CORNELL 
 
 UNIVERSITY 
 
 LIBRARY 
 
CORNELL UNIVERSITY LIBRARY 
 
 3 1924 104 035 856 
 
The original of tliis book is in 
 tine Cornell University Library. 
 
 There are no known copyright restrictions in 
 the United States on the use of the text. 
 
 http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924104035856 
 
\Heavei^lyTrea/ures in Earthen Vejfels 
 
 a 
 
 A Funeral 
 
 Is E R M O N 
 
 Occafioned by the ' 
 
 DEATH 
 
 Of the late Reverenp 
 
 [r. Samuel RofeTvelt^ M. A. 
 
 \Who departed this Life on the 7* 
 of Jfprilj 1722. , 
 
 Preached the 22"^ of the fapie Month. 
 
 By JEREMIAH SMITH. 
 
 L O NT> O M: 
 
 IPrinted for Richard Ford at ihe ^ngel inl 
 the Poultry, nezr Stocks-Market ; And John I 
 King at the Bii/Ie and Crown in Fore^fireeiA 
 near Great Moorgate. ijtt. , 
 
 frice Six Pence. 
 
TO 
 
 Mrs. Anne, and Mrs. Lettice 
 Rofeweil, Mother, and Re- 
 licSt, of the late Reverend 
 Mr. Samuel Rofewell ■: To- 
 gether with Mr. Walter an4 
 Mrs, Rhoda Tredway ; and 
 the other near Relations of 
 the Deceafed. 
 
 Much refpcfted Friends, 
 
 \Twas a Return that may feem 
 too light, which one made, when 
 told that hh Son was dead; I 
 ^mvjfa'idhe^ that I begat him mortal: 
 And yet it is true, that a right Conftde- 
 ration of the'lStature of fuch affliBive 
 Cafes, maj help to hear them more ^- 
 quallyy and frevent tumultuatirig Paf- 
 
 A z fans 
 
The Dedication. 
 
 fiom under them. Tour dear Relative, 
 and our much valued Friend, neither 
 as Man, nor as Minifier, was exempt 
 from that common Law of D^ing; and 
 when, by Order of the fupreme Ruler, 
 he. hath yielded thereto, it becomes' us 
 to adore God's Sovereignty, and fubmit 
 to his Pkafure-^ inquiring, ne<verihelefs, 
 into thg Meaning andVfe offofevere a 
 Providence. Happy and ^^tr^h w^ 
 doubt mt, it is to him ; who refts from his 
 Labours, his Works foU<)wing him, 
 hut angry and penal it may be to us ; 
 for Unthankfulnefs andUnprofitabknefs. 
 under his Minifiry j wfiioh, fmce we 
 would not better improve, we are not 
 fiffer'd longer to enjoy. May we hum- 
 ble ourfelves under the mighty Hand 
 of God, and tmn to him thatfmitetl^ 
 us : and fee we to it, that tho' theVefftl 
 he broken, yet the Treafure be not altoge" 
 ther loJl,but that goodlmprejjions remain 
 in usfiill. Aid let us gather up the Frag- 
 ments, all that can be recolleBed or got- 
 ten of his holy InJiruBions andCounfels: 
 Let us lay them up for Ufe, and comfort 
 
 1 our 
 
The Dedication. 
 
 our fehxes and one another^ that tho" 
 Friends and Relations die, even the beji 
 andmofi ufejul of them,, tho" the Vejfels 
 of the San^uary he broken in pieces, yelt 
 God lives, Std his Word endureth for 
 ever. Let the aged Parent, deprived 
 of fo good and dutiful a Son, the Staff 
 of her Age, yet. depend upon Jehovah 
 the Rock of Ages, who never dies, or 
 fails, or changes -, and who cart, and 
 will he, more, and better to her, than 
 many Sons. 
 
 Let the bereaved Widow truft in 
 God, her Helper and Preferver, wk^ 
 will perform toward her all his Cove- 
 nant Mercy and Goodnefs. 
 
 The Orphans, who at prefent know 
 little of their Lofs, when they under- 
 fiand it more, yet may they find that 
 they have a Father in Heaven, whofe 
 Love and Care JhaU be exercifed conti- 
 nually about th^m* 
 
 Let other Friends, who have loft fo 
 ■ kind, and good, and ufeful a Relation, re- 
 member their beji Friend lives fiill ^ from 
 whom they may hope for Comfort and 
 
 Support 
 
The Dedication. 
 
 Support in the Failure of Creature Helps 
 and Enjoymetfts* 
 
 Let a weaker^ d and moumingChurch 
 and Congregation go to God, and pray 
 that he, who hath the Rtfidue of the 
 Spirit, would pour a greater Meafure 
 thereof on their yet furviving, unworthy 
 Minijier-, to Jit hint more for his Worki 
 and that, in the befi Time and Manner, 
 the Breach may be made up, in the 
 Help of another welUfurnijhed Vejfel, 
 to difpenfe to them the rich Treafures of 
 the Gofpel. Thefe are the Requejis and 
 Wijhes of their and your 
 
 AfFedionate and Faithful 
 
 Friend and Servant, 
 
 Jeremiah Smith. 
 
2 Cor. iv. 7. 
 
 But we have this Treafure m Ecirthen 
 Vejfek, that the Excellency of the 
 Power may be of God ^ and not of us. 
 
 HE fad Providence we are under^ is an 
 Inftance and Proof of what the Text 
 fuggefts, viz. That Minifters, ttio' ho- 
 nour'd and employ'd in greatahd excel- 
 lent Work and Service, yet are frail dying Creatures, 
 as well as others j their Habitations here axemHbu- 
 /es of Clay, whofe Foundation is in the Duft. My " 
 late Reverend and much efteemed Cbllegue, one of 
 thefe Vcflels of the Sanftuary, God fiath^ been 
 pleafed to break in Pieces, by the Hand of Death} 
 he weakened his Strength in the Way, arid Shortened p„ ^„ ^ 
 his Days i a Stroke that we have all the greateft 
 .Keafonto be affeiSted with, and ky to Heart j that 
 fo well fitted and furniflied a Veflel as he* was, 
 fraught in an uncommon Meafure with the rich 
 Treafures of the Gofpel, and who fo wifely, dili- 
 gently^ and faithfully dilpenfed them, is taken 
 from OS ; It concerns us to confider, how far our 
 Sins may have (.provoked God to remove fo great 
 
 B a 
 
 Jei iv. 19: 
 
2 A Funeral Sermon. 
 
 a Bleflingi what Defefts wc«ma^ find of due Va- 
 iuaaons^f hini, aod^ofTis Miniftryi^of Cpnftan- 
 c^in Attendan^^ thereon, and of fuitable Endea- 
 vStks ft i^iofit thereby, call for Humiliation and 
 Grief} with the greater Care now, at leaft, to re- 
 colleft the whelfon^ Lcfloas he taught, the live- 
 ly Pattern of holy Walking that he fhfcw'd, and 
 to bf Followers of him, as he was of Chrift : Such 
 Fruits of his Labours, will be his and our Joy in 
 the gteat Day of Accotints, and. God will have 
 tl*e Gloiy of all ; For, 
 
 We have this Treafiire in Earthen F'ejfels, that 
 the Excellency of the PotUff may be of God, and not 
 of us. 
 
