in heaven but as these heavens and this earth is now the place of our habitation so after death we looke for another place of habitation then this even in heaven Seeing then our hope is in heaven to have another and a better a more happy and blessed place of habitation then wee have here below now therefore what manner of persons ought we to be For Love now Faith is an intaking grace but when it would put it selfe out for the doing of any good then it takes hold on Love Faith works by love saith the Apostle it works love and it works by love and this love of God as the Apostle speaks will constrain a man to live unto God yea to the utmost of his desires and indâ—avours the love of grace will not make a man stint himself in his deâ—â—res after grace no as those persons that do love money would not only have this hundred or that 1000. but many hundreds and many thousands especially if they love it for it selfe then there is no end of their desires after money So let a man turn the stâ—eam of his desires towards grace and then he will long after it unmeasurably he will never stint his desires after it and say Thus much grace will serve me and so much grace will content me And as love thus will put a man on unto that is good so lastly for Feare it will pluck a man back from the doing of what is evill therefore that man there in the book of Nehemâ—ah was faithfull above many because he feared God above many Lastly the meanes of grace in the use and the right use of them when men heaâ— Sermons and then afterwards preach them over and over again to themselves that they may have grace in their hearts and expresse grace in their lives Oh this duty of meditation in bringiâ—g things home unto the heart is one of the â—peciall means to make the soule rich in expressing the power of godlinesse in life and conversation this for the means of it Now for the Arguments to it and they are four From God the thing our selves and others Why shouâ—d thou and I labour thus to be rare and excellent in grace why first because God bids us if there were no more but this it is enough for thee and me that God bids us labour to be so thus in 1 Peâ— 5 the Lord is calling upon us to grow in grace and in Mat. 5. last verse Be ye peâ—fâ—ct as yâ—ur 〈◊〉 Fâ—ther is perfect what can we be as perfect as God is faâ— be we from that conceit but we should labour to be like unto God for there he is speaking how God doth good to the bad nay God doth good to his enemies now let us bâ—ing our selves unto this rule of perfectiâ—n Certainly if a man doth excell in vertue and be rare in grace in the world he shall have enemies â—ost thou love them canst thou pray heartily for them this is now to be perfect as thy heavenly â—â—ther is perfect Secondly look on the thing it selfe it is in it self a most câ—mmendable thing you shall find that the Lord doth study to find out tearmes to to put upon his people that are rare in grace for their praise and commâ—ndation as Abraham Moses David and Daniel oh for Daniel the Lord comes again again to him to tell him Oh Daniel a man of desires a man greatly beloved the heart of God is so taken with him that herepeats it again Oâ— Daniel a man greatly beloved that is a rare expression of the Holy Ghost for the praise and commendation of such a man as doth excell in grace Thirdly look on ouâ— selvs in regard of our own persons in heart and in regard of life 1. For our hearts to have the love of God towards a man and the blessing of God in a speciall manner upon the spirit of a man oh this is an admirable thing indeed to bee inriched in the world oh we say this is an excellent thing and how will men â—iâ—e early and go to bed late and all for what why for this that the Lord may bâ—eâ—se them with a rich state in the world But oh the blessing of God on the sâ—ule of a man in making a man â—ich in grace this is an excellent thing indeed one dâ—am of grace is worth all the world now the Lord will inrich thoâ—e in grace that do use well the means of grace Take heed how you heâ—â— saith Christ for looâ— in what manner of heâ—ring you hear â—nd with what meâ—sure of diligenâ—e afâ—er hearing you use sâ— God will measure out again to you Thus in regard of a mans heart within 2. In regard of a mans life without truly our life is but shoâ—t we have a great deâ—l of work to do and but little time therfore saith the wisemâ—n Eccles 9. What soever thou findest to do do it with all thy might saith he why so why for as the time is short so after death there is no working then the time of this life is a working time after death is the receiving of wages though a wicked man shold do never so much in hell yet that couâ—d not any way comfort him but what he hath done in the body look to that mainly And as thus for ouâ— selvs so lastly for others and that both for them also from them For them doâ—t â—hou wish well to thy Countrey dost thou wish well to Engâ—and dost thou wish well to this City of Yorâ—e to the Parish the Family where thou liveâ—t oh then labour for this excelâ—ent state if thou dâ—e excell in grace thou art the person that must prevail with God for wife for child for Church for state for County for â—ingdom all if there be any hope to prevail with God in mercy his excellent ones must do it but when there is no hope then saith the Lord Though Noah Daniel Joâ— should all joyn together in prayer I would not hear them implying thus much That then the case is desperate when such excellent ones cannot prevail And as thus for others so also from others Would'st thou receive strength and incouragement from persons in the worst times why then it must be from the Saints that dâ— excell in grace In evill and dangerous times Câ—leâ— Jâ—shuâ—h who were rare Saints Elyah a rare Saint Dâ—niel a rare Saint they must step up that so from them Gods people being discouraged distressed might receive comfort incouragement And here now Her whom in the beginning I set out unto you by way of Commendation I now again set before you as a pattern for the imitatiâ—n FINIS AN ELEGIE UPON The much lamented Death of that vertuous Lady and unparallel'd Matron ELIZABETH HOYLE LATE Wife to the Worshipfull Thomas Hoyle Alderman of the City of Yorke who surprized with an Apâ—plexie at her private Devotionâ— departed this lifâ— Decemb. 9. 1639. Come my people enter thou
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
