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CORNELL 
 
 UNIVERSITY 
 
 LIBRARY 
 
CORNELL UNIVERSITY LIBRARY 
 
 3 1924 104 015 098 
 
The original of tliis book is in 
 tine Cornell University Library. 
 
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 the United States on the use of the text. 
 
 http://www.archive.org/details/cu31 9241 0401 5098 
 
A . 
 
 '>r'Jk 
 
 S E R 
 
 O N 
 
 Occafioned by the 
 
 D E A T H 
 
 OF THE REVEREND 
 
 Mr. THOMAS BRADBURT, 
 
 Who departed this Life Sept. 9. 1759. in 
 the 8 2d Year of his Age : 
 
 Preached at New -Court 
 
 On Lord's-Day After- noon, Sept. i6.j 
 And Publiflied at the Requeft of the Church. 
 
 By THOMAS HALL. 
 
 LONDON. 
 
 Printed for J. Buckland, in Pater-Nofter-Row ; T.f 
 
 Field, in Chetpfide ; E. Dilly, in the Poultry ; 
 
 and A. Mason, \n Fore-Jlreet. m.dcc.lix. 
 
 [Price Six-pence.] 
 
 m^^>^jiiS^.S::mM:^isMim.K: r ^ ^^ 
 
CORNELL 
 
 UNIVERSITY 
 
 LIBRARY 
 
2 E c tt. i. 5. 
 
 Tour Fathers^ where are thty f and 
 the Prophets i do they live for ever f 
 
 A Good Underfianding and deep GoriJ 
 vidlion of the Mortality of our pre- 
 fent State is highly neceiTary, and many 
 Ways very advantageous and ufefuL The 
 Dodlrine of it is frequently inculcated in 
 the Word of God j and the Truth of it 
 is daily confirmed in the Courfe of his Pro* 
 vidence. 
 
 By the folemn Event which has given' 
 Occafion for the mournful Appearance of 
 this AfTembly, the Lord is calling us to 
 a frefti and moft ferious Confideration of 
 the Inftruftions contained in the Words of' 
 the Tex/, where it^ a very ftriking and a-» 
 wakening Mannerwe are taught thefe T'wa 
 things, 
 
 Ki FIRSX 
 
4 A Funeral Sermon on 
 
 » 
 
 FIRST, That we ^rc Mmtrfal ThV 
 is plainly fuggefted by the ^ery in the-* 
 former Part of the Verfe. 
 
 SECO ND L r. That no expedient Dif- 
 pofttion or Qualifications can exempt any 
 Man from the Stroke of Death. This is 
 as plainly fuggefted by the ^ery ia the 
 latter Part of the Verfe. 
 And thefe are the Two general Points I 
 
 fliall endeavour now to infift upon, as the 
 
 L o R D (hall help me. 
 
 FIRST, I (Tiall take Notice of the ^f- 
 neral Mortality of our prefent State. 
 
 When the ^eftion in the Text was put to 
 the IJraelites, Tour Fathers, where are they ? 
 the Defign of it was, to remind them that 
 they were All mortal, or to quicken their 
 Attention to the Subjedl oi the general Mor^ 
 tality of our Nature. 
 
 • The Anfwer to this ^ery was fo very 
 obvious, that the jMatter required no long 
 Time for Confideration. They could eafily 
 reply, that their Fathers had been carried a- 
 way as with a Flood (a) : Though they were 
 
 not 
 
 CaJ Pfal. xc. 5. 
 
the Reverend Mr. Bkmibvry. $ 
 
 not immeHiately carried from the Womb to 
 the Grave, yet their Dtiys were few (i>) ; and 
 fwifter than a Poji, they pajfed away as the 
 fwift Ships (c), which failing before a ftrong 
 Gale are quickly out of light ; and the Eyes 
 of thoj'e that had feen them, could y^e them.heve 
 no more j for they were not (d), but were 
 gone the Way of all the Earth {e), and en- 
 tered into the Land of Darknefs in the Grave, 
 from whence they were not te return (f) ; 
 for when a Man dies, it is not defigned that 
 he Jhould live again [g). 
 
 In our Meditation upon this Subjed: of 
 Mortality, to whic,h both the Word and 
 Providence of God now dire6t us, it is fit 
 our Thoifghts fhould be employed in a fe- 
 rious and humbling Reflexion upon the fol- 
 lowing Heads, viz. 
 
 1 . Upon tlie original Source and Spring 
 of our Mortality. 
 
 2. Upon the Ex/f-w/ of it : And, 
 
 3. Upon the Reafon of that Extent. 
 Let us confider, 
 
 I. The original Source and Spring of 
 biir Mortality, which was Sin. 
 
 Such 
 
 Xb) Job X. 19, 20. (f) Job ix. 25, .26. (d) Job vji. 8., 
 " (^) I Kings ii. 2. (/)J6bx. 2i. (^) jobxiv. 14. 
 
6 A Funeral Sermon on 
 
 Such was the Perfedion of our Nature at 
 the Jirji Creation of Man, and during his 
 State of Innocency, that Death bad no Do- 
 minion over him; and fince Death was 
 tbreatned only in Cafe of Tranfgreffion, we 
 have reafon to conclude, that if a due Obe- 
 dience had been performed to the Will of 
 God, Man would have enjoyed an end- 
 lefs Life. And if the Promife of Lije at 
 firft was not explicitely given, it was becaufe 
 there was no Occafion for it, as being 
 ftrongly implied in the conditional Threat- 
 ning. 
 
 Yet when the Righteoufnefs of the Law is 
 fpoken of in Scripture, we are taught, that 
 if Man bad done the Things- which God 
 had enjoined him, he Jhould have lived by 
 them {jo). For jQnce. Death was to be in- 
 ilidted as the Puni/hment of Dijobedience^ it 
 follows, that if Man had not offended, he had 
 not died, and if he had not died, he muft 
 have lived for ever j for an endlefs Duration 
 was ftamped upon his very Frame and Con- 
 ftitution, by his Almighty and bountiful 
 Creator, t. ,.. 
 
