Hercules to choose which way he pleaseth Sâ—e Deut. 30.15 I have set before thee this day Life and Good and Death and Evil. Here men make a different choice as they stand affected 1. Those that fear God and consult their own eternal welfare choose the good and refuse the evil Such was David's choice Psalm 84.10 I had rather saith he be a door-keeper in the house of my God c. How oft doth he record this choice in Psalm 119 Psalm 119.13 14.30 36 37 72 97 173. alibi Joseph Antiâ— Jud. l. 2. c. 5. which shews how exceedingly he was pleased with it and with the very thoughts of it Such was Moses's choice who being adopted by Pharaoh's Daughter and Heir that had designed him for her Heir and Successor to the Kingdom if we may believe Josephus yet refused all that Honour and grandeur and the appendant Riches and Pleasures Heb. 11.24 25 26. to embrace the hardest lot of the people of God Affliction and â—eproach having respect unto the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 recompence of reward This was the commendation of those Eunuchs Isa 56.4 that they did choose the things that pleased God let men be pleased or displeased 2. But the wicked hate knowledge Prov. 1.22 29. Isa 65 12. and 66.4 and do not choose the fear of the Lord. They do evil before his eyes and choose that wherein he delighteth not but choose their own waies and their soul delighteth in their abominations One would think it was impossible that men in their wits should refuse everlasting Happiness for momentary and sinful pleasures but our daily experience makes it manifest Pro. 1.22 32. and 12.15 and 17.16 Psalm 94.8 Jude 10. Therefore the Scripture justly calls such men Fools Bruits and mad men c. who wilfully refuse the paths of life and desperately rush upon their everlasting ruine But God gives more grace to his children who following the guidance of his Spirit with Mary make choice of this good part upon best consideration For 1. They are sensible of their own need They know they are sick Mat. 9.12 Ps 109.24 26. Rev. 3.17 18. and stand in need of Medicine weak and need support they know they are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked and therefore make hast to Christ for spiritual riches and heavenly grace whereof he hath an inexhaustible store Joh. 1.16 Ephes 3.8 to enrich them for eye salve of divine knowledge from his plenitude Col. 2.2 Eph. 1 17 18. Phâ—â— 3.9 3. to illuminate them for the robe of his righteousness to cover their nakedness Necessity enforceth them as the Prodigal Luk. 15.17 c. to go to him for relief who so lovingly invites them Mat. 11.28 and is ready ebviis ulnis with spread arms to embrace them Therefore they refuse the evil and choose the good seeing the inevitable destruction in the one and assured comfort in the other 2. They see and acknowledge the glorious excellency of holiness and heavenly practise how excellent it is in it self being the lively Image of the most holy God Ephes 4 24. 2 Pet. 1.4 whereby they are made partakers of the divine nature As also the sweetness and comfort of its exercise whereby they have communion with God conversing and walking with him as Enoch and Noah did Mic. 6.5 Gal. 5.25 Rom. 8.1 and 6.4 Gen. 5.22 and 6.9 in and after the Spirit in newness of Life having their conversation in Heaven Phil. 3.20 As Children of Light Ephes 5.8 David seeing this prefers one day so spent before a thousand otherwise Psalm 84.10 Indeed one hours sweet enjoyment of God gives the Soul more satisfaction than all the pleasures of the world can give Psa 119.14 72. Phil. 3.7 8. and is therefore to be chosen rather than all Riches Christ alone who is only thus enjoyed is to be preferred before all gain And every wise Merchant who trades for Heaven will sell all to purchase this Pearl Mat. 13.45 46. To enlarge upon this Subject would soon exceed the intended limits of this Discourse Therefore I shall only intimate this further that the way of holiness is the high way to everlasting happiness which is but Holiness perfected in Glory For without holiness no man shall ever see God Heb. 12.14 Mat. 5.8 Ps 15. and 24. since that beatifical Vision is reserved for them only who are pure in heart and Life Vse 1. Oh then how ill do those men provide for their immortal Souls who either wilfully refuse what Mary chose or make a bad choice of such things as are either hurtful or at least unprofitable or that only pretend to make this good choice but do not or that relinquish after such profession what they seemed to choose 1. How many are there who enjoy the precious opportunities of this Word Heb. 2.3 so constantly Preached amongst them and yet neglect so great salvation making light of the Lords earnest invitation as those recusants Mat. 22.5 who refuse Prov. 1.24 25 29. Isa 65.2 when he calls and when he stretcheth forth his hand regard it not who set at nought all his counsel and will none of his reproof but hate knowledge and will not choose the fear of the Lord These men put away the Word of God from them thereby declaring that they judge themselves unworthy of Eternal Life whilst they even say unto God Acts 13 46. Depart from us for we desire not the knowledge of thy waies Hating instruction they cast Gods Word behind them instead whereof they choose their own waies Job 21.14 Psalm 50.17 and their soul delighteth in their abominations Isa 66.3 4. whereby they provoke God to choose their delusions And even as they delight not to retain the knowledge of God in their minds it pleaseth him to give them over to a reprobate mind Rom. 1.28 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to do those things which are most unseemly and unhandsome and quite contrary to all decency and duty Thus it fares likewise with them Jer. 2.36 Judg. 5.8 2 Tim 4 3. 