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A60670 Life in death, or The living hope of a dying saint, handled in a sermon preached at the funeral of that eminently vertuous, and religious gentle-woman, Mris. Mary Morley, late wife to Colonel Harbert Morley, Esq; and daughter to Sr. John Trevor Knight. By Zachary Smith, minister of the Gospel, and pastor of the church at Glynde in Sussex, Sept. 18. 1656. Smith, Zachary, b. 1604 or 5. 1656 (1656) Wing S4351; ESTC R214782 29,879 40

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in every condition to undergo what he inflicts and to wait his leisure for deliverance out of all straits Heb. 10.36 ye have need of patience that after ye have done the will of God ye may inherit the promises they that would rejoyce in hope must be patient in tribulation Rom. 12.12 Rom. 8.25 7. Lastly be much in prayer unto the Lord who is the God of hope that ye may abound in hope through the power of the holy Ghost Rom. 15.13 and that your hearts may be filled with all joy and peace in believing and that you may be made partakers of the righteousnesse of God both imputed unto justification and infused by his spirit unto sanctification that as becometh Trees of righteousnesse of the Lords planting ye may be filled with fruits of righteousnesse which are by Jesus Christ unto the glory and praise of God so shall ye have hope in your death and lay hold on eternal life for they which abound in such fruits of righteousnesse shall abound also in the sure and certain hope of eternal life I should now conclude forbear to speak any thing of the dead knowing that to say much in commendation of the dead is sometimes more offensive than profitable to the living but that some Scripture examples encourage me hereunto Act. 9.36.39 Luke being guided by the spirit of God makes mention of a certain Disciple at Joppa named Tabitha and publisheth it after her death that she was a woman full of good works and Almes deeds which she did and tells us of many mourning Widows shewing the Coats and Garments which Dorcas made while she was with them See what ample commendations are given of that good King Josiah 2 King 23 25. like unto him was there no King before him that turned unto the Lord with all his heart and with all his Soul and with all his might neither after him arose there any like him and Heb 11. that whole Chapter is an Encomium setting forth the commendations of men and women famous in their generations for manifesting the life of their faith by their works And in Matth. 26.7 13. the Lord Christ takes care that the memorial of that woman that shewed so much respect and good affection to him as to bestow a box of costly Oyntment upon him should not be buried with her Corpse But wherever the Gospel shall be preached in the whole World there shall also this that this woman hath done be told for a memorial of her However some of his Disciples might censure her rashly as being too lavish and wastfull Christ the most absolute pattern of temperance defendeth this expence in respect of the circumstances and tells them that she was so far from being blame-worthy that the memory of this act of her piety and good affection to him should live to all ages The best actions of good men and women may be sometimes misconstrued by Christs own Disciples as we see there Yet Christ who knowes the intentions of his people sets a price on their good works and defends them though men misinterpret and condemne them The memory of ought done for Christ or any of his God will not suffer to perish This womans Name was Mary the sister of Lazarus and Martha as you may see Joh. 12.3 she delighed to sit at Jesus feet and hear his word Luk. 10.39 to whom Christ gives Testimony that she had chosen that good part which shall never be taken from her vers 42. she bestowed much costly ointment upon the feet of Jesus as well as upon the head and the house was filled with the odour of the oyntment such another Mary was this so affectionately desirous to sit at Jesus feet and to heare his word and so ready to any act of love and beneficence to Christ the Head or any of his members that she made and bestowed much costly oyntment and other precious cordialls even upon the feet of Christ the poorest and meanest Christians when in their sicknes lamenesse or other infirmityes she was made acquainted with their conditions The odour of her sweet Oyntments did not only fill that house where she made them but the benefit and vertue of them hath been felt to the refreshing of very many in other families of this Countrey where her memory is and will be honoured For me to speake much in Commendation of that precious Gentlewoman the 〈◊〉 of whose Corpse hath occasioned this Concourse of people and solemnity would be but as if I should hold forth a Candle to shew you the