dyed in Light she set in Beams And that which greatly contributed to the pleasure of her Life and the calmness of her death was the quietness and stilness of her Soul using frequently upon all occasions this very passage of the Holy Prophet I waited patiently for the Lord From these words I observe First That is not below the greatest and most honourable Persons to wait on God The Grandeur of a King is no barr to his dutiful Attendance on his Maker and the Crowns of those Princes shine with the highest Lustre that are laid at the Feet of God Those that honour him he will Honour The Angels that are the Courtiers and Nobility of Heaven and in constant waiting know their distance and tho' they are of the highest rank of Creatures they remember they are Creatures still and whilst they wonder at the Glory of the Divine Majesty they know they cannot comprehend it They do not sit upon the Throne but are in postures full of Reverence employed round about it They are very humble even in their highest extasies and cover their Faces when they cry to one another Holy holy holy is the Lord of Hosts the whole earth is full of his Glory Isa 6.3 Secondly When any affliction or trouble is upon us it is our most becoming and most Advantagious Duty to wait upon God with patience and to pray for his relief and help I. What is implied in this patient waiting II. What obligations we are under to it III. The Application First In this patient waiting there is included a most entire and free submission to the Will of God as to the nature and duration of our Trouble That it come and tarry just as long as he pleases a waiting Christian looks upon his Fathers Hand and is not with such a view frighted at the most bitter Cup He is not hurried away with violent Passions with murmuring or uneasie Thoughts The Divine Wisdom that knows when and how to deliver produces the most refreshing acquiescence he is not surious and precipitant no fluctuation of Spirit discovers it self in his Speech or Actions Isa 30.18 When the Storms are high he is still In all varieties of Providence in all the changes of his Health or Life he is peaceable within no Bitterness no Thorns no Canker in his Soul he leaves the time of his Deliverance to his all-wise Creator and waits in quiet till the time come without complaining or finding fault with the pressure of the Cross or the slow advances of his help He knows that uneasiness and displeasure at the Proceedings of the Most High is the mark of a fallen Angel and not the Character of a Saint Secondly This patient waiting upon God is attended with Faith and Hope With Faith concerning the reality of good to come and with Hope concerning the seasonable fulfilling of the Promises that he relies upon What wait I for my hope is in thee Ps 39. Hope is the lively Spring of Action infuses Life and Spirit into the feeble and the most humbled but despair cramps and freezes and enervates all the Powers of the Soul It reflects upon the Goodness and Mercy of God and makes us sink into the lowest depths with its killing weight It swells our Sorrows and turns our Sighs into Roarings and our Tears into Seas of Grief Whereas he that patiently waits knows that after the blackest Night and most Tempestuous the Sun will rise again and chear him with his reviving help he knows that Celestial Comforts are many times Neighbours to the most doleful fears and sometimes the howling Wilderness is the way to Canaan and the Waters may be troubled when the healing moment comes the face of the Pooll was not so smooth when the Charitable Angel descended as it was before but it was more useful and medicinal Never was any Season more gloomy then when our Saviour was upon the Cross never was any bordered with more glorious Events It was a dark Night when he Suffered but 't was a glorious day when he Rose again He that patiently waits remembers that the Church has been most dear to God and most fruitful in good Works when tost with Storms it has flourished most when the Devil and his Angels have endeavoured to depress it he waits for help as they that watch for the Morning they look and hope for the dawning of the Day watch the first streaks of rising light and rejoyces to see it Ps 130.6 Thirdly This patient waiting upon God is attended with earnest desires and prayers for his merciful Appearance I waited and I cryed unto the Lord O for that sweet and pleasant Hour when I shall be Saved that the time to favour me even the set time were come O that I had the Wings of a Dove that I might flee away from the windy Storm and Tempest O Lord behold my distressed Case oh send me some help for thy mercies sake remember my weakness and thy own Promise hear my groans and perform the word on which thou hast caused me to hope do not cast out my Prayer do not suffer me to Perish in my low Estate All this earnestness is submissive full of Resignation and