1 Tim 4.1 Gal. 3.1 who in reference to Religion gad about to change their way with the Idolatrous Israelites choosing new Gods new opinions and fancies Who having itching ears heap to themselves teachers after their own lusts and whilst they give ear to those seducing Spirits which bewitch them they depart from the Faith and do not obey the Truth For not receiving the love of it 2 Thes 2.10 c. they will not believe it but take pleasure in unrighteousness Wherefore God in just judgement sends them strong delusions that they should believe a Lie and gives them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts Yea Rom. 1.24 Rev. 22.11 Ephes 4.19 Heb. 2.3 they give themselves over to lasciviousness to work all uncleanness with greediness Thus they receive a just reward of their slighting this good
III. This one thing is said to be needful 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Unum est necessarium or as the vulgar Latine hath it necessary 1. In it self considered it is simply and absolutely necessary without which it is impossible to be happy For our happiness consists in the full and compleat enjoyment of God which cannot be without real communion with him nor can we have any communion with him but in conformity to his Will So that we must be holy here or else we can never be happy hereafter Nor can we attain to holiness so as to walk with God but in his own way 2. Divine Ordination also confers a double necessity upon this one thing Necessitas Praecepti M c. 6.8 Lu. 10.25 c. Mar. 10 17 c Heb. 5.9 and 11.6 and 12.28 2 Pet. 3.14 Rom. 2.7 10. viz. 1. Of the Precept Deut. 10.12 13. requiring us to fear the Lord our God to walk in his waies to love and serve him with all our heart and soul c. It is not left to our choice to devise any other way than he hath appointed Heaven is entailed upon those only that obey and diligently wait upon the service of God and that patiently continue in well doing We deceive our selves if we think to come in Heaven any other way than that which he hath prescribed 2. Another necessity is of the Means Necessitas medii Acts 4.12 John 1.12 Rom 10.14 whereby Eternal Life is obtained Salvation were utterly unattainable by lost man if Christ had not purchased it for him nor can we partake of his purchase unless we receive him nor can we receive him but by Faith neither can we believe what we have no knowledge of nor can we know except we be taught We must some waies learn what we can believe Oh! how necessary is this word of Faith Rom. 10 8. which is Mary's present business to receive from the mouth of him who is the Word Joh. 1.1 that she may be taught the Word of Life by him Who is the way and the truth and the Life Joh. 14.6 In which Word St. Bernard observes seven necessities Non ambigo esse plures alias sed hae interim occurrunt Bern. Serm. 85 superâ— Cantica Psalm 36.9 Ephes 1.8 Psal 119.104 Cant. 8.5 1 Cor. 1.24 Not but that there be more but he only mentions those which came to mind The Soul saith he seeks this Word 1. Cui consentiat ad correctionem that by divine admonition the obliquities of our conversation may be reformed Psal 119.9 2. Quo illuminetur ad cognitionem that in his light we may see light whereby the eyes of our understanding being enlightned we may come to know God our selves and our Duty 3. Cui innitatur ad virtutem that leaning upon Him who is the power of God we may be able to resist temptation and overcome all the difficulties we shall find in the way to happiness Ro. 8.35 c. So that nothing shall be able to separate us from the Love of God 4. Quo reformetur ad sapientiam Psalm 19.12 that the errours of our judgements may be corrected by his instruction 5. Cui conformetur ad decorem that observing his direction 1 Pet. 2.21 Phil. 2.5 15 c. and following his example we may live blamelesly and without offence 6. Cui maritetur ad foecunditatem so he expresseth himself that the faithful soul being as it were married to this Word Col. 1.10 1 Cor. 15.58 may become fruitful unto every good work so as to abound in them 7. Quo fruatur ad jucunditatem that tasting of this sweetness we may with assured comfort pass through all the sorrows Psalm 23 3.5â—.3 Rom. 12.12 1 Pet. 1.8 and tryals which here abide us and in the midst of all our fears and griefs may yet rejoyce in the Lord with joy unspeakable and full of glory David was so sensible of this that he overlooks all other things and urgeth the Lord in his most earnest Prayers to grant him this one thing Psal 27.4 