all their Beauty comparable to God and Christ. Secondly It is better to be with Christ in Heaven than in anâ— State to be enjoyed here though it be as good as Spiritual and Gospâ—â— Enjoyments can make it and if any thing doth make it good indeed if any thing do render it grateful and delicious to an Holy Soul iâ— is these things these are the best and sweetest of all his Enjoyments these the Cream the Flower and Quintescence were it not foâ— something of these Earth would be an Hell to him yea and sâ— would Heaven be too Psalm 73.25 Whom have I in Heaven but theâ— and there is none upon Earth that I desire beside thee Let the Ark which was the Symbol of God's presence and the place before which Israeâ— was to Worship be taken by the Philistines and the good Wife oâ— Phinehas thought it was not worth her while to out-live so great loss but being told that a man-child was born unto her she calleâ— it Ichabod and said the Glory is departed from Israel for the Ark oâ— God is taken and died presently It is the Gospel and Communioâ— with God in the ways of the Gospel that an Heaven-born Soâ—â— doth value a Nation by and it self by these are the things in whicâ— he placeth his chief Joy and from which he fetcheth his strongeâ—â— and most sovereign Cordials The good man tells us Psalm 84 1â—â— That He had rather be a door-keeper or as the Margin hath it chuâ—â— rather to sit at the threshold in the house of his God than to dwell in the tents of wickedness he had rather chuse to pick up the Crumbs under Christ's Table than to sit at the upper end of the Creatures Board when it is furnished with the choicest Dainties Where is the experienced Christian that doth not find himself at a loss for a word when he undertakes to tell others what God hath done for his Soul Who can express with how much ravishing delight he sits under the shadow of Christ at an Ordinance and how sweet his Food is to his Taste How he enjoys himself when he is led into the Banquetting-House and there hath he the Banner of his Saviour's love spread over him How greatly is he ravished when there is Peace spoken to him â—n a Sermon that passeth not only all expression but likewise all understanding How is he rais'd up to the highest Admirings and praises when Divine Love is shed abroad in his Heart by the Holy Ghost and an interest in Christ and the Covenant is Sealed to him â—t a Sacrament or when he finds his Sails after he had lain for a â—ime Becalm'd or Wind-bound filled with a fair or fresh Gale from â—he Spirit or his Soul inlarged in Duty so as to run the way of the Commandments and in its Holy motions made like unto the Chariâ—ts of Amminadib When the Spirit of God darts into him Beams â—f light and by them so irridiates his Graces that he can see them â—o be what indeed they are and bears such a plain and full Testimoâ—y to his filial Relation to God as he thereby is imboldened to go to â—he Throne of Grace and Cry Abba Father Then indeed is his â—oul satisfied as with marrow and fatness and then he doth with Triumphs sing The lines are fallen to me in pleasant places and I â—ave a Goodly heritage Yet to be with Christ is far better than all â—his and that upon a Threefold account viz. Upon account of 1. The Purity of that State 2. The Perfection of that State 3. The Immutability of that State First The Future State when the Saints shall be with Christ in â—eaven will be a Pure State In this life when things are at the best â—here is a mixture there is no Saint that hath so bright a Day as â—hat there is not in it something of a Cloud He that is washed in â—he fountain opened for Sin and for Uncleanness and hath made it â—he great part of his business to cleanse himself from all filthiness â—oth of Flesh and Spirit will upon a review find there is still need of washing his Feet He is indeed made light in the Lord and bâ— shines before men yet when his Candle burns most bright it stand in need of snuffing Suppose him to be truly Gracious yea eminently so there have been upon him plentiful effusions of the Spirit and out of the fulness of Christ he hath received Grace yea Gracâ— for Grace yet after all this there is in him Corruption as well aâ— Grace Dross as well as Gold and Flesh as well as Spirit Thâ— Apostle Paul as far advanced as he was toward Heaven and Glorâ— could not for his heart suppress his Complaints and Groans buâ— must give himself a little ease by uttering them and telling God anâ— Man what to his pain and sorrow he felt within viz. A Law iâ— his Members warring against the Law in his Mind which was 〈◊〉 powerful as to be often prevalent and bring him into Captivity 〈◊〉 the Law of Sin and Death which was in his Members and he coulâ— not chuse but in a pang of desire call and cry out for deliverance 〈◊〉 a poor Gally-Slave would from his Chain and Oar Romans 7. 