S,  C  ^oS'. 
 
 Srom  t^e  feifirarg  of 
 
 (profefiBor  ^dmuef  (gXiffer 
 
 in  (^cmorg  of 
 
 ^ubge  ^dtnuef  (gtifPer  QBrecftintibge 
 
 ^reeenfe^  6l? 
 
 ^amuef  (ttliffer  Q^recftinrib^e  feono; 
 
 fo  f ^e  feifirarg  of 
 
 (Princeton  J^eofogicaf  ^eminarj 
 
FUNERAL 
 
 DISCOURSES, 
 
 In  Two  Partsj 
 
 CONTAINING, 
 
 I.  Consolations  on  the  Death  of  our 
 
 Friends. 
 
 II.  Preparations  for  our  own  Death. 
 
 v^ 
 
 By  William  Harris,  D.D. 
 
 LONDON: 
 Printed  for  John  Noon,  at  the  White-Hart  in  Cheapftde, 
 TitKY  Mercers-Chapel ;  and  Richard  Ford,  at  the 
 Angeli  over-againfl:  the  Compter^  i  n  the  Poulir-^, 
 MDCCXXXVJ, 
 
®#  U' 
 
THE 
 
 PREFACE. 
 
 THE  contemplation  of  Death  has  always 
 been  ejieemed  a  point  of  wifdom,  in  the 
 heathen  philojophy^  and  recommended  with  great 
 folemnity.  "^is  founded  in  nature  and  reafon  : 
 For  if  we  are  certainly  mortal,  as  the  experience 
 of  every  age  teftifies,  it  mujl  needs  be  reafonable 
 to  be  fometimes  ferioufy  thinking  of  it,  and  pre- 
 paring  for  it  j  and  very  unreafonable  to  put  it 
 out  of  our  minds,  or  think  of  it  with  indifference, 
 'Tis  reprefented  in  the  fcripture  as  an  injlance  of 
 wifdom,  to  confider  the  latter  end,  to  number 
 our  days,  and  know  how  frail  we  are  ;  and  we 
 are  inJiruSied  by  the  greatefi  examples,  to  befome^ 
 times  fpeaking  of  our  deceafe,  and  of  the  dif- 
 folution,  and  putting  off  this  our  taberna- 
 cle. 
 
 *T/i  indeed  a  very  grave  andferious  thought^ 
 and  for  that  reafon  a  very  ungrateful  one  to  the 
 generality  of  mankind,  T^he  young  and  the<^y 
 are  ready  to  objeSl^  It  would  fpoil  all  our  mirth, 
 and  deftroy  the  relijh  of  life-,  though  *tis  well  con- 
 fiftent  with  alljober  and  rationality,  and  there 
 can  be  no  true  comfort  and  enjoyment  of  life,  till 
 this  thought  is  made  eafy^  and  we  can  think  of 
 
 A  2  death 
 
iv  The  P  R  E  F  A  C  E. 
 
 death  without  terrour  and  difmay.  Tfjey  think 
 Uisfit  only  for  elder  perfons,  and  that  'tis  time 
 enough  in  the  decline  of  life ;  which  is  very  true, 
 if  elder  perfons  only  died,  and  youth  were  a  pro- 
 teBion  from  the  froke  of  death,  or  did  not  need 
 this  guard  to  their  virtue,  and  motive  to  religion. 
 Tihe  men  of  bufinefs  are  commonly  in  a  hurry, 
 and  cant  find  leifure^  or  difpofition  to  attend  to  a 
 
 thing  fo  foreign     to  their  defigns But   they 
 
 miifi  find  time  to  die  notwithflanding ;  and  no 
 wife  man  would  chife  to  go  out  of  the  world  in 
 a  hurry,  and  without  any  ferious  forethought 
 about  it. 
 
 But  how  difagreeable  foever  it  may  be,  'tis 
 never thelefs  a  necelTary  and  import a?it  thought, 
 and  capable  of  extcnfive  infiue?:ce,  in  forming  our 
 fpirits^  and  in  the  condudl  of  life.  'T^is  very 
 ufefil  to  correal  the  vanity  of  nature,  reflrain 
 unruly  appetite,  guard  againft  temptation  to  fin, 
 to  allay  the  heat  c/^pallion,  and compofe  the  mind 
 to  fobriety  and  moderation,  in  all  the  troubles 
 and  CO fn forts  of  life.  "Tis  proper  to  breed  an 
 habitual  ferioufnefs  offpirit ;  todifpofe  to  thought- 
 fulnefs  and  confideration  ;  to  awaken  our  con-, 
 cern,  and  quicken  our  diligence  j  to  improve  our 
 time  and  talents,  to  their  proper  purpofes^  and 
 to  the  befi  advantage  -,  to  check  too  eager  purfuits 
 of  prefent  good  ;  and  raife  the  heart  to  heaven, 
 and  another  w^orld. 
 
 /  confefs  funeral  difcourfes,  like  other  things^ 
 have  been  fometimes  greatly  abufed  to  the  flatter- 
 ing of  the  dead,  and  hardening  the  living;  and 
 have  fometimes  led  to  great  fuperflition.  But  I 
 have  always  found,  that  a  ferious  difcourfe  upon 
 
The  P  R  E  F  A  C  E.  v 
 
 a  proper  fubjeB,  onfuch  occafions,  when  managed 
 with  care  and  confcience,  has  met  with  greater 
 attention  than  ordinary,  and  been  more  effectual 
 for  good. 
 