 But Death being the Wages of^xn (/), no 
 fooner did S}n enter into the World {k)^ but 
 
 an 
 (£) Rom. X. s. (0 Rom. vi. 23. {k) Rom. r. it. 
 
the Reverend Mr. Br AOBXJRY. 7 
 
 an unavoidable Lifiblenefs to the Execution 
 of the Sentence of Death immediately fol- 
 lowed. So that we fee, that the original. 
 Source and Spring of our Mortality was Sin. 
 Let us confider in the next place, 
 
 2. The Extent of our Mortality. 
 
 And this appears to be large and wide 
 indeed ; fo wide and univerjal, that it is of 
 equal Extent with our Nature-, for nq Man 
 who has been born in the ordinary Way, 
 but was born under a Liablenefs and Sub- 
 jedion to Death. 
 
 If we confider ferioufly, where our Fa^ 
 fhers are, we {ball fee reafon to acknowledge, 
 that the Sentence of Death afFe<fted, not ^dam 
 only, but his whole Pojierity likewife. The 
 ^ery in the 'Text here puts us upon think- 
 ing, not merely tVhere is our Jirfi Father 
 .^dam ? but Jf^ere are all our intermediate 
 Fathers, fuch as Noah, Shem, Ham, or Ja- ■ 
 pbetf Where are Abraham, Ifaac, and 
 Jacob? Where are David and Solomon, 
 ^nd all the Ancejlqrs, whether olihe Jewijh 
 or Gentile Race ? ^ 
 
 What was faid of all the antediluvian Pa- 
 triarchs, Enogh only excepted, muft be faid 
 
 of 
 
8 A Funeral Sermon on 
 
 of all our Fathers who live^ in any faccecd- 
 ing Generation, Jhey died. And though in 
 a fingle Inftance or two, God has hereto- 
 fore fhewn his Sovereignty,^ in tranjlating 
 them, and not fuffering them to fee Death j 
 and though as to thofe, who fhall be alhe 
 at Chrifi's fecond coming, it' is declared, that 
 they Jhall all be changed, but /hall not alljleep 
 the Sleep of Death (/)j yet as to alT inter- 
 vening Generations, abjure as Men are born, 
 ^ it is no lefs fure they Jhall die. 
 
 On the whole, it is inconteftabfy evident 
 from the Departure and Death of our Fa- 
 thers, that when God faid to Adam, Duji- 
 thou art, and unto Dujljkalt thou return [m), 
 we were all comprehended and included in 
 that Sen,tence. The Apojile therefore infifts 
 upon it in genrral Terms, that // is ap- 
 pointed unto Men once to die {n) ; or it was 
 once, and at one and the fame Time, op- 
 pointed unto Men to die, that is, unto all Men 
 abfolutcly and univerfally confidered. 
 And now let us confider, 
 
 3 . The Reafon of the univerfaf Extent of 
 this Appointment. 
 
 And 
 
 {t) I Cor. XV. 51. («) Gen. iii. 19. («) Heb. ix. 27. 
 
the R&verend M^. BrAdbury. 9 
 
 And this was, becaufe all have finned^ 
 as the Apoftle declares, \?J(jw. v. 12. Where 
 we may obfe.rve, that the Greek Words \\<p^ 
 «] will admit of being tranjlated two diffe- 
 rent Ways 5 yet in which ever of thofe Ways 
 they (hall be taken, they plainly fuggeft the 
 Reafon, why Death pajjed upon all Men. If 
 the Words be taken abfolutely, then they ex- 
 prefsly and precifely fpecify the Reafon, why 
 Death pajfed upon all Men; it is, /or that^ or 
 becaufe all have finned: Or if the Words be 
 taken relatively, and be rendered in whom^ 
 (as they are in the Margin,) then as they 
 point out the Reafon, why Death pajfed upon 
 all Men, they (hew us likewife the Founda- 
 tion or Reafon, why all Men are accounted 
 Sinners ; even becaufe they Jinnid with, and 
 in, that one Man, by 'whom Sin and Death 
 firft entered iuto the World. And fince alt 
 Men were Parties jointly concerned with 
 Adam in the Breach of the firft Covenant, it 
 was but fit, that the Sentence which was 
 faffed upon him. Ihould be extended to all that 
 became guilty with him. 
 
 Should it be afked, HovV it came to 
 
 pafs, that we, and all Men became guilty 
 
 'miih, Adam\ in his firfl TranfgreJJton f the 
 
 Anfwer is, Becaufe by the wife and righte- 
 
 B ous 
 
10 A Tuner d Sermon on 
 
 ous Appointment of G o d Jdam our natU' 
 ral Headj and common Parent, was. confti- 
 tuted.oar Jederal Head and Reprefentative. 
 
 Now as what is done by a legal Repre- 
 fentative is ever deemed in Law and Juftice, 
 to be done by the Perfon or Perfons that are 
 reprefented: So in the Eye .of the Law, 
 Adanis Tranfgreffion was our's ; and for this 
 Reafon, the fame Sentence which the Law 
 paJJ'ed upon him, it alfo pajed upon us, and all 
 that were reprefented by him. And who-, 
 ever rightly believe, that Adam was the Fi- 
 gure of Chrift (o), in being the publick Head 
 of his natural Family, as Chrift is the pub- 
 lick Head of Wisfpiritual Family the Church, 
 they cannot but acknowledge, that the Judg- 
 ment of the Law herein was true and righ- 
 teous ; however Men of perverfe Minds may 
 argue againft it, pretending it would be an 
 unrighteous Proceeding, if by one Mans 
 Difobedience others Jhould be made Sinners, 
 though this is clearly afferted by the infpired 
 Apoftle in his Epiftle to the Romans (p). 
 
 But in (lead of objedting, difputing, or ca- 
 villing againft this Truth, fo plainly declared 
 in the Word of Go d, let us plead, that V?e 
 may be humbled under our Experience, that 
 
 the 
 (fi) Rom. V, 14. {f) Rom. v. 19. 
 
tBe Reverend Mr. Br AB^URY, ii 
 
 the Purilfhment of the grand Apoftacy, con- 
 tained in that 7hreatning of Mortality, is 
 come upon ourfehes. And this being an un- 
 deniable Evidence, that We were concerned 
 in that Apoftacy, let the Confideration here- 
 of engage us to mourn under the Remem- 
 brance of the original Sin and Guilty which 
 attended us at our very Birth, or as foon as 
 we became Partakers of the Human Nature. 
 
