bare cipher which it properly resembles and cannot profit in the day of wrath for Christ tells us so much What will it profit a man to gaine the whole world Marke 8.36 and to lose his owne soule But place Christ before it and then every creature in it shall be avaylable for our good And Christ assures us this too Matth. 6.33 first seeke the Kingdom of God and the righteousnes thereof and all other things shall bee added unto you So then the way to be truely great is to bee truely good vertue is the best Nobility Christianity the greatest dignity and godlinesse the surest gaine Let it bee then our chiefe labour So to number our dayes since it will both supply our houses with wealth and apply our hearts to wisdome which brings me to the last particular viz. Finis Finis the End why wee desire to bee so taught That we may apply our hearts to wisdome Wherein observe first What kind of wisdome this is Secondly how our hearts are said to bee applyed unto it For the first there are two sorts of wisdome as Heady wisdome and Hearty wisdome Earthly wisdome and Heavenly wisdome Marthas wisdome and Maryes wisdome Now were wee ever to live in this world Marthas wisdome would be preferred but since our dayes are numbred with God Maryes choyce will best teach us so to number them our selves as to apply our hearts to heavenly wisdome Which may be distinguished from the earthly in 4. particulars 1. By the Object The Object of heavenly wisdome is Christ who is made unto us Wisdome righteousnesse sanctification and redemption 1 Corinth 1.30 But of earthly wisdome vanity and sinne 2. By the Properties Heavenly wisdome is pure peaceable gentle and easy to be intreated full of mercy and good fruits without partiality and without Hypocrisy Iam. 3.17 But earthly wisdome is mixt with sin mudded with lust cruell crafty and quarelsome Iam. 3.15 3. By the Schoole where they are to bee learnt Heavenly wisdome is taught onely of God by his Spirit and in his Word but the other hath as many Masters as there are corrupt mindes 4. By the end at which they aime The one tends chiefely to the good of the soule howsoever it fare with the body But the other chiefely to satisfy and fulfill the lusts of the flesh without respect unto the soule Let an earthly wise man have Esaus blessing Gen. 27.39.28 the fatnesse of the earth and let who will take Iacobs blessing the dew of Heaven Psal 4.8 Let their corne and wine and oyle increase it is all they care for as for the light of Gods countenance they regard it not For the Second hee that beleeves what God affirmes applyes his heart to faith Hee that does what God commands applyes his heart to Obedidience and hee that makes use of both these in their benefits and effects to the good of his soule applyes his heart to wisdome Now hee that will so number his dayes as is before layd downe must thus apply his heart to a sixfold wisdome First to the Virgins Wisdome the wisdome of Preparation Math. 25.4 The wise Virgins tooke oyle in their Vessells Wee all know the Bridegroome Christ Iesus will come but when wee know not and therefore we ought alwayes to bee prepared with the oyle of grace in our lamps that when hee shall come we may be ready to enter with him into his everlasting glory I find no other difference betwixt the wise Virgins and the foolish but onely this the one did that in time which the other would faine have done when it was too late If thou bee wise then prepare in time least thou repent when it is too late Secondly to the serpents wisdome the wisdome of Preservation Matth. 10.16 Bee yee wise as serpents c. It is accounted a great part of wisdome in the Serpent to preserve his head with all the care that may be because all his life lyes in his head a little blow on the head quickly kills him but wound him never so much on the body his head being safe he will recover it againe Now the Apostle tels us that our life is hid with God in Christ our head Colos 3.3 in whom we must bee carefull to preserve and keepe our Faith though wee suffer never so many wounds in our persons goods or good names Resolving with the Apostle that neither tribulation nor anguish nor persecution c. shall bee able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Iesus our Lord. Rom. 8. ult Thirdly to the Stewards wisdome the wisdome of Prevention Luke 16.8 The Lord commended the unjust Steward because hee had done wisely c. The Steward we know being ready to bee put from his place to prevent poverty made himselse friends with his Masters goods which was reputed a point of wisdome in him Now wee are all but Stewards of what wee possesse and know not how soone we shall bee taken from them or they from us Here then is our wisdome in time to make us friends with these Mammons of unrighteousnes for so Christ calls these earthly riches in