shall be now said in her commendation for seeing shee honoured the Lord in her life it is my poor desire and it shall be my best indeavour to honour her at her death what I say now first shall be said in her commendation shall at last be repeated againe with application unto you all for your imitation Truly this in generall first I may say that when I look into those examples in the Scripture of rare persons even of godly women as Sarah and Deborah a Mother in Israel and the like may not we say that the name indeed differs but the practise doth not a Sarah is dead a Deborah a Mother in Israel is gone Nay beside these examples when I read those expressions and discriptions of godly wemen in the 1 Tim. 2. in the 2 Titus as also in the 1 Peter 3. me thinks there is a lively discription of this godly Saint But leaving generals we will come to speak of some particulars and we will reduce them briefly into these two heads First to her conversation before God as in the sight of God as also amongst Her conversation towards God and before men here on earth Secondly to her affection and Heavenly mindednesse towards that glorious place and the enjoying of that blessed person there even the Lord Jesus â—or the first of these and by the way that you may not conceive that what shee did even in regard of Morall things was nothing but what a Civil and Morall man might have done this Man-ward the will of God was her rule the Spirit of God was her guide and the glory of God was her end Three such qualifications of an action as never yet were found in the best action of the highest Formalist But now particularly concerning that first work of God upon her even her conversation unto God as I am given to understand It is since the Lord begun to set her face towards Heaven some thirty yeares or thereabouts all which time untill now she kept her face and her heart towards that blessed place Look a little into the Gospell for there are the best and the surest evidences of a blessed estate concerning the great work of Faith in Hâ—â— Faith the blood of the Lord Jesus oh how precious was the Lord Christ unto her soule as her discourses many a time did manifest and as the text speaks 1 Pet 2. It is a cleer evidence that she beleeved on the Lord Jesus because as the Apostle there speakes to such as doe believe he is precious and so he was unto her and you may conceive from that which some persons doe think is not such an evidence she her self would often confesse that she found shaking sometimes concerning her Faith for I do assent unto his judgment that affirm it That he that alwayes believes alike and he that alwayes prayes alike hee never believed nor prayed truly But all her shaking were for her further setling and rooting in the Faith as ye take a tender Plant shake it that so the roote of it may bee more setled in the ground and spread abroad further in the earth And for her repentance in respect of sinne oh her sorrowfull and Her repentance penitent soul for that after her dayes of humiliation in secret she comming out into the family severall times these years have heard her speaking of her sins with eyes as full of tears as may be and when she came unto the Lords table she came with such brokennesse and with such tendernesse of spirit as it was a cleere evidence unto me that as with joy she looked on Christ the Maker and Matter of that blessed Feast so with sorrow she looked on her sinne by which she had pierced so sweet a Saviour What shall I say further I might goe through all those markes and evidences of life and of salvation revealed in the Gospell expressed by our Saviour in 5. Mat. O I might tell you that she was poor in spirit and she was pure in heart and shee was a mourning soule and she was an hungry soul she was a meek soule and she was a mercifull soule of all which our blessed Saviour pronounces this in that place that they are certain and infallible markes of a blessed estate Looke into those evidences that are expressed in the rules and commands of the Gospell as concerning the mortifying of sinne so as not suffering it to raign growing in grace walking not after the flesh but after the spirit self-deniall and humility of spirit Her selfe-deniall â—umilitie especially that in the will not only that reverentiall humility whereby she had high thoughts of her God and low and meane thoughts of her selfe but also that obedientiall humility in stoâ—ping and subjecting her will unto the will of her God this was enough for her that God had said it and therefore shee for ber par would indeavour to do it these are such evidences as are Evangelicall Look now a little into the Law as modifyed by the Gospell in all the commands of the first Table For the first command I have Her obedience to the first Command often thought of her speech oh saith she I am greatly in love with the first command