sunne she was such a bright shining light and the Graces of Gods spirit did so eminently and illustriously sparkle forth in her speeches and behaviour to the observation of such as had any acquaintance or occasion to converse with her that the Lord hath caused a great Ecclypse and Darknesse to obscure the glory of that family and this whole Neighbourhood in taking her from us Yea and much sadnes and heavines to seize upon all our spirits at our being deprived of so choice a blessing as we enioyed in her I am confident the praise and properties of a vertuous woman mentioned by Solomon Pro. 31.10 c. might as warrantably without flattery be attributed and applyed to her as to any Gentlewoman in this whole County without disparagement to any other She was a woman that truely feared the Lord therefore she shall be praised vers 30. she was very diligent and solicitous about making her Calling and Election sure and with tears trickling down her cheeks hath she often in private Conference propounded doubts and desired Resolutions and directions from me tending thereunto such as lived in that family or rosorted thither knew her to be very conscionable in observing and sanctifying the Lords day and provoking others thereunto calling her servants as well as her children to account what they could remember of the sermons they heard she began betimes like Timothies Mother Eunice and Solomons Mother Bathsheba to justruct her children in the knowledge of the scriptures and to drop instill into her little ones the Principles of Christianity and to train them up in the way that they should goe she was not only carefull that duties of Religion might be attended on daily by those of her family but was also conscionable and frequent in closet-dutyes She was adorned with a meek and a quiet spirit which in the sight of God is of great price And in her behaviour to her Hushand her chast conversation was coupled with Reverence Love and Obedience a true Christian Yoke-fellow helpfull to him in bearing the yoke of Christ and tenderly regarding the good of his Soul as well as discreetly managing the affaires of the family She was of a sweet winning courteous affable disposition to all very ready to succour and releive any that were poore or sicke whose wants were made known to her whether strangers or neighbours she was so farre from placing any confidence in the flesh or resting upon any thing in her self or her own performances that though she was in high esteem among us for her adorning the Gospell with an holy and unblameable Conversation yet she was very vile in her own eyes and groned much under the sense of her own corruptions her Soul panted so earnestly after Jesus Christ that she counted all but losse and dung that she might win Christ and be found in him In my last conference with her after the discovery of some conflicts betwixt faith and doubting it pleased the Lord so sweetly to come in to the releife of her drooping spirit Nehem. 1.11 and the quieting and satisfying of her Conscience after some musings on Mal. 4.2 that he enabled her to glorify his free Grace and to set her seale to his Testimony concerning Christ in so much that with much vigour and alacrity of spirit she expressed her Resolution in these words I am resolved through Gods Grace to cast my self into the armes of Jesus Christ and rely wholly upon him who I trust will not suffer me to perish Indeed that family and this Parish was adorned with a very precious Jewell whiles that we enioyed her but the Lord judging us all unworthy of her hath taken her hence to weare in his own bosom in heaven whereby we are all deprived of a singular spurre to Piety and help to Devotion I shall adde no more concerning her but make one request to you all that you will not only learn by this sad warning of our Mortality to be prepared for death by following after Righteousnesse that you may have hope in your death and follow her into Glory but that you will expresse your love and respect to her sorrowfull and disconsolate 〈◊〉 fellow and motherlesse Children in praying that 〈…〉 improovement may be made by him of this sad 〈…〉 him and his family and that the children may 〈…〉 Gra●e as 〈◊〉 years They being now deprived of any furth●● 〈…〉 of their mother let me desire you to be in 〈…〉 much in prayer with the Lord that Christ may be framed in them and that they may hereafter be blessings to that family and their Countrey and that this Ancient family of the Morleyes may continue to be eminent for yielding good Patriots and men of publike spirits ready to honour God and serve their Countrey in succeeding Generations FINIS
