more ancient Doctors would have been there if either their being out of Town or present urgent occasions had not hindred who found both his kidneys full of ulcers and one was swelled to an extreame bignesse by the abundance of purulent matter in it Upon the neck of his bladder they found a stone which was about an inch and an half long and one inch broad weighing above two ownces when first taken out and withal an ulcer which was gangrened and this was judged the cause of his death All other parts of his body were found firme and sound Now that which I shall relate concerning him in all those places and changes of life wherein God disposed of him I will cast under the several heads upon which I did discourse in my Sermon And this method I do the rather resolve upon both because it best suits with mine own thoughts and may prove the most profitable unto them who shall be pleased to read the Sermon when they perceive the maine parts thereof applied and verefied in this providential Text Our friend Whitaker sleepeth The first Head He loved Christ. He loved Christ 1. Quickly 2. Strongly 3. Constantly The Lord did win his heart unto himselfe while he was a Scholar at Wakerfield where he had his education For then and there his affections did flow out towards those who were most religiously disposed with whom he went frequently eight or ten Miles to heare a wakening-soul-warming Sermon and he was wont to joyne with them in prayers and other holy exercises And being able to take Sermon-notes both understandingly and largely he was very helpful to Christians in the repeating of what they had publickly heard being from his childhood ful of affections in whatsoever businesse he undertook Thus this plant did both blossome and put forth fruit quickly which providence did afterwards make a very fruitful tree For the more cleare discovery of his abundant love to Jesus Christ I will give these demonstrations First from his early and constant vigorous workings of heart towards the calling and work of the Ministery because he alwayes conceived that therein a Christian might enjoy most fellowship with Christ and do him the best Joh. 21. 15 17. service And he considered Christs
deny any motion for preaching and praying if God gave bodily ability and other unavoidable occasions did not necessarily hinder Many week-dayes he preached twice yea then when he attended the work of the Assembly of Divines viz. the morning-exercise either at Westminster or elsewhere afterwards in the afternoon I here remember the commendation which St. Paul gave of Epaphroditus in his Epistle to the Philippians For the work of the Lord he was nigh unto Phil. 2. 30. death not regarding his life How farre this is appliable to painful Mr. Whitaker multitudes do well know yea many conceive that his painful distempers which hastened his removal from us were caused and increased by his many constant labours in this kind Neither were his Sermons jejune and dry because thus frequent but always full of Scripture-strength savoury affectionate as his Auditors will testifie Thirdly Such was his love to Christ that his publick Imployments did not take him off from family-duties nor from more private exercises of communion with God His ordinary course was together with prayers to expound some parts of the holy Scriptures in his own family twice every day and beside other parts of Scripture which he daily read in secret he usually read over all the Epistles in the Greek Testament twice every fourtnight yea when by reason of pain and weakness he himself could not read he herein imployed others for his help Hence it was that he was a man mighty in the Scriptures like unto Apollo Acts 18. 24. as was observed by all who conversed with him And this course he earnestly commended to the practice of his dearly beloved eldest son as an excellent means to make him both a ready and a profitable Preacher Fourthly His courage in Christs Cause did much commend his love whereof I will suggest these evidences 1. While he lived in Rutland-shire he refused to read the book allowing of sports upon the Sabbath though it was with commands and threatnings pressed upon him And when he was called to give in his answer about the collection amongst Ministers to maintain the War against Scotland he openly told the Bishop or Chancellor that his conscience could not yield thereto This his answer exposing him to great danger both to lose living and liberty in those times a neighbour through misguided love compassionating him and his family payed the money and subscribed Mr. Whitakers name without his knowledge This he was long ignorant of and when he heard it he expressed with many complaints much grief of heart 2. Since our times of woful desertion and Apostasie both from Gospel-truths and practices he would undauntedly in private conferences and in his publick Ministery express his dislike yea detestation thereof to the faces of them who too much favoured Errour Heresies and ranting courses though he knew that thereby he did run hazards and procure many frownes He refused to subscribe the late Engagement though thereby he was in danger to be taken off from his Westminster Lecture And if his Sermons preached there upon Ephes 2. 