and truly it was a sound evidence of life in her for this is the summe of the first Table Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart c. nay she was heartily glad that the Lord had bin pleased to expresse himself in that manner Oh beloved could any man hear her speake this how she loved the first Command which indeed is the root and substance of all the rest and how glad shee was that God had given out such a Command could any man I say heare this and not thus conclude from it and say Oh the strength of grace in the heart of this Saint Tâ— the 2. Câ—mmand Her â—rdinary duties In heâ—â—ing the Word In receiving the Sacramente And for the second Command that is of Gods worship whether ordinary or extraordinary For the ordinary whether publique private or secret For those in publique as the hearing of Gods Word and joyning in Prayer oh what meltings and oh what breakings have these eyes seen in that seat she used to heare and made use of what she heard Many of us doe use to heare Sermons but there is an end we make but little good use of the Sermons that we heare And for her receiving of the Sacrament oh what care did she take in a speciall manner by her selfe by humbling of her soule to prepare her selfe for the participation of that ordinance and oh what melting affection in a sweet mixture of joy and sorrow for at that time there is both have these eyes seene in her when as these hands have given her the outward elements and oh the joy and gladnesse of her soule after shee returned home having been feasted with the Lord Jesus at his own Table And as In
â—â—â—ding of 〈◊〉 Sâ—riâ—tuâ—es 〈◊〉 meâ—itâ—â—ion for private performances what shall I say for reading the Scriptures from the first unto the last she was a constant dayly reader of Gods Word And for that same duty of Meditation oh that too much neglected duty it was her constant course one or twice a day to run over what she had heard on the Lords-Day even on the weeke day and I my self have seen her many a time retire her self to walk in a place commonly called the Garth or in some other place in a speciall manner I am perswaded for this very end to presse upon her soule in secret what she had heard in publique And for that of prayer her constant course was to pray by her self three or foure Iâ— prayer times constantly every day beside her constant joyning in the family duties And here now if you please let me bring in her death because when she was closing with God in that duty then the Lord concerning her present Death was pleased in a speciall manner to draw neer unto her this you must know that it is one thing to die suddently another thing to die presently or quickly Suddennesse is this when a man never thought on the matter before nor prepared for the matter before but presentnesse or speedinesse may come on a person that is fitted and prepared therefore let me say two things concerning this First for her preparation for Her preparation for Death death and her thoughts and speeches of death it was very much and they were very many and frequent nay the very last day that ever shee lived here on earth even at Noone in discoursing with others to this purpose she said unto her husband Husband you are not like to enjoy me long some replyes being made unto her shee returned this answer But no man knows so much by me as I do by my selfe and this was about eight houâ—s before her death thus her thoughts were running upon it and no doubt still she was preparing for it and she hath said unto me and others that shee was verily perswaded she should die this kind of death because it seems both her Father and her sister before her dyed so Yet you must remember the distinction that even now we gave you There is a twofold A twofold suddennesâ— in dying suddennesse one in respect of preparation and another in regard of time the former was not to her the latter was to make this distinction plain to you It may be you are indebted to a man an 100. pounds and there is no day set for the payment of it hee may come when he pleaseth well say you Sir come when you will your money shall be ready for you you lay the 100. pounds by you in a readinesse because you do not know certainly when he will come it may be such a day he comes and hee knocks at your doores and calls for the hundred pounds you may say now his comming is sudden and not suddain in respect of preparation it is not suddain for you have the money by you but in respect of time it is suddain for hee came in a time you looked not for oh how many thousand thousand have warning enough for Time but as for Preparing for Death alas what preparation is made oh let me labour for the former that Death may never finde mee unprepared and for the latter the will of the Lord be done Shall I tell you one of the rarest Saints that ever breathed here on earth dyed quickly Moses by