light of the world 'T is but an hour The Church once said This is the day of Jacob's trouble She is still militant under the Cross eclipsed with a cloud 'T is but for a day then more gloriously will her light shine forth The Pageantry of sinners will soon be over They come on the stage dazzle spectators eyes the scene will alter such as acted the part of Nobles e're long will appear as they are meer Beggars nay in a worse condition when called to account for what they profusely spent on their lust and when thrown into Hell that most hideous prison from whence there is no redemption In this vale of tears I sit down and cry Few and evil have my days been The Church said Though I am comely look not upon me I am scorched Sun-burnt and much discoloured thereby Nay all my days have been one night In perils oft and too much in fears of them 'T will be day what 's this to eternal life What 's time to eternity What 's this moment to the five thousand years past since the Creation yet that and all the time that shall be which the Lord only knows till the end of the World is nothing to Eternity all that endless eternity shall I shine forth in glory 2. At the day of Judgment when scandals they that do iniquity some that created me much disquiet and discomfort in the world shall be cast into Hell shall all my sorrow be turned into joy and my disgrace into glory Let Antiochus be Epiphanes here was not he eaten up of lice or worms and will not that greedy worm of Conscience gripe gnaw and feed upon his soul to all eternity Let Herod for his gorgeous apparel be most illustrious had not he the same Exit Act. 12 22 23. But v. 24. The word of God grew and multiplied Let Bishops at Rome come forth in their Pontificalibus and their Olympia's in gold and silver in all their gallantry and too many of our professing Gentlewomen to their shame for Ladies generally are more modest in their apish French Modes and fashions they have little else to set themselves out with Was not Dives one day clothed in fine linnen in purple clad in scarletrobes which the sumptuary Laws of the Romans allowed only the chief Magistrates to wear the next in Hell and when out of curiosity he had looked for but found not Lazarus did he not lift up his eyes and espy Abraham in Heaven with Lazarus in his bosom in his lap on his knee leaning on his bosom cheering him Thou wast as thy Saviour some time in the world and receivedst didst patiently take from the â—ands of others since thou lawest the hand of God in it and didst not bring upon thy self thine evil things thou hadst hard measure scarce a rag to thy back a crust for thy belly yonder 's one lies that had enough to spare might and ought to have relieved thee but had no heart to do it he had more respect for his hounds than a child of God Look now he 's in torments thou art and shall be comforted for ever Thy Father hath called thee into this his Kingdom of Heaven with everlasting consolation to comfort thee here shalt thou shine in glory for ever So shall shine when many Diveses shall be cast into Hell to be tormented for ever weeping wailing and gnashing of their teeth 2. 'T is time for me to beseech the concern of your comfort at present and future happiness calls you to try whether ye be righteous and shall be glorified 1. Are you born of the Word of the Spirit of God himself 1. Of the Word was you ever by the Gospel read or preached brought out of the Kingdom of Satan the World into the Church militant Has the Word of God been the power of God to your conversion Were you by any Ministers preaching Christ brought over to Christ so as you gave up your selves and your heart souls and bodies to the Lords Anointed the Messiah the Christ the great Prophet the only King Head and Saviour of his Body the Church to be taught governed and saved by him How shall ye know this why 1. If you v. 23. received the seed the Gospel into good ground I would not give you my own much less other mens but the Lord Christs characters of the Regenerate i. e. you heard the Word and understood it it made such impression and took deep root in your hearts as made you leave the world and cleave to Christ with full purpose of heart at least to be as desirous and sollicitous to be Subjects of the Kingdom of Christ in grace as to have a lot and share with the righteous in the Kingdom of glory You have known and learnt from the Word and Spirit something of Christ of his Grace and Truth and of the life and immortality that he brought to light by the Gospel Whereas the first the worst sort of hearers are all ignorant careless willfully ignorant hearers such as hear the Word without attention affect on understanding do not 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in their minds go along with the Word till they understand it and get grace spiritual light and wisdom by it they resisting the motions of the good Spirit God suffers the evil one to beguile them of it by casting vain at least unseasonable thoughts into their minds God gives encrease to the conscientious careful attentive hearer which he denies to the careless and negligent that will not attend and regard but thinks to give the Minister the hearing is enough to stop the mouth of Conscience to save his credit with professors