Tranquility The Sick desire many times to dye from weariness and pain but a good Christian shews that he is ready to depart but is willing to stay till God bid him go he waits for Christ with a longing craving Eye as for a dear friend from a far Countrey he bears his absence with Patience but would be very glad to see him come Heaven is welcome to such a panting Soul as the Port to one that has been frighted and endangered by the Storms such an one when confined by trouble longs for a Release but will not break his Prison He waits till the hand that bound him shall break his Bands asunder remembring that God is as Jealous of his word when he promises favours to his Children as when he threatens punishment to his obstinate and hardned Enemies The desires of Persons in distress are most serious and importunate When Peter was like to sink how heartily and with all his force may we imagine that he cryed out Master save me Matth. 14.30 So our Saviour in the days of his Flesh used strong Cries and the Prayers of the Mariners in Jonas were as loud as the Storms these were not more blustering then those were affectionate People that are just like to be Drowned have no time to Compliment their danger swallows up all other thoughts but those that relate to their present Circumstances Fourthly This patient waiting directs the quiet Soul in such a manner to God that he uses no undue reflections upon the Instruments or more immediate occasions of trouble When he is sick he does not rail at the Physician because he does not give him ease but considers that the Wisdom of the most Wise and the Skill of the most Skilful will not avail When he is Plundered he does not inveigh against
Life such as are those raging Plagues Famines and Devastations which send many thousands early to the Grave We shall by this means not pass our days in his wrath An aged Christian that has been patient for many years comes at length like a Vessel richly laden home after a tedious and stormy Voyage full of reviving Experiences of the Divine Goodness from the Morning to the Noon and to the Evening of his Life Ps 71.17 18. He calls to mind with joy the various and admirable conduct of his Heavenly Father and sleeps in quiet on the lap of Providence Seeing with what beautiful Wisdom he had laid the soundation of his Happiness and carried on the Structure how he healed his Diseases and has safely brought him to the borders of a perfect cure How they were planted as Trees of Righteousness and by various Acts of Love and Power maintained in the Vineyard how they were in pain and how they were eased with his tender hand how they wept in agonies and how he wiped their tears away new support arises to the patient holy Soul Isa 40.31 It hastens our escape from trouble as the stilness and composure of any Person in a Fever tends to mitigate its force but a restless agitation of the Body does more and more inflame and fire the Blood By suffering we learn to suffer and patience reconciles us to the Cross Ps 27.14 No studied arguments no fine Sentences do so fortify the Soul in trouble as its own experience This is the Lenitive of anxious and unquiet thoughts gives a secret refreshing and a mighty strength this pours balm into those Wounds that otherwise might gangreen and fester when clog'd with outward infirmities and when there are the marks and signs of a falling habitation there will be the prospect of an house not made with hands and when death is in the windows there will be strength in the heart Reas 6. This patient waiting does most excellently prepare for the mercies waited for and gives them when they come the sweetest relish they are welcome as rest to weary Travellers that long to be at home When God and a waiting Soul meet together What transports and joys are there O he is come he is come that I long'd to see it revives me to hear his chearing Language to see his smiling face In what an extasie was Old Simeon whilst he embraced his Saviour many a long year had he waited for the blessed sight O happy eyes that saw that Sun begin his Race happy Arms that embraced and hugg'd so great a Treasure Luke 2.36 O what a joy to a Father to see a Prodigal returning home after he had long stayed and waited for his return With what Musick with what Joys with what Feasts does he solemnize such a pleasant day Thus 't is reported of Augustin's mother what a concern she had for her Son he was the daily Subject of her Prayers and Tears that St. Ambrose often when she mourned sent her away with this Answer That it was not possible that a Child of so many Prayers should perish No sooner was he Converted but her Spirit was at ease and she now desired no more He tells us in his Canfessions that when the day approacht that his Mother was to pass to a better Life as they were talking together of the joys of Heaven in the Conclusion of this Conference which was