One thing have I desired of the Lord that will I seek after that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the daies of my Life c. His desire was to make this one thing his chiefest business Psal 62.5 My Soul wait thou only upon God Hence his earnest longing to be at that Work Psal 42.1 2. As the Hart panteth after the water Brooks so panteth my Soul after thee O God My Soul thirsteth for God for the living God when shall I come and appear before God He was so exceedingly ravished with the Glory and heavenly sweetness of that employment Psa 84.1 2 10. Vid Molier in Psal 84. that he esteemed one day so spent better than a thousand otherwise and preferred the meanest Office in this attendance before the greatest pleasures in the Tents of such as regarded not Gods service notwithstanding all the gallantry and bravery of their habitations together with all the solace and pleasure of their carnal employments Thus much concerning this one thing and the necessity thereof Now we shall draw some Inferences from what we have so explained Vse 1. First We learn hence that other things are not so necessary whatever the World judgeth either of this or them 1. There is not so great need of them as of this they are needful in their kind and place God having ordained them for the comfort of this Life in their several uses But this is indispensably necessary to the attainment of everlasting happiness as without which no man shall ever see God We may reach Heaven without Riches or Honour or Applause of men Heb. 12.14 c. Yea without Health or bodily Strength or Beauty c. but never without Holiness and attendance upon Gods Service Whilst we sojourn here below we have a little need of these subsidia or helps requisite to the support of our outward man But O that we did not so dote on them as if they were the unum necessarium By which preposterous acting we make our Life more cumbersome here and prevent the enjoyment of everlasting Life by troubling our selves too much about these many things and neglecting this one Well did that Heathen discern the non-necessity of these many things which distract the minds of men could he but as well have known that one thing which is so necessary That is near-hand saith he which might serve turn Ad manum est quod satis est ad supervacua sudatur Senec. Epist 4. all our toyl and sweat is for that which is superfluous Those Stars whose light is not only pleasant but useful in the Suns absence disappear at his return Surely if we were more near the Raies of the Sun of Righteousness we should not be so much taken with the glimmerings of these lesser comforts 2. But that which is also very considerable if we cordially choose this one thing
operis transituri merces est requies permansura A g. Mat. 6.19 20. they shall bring forth fruit in old Age they shall be fat and flourishing The wages of this transient work shall be everlasting rest This part shall not be taken away For 1. No enemy can take it away no Thief can rob us of this treasure If any could it must be either the Devil or the World or the Flesh or Death But 1. The Devil cannot notwithstanding all his malice power or subtilty The Gates of Hell with all their temptations terrours or stratagems can never deprive us of this choice That enemy may tempt and sift and buffet 1 Cor. 7.5 Luk. 22.31 32. 2 Cor. 12.7 9. c. But the grace of God is sufficient to preserve and uphold the soul in temptation and through Christs intercession Faith shall not fail He may thrust sore at the child of God to make him fall but the Lord will help Upon resistance he is forced to flee Psalm 118.13 Jam. 4.7 Rom. 16.20 Gal. 2.20 Ephes 3.17 Luke 11.22 1 John 4.4 and shall at length be trod underfoot through the power of Christ who lives and dwells in every true Believer The victory must certainly in this case fall to the stronger and surely greater is he that is in his Saints than he that is in the World 2. The World cannot take it away notwithstanding all its enmity and malignity or its scorns and reproaches and cruel mockings and persecutions or yet its snares enticements John 16.33 1 John 5.4 5. c. There is power enough in Christ by Faith in him to overcome it 3. Nor yet shall the Fesh that remains in corrupt nature ever be able to take it away notwithstanding all its averseness to that which is good or perverseness and strong inclination to that which is evil Rom. 7. Though it be rebellious and lust against the Spirit and hindreth from duty and provoketh to sin yet shall it never prevail so far as to deprive a Believer of his choice For it is daily crucified mortified Gal. 5.24 and subdued by the power of divine Grace which worketh mightily in every child of God Though he be compassed about with this body of death and forced to cry out with St. Paul Rom. 7.23 24. O wretched man that I am c. Yet he can also him thank God that Jesus Christ is his deliverer 4. Neither yet can Death or any of its attendants take it away For it is never able to separate from the love of Christ Ro 8.35 c. 1 Cor. 15.54 being swallowed up in that victory which God giveth us through Christ our Lord. 2. As no enemy can so