yea to save his soul such a cheat he puts upon himself 2. Are you born of the Spirit how shall you clear that why if v. 23. you bear fruit as good corn doth in a fertile soil which grows and comes up in a hundred where many ears spring from the same root or sixty where fewer or thirty where the fewest corns for one as persons are wrought upon by the Word and Spirit some in and after hearing are made as much more spiritual in their thoughts meditations desires than others And yet there are some that herein very much exceed them yet all that are regenerate bear fruit Act. 20.32 of the same kind and nature with the seed sown fruits of Grace resembling the Spirit of Grace gracious thoughts desires purposes resolutions spiritual meditations holy affections gracious words and discourse the fruits of the Spirit Gal. 5.22 Love joy peace long suffering gentleness goodness faith Conformity to Christ which are fruits unto holiness Rom. 6.22 Good works works of Piety Religious acts works of honesty righteous dealings works of mercy and charity In a word all the fruits of righteousness Phil. 1.11 The Word works a wonderful change 1. In their hearts 2. In their lives and conversations coming up like Isaac's seed Gen. 26.12 in some an hundred fold Whereas the
of grace the precious and sure promise of the Gospel 1. Well Sirs you believe this truth then suffer the word of Exhortation If you have been enlightened by the Word and Spirit Mat. 5.16 Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorifie your Father in Heaven 'T is spoken of Ministers whose concern chiefly it is to enlighten the places where they live by their Doctrine holy conference and conversations and they that see their good works by the Sermons they preach and live will glorifie God but the Lords advice reacheth all If you truly desire to shine for ever to shine forth in glory in the most high most holy Heaven the Holy of holies If you have good hopes from your Regeneration by God the Father Vnion with Christ God the Son and Sanctification of the Spirit God the Holy Ghost and the love grace and favour of that one God blessed for ever from your being the children of God by faith united to Christ and also consecrated dedicated and set apart for God and holy uses and though but in part sanctified real and upright Saints shine as the righteous do Not only before Saints 'T is true as to your sincerity you can approve your selves only to God as to your grace and holiness only to Saints from the trade you drive they may know your calling Indeed as to particular acts some Saints may be lyable to mistakes as well as others concerning you and those particular acts of yours but by your doing righteousness giving God and man their due 't will appear there 's some excellence in you and your light will shine before men Saints and sinners What though sinners are wilfully blind and take no notice of that light of grace holiness and righteousness which shines in your lives but rather censure you as hypocrites 'T is not unusual for the vilest of sinners to condemn the best of Saints as such when they dare not speak against the principles of godliness they profess and the accurate ways of Religion they walk in Ah! if they did so in sincerity but I have heard so and so of them they are a company of hypocrites While their false and foul mouths censure you let your holy lives condemn them when they talk of your hypocrisie more carefully look to your sincerity Consider the Item which they give you to have an eye to it Alas if not only men but my own heart and God himself should charge me to be an hypocrite Shine before men as to your good works Let your graces faith hope brotherly love contentment in every condition zeal for the glory of God and the good of precious immortal souls shine before Saints they are things for Saints to judg of and your good works works of Justice Righteousness shine before men they are things that men may judg of True men can't judg of your having grace or acting of it Blind men cannot distinguish colours only such as have a spirit of discerning and a spiritual judgment can do that but men partly know by remainders of the light of nature what honesty what plain dealing a Jewel very rare and of great price is what works of charity are and they expect that men who make the greatest profession of Religion should be more just in their ways and honest in their dealings and when they see some professors at some times fall short herein many presently condemn them as to every other action and the whole Community of Professors for their sakes Yet some when they cannot but perceive a greater light shining in the lives of Professors than of other men will be induced thereby to glorifie God who hath bestowed more light and grace upon them But be they amongst whom you live what they will you know do your duty Phil. 2.15 16. So order your lives as 1. you may be blameless no man may justly complain of you If some do without a cause regard it not what though they cause others to do so 't is but at present and tiâ—l they come to a full hearing and right understanding of your actions And 2. Harmless i. e. yea without will or power to hurt which is the mark of the sheep of Christ or sincere without mixture of deceit