 'Tis  with  this  defgn  the  following  difcourfes 
 are  brought  together  and  prefented  in  one  view, 
 which  were  preached  at  diftant  times,  and  on 
 different  occafions  3  which  is  the  true  reafon  of 
 the  fame  thoughts  fometimes  returning,  though 
 commonly  ufed  to  fomewhat  a  different  purpofe. 
 If  any  jhould  think  that  two  or  three  of  the  fol- 
 lowing characters,  have  fomething  in  them  ex- 
 traordinary ;  lean  only  fay,  That  fiich  were  the 
 perfons  :  and  I  am  not  Jenfble  upon  a  review ^ 
 o/' exaggeration,  or  excefs. 
 
 I  pretend  not  to  gratify  /^^  curious  and  the 
 vain,  either  by  the  argument,  or  management 
 of  the  following  difcourfes  :  They  have  a  turn  and 
 tafle  of  mind  another  ivay.  But  if  they  may  con- 
 tribute in  any  degree,  to  the  reviving  a?id  pro- 
 motijig  a  icnonsjenfe  of  religioji  in  the  world;  or 
 give  any  affiftance  and  entertainment,  under 
 theforrowsoflife,  and  the  thoughts  of  death,  e- 
 Jpecially  to  the  elder,  and  better  difpofed,  in  a 
 folemn  retirement,  or  on  the  leifure  hours  of  the 
 Lord's-day ;  it  will  be  a  great  fatisfadlion,  as  it 
 was  the  fncere  defign  of  the  author  3  who  has 
 long  accounted  ufefulnefs  of  lif^  the  nobleji  end, 
 <zWpleafure  of  life-,  preferable  to  all  the  gran- 
 deur and  gaiety  of  it,  and  the  beji  preparationy^r 
 death  and  another  world. 
 
 May  the  divine  blefjijig  crown  every  fincere  en- 
 deavour, for  the  glory  of  God,  and  the  good  of 
 men,  with  the  defiredfuccefs, 
 
 W.  Harris. 
 
VI 
 
 THE 
 
 CONTENTS. 
 
 PART  the  First.  c 
 
 Scripture-Confolations  on  the  Death  of   our 
 Friends, 
 
 S  E  R  M  O  N    I.  p.  I. 
 
 Confolations  in  the  Death  of  good  men. 
 
 I  Their,  iv.  8.  IVherefore  comfort  one  another  with 
 thefe  words. 
 
 Preached  at  Hackney  upon  the  occafion  of  the  Death 
 of  Mrs.  Bathjhua  Barker,  Sept.   i8,  17 19. 
 
 S  E  R  M  O  N    II.  p.  42. 
 
 Confolations  in  the  Death  of  good  men  in  the  midfi 
 of  their  days, 
 
 Pfal.  cii.  23,24.//^  weakneth  myfirength  in  the  way : 
 Hejhortenetbmy  days :  Ifaid,  O  my  God  take  me  not  a- 
 way  in  the  midji  of  my  days,  for  thy  years  are  throughout 
 all  generations. 
 
 Preached  at  Crouched  Fryers,  April  27,  1729,  on 
 the  occafion  of  the  Death  of  the  late  Reverend 
 Mr.  Samuel  Harvey,   in  the  31ft  year  of  his  age. 
 
 SER^ 
 
CONTENTS.  vii 
 
 SERMON    III.  p,  87. 
 
 Confolations  in  the  death  of  wicked  Relations. 
 
 2  Sam.  xiii.  33 .  And  the  king  was  much  moved,  and 
 went  up  into  the  chamber  over  the  gate  and  wept,  and  as 
 he  went  thus  he  cryed,  O  my  fon  Abfolom,  my/on,  my/09 
 Abfolom,  would  God  I  had  died  for  thee,  0  Abfolom,  my 
 fon,  my  fon* 
 
 SERMON    IV.  p.  112. 
 
 Confolations  in  the  death  of  Infants. 
 
 Matt.  iii.  iZ.In  Ramab  was  a  voice  heard,  lamenta- 
 tion and  weeping,  and  great  mourning  -,  Rachel  weeping 
 for  her  children^  and  would  not  be  comforted,  becaufe 
 they  are  not, 
 
 S  E  R  M  O  N    V.  p.  134. 
 
 Confolations  in  the  Death  of  aged  chriftians. 
 
 Job.  V.  26.  And  thoufhalt  come  to  thy  grave  in  a  full 
 age,  like  as  afhock  of  corn  comet h  in,  in  its  feafon. 
 
 Preached  on  the  Death  of  Mrs.  Dorcas  Billing/ley^ 
 late  Wife  of  the  Reverend  Mr.  John  Billingfleyt 
 at  Crouched  Fryers^  December  29 ,   1 7 1 7 . 
 
 PART 
 
viii  CONTENTS. 
 
 ^^^S 
 
 ^ 
 
 P  A  R  T  the  S  E  c  0  N  D. 
 
 ^reparations  for  our  own 
 
 Death. 
 
 SERMON 
 
 I. 
 
 P-  153 
 
 The  ha^f^  end  of  a  ufeful  life. 
 
 A<5ts.  xiii.  26,  For  David  after  behadfervedhisown 
 generation  by  the  will  of  God,  fell  onfleep. 
 