 Thus we fee, that in our Meditations up- 
 on our Mortality we ought to remember 
 thefe three Things j namely, — That the ori- 
 ginal Source of it was Sin j — That the Sen- 
 tence which doomed our Nature to this Mor- 
 tality^ was of an univerfal Extent ; and— 
 That the Reafon of this Extent yNZB, becaufe 
 all the Human Race have Jinned in Adam^ 
 their Covenant-Head and publick Reprefen- 
 tative. 
 
 Having thus confidered the Mortality of 
 our prefent Srate, I fhall now pafs on to the 
 Second General \ under which I am to fhew, - 
 
 SECONDLT, That no excellent D//- 
 pojition or Qualifications can exempt any One 
 of the Apoftate Race of Adam from the 
 Stroke of Death. 
 
 B 2 Thus 
 
J 2 A Funeral Sermon on 
 
 Thus much is plainly intimated by the 
 ^ery in the latter Part of the Text, Jnd 
 the Prophets,' do they live for ever? The 
 Mode of Expreflion in which the Queftion 
 is formed, fufficiently (hews, that if a juft 
 Anfwer be given to it, it muft be in the Ne- 
 gative : For in other Cafes, it is common to 
 put the Queftion in the Affirmative^ when it 
 is intended that the Negative fliould be mofl 
 ftrongly maintained. Thus, If a Man die^ 
 Jhall he live again (q) ? No affuredly, be 
 fhall not : So here. Do the Prophets live for 
 ever ? It is mofl: certain, They do not. Had 
 the ^eftion been clothed with a tiegative 
 Form, after this manner. Do not the Prophets 
 die ? the Anfwer muft: have been in the Affir- 
 mative, Yes, They certainly die. 
 
 And fince this is fo manifeftly the Cafe' as 
 to the Prophets themfelves, we tpay hence 
 juftly conclude, That no Excellency or Dig- 
 nity of any other Men can exempt them from 
 dying. 
 
 Here let me give you ^rjl, a brief Illuf- 
 iration of this Point ; and then fhew you, 
 what Ufe or Improvement (hould be made of 
 ^hefe Truths, in a Way of Application. 
 
 As 
 
 (q) Jobxiir. 14. 
 
the Reverend Mr. Brad^vky. 13. 
 
 As to the Illujlraiion of the Point, I fliall 
 inftance in a few Particulars : And you will 
 eafily perceive, That no Man fhail be exemp- 
 . ted from dying, 
 
 I. Upon Account of the Dignity of any 
 honourable Office which he bears. 
 
 The true Prophets of the Lord were highly 
 dignified : And by the Prophets here referred 
 to, we are without Doubt to underftand, 
 thofe extraordinary Minifiers, whom God 
 raifed up and ordained under the Old Tejla- 
 ment Difpenfation, to reveal his Counfels, to 
 carry his Meflages, and deliver his Com- 
 mands to his Church and People. Such 
 were Mofes and Aaron : Such were Samuel, 
 David, Ifaiah, Jeremiah, and others. And 
 as thefe were in their Office Types of Chrifl, 
 the great Prophet of the Church, there was 
 a Dignity attending them, which beyond all 
 Comparifon was fuperior to the higheft Dig' 
 nity that could be conferred by the.greateft of 
 earthly Princes j yea, fuperior to the highefi 
 Dignity fuftained by thofe Monarcbs them*- 
 felves. — But though thefe to whom the Word 
 of God came, and who were employed tofpeak 
 to the People in ,the Name of the Lord, were 
 termed Gods (r), in the like Spnfe as Mofes 
 
 was, 
 (r) John X. 35. 
 
14 A Funeral Sermon on 
 
 was (i), yet notwithftanding they were cal- 
 led Gods, they died like Men (t). 
 
 No meer Man had a higher Trufl than 
 Mofei, no One a higher Honour than Aaron 
 the Saint of the Lord (u) ; yet it was the Di- 
 vine Pleafure and Command concerning 
 Both, that they Jhould die and be gathered to 
 their People fx), as were the reft of the If- 
 raelites, or thofe who had the loweji Station 
 in the Houfe of God. Neither fhall any 
 Man be exempted from dying upon Account 
 of the Dignity of the Office which he bears, 
 whether in the Civil Community, or in the 
 
 Church of God. Nor fhall any Man be 
 
 exempted from Death^ 
 
 2. Upon Account of the Nearnefs of any 
 Spiritual or New-Covenant Relation in which 
 he ftands to God. 
 
 Befides the Ecclefiajlical Relation to God, 
 which was founded upon the Divine Injli- 
 tution of any Ofjice, the holy Prophets and all 
 the Saints had a near Relation to God, found- 
 ed upon the Covenant of Grace. According 
 to the new and everlafting Covenant y which 
 God has made naith the houfe of Ifrael and 
 with the houfe offudahy He becomes their 
 
 GOD, 
 
 (s) Exod. vii. I. (t) Pfal. Ixxxii. 6, 7. 
 
 (a) Pfal. i^ 16. (x) Deut. xxxii. 50. 
 
the Reverend Mr. Bradbury. 15 
 GOD, and they are made his People (y) : And 
 whoever are brought within the Bonds of 
 this Covenant, they are admitted into a pecu- 
 liar Relation to God, which carries in it 
 all the Nearnefs that cap be conceived tofub- 
 fift: between God and Man : For Aich are 
 not only his Servants, and his Friends, but 
 bis Children, and this both by Regeneration 
 and Adoption : Yea, God is not only their 
 Mafter^ and their Father, but he is their 
 Hujband. ^ And this New-Covenant Relation 
 between God and his People can never be 
 dijjolved ; for they who are once the- Lords, 
 are ever his, and he hates putting away (z). 
 They therefore who are once taken into the 
 Family and Houfe of God, fhall never be cajl 
 cut, but (hall abide therein for ever (a) : Yet 
 the Night is coming on, when the Children 
 of God themfelves fmjl be unclothed, and 
 after they hzv^fpent the Day mferving their 
 own Generation by the Will of God, they 
 murt: fall ajleep, as David did (b). 
 
 For when our Lord declared, That if a 
 
 Man believe on him, and keep his Saying, he 
 
 fhallnever fee Death (c), the Privilege there 
 
 pfomifed by him was not an Exemption from 
 
 dying the natural Deaths but a BleJJing of 
 
 much 
 
 0) Jer- xxxi. 31, 33. (%) Mai. ii. 16. 
 