this place was a Bochim Judg. 2.5 yea as Hadadrimmon in the Valley of Megiddon where the Inhabitants of Iudah and Ierusalem mourned for the death of Iosiah Zach. 12.11 2 Chron. 35.25 I dare say there hath not been a Gentle-woman living in this County so few years whose death hath been more generally bewailed and lamented over all Sussex But I know you make use of better considerations and grounds of comfort than this And that you are throughly apprehensive of the Lords hand in this sad stroke whose will hath been done by him in this event and quiet submission of our wills to his ought to be yielded by us the examples of Aaron Levit. 10.3 4. of Eli 1 Sam. 3.18 of David 2 Sam. 15.26 and of Iob 1.21 are worthy of your observation and imitation herein The Lord knows how to cause all things to work together for good unto his people and he is the God of all comforts who can comfort you in all your tribulations and fill your hearts with joy and peace in believing so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Ghost that Christ may be in you the hope of glorie and that his love being shed abroad in your hearts by his spirit given unto you you also may have hope in your death Thus prayeth Glynde October 4. 1656. Your Honours Humbly devoted to serve you in all Gospel-duties Zachary Smith LIFE in DEATH OR The living hope of a dying Saint Proverbs 14.34 The righteous hath hope in his death IN this verse Solomon shews the different state and contrary condition of the righteous and the wicked 1 of the good and bad of such as fear God and such as fear him not when they come to die and that in two distinct Propositions 1. The wicked is driven away in his wickednesse as Chaffe driven away by the winde Ps 1.4 2. The Righteous hath Hope in his Death I shall insist onely upon this latter Proposition as the Doctrine to be handled at present and speak something of the former when we come to make Application The Righteous hath hope in his death IN handling this Point these Particulars are to be considered 1. Who is to be understood by the subject of this Hope here spoken of The Righteous 2. What is here affirmed of the Righteous hath Hope where consider 1. the Nature of this Hope 2. the Object of it 3. When the time of actuating this Grace in his Death 4. Proofs that it is so 5. Grounds and Reasons why it is so and then Apply it The Righteous who is he 1. Who The righteous is sometimes understood Civilly Morally for one that is just in his dealings with men sometimes 2. Theologically for one that orders the whole course of his life according to the will of God which is the rule of righteousnesse So again in a Scripture-sence one may be said to be righteous 1. Legally so Adam was righteous before the fall Eccles 7.29 and Christ since a righteout branch Jer. 23.5 who sulfilled all righteousnesse and is called the Sun of righteousnesse Mal. 4.2 Rom 3.10 but none else among the Children of men can be said of themselves to be perfectly righteous according to the righteousnesse of the Law 2. Evangelically righteous so believers are said to be righteous in regard of a twosold righteousnesse 1. of Justification 2. of Sanctification the former by imputation the latter by infesion and inchoation Rom. 10.4 Christ is the end of the Law for righteousnesse to every one that believeth Rom. 4.5 6. To him that worketh not but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly his faith is counted for righteousnesse Even as David also describeth the blessednesse of the man unto whom God imputeth righteousnesse without works This is that righteousnesse which Paul so highly esteemed and desired to partake of Phil. 3.9 the righteousnesse which is of God by faith Believers are also made partakers of inherent righteousnesse by the infusion of sanctifying Graces into their hearts and the renuing of the holy Ghost Act. 15.9 purifying their hearts by faith and thus they that were unrighteous may become righteous 1 Cor. 6.9 11. Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the Kingdom of God And such were some of you but ye are washed but ye are sanctified but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the spirit of our God so they are said to be righteous who walk in their unrightnes Isa 57.1 2. Job 27.5 6. till I die I will not remove my integrity from me my righteousnesse I hold fast will not let it go Tit. 2.12 so that by the righteous in the Text we are to upderstand such as believing in Christ walk uprightly doing just and righteous things though impersectly 1 Joh. 3.7 he that doth righteousnesse is righteous thus Noah is said to have been a just man and perfect or upright in his generation walking with God Gen. 6.9 and God gave him this testimony Gen. 7.1 Thee have I found righteous before me What what is here affirmed of the Righteous 2. He hath Hope here consider 1. the nature of Hope 2ly the object of his Hope Hope in commonspeech signifies a bare likelyhood a probable conjecture a groundlesse fancy but in scripture phrase an undoubted certainty Hope is a