 The Apoftlc is herp vindicating the Gofpel, and 
 the MiniJfters thereof, againft the Prejudices and 
 P^jtca&ipa of falfe TeaiChers i who laboured to 
 bring them, and their Preaching, into Contempt, 
 from their Pkinnels and Meanncfs, and the Infir- 
 mities Avitfa which they were attended } but he 
 lets them know, however vile they were in their 
 Acooanl^ God had put great Honour upon themj 
 ver. 6. • fot^^he-^hfi^ commanded the Light to finne out of Dark- 
 nefs.y ,batb Jhined in our Hearts (faid he) to give, or 
 that wCj^ould give, the Light of the Knowledge of 
 the GJofy of God, in the Face of Jefus Chriji. All 
 ^lini%rial Gifts and/Lbilities are for the 6ood of 
 thpfe. to whom the Minifters are fent. And as to 
 outward Meannefs and.Fraifty, and manylnfirmi- 
 -.*»?s. attending their Perfons, he readily acknow- 
 :^?^^.4 ^^ i but fpith it is, that the Excellency of 
 , the Power may be of qed, and not of us. So that 
 
 # the 
 
A Fmeral ;S e r Mo nJ '^ 
 
 the ^poftle here aflerts the Excellency 0|i tfeif -Go- 
 fpel, and of its Miniflry, fti)i?ig: it a Sreafwe, and 
 yet owns the Frailty and'Meannefs of the Difpen- 
 fersofit, they are but e«>^^te /<^^^/i i aB^,%rall 
 •thatjjuftifies and vindicates the Connexioo of thefe 
 two, from the wife End and Intent ofXjj^^there- 
 in, the better to fecure to himfelf his own Glory 5 
 the Weaknefs of the Inftruinent proclaiTOpgrtlje 
 Ability of the. mighty Efficient, that theEn^hwy 
 e/ the Power may he^'' i. e. %toS^ appear to-be, : of 
 Gody and not of us. > - -. >q <{-«■>. 
 
 The general Truth then that I would lp(?ak to 
 fvom the iWords is- this, viz. : z: ff> 01 
 
 The Diffofal of the rich ffreafures of the Gofpel^ 
 into the Hands of frail dying Men, is tM- hetier -to 
 Jefure iifitio God.the FJonour-'^f his Pointer,, in the liv- 
 fng^d ahW% Effe^s of it. 
 
 I 
 
 Three Things are here to be difcourfed on, viz. 
 
 I. The Gofpel is anineftimable Treafufe. 
 
 II. This Treafure is committed into the Hands 
 of frail dying Men. 
 
 III. ThisDifpofal of God is the better to fecure 
 to himfelf the Honour of his Power, in the 
 living and abiding Effefts of it. • 
 
 I. The Gofpel is an ineftimable Treafufe. The 
 Notion of a Treafurc agrees, to it truly ., and emi- 
 
 l'"Jn ''(*«!TtT- ' ■ •- -1 ,':r 
 
 ' (r.-) Truly, @i\rTcvi^h? quaji cU ia'ugiov vlh^- A 
 Treafure is a Colleftion of Things valuable, refer- 
 
 B 2 ved 
 
A Funiral Sermon. 
 
 vcd and laid up for future Ufe, It carries in it 
 E^cdlenCy, Variety, and Benefit or Ufefulnefs. 
 
 l.ExeelIt»eyi we don't call Things of little or 
 no Worth by that Name, but only what is pre- 
 cious } and fuch istheGofpel} the Matter, the'' 
 Miniftry, and Ordinances thereof j and the Bene- 
 fits and EfFc6ts of it, where 'tis duly received, are 
 all precious j 'tis the DoSrine of Qod in Chriji, re- 
 eoneilmg the World unto himfelf. And what glad 
 Tidings are thefe ! .The Miniftry thereof is the 
 Miniftry of Reconciliation j to tender ahd bring a- 
 bout Peace and Amity between God and Sinners j 
 the Gifts for it are precious, p^ogiV/xofla Sfiritus, 
 Gifts of the Spirit, purchafed by Chrift, and fent 
 down from Heaven $ the Offices and Duties of 
 the Miniftry } difpenfing the Word and Seals, 
 praying with, and for the Flock, perfonal Care^ 
 Guidance, and Difcipline : How precious are thefe! 
 and the Benefits and Effeds of the Gofpel, and of 
 the Miniftration of it. Where it comes with Pow- 
 er, how glorious are they ! Pardon of Sin, Sanc- 
 tification of the Nature, Guidance and Support, 
 and Help thro' this World unto a better > what is 
 excellent, if not fuch Thfngs ? Thus then the 
 Gofpel is a Treafure in regard of its Excellency j 
 'tis compared to Things accounted moft valuable 
 among Men, Silver and Gold, and precious Stones, 
 and the like. And, 
 
 z. A Treafure hath commonly rariety of good 
 Things in it j or, if it be hut one, 'tis fuch as w>- 
 tually is many ; will yield much good, and anfwer 
 many Rirpofcs : And thus is the Gofpel a Trea- 
 
 fttre^i 
 
A Funeral Sermon? ? 
 
 fun ; 'tis a Comprehenfion of Things excellent, as 
 appears in the Particulars alrSady mentioned j the 
 Gofpel hath pure Doftrines, holy Precepts, pre- 
 cious Promifes, Rules for ordering the Life, and 
 guiding in every Condition, and Relation > fuch 
 Variety of precious Things are a Treafure } or if 
 all be fummed up in one^ it is Chrift^ that Pearl of^^'-^'AS. 
 Price. He is altogether lovely j hath all Good incaat.v.ie. 
 him, he is made of God unto us, IVifdom, Righte- 
 oufnefs, S0n£iificatio», and Redemption. In him ''^"'•'•3°' 
 are hid all the Ireafures of Wifdom^and Knowledge. Coi. a. 3. 
 AW theProiaiCcs are Tea and j4men in Chrifi. Thus r ■ 
 
 ■' a Car. i, ao. 
 
 is the Gofpel a Treafure in refpe£t of the Variety 
 of good Things in it. And, 
 
 5. Ufefulnefs muft be in what is fb accounted j 
 
 / if it ferve not to good Purpofes, 'tis not valued, 
 or fet by j but the Gofpel is a Treafure in this Re» 
 
 ■ fpe6t alfo. It brings ufeful and fabfiantial Good, 
 not Trifles, and Things of no Profit. The Trea- 
 fure is that out of which a Man lives, and whence 
 he hath both for Neceffity and Delight j his Oc- 
 cafions are all provided for, and fupplied. And 
 fo it is here, Prov. viii. 20, 21. / lead in the PVay 
 of Righteoufnefs (faith Wifdom) in the midft of the 
 Paths of Judgment, that I may caufe thofe that love 
 me, to inherit Sub fiance, and I "will fill their Trea- 
 fares. The good Things of the Gofpel are folid 
 fubftantial Things, full of Ufe and Profit. Thus 
 does the Notion of a Treafure agree truly to the 
 
 , Gofpel, and fo does it 
 
 (2.) Emi' 
 
A Funeral Sermon. 
 
 (i.) Eminently, We have thu Treafu re -(faith 
 the Apoftle, emphaacally) a Treafure excelling 
 and tranfcendJHig all others j as, 
 
 I. In '\v& Nature^ 'tis a fpiritual and heavenly 
 Treafiire ; coming from Heaven, and helping thi- 
 ther ; nqafcing rich toward God, which earthly 
 Treafures, of themfelves at leaft, do not : None 
 are for thefc vs^ucd by him, unlefs thro' the hea- 
 venly Riches, and by Virtue of them, tbofe earth- 
 ly ones become fan&ified, and turned to a good 
 Ufe i but, of themfelves they don't fpeak, or mal<« 
 Men good, their corrupt Hearts «bufing them of- 
 ten to Pride and Luxury, and other fuch like E- 
 vils J they are by them made worfe ; thus then, 
 Gofpel-Riches tranfcend in their Nature : And fo 
 do they 
 
 1. In their Ufes and EffeSls, as was partly even 
 pow fuggefted j thefe Riches being fpirityal and 
 heavenly, fuit the Soul of Man, and its Wants j 
 they make wife, and holy, and good} theyitjrich. 
 the Mind, adorn and beautify the inward Man, 
 make it amiable in.God's-Eyes, and fit for his Pre- 
 fence, and the glorious Society above. But thefe 
 outward and earthly Treafures, fuit but the Body 
 and this animal Life ; they are but for Back or 
 Belly : But the Treafures of the Gofpel, as they 
 are divine and fpiritual in the(r Nature, fo are they 
 in their Ufes and EffeSts ; they are for the Soul,, 
 and its Wants and Craving : And thence 
 