 (a) John VJii, 35. (b) Afts xiii. 36. (c) John viii. ji . 
 
1 6 A Funeral Sermon on 
 
 much 'greater Importance, and infinitely; 
 more valuable than that would have been, 
 even an abfolute Security from being hurt of, 
 the Second Death. 
 
 The Promife therefore, that his Difciples 
 (hduld not fee Death, meant the fame, ag 
 when it is faid, that whofoever believeth in 
 him, jhall never perijh (d) : And though e- 
 very Believer, on Account of the Change of 
 his Spiritual State, may juftly be faid to be 
 already pajfed from Death unto Life (e) ; yet 
 it is no where promifed them, notwithftand- 
 ing the Nearnefs of their Spiritual Relation 
 to God, that the Life which they now live in 
 the Flejh ftiall never end j for as the Prophets 
 of old did not, fo neither is there any Warrant 
 to expedt, that any of the dear Children of 
 God in the prefent Time Jhall live here 
 
 far ever. Nor can a Man be exempted 
 
 from dying, 
 
 3. Upon Account of any prefent high At- 
 tainments in Grace or Holinefs. 
 
 We have reafon to believe, that among 
 the Prophets here fpoken of, thofe Holy Men 
 of God were included, who were not only 
 favoured with the Spirit ofWifdom and Re- 
 velation (f) that the Eyes of their Underjiand- 
 
 ings 
 
 (J) John iii. 16. (e) John v. 24. (/) Eph. i. 1 7, 1 8. 
 
the Reverend Mr. "BviA-DUVViYi \J 
 %gs being enlightened, they migh know'th^ 
 great Things of God's. Law, and the pecu- 
 liar Dodlrines of Divine Revelation j but 
 '%hofe Privilege alfo it was, to have their 
 Hearts and Confciences powerfaWy ifn/>re/Jed 
 by the fpecial and efficacious Operations, and 
 by the renewing and fandifying Influences of 
 the Holy Ghpji, whereby they were born again, 
 and created anew unto good Works (g) : And 
 thus their Hearts were right with God {h), 
 and they became truly dcfirous to moalk in bis 
 Ways^ and were made confcientioufly careful 
 to be fledjaft in his Covenant. 
 
 They believed in God, and t rafted in bis 
 Salvation [i) ; they were of an excellent Spirit 
 {k), and walked with God (I) : And what- 
 ever Afflidions, Trials, or Oppofition, they 
 met with in the Way, yet they did not forget 
 his Statutes, but efteemed all his Precepts con- 
 cerning all Tubings to be right, and hated every 
 falfe Way (m) ; and were enabled every one 
 through Grace to keep himjelf Jrom his own 
 Iniquity (»). Their Meditation of God was 
 fweet (o), and in the Multitude of their 
 Thoughts within them, his Comforts did delight 
 their Souls {p) ; and his Word did they hide in 
 their Hearts, that they might not fm againfl 
 
 C him 
 
 [£\ Eph. ii. IQ. [h) Pfal. Ixxviii. 37. [f) Pfal. Ixxviii. 22. 
 (k) Prov. xvii. 27. (/) Gen. vi. 9, («) Pfal. cxix. 83,128. 
 {«) Pfal. xviii. 23. (e) Pfal. civ. 34. (rf Pfal. xciv. 1 9. 
 
1 8 A Funeral Sermon on 
 
 bim {q)> Thus were they made wife unto 
 Salvation : They underjiood the Fear of the 
 Lord, and found the Knowledge of God (r) ; 
 and their prevailing Aim was to keep the Way 
 of Righteoufnefs, fudgment^ and Equity, yea^ 
 every good Path (j). 
 
 But however their high Attainments in 
 Grace and Holinefs might be encouraged, 
 by God's revealing to them the Abundance of 
 Peace and Truth, and caufmg them to hear the 
 Voice of Joy and Gladnefs (?), yet the higheji 
 Degrees of their real Sandity and true Holi- 
 nefs could not prev'ent their being unclothed ; 
 but for how long a Day foever their Conver- 
 fation had been in Heaven {u), yet the Night 
 came, when they were obliged to have their 
 Lodging in the Grave. 
 
 And as it was in Solomons Days, fo it is 
 now, and fo it will be to the laft Age of the 
 World, As dieth the Fool, that is, the wicked 
 Man, the Sinner, fo too as certainly mufl the 
 Wife die {x'\, how religious and pious, how 
 gracious and holy foever they have been. — — 
 Nay further, , 
 
 4. No Man can be exempted from dying, 
 how faithfully Zealous, or remarkably AMive 
 
 foever, 
 
 (f)Pfal. cxix.ii. (;■) Prov. H. 5, (j) Prov. ii. 8, 9. 
 
 W Jer. xxxiii. 6, 1 1 . («) Phil. iii. 20. (*•) Eccl. ii. 1 6. 
 
the Rei^erend Mr. Bradbury. 19 
 
 •foever, he has been in the Caufe of Chriji, 
 and f6r the Glory of his Name. 
 
 It muft be allowed, that the holy Prophets 
 of old had a Zeal jar God, and it was a Zeal 
 according to Knowledge (jy). They were 
 careful Xa jtand in God's Counjel (^z), and to 
 preach the Preaching which he bade them {a). 
 The Words which the hoRX) /pake unto them t 
 they heard with their Ears, and received them 
 in their Heart : They were valiant for the 
 Truth {b), and had fo ftridt a Regard unto the 
 Divine Authority, and fo high a Reverence 
 for God, that they did not dare to mix their 
 own Notions with his Revelation, nor Men's 
 Inventions with his Inftitutions. What God 
 commanded, that they did; what Wt prohibi- 
 ts, from that they abftained ; and what they 
 received fronf the Lord, iha.t they delivered to > 
 the People, without adding to, or diminiftiing 
 from it. 
 
 They did not teach for DoSlrines the Com- 
 , mandments of Men [c) -, but they fpake the 
 Truth in Love (d) : And in their DoBrine 
 thty Jhewed Uncorruptnefs, Gravity, and Sin- 
 cerity, ufing Jbund Speech that could not be 
 condemned {e). Nor did they hold the Truth 
 C 2 in 
 
 (y) Rom, X. 2, (z) Jer. xxiji. 22. («) Jon. iii. 2_. 
 (^) Jer.ix. 3. (f) Mat. ,xv. g. (afjEph.iv. 15. 
 