 Preached  at  Crouched  Fryers,  on  the  Death  of  Mr* 
 John  Mercer,  May  16,   1725. 
 
 S  E  R  M  O  N    ir.         p.  188. 
 
 A  chriftian's  Groans  in  the  mortal  body,  and  Defires 
 of  the  heavenly  happinefs. 
 
 2  Cor.  V.  2.  For  in  this  wegroan^  earnejlly  deftringto 
 le  cloathedupon,  with  our  boufe  which  is  from  heaven. 
 
 Preached  at  Crouched  Fryers,  on  the  occafion  of  the 
 Death  of  the  late  Reverend  Mr.  John  Billing- 
 Jley,  May   13,    1722. 
 
 SERMON     m.         p.  223. 
 
 Readinefs  for  the  coming  of  the  Lord. 
 
 Matt.  xxiv.  44,  Therefore  he  ye  alfo  ready,  for  in 
 fuch  an  hour  as  ye  think  not,  thefon  of  man  cometh. 
 
 Preached  at  Chejhunt  in  Hertford/hire,  on  the  fudden 
 Death  of  Mr.  Thomas  Pickard,  Feb.  14,   1719-20. 
 
 SER. 
 
CONTENTS.  ix 
 
 SERMON    IV,  V.        p.  259. 
 
 Fimjhing  the  chriftian  courfe,  confidered  and  argued.. 
 
 A(5lsxx.24.  But  none  ofthefe  things  move  me%  neither 
 count  I  my  life  dear  untomyfelf^  fo  that  I  might  finijh  my 
 courfe  with  joy,  and  the  minijlry  which  I  have  re- 
 ceived of  the  Lord. 
 
 Preached  in  New- Broad- Street,  PcttyFrance^  oa 
 tha  Death  of  the  lare  Reverend  7o/:);2  Evans,  D.  D. 
 in  the  51ft  year  of  his  age.  May  23,  ly^c. 
 
 SERMON    VI.  p.  317 
 
 Diligence  in  the  chrijlian  Life,  nccejjary  to  le  found 
 in  -peace. 
 
 1  Pet.  iii.  14.  Wherefore,  beloved,  feeingyou  look  for 
 fuch  things,  he  diligent  that  you  7?iay  he  found  of  him  in 
 peace,  without  fpot,  and  hlamelefs. 
 
 Preached  at  Kingdon  upon  Thatnest  on  the  Death 
 of  the  late  Reverend  Mr.  DanlH  Mayo,  June  24, 
 1733- 
 
 SERMON    VII.         p.  349. 
 
 The  love  of  Chriji's  appearance  the  Charader  of  a  fin- 
 cere  Chriftian. 
 
 2  Tim.  iv,  8.  — And  not  to  me  only^  hut  to  alltheffl^^ 
 who  love  his  appearance. 
 
 Preached  in  Southwark  on  the  Death  of  the  late  Re- 
 verend Jr/j//^  O/^/^/^i    D.  D.Nov.   23.  1729. 
 
 SERMON     VIII.  p.  350. 
 
 Of  Deliverance  by  Chrift  from  the  fears  of  Death. 
 
 Heb.  ii.  15.  And  to  deliver  thefn\jho  through  fear  of 
 death  were  all  their  UfHime  fubje^  to  bondage. 
 
 •  a  Preach-d 
 
X 
 
 CONTENTS. 
 
 Preached  at  JVapping  on  the  Death  of  Mrs.  Sarah 
 Bujh,  late  Wife  of  the  Reverend  Mr.  JVilliam  Bujh^ 
 June.   13,   173 1. 
 
 S  E  R  M  O  N    IX.  p.  427. 
 
 A  Chriftian's  defire  to  depart ;  or  Willingnefs  to  die. 
 
 Philip,  i.  23  .  J  am  in  ajirait  betwixt  two^having  a 
 defire  to  depart^  a%d  he  with  Chrifi^  which  is  far  better. 
 
 Preached  at  the  Gld  Jewry  on  the  occafion  of  the 
 Death  of  Mrs.  Lydia  Leavefy,  late  Wife  of  the 
 Reverend  Mr.  Thomas  Leavefly^  June  29,  1735. 
 
 SERMON    X.  p.  458. 
 
 The  Clofe  of  the  chriftian  Life  -,  or  St  Stephen^s  dying 
 Prayer,  confidered. 
 
 Ads  vii.  59.  Lord  Jefus,  receive  my  Spirit. 
 
 Preached  at  Hackney,  on  occafion  of  the  death  of 
 Mrs.  Bathflju a  Daniel,  Septemb.  9,  i733« 
 
 PART 
 
PART  the  FIRST; 
 
 ScKi'Pi: \] '^B'Confolations  on  th( 
 Death  of  our  Friends, 
 
S  E  R  M  O  N     L 
 Confolations  in  the  Death  of 
 
 good  771672, 
 
 t  Thess.  iv.  1 8. 
 