comparison of the true treasure that when they sayle us Luke 16.9 we may be received into everlasting habitations which may bee best done by our Charity to the poore members of Christ for Prov. 19.17 what we give to the poore we lend to the Lord saith Salomon and what is layd out he will repay us againe The poore mans hand is the rich mans reasury what hee layes up there he shall find in heaven hee that feeds the hungry puts bread into Christs owne mouth hee that clothes the naked puts a garment on Christs owne backe and hee that gives to the poore puts a penny in Christs owne hand himselfe hath said it Matth 25.45 Eccl. 11 7. whatsoever you doe unto any of these little ones yee doe it unto me Cast your bread then upon these waters and after many dayes you shall find it againe with a great reward Fourthly to the Ants wisdome the wisdome of Providence Proverb 6.6 Goe to the Ant thou sluggard consider her wayes and bee wise It is observed of the Ant that she labours very painefully in the Summer to get provision together to keepe her in the Winter so should wee doe during the summer of health and prosperity and Sunne-shine of the Gospell of peace 1 Tim. 6.19 lay up for our selves a good foundation against the Winter of trouble need sorrow sicknesse or other adversity The Apostles Counsell is Gal. 6.10 while you have time doe good to all especially to those who are of the houshold of Faith and the Prophet renders you a reason of it because in death God is not remembred Psal 6.5 nor will any give him thanks in the grave while you have the light walk Iohn 11. Phil. 2.12 and while it is called to day worke out your salvation with feare and
indeed This done insisting some while in directing her how she might purchase that assurance and that trust she so heartily prayd for I left her untill the Thursday after By which time the Sun of righteousnesse with healing in his wings having dispelled in good measure those mysts of diffidence which eclipsed the light and peace of her soule began againe to shine forth in his wonted cleerenesse reviving and cheering up those drooping affections which had so long languished in the want of his comfortable presence insomuch that to my great rejoycing I found her magnifying of mercy which before she doubted of and comforting her selfe with those Scriptures which before her soule refused comfort in being tendred unto her I told her I did heartily blesse God for this happy change in her and she replyed that the grace of Christ was sufficient for her upon whom she did wholly rest and rely for her salvation disclayming all conceipt of worth or merit in her selfe entreating me to pray to God for her that it would please him to pardon those distrustfull thoughts which she had formerly of his goodnesse and to perfect that re-assurance of his love in her heart she joyning with us very cheerefully and devoutly all the time expressing a marvelous longing for the fullnesse of spiritual and heavenly joy Insomuch that while I inserted that petition of the Prophet Doe well unto thy Servant that she may live and praise thy name she interrupted me saying ô pray onely for my soule for I desire to be dissolved and to be with Christ which is farre better The Sunday following in the afternoone I was requested to preach to the Congregation of this Parish whither being come and enquiring of her health I was generally assured that they had observed her to be that day more composed cheerefull then usually she had bin but while the whol Families of her friends were Religiously exercised in the Church she intimated to those that wayted about her that she felt her selfe sensibly to change her Cough having a little before left her a sure signe in those diseases of death approaching whereupon they asked her if they should call the Lady her mother or husband or any other unto her but she answerd no they were she said about a good worke and she hoped that she should live till they had done and God granted her request for no sooner was the Sermon ended and all her friends againe returned about her but she heartily wished for some one to recommend her soule to God it was my happinesse to be there at that time and they entreated mee to performe that last office for her which we hasted to doe perceiving her to decline apace while she to the admiration of all that were present considering her great weakenesse repeated after me very zealously almost what soever I delivered and concluding with the Lords Prayer she most devoutly rehearsed that word for word which as it was the first she learnt so I may truely say it was the last she uttered for immediately hereupon as if she had onely staid for this Convoy to her eternall rest she most sweetly and peaceably exchanged this life leaving her surviving friends like the Apostle in a strait betwixt