 3. Thefc Treafures of the. Gofpel are the only 
 faiisfying treafures. He that loveth Silver, floall 
 not b? fatisfied with Silver ; nor he that loveth A- 
 
 bundance, 
 
A Funeral Sermon. 7 
 
 hundame^ imth Increctfe. The more of tlifefe pof- 
 fefled and enjoyed, commonly the more are craved > 
 but the Gofpel,and the Grace it brings, breeds Con- 
 tentm'cnt, Proi:. xiv. 14. A ^ooi Ma^JhaUbe fa- 
 Hsfied from himfelf ; thdfe Treafures of Grace and 
 Peace, that thro' the Gofpel are communicated to 
 him ; he fhail not be afflifted with inordinat ro- 
 ving Defires after other Things j but fliali find com- 
 fort in God, And the Treailires of the Gofpel', 
 wherewith he fills their Miiids and Hearts. To 
 WtjitldKngs, iaith God by his 7/«/«^j Chap. Iv. z,3. 
 ]^hy do you fpend your Money for that which is not 
 'Bread, and your Labour for that which fatisfieth 
 not? Hearken to me, and eat ye that which is good, 
 and let your Soul del^ht it felf in Fatnefs ■: Gome un- 
 to me, hear, and your Soul Jhall^ive -, viz. joyful- 
 ly and comfortably, as having either in Hand, or 
 in fure Title and 'Mbpc, all that can be defired. 
 He that cometh to me ({a,id Chrift) Jh alt never hun-Jahnv!.^^. 
 ger j and he that beUeveth in me fhali n'ever thirji; 
 inordinate Appetitfes and Defires ftiall be cured, 
 and jaft an3 regulaT ones fhall be fatisfied . Thus 
 this Treafure excels in being fatlsfyihg, which 
 earthly Treafures' are not. And once more, 
 
 4. Thefe are permanent and "abiding 'treafures. 
 Earthly Things i'i*6' pferifhiog in their 'Nature, and 
 fubjeft'to Accidents : If Ruft do not corrttpt, yet 
 Thieves may bieak thro' £ind fteal : Many ways 
 are the Poflefldrs iiabie to be deprived of them. 
 Or, if they don't die in thqir Hands, or efcape out 
 of them while themfelves live, yet at Death there 
 muft be parting, xve can carry nothing away with iTiixEst-jr. 
 
 us. 
 
i A Funeral Sermon. 
 
 as. But fpiricual Treafures are not (b, ^efe Bags 
 LMhiuujj.toax not old ; this ^reafure fails not $ nor can we 
 be rifled or deprived of them by Enemies j they ac- 
 company to Death, and in Death, l^e Gofpel 
 is an everlafting Gofpel, and fo are the Treafures 
 it brings, Rev. xiv. 6. 'tis cverlafting in its Na- 
 ture, and in its Fruits and EfFefts : And thus of 
 the firft general Head : The Gofpel is an ineftima- 
 ble Treafure. 
 
 II. This Treafure is committed into the Hands 
 of frail dying Men. 
 
 PVe have this Treafure in Earthen Feffels. 
 
 IVe, i. e. the Apoftles, and other faithful Mini- 
 Aers, of whom he is fpeaking, have this Treafure^ 
 t;^9Mtv» we have and hold it in Way of Gift from 
 God, and Habit and Poflefllon in ourfelves, for our 
 own Good and Benefit. Faithful Minifters are 
 not only Preachers, but Partakers of the Gofpel of 
 Chrift, 1 Cor. ix. 25. they have it by believing 
 and embracing it, for their perfonal Good and Sal- 
 vation } and they have it too in way of Truft, to 
 difpenfe and communicate it unto others : Both 
 are fignified in the Verfe preceding, to which the 
 Text relates. God who commanded the Light to 
 fliine out of Darknefs, hath ihined in our Hearts. 
 Tlgof ^arwidv, ad illuminationem, vel ad lumen 
 fn^OauixxTa^to give^oT^that ive fhould give or com- 
 municate, the Light of the Knowledge of the Glory 
 of God in the Face of Jefus Chrift > this Knowledge 
 and Grace which he hath blefled us with, is not 
 for our own private Ufe, and Benefit only, but 
 
 for 
 
A' Funeral Sermon. ^ 
 
 for the good of many : We have thisTrcafufe,not 
 to be a dead Stock in our Handsj but for God's 
 Service and Honour, in the Good of Souls. Here 
 is an excellent Defcription of a Gofpel Minifter, 
 what he is, w2. One inlighttied and infiru^ed in 
 the Knowledge 'of God in Chrift > and commiffioned ta 
 infiruSl others in the fame. Hence it is they are 
 called FeJfelSi not only containing ', fraught, and 
 furniflicd with divine Knowledge and Gifts > but 
 alfo inftrumental and communicative j made) as o- 
 ther Veflels are, to give out and yield, as well as 
 to receive. St. Paul was a chofen Vejfel to Chrifi^ 
 to hear his Name before the Gent He s^ A£ts ix. if. 
 v/«. in profefling of him, and fireaching his Go- 
 fpel to them : Such are thefe Feffels of the Sanc^ 
 tuary^ made, and fitted, and fent by God for the 
 Services thereof Nature alone can't make a Mi- 
 nifter, nor is it a Bufinefs of meer Art j much 
 fhere is to be done, preparative and fubfervient 
 thereto j but the proper Gifts arid Furniture, In- 
 clination and Commifiion, are from Chrift : He ^^.^^^. 
 afeended on high^ and gave Gifts unto Men for the »»■ 
 Work of the Miniftry j he fit in his Church Paflors i Cw. »i. 
 and feathers i not the Office dnly, but the Pet-fons," " 
 the difpofal df them to their refpeftive Pofts and 
 Charges, is under the Guidance of hisProVidenceij 
 jiSts XX. i8. Take heed to your/elves, and to all the 
 Flock over the which the Holy Ghofi hath made you, 
 Overfeers. Miniftcrs then are madfij and fitted, 
 and imployed by God in the Services of his 
 Church } from him they are $llqd, by him they 
 are imployed and ufed, and fuceeeded and profper- 
 
 C ed 
 
lo A Funeral S B r m o n. 
 
 cd as he pleafeth : This is their Honour j but 
 with it there is a qualifying Epithet, Earthen Fef- 
 fels. What may be intended therein ? And why 
 will God ufe fuch mean Veflfels as Repofitories of 
 fuch Treafurcs, and Inftruments in fo excellent and 
 noble Work? 
 
 ^ft. I . What may be intended in this Term 
 Earthen VeJfeU? For, 
 
 Anfii). I. It may be to note the mean Condition 
 of thofe whom God chofc for his firft Minifters j 
 they were not the High, and the Noble, and the 
 Great Ones of the Earth j as not many luch were 
 cfFe6tually called to the Belief and Reception of 
 the Gofpel, their Pride and Prejudices making 
 them fcorn it j fo neither were they imployed, in 
 preaching or fpreading of it : They were, moftly at 
 leaft, mean Men, of low Rank and Condition, 
 fuch as Fifhermen, or the like j probably with re- 
 fpeft to that in Part the Apoftle here fatid, we 
 have this Treafure in Earthen Vejfels. The fglfc 
 Teachers, 'tis like, were apt to defpifc them on 
 fuch Account; but the Apoftle here fignifies, that 
 ought to be no Prejudice, if God faw fit fo to or- 
 der it, and efpecially at that Time, and in thofe Cir- 
 cumftances, it might fervc his wife Purpofes the 
 better. Not that any need, or ftiould, be aihamed 
 of fuch an Office and Work, to ferve fuch a Ma- 
 tter, and be the Inftrument of fo much Good* to 
 the World, and Souls of Men j none would be 
 diftionoured by it. But fo it was, and fo it falls 
 cut ftill very often, thofe ingaged in this Imploy- 
 ment, are not the Great and Rich, and Noble in 
 « the 
 
'A Funeral Sermon.' i i] 
 
 the World j but Perfons of lower Rank, we have 
 this Treafure in Earthen Feffeh^ faid the Apoftle., 
 
 2. It might be to note their Weaknefs, and In- 
 fufficieney in themfelves for the great Work to 
 which they were called. The befl: might well 
 
 cry, as St. Paul, Who isfufficimt for thefe Things! JctrM. i6. 
 All our Sufficiency is of God, who hath made us able ^^ „. g_ 
 Minifters of the New Tejl anient; not of the Letter, 
 but of the Spirit. Of themfelves, the beft are not 
 able, are not fufficient to think any thing as of them- 
 felves that is good. In Reference to this, the A- 
 poftle might fay. We have this Trcafure in Ear- 
 then. Feffels. Mofes, when called ;to go on God's 
 Errand, Who am /(faid he) I am not eloquent, ««'- jEOTrf.iv.io. 
 ther before nor fince thou fpakeft tome. So Jeremy, 
 Lord I cannot [peak, for I am a Child. That's a y^,. -,. g. 
 Second thing j it may note Weaknefs and Infuffici- 
 ency in themfelves, for the great Work to which 
 they are called. 
 