name why saith God to Moses Moses go up into the Mount and dye nothing but this Go up depart and dye thus Moses dyed So Aaron as a man may say he is onely strip't of his cloaths and so he dyes this is the first thing that I would have you consider concerning her death And secondly this I adde seeing that the Lord was pleased that this death should be how seasonable was it that at this time Her death was seasonable she should be taken out of this world unto God how it is with other men I know not this I am sure of that a child of God as generally at all times so especially towards the evening will goe unto God and make even his reckonings with him that so if death should come to him in the night and his Bed should be his Grave yet then his soule might go to Heaven Now though she had been againe and againe with her God that day both in private and in publique yet she is not weary but as Moses goes up into the Mount so she still goes into her Parlour unto her God in Prayer and at that time she closes with her God so that Hee was pleased to seize upon her body and so presently after her soule departs unto the Lord Jesus Here I bring in her death in her Prayer to wit as when the River is going towards the Sea the Sea at the Tyde comes out as it were to salute it and to bring it in so this blessed Saint oh she was running fast towards heaven and she was almost in heaven all that day after the Sermon well now the Lord seeing her make such speed towards him he comes down to meet her and now hee hath taken her unto himself this for ordinary duties both in publique private and secret respecting the second Commandement Now for extraordinary duties this on my owne knowledge also Her duties extradinary I speak that she constantly every weeke did keepe a private Day of Humiliation retiring her self alone and spending some part of the day with her husband and that in examining of her heart humbling of her soule in reading and in meditating and yet such was her wisdome that she cast things so as she might not be interrupted by those occasions which she might meet withall either in the world or in the family This for the second Commandement For the third for her reverencing of Gods Name it is no great To the 3. Commandement matter for me to say I never heard her swear as I never did during all that seven yeers that I lived with her and I am perswaded had I lived 70. yea 100. yeares with her I should never have heard her swear no no more then that she feared an oath and this evidenceth that she had respect unto the thitd Commandement And for the fourth what shall I say for that a whole day might To the 4. Commandement I spend concerning that day she spent it wholly for God I will tell you nothing but the truth shee did rise constantly at 6. of the clock in the morning and being up she first went apart secretly and commended her own case unto God in Prayer and she did reade Gods Word then she came forth and she to prepare her selfe further for the publique duties went to pray with her husband in private or with the Minister that was there present in the
THE NON-PAREIL OR THE VERTVOVS DAVGHTER SVRMOVNTING ALL HER SISTERS Described In a Funerall Sermon upon tbe Death of that vertuous Lady ELIZABETH HOYLE late wife of the Worshipfull Thomas Hoyle Alderman of the City of Yorke By that godly and Reverend Divine Mr Iohn Birchall late Pastor of the Church of St. Martins in Micklegate The righteous shall be had in everlasting remembrance but the memoriall of the wicked shall rot YORK Printed by Tho Broâ—â— welling in Stone-gate over against the Staâ—re â—6â—4 To the Honourable Thomas Hoyle Lord Majoâ— of the City of Yorke and one of the Burgesses of the High Court of Parliament for that City increase of Honour and Vertue HONOVRABLE I Hope whiles I revive your vertuous Ladies memory I need not fear to renew your soâ—row which is not so much worn away with Time as born with Christian Fortitude and allayed with discretion Againe you have happily repaired your losses and in the same kind by a second Rebecca so you are comforted after her death who living was Mother in Israel as Israels Father was after the death of his Mother Adde to this that all private Crosses are to be forgotten yea and present Blessings scarce to be injoyed when wee remember our publique calamities So Pbineas his wife was more affected wiih the taking of the Ark then with the death of either Husband or Father neâ—ther would she forget her sorrow though a Man-child was born into the world Such was not the wilful humour but the gracious temper of that good Hittite who would neither eate nor drink nor go down to his house or wife whiles the Ark and Judah abode in the Tents and his Lord Joab and his servants lay in the open fields counting that unlawfull which was onely unseasonable Pardon I pray you this digression which yet is not