CORNELL UNIVERSITY LIBRARY CORNELL UNIVERSITY LIBRARY 3 1924 104 015 130 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/cu31 9241 0401 51 30 Mr. Mather's FUNERAL DISCOURSE On Occafion of the Death of His ROYAL HIGETNESS The PRINCE, A Funeral Difcourfe PR'E ACH ED^^ ■•"^ *"- I The High, Puiffant and mofl: Illuftrious Prince FRED]£RIck LE:wis\ Prince of Great-Brit ain^ Eleftoral Prince of Brmfwick-Lunenburgbi '^^ca^pf^I^aUi. Dtike of Cornwall &c. ^L^^,"^- '^^ ^ In t^e Au4i?i\fie oi . ..U I . The Honorable \ SF$NC£,R PHJPS, Efq; LieutenkBl-Gofvernbr and eommanBer in Chief, And the Honorable \Hh MAJB^SlT'i COUNCIL, -\ Of thf PiX)vinc£ of the MASSc4CIiUSEiTTW-BAY-: On ■#4^/2 2d.: 575.1. ro v , At Boston, NEW-ENGLAND. By Samuel Afamer,- Al'^ M. Paftor of a Church in 5(?/o». — SpO'fublica vixU : Maximti) nie quidem- -i-i £^ yai natus erat, Gloria fumma Domus : SedMortalis erat, Ovid. adLiviAM. I the Lieutenant-Governor and Council. 17S»- H Mt a COUNCIL held attheCounci Chamber in Bofton, on Wedi^fdiM the 2^d of May, 175.1^ .., r r £ D, "^ " 'HAT Jofiah Willard, Andre Oliver^ and Thomas Hutchmfoflf^ e5^ give tb,e Thanks of this .Boardi^it^ me Rev. Mr.- Samuel Mather, for 1^ Sermon preached this Day on Occaiion of the Death erf" His Royd Hishnefs thiR Prince of Wales ; and to ddire a Copy of him for the Prefs, .1 tSppy examin'd, ,; 'f * - *' ' * ^j;* J. WiLLAftD, Setf; % tuiJfiRAL* -DISCOURSE ".tJpbh the' ^€-^€^ of The High,. Pulflant and^ ipofl; Uluftrious PRince FREDERICK LEWIS, Prince of Great-Britain, ^cJ^^ "•..78 ROMANS XI. 33. O the Depth of the Riches bath of the Wifdom and Knowledge of GOD ! How unfearchdble are His Judgments and His JVays .paft finding out I' Honorable, ReverencLiand Belovedy WHEN theforrowful Tidiugs concern^g the Death of his Royal Highnels, the Prince, . . reached us, and caufed the Hearts of this Iftoft loyal People to contraft and their Faces to gather a melaocholv; Gloom i Thefe Words of the holy and learned ApoSe. came into my own penfiveilV^'rfand engag'd for aSeafon my own retired Sentiinents. ^ There Missing Page Of His Royal Highnefs IThe Prince. '5 Ahd when ouf Apoftle, tqwahis the Clofe of the p|t- 'igfeding Chapter, and throUgliout ST/^w before uSj'Md ■%rkten cleatly concerning the 'Calling of the "J^s at firft, and afterwards of the Genliks^ and aifigned the OngifHil Cattfe thereof, €ven the Goodnefs and Mercy of GOD; He then draws to aConcIufion'pf his whole Ai^urtieht, -exclaiming as in the Text, O the Dupth of the Rithis of theWifdom attd Knawlege of GOD ! Wow unfiarchdhle are His JuUgmmts^ and His Ways pajl findifigbut T In which Ex preffions his devout and holy Soul feems to bfe rapt Up in Wonder and Amazement ; or rather, according to the Figure in the Text, to be ^/«»|''t/, fwal- Ibwed Up tod dyefWhelm'd -with Admiration and Aftd- nifliment. O the Depth, cries He ! "Like one in an un- i fathomable Abyfs, that can find no Bottom. And What is it, which is lo very deep ? It foHows/here, O the Depth 6f the Tiiches bath of the Wtfdom and Knatoledgc «/ GOD ! q. d. O how profound, and of What •vafi, as Well as deep, AbUnda.iice are the 'Treafures (>f Divine Wifdom and Kno'iloledge } As the Divine Majeliy perfeftly knows whatfqever comes to pafs in the World ; io in his Wtfdom He fuperintends, difpofcs and governs in lall, but indeed in fuch a Way, and after fuch a Sort, as is to the humane Race truly wondrous and ift- cotaprehenfible : For — How Unfearchable tire' his _Judg- iKents, nnd his Wa-fs fafi-^Miig out ! ' Thefe then are the Inftances,' which the Apoftle pro- duces, wherein the unfearchable Richfs of Divine IVif- dom and K^iiwlege are di(J)layed, - namely, in the Divine Judgments' and Ways.' '' "" ' By tbje Judgments of GO D ; dr\ as the Greek runs, TA KPIMATA,- we are t6 underftand hh Decrees, fays the learped Grotius : And fo. we may take it con- cerning the CoBfifels- and Purpoffcs of the Divine Mind with regard to Nations, as well • as particular Perfons : Which, ,tho'Tome imagine, that they can clearly under- ftand them, and hence atrogantly ' venture on minutely e!xplaining them -, yfet they are certainly «?fj?/> Things, and by the Sons of Men ui";fearchablc. And 16 M Fumral BtfcWrfe on the fikatk ,; Andy^pyt^e^ajisjfGOD, we are to ^j^rftand /*« ^eotJUps an^affages of bis Providence in ftie mord Govjefnuientofthe^/V^prld.. Thefe zr& His Ways, which are faftjinding out.' The Greek Wp^:d1iere,, which we render ftift fi^ng mU properly fignifies not to be traced^ orby nodiftinft Marks and perfeft Charafters to be found. And fome of. the more critical Interpreters ac- quaint us, that the Term is metaphorical, and t^en from fharp-Qg^ted and quick-fcented Hounds, who are apt to flop and paufe and fliew themfelyes at a Lofs, when tiicy Iwve neitber Scent nor Track of the Game whic^ they .have been purfuing. And thus ; it is with regard to the ^Children of Men : For however earneft, ffiifp and eager we may be to find out the ' Ways of tlip Almighty, yet voe cannot trace them. Indeed we may Ibon perceive enough conceriung them to fatis- fy us, that in all His Ways, in all the Footfteps of His Providence, He proceeds as becometh Him"-, and as He has infinite Reafon for all his ConduA towards Mankind j foHe is Righteous in all His JVays apd holy in all Wf Doings. But altho* all the Divine Ways^ as weU as the Di- vine Counfels andPurpofes, be the Refult of perfect Un- derftanding and unerring Reafon j yet many are the ReP pe^s and Inftances, wherein we cannot trace the Di- vine Condufl, nor find «ut the Grounds and RAfons of the Divine Diipenlabons. And now the important Truth before us is* That i% thQVays efGODt or Paflages of His Providence, ther^ is fitch a Depth of Divine Wijdom and "Knowledge as is not to he traced and inmefiigated by us. And, in order to illulrate and confirmiJiis Truth, fa as that by the Bleffing of GOD it may be firmly eftar bliflicd ta your Minds ; our jirfi Attcpipt ihall be to iet before you Jome ^f tho{e Wfys of ^QD^ which are not to he traced and inveftigatei by us : AAd the next La Of His Royal Higkmfs The Prince, f lh.?J|l^e.to vc^ it wi|ent, xh^li-.fuch is the, Divmjfif- dom' and Know lege in theJe Ways «j wW /o h ira'(fi4 «P(^. invefiigated- by u.n, . 