 3. It may note moral Infirmity in the Difpen- 
 fers of the Word, as well as natural > they are not 
 altogether free from this. Earth we count not of 
 
 . lueh Purity as Gold and Silver : , The beft have 
 Remains of Sin in them. . Elijah was a Man of 
 like PafJions as others. St. jPa a/ .bewailed the 
 Body of Sin and Death in himfelf j the holieft and 
 moft faithful of meer Men, are not without fome 
 Degrees of fpiritual Defilement and Corruption, 
 
 . cleaving to them as well as others. The Apoftle 
 would own this of himfelf, and fo muft the beft 
 
 , of Men and Minifters, that they are not without 
 Sin, and mora,! 'Infirmities, as well as natural. 
 
 , C 1 ^-Thcy 
 
1% 'A Fumnd Sermon. 
 
 4. They are Earthen Veffels, *. e. of loW and 
 mean Account in the World. Things of Earth 
 are comparatively Kttle valued. So Minifters with 
 many are contemned, and little fet by, look'd up- 
 on, and ufed often, as the FUth of the fTorld, 
 the Off-fcourittg of all Tilings, I Cor. iv. 15. This 
 the Apoftlc fecms to have had partly in view, the 
 Reproach, and Scorn, and Contempt, put upon 
 Minifters i they are the Song of the Drunkards. 
 And, 
 
 f . They arc Earthen VeJfeU in refpeft of the 
 Frailty of the Body j they are liable to Sickneft, 
 and Difeafes, and Death, as well as others. Earthen' 
 Veflels are brittle and mouldring, and fo are the 
 Bodies of Minifters } a fad Inftance whereof it is, 
 that we this Day lament and mourn over. God 
 was pleafed indeed to hold your dcceafed Paftor a 
 coniiderable Time under great Pains and Dif- 
 
 jmnii i. 4. orders, that Patience might have its perfeSl fTork, 
 and be might be intirt, wanting nothing : That, and 
 all his other Graces, fhining brightly, till at lengA 
 ,G5d gave him a Relcafe. The FeJ/il is broken, 
 and drop'd down into the Duft, as it will fhortly 
 be with others : But the Bodies of good Menj 
 tho' they moulder and rot in the Grave, wilH)e 
 raifcd again, glorious and beautifiil } herein not 
 like other Earthen Veffels, whofe Ruins are never 
 repaired : A comfortable Reflection in Reference 
 to the prefent Cafe ! there will be a Refurrcftion 
 of the Body now laid down, in a gloridtto and 
 
 ic«'.»r.43,{,appy State i T^at which is fown in Wi»akmfs» 
 will be raifed in Power 5 1'bat whith is fov)n a na- 
 tural 
 
"^A Funeral SkRuo^l 13 
 
 turalBoiyi •willheKiafeiaJfiniualBtdy, andfa- 
 
 fijimed like unto thi gbmus Body of Chrift^ thrtugb 
 
 the mwrking of his Poiwer, whereby he is abk to^fith- 
 
 due all 7'bings to himfelf. And thus of diat Inqux'- w;/. u;. a. 
 
 ry, what may be intended in tfai$ I'etra Earthen 
 
 Feffels. Now, 
 
 ^uefi.z. Why will God ufe foch mean Veflels, 
 as RepoijitorieB of (uch excellent ^reafures, and In- 
 ftrumcnts in fo noble Work? 
 
 Anjm. I . To fliew his Favour and Love to 
 Mankind, by taking, from among, themfelves, 
 fome to be Mintfters in Holy Things : It was a 
 gracious Promife refpefting Go^ei-times, Jfa. Ixvi. 
 21. I mil take of ihern, i.e. of their Brethren and 
 Children, for (Priefts and for Levites, faith the 
 laord^ , • . . 
 
 2. It is in Condefcenfion to Men's prpfcnt State 
 and Condition, and wiich regard to their Comforfi 
 aild Benefit. Should God h imfelf come and. fpealc 
 to Men, they could not be ablcrto bear theSplen-, 
 dor of hisPrefence,norMajeftickne(s of his Voice j 
 nor woxildthe Miniftry of Angels ordinarily be pro- 
 per J for tho'fthey be Creatures, yet are they not 
 fb fuitable Meflengers to us in Flefhij their Appa- 
 parltions would appmle and terrify, as it did the 
 Prophets of old, and not be fo fit to inftruft.: God 
 condefcends therefore to deliver his Mind to Men, 
 by the Miniftry of Men, like themfelves, that 
 th^y may not be af&ighted, and made to ftand at 
 ^ diftanbe,. but they might be more ready to come 
 near, and hear yrhat is deliver'd to them. jLft£md,\x..^ 
 Moks f^ak mto us, faid ihejeijus, and lei not G0 
 
 fpcH 
 
14 A Funeral S e r m o n? 
 
 fyeak unto us , viz. either immediately, or by An- 
 gels, left we dit i they found fuch a Dread upon 
 them from God's Voice and Prefence, that they 
 could not bear it. Our Saviour himfelf came in 
 Fleih therefore, when he came to publiHi his glo- 
 rious Gofpel, and to call Sinners to the Belief of 
 it. It is then out of kind Regard to us, and our 
 weak Condition, that God ufes the Miniftry of 
 Men toward Men. And, 
 
 3. Hereby God hath the better Proof of Men's 
 Obedience j they might by thofe McQengers of 
 higher Rank, or by his fpeaking himfelf to them, 
 be aw'd, and driven (bmewhat to mind and hear- 
 ken } but when he fends MelTengers of the fame 
 Make and Rank as themfelves, their Regards are 
 {hewn to be more free and ingenuous, and out of 
 pure Refped to his Authority. Hence St. Paul ^ 
 gave Thanks to God for the Theffalenians, becaufe 
 they received the Word which he and his Coftir 
 
 I Tif£ ii. panions preached, not as the Word of Many but as 
 n- it was in truth the Word of God. That's a third 
 
 Ground: And, 
 
 4. This is for the greater Advancement of his 
 own Glory i which is expreflly affigned as the 
 Reafon here, and brings me to the laft General 
 Head. 
 
 III. This Difpofal of the Treafures of the Go- 
 fpel into the Hands of frail dying Men, is theisct- 
 ter to fecure to God the Honour of his divine 
 PfAvcr, in the living and abiding Effcds of it. 
 
 Wc 
 
A Funeral Sermon. sj 
 
 We have this Treafure in Earthen Veffels, that 
 the Excellency of the Power may be, i. e. may ap- 
 pear to be, 0/ Goi^and not of us -j UTrtefeXri r^f ^' 
 vdiJLiuSi the furpajpng, or exceeding Greatnefs of the 
 Power, viz. in the EfFefts of the Gofpcl, that 
 thefe may evidently be feen to be of God, and not 
 of us. Alas ! what could fuch frail weak Men do 
 of themfelves ? As to proper Efficiency, faith the 
 Apoftle, Neither is he that flanteth anything, worjCir. 111,7. 
 he that watereth, but God that giveth the ' Increafe. 
 Men are but Means and Inftruments in the Hand 
 of God, the Work is his. When fo many Phili- 
 fiines were (lain with the Jaw of an Afs, Judges 
 XV. If. and many Hundreds by another with an 
 Ox-goad, Chap. iii. 51. who could be fo fimple 
 as to attribute it to the Force of fuch a Weapon ? 
 No, the Strength of the Arm which managed it, 
 or rather of God with that Arm, it was that 
 WTOught the EfFe6t. And fo herej when Multi- 
 tudes are feen to be conquered by the preaching of 
 the Word, and fall down and fubmit themfelves 
 to the Scepter of Chrift j who can think this is 
 from the meer Agency of Man, or the Power and 
 Force of his Words, perfuading and Bowing the 
 ftubborn Wills and Hearts of Enemies ? No j were 
 there ho more than that, the Tongue of the moft 
 eloquent Man, br Angel, could do nothing ; Li- 
 cet fuaferis, non tamen perfuaferis j fpeak and argu? 
 they might, from all the Topics that a Creature's 
 Invention could fuggeft, and fet home their Dif- 
 Courfe With all the Wit and Oratory that could be 
 ufed i yet would it not prevail to fuch a Change, 
 
 as 
 
1^ A Funeral S e r m o K. 
 
 as is wrought in Sinners by the plain preaching 
 of atit Woid. Is not here then the Finger of God ? 
 the Revelation of bis Arm^ i. e. the ManifeftatioM 
 of bis Pomer, when any are thus wrought on, and 
 have the Seal of Grace planted in them, which 
 lives and abides, when the Hand, which was the 
 Inftnunent in planting it, dies and is laid in the 
 Duft ? The fccccllcncy of the Power furc is here 
 of God. 
 