 Wherefore   comfort    07te   another   with 
 thefe  words, 
 
 COMFORT  in  Death,  may  found 
 difagreeable  in  the  ears  of  men,  when 
 mourning  and  forrow  are  thought 
 more  feafonablei  and  X\^^  finging  of^^Q^ 
 fongs  to  an  heavy  heart.  Men  choofe  to  in-  20. 
 dulge  their  grief  for  the  lofs  of  their  friends, 
 retire  from  the  converfation  of  the  world,  and 
 give  free  vent  to  their  troubled  fouls :  They 
 mourn,  and  refufe  to  be  comforted,  becaufe  they  are 
 not.  But  if  ever  comforts  are  needful,  'tis  in  a 
 time  of  forrow,  like  a  cordial  to  a  fainting 
 fpirit,  oxwifieto  thofe  who  are  of  heavy  hearts.  ^^ 
 If  they  are  fuitable  and  effectual,  able  to  abate  6, 
 our  grief,  and  fupport  our  minds;  they  are  cer- 
 tainly proper  and  in  feafon,  when  we  are 
 B  raournins 
 
 XXV, 
 
 zxxu 
 
A  Funeral  Sermon  o?t 
 
 mourning  over  our  dead,  and  lamenting  their 
 lofs.  We  find  the  Apoftle  here  after  leveral 
 other  directions  of  duty  in  the  former  part  of 
 the  chapter,  proceeds  at  ver.  1 3 .  to  dired:  the 
 Chriftians  to  the  proper  grounds  of  comfort, 
 in  this  circumftance  of  forrow ;  /  would  not 
 have  you  ignorant^  brethren,  coiiceniing  them 
 who  are  ajleep,  &c.  The  words  I  have  read, 
 are  the  clofe  of  the  whole  paragraph,  which  is 
 the  proper y^'i^if  of  this  ful:ject,  and  contains 
 the  peculiar  comforts  the  Gofpel  prefcribes  in 
 the  death  of  o-ood  men. 
 
 In  fpeaking  to  them  fuitably  to  the  Jcope 
 of  the  Apoflle  and  the  prefent  occafion,  it  will 
 be  necelTary  to  confider  two  things: 
 
 I.  What  2.x^ the  words  to  which  the  Apoflle 
 refers,  and  which  he  makes  the  Ground  of 
 comfort  under  the  death  of  godly  friends. 
 IL  What  matter  of  <:o/??/£?r/ they  are  proper 
 to  afford  in  fuch  a  cafe :  And  then  apply 
 them. 
 
 SECT.  I. 
 I.  What  are  thcfe  words  to  which  the 
 ALpoflle  refers,  and  which  he  makes  the 
 ground  of  comfort  to  forrowful  Chrifliaiis: 
 Comfort  one  another  with  thefe  words :  i.  e,  the 
 vi^ords  of  the  foregoing  difcourfe.  And  if  we 
 look  back  into  the  Context,  we  fhall  find  two 
 things  referr'd  to,  which  it  will  be  needful  to 
 reprefent  a  little  as  the  ground  of  that  comfort 
 which  is  to  be  deriv'd  from  hence. 
 
 §.  I.  The  RefurreBion  of  the  body.  This 
 may  be  confider'd  in  the  following  Inftances : 
 
 They 
 
the  Death  of  Mrs,  Barker.  3 
 
 They  will  be  rats' d  from  the  dead:  T'hem^^'^-  H 
 alfo  that  fleep  in  y^fn^-,  'ivili  God  br'mg  with  him. 
 They  who  have  long  lain  in. the  grave,  wdll  at- 
 tend the  appearance  of  the  glorious  judge.  And 
 the  dead  in  Chriji  fiall  rife.     They  who  diedver.  16 
 for  Chrift,    martyrs  to  his  fiith,  or  v/ho  died 
 believers  in  Chrift   more  at   large,  and   were 
 faithful  to  the  death;  they  fhall  be  rais'd  to  life 
 again,    in   conformity   to  the  refurrcd:ion  of 
 Chrift,  and  by  the  virtue  and  power  of  it.  And 
 when   they  have  been  long  refolv'd  into  the 
 dufl  of  the  earth,  and  fcatter'd  in  remote  and 
 diftant  parts,  they  fhall  rally  together,  and  re- 
 unite  again  by    the  power  of  Chrift.     They 
 who  have  long  flept  in  the  grave,  fl:>all  awake 
 and    rife.     The  quickning   head    will  enliven 
 all  his  members,  and  give   life  to  them    that 
 flept  the  fleep  of  death.   -  The  prophet  fpeaks 
 to  this   fenfe,  Ma?ty  of  them 'who  flept   in  ^^^Dan.> 
 duf  of  the  earthy  Jl:all  awake.     And  the  Apo-  2. 
 ftle  tells  us.  As  in  Adam  all  died,  Jo  in  Chrifl  j  q^^  ^y^ 
 fiall  all  be    made  alive.     And  of  this  there  is  ^^^ 
 the  fame  evidence,  as  there  is  that  Jefus  died 
 and  rofe  again. 
 
 Besides,  the  dead  will  be  rais'd,  before  the 
 living  are  chang'd.  This  peculiar  circum- 
 flance  is  related,  ver.  10.  For  they  who  are 
 alive*  and  re?nain  unto  the  coming  of  the  Lord, 
 Jhall  7iot  prevent  them  who  are  afleep.  The 
 dead  in  Chriji,  will  rife  firfl,  ver.  16.  They 
 who  have  been  dead  many  ages  of  time,  and 
 have  lain  long  in  the  grave,  fliall  be  firft  rais'd 
 from  the  dead,  before  the  living  who  remain 
 upon  the  earth  at  the  time  of  our  Lord's  ap- 
 B  2  pearing, 
 
 XII. 
 