altogether impertinent to this ensuing Funerall Subject seeing the whole Kingdome is almost turned into one Funerall The righteous perish and none layeth it to heart where though the departure of the Righteous is much to be lamented yet much more the apathy and seâ—slesnesse of the miserable Surviver But to return and resume our former Subject As she waâ— aâ— eâ—cellent Pattern of many divine graces so especially she excelâ—d in this tenderness compassion which with the rest of her holy vertues I need not pourtray and represent unto your view seeing you fully know them by a long and sweet experience have their Idea still before your eyes this also is done to my hand in this just Panegyrick by a better Orator who was your vigilant Pastor my reverend acquaintance in whom those rich endowments which he describes in your worthy Consort did also shine in an eminent manner so that changing onely the Psrson it may serve for his own Funerall Sermon for as in water face answereth to face so their hear is both washed with water and the same holy Spirit were alike spirituall and holy He being dead yet speaketh in his Sermon and she being dead yet liveth in our affections and memory remaines a lively pattern of heavenly conversation Her excelling vertues he sets forth not in excellency of words but with the Apostle in the demonstration of the Spirit and of Power Neither could his meditations composure be very exact and perfect seeing this his pregnant issue was to be delivered the day after the conception and though he had more time for preparation yet he was not like those who prick their words as birds set their feathers or nice women their curles in a quaint curious order for this savours more of affectation then of affection of ostentation then truth sincerity There are many whos Sermons are halfe a yeer in contriving then vented in one hour forgotten in another like painted Pageants erected against the Kings Coronation which after much pains time spent in decoring are taken down when the day of Solemnity is over and these are they who like those Jews John 5. 44. seek honor one of anâ—ther seek not the honour which cometh from God only especially the chief Rulers among them did love the praise of men more then the praise of God Joh. 12. 43. whereas not he that commendeth himself as such plaunble but unprofitable men would do is approved but whom the Lord commendeth 2 Câ—r 10. ult But the sole aime of our Orator is to glorifie God to do your Consort right and us all good by setting forth in plain yet patheticall language her holy life for our happy imitation and though his time of preparation was very short yet his Seâ—mons very full for he being a present man alwayes furnished had his quiver full of divine meditationss which he câ—uld readily open upon every opportunity and it becomes every one of us to expose the tender parts of our hearts to such wounding yet healing arrows which receive this soveraign quality from the Sun of righteousness which hath healing in his wings Now for this particular Sermon certainly it is much eclipsed from that primitive lustre which it had when it was presented viva voce before you for his tongue was â—he pen of a ready writer but not the pen of any writer could match his ready tongue for he was very quick boâ—h in his tongue and in his mind full of holy affections to sanctifie his learning and full of choice leaâ—ning to beautifie his holinesse Thus much I thought good â—o write in his honour who so much honoured you yours But I feaâ—e me I have weaâ—ied you so now remit yâ—u to the refrefreshmâ—â—â— of his comfortable Sermon which I make bold to commend to your Patrâ—nage you and yours to the Almighties protection and â—ny poor endeavâ—rs to your Lordships acceptation So rest Your Lordships true Honourer J. F. The Commendation PROV 31. 29. Many Daughters have done vertuously but thou excellest them all WHen I looked first into this Text thinking to consult as I did with some yea divers Commentators then I did begin to thinke of saving that labour for truly this blessed Saint of God was the best Commentary of this my Text in her life What an happy thing was it that she should heare her Funerall Sermon as it were before her death the last Sermon that ever she heard was on that â—ubject and it was observed concerning her that she came from the place of Gods Worship with such joy as though she had come from Heaven The text was that which we spake of last Munday on the 116. Psalme 13. Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his Saints She both in her life and at her death did expresse the truth of that last text which shee heard discourse of on a Funerall occasion and she also in her life and conversation is an exact Commentary on this my text That which I purpose to speak of concerning her shall be nothing but what I conceive in Gods sight to be truth and what