 It might befhewn more paiticularly, how great 
 the Power of God in his Word is, to convince 
 and convert Sinners } and co comfort, and ftrengthen» 
 and faveSoub } to awe likewife and reftrain wick- 
 ed Men, when it does not prevail efFe£tually to 
 turn and change them. And that the Excellency 
 of this Power is of God, 'tis not from Men or 
 Means alone, but the mighty Working of the di- 
 vine Power with and by them. The Word ope- 
 rates as God's Ordinance and Inftrument, Pfal. ex. 
 z. The Lordjball fend the Rod of bis Strength out 
 0/Zion. The Word muft needs have Strength, 
 becaufe it is God's : His Arm wields it, his Power 
 is revealed in it. llie Weapons of our Warfare are 
 mighty thro' God (faid the Apoftle) to the pulling 
 down of ftrong Holds. 
 
 And thus for Explication of the three General 
 Heads included in the Do£fcrine, and propofed to 
 be fpoken to. Come we now to n^ke fome brief 
 pra^cal Refle&ions on each of them. 
 
 1^ Is die Gofpel an ineftimable Trcafure? 
 Hence, 
 
 I. See 
 
A Funeral Sermon. i 7 
 
 \, See how fad the Cafe of fuch Places and 
 X<ands is, as are deftitute of thefe fpiritual and 
 heavenly Riches. It may, perhaps, be thought 
 on with Regret fometimes, that.fo fair and great 
 a Part of the World is poflefrcd by Heathen and 
 Mahometan Infidels j but if we compare their 
 Wants with their Enjoyments, we fhall fee them 
 incomparably more miferable by the former, than 
 they can be happy in the latter. What are earthly 
 compared with the heavenly Treafures? You have 
 heard the Tranfcendence of thefe, and may thence 
 judge of the Mifery of thofe who want them. 
 The Fall of the Jews is faid to be the Riches of t^e 
 World, i- e. of the Heathen World > and the di- 
 minifhirig of them, the Riches of the Gentiles. 
 How was that ? but by occafioning the bringing 
 of the Gofpel to them i thefe are the valuable, the 
 happy-making Treafures indeed, without which 
 the Richeft may be reckoned miferably poor. 
 Pray for fuch as want thefe Treafures, that they 
 may have them, even the unfearchable Riches of 
 Chrift. 
 
 2. Is the Gofpel a Treafure .? and fiieh a Trea? 
 fure ? Let us fee and own the Goodnefs of God 
 then to us, in this Refpe^. Some never enjoyed 
 it } others had it, but have finned it away, and 
 loft it : We have made fad Forfeitures, but yet 
 God is patient toward us. What do we owe to 
 him,that when ourDefeiTings aire not greater than 
 others, yet our Mercies fhould \ What Gratir 
 tude and Thankfulnefs does this call for ! Where- 
 
 foi'£, 
 
1 8 A Funeral Sermon. 
 
 3. Is the Gofpcl a Tieafure? Then let us prize 
 it accordingly, and carry with Reference thereto, 
 as we fhould towai-d what is accounted fo precious. 
 Where the Treafure is, the Heart will be j defire 
 the good Things therein revealed and tendered j 
 .receive and lay them up in ,the Mind and Heart. 
 Have recourfe to the Repofitories of thefe Trea- 
 fures } lament the Lofs of any of them ; of 
 him particularly who laboured among us here 
 in the Word and Doftrine, and fo faithfully and 
 diligently difpenfcd thefe heavenly Treafiires : 
 Which leads to Refleftions on the next General 
 Head, viz. 
 
 zdly, ThisTreafure is committed into the Hands 
 of frail dying Men. We have this Treafure 
 in Earthen Fepls. The Ufes of this might 
 be various, viz: 
 
 I . To Minifters themlelves. 
 
 I . To reprcfs Pride in them. They are VefTels 
 for Sei-vice, 'tis true, and that is their Honour j 
 but they are Earthen VefTels, that is the Abate- 
 ment. They are cncompafTed with many both 
 nstural and moral Infirmities : Every one may 
 well cry out as Ifaiah, Wo is me, for lama Man 
 pfmckmLips^\h.\l.f.. And yet, \ 
 
 z. Being humble under this, they need not be 
 difcouraged ; for it pleafeth God to ufe even fuch 
 VefTels in the Service of his Houfe. He not only 
 honoured the Sons of Men, by taking the hu- 
 man 
 
A Funeral Sermon. ' ig 
 
 man Nature into Union with, the Divine ; but 
 alfo by taking fomefrom among them to bePriefts 
 unto himfelf, Interpreters of his Will, and Mef- 
 fengers to the World. Butj 
 
 3. It would caution them neyerthelefs to endea- 
 vour to be as pure and holy VefTels as they may j 
 tho' they are mean and frail, and have their Infir- 
 mities } yet they fhould take heed that they run 
 not into Wickednefs } tho' they be coarfey_ they 
 fhould ftrivc to be as f/f«» VefTels as poflible ; they 
 fliould bewail their Imperfe6Hons, and ftrive a- 
 gainfl: them, and keep at the remoteft Diftance 
 from fcandalous Impieties. Take heed unto thy-'felf^ 
 and to thy Do£lrine, faid St. Paul to Timothy^ that 
 
 ■ thou mayfi both fave thy felf^ and them that hear 
 thee. Care of our Living, as well as of our Teach- 
 ing, is needful : Scandalous Minifters woulid be 
 like to fend more to Hell by their Converfation, 
 than to Heaven by their Doctrine. And, 
 
 4. Are Minifters Earthen VefTels ? frail dying 
 Creatures ? It fhould quicken Induftry, fhould 
 make them diligent in imparting the Treafures 
 they are intrufted withi, while the Seafon for it 
 lafts. I ntuft work the Works of him that fent me, 
 'while it is Day, f^id Chrifl of himfelf j and adds 
 the Reafon, for the Night cometh when no Man 
 can work, John ix. 4. Working the Works is 
 diligently following them while Opportunity con- 
 tinues J Life is uncertain, and then the working 
 Time is over. The Advice of the wife Preacher 
 is good here, Ecd. ix. 10. Whatfoever thy Hand 
 find^th to do, do it with thy Might i for there is no 
 
 D 2 Wi^k, 
 
20 A Funeral ^ e r m o 1^. 
 
 U^ork^ nor Device, nor Knowledge^ nor tVifdoh' ih 
 the Grave, whither thou goefi. Veflels are for JS/* 
 fujion^ as well as Reception •■, and Earthen Veflels, 
 which may foon be broken in pieces, and Com* 
 tounications from them ceafe j their Contents were 
 better drawn out for Ufe, than loft. Thus to Mini- 
 ftert. Andj 
 
 z. To Pfeoplfe this is monitory, 
 
 I. Not to defpife any whom God thinks faith* 
 ful, putting them into the Miniftry : For, in fuch 
 Cafe, he that defpifeth, defpifith not Man, bat 
 God i his Wifdota, and his Goodneft, which 
 drders Things for Men's Good, as ^ell as his own 
 Glory. He could have ufed the Mitiiftry of Angels, 
 but that had not been fo fuitablc to us : We could 
 not have received this Treafgre (b comfortably 
 from them, as from the Hands of Men. Turn 
 therefore from defpifing the weak Inftrument, to 
 iidoring the wife and gracious Agent, who con* 
 fults Man's Benefit in the Way of communicating 
 Bleffings to him. 
 