or guile Whereas the wicked Bulls of Bashan have more power than authority more will than power to harm and being full of guile will smile in your face when about to cut your throat speak friendly when they are doing you the shrewdest diskindness 3. In the midst of an age of men that are crooked full of windings and turnings turn this way or that way according to their company and perverse or rather perverted that once had better thoughts of the ways of Religion but now are of another opinion 't is well if more be not perverted by the Devil's angels of light than are converted by Christs ye shine as stars that retain and keep their light Holding forth the word of life for the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men teaching us that denying ungodliness and worldly lusts that we should live soberly righteously and godly in this present world looking for that blessed hope As a most pious Divine saith There may be Justice where there is only morality there can be no Religion where there is not Justice The Text tells you the light of the salutiferous Gospel more effectually teacheth sobriety justice and piety than the light of Nature or Morality doth without which there can be no looking for that blessed hope the appearing of Christ and of our selves with him in glory with any comfort Will hopes of keeping up their credit in the world of getting a little gain thereby make men deal honestly and seem righteous before men Let hopes of eternal light life and glory make you do so and be truly righteous before God If you have taken out that lesson Live like men yea like men Evangelized of which sort I fear there are more of the poor than of the rich as there were in our Saviours time I could heartily wish the words of the forementioned Divine were imprinted on your memories engraven on your hearts When men talk so much of Godliness and of Church Discipline and others come to deal with them they are so cunning and will fetch over men as well as any as griping as any these are burdensome members to a Church that wrong Religion your injustice herein is a greater evil than the injustice of any man The injustice of a moral man does not make men shie of dealing with all moral men but injustice in you makes men shie of dealing with any that make profession of Religion and to say none are so deceitful as they and though that objection does come usually from malice yet it cannot be denied but those that make profession give too much advantage for it The truly righteous are the right Honourable a Saints Coat of
did that which for the matter of it was right in the sight of the Lord in a good mood was more forward and zealous in repairing the House of God than his Tutor vers 4.5 6. chides him but vers 17.18 as soon as Jehoiada was dead out of sight and hearing he feâ—l to his own Course and Bias again his eye being only to the Lords people and the Lords Minister though he did what was right in the sight of God his heart was not right with God he took up the Religion of the fawning Princes of Judah That was more for his turn his interest now But would he not repent if any of the Lords Ministers would boldly tell him of his backslidings No many did vers 18.19 them he regarded not Jehoiada's own Son did and he gave express order they should Stone him So many are righteouâ— before men that godly Ministers good people may have a great opinion of them they carry it cunningly whilst godly Ministers Parents Friends Acquaintance live yet are Hypocrites and gross Dissemblers before God 5. But the occasion calls louder upon me than the time and constrains me to be thus abrupt to omit the remainder of this and the use of consolation which will take up another Sâ—â—eet and may come to your view Thereâ—ore stay Sirs Ye that have heard Mr. Charnock Preach yea if there be any such here that first gave your own selves unto the Lord then unto him by the will of God ye will hearken ye will be exhorted and prevailed with Is it Is it not I know it is your hearts desir to be received into the Kingdom of your Father and be perfectly glorified Let it be your constant care and endeavour to be found still amongst the righteous to shine in grace in holiness and righteousness in light and love faith and new obedience above all in uprightneâ— and sincerity Be ye righteous before God in his All-discerning eye not only in your own or other mens eyes which may soon easily be dazed blinded and so deluded by you At your leasurâ— weigh these Scriptures 1 Thes 4.1 to 10. Luke 1.75 and 1 Thes 3.12 13. Thus ye will Embalm the Deceased put him in the best Repository and preserve in your minds his Remains Ye are to eternize the name of that Reverend and Excellent Divine your faithful Pastor Mr. Stephen Charnock a name of precious and eternal memory ye are to follow his faith to walk in the way of righteousness you saw how he went before you My observation of his walking growth and perseverance in the way that is called Holy makes me conclude that he was 1. A sincere Convert born of the Word and Spirit the seed of Grace and Righteousness sprang up betimes in his heart The Deed of Gift or rather Copy of it which shewed his title to Heaven I believe perished with his Books in Londons flames and I have forgot the