〈◊〉 O wretched man that I am who shall deliver me from the body of thâ— death They that have the Comeliness of Christ put upon them anâ— not without something of their own Deformities and may in thâ— case say as the Spouse did in another I am comely and black toâ— comely as the Curtains of Solomon yet black as the Tents of Kedâ—â— And Oh! How do the thoughts and consideration hereof maâ—â— them ashamed and blush to lift up their faces towards God But 〈◊〉 the Future State they will be clean every whit and without Spot 〈◊〉 Blemish or Wrinkle or any such thing Then there will be in theâ— nothing to offend God nothing to offend themselves nothing thâ— shall be a cause of displeasure to God or of grief to them nothinâ— that shall fully their beauty or eclipse their light nothing that shaâ—â— disturb their pleasant rest or retard their Holy motions The Inhâ—â—bitant shall not say I am Sick nor shall he say I am sinful He shaâ—â— neither be Sick of Love as the enamoured Spouse was nor Sick of Siâ— as the humble and broken-hearted Penitent is It is in that Statâ— in which the Church and her Children shall be Clear and Glorious 〈◊〉 the Sun here they are and while here they will be but as thâ— Moon with their Spots which yet they are not as some proud oâ— Secondly That Future State in which the Saints shall be witâ— Christ is a Perfect State Whatever some deluded Souls have anâ— do fancy to themselves in this World there is no such thing as peâ—â—fection to be attained to here tho that be not above the desire anâ— hope of the Babes in Christ the meanest and weakest Saints yet iâ— is out of the
the 〈◊〉 knows them not owns them not but hates and persecutes them 〈◊〉 they lose nothing by it for then he calls them out of darkness inâ—is marvellous light then he calls them unto his Kingdom and Glory 〈◊〉 doth at death call them to come up to another place come up 〈◊〉 He sends for them from all their beloved Friends and Relatiâ—here from all their comfortable possessions and enjoyments so 〈◊〉 these places shall know them no more but then he calls them 〈◊〉 the Church militant where they are often put upon hard service 〈◊〉 have their conflicts and wounds to the Church Triumphant where 〈◊〉 shall have their Palms and Thrones and Songs of Praise He 〈◊〉 them from waiting at the Posts of his door and sitting at his â—â—shold to a lying in the Bosome of his Everlasting Love So that 〈◊〉 can in none of these things find what we are enquiring after viz. 〈◊〉 thing which had put this Holy man into a strait What then was it â—â—swer â—ourthly and Affirmatively thus The Apostle had two things be 〈◊〉 him two Interests in his eye and for each of them there were 〈◊〉 strong and weighty Arguments by means of which he was 〈◊〉 a Needle between two Load Stones and by them drawn first one way and then another so that as he had said in the foregoâ—â—â— Verse Which of them he should chuse he wot not If you ask Wâ—â—â— these two things were you will easily understand by consulting 〈◊〉 context take it thus One thing was Dying and thereupon a goâ—â—â— to Christ and being with him which he knew would be gain to 〈◊〉 the other was an abiding here and continuing yet longer in 〈◊〉 Flesh to attend upon his Office as an Apostle and Servant of Jeâ—â—â— Christ and to engage yet further in the work of the Gospel wâ—â—â— he knew would through a concurrence of the Divine Spirit and â—â—â—sing turn to the gain and advantage of the Church by bringing in 〈◊〉 that were without to the acceptance and obedience of Faith 〈◊〉 also by strengthning comforting establishing and building up 〈◊〉 higher in Knowledge and Grace those that had been alreâ—â— brought in Now these two things the Apostle doth according 〈◊〉 the Wisdom and Grace given him of God compare togerher 〈◊〉 one Scale of the Balance he laid his own Gain and particular Advâ—â—â—tage which would be the infallible and immediate consequence 〈◊〉 his Death In the other Scale of the Balance he laid the Churâ—â—â— gain which he rationally concluded would be the desirable and â—â—â—py effect of his Life and Ministerial Labours and in his judgâ—â—â— the Scales did hang even so even that if a liberty of Electâ—â—â— Choice should by God be granted to him he should be at a very 〈◊〉 loss not well knowing to which side he should incline whiâ—â—â— these two he should chuse And thus good man he was as a pâ—â—â—prest and straitned between two things and two affections coâ—â—â—ry the one to the other Namely a desire of being present with 〈◊〉 Lord though absent from the Brethren and a desire of being â—â—â—sent with the Brethren and helpful to them though in order theâ—â—â— to he must consent to a being for a time absent from the Lord. 