4  A  Funeral  Sermon  on 
 
 pearing,  fliall  pafs  that  change  which  is  equi- 
 valent to  deatli,  or  have  glorified  Bodies :  For, 
 1  CGr.  XV.  the  Apoftle  fays,  Tje  fiall  ?iGt  all  Jleep,  but  we 
 5'-         jhall  nil  ke  changed.     There  will  be  no  difad- 
 vantage  in  this  relpe(5t  to  have  died  before  others, 
 or  have  lain  long  in  the  grave;  for    the  dead 
 will    be    firft  raifed  and  reftored  to  life,  and 
 ftand  upon  an  equal  foot  wl(.h  thofe  who  fur- 
 vive,  and  remain  alive.     They  will  not  pre- 
 vent    them   who  Jleep^  or    be   glorify'd   before 
 them.  And  this  he  tells  them  by  the  word  of  the 
 Lord;  by  fpecial  direction  and  revelation  from 
 heaven.     And  elfewhere  calls  it  upon  that  ac- 
 I  Cor  XV  count,  a  great  fnyjiery  :  Behold^  If  jew  you  a 
 51,52.     myftery^  we  fiall  not  all  f.eep;  but  we  Jh all  all 
 he  changed.,  in  a  moment.,  in  the  twinkling  of  an 
 eye.,  the  dead  fall  be  raisd  incorruptible^  and 
 we  fall  he  changed. 
 
 Farther,  This  will  be  done  by  the  found 
 1  Thcff.    of  a  trumpet.     T^he  Lord  himfelj  fall  defend 
 IV.  16.    f'Qjfi  heaven  with  a  fout^  mth  the  voice  of  the 
 Archa72gel^  a7id  with  the  trujiipet  of  God,     He 
 will  appear  in  a  vifible  glory,  with  the  fhout 
 of  holy  angels;  and  the  voice  of  the  archangel 
 vvill    be    like  a  trumpet    to  fummon  the  dead 
 together;  or,  as  the   tribes  of  Ifrael  under  the 
 NuxTib.  X.  law  were  fummon'd  together  by  the  found  of 
 a  trumpet.     Our  Lord   tells    us.  The  hciir    is 
 John  V.     coming,    in  which    all  who  are   in  their  graves 
 28.         fall  hear  his  volce^  and  fall  come  forth.     And 
 more  exprefsly,  Yi<t  fall  fe7id   his  a?igels  with 
 Matth.     a  great  found,  of  a  trumpet.,  and  they  fall  ga- 
 ther together  his  eleB  from  the  four  winds  ^  from 
 the  one  end  of  heaven  to   the  other.     And  the 
 
 Apoflle 
 
 XXIV 
 
10. 
 
 VI.  2, 
 
 the  Death  of  Mrs,  Barker.  5 
 
 Apofjtle  tells  us,  T^be  triunpet  fhall  founds     and^  Cor.  xv 
 thedeadpallberaisd.  ^'"    ' 
 
 Finally,  Both  together  will  be  caught 
 up  in  the  clouds  to  meet  the  Lord  in  the  air : 
 The7i  we  who  are  alive  and  remain^  JJjall  be  '  Cor.  xv. 
 caught  up  together  with  them  in  the  clouds  to 
 meet  the  Lord  in  the  air.  We  fliall  all  be  join'd 
 together;  all  lurviving  believers,  who  remain 
 upon  earth  at  the  great  day,  and  all  thofe  who 
 were  dead,  and  now  rais'd  again,  iliall  be 
 carry 'd  together,  and  in  a  body,  into  the  air 
 to  meet  the  Lord ;  that  is,  in  order  to  their 
 own  final  judgment,  and  to  attend  his  glorious 
 appearance,  and  be  affeffors  with  him  in  thcj^,. 
 judgment  of  the  wicked.  They  will  make 
 one  collective  body,  or  united  fociety  before 
 the  prefence  of  the  glorious  judge. 
 
 This  is  wholly  peculiar  to  the  gofpel-reve- 
 lation,  what  the  heathen  world  did  not  under- 
 hand, and  the  light  of  nature  was  not  fuHi- 
 cient  to  dired:  them  to. 
 
 §.  2.  Being  with  the  Lord.     A?id jo  fhall ir^^-^^^ 
 we  ever  be  with  the  Lord.     This  may  be  cor,;-  17. 
 fider'd    in  the  following   inftances  too.     For 
 example : 
 
 They  will  he  prejhit  with  the  Lord :  L*i 
 his  imm.ediate  and  glorious  prefence,  for  we 
 fiall  be  with  him  in  paradije,  and  indjis  king^ 
 dom,  we  fliall  be  prcfent  with  the  Lord,  and  be 
 with  hijn,  ajid.  behold  his  glory ;  in  a  place  of 
 the  higheft  happinefs  and  gveatefc  glory.  There 
 will  be  fo  great  a  nearnefs  and  enjoyment,  that 
 the  neareft  accefs  at  prefent  is  in  comparlfon 
 abfence  and  diflance  from  him.  They  will  not 
 
 B  3  lie 
 
6  A  Funeral  Sermon  on 
 
 lie  at  the  footllool,  but  ftand  before  the  throne. 
 They  will  be  fo  near  him  as  to  fee  him,  and 
 know  him  in  all  the   dignity  of  his  perfon  and 
 glory  of  his  advanced  ftate  :  And  be  admitted 
 to  the   fullefl    communion  and    participation 
 which   their  natures  are  capable   of,  and  their 
 perfedt  happinefs  makes  neceflary :   they   will 
 be  with    him  as   friends  and  companions,  the 
 objedis  of  his  f-ivour  and  partners  of  his  glory, 
 with  whom    he   will  freely   converfe,  and  to 
 whom  he  will  gracioufly  manifefl  himfelf;  for 
 being  with  the  Lord^  describes  the  happinefs  of 
 true  believers,  and   mufV  needs   import  fuch  a 
 prefence   with    him  as    is    capable  of  making 
 them  happy,  and  proper  to  fupport  their  hap- 
 pinefs. 
 