4.nd, havit^ . difpatched thefe Things, wfijhall then endeavour .to produce (uch Re- flexions upon; the whole as may be fit and natural and uTeful to 115, ^ , . , In the Brfi place then, we fhall endeavour to fe? be^ fore you thofe W^s of GOD, which are not to be traced 4nd invejiigated by us. ' i , ^ And hefe it njuftbe proper for us to begin With men- tioning thaje Ways of GOD in calling and reje£ling the lews, Wfsf afterwards receiving the Gentiles to be Bk People. For ^hefi are the Ways of GOD, Thefe the. Paffages, ef His Providence, to which oyr Text has a!n undoubted and fpecial Reference. Why then. Sirs, was GOD pleafed to call.the Pofteri- ty oi Abraham, Ifaac and Jacob, to take them pear unto tjimfelf, to kniO't^, them above all the Families of theEarth ^jjelides, and to confer fignal Ajdyan^agei* and Glories on them ? — Was it becaufe they were fuch a numerous Peo- ple, and fo powerful; a. J^Jation ? No verily.! 'per they ■)^ere.the.feweJi.of .all Pepj^le. And, at their greateft Attainments of Wealth, Power and Grandeur* They were ;not fequal .to manyj other Kingdoms in Subftance, Strength and Extept of Dominion.-^Was it tJ&?n PH tfif AccouijjC ^i\htix fu^eri^cr ^yuty,^.apd f^rpaffing Righfecuf- hffs, that ^ they ^ere fo ^iftir^guiffeed and honored of Heaven ? . No furely^l -for they were .an^ itppiyu^ and myuft Rax;^ ; ^thc^ wefe. .^. d^hedient and gain- fa) in£ people all the Day lofig^ .evqrj .^-piofl: froni t,I^^.Tir^e cl" their becoming tiie'Peaplt; of GQXi X'^ the Very Time^ p^ tKeir cdafing to be -iS. ■ An4 jienoe^^ aftei; .They ^j^a^- be?^^ ff is peculiar ^£^^f. andxcy^' l^is onfy .P^ffle^: for the Space o(^[^Tife^fifen hHJ^ared^)f!^(Lrl^^.Hejiipr\, fo^th?,if pbftinate ar^},^ inei|rable li^^p^ity''ktX'.\^(ck^'^^,Tre:: ^ffted tbem.^Ti|iis .is a fi}o|: temiarkable Ey§9t> whick was pre^ia|(l|itt the X.0W fM the Prophets :,,An^ GOjj^ 'Vti t A Funeral Difcmrfe on the Death id His governing Providence has bro't it to pafi accor- dingly. And now the righteous and good Governor of the World has received the Gentiles into His Church, and. nken them to Himfelf /ar a peculiar People. But why ? This at the firft was fo wondrous and amazing a Provi- dence to the (brififaHtzed, Jews^ that they could hardly Ijelieve it. And indeed it was fo ftrange and incredible a f)irpenfation, that they knew not how to account for it, • nor cared they to admit it, tho' confcious to theCertainty of the Faift. — But however it was in the cleareft Manner warelcd to our Apoftle Paul ; and he faithfully publi(h- ed it in the third Chapter of his Epiftle to the Ephefians^ as well as in the Chapter before us. And what now has been the Ijfue and Cen/equence of- theft, unfrarchable Ways of GOD, in rejefting the Jews and receiving the Gentiles as His People ? Alas ! The Former have continued in their Infidelity and Rebellion, ever finCe ; and io under the Difpleafure of GOD, and their Rejeftion from Him for confiderably tbovtfixteeu hundred Tears. And, whether They will ever again be own'd as the People of GOD, and received into his fpe- cial Favor and Protection -, This is a Point, about which very learned and pious Men have a Diverfity of Senti- ments. But, as we have no Inclination at prefent to en» tcr into the Cohtrovcrfy, we fball therefore leave it. Here then let thefe Ways of GOD, tho* unfearchakkf, yet he duly heeded by us. Let us beheld the righteous Severity, and li/ondrous Goednefs of our GOD : On them, which fell, Severity ; but towards the Gtttiles Goodnefj^ if They continue in HisGoodnefs : Otherwife what (houla hinder but that They /bould be cut off alfo^ if they conti- nue IT their Infidelity and Wickednefs ? Rut, having thus noted the fpecial Ways of GOD, to which our Text has a peculiar Referetue ; we may now, as I humHy conceive, very fairly and widiout any Room for i'jft Exception, fpeak of fome onh^mf^ayf of GOD, which are not to bt traced and fearcbti out iy'us. Thus, Of His Royal Highnefs The Prince, g Thus, fht Ways of GOB are fafi finding out, when He fometimes aceomplifoei his mefi bely Ceunfels and Puf' ftjfts by Jucb Means, and in fuch Ways and Manners^ as are improbable, and in humane Apprebenfims altsgetber unlikely. The Divine Ways in this Regard are not as the Ways of Men : But, as the Heavens are high above the Earth, fo are the Ways ef GOD higher than our W/p/s, as well as his Tho'ts above our Tho'ts. In Purfuance o| his moft holy Counfels, He, by fuch Ways and Means as appear to Men improbable, and even in their Apprcr henfion impoffible, fometimes efFefts Things^ and pro- duces Events in the World. As for Inftance here : It pleafes the fuptemt Ruler af the World and Head of the Church to make the Profr peritycf his and bis People's Enemies the Oceafiw ef their Ruin. O the Depth of this Counfel ! And how unfiar- chable are theft Divine Ways ! It furely becomes us to admire at them ; and with admiring Tho'ts, and adoring Language, to fay with regard to them •, O LORD