bare cipher which it properly resembles and cannot profit in the day of wrath for Christ tells us so much What will it profit a man to gaine the whole world Marke 8.36 and to lose his owne soule But place Christ before it and then every creature in it shall be avaylable for our good And Christ assures us this too Matth. 6.33 first seeke the Kingdom of God and the righteousnes thereof and all other things shall bee added unto you So then the way to be truely great is to bee truely good vertue is the best Nobility Christianity the greatest dignity and godlinesse the surest gaine Let it bee then our chiefe labour So to number our dayes since it will both supply our houses with wealth and apply our hearts to wisdome which brings me to the last particular viz. Finis Finis the End why wee desire to bee so taught That we may apply our hearts to wisdome Wherein observe first What kind of wisdome this is Secondly how our hearts are said to bee applyed unto it For the first there are two sorts of wisdome as Heady wisdome and Hearty wisdome Earthly wisdome and Heavenly wisdome Marthas wisdome and Maryes wisdome Now were wee ever to live in this world Marthas wisdome would be preferred but since our dayes are numbred with God Maryes choyce will best teach us so to number them our selves as to apply our hearts to heavenly wisdome Which may be distinguished from the earthly in 4. particulars 1. By the Object The Object of heavenly wisdome is Christ who is made unto us Wisdome righteousnesse sanctification and redemption 1 Corinth 1.30 But of earthly wisdome vanity and sinne 2. By the Properties Heavenly wisdome is pure peaceable gentle and easy to be intreated full of mercy and good fruits without partiality and without Hypocrisy Iam. 3.17 But earthly wisdome is mixt with sin mudded with lust cruell crafty and quarelsome Iam. 3.15 3. By the Schoole where they are to bee learnt Heavenly wisdome is taught onely of God by his Spirit and in his Word but the other hath as many Masters as there are corrupt mindes 4. By the end at which they aime The one tends chiefely to the good of the soule howsoever it fare with the body But the other chiefely to satisfy and fulfill the lusts of the flesh without respect unto the soule Let an earthly wise man have Esaus blessing Gen. 27.39.28 the fatnesse of the earth and let who will take Iacobs blessing the dew of Heaven Psal 4.8 Let their corne and wine and oyle increase it is all they care for as for the light of Gods countenance they regard it not For the Second hee that beleeves what God affirmes applyes his heart to faith Hee that does what God commands applyes his heart to Obedidience and hee that makes use of both these in their benefits and effects to the good of his soule applyes his heart to wisdome Now hee that will so number his dayes as is before layd downe must thus apply his heart to a sixfold wisdome First to the Virgins Wisdome the wisdome of Preparation Math. 25.4 The wise Virgins tooke oyle in their Vessells Wee all know the Bridegroome Christ Iesus will come but when wee know not and therefore we ought alwayes to bee prepared with the oyle of grace in our lamps that when hee shall come we may be ready to enter with him into his everlasting glory I find no other difference betwixt the wise Virgins and the foolish but onely this the one did that in time which the other would faine have done when it was too late If thou bee wise then prepare in time least thou repent when it is too late Secondly to the serpents wisdome the wisdome of Preservation Matth. 10.16 Bee yee wise as serpents c. It is accounted a great part of wisdome in the Serpent to preserve his head with all the care that may be because all his life lyes in his head a little blow on the head quickly kills him but wound him never so much on the body his head being safe he will recover it againe Now the Apostle tels us that our life is hid with God in Christ our head Colos 3.3 in whom we must bee carefull to preserve and keepe our Faith though wee suffer never so many wounds in our persons goods or good names Resolving with the Apostle that neither tribulation nor anguish nor persecution c. shall bee able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Iesus our Lord. Rom. 8. ult Thirdly to the Stewards wisdome the wisdome of Prevention Luke 16.8 The Lord commended the unjust Steward because hee had done wisely c. The Steward we know being ready to bee put from his place to prevent poverty made himselse friends with his Masters goods which was reputed a point of wisdome in him Now wee are all but Stewards of what wee possesse and know not how soone we shall bee taken from them or they from us Here then is our wisdome in time to make us friends with these Mammons of unrighteousnes for so Christ calls these earthly riches in comparison of the true treasure that when they sayle us Luke 