 Besides,  they  will  be  ever  with  the  Lord, 
 it  will  be  a  conftant  everlafting  prefence  and 
 enjoyment,  'tis  not  for  a  fhort  duration  or  any 
 limited  time,  but  perpetual  and  endlefs.  He 
 will  never  withdraw  himfelf  from  them ;  for  'tis 
 his  glory  and  delight  to  have  them  with  him. 
 Johnxvii  Father^  I  will  that  tkofe  whom  thou  hajl  given 
 24-  me^  may    he   with   me  where   J  am.     'Tis  a 
 
 great  fatisfaclion  and  joy  to  all  the  heavenly 
 hofl  to  have  every  believer  with  his  Lord, 
 every  member  with  its  head.  If  there  is  joy  in 
 heaven^  and  among  the  afigels  of  God  over  one 
 fmner  who  repentcth^  there  will  be  much  m.ore 
 fo,  when  another  member  is  added  to  the 
 bleffed  fociety  above.  And  they  will  never 
 depart  from  him,  they  will  never  leave  their 
 own  habitation^  as  the  finning  angels  did  theirs, 
 or  like  our  iirfl  parents,  forfeit  the  heavenly 
 
 paradife. 
 
the  Death  of  Mrs.  Barker, 
 
 paradife.  They  will  be  confirmed  in  their 
 happy  ftate  by  divine  grace,  and  be  perfedtly 
 pleafed;  there  will  not  be  a  lingle  defed:  or 
 uneafy  thought,  nor  room  left  for  a  wifh  or 
 deiire  of  more. 
 
 Again,  They  will  be  with  him  in  body  and 
 foul :  in  their  raifed  body  and  glorified  foul, 
 they  will  be  compleat  and  entire  in  both  parts, 
 exadlly  conformable  to  the  glorious  body  and 
 foul  of  their  redeemer,  and  finted  to  the  place 
 and  happinefs  they  are  to  partake  of.  In  the 
 mean  time  they  are  only  pre/hit  in  fpirit,  but 
 cibjmt  in  body :  The  body  lies  in  the  duft  of 
 death,  from  the  time  of  tiieir  diffolution  to  the 
 refurre(5tion :  'tis  confin'd  a  prifoner  of  the 
 grave,  and  under  the  arreft  of  death.  The 
 fentence  of  the  broken  law  is  executed  upon 
 them,  and  remains  in  force:  but  then  death 
 will  properly  be  abolifded,  and  he  who  had  the 
 power  of  death  dejlroyed.  The  raifed  body  will 
 be  united  to  the  glorified  foul,  and  both  to- 
 gether in  full  perfedlion  be  prefent  with  the 
 Lord. 
 
 Finally,  This  will  commence  at  the  time 
 of  his  appearing,  and  be  the  confequence  of  it. 
 A'lid  fo  (hall  we  ever  be  with  the  Lardy  i.  e. 
 when  the  Lord  f id  all  come  in  the  clouds  y  when 
 he  fliall  defend  from  heaven  with  afiout.  And 
 this  may  be  underfiood  of  the  fa/on  or  cau/e  of 
 k;  it  follows  upon  the  appearance  of  our  Lord 
 in  the  order  of  time  ;  when  the  folcmn  tranf- 
 adtion  of  his  glorious  appearance  is  over,  then 
 fliall  they  all  be  gathered  together  in  one,  and 
 be  for  ever  with  the  Lord:  and  it  not  onlyfol- 
 B  4  lows 
 
j^  Funeral  Sermon  on 
 lows  upon  it,  but  flows  from  it,  there  is  fome- 
 thing  caufal  in  it  as  wel'  as  confcqiiential.  When 
 he  has  raifed  the  dead  at  his  appearance,  and 
 judged  the  world,  he  w^inds  up  the  whole 
 matter,  and  finifnes  the  great  undertaking,  by- 
 taking  believers  to  himfelf,  and  bringing  the 
 7nany  fons  to  glory.  'Tis  the  lalt  ad:  of  his  me- 
 diation, and  compleats  the  wliole  defign. 
 
 II.  "What  matter  o^  comfort  thefe  confide- 
 rations  are  proper  to  afford  in  fuch  a  cafe :  Or 
 what  ufe  we  are  to  make  of  them  to  this  ipe- 
 cial  purpofe,  in  the  death  of  godly  friends,  or 
 thofe  whojleep  172  Jefus. 
 