patient expectation of the accomplishment of that good whereof we receive assurance by faith Rom. 8.24 25. We are saved by hope but hope that is seen is not hope for what a man seeth why doth be yet hope for But if we hope for that we see hot then doe we with patience waite for it Gal. 5.5 we through the spirit waite for the hope of righteousnes by faith There is the Hope of the Hypocrite 1. and the hope of the Righteous Job 8.13.14 Bildad tells Job the hypocrites hope shall perish whose hope shall be cut off and whose trust shall be a spiders web First the object of his hope shall fail him i.e. those benefits blessings accommodations and comforts which he looked for in the Profession of Religion these shall fail him and prove false hopes He shall not enioy the things hoped for Secondly the Act of his Hope shall fail his hope shall die being so long deferred Hypocrites may be full of hope for a time but their Hope will deceive them at last and to lose our Hope is the Utmost of Evills Mr. Caryl on Job 8.13 14. as Mr. Caryll well observes on Job 8.13 14. All that an hypocrite hopeth for or expects shall be utterly taken away and cut off from him his worldly comforts will be gon and heavenly comforts will never come he shall finde that he hath been in a golden dream as one that is hungry who dreames that he is eating but when he awaketh his Soul is empty Job 27.8 What is the Hope of the hypocrite though he hath gained when God taketh away his soule Their hope is a groundlesse
after Christ M. Marshal It was an expression of that excellent Preacher holy mann ow with God Mr. Marshal The weakest Saint in articulo mortis hath more grace than Paul had in his life time 1 Cor. 13.10 And this consideration should make Christians willing to die that they may be rid of sin and be made perfectly holy Mr. Hildersam in the close of his 65 Lecture on Psal 51. hath a solemne Speech worth our serious consideration which is this Certainly he that desireth not that striveth not to be willing to die even upon this ground because death and nothing but death will perfect the work of mortification in him hath just cause to suspect that there is no truth of saving grace in him no sense of the vile corruption of his nature it is no bondage to him Another benefit which the Souls of believers partake of by death is this They do immediately passe into glory Phil. 1.23 For I am in a strait between two having a desire to depart and to be with Christ which is far better In which words we have Pauls strait and his own inclination expressed rather to die than to live here and the ground of this his desire because it s far better for the Soul to be with Christ than to abide in the body where also he implies two things in the death of the Saints 1. There is a dissolution of the Soul from the body 2. That there is a conjunction of the Soul with Christ He expected not by death to be utterly extinguished but translated hence some other where not an annihilation but a dissolution and he makes no intermission of time or interposition of place between his dissolution and his being with his Saviour he speaks of his being with Christ as the immediater certain consequent of his dissolution Death should be to him but as a Portal opening to give him speedy admittance into the presence of the Lord in whose presence is fulnesse of joy and at whose right hand there are pleasures for evermore And this he speaks of as a Priviledge not onely peculiar to himself as an Apostle or a Martyr but common to all true believers 2 Cor. 5.1 4 6 8. Heb. 12.23 Luke 23.43 Act. 7.59 Luke 16.22.23 25. The Angels are ministring Spirits attending on them that are Heirs of salvation to receive their Souls at death and to carry them into Abrahams bosom i.e. a state of rest and happinesse where they are comforted where they behold the face of God and see him as he is and know him as they are known of him 1 Cor. 13.12 and where they behold Christs glory Joh. 17.24 so that you see that death is exceeding gainfull to believers and that the righteous have hope in their death that their Souls being made perfect in holinesse shall immediately passe into glory and enjoy rest and blisse in Communion with Christ Further the righteous hath hope in his death in the behalf of his body Psal 16.9 my flesh also shall rest in hope that is as Aynsworth renders and explains it shall dwell in confidence or abide with hope i.e. boldly safely and securely meaning that his body should abide or rest in the grave with sure hope of rising again from the dead The bodies of believers being still united to Christ do rest in their graves untill the Resurrection 1 Thes 4.14 them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him tanquam membra cum capite The grave is but a withdrawing room for the bodies of the Saints a sleeping room where they