16.9 we may be received into everlasting habitations which may bee best done by our Charity to the poore members of Christ for Prov. 19.17 what we give to the poore we lend to the Lord saith Salomon and what is layd out he will repay us againe The poore mans hand is the rich mans reasury what hee layes up there he shall find in heaven hee that feeds the hungry puts bread into Christs owne mouth hee that clothes the naked puts a garment on Christs owne backe and hee that gives to the poore puts a penny in Christs owne hand himselfe hath said it Matth 25.45 Eccl. 11 7. whatsoever you doe unto any of these little ones yee doe it unto me Cast your bread then upon these waters and after many dayes you shall find it againe with a great reward Fourthly to the Ants wisdome the wisdome of Providence Proverb 6.6 Goe to the Ant thou sluggard consider her wayes and bee wise It is observed of the Ant that she labours very painefully in the Summer to get provision together to keepe her in the Winter so should wee doe during the summer of health and prosperity and Sunne-shine of the Gospell of peace 1 Tim. 6.19 lay up for our selves a good foundation against the Winter of trouble need sorrow sicknesse or other adversity The Apostles Counsell is Gal. 6.10 while you have time doe good to all especially to those who are of the houshold of Faith and the Prophet renders you a reason of it because in death God is not remembred Psal 6.5 nor will any give him thanks in the grave while you have the light walk Iohn 11. Phil. 2.12 and while it is called to day worke out your salvation with feare and
which God had so lately shewed amongst them murmured against the Lord and against his servant Moses Whereupon the Lord sware in his wrath that they should not enter into his promised rest And from that time forth all of the age of twenty yeares and upwards except Caleb and Iosuah dyed in the wildernesse by the way During which mortality Moses composed this Psalme wherein having first layd downe the shortnesse and uncertainty of mans life he makes this application of it by way of prayer unto God on the behalfe of himselfe and the rest of Israel That though their dayes were few yet they might not bee evill since they could not live long yet that they might live well which to doe being impossible of themselves they beseech God to instruct them saying so teach us to number our dayes that c. This text is a prayer for instruction teach us First in this particular to number our dayes Secondly on this manner so to number our dayes Thirdly to this end that we may apply our hearts c. Now all sorts of prayers may bee reduced to these 4. heads First Petitory for mercies and blessings Secondly Deprecatory against sinnes and evills Thirdly Intercessory on the behalfe of others Fourthly Gratulatory in Thankfulnes for past received favors This prayer is of the first kind viz. a Petition wherein are considerable 4. things First Efficiens the teacher or instructor God O Lord teach us so some translators Secondly Materia the matter taught to number our dayes Thirdly Forma the manner how this numbering is to be done So Fourthly Finis the End why they would bee so taught to number c. viz. That they may apply their bearts c. Efficiens 1 I. To begin with the first Efficiens the teacher God to him Moses and Israel direct their prayers Object But here it may bee objected Moses was learned in all the wisdome of the Egyptians Acts 7. The Secretaryes of Nature the most experienced in human knowledge of any nation then in the world and the rest of Israel having lived so long amongst them could not but have learn'd so much Arithmeticke as to number a few dayes why then doe they make it so great a sute unto God To which it may well bee answered Humane knowledge of Arts and Sciences may goe farre in the information of the understanding Sol. but they are all ignorant in teaching reformation of life they may teach us scientiam capitis how to apply our heads to wisdome but that which Moses would learne here is scientiam Cordis how to apply his heart to wisdom which none but God can teach Acts 10.1.6 The Centurion by his his owne Art had learn'd so well in Military discipline that hee became a Captaine over the Italian band but he was so ignorant in Gods warre that hee knew not how to serve there as a common souldier till Peter instructed him The Ethiopian Eunuch was so well versed in Courtship Acts 8.27 that he was chiefe favorite to Candace Queene of Ethiopia but could not become Gods favorite till he sent Philip to baptize him Paul that spake so many languages yet was unskilled in the language of Canaan the knowledge of Christ Acts 9.5 till Christ himselfe converted him Acts 18.26 Apollos an Eloquent man yet a Novice in Christianity till Aquila and Priscilla tooke him and taught him the way of God more perfectly Here is a divine kinde of