 The  comfort  here  fpoken  of,  plainly  ftands 
 oppofed  to  the  excejs  of  forrow  and  the  defc5l 
 of  hope,  forrowing  as  others.^  who  have  no  hope, 
 an  immoderate  degree  of  forrow  exclufive  of 
 a  future  hope.  And  muft  accordingly  be  un- 
 iderftood  to  lie  between  thefe  two  extreams: 
 'Tis  fomething  which  is  able  to  allay  our Jor- 
 roiv,  and  encourage  our  Z'c/'^.  Fortho'weare 
 not  to  be  infenfible  under  afHidiive  rebukes, 
 and  ought  to  be  duly  afFed:ed ;  yet  we  muft  not 
 abandon  our  felves  to  grief,  or  forrow  without 
 meafure^  we  fliould  reduce  our  concern  with- 
 in proper  bounds,  and  i^zl  limits  to  the  mofl: 
 afflicting  grief.  Nor  ought  we  to  be  without 
 hope,  as  if  they  were  wholly  loft,  who  die 
 cut  of  this  world,  and  we  were  never  to  fee 
 them  any  more.  We  mull  encourage  the  ex- 
 pedation  of  a  future  ftate,  under  prefent  lofTes 
 and  gri'.fs,  and  look  beyond  death  and  the 
 grave  for  our  relief  and  fupport. 
 
 Novy 
 
the  Death  of  Mrs.  Barker.  g 
 
 Now  I  reckon  all  the  comfort  fuch  a  cafe 
 admits,  i.e.  of  an  abfent  friend,  or  one  at  a 
 diftance,  is  either  the  confideration  of  their 
 c<iv?i  flate,  and  the  condition  they  themfelves 
 are  in ;  or  the  expectation  of  bei?ig  nvith  them^ 
 and  partaking  of  their  happinefs.  Both  thefe 
 concur  in  the  prefent  cafe,  and  are  powerful 
 jfprings  of  comfort.  I  fliall  reprefent  them  a 
 little  dilHndiiy,  with  reference  to  the  ipecial 
 cafe  o1  our  depai^ted  godly  friends. 
 
 §.  I.  Consider  the ^fr/S/V^/^/orj' to  which 
 they  will  be  advanc'd  •,  or  the  condition  they 
 will  then  be  brought  into.  We  may  confider 
 this  in  the  double  inftance  here  referr'd  to. 
 
 ( I .)  The  bodies  in  which  they  will  be  rais'd. 
 The  bodies  of  the  faints  in  this  world  are  frail 
 and  mortal.     We  dwell  in  houjes  of  clay,  whoj'e]^^  iv-. 
 foundation  is  in  the  diifl,  and  are  crufied before^'^' 
 the  moth:  i.e.   as    a  garment  is  eaten  with  a 
 moth  J  or  fooner  than  a  moth.     The  earthly^  Cor.  v. 
 houfe  of  our  tabernacle  will  quickly  be  dijjbhed.  ^' 
 They  are  earthen  veffeh,  made  out  of  the  duft 
 of  the  earth,  and  liable  to  be  broken  to  pieces, 
 and  crumbled  into  duft  again. 
 
 But  their  bodies  at  the  refurrection  will  be 
 quite  other  kind  of  things,  and  rais'd  to  great- 
 er advantage.  We  find  a  particular  defcrip- 
 tion  in  the  Apoftle,  So  alio  is  the  rcftrreuiionof 
 the  body:  'Tisfown  in  corruption,  'tis  r ai fed in^'^'^^'^'' 
 incorruption.  "Tis  fo-ivn  in  dijhonour,  'tis  raifed 
 in  glory.  "Tis  fown  in  weakncfs,  'tis  raifed  in  pow- 
 er. "Tisfown  a  natural  body,  'tis  raifed  a  /pi- 
 ritual  body.  The  expreffion  oi fowing  muft 
 be  underflood   to  refer  to  the  rife  and  orirrln  of 
 
 the 
 
10  A  Funeral  Serfnon  on 
 
 the  body,  as  well  as  to  its  diffolutionj  to  its 
 ftate  and  condition  in  this  world,  as  well  as 
 that  in  the  grave ;  and  fo  much  his  allufion  to 
 feed  fown,  and  to  Adajns  being  made  a  liviftg 
 foul^  as  well  as  the  properties  themfelves  a- 
 fcrib'd  to  it,  do  necefTarily  fuppofe.  Nor  mull; 
 the  Apoftle  be  underftood  here  to  fpeak  of  the 
 fub/iance  and  matter  of  the  body,  which  will 
 be  the  fiime;  but  of  the  form  and  qualities  of 
 it,  which  will  be  chang'd.     For  example : 
 
 'Tis  fown  m  corruption:  'Tis  here  in  this 
 
 world  a  mortal bod)\  fubjedt  to  dillblution,  and 
 
 willy^^-  corruption  in  the  grave.     For  'tis  made 
 
 of  contrary  principles,  and  carries  the  feeds  of 
 
 mortality  in  its  nature ;  and  is  under  the  fen- 
 
 tence  of  death,  and  mufi:   necelTarily  return  to 
 
 duft.     But  it  will  then  be  incorriiptibk ;  not 
 
 fubjed:   to  prefent  decays,  or  final  diflblution. 
 