〈◊〉 this case he scarce knew what to do That ardent and imâ—â—â— Love which he did bear unto the Lord Jesus Christ would puâ— upon chusing and desiring a departure hence for where the caâ—â— is there would the Eagles be and where Christ is there would â— Christian be That principle of levity which is in the spark 〈◊〉 not more naturally carry it upward than a principle of saâ—â— Grace in the heart of a Believer doth carry him out in earnest dâ—â—â— and longings to be with Christ But then again That sincere 〈◊〉 very great Love which he had to the Brethren did produce in 〈◊〉 an humble and holy willingness to continue yet longer here He 〈◊〉 desirous to dye that he might enjoy Christ but he had learned t◠〈◊〉 himself for the sake of the Brethren These two things had â—â—ch weight and worth in themselves and such an influence and powâ—â— upon him that he was divided in himself and knew not well upon â—hich he should fix his choice Upon the consideration hereof I find â—e Learned Zanchy breaking out into this pathetical and admiring â—xclamation O cor vere Apostolicum in quo Dei proximi perfecta viâ—â—bat dilectio O Heart truly Apostolical worthy of so excellent a â—aint so great a man as Paul highly becoming so eminent an â—fficer as an Apostle of Jesus Christ in which there was such a â—â—re and vehement Flame both to God and to his Neighbour â—â—ere was indeed the Spirit of a Saint here was a Christian in his â—eauty and Glory here was Love doing its perfect work both â—ward Christ and to his Interest toward first the Person of Christ â—hom it longs to embrace and enjoy and towards the people â—f Christ whom it is also free to serve Thus have I done with the â—ird and last thing in the Text viz. the Strait in which Paul was â—nd how he came to be brought into it wherein there is an evident â—â—scovery of the excellency and nobleness of this great man's Spirit â—ut he was inlarged and set at liberty again as you find in the two â—erses immediately fellowing the Text Nevertheless to abide in the â—â—sh is more needful for you and having confidence I know that I shall â—â—ide and continue with you all for your furtherance and joy of Faith â—â—at your rejoycing may be more abundant in Iesus Christ for me by my â—â—ming to you again This he knew would be and so long as it was â—â—r the Glory of God and their good he was very well pleased â—â—ne request indeed he had to make to them that while he continued â—mong them he might live comfortably among them that they â—ould not be his Grief but Joy while they prectice what he â—reached and lived up to the Mysteries he reveal'd and those exâ—ellent Rules he laid down Verse 27. Only let your conversation 〈◊〉 as it becometh the Gospel of Christ. Thus have I with all the conveniâ—nt speed I could make run through those things which are conâ—â—ained in this Scripture and endeavoured in an expository way to â—xplain and open them to you The only thing which according â—o promise at our entrance into this Discourse doth remain â—urther â—o be done is to draw up some Doctrinal conclusions from the â—hole and present them to you which I shall with God's Assistance â—o and in few words dispatch every one of them leaving you to â—nlarge upon them in your own Meditations and commending both â—hem and you to the Divine Blessing for improvement First observe from these words that Death is a departure or going froâ— hence Here you are now and some of you have been so a long while sâ— long as that others are weary of you and possibly you
A Funeral-Sermon Upon Occasion of the DEATH OF Mrs. LOBB Late WIFE of Mr. Steven Lobb Preached by SAMUEL SLATER Minister of the GOSPEL Psalm CXII 6. The Righteous shall be in everlasting remembrance LONDON Printed for Tho. Parkhurst and Tho. Cockerill at the Bible and Three Crowns in Cheapside and at the Three Legs in the Poultrey MDCXCI To the REVEREND Mr. STEVEN LOBB Dear Brother GOD having made a great Breach upon you by taking away her who was the delight of your eyes and I having seen the Body she left behind laid to Rest in its bed of Dust was â—hen by you put upon this last Office of Love in Preaching â—o your People on that occasion nor did I draw back â—ut being that very Evening seized by and for some time â—ontinued under a Sharp Distemper I could not Study a New Sermon but was forced to entertain you with one I â—ad Preached in mine own Congregation but a little before â—pon the Death of a Young Gentlewoman Mrs. Susan Hatchman the Text put into my hand as what in â—eer Health she had chosen for that purpose Well it â—aving been Preached you earnestly desir'd the Publishing â—f it and would needs have it from the Pulpit sent to the Press thereupon it is done and I have enough so it do much good I heartily sympathized with you for indeed I â—ove you the good Lord sanctifie the Affliction and sweeten â—t and make it up to you I said nothing in her Commendation while many do not deserve it she did not need it Her works praise her so do you and the Tongues of them that knew her I desire that he who can would fill up her room comfort your heart help you in your work and prosper it and having been your God be the God of your Seed that those young Branches may flourish in his Courts and bring forth much precious Fruit in their Season I leave you where I hope I found you under the healing wings of the Sun of Righteousness which are able to cure all Wounds and to supply all Wants and so remain Yours in the best Bonds SAMUEL SLATER November 20. 