word and deed and this but about some 8. houres before heâ— death And for the Parish they themselves well know that they have lost a Matron and lost a Motber indeed And for the poore this was her constant course every week to lay up something for them to see how the Lord would have it In the morning of that day on which she dyed about the poore neighbour for whom we prayed she was imploy'd in making something ready for him yea sending money to him yea a third time sending and that it might not be done for ostentation shee would sometimes charge the servant that carryed the almes to give the almes so as to conceal the name thus both Parish and Poor all have a losse Now for her two-fold outward state as thus she carried towards all persons so thus also she carried in all estates still she was constant with her God in the time of prosperity so humble so thankful so bountifull and liberall she was In the times of any crosse or losse or adversity oh then the strength of the patience and long-suffering of this godly soule oh what wisdome did she shew what subjection unto Gods will nay what fruitfulnesse also after the affliction was past thus did she go through sufferings She told me not long since that the Lord had answered every prayer that shee had put up as if he should have said to her why child I will both direct thee what to ask and I will also answer thee in what thou askest as the Lord said to Moses concerning the people of Israel Let mee alone so concerning her last deare child I shall never forget her words Ah saith she I could never yet get my heart inlarged in praying for his life because to wit the Lord had a purpose to take him unto himselfe therfore he restrained the spirit of his servant from being so instant with him in praying for his life Thus you have seen some things in relation to God to man to persons to things to states Now for the second thing that we propounded that is concerning her heavenly mindednesse eertainly her conversation was in heaven for all her endeavors did tend thitherwards nay she had a heart set for heaven and she had set her affections on things above long before And for the world oh how often would she speak of that as having her heart taken off from the world and finding that the things of the world did steal away her hearâ— she cuts of the affection by taking away the occasion What saith she you things of this life do you begin to steal away my heart from heaven and heavenly things away with you let not me be troubled with you that therefore which the men of the world do look after so carefully as loving it dearly even their gold and silver shee finding it somewhat to incroach upon her affections her husband must have it shee will not keepe it and in respect of her expressions many and many a time concerning her desires to be absent from the body that she might be present with the Lord oh how Saint-like did she expresse her selfe Now seeing in this manner as you have heard towards God and towards Man in the use of all good means shee was walking stepping on still towards heaven and seeing that she setting heaven and the Lord Jesus before her thus pressed hard forward toward the Mark for the price of her high calling wee may say two things for conclusion First we may say this That though we have lost yet she hath gained to eternity And secondly this also wee may say and so I come unto my Text that though many have done vertuously yet may I not speak of heâ— as Salomon doth therâ— hast not thou excelled them all And so from her unto our text wee passe with what brevity may be THE SERMON PROV 31. 29. Many Daughters have done vertuously but thou excellest them all IN the latter end of this last Chapter there is a commendation of a vertuous and godly woman positively from the tenth verse unto my text and here in my text comparatively The words divide themselves into two parts the former part is this Many Daughters have done vertuously the latter part this But thou excellest them alâ— Seeing then what is said here is for the Praise Commendation and Honor of a vertuous and godly woman we will therefore from the words at this time handle this one truth Doct. That though mâ—ny do â—erâ—uouslâ— yet sone of Gods people do excell in graâ—e and this is their praise and glory We say sometimes of the lives of women as Origen once spake concerning them that if they be good they are very good though therfore wee might bring to the exaâ—ples of men in the Scripture that did excell in grace yet notwithstanding for the confirmation of this truâ—h we will only inâ—â—ance in those of the same Sexe with this godly soul now departed And the firâ—â— shâ—ll be in â—ne of her own name â—lâ—zaâ—etâ— Luâ—e 1 6. there you sâ—all find â—haâ— Zâ—châ—ry and Elizabeâ—h were two rare and excellent persons in grace for there it is said concerning them both that they were riâ—hteous befoâ—e God blamelesse amongâ—â— men there is one excellent woman The second that we shall name is Tâ—biâ—hâ— shee is deâ—cribed in Act. 9. 