 0Tit.ii. 7, 8. . , 
 
20 A Funeral Sermon on 
 
 in Unrighteoufneji (f) ; but in their Pradicel*^ 
 Jhewed t he mf elves Patterns of good Works {g), 
 being raifed above the Influence of all CoUrt- 
 Flattery, and watching againft the Snares^ 
 that were laid for- them, by any Offers of 
 high Preferment, or worldly Emoluments. 
 Their Care was to preach as pleafing God, 
 whether Men tvere pleafed or not {h). 
 
 They were not terrified by theThreatnings 
 of their Adverfaries (;'), but (hewed that 
 they were not afraid of Bonds or Imprifon- 
 ment ; and when they were floned, and had 
 Trials of cruel Mocking s and Scourgings (k), 
 they were not moved by any of thefe Things 
 (/), but ftill perfevered in the Courfe of their 
 Minijlry, zealoufly bearing a faithful Tefti- 
 mony for God. For even in their DaySy 
 (as in Ours,) there were Men of a Phari- 
 faick Temper, who under a Pretence of 
 fearching after Truth, fet themfelves againfi 
 the great Things that could only be known 
 by a divine and fupernatural Revelation : And 
 thefe Perfons greatly with/kcd the Words of 
 the holy Men of GoD [m' ; and though they 
 could not always raife a Perfecution, andjhed 
 the Blood of the holy Prophets at pleafure, as 
 they did that of Zacharias («), yet they al- 
 ways 
 
 (/) Rom. i. 1 8. {g) Tit. ii. 7. (*) I Theff. ii. 4. 
 
 .(// Phil. i. 28. (i) Heb. xi. 36, 37. (/) Afls XX. 24. 
 
 («) 2 Tim. iv. 1 5. («J Mat. xxiii. 3 j. 
 
the Revetend Mf\ Bradbu ry. 2 1 
 
 ways treated them with afovereign Cont,empt ; 
 and whefe they had not Front enough to 
 tax them as isoeak Bablers (0 , they were yet 
 fo wicked as to condemn them as Furies and 
 Mad-men' } and the vao^ faithful Preaching 
 was run down as Enthufiafm, and exclaimfed 
 againft as being too myjlical, becaufe it was 
 truly divine and fpiritual. 
 
 Thus Ezekiel lamented his Cafe, when he 
 faid. Ah, Lord God 1 they fay of me. Doth 
 be not fpeak Parables [p) ?, that is, in "the 
 modern Language of but Day, Doth he not 
 talk myftically and enihufiajlically f But the 
 Lord made the Face of his Servants Jirong a- 
 gainjl the Face of their Enefnies{q), and they 
 Went on in their JVork with Pleafure and Joy, 
 being zealoujly affeBed always in a good Thing 
 (r), till their Courfe was finijhed -, yet at laft 
 there was Occafion to fay, not only of One 
 t>r Two, or of a few of them, but it is re- 
 corded of them ally that they died. 
 
 Notwith (landing their Xeal in fpreading 
 the gtfOd Report which they had obtained or 
 deceived, yet their moft Jervent Zeal could 
 not prevail, that they ftiould be always con- 
 tinned in Life, and not die. Once more, 
 
 I would obfefve, 
 
 5. That 
 
 (0) Ads xvij. 18, (/) Ezek. xx. 49. (q) Ezek. iii. 8. 
 (rjGal. iv. 18. • 
 
22 A Funeral Sermm on 
 
 5. T)iat a Man cannot be exempted from 
 Death, upon Account of the greateft Succefs 
 and Ufefulnefs in the Caufe of God. 
 
 There is a vaji Variety as to the Gifts and 
 Talents, as to the Capacities and Opportuni- 
 ties, with which the Lord intrufts Men, that 
 they may be ufeful in their Day. To fome 
 he gives great Skill in the Affairs of Govern- 
 ment, and a clear Under/landing of the Times 
 (j) : Thefe are fitted to advife and direSi 
 what a People ought to do, for their own 
 Safety, Welfare, and Profperity, whether in 
 a Time of Peace or War. To fome the 
 Lord gives a large Portion of earthly Trea- 
 fure, that they may have it in their Power to 
 relieve the NeceJJitous, and to do much Good 
 by communicating to the Poor. 
 '. Others are flill more highly favoured v^l^v 
 fingular Abilities, and gracious Salifications 
 for iht Prophetical Office, that they more espe- 
 cially may be made of Service to the Smh of 
 Men. And fome of thefe hay^e been remarl^^ 
 ably ajfifled, Jlrengthened, an^ fucceeded, fQ-- 
 that they have been, in the Hand of the 
 Spirit, the happy hjlruments of indm&ing 
 and enlightening many, and of turning m^ny 
 unto Righteoufnefs {t). And with Refpedl 
 
 to 
 
 (j) i Chron. xii. 32, (/) Dan. xii. 3. 
 
the Reverend Mr. Bradbury. 23 
 
 to thefe, Believers have been apt to think, if 
 ^as needful that fiich fhould abide in the 
 Flejh (a) for publick Service to fpiritual Pur- 
 pofes. 
 
 But though they yitxtburning andjhining 
 Lights (x), Men full of the Holy Ghoji and of 
 heavenly Wifdom (j) ; though they were 
 mighty in the Scriptures (z), and apt to teacb 
 (.3) ; though they were enabled fo to fpeak, 
 that many believed -j yet their Life quickly 
 came to a Period, and they died. 
 
 The Remarks I have thus madfej I hum- 
 bly conceive, are a fufficient lllujlration of the 
 Point I have been infifting on, {viz.) That 
 no Excellencies, Privileges, or Advantages, , 
 which attend any of our Mortal Race, can 
 
 exempt them from the Stroke of Death. 
 
 Neither the Dignity of any Office they bear, 
 — ^neither the "Nearnefs of their Spiritual Re- 
 lation to God, — nor the Height of their At- 
 tainments in Grace and Holinefs ; — neither 
 their Zeal for the Honour of the Redeemer ^ — 
 nor their TJfefulnefs in Life, can prevent their 
 Departure. 
 