particular places of Scripture by which he was most wrought upon which were there inserted That it was pure Gospel is evident whatever any that heard him not may think or have heard of his Preaching but Morality or Metaphysicks in all his Sermons Prayers Conversation Gospel-light appeared to each that had any thing of the spirit of discerning and Love did abound more and more in knowledg in all judgment and experience How would he deeply search into and prove things that differ which many others at first view would well approve of and allow only what he found pure and excellent whereby he might make himself others sincere without offence and to be filled with the fruits of righteousness For this I had him in my heart at my first acquaintance with him in Cambridge Thirty six years since I found him one that Josiah-like had turned to the Lord with all his heart all his soul and all his might and none like him which did more endear him to me How had he hid the Word of God in a fertile soyl a good and honest heart which made him flee youthful lusts and Antidoted him against the infection of youthful vanities His Study was his Recreation the Law of God all his delights Had he it not think ye engraven on his heart He was as choice circumspect and prudent in his election of Society as of Books to converse with all his delight being in such as excelled in the Divine Art of directing furthering and quickening him in the way to Heaven the Love of Christ and Souls Most choice he was of the Ministers that he would hear what he learnt from Books Converse or Sermons that which affected and wrought most upon him he prayed over till he was delivered into the form of it and had Christ Grace and the Spirit formed in him True he had been darkness and then he said full of doubtings fears and grievously pestred with temptations 'T is in the night the ugly Serpent crawls forth alas he was to be trained up as he might counsel and comfort others but God vouchsafed to dart such raies into his heart as gave the light of the knowledg of the glory of God in the face the person of Jesus Christ So was he made light in the Lord and believing on Christ and God in him filled with inward peace and comfort 2 ly He was a sound Believer and oft said he esteemed his own righteousness as none at all nor would he be found in it 't was impure imperfect defiled stain'd like a menstruous cloth All his desire was to be found in Christ and arrayed with the fine linnen clean and shining the righteousness of the Saints One excellency of this excellent Divine lay in his knowledg belief of and the soundness of his judgment to clear unto the understanding of others fundamental Truths viz. concerning the first Covenant the apostacy and defection of our first Parents by which term the Fathers in the Primitive times judiciously delight to delineate the fall of Adam and ours in him The first promise that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 concerning Christ the seed of the Woman and that before the Judiciary sentence past The Covenant of Redemption the New Covenant of Grace which filled up the greatest room in his head heart meditations prayers and discourses the nature of Original sin want of original righteousness corruption of nature impossibility of being justified by the Law by Works Justification by Christ by faith in him the sufferings of Christ Regeneration c. and the love of God in all How oft have we found him as if he had lately been with Paul caught up into the third Heaven and heard unspeakable words magnifying and adoring the mercy love and goodness of God the freeness and the riches of his Grace in giving the promise before the sentence giving Christ righteousness and faith in him Oh! said he oft to this effect the grace of God! the freeness and exceeding riches of his grace who is rich in mercy for his great love wherewith he hath
loved us he was pleased to make us vessels of grace and mercy when he might have made us vessels of wrath That ever the Lord should have thoughts of mercy on such sinful creatures such vile wretches worse than worms or Toads They have poyson in them but no enmity against God Oh that God should give his Christ for us to us and faith in Christ both work it and preserve it in us Yea he was one that lived by faith and he is gone to receive the end of it the salvation of his soul 3 ly He was no Solifidian but being sanctified in part truly righteous 1. Having infused habits of grace and righteousness in him light and love faith and hope inclining him to walk in new obedience and worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing 1. Knowledg without which the heart is not good he knew the grace of God in truth and through grace had treasured up a large stock of saving solid practical experimental knowledg which furnished him with great abilities not only to convince gain-sayers which crept in as new lights of their broaching old errors but wherein he did most delight to give knowledg and discretion to weaker Christians and to illuminate and instruct the righteous Many able Ministers loved to sit at his feet for they received by one Sermon of his those instructions which they could not get by many Books or Sermons of others His heat and zeal for the honour