God will not take it away For 1. He delights in it Isa 57.15 to see his children to make this choice He whose Name is holy who inhabiteth Eternity whose Throne is the Heaven and the Earth his foot-stool 66.1 2. c. Yet this Almighty God hath a special eye to him that is of a poor and contrite spirit and trembleth at his Word For he sees his own Image and likeness there wherewith he is so taken that he is held in the Galleries to behold it Cant. 7.5 Psalm 34.18 1 Cor. 6.19 Psa 132.13 14. So great pleasure doth he take in this that he is ever nigh unto such an heart and delights to dwell in it It is his Temple his chosen and desired habitation his Rest where he will dwell for he hath desired it and will take up his residence and make his abode there He engageth his Word and Promise never to forsake it John 14.23 Heb. 13.5 2. Besides it is the work of his own Spirit by which he leads into all truth brings the soul in frame sacrifices the whole man kindles holy desires and fervent affections towards himself and what ever may conduce to everlasting happiness It is the Spirit which worketh all our works in us Isa 26.12 Rom. 8.26 Phil. 2.13.1.6 helps our infirmities gives both to will and to do and what he hath begun he will not take off his hand until he hath also finished 3. Furthermore it is part of the purchase of the blood of our Lord Jesus Christ viz. to sanctifie here as well as to glorifie in Heaven He hath procured both the Choice and Grace to choose And he shall surely obtain the fruit of his sufferings he shall see of the travel of his Soul Isa 53.11 and shall be satisfied Having paid an infinite ransome for his Captives he will take care that they may be actual partakers of that dear bought Freedom He will lose none of those whom the Father hath given him John 6.39.17.12 therefore he improves the opportunity of his exaltation to the right hand of the Father in making intercession for them and a part of his Prayers in their behalf is Rom. 8.34 Luke 22.32 Joh. 17.11 15 17 19 23 24. that their Faith may not fail but that they may be kept through the Name of the Father from the evil that is in the World and that they may be sanctified through the Truth which is his Word that they may be made perfect in one until they be with him where he is that they may behold his Glory Heb. 7.25 John 11.42 Heb. 5.7 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Vid. Par. Gerh. Estius and à Lap. in loc Now he ever liveth to intercede thus for them and he is sure to speed for the Father will deny him nothing and he is heard alwaies for his Piety or as others for his Dignity All which being considered it must follow that as he hath merited for them Grace to choose this good part so likewise that what they have so chosen shall never be taken away from them 4. Yea God hath laid upon himself a Covenant-engagement to maintain this Priviledge which he hath vouchsafed to his Saints As for me Isa 59.21 this is my Covenant with them saith the Lord My Spirit which is upon thee and my Words which I have put in thy mouth shall not depart out of thy mouth c. from benceforth and for ever Again I will put my fear in their hearts and write it in their inward part and I will be their God Jer 31.33.32.4 Heb. 13.5 and they shall be my People and I will put my fear in their hearts that they shall not depart from me Likewise he hath said I will never leave thee nor forsake thee And very aptly to our purpose speaks that Promise of our Saviour Whosoever drinketh of the water John 4.14 that I shall give him shall never thirst but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a Well of Water springing up into everlasting Life And in another place He that believeth in me John 7.38 Tit. 1.2 2 Tim. 2.13 Psalm 119.49 out of his Belly shall flow Rivers of living Water Thus he hath promised who is the God of
Truth and cannot Lie and will not he remember the Word unto his Servants wherein he hath caused them to hope Surely he will ever be mindful of his Covenant of the performance whereof he hath given so many securities 105.8.111.5 for he hath bound it with his Oath Heb. 6.17 and Seal Ephes 5.13 and Earnest ibid. vers 14. and the first fruits of his Spirit Rom. 8.23 which is a blessed forerast of Eternal Happiness in some degrees of that joy of the Holy Ghost which is unspeakable and full of Glory 1 Pet. 1.8 and of that Peace of God which passeth all understanding Phil. 4.7 And shall we think all this to be in vain as indeed it might be if it could be taken away No surely his design in these various confirmations of his Promise and of our Faith in it is that by such immutable things wherein it is impossible for God to Lie Heb. 6.18 we might have strong consolation 5. Lastly This good part so chosen and enjoyed is of a spiritual and divine nature 2 Pet. 1.4 Although through the strength of remaining corruption and the violence of temptation it may for the time be obscured and eclipsed yet it shall never be extinguished and utterly lost This Reed may be shaken and bruised Mat. 12 20. but shall not be quite broken This Flax may be reduced to smoaking but shall not utterly be quenched