two not knowing which to chuse whether more to mourne for her losse or to rejoyce for her so blessed and happie departure But why doe I speake of losse since to use Saint Pauls phrase to her to live was Christ and to dye was gaine for she is not amissa but praemissa not lost but gone before death to her being but like Iordan to Israel a waftage from the wildernesse of this world to the Canaan of everlasting blessednes wher her soul is bound up in the bundle of life securely reposed in the bosom of Abraham 1 Cor. 15. â—4 her body like seed being sown in the Lords gleb-Land for so the Germans call the grave shal be there safely preserved by her heavenly Father that good Husbandman Ioh. 15.1 unto the harvest of that great day when by vertue of the resurrection of Christ 1 Cor. 15.20 The first fruits of them that sleepe she shall awake out of this Sepulchrall vault againe both glorious and honorable and the grave being dispossest of her body her body shal be re-possest by her soule and both body and soule everlastingly possest of that immortall incorruptible and never fading Kingdome 1 Pet. 1.4 reserved in heaven for her whose King is Christ whose Subjects are Saints whose Law is love whose rule is equity whose honour is verity whose peace is felicity and whose life is Eternity Unto which he brings us all who hath bought it for us and us for himselfe Christ Jesus therighteous to whom with the Father and the holy Spirit three Persons one eternall immortall invisible and onely wise God be rendred and ascribed all glory honour power praise might majesty dignity and dominion henceforth and for evermore Amen In praematura fata Dominae Elizabethae nuper uxoris patrui mei charissimi Caroli Dering 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 CÆtera cuncta licet rapias Libitina putabam Virtutem exemptam legibus esse tuis Sed verum est querulo cecinit quod carmine vates Omnia mors pedibus calcat avara suis Quae nunc ploranda est aeterna fuisset Eliza Si virtus auidum vinceret ipsa rogum Hinc mihi singultus laâ— hyrmae suspiria fletus Et quicquid luget fertilis arte dolor Damna tamen fateor foecundo carmine nostra Musa ferax lachrymis connumerare nequit Ergo tuos mea musa libet deponere planctus Amissae cruciant dum memorantur opes Edoardus Dering praedicti Dom. Edoardi Filius Charissimo fratri meo CAROLO DERING KANCIANOLONDINATI Amissam deflenti QVAM Ut Amorem nostrum decuit ut virtus defunctae meruit in communi nominis DERINGANI Hypogaeo arquato sociatam pie condidimus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ELISABETHA meos habuit prima vxor Amores Prima calet flammis ELSABETHA tuis CAROLE fatorum frater consor sq meorum Quam fugit heu cito nos utraq ELSA duos Sic fit sic FIAT PATRIS divina VOLVNTAS Transtulit ille meam transtulit ille tuam Haud peterint Elegi nostros numerare dolores Si foret in luctus Musa diserâ—a novos Illarum Heroo poterit nec earmine diei Caendor Amor Pietas Gratia Forma Fides Prussia dilectam tibi CAROLE credit ELISAM Vicina ad thalames venit ELISA mâ—os Vtraq nunc uno est vxor tumulata sepulchre Et cadit in cineres Vtraq ELISA simul Disce meo exemplo Vivacem nolo Dolorem Sed memor aeterno tempore vivat Amor Frater tuus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Dom. Edoardus Dering miles et Baronettus FINIS
must mind it and intend it as hee goes in order else if he forget any of his summes or omit any of his rules he must beginne againe all before is to no purpose So must every Christian be diligent and intent in this his spirituall Arithmeticke and minde this duty of numbring his dayes with all circumspection a man that mindes one thing so much that he forgets another wee say in our usuall phrase that he is out of his numbers the like may bee said of those who are so much given to number their earthly that they forget their heavenly estate I speake not this to with-hold any man from a moderate care to provide necessaries for this life No Hee that doth it not is worse than an Infidell Iohn 11.19 sayes Saint Paul Martha and Mary may dwell together Christ would have us to bee wise as serpents if withall wee bee innocent as Doves Matth. 