GOD^ How great are thy Works! Thy Tho'ts are very deep- A hruitifh Man knoweth not \ neither doth a Ftol under- Jtand This : When the Wicked fpring as the, Grafs, and when all the Workers of Iniquity do fiourijb ; it is that they fiall be deftroyed forever. But it is good for me to draw near to Thee j and I have put my Truji in Thee, that I may declare thy wondrous Workst sad own thy, Ways un(eaichable. • And fometimes, by oblique Ways, and feemingly con- trary Footfteps of Divine Providence, GOD proceeds t» tccomplilh Bis Purpofes, and his Goings cannot with eafe he traced. Jofeph, you are fenfible, who was envied and hated of his Brethren, was Divinely advcrtifed, that he fhould be raifed and advanced to great and high Dig- nity : And yet by what ftrange Means, and in what un- likely Ways, was it accomplifhed ! He was fold for a Slave and carried into JEgypt : There, by reafon of falfe Accufation, he was unrighteoufly caft into Prifon and bound in Irons, ^nd how improbable was it now, that B a he JO Ji^uiieralDifcGurfeon thi-Biath'^ he fhould be releafed ; and how much Wore unlikftly^ riiat he fhoirfd -bcconfte a great Mkn,' anSbc Advanced it* Di^y and Pfe'^fer, evert next t6 th^fuperb Monarch of 'il^S^i? And yet GOD in His governing Pfovidcnce ffion^ted Ws Advancement by the very •ktiprd>ableWays ittid Means pfeceeding it^ and made all the Teemingfy in- luperableHlrtdrances and Obftac'es to it effeftually to fur* iher and complete his admirable Defigns and Purpofes. <- And in th't like tfrnderful fVays-dots it fometimes comtt to"^!; 'that the ProjeBions and Attempts of thi great jftfefr^ gni his Inftruments to ruin the Cheches and People of the Sen of GOD are baffled aUd turned intv Fbi^^i^fsi -So Vhen it was the real Intention and vdie- ment EndelVbr of the Pagt^n Rotnen Emperors, by re- peted, Idng continued and horribfc Perfecmions to root Chriftianityoutdfthe World, it i^'as all to no Purpofe. No 1 What J then was the IlTuc of their' cruel Diefign and fteir bloodily carneft Endeavors ? See^ Sirs, and admirft the iriyflcrious and wonderful Ways of GOD ! AA «Bcie<|; Wtiter juWy Temark'd with regard to this Affair, &ti»ties iHUimur, pfurcs effieimur -, The more we art w*^- .fures ^rojefted^and all the Method* ofYiolcncc and Criitlty ufed by them. ' ' * Befides -, By futhWays and Means as Mankind wohIS- Jkp^l^eM^' net to be fo" pr%p^, nor fo adapted to emfvoi^ UM^^Ends fropofed, does it pleafe thi LORD of all fomh* times to prodKce-gfeat EffeSfs in the /Forld. ' Who f!o\i\3. hav« imiagirtfed, that 'Nadman the Syrian 'wouM ha<* h?eh'feftbrecl to perfesft H I .Nor <, Nor yce is This all j ^"^vtf U Jhitetmes pledfis GO^ // pridke^^^eM' arid tHi&pglbtci Itfe^s by fuch Mfdiik^Hs M»hjiige )i6i imty'-^o '^e K^Mi^^^'htti^en to bi foe^ ttfid cmtmpii^le. Thusi without itiefftti9hihg'any othfclr Examplfeof it-t* ddefVlas' to \^ rebSrkdd, *that mahiy Thoufands and even Millions- of Peo{)le have- been coi*- Verted hy the Foolifiinefs of Preaching ; that is to fay, hy the Preaching of it crucified and Rifen ^a'vs,^ v^Mvdi ki the Account of the Jews and Greeks was only Fffoilifli^ nefs. ■■ • -i ' - . «. t -.fl ■ Now how exquifite arid K»/?«rf^a^/^ are the^'D/'i'i^ft iP'iyj' ? Who can accSurately trace them, and who caij find tBem out unto P erf e£Hon ? * • In the next Plate, Tho' GOD is pleafed to permit moral Evil in the World, yet He takes Care 'by Ways ftthich we cannot trace and inveftigaPe to bring great kierel Good out of it. — Thus when it pleafed Him, that his Son pould ke put to Grief and He fulFered that egre» ^ious and' hortible- Crime to be perpetrated, the'GrucS lixion of the Mejssiah ; it was permitted and came tS ^afs, that M^e might ke redeemed from all Iniquity, and purified to Himfelf a peculiar People, zedlous of ^g&m W^r^jr-^Andfoi, in his governing Providence, He ofte^ caufes tixe Sins of His People to he the Oecafion of v4ll moral Good and fpiritual Advantage to thehi. He-f8 ^i^ofes and orders Matters, that Occafions of Falling IndTemptatiorts to Sin are prefeiited before them : And they, not fenfible of their Weakness and Hazard, and, hence not lifting up their Hearts to the GOD of all Grate to guard them" againft the enchanting Circfiili^' ftances before them, and to deli'o& thefii from the EviJl kre thro' Inadvertence 'and Surprfee caught, as afirhpK Bird in the Snare of the Fo^er: Then they affe abafh'd and c6nfounded : And they are' thus humbled and proved \ *nd for the future they grow more prayerful, circun^ ^eft, vigilant and holy in all Manner of Converfatioh.— So woHdroas are the Divihe' Ways iti this Affair as not to be tinaced by «M *■ ' - * ' '1 . ** ^■•'- -^ ■<.* But 12 1^ FfmentI Difcourfi m th$ Death Bat we moGced to obferve, in the Tlwri 9aA laftPlace, Vt^artbath are thtft Wieft «/ yet is it not frequerttly otherwife? Have not ' /itf Wicked often many Advantages and Contorts, and that too fometimes in a conftant Series and long Suc- ceffion of them ? It is a plain Cafe. The Wicked often are not in trouble as other Men, neither are they plagued as others, who are gOJd and upright : their Eyes fiand out with Fatnefs : they have mare than Heart could voifb. Yea, fuch and fo unfearchable stt the Divine Ways, the Wicked fometimes live and become old, and grow mighty in Power. But then, on the other Hand, the Divine Wayt feem fometimes to he inconfiftent with the Divine Pro- mifes and even contrary to them. There was a re- markable Inftance of this Truth in the Divine Wa^s particularly with regard to the Family of Datidi Which Ways were fo myftertous and perplexing, thai they were not to be traced. For it was promUed, to David, and we have the Promife recorded in Pfalm. Ixxxix. 