The Seed that is sown shall remain 1 John 3.9 though for a time it lie hid under-ground yet the Prolifick vertue that is in it will make a seasonable appearance that it was not dead when it lay hid Job 19.28 The root of the matter is still in him who is once planted in the Courts of the House of our God so that he shall still bring forth Psalm 92.13 though sometimes for the while his branches shew neither Fruit nor Leaves yet that Sap which is retired to the heart and root will certainly put forth its vigour again and produce both Leaves and Fruit. The things that are chosen Col. 3.1 2 Cor. 4.18 Col. 1.5 2 Tim. 4.8 Mat. 25.34 1 Pet. 1.4 5. are above things not seen and eternal our Hope and Crown is laid up for us in Heaven the Kingdom and Inheritance was prepared for us from the Foundation of the World and it is inoorruptible and fadeth not away being reserved in Heaven for us and we our selves are kept by the power of God through Faith unto Salvation c. How should these things be if this good part so chosen could be taken away Since therefore this one thing is so necessary so good useful and profitable and withal so durable that when we are once actually possessed of it we can never be wholly deprived of it What remains but that we prefer it in our esteem according to its worth before all things in the World and speedily resolve as we were before exhorted to make this Choice with Mary To which the Lord direct us and in it assist us for his great Names sake To whom with our Lord Jesus Christ and the Holy Ghost that ever blessed Unity in Trinity and Trinity in Unity be all Glory Honour and Praise now and ever Amen A Narrative of the Religious and Holy Life and Death of the Lady Mary late Wife of Sr. Thomas Wharton Knight of the Bath In great part as it was delivered at her Funeral with many material passages since added HAving now done with the Text it will justly be expected that I should speak something of that Heavenly Soul whose Corps are now to be Interred to solemnize whose Funerals so many Noble and Worthy Persons are here congregated She was a very sutable Parallel to Her in the Text both in her Name and Choice Nor will it seem strange to those that knew her that she should be in some degree matched with those renowned Maries whom we have had occasion to mention the Mother of our blessed Saviour only excepted who was favoured and blessed above all Women had she but enjoyed the Priviledge of their opportunities to have given like evidence of her great Devotion and Heavenly affection Her Extraction was Noble and Honourable as this Mary's in the Text is probably supposed to be being the Eldest Daughter of the late Right Honourable Henry Earl of Dover whose Grandfather was the renowned Henry Lord Hunsdon Cousin German by the Mothers side to that most excellent Queen of ever blessed memory Queen Elizabeth Her Mother was of the Antient and Worthy Family of the Pelhams of Haland in Sussex called Lady Judick Daughter of Sir Thomas Pelham whose Ancestors were of great Note many hundred years ago meriting for Chivalry in the service of their King and Country an access of Honour which is yet born in their Arms. She was Born November 13. 1615. being the third Child after two Sons and the Eldest Daughter of her Parents who had besides her three Sons of whom the Right Honourable John Earl of Dover is yet living and three Daughters all eminent for Piety and all commendable endowments whereof two are with the Lord and one yet surviving Her Mother died leaving them very young yet she having the advantage of seven years more than the Eldest of her other Sisters supplied a Mothers care of them in their tender years And what influence her instructions advice and gracious example in all her comportment had upon them was very evident in their early proficiency in all Vertue and gracious imitation of so fair a Copy It pleased God who had made Choice of her for himself before all time Eccles 12.1 In seculo nobilis apud Deum cupit esse nobilior Auth. Epist ad Demetriadem Ab illustribus nasci Deo per spiritum renasci Nobilis genere sed multo nobilior sanctitate Hier. E. 27. ad Eustoch de Paula Nobilitas sola est atque unica virtus Juv. Sat. 8. Illa dives quae in Deo est dives Cypr. de hab Virg. Dan. 11.21 1 Kin. 21.20 25 Ephes 2.2 2 Tim. 2.26 Rom. 6.12 2 Pet. 2.19 Non est quod sibi aliquis de nobilitate generis blandiatur si ex meliore parte sit famulus Multò est indignius mente servire quam corpore Auth. Ep. ad Demetr to work her to a serious Choice of his waies in the best time To remember her Creator in the daies of her youth For even in those frail times which most others waste and ravel out in folly and vanity she received such an happy tincture of true Piety and the fear of God as never lost but ever increased its lustre till her last breath This advanced her pious Soul above all carnal priviledges of Nobility Ancestry and all terrene Glories derived from her eminent Progenitors to fix upon that which was only able to make her truly Noble and Glorious She was indeed Noble in the account of the World but not satisfied with that her desire was to be more Noble