2 3. concerning mens walking according to the course of this world c. fulfilling the lusts of the flesh c. could be collected and published thereby it would be manifest that Mr. Whitaker in love unto his Lord Christ was a man of good metal and magnanimity 3. One more private proof of the good mans valiant love to Christ I will make bold to insert because my self can knowingly attest its truth Since these stormy dayes wherein the liberty and livelihood of Ministers have been maligned and struck at he riding with an intimate friend by Tiburn which he had not known or not observed before demanded what that was and answer being made this is Tiburn where many Malefactors have lost their lives he stopped his horse and uttered these words with great affection O what a shame is it that so many thousands should die for the satisfaction of their lusts and so few be found willing to lay down their lives for Christ Why should not we in a good Cause and upon a good call be ready to be hanged for Jesus Christ It would be everlasting honour and it is a thousand times better to die for Christ to be hanged to be burnt for Christ then to die in our beds And how much he condemned life in respect unto Christ Jesus there are many who from his own mouth can witnesse Fifthly So great was his love unto his God and Saviour that he maintained and expressed high estimations and honourable thoughts of his Majesty when under tormenting providences nothing being more feared then this lest he should do or speak any dishonours unto his Name These were some breathings of his large love when through paine he was as in the fire and upon the Rack Good Lord keep me from dishonouring thy Name by impatiency O who would not even in burnings have honourable thoughts of God! Who that knoweth thee would not fear thee O Lord love thee and honour thee Lord thou givest me no cause to have any haâ—d thought of thee Blessed be God there is nothing of hell in all this Blessed be his Name for Jesuâ— Christ and the revelation of the everlasting Gospel Who knoweth the power of thy wrath If it be so heavy upon thy servant here how heavy shall it be to all those who shall endure it without mixture Blessed be God for the peace of mine inward man when my outward man is so full of trouble This is a bitter cup but it is of my Fathers mixture and shall I not drink it yea Lord through thy strength I will this is my burthen and I will beare it Upon any abatement of his paines he was constantly much in blessing God using these and such like expressions O! what a mercy is it that there is any mitigation any intermission Lord make me thankful And turning himselfe towards those who stood by he would speak thus O help me to be thankful O lift up a prayer for me that I may be thankful O what a mercy is this How much worse might this affliction have been I might have been distracted or laid roaring under disquietnesse of spirit By these workings of his spirit which my self and others do well remember and I could heartily wish that all the rest had been recorded who perceiveth not the sparklings of his love to God I will annex one more which hath much affected my heart viz. these words he hath often spoken to me Brother through mercy I have not one repining thought against God Now upon all these considerations I appeale unto the consciences of all ingenuous ones whether there be not ground to beleeve that Christ if here with us would give him the honour of this compellation My loving friend Whitaker The second head of my Narrative followeth That Christ loved Mr. Whitaker For as I discovered in my Sermon this love is alwayes mutual The discovery hereof will be clear upon a double account
the strength of the mighty God I will undergo these paines O my God put under thine everlasting arms and strengthen me Many times he hath told me that notwithstanding all his rentings and roarings from which he expected no deliverance but by death he would not for a thousand worlds change estates with the greatest man on earth whom he looked upon as in a way of sin And let me tell you one providence of fatherly indulgence towards him That Satan never shaked his confidence nor assaulted his hopes all the time of his tiresome irksome exercise There is but one passage more which I shal point at under this second head of my Narrative viz. That he accounted all these inward chearings the fruits of Prayers made for him though God saw cause to deny that ease and recovery to his body which was much begged withal valuing those spiritual cordials much beyond deliverance from the Gowt and Stone and death it self All these things I have the rather mentioned to prevent that discouragement or offence which some may be too apt to take at the continuance of his wasting tormenting paines notwithstanding his own godlinesse and the uncessant Prayers both ordinary and extraordinary which were made unto God in his behalfe for he found the sweet fruits of them in his own bosome when he felt the continuance and increase of his bodily griefs I proceed to the third head of my promised Narrative which will speak Mr. Whitakers love to his fellow-Christians He was a man made up as it were of love His delight was in the Saints upon earth whom he esteemed most excellent and their society was a constant cordial unto his spirit Hâ—s fâ—equent visits of them who were