36 and 37. His Seed fball endure forever, and bis throne as the Sun : Jt Jball be iftabliflied ferevsif as the Moon before me, &c : And yet we find ift the 38 \ and' Ibme following Verfes of the veiy £une PlUm th^e forrowful CoaifJakits and mela[ncholy Moaaa^ Missing Page Of His Royal Highnefs The Prince, i 5 And, befides fuch,' general Engagements, there afe fame particular ones with regard to the Children' of Ver- ttie and hol^ Obedience. Thus there is an apparent Promife of long Life to fuch as are dutiful Children : And it mull be- allowed, that in many Inftances it ha^been accomplilhed. But yet have there not been valuable and very pious Children, fo' dutiful to their Parents as thit for the whole World they would not in Aftion or by a Word offend them, who neverthelefs have not been fuf- fered to continue with them by Reafon of Death .? And there is alfo the Pfomife of the Life that now is, or of worldly and temporal Bleffings,' to Piety, and fuch as exercife themfelves unto it. Arid yet how many have lufFered as to their worldly Affairs and Interefts for this very Reafon, becaufe they have ftedfaftly chofen, and would refolufcly praftife the Things which are pleafmg to GOD ? But fome, as we are aware, will be ready to ftart and iay, Ho^ can thefe 'Things be, and how can they be ri- conciled?^ The glorious GOD, who is the GOD of Truth and without Iniquity, cannot lie : And hence all the Pro- mifes, as well as Threatnings, of his Word muft be fure and faithful. But how then comes it to pafs, that the Wicked profper ? And, when it is engaged to the Pious, that it fliall be well with them, and temporal Bleffmgs fhall he conferred on them ; neverthelefs they hatje worldly Eft- jvyments witheld from them, and have many JffiiSions and much Tribulation in the World .? It is ufually faid in anfwer to fuch Enquiries, 'that, as theThreatnings of GOD /hall fooner or later take Place ; fo fhall the Divine Promifes. For Thefe are not to be taken abfolutely ; but they are to be underftood in this refli'ained Senfe, fofar as pall be moft for theDiMneGlory and theGoJjd of the PioUs. All indeed muft allow, that, as the Divine Wifdom is infinite ; GOD knows what is beft upon the whole ; and in particular whether worldly Profperity is beft for His faithful Servants — It may indeed be good md very dejireable in itfelf and it may be of no C fmall I o ■ A Fimeral Difcoujfe pfi the Deaw fmall Advantage with regard to others. And yet it may not be^ convenient, nor yet fafe, for good People : For it is poffible, nor at all unlikely, that, if they had a large and 'affluent Supply ot worldly Comforts, they might be forgetful of GOP, ^ well as of ihemfelves ; and fo give the Reins, ,tQ criminal Appetites and Inclinatidns, and hurry on their ownRuirs. And as GOD perfectly knows whether outward Profperity would be thus dangerous and hurtful to them ; fo we cannot fay, that, fuppofing This would be the Cafe, GOD has promiled to give ic unto them. — And befides, it is probable, that an adverfe State of things may be very good for them : For they may, by Means thereof, be confiderably advanced in Wifdom and Vertue ; and fo GOD may be more glorifi- ed by thrm in this World, and They may gain a higher Degree of Glory in tHe happy Apartments of the invifible Wor^d. And hence an afflided and forrowful Condition in Life may be really better for them than a State of out- ward Profperity. But, with regard both to the Prbmifes and Threatnings of the Eternal GOD, there is one Thing to be confidered, which greatly ilrvcs to remove Objections and folve Difficulties as to the Article before ys : Whicji is, that both the PrcnJfes and Threatnings of GOt> fhdll receive thsir ulens.^^: <;.nd perfect Accomplijhment in the future As then £© the 'Threatnings of the DivineWord againft |fec=k> 00 impenitently and fecurcly in their Sins, "!»(:}'::". y, punrJlually and fully come upon them in the future State. — The well-meaning, but ill-judging. Friends of the upright and inflexibly good Job infilled indeed on it, thdxfignal Calamity muji come on the Wicked even in this World : And it mull be granted, that fo it fometimes comes to pals. — But yet it is frequently other- wife : They are often preferved from deferved Plagues and Miferies: Tho' they are fometimes kept from lefler Judgments, that,they may be overwhelm'd with greater ia the prefcnt' World, But, in the future State, they fhall Of His Royal Highi&fs Ti|;e PRmcE. i'/ ihaJi> have ^U' th®r? Plagues , an4 J^iftj-ics, ,w|».c^-Ar$ thrqatiied againft the wicked and impenitent,, infljftedon them ; and, as it is expreffed in the prophetical and figur rative Stile, The Smoke of t heir Torment Jball dfcend for- ever and ever. . ,. , . And then, h^tothe Promife/ of the Faithful GOD, that the Righteous fhall fiourifJo and fee Good, that their Days Jhall be prolonged, and ths^ pell rejoice and be glad always ; if He fee it to be fitteft and beft for them, 'that thefe Promifes fhduld be accomplilhed unto theip in this World, He will doubtlefs tak,e Care in His^governing Providence that They fhall be fo. But, if, for the moft wife and gracious Purpofes and Ends, He fees caufe not po fulfil thefe Engagements in this World ; yet He will certainly and" to the full. He will completely and forever nialcp them good in the heavenly World. There thtj fhall enjoy many Days, and fee good and rejoice in. them all.: There they fhall 7tot lack any good Thing, hat have all their Wants fupplied, and all their Defires fatisfied : And there their Joy always Ihall be overflowing,, and yet ever full : In thy Prefence, O Incarnate GOD, is this Fulnefs of Joy, and at thy Right Hand are thefe Plea- fures forevermore. We. have thus been inflancing in fome PafTages of Di- vine Providence, which feem to be inconfiflent,^ith the Word of God, and to run counter to it : ^]\\ch. Ways' of GOD are indeed very difficult to be traced. We have indeed offered a few Sentiments, which may ferve in fome Meafure to clear and vindicate the DivineCqndufft. But yet, after all, O Thou Firfl, Thou Great eji and Beji of Beings, w^o art the fupreme Moderator of all Things, and our Lord .and Father, we muji' confefs, that, after all we ha^ve heard, it is but a fmall Portion of thy Cdhdu£f ■yi^ich falls within our View : And, as Thy Judgments are unfeaKchdble to us, fo Thy Ways are pajl finding out But, having thus endeavored to fef before you Jotfie of ihofeWays of GOD which are not to be traced aitdinvejli- C 2 ' w . . gg^jc^ 1 8 A Funeral Difcoiirfe on the Death gated hy us ; our next Attempt mufl be to fhew, that theKnowlege attd fTt/dom of GOD in tlicfe His Divine Ways is not to be traced and invepgated by us. And now. This muft: appear evident to us from the Nature ana Reafon cf the Thing : For tte Kncwlege and fVifdom of GOD is infinite and eternal. And it therefore becomes us devoutly to acknowlege and adore before Him. Great is cur LORDy and of great Power : His Underftanding is infinite ; and it is everlafting. And, becaufe it is fo ; therefore it is not to be traced and invejiigated by us. In- deed the Wijdori and Kno-w/ege of GOD is His Nature. And altho' it is common with Divines to afcribe Ideas to the Divine Intellect, zndftate the Order of them after the Manner of Men -, againft which we have no Defign to controvert and contend, tho' we ourfelves 'are afraid of being fo prefumptuous v ycr the Truth is, that /Af DivineKnowlege and IVifdom is but GOD hiinfelf. TJiere- fore His JVifelom and Knoii-lcge mufl be infinite and un- changeable, eternal and incomprchcnfible by Creatures : And hence how is it pofTiblc, that the lVt:!ys as well ss Purpofes of this Rnz'-i-'cge end U'tfdom Jhouldbe in-vefii- gatid by us ? And, as the JJ'ifdom and Kno-Jikge of GOD is ittfinitt ; on the other Side, The Knowicge andfFifdom of CreatureSy and that of even the moft knowing and wile, is but li- mited and finite. And confequently the moft wife and knowing of them can only perceive and apprehend the finite and limited Effcils of Divine and Infinite Kncwlege. And verily the Kncwlege and Wifdom of the moft wife and knowing Creatures, when compared with the Un- derftandingx)f //?\^ only wife GOD, is but Foolifbtiefs, bat Ignorance, and kfs than notbitig and Vanity. And is it then probabL", or indeed is it pofTible, for fuch low Be- ings, and of fucii contrafted Minds, as Men at beft are, and for fuch as ftand cpafeffed to \xfinful Worms tf the Duft, to fear ch out the Purpofes of infinite Wtfdom^ and (iCe the Knc-Jilege of the Divine tVays ? • But, Of His Royal Highnefs The Prince, i 9 But, altlio* we muft be fenfible of thefe Things, Jf we duly attend to the DiSates of Natu/e and Rea/on -, which we ought very highly to prize, and for which we ought to be Very thankful to the eflential fFord of XjOD, who {p enlightnetb every Man that cometh into the World : Neverthelefs we have a more clear Difcovery and full Revelation of thefe Things in the infpired Wri- tings, that the Knowlege and Wifdom of the Divine Pur- pofes and Ways is not to be traced and invefligated. And here will your Goodnefs bear with me and can your Pa- tience laft, while I bring to your Minds fome PafTages of the Book of GOD, which ferve to eftablifli it, that the Wifdom and Knowlege of the Divine Counfels and Days is unfearchable ? Hear then the Wifh of Zophar with regard to the pious Job, in Chapter xi. oijob, ^th and 6th Verfes, O that GOD would fpeak, — and that HE ivould fbew Thee the Secrets of Wifdom, that are double to that which is ! The Secrets of Wifdom here are the Di'vineCounfels and Reafons of the Divine Proceedings : Thefe we do not know, nor may we pretend to inyefti- gate them : For They are out of our Sight, nor can we trace them. And thefe Secrets of Divine Wifdom are double to that which is ; that is. They are much more than what is difcovered to the humane Race : And very little jndeed is it, that Men can perceive and know, to what is really in the Wifdom and Knowlege of the Divine ^ Counfels and Ways. And, when the moft penetrating and enlightned Perfons on Earth have fearched as far as they could into thefe Things, and reafoned in the beft Manner they could concerning them ; they have at length been conftrained to acknowlege and exclaim, as in Job xxvi. 14. Lo, Thefe are Parts of His Ways :.Bbt 601a little a Portion is heard of Him ! — Again ; we read in Pfalm xxxvi. 6. Thy Judgments, Jehovah, are a great Deep : Thy Judgments, that is to lay, Tby Counfels and Thy Ways in the moral Government of the Worldj are a great Deep ; fo that it is not for any mortal Eye or fiSteUndexilanding to reach them : No ! They are im- pervious 20 A Funeral D'^courfe on the Death rrvipus and unfathomable to humane^Minds.