the most agreeable in all the World she said to me My Son I avow to you that as to what relates to my self that I have now no further hopes nor pleasure in this world I know not what I do here for I have nothing more to look for The only thing that made me desirous to live was to see thee a good Christian before my death now my good God has granted me so great a favour as to see thee become entirely his Servant by the contempt that thou hast of all the goods and pleasures of this Life Why then do I tarry here any longer Reas 7. It cures the frowardness of our spirits in our last sickness and makes death very happy and Heaven very sweet not an unbecoming thought nor word of God The Conclusion of such a serene Life is still and fair as the Evening of a Summers day Such an one is not pusht or hurryed out of the World but walks out as from one Room into another sleeps in death with the composure of an Infant sucking at its Mothers Breast they go by a smooth descent to death some without much pain tho' but rarely is that exemption from the assaults of the last Enemy granted Some are laid down very gently on their bed of dust and others with groans and sighs extinguish the dwindgling lamp of Life A patient Soul is ready and if God give the word it gladly flies away it longs and flutters to be gone and in the parting moment such an one shall not be left a Convoy of Angels shall wait upon it to see it safe through all the Regions of the Air where the Evil Spirits would dispute its passage to Glory Oh how welcome is Heaven to a troubled weary Soul How welcome are Hallelujah's to one that upon Earth heard the slanders and reproaches of many a bitter Tongue the Clouds of Life are then scattered and there succeeds an eternal day Then patience has no further work for there is no pain there hope is vanish't for the Good that was once desired is possest The calm of that quiet Region into which we enter after death will make amends for all the Storms we met with in the way thither How many Blessed Souls shall we meet that were in Storms as well as we that were sick and tempted and scorned and afflicted that had weak Bodies and fearful Spirits and to go thither from such a World as this from the Subburbs of Hell into the New Jerusalem Tho' we are in Tempests yet we are not to live upon the Sea Our Life may be very calamitous but 't is also very short Tho' loaded with bitter and uneasie griefs yet in Heaven there is no more sorrow for there is no sin there will be light in our Minds peace in our Consciences and comfort in our Hearts there will be no more fear in the place of Eternal Love no trembling doubting Soul in all the vast Assembly they cannot question whether they Love Christ or not when they are with him All their former suspicions are turned into pleasant wonder Isa 60.2 It s an Honour to be in Christ betimes an Honour to be Christ's Disciple and much more Honourable to be in his glorious Temple Oh Blessed are they that are at their Journeys end after having waited long for God he seeing they could find no durable rest below put out his hand and took them into his Ark above How can we almost forbear congratulating those happy Souls that have fought the good fight of faith and have got the Victory While we sin they
THE HAPPINESS OF A Quiet Mind BOTH In Youth and Old Age With the way to Attain It. In a DISCOURSE occasioned by the Death of Mrs. Martha Hasselborn who died March 13th 1695 6. in the 95th year of her Age. By TIMOTHY ROGERS M.A. LONDON Printed for Iohn Salusbury at the Rising Sun in Cornhill MDCXCVI THE Epistle Dedicatory TO Mr. Jacob Hasselborn Merchant THere is nothing Men are more apt to value themselves upon than the being descended from Great and Honourable Persons who have either had Noble Blood running in their Veins or have signalized themselves by a series of Heroical Actions for the good of their Countrey and by this means have delivered their names down to Posterity Crowned with those Garlands which the thirst of Glory made them to desire And yet many thus descended stain the Memory of their Predecessors and as far as in them lies make all their Laurels wither by Lives led according to their own humour and fancy and the contagious Examples of a depraved Age. But you have the Honour to be akin to one who was on earth related to the family of Heaven Your Good Mother after having with continued Patience sustained the troubles of her weary Pilgrimage calmly at length arrived at her dearest home where she longed to be The Remembrance of her I doubt not is a great help to you in your Christian Race such an example of goodness so unaffected and sincere whilst it is always brightly shining before your Eyes gives you both light and strength to follow her in the same happy path wherein she went The frequent thinking on the Holiness of her Life will be a great Motive to quicken you to be like her in