in trouble and his stirring up others to the like practice were testimonies of his friendship His love was not only verbal but real Truly I know no man of his estate more liberal He would often say It 's a brave thing when a man with a full estate hath a charitable heart Sometimes upon special occasions he himself hath given away all the money he had in his house It was not unusual with him to give twenty shillings unto a poor Saint and he had many experiences of Gods gracious returns in such cases By his Will he gave 20. l. to the godly poor of his own Parish There were two cases wherein his loves were most enlarged to the people of God whereof I shall give in two instances The one when their sufferings were publick He hath often told me that Englands late breach with Scotland and the blood shed with other sad consequences thereof had taken such impression upon his heart that the sorrow would never be removed till his death And the sufferings both in Holland and England upon our late Sea-fights were great burdens upon his spirit The other case was in reference to the inward perplexity of such as were afflicted in minde Having moved me the week before his death to bestow a visit upon one in that condition the morning before his death when speech was grievous in respect of his weaknesses he asked me whether I had remembred the party troubled in spirit which is a remarkable evidence of strong loves Besides all that hath been mentioned I could relate his many wrestlings with God to prevent the flood of troubles which he apprehended the Protestant Churches are now in danger to be overflowed withal as also his compassionate respect to Congregations in the Country who were like sheep wandring upon the barren mountaines without a shepherd The fourth head of my Narrative should hold forth the love which he received from the Saints of God What godly heart that either knew him or heard of his fame did not love him I will not speak of the frequent friendly visits of the Religious ones in the neighborhood round about I never heard of any man so much prayed for both in publick and private There was no particular case so frequently so affectionately spread before God in most of the Congregations about London as his Three dayes were set apart by Ministers and many other praying friends to seek God in his behalf one in private and two in publick which also were observed much better then such dayes usually are yea in remote Countreys besides the ordinary prayers made for him there were some Fasts kept with special reference to his affliction The multitude of people attending his Funeral with the many weeping eyes did witnesse how much he was beloved Here I might remember the readinesse of London-Ministers to supply his place at home and Lectures elsewhere as also the willingness of fellow-Lecturers at Westminster to preach for him there when he himself by reason of weaknesse could not possibly do his own work But I may be silent for still every where upon the naming of him love is some way discovered by such who had knowledge of him Though I have related much concerning the worth of this good man yet my conscience tells me that I have rather been defective then excessive in my relation I have not told you of his humility expressed by fears lest Gods people praying for him should speak too well of him before the Lord. Neither have I mentioned his self-denial never daring to look after great matters in the world whereby he condemneth many whose self-seeking in earthly advantages rendereth them very offensive and unsavoury in the Church of Christ Towards his end neither faith nor patience did abate though his grievous paines were more frequent and violent in which regards his longings for death were much increased yet attended with holy submission unto the good pleasure of God These were some of his expressions O my God break open the prison-door and set my poor captive soul free but enable me willingly to wait thy time I desire to be dissolved never did any man more desire life then I do death When will that time come when I shall neither sin more nor sorrow more When shall mortality put on immortality When shall this earthly be dissolved that I may be cloathed upon with that house which is from heaven Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord for they rest from their labours and follow the Lamb wheresoever he goeth The Sabbath seven-night before God released him though his paines were very sharp yet he bestowed most part of the time of publick Ordinances in prayer with those that were with him and his petitions were most for Ministers that God would cloath his Ordinances with his own power and enable Ministers to speak unto the souls of people Then also he did with many tears bewail his detainment from the Sanctuary and Sabbath-opportunities which had been his delight professing also that his being taken off from service was a greater affliction to him then all his pains And because this apprehension viz. his unserviceablenesse did much afflict him therefore this was often suggested to him which also was relieving to his spirit viz. that now
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
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
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