^ — %\% al- acknowicged co jhe Divine Glory, a& in Pfilm Ixxvii, 19. Ihj V/ay is in the Sea, and. thy Path in the ^reat IVaters., and tiyTit^tps are not known : The Senfe and Mcaping of which Acknowlegement, as we take it, is, ^bej^ifdom and Kncwlege of thy Goutifih &nd fVays Is fo exqiiifite and unfearcliablc, that we cannot inveftigatc them and follow Thee dole in them : The Foolfieps of tiy Providencf are foon Joft out of. our View ; and we gre as much at a Lois to recover the Trices of them as if Thou didft tread en the Sea, and walk over the greai Heaters. — Let us alfo attepd to what is delivered by the perfe£land upright Man upon this Article : He, having enquired, vohere jhall Wifdom he found, Andvaheti is the PLice ofXJnderflanding ? And, having repeted the En- quiry a little afterwards, in Job xxviii. 20 : He 'then adds upon it, in Ver. 21, It is hid from the Eyes of all living i that is, it is not only hid from all the Animals beneath us, but from all the humane Race, and even all the living beings who are fuper^or to them in Rank and Underftanding. But who then knoweth it ? It follow?, in the 23d and 27th Verfes, GOD underftandeth theTVay thereof ; and He knoweth the Way thereof : He prepa- red it : Tea, He fearched it out : The leaning of which, as we humbly conceive, is this^ Akho' no one clfeihas, yet GOD has, a moft clear, comprehenlive, full and perfeft Knowlege of his own Wifdom and Underfland^ ing ; as Angels and Men gain tte,Knpwleg? of the Things which they have thero'ly fearched- Now from thefe Things itflioulH iJeqii, that it is too ^cbfor vain Man, and it will not do for tfietn, to think of f<^rching out the Wifdom of the Divide Qounfels, and the Knowlege of the Divine Wiiys^ And accordingly fome of the wifcft, as well as the beft gf Men, have been cuely fcnfible of /&'j, and humbly acknowleged it with regard unto themfclvcs. Such Knowlege, fays the fweet Plalmift of Ifrael'm Pfajra cxxxix. 6, is too wegiderfulfer vie : It is high ; I camet : attain mta it. And altho* Solomon, Of Hiskdyal Higtk^ THfi-PRii^cfc. 2 r SflUmVi'^hsmo^ celebrated Man for the Charaftfer tt WtJe^C fearched after this ^tFiJHsik, yet he could By fib means inveftigate it to his own Satisfadtioh : I behilS, wi;ites he in EccleH viii. 17, alt the ff^rk'hf GOD^ thai a Man cannot _fi,nd out the Work that is done under tht SuniB'ecaufe^ tho' a.M.a.n lahor'to feek it oilt, yet he ^^ hot find it : Tea further, tho" a wife Man think to mo^ it, yet he fhaU not be able to find it. x "Thus it has been our Attempt to fhew, \h2i\.'in' th'i pivine Ways, as Well as Counfels, there is fuch h THvinii Wifdom and Knowlege as is not to be traced and invefliga- tedby us: And, if pur Attempt , has in' any Meafufei fucceeded, GOD and Father of the Spirits of all Fkjh, Not unto us, not unto us, who are feeble and vile -, buf to thy Divine Pcmaer and: the anfearchaMe -Riches of W^ Grace be, the Praife and(jlory. , . But we are nowj In the lafi Place, to refleftin a fuita- ble Manner op'oii what has been offered. ■ In the Firji Place then. Since the Coitnfels ofGOD are unfearchable, and His Ways paU. finding out; hence /^i not any of us too iufily and curioujly prie into thefe Secrets of the Deity. Secret things, we are exprefly inform'3,' belong unto GOD, but 'fhings revealed belong to us and ih our Children. And yet, fuch is the Vanity of human J^^nds, and fuch the Corruption of Mens Hearts, that they do not give a fqitable Attention nor pay a proper Regard to Things revealed ; while at the fame Time. they are for entring into the Palace of the immortal King and enquiring into the impenetrable Secrets of His Cabinet, arid they have even: the hardinefs to divulge their own Difcoveries. Biit this is (jiiite wr6ng and vain in lis.- — It ought to humble us, that the kaft and m'oft common Things in the^ World are beyond o\ir thorow Knowledge and Comprehehfion : And how then can we expe very well perfuaded, that you confidcr the Death pf the High, Puiflan? and pioft Illuftrious Prince, FREDERICK LEWIS, Elder Son of our rpoft gra- dousSoverdgnlGng GEOUGE the Second, Prince of Gnat-Britain, Eleftoral-Prince oif Brmfwick-Lunen- hrgb. Prince of Wales, ^c. as a very darkfome Event, ma one of the myfterious Wa^'s of GOD which is not to h invejit^ated by us. 'Twas on the Night of Gloon^inefs, Clouds and thick Parknefs preceeding the Twcnty-firft of Match, between eleven and twelve o'Clock, that He departed this Life, to the utnioft Grief of His Royal Parent, His Illuftri- ops Confort, and the whole Roy^l Family ; and to the jnejtpreflible Sorrow, as well as unfpeSk^ble Lofs, of the j'ybUc } who had conceived highly concerning Him, who expedtcd good and gre^t Things from fuch a wife ?nd merciful Prince, and were ready to fay. This fame ^all hereafter more cgnfiderably and extenftvejy comfort MS. But ah ! How are our fond Hopes withered ! How are our pleallng Views and Expeftations at an End ! For ^he lovely Prince, as well as the rough Peafant, dies and returns to the Duft. — Thus, LORI) GOD, haft ThoH turned our promijing Hope and Joy into Difappbintment find Mourning : Thou haSt deprived us ofGladnefs, and prded us with Sackcloth : Thou doft hide thy Fact from tis i and we are trouble(l. It cannot be re^fonably expefted, that we, on this Side of the wide Atlantic, fhould be able, from a thorow Knowlege of the dfear Prince, to give Him his entire ^nd juftChvafter : And henc^ we fh^ not be fo afpiring ^s to undertake it. But however, fince there are fundry Partioilars relar- ting p Him which have leached us ; and as it is fit and V!