rest as in their beds Isa 57.2 Act. 7.60 Joh. 11.11 13 1. The bodies of believers after death remain still united to Christ though death cause a separation betwixt their Souls and bodies yet not betwixt Christ and their dead bodies The union wrought in effectual calling is betwixt Christ and the believers whole man and it is an inseparable indissoluble and eternal union they are joyned to Christ as their husband 1 Cor. 6.13 the body is not for fornication but for the Lord the Lord for the body vers 15. know ye not that your bodies are Members of Christ c. Yea temples of the holy Ghost which is in you vers 19.20 Yea the spirit of Christ dwells in believers Rom. 8.9 10 11. Ioh. 6.37 39 40. The Union betwixt Christ believers holds firm in and after death so that their dead ashes are part of the Members of Christ in the grave Gods Covenant is still of force with them in the dust Mat. 22.31 32 c. Mr. Consule Zanch. in 1 Thes 4.14 Perkins in his Cases of Conscience 1. Book 9. Chap. 3. Sect. expresseth himself thus There is a mystical union and conjunction between Christ and every believer and that not onely in regard of Soul but of body also which being once knit shall never be dissolved but is eternall whereupon the dying dead rotten and consumed body remaineth still a member of Christ abideth within the Covenant and is and shall be ever a Temple of the holy Ghost and by vertue of their Conjunction with Christ shall be raised to glory at the last day 2. As the Bodies of Beleivers after death remain still united to Christ so they rest in their Graves as in their Beds they rest from all labour and toyl from all trouble and paine yea from all the motions of sin and drudgery of Sathan Musculus in Psal 16.9 Observandum est mortem carnis interpretatur esse quietem non interitum ergo carni piorum sepulchrum non est fovea sed lectulus quieti destinatus The Bodies of the Saints at Death are only fallen asleep Act. 7.60 We know that naturall sleep is not perpetuall we sleep and awake again in the morning so it s but a certain time that their bodyes shall lie at rest in the Grave they shall be awakened and raised again in the morning of the Resurrection and again the body being asleep can easily be awakened and roused up by being jogged or called upon with a loud voice so the dead bodyes of saints shall be much more easily raised and awakened by the power of Christs voice Joh. 5.28 And as sleep is a great refreshing to sicke and weary bodies so that they are more vigorous and lively when they awake so when beleivers bodies shall be awakened out of the sleep of death and raised out of their Graves as from their Beds they shall be more active and nimble for God than ever they were before 1. Cor. 15.42 43. it is sown in corruption it is raised in incorruption it is sown in dishonour it is raised in glory it is sown in weaknes it is raised in power So that the bodies of beleivers after death doe not only rest in their graves but they rest in Hope even in hope of a glorious resurrection which is a 3. priviledge of the righteous in their death in regard of their bodies The Righteous hath hope in his
seek to be inherently holy Col. 1.5 6. for the hope which is laid up for you in Heaven whereof ye heard before in the Gospel which bringoth forth fruit in you c. vers 27.28 So Col. 3.1 2 4 5 from the consideration of their hope of future glory with Christ he exhorts them to heavenly mindednesse and to mortify their earthly Members c. So Titus 2.11 12 13 14. The grace of God teacheth us that denying ungodlinesse and worldly lusts we should live soberly righteously and godly in this present World looking for that blessed hope c. Try by these marks whether your hope be such as will not make you ashamed but stand you in stead to afford you comfort in the hour of death or whether you be in the number of those that are in danger of being driven away in their wickednesse and so apply comfort or terrour accordingly but I must hasten to one Use more and so conclude 4. Vse Of Exhortation in 2. Branches 1. To the surviving friends and relations of dying and deceased Saints to moderate their grief and sorrow for their Christian friends when they die seeing the righteous hath hope in his death and by death is made partaker of so many priviledges and enjoyes the possession of what we yet desire and hope for let not Christians sorrow as men without hope for them which are asleep in Jesus 1 Thes 4.13 14. He forbids not Christian sorrow for the dead but Heathenish not moderate but excessive and immoderate either in respect of time or measure of our grief we may water our Plants for our deceased friends as one expresseth it but not drown them It is good that we should lay to heart the death of the righteous and take notice of Gods hand in it and our losse and danger thereby so as to mourn