 And with Regard to that venerable Father, 
 the late worthy Pajlor of this Church, whofe 
 
 Funeral 
 
 (a) Phil. i. 24. (x) John v. 35. [y) AtSs Vi. 5. 
 
 (z) Aftsxviii. 24. [a) 2 Tim, ii. 24. 
 
24- -^ Funeral Sermon on 
 
 Ftmeral was Yefterday fo publickly folemni- 
 zed, and whofe Death is this Day very forely 
 lamented by us, I may leave it to you, my 
 for roivful Friends^ wl^o befl: knew him, and 
 were moft intimately acquainted with his 
 exemplary Piety, his Fervour and Zeal in the 
 Caufe of Religion and Truth, his extraordi- 
 nary Readinefs in the Scriptures which ap- 
 peared in all his Difcourfes, and his Ufeful- 
 nefs in the Miniftry of the GoTpel j to ToUy 
 I fay, I may leave it to judge, whether in his 
 Departure the Lord has not given us afre/h 
 Proof, thaf whatever be the excellent Endow- 
 ments, the happy and gracious Salifications 
 of his Servants the Prophets^ ev^n of the mojl 
 renowned of them, yet they do not live for ever. 
 
 But inftead of enlarging here upon the 
 CharaBer of the Deceafed, I fhall endeavour 
 now to offer you a few Inferences by Way of 
 APPLICATION, which may be for the 
 ^ickning and Edification of the Living, 
 rather than feek to give any high Encomiuni/: 
 upon the Dead. 
 
 Let me then defire you to attend to the fol-^' 
 lowing juft, ferious, and neceffary P^fleSlions : 
 And may the Spirit of the Lord make them 
 truly ufeful to us all ! 
 
 [i.] Docs^ 
 
the kewrexd Mr. Bradbury. aj; 
 
 [i.J Does the Removal of ear Fathers 
 plainly fliew us our own Mortality, and make 
 It evident that We likewife mufl quickly depart^ 
 let then the Confideration of this engage us 
 to be diligent in our Preparation for the aw- 
 ful approaching Change. 
 
 Christ is now^ faying to Us, both by his 
 Word and Providence, Be ye alfo ready {h). 
 And here let us remember, that there can be 
 no Readinefs for Death, unlefs we are born a'- 
 gain, renewed in the Spirit of our Mind, and 
 made New Creatures ; unlefs we are ejpoufed 
 to Cbrift, joined to the Lord, and by his Spi- 
 rit quickened and raifed into a "vital Union 
 •with Him, and thus wrought into a Confor- 
 mity and Likenefs to Him^ and led into a 
 Communion and Fellowjhip with Him. . , ■ 
 
 ' Unlefs His Rightebufnefs be put upon Usj 
 imputed to Us, and received by Us, in the A<51;- 
 ings and Exercife of a Faith unfeigned, as a 
 Gift of the moft free, fovereign, rich and 
 heavenly Grace j unlefs that Righteoufnefs be 
 depended upon, as the only Ground oi our Con- 
 fidence and Hope in God for Acceptance 
 with Him ; there can be no due Preparednefs 
 for Death. They that have not believe/d in 
 D the 
 
 (i) Mat. xxiv. /^. 
 
26 A Funeral Sermon on 
 
 the Son of God, nor trujled in his Salvation 
 {c), what can they expedl, but that when they 
 die they fhall find God to be their Enemy, 
 and to be wroth with them for their pro- 
 voking Difobedience and Rebellion againft 
 Him : And fuch as fall under the wrathful 
 Difpleafure of God, mujl be dejlroyed. Let 
 thefe Confidcrations quicken us to prepare 
 for Death. And, 
 
 [2.] Since we cannot live for ever, and 
 know not how foon we may die, let us watch 
 againji any further Delay in Matters of the 
 utmoft Importance. 
 
 Except we repent, we muft All perifh (d) : 
 And it will be dreadful indeed for thofe who 
 have h^id the long Space for Repentance given 
 them, which has been given even to the 
 youngeft in this Affembly that is grown up 
 to a Capacity for Self-Refledion ; it will be 
 dreadful, I fay, for fuch to be cut off and 
 fnatcbed away by Death, before they have 
 repented. 
 
 ■ While we are fpared, let us ftudy the Na- 
 ture, Duty, and Neceffity of a truly Evange- 
 lical Repentance : And under a Convidtion, 
 that whatever Warnings, Inftrudibns, or 
 
 Calls 
 
 {c) Pfal. kxviii. 22. (^ Luk. xiii. 5. 
 
the Reverend Mr. Bradbury. 27 
 
 Calls to Repentance are given us by the Word 
 and Providence of God, y^t we fhall never 
 repent nor return,, if the Lord docs not turn 
 us, and if He who is exalted to be a Prince 
 and a Saviour, does not give us the Grace of 
 Repentance (e) j under a Convidtion, that 
 without this we (hall never repent, let us be 
 , much in Prayer for the Spirit ofChriJi, that 
 he may take away the Heart of Stone, and 
 give us an Heart of Flejh.{f), that he will 
 be gracioufly pleafed to put his Law in our 
 inward Parts, and write it in our Hearts (g) j 
 for till this Mercy is granted us, we cannot 
 turn to the Lord, nor be delivered from an 
 accufing, condemning, and felf-tormenting 
 Confcience. But, 
 
 [3.] Do not the Prophets live for ever, then 
 their Minijlry fliould be carefully improved 
 by a People, while it is mercifully continued 
 among them. 
 
 What our Lord faid to the Jews concern- 
 ing his own Minijlry, is in a proper Senfe 
 applicable to the Cafeofawy People, who are 
 favoured with the Preaching of his faithful 
 Minijlers ; that yet a little while the Light is 
 D 2 w//i5 
 
 (e) Adts V. 3 1 . (/) Ezek. xxxvi. 26. \g) Jer. xxxi. 33. 
 