^ki that Thef? ihould bd |-ehearfed j and that not orAy ' ' put Of His Royal litghmfs The PfeiNCE* ^ 5 out of Refpeft unto Him, but from a Religious Rfigatd to the PHncH of the Kings of the Earib^ that fo thfi Glory of His Gifts and Benefits may fedound untoHittl i therefore we cannot well be excufcd from pioufly dc* daring thefe Things. As the beft Cate was taken with regard to his High* neft*s Education ; i6 his Impfovemcnts in WifdOrll arid Goodnefs were anfwerable to it : Foi* He foon difcoveredi that He carried a Mind 'within Him beyofld his Yeaf^i arid manly 'Thoi'ts dfid Cencerits in the Bloom of Youth i Arid, as aipprehending Himfelf hfft for greater fbinp than thofci about which young People generally eiitploy themfelves. He behaved Himfelf accordingly^ Aritfi oH thtfe Accounts^ He foon became no lels dear t6 his Royal Parents, than on the Account of his Defcerit from Thetiii It was no Difadi^anfage to the PiIince, that He x*as of afweet and engaging Afpeft j and a Very agtefifable Aif and Deportment -, Forj by means of Thde exterfial Cii*- cUmftances, He at once drew ahd allured the AfFeiftiori of all, who had any Senfe of what is amiable and be-, coming. ' , But it wds much more to his real Chaf adteff arid Cfedif a;nd Glory^ that he was of a humane^ benevolent arid kind Temper of Mind : And hence He was eafy of Actefiii courteous of Speech and coridefcendirig irt Behavtotif : For, dtho* He were flex't IriDignity to Ws ntoft eXfrellent Maj^efty, the iCiNG, Yet He donfidefed Hiiiifelf ii'i ^ Man and a SuhfeSl, in common with the Reft of hist F'el- Ibw Subje6ts beneath Him : Arid hence He con-ij'effed ahd afted in the Palace and abroad with contirtiial Mari* fuetude. Humility and Gentlenefs. As He very well' knew, that Poliiicdl Kriowtedi^ dnd iVifdom was requifite tb qualify orie for the Govetriment of others- therefore lie was c$ref61 and Irtdiiflfteus to( Acquire this Kiiowlecjge and WilSbm, both front the mov- able Preceptojrs and from approVedAuthbrs : Tfto*' at tH^ fame Time otl|ier Blanches of Science Wete iiot fieg?e#ecl 26 A Fumrdt)Dtfiourfe on the Death Behpic! HiTn at length commendng Man ; and, thro' the tender Care of our gracious Sovereign, happily mar- ried^ tp a Prlncefs of matchlcfs Form, of furpaffing Ac- co;npBi1ifnerits, a fliiiiing Pattern of Vertue and of in- comparable Merit in the Eftecm of all around her. And npw liow careful was he to perform the Offices of the wedded State, znAfet a %rtght Example of connubial Ft' delity and Tendernefiy in the midft of an adulterous and fvofiigate Generation. And it furely jjemonftrates a pro- digious Degeneracy of Manners and a fhamelefs EfFron- tef y in Vice, that fo many wolild ftili licentioufly break the nUpiial Bond ; while they had the Example of the Prince, as well as theLawj and Threafnings of tbeint' mortal GOt)^ againftthem. The wortjiy Prlncp, as not born fer Himfelf but Others, was ftudiousto behave aright and well towards t]iem. Hence He was devoted to his Rbyal Parent and the public Good : And as He wore the Motto on his Arms as Prince of JVdes^, L:h Dieni or IJerve \ {o Ht fulfilled it : For He tho't it his Honor to ferve the bell of Kings, as well as of Parents ; and, while He was the Delight of aU Mankind, He was willing to ferve and help thera all. He gave the World Tome Specimens and Proofs of his Difpofition to promote the Trade and Commerce of his l^oyal Parent's Kingdom^, and to encourage Learning and ufeful Arts in them ; And it was doubtlefs plealing to fJi&Majefty's good Sutgefts at Home, as it has been tp us in thefe diftant Lands, that He, on tbefe Accounts, received fuch fit Acknowlegements and public Teftirao- nies of Refpeft and Gratitude. Befides liis being the firfl: Commiflioner for l?iulding .the Royal Hofpital at Greenwich, and Governor of the Britijh white Herring Fi/hery ; He was chorenthe Chancellor of the Univerfity of Dublin, and a Fellow of the Royal Society m London, and received other Tefbimomes befides of national £fteem. It m'uft be mentioned to his Renown, that He in an fxem^ry Way attended c^ tin publicOffices ofReligioH V Nor Of His Royal HighnefsTvLt Prince. 27 I^or was He ajbamed, as too many of the great Ongs of th?,)Earth fecm to be, to acknowlegehts Maker and Lordy as ■srell as ours, in private -with h'js ttpijfhold. " And befides. He was a Prince in Goodnefs ahd Benig- nity, and exlijbited a hi^ and mighty Pattern of Chrif- tijm Love and good Pf^orkf. Among the Proofs and Evi- , dences of This, New-Engtand lias fqntie to produce ^tiA. utter, with iinga^r DeJUght ^ofl 3atisfaftion. His Royal Highnefs was pleafed to fend a very "h^ndfome Gratuity towards the Scl^ool for the Edudation of Indian Children at Houjitonoc^^ under the Care, of the late pious and learn- ed Mr. Sergeant. And, as we uriderftahd, it was the exprcfled Defign and Purpde of t-he Prince to' grant tb the Succeflbr of the fame reverend land very valuable MiffionaTy, if, properly recommended, a very handfome Annuity as long as H^e lived. So that the Goodnefs and Charity of his Royal Highnefs, like, the pleafing Light of the Morning-Star, was not confined to the other He- mffhere,. but j^oqe- over the vgft Ocean, -and reached, to tiae diftant Wilds of thefe American Regions. ' " His Royal Highiiefe, the Prince, thorowly under- ftood, that, altho' Government was of Divine Inftitut'ipn^' yet theFprm of it is an humaneOfdinance : Heknew,that the iSr«V^ Monarchy was notabfolute andindefea2;able,' but ele^ive atjd hereditarily fa : He faw clearly, tliat no- thing was /fiw/a/ in , the Admihiftratipn but, what was' dhwed by theX.aws of the Realm ; and that He, who wears the Crown by the National. Confent and Choice, \$ not above the Laws, npr at Liberty to difpenfe with them.^ — Nor have we any Doubt, but that his Royal Highnefs was confirmed in thefe Sentiments and View* from the Adminiftration of His mofl: Excellent' Father and Grandfapther^ and fo eftabllfhed in liis Purpofes by the Will of GOD to rule and govern, according to them. Thus was his Royal Highnefs /"r^^flr^i /o'^^'/mF*- ther of his Pgofk, JbefweHe was, really fo .