 z. Not to rejeft-, or think the worfe of, the 
 Treafur^, for the Infirmity of the Hand that 
 brings it : Let not that which God hath cHofenj 
 thereby to Ihew his Cohdefcenfion and Goodnefij 
 he turned to Prejudice} this would be to aft coun* 
 ter to God's Wifdofti and Kindnefs. Rathei? 
 therfeforf, 
 
 |. Tht 
 
Ji Fumral S^K MO m. ai 
 
 ^. The Confideration of this Condition of Mi- 
 Inifters, as frail, and weak, and dying, and fubjedt 
 to many Infirmities, and Reproaches, fhould work 
 'another Way, viz. To induce People to regard 
 them with Equity, to help them what they can, 
 and to further their Endeavours for the Honour of 
 Godj and the Good of Souls. Pray for them, 
 make juft Allowances for unavoidable Frailties, 
 and put the beft Conftruftion that fairly you may 
 on their GondiiCb and Atftionss and efpecially obey 
 from the Heart that Form of Doftrine, which, 
 agreeable to the Word, they. deliver to you- 
 This will be their greateft Joy, and make them 
 go on chearfully in their Work, when they fee 
 "their Labours are not in vain. It is true, their 
 Reward depends on their Faithfulnefs, and not oft 
 their Succefsj but this, where it is, will be great- 
 ly encouraging to them j this they pray, and long 
 for, as what will turn to their People's Account, 
 land God's Glory. Further this therefore all that 
 may be. And, 
 
 4. Have you thefe Treafdres in Earthen VeG- 
 felsjthat moulder, and die, and drop into theiDuft, 
 as by daily Experience is feen ? Then ufe them 
 while you may, get all the Good by them that 
 you can, more Knowledge, and Grace, and fpiri- 
 tual Improvement j as large a Share of thefe hea- 
 venly Treafures as polfible : Take all Opportuni" 
 ties of attending on their Miniftrations j be fwift 
 to hear j how foon the Tongue that I'peaks may 
 fee filencsed in the Duft, who can tell ? Only, 
 
 f . For 
 
i^ ' A Funeral Sermon. 
 
 f . For Encouragement, it may be added, Tho' 
 Minifters die, yet the Mioiftry continue^ and 
 muft continue fta the World's Ei^d- For it was 
 given /or per felling the Saints^ for edifying the Bo- 
 
 tLi"' "'tfy of Cbrifty till all come in the Unity of the Faitb^ 
 and of the Knowledge of the Son of God^ unto a per- 
 feSt Manj unto the Meafure of the Stature of the 
 Jitbiefs of Chrifi j i. e. till all the Chofen of God 
 be brought in, and thofe converted be built up, 
 and come to a pcrfeft Man in Chrift. Tho' with- 
 all it muft be remembred, this does not afcertain 
 the Word and Means of Grace to any particular 
 Place or People } that will depend upon their 
 own Behaviour, under the Means > they m^y iin 
 away the Gofpel from themfelves, and provoke 
 God to deprive them of Minifters, or to take a- 
 wjfy his Spirit, that they fhall not profit by them. 
 But if Perfons are fenflble of this, and take heed 
 of miP-behaving and forfeiting fpiritual Enjoy- 
 ments } and look to him that hath the Refidue of 
 the Spirit, praying that he will pour it out on 
 fuch as furvive, and provide a Succeflion of Mi- 
 nifters, who may feed them with Knowledge and 
 Underftanding > then there is hope > for tho' all 
 
 'Jet. i. 24, flejh be Grafs, and all the Glory of Man as the- 
 flower of Grafs j <md the Grafs mthereth^ and the 
 Flower thereof faUeth away ; yet the Word of the 
 Lord endureth for ever. It endures not ordy in 
 the eternal Verity thereof, but in the EfFefts and 
 Fruits of it. Thefe are but temporary and fading 
 Minifters, the beft of them, fail and dye, they 
 wither away j but the Word of God abides, that 
 
 is 
 
 i^. 
 
A Funeral Sermon. %\ 
 
 is animmtrtal i'^ff^, fpringing up to eternal Life. 
 And here is the Power of God, to plant fuch si 
 living and abiding Seed of Grace and Holinds, 
 by fuch weak frail dying Hands : Which was the 
 laft general Head, viz.. 
 
 3 . The Difpofal of Gofpel-Treaflires into Earthen 
 Veflels, is the better 4:0 fecure to God the Honour 
 of his divine Power, in the abiding EfFefts of it. 
 Wherefore, 
 
 I . Are any convinced, converted, or any way 
 edited by the Word j fee to whom the Praife is 
 due. Minifters may not arrogate to themfclves, 
 nor others afcribe to them more tjian is meet, 
 I Cor. iii. f . JVha is Paul ? and imho is ApoUos ? 
 but Minifters by whom you believed % even as the , 
 Lord gave to every Mm. Minifters are but Inftru- 
 inents, not proper Efficients in this great Work j 
 the Excellency of the Power is of God, and not of 
 them : Their Gifts and Furniture, their Office 
 and Call, and Miffion, and Succefs, in whatever 
 Degree it be, 'tis all from him : I.hme planted^ 
 Apollos watered^ but God gave the Increafe : So 
 then neither is he that planteth any things nof he that 
 watereth, but God that giveth the Increaje. His is 
 the Work, and therefore to him muft be the 
 Praife. 
 
 z. We are inftrudted hence lifcewifc, to whom 
 
 both Minifters and People fhould look for a BleC- 
 
 fing on the Word, and giving it EfFed } 'tis not 
 
 froj^n the meer Parts, or Gifts, or Preparations of 
 
 \. " the 
 
04 A Funeral Sermon. 
 
 the Preacher, but the Operation of Qod, as he Is 
 pTeafed to work by and with the Word. This 
 both Preachers and Hirers muft thercfofe feek, 
 and depend uponj 'tis God only can give the See- 
 ing-Eye and Hearing-Ear, and Underftanding-' 
 Heart, ^nd make the Word take hold, and be- 
 come an ingrafted fFord able to fave the Soul. Mi- 
 nifters and People therefore, need look to their 
 Frame, that it be fuch as may give hope of God's 
 Prefencc and Help, and to plead earneftly with 
 him for it. And, 
 
 5. If yet little Succefs follow Minifters being 
 feithful in their Part and Duty, here may be Sup* 
 port, the Iffue is in God's Hand -, 'tho' Ifrael be 
 not gathered, yet Jhall l be glorious, faid Ifiiiah^ 
 Chap. xlix. 4, f. Unfuccefsfulnefs will be the 
 Minifter's Grief > but if they are feithful, will not 
 be their Crime, z Cor. ii. i^.Weare unto Godapweet 
 Savour ofChrift^in them that are faved^and in them 
 that perijh : To the one -we are the Savour of Death 
 ■unto Death, and to the other the Savour of Life 
 unto Life. Both ways, tho' the Event be fo very 
 different, yet faithful Minifters are accepted, an<J 
 •well pleafing to God. In this Chapter, wherein 
 is the Text, the Apoftle fpeaks of his Fidelity 
 in the Difcharge of his Miniftry, and comforts 
 himfelf, in that if it had not the good Efied upon 
 all that he wifli'd, it was otherwife to be accountr 
 cd for, than Unfeithfulnefs in him : If our Gofpel 
 be hid, faith he, it is bid to them that are loft j in 
 whom the God of this World hath blinded the Minds 
 «f them whfcb belief e not, leji the Light of the glot 
 
 rms 
 
A ' Funeral S e r m o n. a 5 
 
 rku\ GeffBi-opChrifl^ who is the Imap of Qoi^ 
 fiomU jhine unto^tbetH. ' Their perifliing is from 
 their own Unbelief and Blindnefs, confirmed and 
 increafed by Satan, wholfe'' willing Vaflals theyiare. 
 Thus th«h of the prafticial Ufes and Refleftibirts 
 on the Doftrine in the three General Heads of it. 
 It remains to TpCak fomewh'at raore fpeciallyi with 
 ..Reference to the fad Occafion of this Difcourfe, 
 i wz. the Deceafe of him who flood fo nearly aiid 
 happily related to us, as joint Pallor ofthisCdh- 
 ijgcegatibn. - 
 