and be affected with sorrow for it the Lord blames them for their stupidity and regardlesnesse who laid it not to heart when the righteous were taken away Isa 57.1 but we should not suffer our hearts to be overwhelmed with grief but moderate our sorrow considering their gain and benefit by death they are taken away from evil to come and enter into peace Our Saviour perceiving the hearts of his Disciples sadded at the thoughts of his departure from them tells them Joh. 14.28 if ye loved me ye would rejoyce because I go unto the Father See how David moderated and asswaged his grief and sorrow when he understood that his Childe was dead by considering that God had now revealed his will by his work whereunto his people must patiently submit their wills and that it would be bootlesse 2 Sam. 12.23 and in vain for him to afflict his Soul further with grief in regard of his Childe whom he could not restore to life being now dead and further he considered his own mortality and his Childes happy estate by death which David also comforted himself in hope of attaining unto I shall go to him c. Consider how willing and ready Barzillai was to part with Chimham and glad to have him preferred in the Court of King David 2 Sam. 19.37 and shall not we be content and willing to part with our dearest friends and relations for their good when the King of Heaven sends for them to live in his Court and to stand in his presence where is sulnesse of joy and pleasures for ever more The 2. Branch of this Use of Exhortation is of more general concernment to exhort all so to redeem their time and to improve their talents whilest they live that they may have hope in their death and that their hope may not be cut off and make them ashamed to this purpose observe and practise these 8. Directions 1. Renounce all confidence in the flesh and lay your mouths in the dust sit alone consider your wayes look into the glasse of the Law to discover and take a view of your spiritual spots blemishes and deformities so as to loath and abhorre your selves yea to despair in your selves by reason of your sin and misery Lam. 3.28.29 2. Close in with Christ get interest in him by faith Col. 1.27 Christ in you the hope of glory but without Christ without hope Eph. 2.12 Fides est fundamentum spei Faith is the foundation of true hope Gal 5.5 John 11.25 26. Jesus said unto Martha I am the Resurrection and the life he that believeth in me though he were dead yet shall he live and whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die 3. Renue thy repentance dayly 1 Joh. 3.3 Every one that hath this hope must purifie himself they that hope to appear with Christ in glory must mortifie their earthly Members Col. 3 4 5. Die dayly to sin lest thou die in sin and so perish for ever The wicked is driven away in his wickednesse such as look for that blessed hope must deny ungodlinesse Tit. 2.12 13. sin deadens and destroyes hope 4. Follow after righteousnesse 1 Tim. 4.8 6.11 12. seek righteousnesse it may be ye shall be hid in the day of the Lords wrath Zeph. 2.3 saving hope is called the hope of righteousnesse Gal. 5 5. Walk uprightly Isa 57.2 Add to your faith vertue c. for ●o an entrance shall be ministred to you abundantly into the everlasting Kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ 2 Pet. 1.5 11. Be abundant in the work of the Lord for as much as you know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord 1 Cor. 15. Ult. This consideration afforded succour and relief to the drooping spirit of Hezekiah when he received the sentence of death from the Lord against himself that he had walked before the Lord in truth and done that which was good in his sight Isa 38.3 5. Sit loose from the World in your hearts and affections and be heavenly-minded having your conversation in Heaven Paul tells the Philippians that their end is destruction who minde earthly things and they that look for the Saviour the Lord Jesus Christ to come from Heaven to change their vile bodies and that they may be fashioned like unto his glorious body have their conversation in Heaven Phil 3.19.20 21. So 1 Tim 6.8 9 10 11. directing them how to lay hold on eternal life he adviseth them to moderate their affections towards the good things of the World and to be content with necessaries because of the danger of covetousnesse and inordinate desire of riches whereby men have been drowned in destruction and perdition and have pierced themselves through with many sorrowes 6. Be well grounded in the knowledge of the Scriptures Joh. 5.39 Col. 3.16 Psal 130 5. I wait for the Lord my Soul doth wait and in his word do I hope Study the Promises the Tenour of them and to whom they are made that so thou mayest be ready to give a reason of the hope that is in thee 1 Pet. 3.15 7. Labour for a patient submissive frame of spirit