• And,,- by all that we can CQlle6i:, He was inflexibly determined to do aetfmig that might prpvfc detrimental to the Intefefts bf Missing Page Of His Royal Highne/s The Prince. 29 loved and excellent Prince ; and who, as long as "ihou didft enjoy Him, didft exhibit ajgreat and engaging Pat- tern of conjugal AfFeftion and Obedience. The LORD Cod Almighty ftrengtben thee, and uphold Thee by the Right Hani of his Righteeufnefs ! The Prince of Life ht with thee, tirf confiant Guide and kind Supporter / May Heneverforfake^ and never fail Thee! At the fame Time we condole with his Royal High- nefs the DUKE, with the Princefles and the Reft of the Royal Family ; heartily defiring and entreating, that the GOD of all Grace and Comfort would afford unto them Spiritual Supplies and Confolations^ which are indeed no fmall Things ; but unipeakably greater and more glorious than all the Delights and Grandeurs which this World can afford them. Our Hearts too are properly affeded in thinking of the Pofterity of his Royal Highnefs : And we are much grievedfor them, that They are fo early and foon depri- ved of their meritorious Parent ; and fo They may not be allowed any longer to be inftrudted by his Counfels, and charmed and led along by his Example, We blefs however the Divine Arbiter and Sovereign LORD of the World, that He has not left Great-Britain and its De- pendencies to bewail a broken Lineage and a doubtful Throne : For his Royal Highnefs has left Jive Sons and three Daughters as Pledges of Peace and Comfort unto us. And it is now our humble and earneft Prayer, that his Royal Highnefs Prince GEORGE, fweet Touth, our FREDERICK now, who fuceeds his Father as Heir ap- parent to the Imperial Crown, of Great-Britain^ and that his Royal Mighnefs's Brethren and Sifters alfo may be.the Special Car^e and Charge of Divine Providence, that they may be preferved for eminent BlefTmgs, and that the Su- perior Wifdom and heroic Vertues of their long and glorious Train of Anceftors, from Ws prefent Majefty, whom GOD preferve, even back to the Times of the ^ef9rmation, may be inherited and pofiefied by them. Wc 30 A Funeral Difcourfe on the Death We have . thus been difcharging our Dyty to a moft valuable and exgcilentPrince : Gricv'd am I,and afharriec^ that my Part has been perform'd no better ; yet hoping^ that an honeft Defign and Endeavour to do well will not be contemned by thofe of greater Abilities. But, fince it appears, that a moft forrowful Event has befallen us ; the Queftion is, What is the Improvement that we ara to make of it ? What are we to do for the Support of our Minds under it, and to keep them from finking under the PreflTure of fuch a heavy Bereavement, as well as all other grievous Difpenfations. Hear now then t&e Condujion of the whole Matter. Let us all both Rulers and Subjefts, both high and low, botlv rich and poor together, by the Aids and Affiftances of Divine Grace moft heartily implored and thankfully \m- proved, not put ourTruftin Princes, nor any of the Sons of Men, in whom there is no help : For their Breath goeth forth : They return to the Earth, and in that very Day all their ^ho'ts concerning us perijh. But let us put our TruH in the almighty Power and infinite Wtfdom and Goodnefs of GOD: for altho' an excellent Ppnce has left our Earth, to fit, as we truft, with Princes above, even with the Princes of the heavenly Court ; and, on the Account of This, as well as the fad moral State of Things at Home, and in our Land, our Minds cannot but be clouded and filled with Perplexities and Fe^s i yet we eu^ht, frpm a clear Apprchenfion of th^ infinite Wifdom, Afeifity and Readinefs'of GOD to ap- pear for us and prateft and Wefs us, to make Thefe, as well as His Promiles thro' Jesus Christ, our Hope and Truft and unfatUng Refuge : And accordiiigly» let us, from a real Conviftion and hearty Senfe of thefe Di- vine P^dfions a^d Prgmifcs, cpmmt the Cafe of, our Nations and tKis poor Land to the' Divine Being, witb Hope in his Mercy, as wejl as Dependance on His Power and Wifdom, yet tp lave, dcfcno and profper us -, but ' with Of His Royalffi^ineft ThuVmuci.. 31 with anendre and profound Refignation to His foverdgn Will. And let us all acquaint eur fehes with our GOD and be at Peace : Let us think en our Wafjs^ and turn our Feet into the Divine 'Tefiimonies \ let us make bafte and make no Delajf to turn to GOD thro* the only Mediatory and to glorify Him on the Earth andferve cur Generation aecordh^ to His ffill, as well as to work out our own Salvation with Fear and J^rembUng. Thde Things are effentially fit and right : And They arc good and profitable unto Men : And, if we do tbefe TbingSy and continue conftant and faithfulunto the Death in them •, Tlien, vfcttaiihavean open and abundant En- trance mniftred to us into the everlafting Kingdom of eur great Lord and Saviour : Then, The dark Events of relative Time will be expluned to univerTal SatisfaAion j and thofe Ceunfels andfFays of GOD, wMch have been inexpUcable, nor to be inveftigated by us, will be unfolded and appear in a light unfpeakable and full of Glory : !And, in Fine, Then, Then, All the intelligent happy Creation will with one Confent render due Acknowlege- ments and Glories to GOD and the Lamb: And may we all, without one of this great Afiembly mifTing, join the Heavenly Throng, laying Bl^ng and Honor and.Glory be to Him that fitteth en the Throne, and to the Lamb forever and ever, AMEN! F I N I S. rS^^'i^r^'Cf}' ^-^Sgr^L