1691. A Funeral-Sermon PHILIP 1.23 I am in a strait betwixt two having a desire to depart and to be with Christ which is far better PAVL being a Prisoner at Rome where that Monster of men Nero sate in the Throne sent by Epaphroditus this Epistle to the Saints at Philippi with the Bishops and Deacons among other Reasons to prevent their being offended at his Sufferings which had fallen out to the furtherance of the Gospel his Bonds being famous in Caesar's Court and other Places which gave people occasion of enquiring into the reason of them by which means they came to understand something of Christ and the Christian Religion Besides many of the Brethren were by his Courage and Constancy encouraged to preach the word with greater boldness than before Some indeed preached Christ out of Envy to him that they might lessen his Interest and Esteem and advance their own But others did it out of a sincere and holy purpose to enlarge the Kingdom of Christ and to maintain and confirm what Paul had delivered for which he also now suffered knowing he was set for the defence of the Gospel And he comforted himself with such things as these That however tâ—e work was carried on and the Name of Christ was as a Precious Oinâ—ment poured forth and as for himself his afflictions should contribute to his Salvation through the help of their prayers and fresh supplies of Grace from the divine Spirit trusting according to his former Hope and Expectation that he himself should not through any Terror be ashamed to own and stand to what he had preached and that Christ should be magnified in his Body whetheâ— it were by Lâ—fe or by Death of which two which to chuse he knew not but was in a strait about it as he saith in the Text before us Wherein I shall take notice of and offer to your Consideration threâ— things and having with convenient brevity spoken to them I shalâ— present you with some Doctrinal Conclusions and shut up this Discourse 1. Here is Pauls Jâ—dgment 2. His Dâ—sire 3. The Strait in which yet he was First I shall consider his Iudgment which we have reason to counâ— solid and worthy of so eminent an Apostle The Object about which it was exercised is the Future State of Believers which they shall enter into when their Places here shall know them no more Aâ— for their present State that condition in which they are during their abode here he had given his thoughts concerning it elsewhere namely 1 Cor. 15.19 If in this life only we have hope in Christ we are of all men most miserable We might very well pass in the world for a company of Fools and Madmen should we keep under our bodies as we do and deny our selves the free use of those outward Comforts which others do abound in and expose our selves to so much Contempt and Scorn so great Hatred and Reproach so many Losses Crosses Sufferings and Persecutions if we had not a firm and well-grounded Assurance of something yea enough in another world to make us an abundant amends and recompence for all the troubles and vexations of this So that he there readily yields That as to present Temporal Enjoyments the condition of Wicked Men is of the two more desirable which hath been a great and sore Temptation to some Gracious and Holy Persons as you may see if you please to peruse the 73 d Psalm from the 1 st to the end of the 14 th verse But in the Text before us he speaks of a Future State into which the Saints shall enter when they take their flight and mounâ— up with wings as Eagles unto that delightful Place which God hath prepared for their Eternal Abode And he gives us his Judgment of this State as to Two Things 1. The Nature of it 2. The excellency of it And both these are worthy of our most serious and frequently-repeated thoughts 1. The Apostle tells us what that State will be as to the Nature of â—t of which he doth indeed speak very briefly but very fully From what he saith I may with highest confidence conclude That it is such â— State as now deserves to be the Object of the Saints Desire and â—hen they are once entred into it it will be eternally their Delight 〈◊〉 is such a state as now they may well long for and hereafter they â—annot but be satisfied with Such a State as that the Faith and Assuâ—ance of it may and doth work in them Joy unspeakable and full of Glory Then raise your Thoughts and Conceptions to the highest â—itch that you can and inlarge them to the utmost and tell us if you â—an what the enjoyment of it will do But if you ask What is that â—tate He tells you It is a being with Christ And that is Heaven