 ' Diverfe of thefe precious Veffeh of the Sariau- 
 ary h^ve youieen broken ^n^ pieces, aod laid in the 
 .Puft } I nee^ riot recall them to your Memoiy, 
 'which, I dbubt not, helps !y*u to make fad arid 
 ibrrowfol Reflexions on them, and the melancho- 
 ly Circuraftarice in this prefent Inftance, his -bfe- 
 ing'tajccri from is in the tnidft.- of bis Daysj heigh- 
 tens the Affiftion. 'HewaS -at bright and fhining 
 Light, in his Teachihg and Life, and we rejoiced 
 : in this Light : But alas !i- how foon hath God 
 ■ been pleafed to take it froftt us ! kiid made our Srin 
 to fet at Noon ! this may^ thisfliould, be for' a 
 tLimcntation to lis. As to himfelf, 'tis true, the 
 Providence' hatli another'Afpeft 5 hedidbiuch in 
 a little time,, and God took him the f6oner to his 
 •Reward : But (ipon us^ • i blaclc and gloomy Pro- 
 viderice it is, the Removal of o*ie fo fuirable, arid 
 I may fay, fuccefsful too, in tatning many to Ri^h- 
 ''■teoUfnefs, and in comforting, and ftrengthening, 
 ^<irid building up others y and from: whom^ as in 
 :.: E the 
 
A Funeral Sermon. 
 
 the Hand, and by the Favour of God, ftill more 
 Help," and much longer Continuance in his Ufc- 
 fulnefs, in refpeft of his Age, might have been 
 hoped for: But the Will of God is not to be 
 difputcd again ft, or quarreled with, but fubmit- 
 ted to. 
 
 As to fetting before you his Charafter, your 
 own Knowledge and Experience of his Worth, 
 will give you the beft Idea of him, and fix it deep 
 in your Minds. 
 
 He was the Firft-born Son of the Reverend 
 Mr. Thomas Rofewell j one well known for his 
 Piety, and Labours, and Suflerings, and whole 
 Name and Memory is defervedly precious in all 
 the Churches. This Son of his, by his fecond 
 Marriage, obtained of God by Prayer, and thence 
 having his Name Samuel given him, was dedi- 
 cated and devoted to God by his Father, with 
 Defire that he might ferve him in the Work of 
 the Miniftry > to which himfclf alfo fhewed very 
 early Difpofition and. Inclination ; and with that 
 View, purfued his Studies diligently, and profit- 
 ed therein above many. He was, indeed, the 
 Pleafure and the Pride of bis very Learned Tutor, 
 who often fpake of him with particular AfFedlion 
 and Efteera. 
 
 He was, when very young in Years, but above 
 his Age in refped , of Improvement, called to the ' 
 Work of the Miniftry j in which, with great 
 Acceptatbn, he exercifed himfelf a while as a 
 Candidate, and at length was ordained ip, and 
 
 with 
 
A Funeral Sermon. 27 
 
 with a fpecial Eye to the Sei-vice of this Congre- 
 gation} and that by the Invitation, and with the 
 Liking of the then nioft judicious, and every 
 Way great and excellent Paftor of it j the Re- 
 verend Mr. John Howe. I mention this as a par- 
 ticular Honour to the Deceafed, that he fl;ood fo 
 early approved and loved by fo good a Judge of 
 Men and Things. NorVas the Judgment- made 
 of him difappoirtted j his Diligence and Faithful-' 
 nefe in his Work, both then and after, in the 
 Capacity of a joint Paftor here, with another moft 
 learned and judicious Divine, the Reverend Mr. 
 John Spademan^ abundantly juftified the Opinion 
 conceived of him. He had a clear Head, and 
 a found Heart j his Performances were accurate, 
 judicious, and lively v fitted to inform and in- 
 ftru£t the Mind, and withal to move and engage 
 the AfFedions, and, in a Word, to beget and 
 promote true ferious Godlinefi, and praftical Re- 
 ]^igion. Much Good God did by him, both here, 
 and in a Le6ture which ho preached a confidera- 
 blc Time to Young Perfons, and fome others j 
 to all whom, I doubt not, his Memory will be 
 ever precious. Diverfe of his DifcourTes, deliver- 
 ed on fpecial Occafions, he was prevailed on to 
 publifh } a Review of which might be of great 
 Ufe to fuch as heard them, as the reading of them 
 . , might alfo be to others. A Jhort and plain Ac- 
 Count of the Method a Sinner ought to thke^ in order 
 to his Cinverjion and Solvation. -^Seajonable In- 
 ftruSiioKS for the AffliSied. — A faithful learning 
 
 E z to ' 
 
28 A Funeral St. KM oyj. 
 
 to.Toung.'Men. — J Bifieurfe of Temptation, and 
 th Means to prevent its. Prevalence,, and feveral. 
 othcKj in perufal'V?berepf, much of his own Spi- 
 rit, an<Jthp Scope -of his Endeavours for God's 
 Honour, and the Good of Souls, will be feen.. 
 By thoTe, as well .as by the Example he left, Hc' 
 hing de«^, yit ffOiOflftkt] , 
 
 Should we folWfV - hijn, into evciy qther Rela-> 
 tioDybefide that of Misiifter and Paftof j all will 
 be foupd agrpcablc to his Charaftpjr and Pro- 
 feffion. 
 
 He was a moft obedient and dutiful Son % a 
 nioft tender and aiFe£liopate Husband, a loving 
 and careful Father, a kind Brother, jufl Ma- 
 iler, fincere and faithful Friend j ^nd good Neigh- 
 bour. At the Death of his Father, when he was 
 a Child, he fliewed Senfe, and Concfifi^ at the Af- 
 fli^on i and eodeavquvpd to pomfort bis, forrowr- 
 fiil 'Mother Udder it, telling her, be hoped be 
 might live to be fomc help to her : "A Paflage 
 (he could not but take notice of then, asihehas: 
 qftea Teflefted "on it;firice, with Thankfukiefs to 
 Gddj who inclined 'and inabledhim'tomake it 
 good to her in fo gMat a Mcafure. . As (he on 
 her Part, thro' Hiym^^xm^i perfortaed toward* 
 him the Office of a j^^i^r and carefijl Mather 5 
 fp did he toward h?r, that of a pious and dutiful 
 Son } cberifhing attd comforting. her, aoii fhcw- 
 ing her all filial Regards ta his kit. His Love 
 to his Sifters, befides other Ways of cxj^rcffing it^ 
 he would fecwby ^irayrtig witli rhem, and for 
 
 them i 
 
them i an holy Duty and Exercife which he very 
 early fliew'd Confcience of, /and delight in, as he 
 did alfo thro' his whole Life, He was much 
 v^ith God in Secret, and Family- Worfliip, and 
 veryfcrious and particular in minding the Cafes 
 of all therein, lie walked mthin his 'Houfe with 
 ap&feSl Heart, yet not forgetting the Concerns 
 of the Church, and the Members thereof, which 
 he. ftood fpcciaHy. related to : The Incapacity of 
 Miniftring unto them, as he had done, was 
 to him the moft grievous Part of the Afflic- 
 tion i tho' he conffdered it as God's Will, which 
 filenced and quieted him at alj Times. He would 
 now and then, thro' his great Defirc of Service 
 and Delight in his Work, be puttinghimfelf up*- 
 on it, when his feeble Body and Spirits were very 
 unable for it : Witnefe, bcfide diverfe other Sea- 
 fons, that, when he laft adminiftred ■ the Ordi-. 
 nance of the Lord's Supper ; be was ready to fay 
 indeed^ witb Deftre have I defired ta eat thii Suf^ 
 fe)r with you before I die, but his Stfength and 
 Al|Je6t were more like one dying in it : He fura- 
 moned all his Spirits to the Work, and was moift 
 fpiritual and heavenly in it j he began, I well re? 
 member, with Words to this PUrpofe : *' My 
 *':Friends, we are met b^re once again to fee Je- 
 " fus, . to fee him fit forth as crucified before our 
 *'; Eyes } him, who U'ved us,- and' gave himfelf for 
 *^ »j, -that h<s might wajh us from okr Sm in his 
 " own Blood:'" In this laft publick Performance 
 fi<fjijs, the AfFeibions of thofe prefqrit were much 
 ^ ' moved. 
 