36 37. shee was a Disciple a Professor of the Gospell and a woman full of good works theâ—e is a second exceâ—lenâ— woman The third that wee shall name for a woman that was excellent in graâ—â— is Mary John 1. 11 20. shee was first at the grave and she was last at the grave shee stayes at the grave weeping and mourning and crying when Peter that rare Apostle was gone here was a woman rare for her affection unto Christ her heart did appeare to bee more tende being a woman then the heart of Peter a person of another Sexe To name yet another Rom. 16. 12. there Paul saluâ—es two godly Matrons that laboured in the Lord but saith he salute our beloved Pâ—â—siâ— that laboured much in the Lord that is more Others they laboured in the Lord and â—his was their commendation but this beloved Peâ—siâ— shee laboured and laboured much in the Lord theâ—efore she is especially commended for it Reas The reasons of this truth are theâ—e The first is taken from the inward working causes and they aâ—e these two Christ his spirituall providence and his peoples speciall diligence First Christs spiritual providence in dispensing the gift for according to his gift so is not the truth of grace only but the measuâ—e of grace also Eph. 4 every one hath grace given him according to the measure of the gift of Christ and as the Apostle speakes unto the Corinthians The spirit of Christ distribute unto every one even as he will This blessed Head though he gives unto all yet notwithstanding he gives unto all differently to some more and to some lesse even as he pleaseth this for the
inward meanes So for the outward means by his spirituall providence he affords unto some more and greater meanes and a longer time to others lesse He also doth blesse the means more unto some then unto others Againe another inward working cause is the speciall diligence of Gods people themselves exciting and stirring up and also exeâ—cising that grace which is given them applying the meanes unto their hearts and bringing all home in private that was done in publique this is the reason why though some do vertuously yet others do excell in grace even their practise of Piety and their Christian diligence And as thus ye have heard the working causes per se by themselves so also per accidens by accident the Lord sometimes makes the sence of sinne a means to break the heart and that sinner that hath bin exceeding â—â—nful that sinner afterwards somtimes becomes a notable Saint this is the first generall ground from the inward working causes The second generall ground is from the finall cause and that is double for his owre gâ—ory and his peoples good for this double reason though others do vertuously yet the Lord will have some to excell in grace First for his own gloâ—y thus in dangerous times Elijah he must stop up the three children they must be willing to step into the Furnance and Dâ—nie into the Denne rather then the Religion and Woâ—ship of God shall â—e demolished and beaten down though therfore he have many Worthies yet the Lord will have some speciall Worthies that not onely shall have grace but also much grace for his honouâ— Thus foâ— his own glory thâ—ugh others do vertuâ—usly yet the Lord will have some to excell in grace So also for the good of his people to draw them on when they are backward to strengthen them when they are weake and to incourage them when they aâ—e faint-hearted Why had Caleb and Joshuâ— an excellent spirit given them why to strengthen and incouâ—age others that were weake and fâ—int-hearted therefore when the people were discouâ—aged Vp say they fâ—â—r not the people of the Land â—â—r thâ—ir strength is deâ—arted fâ—oâ— them uâ—d thâ—y shall be but as bread â—or us This from the working 〈◊〉 and also from the finall cause you see reasons why though others do vertuously yet the Lord will have some to excell in grace But why is this their praise and glory why the reason of that is taken from the definition of true honour that is truly honourable which the wisest and the best do speak in the praise of That is not honourable which every man speaks well of though I am perswaded in respect of this Saint of God who ever he or she was that did speak against her while the tongue was against her the conscience was for her but that is truly honourable which is commended by the wisest and by the best by the wisest Prophets and the wise Apostles For the wise Prophets when they come to commend persons whom do they speak well of why holy persons holy soules the Saints that do expresse the power of grace in their lives And for a wise Apostle tell me where Paul is commending any but a Saint especially nay if an Angell must come from heaven to