Arithmeticke that none but God can teach for the numbering of the people we have David for an example 2 Sam. 24.2 for the numbering of our money our sheepe our Cattell we can doe it our selves the Poet could say Mille mei teneris errant in montibus agni and againe pauperis est numerare pecus Nay man can number the latitude of the Earth the altitude of the starres c. but for the numbering of his dayes to make up his account with God aright to see what arrerages hee hath and to summe up exactly his time to serve him None but he that is God can teach us this It is not to vilify humane learning that I speake this No I know Wisdome hath enemyes enough though she be justified by her owne children But rather to magnify God teaching above others and to shew that it is his priviledge alone who does all things Wisd 11. Psal 147.4 Math. 10.30 by number waight and measure who numbers the stars and calls them all by their names who numbers the hayres of our head and suffers not one to fall to the ground without his providence to teach us so to number our dayes as to apply our hearts to wisdome Here let all Moralls bee mute and all sciences bee silent let other teachers lay their hands on their mouthes and learne themselves Or if they will speake let them confesse that 1. Hee is the best Grammarian that lives with fewest incongruities in his faith and manners that keepes the best Concordance in his life to the rules of the Word that walks aequis passibus in Gods wayes that with Zachary and Elizabeth endevoureth Luke 1.6 to walke in all the Commandements of God blamelesse and without reproofâ— Luke 1. 2. He is the best Logician that knits his fist against sinne and impiety that makes the strongest Syllogismes against the temptations of Satan allurements of the world and lusts of the flesh that backes himselfe with arguments out of Gods Word wherewith as with the shield of Faith Helmet of Salvation and sword of the Spirit hee is able to repell all the fiery darts of Satan that can best divide the Word of truth best define the mysteries of Godlinesse and best discourse unto edification 3. Hee is the best Rethorician that with Apollos is mighty and eloquent in the Scriptures Acts 18. that with Esay rents his Rethoricke in sermons of Repentance and with David shewes his Poesy in divine Hymnes that with Paul can perswade Agrippa not onely almost Acts 26.28 but altogether to become a Christian and make Faelix tremble with his discourse while hee preacheth of Temperance Acts 24.25 Righteousnesse and Iudgement to come that studyes to deliver himselfe not so much in fine as fit and significant words Acts 2.37 that with Peter may pricke the hearts of the auditory and drive them to confession of sinnes and amendment of life 4. Hee is the best Geometrician whose Rule is the Word whose square is the will and whose line and levell are the glory of God that hath learnt with all Saints to comprehend what is the height and depth and breadth and length of the love of Christ Ephes 3.18 and can resolve with Saint Paul that neither height nor depth Rom 8. â—9 nor any other creature shall be able to separate him from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. 5. Hee is the best Astronomer that can picke out of the hoasts of Heaven viz. The Sunne Moone
indeed This done insisting some while in directing her how she might purchase that assurance and that trust she so heartily prayd for I left her untill the Thursday after By which time the Sun of righteousnesse with healing in his wings having dispelled in good measure those mysts of diffidence which eclipsed the light and peace of her soule began againe to shine forth in his wonted cleerenesse reviving and cheering up those drooping affections which had so long languished in the want of his comfortable presence insomuch that to my great rejoycing I found her magnifying of mercy which before she doubted of and comforting her selfe with those Scriptures which before her soule refused comfort in being tendred unto her I told her I did heartily blesse God for this happy change in her and she replyed that the grace of Christ was sufficient for her upon whom she did wholly rest and rely for her salvation disclayming all conceipt of worth or merit in her selfe entreating me to pray to God for her that it would please him to pardon those distrustfull thoughts which she had formerly of his goodnesse and to perfect that re-assurance of his love in her heart she joyning with us very cheerefully and devoutly all the time expressing a marvelous longing for the fullnesse of spiritual and heavenly joy Insomuch that while I inserted that petition of the Prophet Doe well unto thy Servant that she may live and praise thy name she interrupted me saying ô pray onely for my soule for I desire to be dissolved and to be with Christ which is farre better The Sunday following in the afternoone