every commendable and praise worthy thing To think of her Faith and Meekness and Patience will make you flourish in the same Vertues As young Painters encrease their skill by frequently Copying old and excellent Originals In your pious Mother you have seen living and exemplified Religion a quiet Mind not as represented in the coldness of Precepts but as warmed and animated by the blessed Spirit and Patient holding out to the Conclusion of a great Age such a Patience as is to be admired but not to be described for no Colours can be soft enough to draw this Admirable Grace St. Paul rejoyced in his beloved Timothy and expressed a very lively pleasure upon the thought of one that had very good Parents and was himself ve-very good When says he I call to remembrance the unfeigned Faith that is in thee which dwelt first in thy Grandmother Lois and thy Mother Eunice and I am perswaded in thee also wherefore I put thee in remembrance c. I hope that the pure and constant Faith that was in your Mother is passed into you not by a propagation of Blood but of Spirit not of Nature but of Grace That you and your Relations may meet her and all the blessed Saints with comfort at the Great Day live together in that place where there will be no Sin nor Pain nor Old Age but an Eternal Holiness Spring and Youth and where our present Weakness shall be swallowed up of Strength is the hearty Prayer of Your Real Friend And Servant T. Rogers Psal XL. Verse 1. I waited patiently for the Lord and he inclined unto me and heard my cry AS of all the Ages of the Life of Man Infancy is the most Innocent and Childhood the most Vain and Youth the most Brisk and Daring so Old Age is the most clog'd with Pains and Miseries In other Stages of our Journey we are annoyed now and then with Trouble and Calamity with Sickness and decayes of Strength but this last part of our Pilgrimage this feeble part of Life is its self a Disease 'T is so weak that generally the Powers of the Soul as well as the Members of the Body have not the Liveliness and Vigor that they had in their greener Years the Evening is much more Cloudy and Tempestuous more Dark and Frightful then the Morning of their Days And yet there are found some Blessed Souls that flourish even in Winter neither the sharpness of the Weather nor the uncomfortableness of the Season hinders their being over Green Such an one was David as he was all his Life Musically given of an Harmonious Heavenly Temper in his pleasant Angelick Airs he had often mounted up to Heaven and at last with praise he took his Flight thither to change his Hymns into sweeter Hallelujahs 1 Chr. 29.10 He blessed the Lord before all the Congregation v. 20. He said to all the Congregation Now bless the Lord. V. 28. He dyed in a good old Age full of Days Riches and Honour So old Jacob when the decays of Strength and the weakness of his Age would not allow him to be long in his Devotions he improved the more easie Intervals of his Illness to breath after God Gen 49.18 I have waited for thy Salvation O Lord His Expression was short but his Faith and Patience were very great So Moses prepared his Soul for the Joyes of Heaven by tuning his Harp below he Sung before he dyed Deut. 32. And before his death he blessed the Children of Israel Ch. 33. And after this he went up to the Mount and put off his Body to be Cloathed upon with Life and Immortality Deut. 34.5 And good old Simeon who had a Promise that he should not depart till he had seen the Lords Christ He did not hide himself from the glorious sight tho' he knew that after that he must quickly dye but he came by the Spirit into the Temple and there he met with the Child Jesus that for many past years he had long'd to see And having seen the Blessed Babe he took him up in his Arms and was full of Transports saying Lord now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace for mine eyes have seen thy Salvation Luke 2.27 28. I might alledge the Example of Paul the Aged who was then in Chains and near his Execution by the Lyon Nero and yet after having served several Years under the Banners of Christ neither the Cruelties of his Imprisonment nor the prospect of death nor all the weight of Age that laid upon him did abate his hope in God nay his hope was ripened to assurance when he says I have fought the good fight He spoke as if he had been in Paradise as if the Crown of Glory had been already on his Head to all these I may joyn that daughter of Abraham for whom I Preach this Funeral Sermon who served God with chearful hope many years and bore all the advances of Death as well as her declining Age with admirable Calmness and Resignation and long continued Faith and Hope and dyed near an Hundred Years old dropping into the Grave like Fruit from the Tree when 't is fully Ripe She had no Clouds and Darkness in her Soul she was all calm and serene she lived in Joy and she