10.16 The thing I disswade is that we suffer not the serpent to eate up the Dove nor Martha to turne Mary out of doores that our overmuch care for the world make us not negligent of heaven a Christian should imitate the Dolphin which is said to swimme with one eye on the waters and the other looking on the skye so must hee have an eye to heaven in providing for his soule in the sight of God 2 Cor. 8.21 and an eye to the earth in providing things honest in the sight of men 3 The third Rule They that cast an account they beginne with the least figures first and so proceed from units to tennes from tennes to hundreds from hundreds to thousands c. So in our numbring of our dayes though at first our knowledge of God be but small yet let us goe on and it will multiply like good seed in good ground in some 30. in some 60. Math. 13.8 in some 100. fold the way of vertue is like the Rocke to Ionathan and his armour-bearer hard to clyme 1 Sam. 14.13.14 but victory at the top or like the Greek T and Roman Y narrow at the bottome but as wee ascend they branch out So will Gods gifts increase if wee use them well Ezek. 47.3.4 grace is like Ezekiells waters which did rise more and more till they came up to the head or like our Saviours wheat which grew more and more Mark 4.27.28 till it came to the Harvest Samuel was dedicated to the Lord from his youth but it was observed of him that the elder hee grew the more zealous hee was in his course thus should old men be and all men too quo seniores eo sanctiores Cantator Cignus funeris ipse sui was said of a Reverent man that like the Swan the neerer his death the sweeter he sung the more heavenly his Meditations Christians should bee like Rivers which the neerer they come to the Sea the swifter they runne and it should be said of them as of the Church of Thyatira Their latter end should be better then their first Revel 1.19 The fourth Rule They that cast accounts begin at the left hand and proceed to the right so must we in the numbring of our dayes All men number but the wicked begin at the right hand viz. in praysing their good deeds boasting of their gifts and glorying in the Creatures of God by them abused but end at the left hand of Gods displeasure Luke 18.11 Thus the Pharisee numbred God I thanke thee I am not as other men are beginning at the right hand but hee ended at the left for the text sayes he went away not justified Thus Dives began to number at the right hand in purple and fine linnen and delicious fare Luke 16.19 but ended at the left in hell Thus they number that cry Let us eate and drinke 1 Cor. 15.32 for to morrow wee shall dye saying with the wicked fill us more wine and we will satisfy our selves with strong drinke Esay 56.12 and to morrow shall bee as to day and much more abundant But the godly beginne at the left hand mortifying and sorrowing for their sinnes and end at the right hand of Gods favour Luke 18.13 Thus the Publican numbred his dayes beginning at the left hand God be mercifull unto me a sinner and ended at the right hand hee went sayes the text unto his house justified Thus Saint Paul numbred 1 Tim. 1.13 beginning at the left hand I was a persecutor c. but ending at right I found mercy because I did it ignorantly Thus Polycarpus numbred his dayes when going to his sufferings he was told if hee would sweare by Caesar and rayle at Christ hee should be spared he answered these fourescore and odd yeares have I served him and found him my good Master and I will not now deny him Thus S. Chrysostome taught his charge to number their dayes to cast up how many houres there were in the weeke viz. 168. and to bee carefull that God had his due out of them viz. all the houres of the seventh day and some houres of every day The fift Rule They that cast an account must know the place of every figure for what it stands So must we know and try our selves in what place wee stand in Gods service according to his talents given to us No man must stand as a cipher if hee doe God will so esteeme him The Lacedemonians did use to decline their military men through three tenses of the Indicative Mood in the first Ranck or Chorus came the old worne Souldiers whose strength was spent and their word was Fuimus we have beene valiant in our time in the second came the lusty young gallants and their word was Sumus wee are valiant try who dare and in the third came the children whose word was Erimus wee shall bee valiant if wee live to it according to the old verse Vota senum consulta virorum facta juventae Let young men bee valiant in action midle age men in consultation old men in devotion God allowes no man to live without some calling Gen. 3 19. In the sweat of thy browes or of thy braynes thou must eate thy bread Lastly they that cast an account though they set never so many ciphers together yet if they have no figure before them they stand for nothing but add but one figure in the first place and that will give them all their severall quantities and make the ciphers to be great summes In like manner all wee possesse are but ciphers unlesse Christ bee preferred before them It is hee that gives the blessing and the comfortable use of what wee have without Christ beauty is but vanity wisedome but folly strength but infirmity and riches but misery Ideo malus faelix putatur quia quid sit faelicitas ignoratur saith S. Austin worldly men are counted happy by none but such who know not what happynesse is The whole world without Christ is but a