I was requested to preach to the Congregation of this Parish whither being come and enquiring of her health I was generally assured that they had observed her to be that day more composed cheerefull then usually she had bin but while the whol Families of her friends were Religiously exercised in the Church she intimated to those that wayted about her that she felt her selfe sensibly to change her Cough having a little before left her a sure signe in those diseases of death approaching whereupon they asked her if they should call the Lady her mother or husband or any other unto her but she answerd no they were she said about a good worke and she hoped that she should live till they had done and God granted her request for no sooner was the Sermon ended and all her friends againe returned about her but she heartily wished for some one to recommend her soule to God it was my happinesse to be there at that time and they entreated mee to performe that last office for her which we hasted to doe perceiving her to decline apace while she to the admiration of all that were present considering her great weakenesse repeated after me very zealously almost what soever I delivered and concluding with the Lords Prayer she most devoutly rehearsed that word for word which as it was the first she learnt so I may truely say it was the last she uttered for immediately hereupon as if she had onely staid for this Convoy to her eternall rest she most sweetly and peaceably exchanged this life leaving her surviving friends like the Apostle in a strait betwixt two not knowing which to chuse whether more to mourne for her losse or to rejoyce for her so blessed and happie departure But why doe I speake of losse since to use Saint Pauls phrase to her to live was Christ and to dye was gaine for she is not amissa but praemissa not lost but gone before death to her being but like Iordan to Israel a waftage from the wildernesse of this world to the Canaan of everlasting blessednes wher her soul is bound up in the bundle of life securely reposed in the bosom of Abraham 1 Cor. 15. â—4 her body like seed being sown in the Lords gleb-Land for so the Germans call the grave shal be there safely preserved by her heavenly Father that good Husbandman Ioh. 15.1 unto the harvest of that great day when by vertue of the resurrection of Christ 1 Cor. 15.20 The first fruits of them that sleepe she shall awake out of this Sepulchrall vault againe both glorious and honorable and the grave being dispossest of her body her body shal be re-possest by her soule and both body and soule everlastingly possest of that immortall incorruptible and never fading Kingdome 1 Pet. 1.4 reserved in heaven for her whose King is Christ whose Subjects are Saints whose Law is love whose rule is equity whose honour is verity whose peace is felicity and whose life is Eternity Unto which he brings us all who hath bought it for us and us for himselfe Christ Jesus therighteous to whom with the Father and the holy Spirit three Persons one eternall immortall invisible and onely wise God be rendred and ascribed all glory honour power praise might majesty dignity and dominion henceforth and for evermore Amen In praematura fata Dominae Elizabethae nuper uxoris patrui mei charissimi Caroli Dering 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 CÆtera cuncta licet rapias Libitina putabam Virtutem exemptam legibus esse tuis Sed verum est querulo cecinit quod carmine vates Omnia mors pedibus calcat avara suis Quae nunc ploranda est aeterna fuisset Eliza Si virtus auidum vinceret ipsa rogum Hinc mihi singultus laâ— hyrmae suspiria fletus Et quicquid luget fertilis arte dolor Damna tamen fateor foecundo carmine nostra Musa ferax lachrymis connumerare nequit Ergo tuos mea musa libet deponere planctus Amissae cruciant dum memorantur opes Edoardus Dering praedicti Dom. Edoardi Filius Charissimo fratri meo CAROLO DERING KANCIANOLONDINATI Amissam deflenti QVAM Ut Amorem nostrum decuit ut virtus defunctae meruit in communi nominis DERINGANI Hypogaeo arquato sociatam pie condidimus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ELISABETHA meos habuit prima vxor Amores Prima calet flammis ELSABETHA tuis CAROLE fatorum frater consor sq meorum Quam fugit heu cito nos utraq ELSA duos Sic fit sic FIAT PATRIS divina VOLVNTAS Transtulit ille meam transtulit ille tuam Haud peterint Elegi nostros numerare dolores Si foret in luctus Musa diserâ—a novos Illarum Heroo poterit nec earmine diei Caendor Amor Pietas Gratia Forma Fides Prussia dilectam tibi CAROLE credit ELISAM Vicina ad thalames venit ELISA mâ—os Vtraq nunc uno est vxor tumulata sepulchre Et cadit in cineres Vtraq ELISA simul Disce meo exemplo Vivacem nolo Dolorem Sed memor aeterno tempore vivat Amor Frater tuus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Dom. Edoardus Dering miles et Baronettus FINIS