of God and the good of souls was proportioned to his light he was as much a burning as a shining light 2 ly As for his sparkling love he had bowels of compassion for sinners to snatch them out of the flames and for Saints to direct them into the love of Christ of holiness and righteousness I need not speak unto you of his Preaching How oft went he to children of light walking in darkness to cheer and revive them with cordials wherewith the Lord had usually refreshed him This great Physician of souls had great practice and was rarely found out of his study where he was commonly immured five days in the week twelve hours each of those days I will not say as some to make one Sermon I know he had other work there unless gone to visit and relieve his Patients 3. For his Hope he might appeal to God and say with David Lord I have hoped for thy salvation the great and glorious the promised rewards eternal life and glory and so have done thy commandment as the righteous have he had hopes in his death 'T was his longing desire and his hopes were that he should shortly be in that sinless estate in Heaven where there is the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the perfection of grace and holiness Hypocrites fancying something they know not what of the glory and happiness of that place I believe sometimes have desires to go to Heaven when they die and hopes they shall go thinking themselves too good for hell and better than many others but sure they would reach and pursue more after holiness and perfection were their desires after and hopes for Heaven real and sincere but as to Mr. Charnock these gracious dispositions inclin'd him 1 ly To love righteousness to cherish countenance and encourage holiness and to hate iniquity to reprove sin where he found it thouâ—h in his dearest friends imitating his Father in Heaven who is not only an all seeing God that espies sin where ever it is but so holy pure and perfect that he hates sin where ever he finds it yet his reproofs never brake the head but heal'd the heart went down smoothly like precious oyl being compounded of such ingredients much Christian meekness prudence compassion love as well as zeal Yea 2. Grace in the heart set his hands at work the work of righteousness made him only mind that work and so much abound in it Should you bring me many eminent Saints choice Ministers yet I believe I may say without adulation Mr. Charnock did labour more than them all I am sure though I do not particularize them his works will be had in remembrance and praise him in the gates So I question not but the Lord did accept him 3 ly As Righteous in his own eye though I say it may be you observed some failings in him That which I wishly looked for and am perswaded I found in him for so far as 't is in man to judg it seemed to me the most sparkling Jewel in the Crown of Glory which he wore upon his head was sincerity he would give God his own himself soul and body a living and an acceptable sacrifice his whole heart his life which he spent in the service of God and of the faith of his people I remember if I mistake not something he reply'd to one that told him If he studied so much 't would cost him his life to this effect Why it cost Christ his life to redeem and save me His time which he husbanded best to that end his Talents Parts Gifts and Graces He was careful to watch over his heart that he knew too well to trust and against spiritual pride 'T was apparent he had frequently been with God in the Mount especially at Sacramâ—nt-seasons when Christ is as it were transfigured lively crucified before his people and looks with a most amiable countenance white and ruddy his face then and after his conversation shone in holâ—nâ—ss yet such was his humility he himself took no notice of it though others did observe it with admiration he would adhere to Christ observe his Ordinances according to his prescription And his main care was always to worship God in spirit and in truth 2 ly As to himself he watched and kept his garments as he kept himself unspotted from the world 3 ly He gave others their due one instance whereof he was a Preacher of Righteousness He or rather Christ in him by the blessed Spirit preached in season and out of season sometimes to such as would not be perswaded But 4 ly Especially to his Flock whether many others came flocking like Doves unto the windows that he might better fulfill this righteousness of his Office He did 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which as Plato affirms 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or rather as the Apostle exhorts he did study to be quiet and to mind and do his own business and all his care was to work out the salvation of himself and of his people Indeed not long after he had received light himself when the Lord by his blessing on his endeavours had qualified him for it such such was his love he gave forth light unto others inviting them and saying Come and see Jesus 1. In Southwark where seven or eight in that little time Providence continued him there owned their conversion under God to his Ministry and were the seal and Letters Testimonial thereof Then in the University of Oxford and adjacent parts After in Dublin where it might be said of