28 A Funeral Sermon on 
 
 with them [h). It becomes us all therefore, 
 ivbilewe have tbej^igbt, to believe in tbe Ligbt 
 (/■) ; that is, while we have the Ligbt of the 
 Word^ we are to believe in that Saviour who 
 is tbe Ligbt of tbe IForld {k) whom the 
 Word reveals, 
 
 As to^o«r late Pajlor, you will j^i? bis Face 
 in the Fle/b^ and bear bif Voice no more. It 
 is your Mercy indeed, to bavejiill a Prophet 
 among you : Yet remember, that no prefent 
 Advantages as to his Years, his bodily 
 Strength or Vigour, can be any Security for 
 his being long continued, how greatly foever 
 this Blefljng is to be defired. But whilft he 
 is fpared, let every One of this Church and 
 Congregation pray and watch, that there 
 may not be a fad Occafion for the like 
 Complaint againft any, that was made a- 
 gainft the Hearers of the Prophet Ezekiel, 
 They feemed zealous znd forward to attend 
 his Mimflry^ but when they beard his Words , 
 they would not do them {I). 
 
 Plead, that tbe Miniftry which the Lord 
 has fo feafonably fentyou, ntay not be to you 
 meerly as tbe lovely Song of one that has a 
 pleafant Voice ; but watcb and pray, that 
 through the fpecial Bleffing of the Lord it 
 
 may, 
 
 {h) John ;fii. 3 ;, (/) John xy. 36. {k) Johp viii. \ ?, 
 (/) £zek. xxxiii. 32. 
 
the Reverend Mr. Bradbury. 29 
 
 niay be tbe Power of God unto the Salvation 
 of your Souls (w), and may thus be not the 
 Savour of Death unto Death, but the Savour 
 of Life unto Life {n), unto the Glory of his 
 Name. Again, 
 
 , [4.] Is it plain, that the Prophets do not 
 live for ever, how thankful then .fhould we 
 be for a Succejpon of Prophets and faithftd 
 
 Minijlers ? 
 
 The Lord, in his infinite Wifdom and 
 fovereign Pleafure, has ordained that Men of 
 mortal Infirmity fliould be employed in the 
 Service of the SanSluary, and they are not 
 fuffered to continue by Reafon of Death [p). 
 How kind and tender then is it in Christ, 
 the Head of the Church, that He takes Care 
 for a SucceJJion ? That though Minifiers 
 4ie, yet the Ofiice and Work of the Minif- 
 try Jhall not ceafe ; and though all Flejh be 
 as Grafs, and the mofl honourable and re- 
 nowned among Mei? be as the Flower' of the 
 Grafs ; though the Grafs witheretb, and the 
 Flower thereof falleth away, yet the Word of 
 the Lord, and the Miniftry thereof, ftill en- 
 durethy and (hall endure to the End (/>). He 
 
 that 
 
 («)Rom. i- 16. (») z Cor. ». 1,6. («) Heb.vii, 23, 
 
 i^) I Pet. i. 24, 25. 
 
JO -^ Funeral Sermon on 
 
 that removed Elijah, prefently raifed up an 
 Elijha to bq bis Succeffor. 
 
 May we not juftly remark, that as in 
 God's Promife to give the Land of Canaan 
 to Abraham's Seed, there was included a 
 Promife that he would give a Sfed to Abra- 
 ham [q) ; in like Manner, when Christ 
 fromifed, that he would be with his Miniflers 
 alway, did not this imply, that there fliould 
 'be always a Succejfion of Minifters, even to 
 the End of the World (r) ? And when it is 
 faid, the Word of the Lord endureth for mer, 
 what follows is a plain Intimation, that the 
 Gofpel fhall be preached for ever ; for it is 
 faid. This is the Word, which by the Gofpel is 
 preached unto you (i). 
 
 I now come to the lafi Inference I fhall 
 make from the Subjefl:, viz. 
 
 [5.J Since all minifterial Prophets muft 
 die, and have a Period put to their Ufeful- 
 nefs among us, with what thankful Admi- 
 ration fliould we behold and aknowledge 
 the tranfcendent and infinite Excellency of 
 the Lord Jesus Christ, the great Pro- 
 pbet and univerfal Bijhop of the Church ? 
 
 True, 
 
 (f)<jen. xiii. 15, 16. (r) Mat. xxviii. 20. (/) i Pet. i. 25. 
 
the Reverend Mr. Brabsvry. 31 
 
 True, He died once ; as the faithful Dif- 
 charge of his mediatorial Undertaking made 
 it neceflary, that he fliould die ottce for all 
 (/), that h^ Once and no more : But though 
 He died. He quickly revived, and is now 
 alive and livetb for evermore (u) ; and with 
 Refpeft to all his Offices, He is the fame 
 Tejierday, To-day, and for ever (x), (o that 
 his Prophetical Office is as unchangeable as hi$ 
 Priejihood (y). And fo long as any of his 
 Difciples and Followers can need Injiruc- 
 tion, He lives to communicate and impart 
 it ; and never could any teach like Him [z). 
 He caufes his Sheep to hear his Voice, and 
 teaches them fo powerfully and effedlually, 
 that they become heartily willing and re- 
 folved X.o^ follow Him {a). He lives to do 
 that for his People, which can never be done 
 by any of bis Prophets or Minijlers j for He 
 gives them an XJnderJianding and an Heart 
 to know the Lord {b), even .to know Himfelf 
 that He is the true God, and eternal Life {c). 
 
 But to draw to a Conclufon, Let the firm 
 Belief and ferious Confideration that our 
 
 Redeemer 
 
 (t) Heb. X. 10. («) Rev. i. i8. (*) Heb. xiii. 8. 
 
 (y) Heb. vii. 24, (a) John vii. 46. («) John x. 27. 
 (i)Jer. xxiv, 7. (f) i Johjj v. 20. 
 
32 A Funeral Sermon on 
 
 Redeemer ever lives, ferve to comfort the 
 Hearts of this Church and Congregation un- 
 der their prefent mourning Circumftances. 
 Pore not too much upon the dark Side 
 of the Cloud -, for befides the grand Particulars 
 I have already mentioned, there are fome 
 Things, though of lefs Weight, that have 
 yet a Tendency to alleviate your Grief, and 
 to prevent your farrowing over much. ■ ■■ 
 Remember what Reafon you have, to fing 
 cf Mercy as well as Judgment (d). It is 
 Matter of Thank/giving and Praife, (and 
 I am perfuaded you think it fo,) that God 
 has fupplied you with an agreeable Succeffor, 
 even before the Demife of his aged Predecejfor. 
 