sadly and heavily why this aâ—â—s he is afraid that all is not well at home but if the Lord come in and shew himself powerfully and sweetly unto his soule then as he should give the glory of it unto God so he should take the comfort of it unto himself Thirdly let them walk wisely yet let them also walk resolutely I have wondred at the wisdome and resolution of Daniel he was a man so resolute for God that though he was a man of great imployments being â—et over 120. Princes who had rule over 127. Provinces and though it is likely that his enemies did vvatch him to see it in any sort he had neglected the Kings buâ—â—nesse yet notwithstanding they could find no fault aâ— all in him that way such was his vvisdome And for his resolution nay saith he rather then I will not pray to the God of Heaven the Lyons shall devour me and before I vvill defile my self with that meat I will venture life all But may some say was not this resolution of Daniel an impeachment of his vvisdome no I vvill shevv you three rare men vvho though they vvere resolute for God yet you shall see also that they were very wise 1. The first was this of Daniel so wise a man vvas he that the Proverb runs of him What as vvise as Daniel He had the matter revealed unto him vvhich vvas not revealed unto any other man in the World yet notwithstanding his discretion and wisdome will not keep him in a moderate frame but he is resolute for his God The second example is that of David of whom the 200. men spake that he was as wise as an Angell of God yet notvvithstanding his vvisdome did not hinder his resolution for God therefore when she had that laid in his bosome even Michol his vvife check't him for his zeal What saith he to her is this to be vile I will be more vile yet The third is Moses he must be as God to Aaron there is his vvisdome yet notvvithstanding make this resolution Heb. 11. 24. great things are offered unto him great honors in Egypt great treasures in Egypt and great pleasures in Egypt threescore temptations and it is likely that they might cry secretly unto Moses and say Stay Moses stay a vvhile Moses be not such a foole Moses vvhat vvilt thou joyn vvith the people of God and so lose all thy honour all thy vvealth and all thy pleasures What novv doth this vvise man Moses farevvell all saith Moset farevvell all I will rather suffâ—r afflâ—ction with the people of God then I will enjoy the pleasures of sinne for a season Oh then what a discretion is that which keepes men in such a moderate and luke-vvarm temper that it vvill not suffer them to bee so resolute for God as for his sake to be vvilling to part even with all the things in the World whereas you see here the persons so resolute for God that they vvill venture life and all for him and yet they vvere very vvise And thus also be resolute so as neither being allured by the dearest friend nor affrighted by the bitterest foe not being allured by the dearest friend thus in the Acts of the Apâ—stles you shall find that vvhen they hâ—aâ—d there vvhat Agaâ—us had prophesied namely hovv Paul should be bound at Jerusalem the friends of Pauâ— and it is likely they were godly friends they come unto him weeping and crying Oh Paul go not unto Jerusâ—lem what wilt thou be bound Paul mark novv hovv Paul answers them Why stand ye weeping thus and breaking my heart bound saith he I am willing not onely to be bound buâ— to dye alsâ— at Jerusâ—â—em for the name of the Lord Jesus A courteous word from a dear friend draws much yet notwithstanding Paul there when his friends sought by weeping to draw him off from being so resolute for Christ Oh saith he in so doing you break my heart yea marke also the speech of that rare Marquesse Galeaceus by name when great proffers â—ere made unto him if he would do so and so Let him be aâ—cursed saith he that thinks all the wealth in the world worthy in any sort to be compared with one dayes fellowship with Jesus Christ Thus though we be allured by the dearest friends yet vve must be resolute for God nay though also we be affrighted and scorned by the bitterest foe as David you heard when his vvife scoffed him for dancing before the Ark where she played the part of a bitter foe What â—aith he am I vile for this and I will â—e more vile yâ—t So Luâ—heâ— great offers were made unto him and great thunderings were sent against hiâ— yet he was â—esolute for God still And saith Nehemiâ—h that great Reformer Shall suâ—h a man as I flâ—e he would resolutely stand for God Thus you see what advice may be given unto those that doe excell in grace they should vvalk humbly walk thankfully cheerfully vvalk vvisely yet also resolutely for God The second branch of the Use concerns those that are in the lower form and they are either such as have bin stronger now are weakeâ— having weakned themselves or els they are such as are weak For the former Let such be deeply humbled that speedily in calling to mind the mercies the merits the time and the corrections vvhich have bin afforded unto them which they have bin tried withall let them look on all these things to humble their souls before God And 2. let such also double their diligence novv And for those that are vveak let them pray that what is promised by the Lord Isaiah 40. two last verses it may be accomplished in them there the Lord speaking of his people saith thus They shall mount up with wings as Eagâ—es they shall walk and not faint yea runne and not be weary thus then do thou run to the Lord and say Ah Lord I am caâ—t behind in thy way others do outstrip me others get before me and thou hast said Lord that I shall vvalk yea run yea fly in running the vvays of thy Commandements make good thy word unto thy poor servant Lord Thus flye to the throne of grace when thou art hindred and cast behind in travelling towards heaven Thus for those that have bin strong have weakned themselvs are vveak still And as thus concerning themselves so also concerning others their fellow Saints and brethren let them thus do comfoâ—t the sorrowfull support the feeble and if any man be disjoynted joynt him again as the Apostle speaks Gal. 6. If any man be overtaken in an infirmitie ye that are spirituall restore suâ—h aâ— one in the spirit of meeknesse And as thus for their indeavour so also for their affection let it be with them as it was with David Psal 16. All my deâ—ights saith he are in the Saints upon earth and such as do excell in vertue So let your speciall love and delight be to the excellent
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