Jo A Funeral Sermon. 
 
 moved, as is knov^ and not without Tears fron* 
 mapjr of his People's Eyes, as well as his own, 
 while, as was iaid, the poor frail Veflel was rea- 
 dy to (ink and fail under it. After this he could 
 no more make any fuch Attempt, but gradually 
 became confined to his Houfe, then to his Cham- 
 bee, and at lafl to his Bed } being told, a little 
 before this, of the Death of fome other Miniftcrs, 
 as aUb of our imfpeakabic L6fs, in the Depeafe 
 of the excellent Sir Thomai Abmy : " Well, - 
 " faid he, I fhall fbon go after. And at another 
 " Time, comforted himfelf that he fhould in a 
 " little while fee him, and his other Godly Friends, 
 " in a more happy and glorious Society than any 
 ** here below. And now the nearer he came to 
 his End, the fafter did he move Heaven- ward. 
 O how illuftrioufly did Grace fhine in him in his 
 laft. Hours ! I may fty, indeed, all along in his 
 painful and lingring Illnefs, while God was plea- 
 fed to hold him hovering, as himfelf ufed to ex- 
 prefs it, between two Worlds j towards which 
 he ftood aflFcfted much as the blefled Apoflle St; 
 Paul was : For any Service God might have far- 
 ther for him to do, he wa« content to live ; but 
 otherwife idefiroufjo depart, and to be ivith Chrift 
 efteeming that befi nf all. How, not only com* 
 pofed, but even ehearful, was he, under his great 
 and long and painful bodily Exercifes ! never 
 murmuring, or repining, but Juftifying God, and 
 rejoicing aiid: hoping in his Mercy thro' the Rc- 
 dwaner } thaj precious Name which he loved to 
 
 hear 
 
A Funeral Sermon. s t 
 
 hear and fpeak of. Two Scriptures he mention- 
 ed with fpecial Delight, as the Grounds of; his 
 Hope, i;izi John iii. i6. God fQ< Imied the Warld^ 
 th«t he gave his only begotten Son, that 'whofaever 
 hlievethinhim^Jhouldmt ferijb^but have everlafting 
 Life. He trufted that he had believed in Ghriflr, 
 he was precious to him, he refted upon him alone 
 for Salvation. And the other was, Matth. v. 6. 
 Blejfed are they which hunger and thirft after Rigb'- 
 teottfnefs,, for they Jhall be filled. If he knew his 
 own Heart j he faid, he felt this ^iritualMtnger 
 and Thirft. He would be more holy, more con- 
 formed to God } he hated Sin, and longed for 
 Heaven, as a Place and State where all Sin fluU 
 be done away, and the Image of God perfefted 
 in him. And furely thefc were the Breathings 
 of one intitled to that glqiious Inheritance, and 
 in whom much of Heaven was now, while yet 
 he was on this fide of it j and who We may 
 with great Confidence beliese hath happily reach- 
 .ed the Pofleflion of thofe Manfions above. Let 
 me add a Word in Reference to our felves of this 
 Congregation, and fo conclude. 
 
 The Chara6ter given of my late Reverend Col- 
 legue, I doubt not, you can all atte&i you have 
 fully known his DoSrine, manner of Life, Pur- 
 pofe. Faith, , Long- fuffering. Charity, Patience, 
 "S3c, as St. Paul faid of himfelf to Timothy, in 
 2 Tim. iii. lo. And by this Knowledge, 
 
 I. Yqu 
 
12 .• A Funeral S^XRM. ON. 
 
 aia' I. You caa't biit be fcnfible of your Lofi^ af- 
 ieaed witiv aod affliaed uader. it. The Dedth 
 ofany good Peribn is a Lofe to be bewailed/, the 
 Peath of good Miriiftcrs Specially, which is not 
 a. .mecr private^ :lHit a publick Lo&. And the 
 greater, by howWuch they were eminently fit-* 
 .ted/ and difppfcd for. their Work, and the iiearer 
 they flood related to as therein, that brings home 
 the ■.Gkaoccriy land the Obligitipri the more to 
 ■ctrafider and lay it to heart:- If todifers bewail the 
 ■Death of your Pafkor, as all do to Svhom he was 
 knoJWQ }-'thca.how much more ifhoiild ye. , You 
 bcft knew him in the Capacity of one of theffe 
 ^.ifftlni^ Qi>£i' Hoafe, and yoa were the ObjefBs 
 of: Ms Minifliations zad.'CiMiy^j'^Qixhmc lofl in 
 bim a fpirituali Guide,, and Watchman, one that 
 fftf3bi\\y, watcbed./or your Souls ^\ as expediagwifo 
 ■gfan an ukcotmt i one* that fei yok with Knoixir 
 i|^^ : mi V^ies^ttdiag j v.A,\ Workman mdeed 
 fkit needsdnak-'toMafliatiadj.' dividing ari^t the 
 Wv^ »f. Sfutb i and giving a (h inter y one his Pon- ' 
 tion in due Seafun-j . May it not. he laid of biiilj 
 in feme good Proportion, as St. Paul laid of 
 {litofelf to thS S'ii^i/tm^zm .? i Epifl. ii. lO, ii, 
 li. Xe are our Witaeffes^ a;n4 Goi-'^alfo, how h»- 
 iily^. aifdjufiijfy and .miblamedblyy we behaved, ouf- 
 filws.dkiong}ytai\-y) ho^ -me e^chprted, .and tomfortr 
 ed, and charged every one of iijitit^^ibaf you would 
 walk worthy of. Gad, whaMthi-.caUed you to his 
 Kingdom and Glory. Should not his Death be 
 
 afflictive 
 
A Funeral Sermon. 33 
 
 affliftive to thofe to whom his Life was fo be- 
 ■eficial ? Some, perhaps, may think this need- 
 left, to bid any be fenfible of that whereof none 
 are reckoned infenfible j who of us but bewails 
 thisLofs? I would hope indeed none. But yet, 
 
 2. It may be confidered, whether the Grief 
 be upon right Grounds, for the Lofs of fpiritual 
 Advantages, and the Anger of God that may be 
 
 , therein, for Unthankfulnefs and Unfruitfulne(s 
 under the Mercy while enjoyed, and with jul| 
 Humiliation on fuch Accounts. And, 
 
 3. Whether tho', as in Reference to the De- 
 ceafed, isoe forrow not as thofe without Hope, yet 
 in refpeft of our Selves it be not without Fruit} 
 as we forrow not without Caufe, fo is it to fome 
 ^ood Purpofe ? Is Watchfulnefs and Diligence 
 
 • excited to get more of the heavenly Treafures, 
 from fuch VefTels as remain, and Prayer for fur- 
 nifliing and fending others to preach the unfearch- 
 able Riches- of Chrift, that Minifters may not be 
 wanting to difpenfe the Word and Sacraments, 
 and difcharge all the Duties of the facred Fundion ? 
 To clofe, 
 
 4. Endeavour to fhew, that you have profit- 
 . ed by the Labours of the Deceafed while you en- 
 ■T joyed them 5 that tho' the Veffel be broken, yet 
 
 the Trealure is not loft > fhew the Effefts of his 
 Miniftry in your Piety and holy Walking. A 
 
 F People's 
 
34 A Funerat SzKUon. 
 
 People's Graces aha good Works will be their 
 Minifter's beft Monument j their praftical God» 
 linefe his Praife. Be you Followers of him, as he 
 was of Chrift : The Things that you have hear^ 
 and learned,, and ieen in him, do j and the God of 
 Peace fhall be with you. Amen. 
 
 FINIS,