speak in the praise and commendation of any man here on earth it shall be onely in praise and commendation of a Saint this is plain in the 9. of Daniel there Daniel is humbling of his soule and breaking of his spirit for his own sinnes and the sinnes of the people well now an Angell is dispatced from Heaven with a message to him and he brings him this newes Oh Daniel thou art a man greatly beloved thus an Angell will rejoyce to bring good tydings from Heaven for the praise and commendation of a Saint upon Earth But what do I speak either of Saints or Angels even God himselfe doth account their death to be precious hee hath a high opinion of them he hath high prizing thoughts of them as you have heard Here you see the reasons of this truth why though many doe vertuously yet some of Gods people do excell in grace and this is their glory and honour We have a question before we câ—me to Application it is this Wherein appeares this excellency in grace I answer in short It appeares in the matter that is done or suffered and in the manner of doing it First in the matter that is to be done both in avoiding evill and in doing good For the avoiding of evill and all this you shall see in this godly soul that we have discoursed of She is a woman of an excellent spirit that indeavours so to avoid all sinne her speciall sinne which David cals his owne iniquity and the speciall sinnes of the time here is an admirable spirit indeed and certainly herein did this blessed child of God shine out most chearly in that she laboured to avoid all finne and her own sinne and the sinnes of these dayes and times Again for the doing of good she that indeavours to perform all duties and especially her duties and those duties that the world hates and scornes and speakes ill off certainly such a woman as this is of an admirable spirit yet this also was the spirit of this Saint of God in that she indeavoured to do all duties injoyned and for those that concerned her in her place she shined out admirably in them yea she was constant and diligent in performing those duties which a wicked heart most hates as redeeming of the time walking precisely growing in grace standing for God with zeale of heart and the like this argues an excellencie And as thus in doing the will of God in his command so also for a patient subjecting unto the will of God in his providence Though the Saint of God had much experience in matter of prosperity yet she had had also great experience in matter of adversity yet notwithstanding was not that an admirable speech of her Iâ— is the Lord let doe what seemes him good had any dâ—ne this but the Lord I should never have borne it but seeing the Lord hath done it why should I be impatient under it Nay when her Child her dear and onely Sonne was dead this was that which stayed her spirit that the Lord had done it And as thus for the matter so also for the manner too when this is done sincerely with constancie and continuance truly that was a pretty time of tryal which she had for 30. years together and for the measure thus with zeal when this manner and measure is added to that matter there must needs be an excellencie together with this effect growth in grace and this end the glory of God when for for the matter it is thus universally against all sinne our sinne and the sinnes of the Time unto all duties our duties and the contemned duties of the Time And thus in respect of suffering patiently submitting unto the will of God and when for
ones upon earth even unto those that do excell in vertue and excell in grace Should a man come unto every man and unto every woman in this place and ask them this question vvhat kind of persons have the highest roome in your soules whom dâ—e you most highly prize and most dearly love this is a most sensible thing and bâ—ing applyed will come close unto the quick is it a gracious man yea or no is it an excellent man in praise yea or no if it be not from God I tell thee this day that the Lord marks thee out this day for a bad man what can be more plain then that in 1 Jâ—h 3. 10. by this is manifested a chiâ—â— of God and a child of the Divell a child of God is one that loves God anâ—â—â—rkâ—s righteousnesse and he loves his brother especially his brother in â—race above hiâ— bâ—â—ther in nâ—tuâ—e why ye must live with those whom ye love Oh this child of God that is now deaâ— she loved the Saints of God while she lived and theâ—eâ—ore now she lives with the Saints of God being dead This loving of the brâ—thâ—eâ— is not as the cause why we are in a blessed state for so Christ is but as an evidence so indeed it is This for the second Use Use 3. The third Use is to perswade good men bad men all men to come unto God and to get much from God even to excell in grace that so at deâ—th they may be able to say in truth what our Saviour said for peâ—fection Oh saith he in John 17. 