 You well knew, that the Dec^afed could 
 
 not live for ever : Nor was it to be expeSled, 
 according to the common Courfe of Nature, 
 that \^ his Dayshi^ been much farther pro- 
 longed, his Capacity for publick Service 
 would have been of equal Duration. And 
 V as you had Reafon to expeB, fo you have 
 had Time to prepare Jor, this Event ; for 
 God had fatisfyed him with long Life (e). — 
 He had fought a good Fight, he kept the 
 Faith (/ ), and has now finifhed his. Courfe 
 •with Joy {g) J and during the Time of his 
 
 lingering 
 
 (<0 Pfal. ci,i. (f) Pfal. xci. i6. (/) 2 Tim. iv, 7. 
 (£) Ads XX. 24. 
 
the Reverend Mr. Bradbury. 33 
 
 lihgerlpg Illnefs, he gave happy Evidence^ 
 that he was waiting for his loft Change {h) 
 with a fixed Confidence, that the End of his 
 Faith would be the Salvation of bis Soul (/). 
 This appeared by the frequent humble and 
 thankful Declarations he made, that his God 
 was with him, and that he was iept nigh unto 
 his God ; and therefore had he an ajfured 
 Hope, that at his DifTolution, his Garments 
 being made white in the Blood of the Lamb 
 {k), he fliould be received into the heavenly 
 Manfons,, to dwell in the immediate Pre- 
 
 fence of God where there is Fulne/s of foy, 
 and at whofe Right-Hand (as he often fo- 
 lemnly declared, he firmly believed,) there 
 are Pleajures for evermore (/}. 
 
 Hence arofe his fervent and daily Breath- 
 ing, Come Lord Jefus, come , and when 
 
 he had Strength, he would add, come< quick- 
 ly (m) ; but of late through bodily Weak- 
 nefs his Speech fo faltered, that he was not 
 able to finifh the Sentence fo as to be heard. 
 And muft it not give us a Pleafure to 
 hear, that his Exit was fb triumphant and 
 
 joyous f Have we not all Reafon to be 
 thankful, that he was fpared fo long f as in 
 
 E our 
 
 (h) Job. xiv. 14. t'") ' ^^- '■ 9- W Rsv. vii. 14. 
 
 \{fj Pfal. xvi. H . (ra) Rev. xxii. 20. 
 
34 "^ Funeral Sermon on 
 
 our Times there are but few, 'oery few Jn* 
 Jiances to be named, of a Minijiefi being 
 continued in the Labours of the Gofpel, and 
 with fuch little Interruption by Sicknefs,yor 
 fo many Tears, as He was, even from his 
 Eighteenth to the Eighiy-fecond Year of his 
 Age. And from the Beginning to the laft 
 Period of .his Miniftry, his Life was juftly 
 efteemed as a great Blejfing upon various Ac- 
 Counts, to many Churches and Saints, both in 
 City and Country. 
 
 And we ought to refled upon it with 
 Thankfulnefs, that as his Furniture and Abi- 
 lities for the minifterial Work were great, 
 and his Popularity in Preaching uncommon j 
 fo his Minijiry, not only in his own Congre- 
 gation, but in feveral of the mofi publick Lec- 
 tures in this City, was in various Inftances 
 crowned with fome rjemarkable Succefs. 
 
 Nor was his Ufefulnefs confined to the 
 Pulpit, but he frequently employed the Prefs 
 to the beft Purpofes ; and his good Under- 
 Jlanding in the M)Jleries of the Gofpel, his 
 Faitbfulnefs and Zeal in contending for the 
 Faith once delivered to the Saints («), his 
 Capacity, Steadinefs, and Valour in defend- 
 ing //jf Caufe of Religion and Liberty, were 
 '-, mani- 
 
 {») Jude, <ver, 3, 
 
the Reverend Mr. Bradbury. 35 
 manifeftly difeovered in the ufeful Pieces 
 which he publifHed agamji the Enemies of 
 God and their Country, who have endea- 
 voured to revive and propagate the dejlruc' 
 five Notionf of the Arians and Pelagians, 
 and the injlaving Do&rines of Pajive Obe- 
 dience and Nan-Rejijiance. 
 
 However, as we have heard no Zealot 
 TJfefulneJs, whether in preaching or defend- 
 ing the Gofpel, can perpetuate the Life of 
 the moft able or faithful Minijiers : But 
 happy for us, we have this to comfort us 
 under the Mortality of Minijiers, that the 
 great Prophet of the Church liveth and a- 
 bideth for ever : And as He will direSi his 
 Work in Truth (0), fo wherever He has 
 begun a good Work in the Hearts of any, He 
 will perform it until the Day of Jefus Chriji • 
 {p), and will take Care to perfeSl that which 
 is lacking in our Faith {q). 
 
 And All that have heard Christ, and 
 have been taught by him (r), and thus have 
 been enabled to commit themfelvis to his 
 Protedion, They fhall be kept[by his -mightf 
 Power through Faith unto compleat and eter- 
 nal Salvation (j); and then we fhall con- 
 
 ftantly 
 
 (a) Ifai. Ixi. 8, {p) Phil, i, 6.' ? (q) i Theff. iii. lo. 
 (r)Epli. iv. 21. [s) \ Pet. i. 5. 
 
36 A Funeral Sermm^ &C. # 
 
 ftantly with our whole Hearts acknowledge,- 
 that whatever have been the g^kving E- 
 vents of Time, yet our Lord ever did alk 
 Things' well {t). 
 
 Let our Trufl therefore be ifi Him j for 
 •worthy is the Lamb that wasjlain, to receive. 
 the higheft Afcriptions of Power and Riches ^t 
 oiWifdom and Strength (a) : To Him there- 
 fore be Honour^ and Glory ^ and BleJJing,, 
 World without End. Amen. 
 
 (/) Mark vii. 37. {«) ReVj v. 1 2, 
 
 FINIS. 
 
 -.r»?«;»9w«-'!..»» 
 
 "•■ = ' J^^ Publijhed. 
 
 A Sermon on the Death of the Rev. 
 Mr. Thomas Bradhury. Preacjied in 
 New-Court, Carey-Street^ on Lord's-Day' 
 Morning, Sept; 16. 1759. Publifhed at 
 the unanimous Requeft of the Church, with, 
 a Dedication to Them, containing a (hort 
 Charadler of the Deceafed, By Richard 
 Winter » Price 6</.