1. Faâ—her I have finisht the work which thou gavâ—st me to dâ— now therefore Fâ—ther glâ—rifie me There was a work given him to doe and a work given him by God this work must be done it was so then he prayes Now therfore Father glorifie me So the Lord hath given thee and given me a work to do a work in generall a work in speciall a work to do a work to finish and it is the work which the Lord hath given us now then let it be thy indeavour to finish it and then when death comes thou maist pray in truth as thy Saviour did for perfection Father the worke which thou gavest me to doe I have done it yea Father I have finished the work that thou gavest me to do now therefore Fatheâ— glorifie me And here now take both the means for this and also the Argument to it 1. For the means whereby we may come excell in gâ—ace for this is thy glory and this is thy commendation they are these three 1. The Lord Christ the Fountain of grace 2. The spirit of Christ the Author and Workâ—â— of grace some speciall and particular graces of Gods spirit And 3. the right making use of the meanes of grace For the first of these to wit Christ the fountain of grace Would a man have grace yea would a man be full of grace why the Text tells us that there is a fulnesse of grace in Christ and of his fulnesse we must all receive grace for grace And would a man indeed be excellent let him labour in a speciall manner to be filled with Gods Spirit oh that evill jearing spirit that is in persons against Gods Spirit at any time at their best leisure let them read what I would commend unto them and they shall finde in the book of God that when it is said that such a man did something that was excellent then the text tells us that the Spirit of God was upon him and the Spirit of God filled him Sampson was a strong man yet when he did any admirable act of strength you shall find that the Spirit of God stirred him up Elijah did great great things but then the Spirit of God came upon him Elisha also did great things but then the Spirit of God came upon him So in Luke 1. there it is said that the Mother of John was filled with rhe Holy Ghost and the Father there was filled with the Holy Ghost and then he spake unto admiration ver 37. and 34. So in the Acts of the Apostles in the 1. of the Acts there the promise is made that the Apostles shall be filled with the Holâ— Ghost and in Acts 2. what wonders do they but first they are filled with the Holy Ghost So you shall find in Acts 3 4 5. Then the Apostles filled with the Holy Ghost and Then the Apostles filled with the Holy Ghâ—st did so and so So in Acts 6. and in Acts 7 there is Stephen full of the Holy Ghost an admirable man and Paul in Acts 11. being full of the Holy Ghost set his eyes there on a wicked Wretch who is that why a man that hindred the passage of the Gospell that Bariesus that sought to turn the Deputy from the Faith Pauâ— looking on him he said Oh full of all subtilty and malice thou child of the Divell and enemy of all righteousnesse wilt thou not cease to pervert the straight wayes of the Lord Thus you see that when any either admirable speech hath bin spoken or any admirable thing hath bin done still persons have bin filled with the Holy Ghost Thus labour to partake of the fulnesse of Christ and labour to be filled with the Holy Ghost And for the speciall grace of Gods Spirit as in the body of a man that is strong lusty active and able some parts are to supply with spirits for nourishments and for growth as the stomack liver and heart so in the soul of a child of God there are certain graces that are usefull for all practises such as are these 〈◊〉 Faith Hope Love and Fear these are all Mother graces hâ— but above all the fiâ—st â—o the grace of Faith this will direct a man what he should dâ— this will perswade a man why he should do and this will inable a man hâ—w he should dâ— yea to work wonders all the wonders that have bin in the world have bin wâ—nderfull by their Faith And for Hope that is an admirable grace to make a man rare in gâ—ace dâ—e not you remember what is said in Jâ—h 1. 3. he that hath this hope what hâ—pe is that why this hope to see Christ and tâ— be like him he that hath this hope what doth he why he doth purifie himself even as Châ—ist is pure and that other Text also in 2 Pet. 3. 11 12. Seeing these things mâ—st be dissolved â—h what mâ—nner of persons ought wee to be in all holy conversation and godlinesse why what is the matter why because the time shall come when the Heaven shall passe away with a noise the Element shall melt with fervent heat and the Earth with the things that are therein shall be burnt up and then we looke for â—ew Heavens and a new earth wherein dwells righteousnesse we look for a new Heaven a new earth that is we look for another place of habitation even in heaven for properly there is no earth