 It  will  commence  immortal,  like  the  fpirit  to 
 
 which  it    belongs;  without  any  principles  of 
 
 corruption  within,  and  deliver 'd  from  the  fen- 
 
 \  Cor.  XV.  tence  of  death.     The  deadjhall  be  raijed  incor- 
 
 52-  ruptibk-j  for  this  corruptible  fmll  put  on  incor- 
 
 ruption^  and  this  mortal  Jloall  put  on  immorta- 
 
 Lukexx.  ^^'i^J'     And  our  Lord  tells  us,  But  they  who  are 
 
 35-         found  'worthy  to  obtain    that  world,  and  the  re- 
 
 furreclion  from  the  dead,  neither  jnarry  ?jor  are 
 
 given    in  marriage;  neither  can  they    die  any 
 
 more:  for  they  are  equal  to  the  angels,  and  are 
 
 the  children  of  God,  beiitg  the  children  of  the  re- 
 
 lurreclion.     'Tis  fown  in  difionour :  it  has  now 
 
 dii]:ionourable  parts;  the  Apoflle  fpeaks  of  the 
 
 I  Cor.  M.  ^j2embers  of  the  body  which  are    lefs  honourable, 
 
 '^'         and  of  our  uncomely  parts.     And  the  dead  body 
 
 is 
 
the  Death  of  Mrs.  Barker.  ii 
 
 is  vile  and  cffenfive  j  we  are  glad  to  bury  it  un- 
 der-ground, and  put  it  out  of  our  fight,  tho' 
 never  fo  lovely  and  deiirable  before  \  2iS  Abraham 
 did  by   his  beautiful  and  beloved  Sarah.     So 
 "tis  call'd  the  vile  body,  or  the  body   of  our^j.^""'' 
 humble  ftate.     But  it   will   be  rais'd  in  glory ^ 
 beautiful  and  lovely,  like  the  llvingjhid,  form'd 
 out  of  the  duft  of  the  earth.     They  will  appear  ^^"-  "•  7- 
 injufl  fymmetry,  and  in  a  lovely  form,  with- 
 out any  natural  deformity,  or  accidental  de- 
 feat, and  fhine  with  an  illuftrious  and  furpri- 
 zing  glory,  rais'd  out  of  the  rottenn^fs  of  the 
 grave,  and  from  the  company  oi^ivorms,  and 
 fitted  for  the  blefTednefs  of  heaven^  and  enjoy- 
 ment of  the  bleffed  God.     They  will  JJdine  ^^Dan.  xii. 
 the  brightnefi  of  the  firmament ,  and  as  the  ftars'^- 
 for  ever  and  ever.     Yea,   the    righteous    willMmh. 
 Jhijje  as  the  fun  in  the  kingdom  of  their  father. ^^^^•\'^- 
 'Tis  fown  in  weaknefs :  The  body  is  now  fub- 
 jedt  to  the  fatigue    of  labour,  decay   of  time, 
 and  injury  of  accident  and  difeafe  ;  and  it  will 
 drop  into  the  grave  under  its  own  v/eight,  and 
 thro'  the  infirmities  which  attend  it,  not  able 
 to  fuftain  the  burden  of  nature,   or  f  iDOort  it- 
 felf  any  longer  in  being;  not  to  refift  the  cor- 
 ruption of  the  grave,  or  the  feeble  efforts  of  a 
 crawling  worm.     But   they   will  be  rais'd  in 
 po'iver :  with   full    vigour  of  nature,  and  en- 
 dow'd  with  extraordinary  ftrength,  able  to  pre- 
 ferve  itfelf  without  decay,  and   capable  of  the 
 proper  offices  of  its   glorified  ftate.     Finally 
 'tis  fown  a  naturalhody ;  or  rather  an  "*  animal*  ^l'-/- 
 body:  Oar  bodies  in  this  world  confillof  flefli^:^.- 
 and  blood,  fuitable  to  this  earthly  and  lenfible 
 2  flate, 
 
12  A  Funeral  Sermon  on 
 
 flate,  quickned  and  aded  by  a  living  foul, 
 fupported  with  conilant  fupplies  of  food  and 
 air,  like  other  animals ;  and  fubjed:  to  all  the 
 weaknefs  and  mifery  of  the  animal  life,  to 
 the  paffions  and  pains,  the  changes  and  acci- 
 dents of  all  natural  things.  But  it  will  be  raifed 
 a  /piritualhody  *,  endowed  with  a  proper  life 
 of  its  own,  and  able  to  fublifl:  without  any 
 foreign  aid ;  or  relin'd  from  grofs  matter  and 
 earthly  alloy,  approaching  nearer  the  perfec- 
 tion of  fpirits,  pure  and  ad:ive,  a  fit  compa- 
 nion and  inftrument  of  a  glorified  foul.  Or 
 poflefs'd  andafted  by  the  holy  ipirit,  a  living 
 temple  of  the  holy  Ghoft,  and  a  fit  inhabitant 
 and  votary  of  the  temple  of  God  above.  Flejh 
 and  blood  cannot  iiiherit  the  kingdom  of  heaven^ 
 and  'tis  here  called  the  heavenly  •■,  and  elfewhere, 
 
 2  Cor.v.  \%  vpocv^  the  hoiife  which  is  from  heaven,  or  of 
 
 2-  an  heavenly  make  and  materials. 
 
 The    Apoflle  reprefents  the  excellence  of 
 
 Phil.  iii.    the  raifed  body  in  one  general  character :  Who 
 
 ult.  fhall  change  our  vile  bodies,  that  they  may  he 
 fajlnoned  like  his  glorious  body,  according  to  the 
 working  whereby  he  is  able  to  Jubdue  all  things 
 to  hinijelf.  i.  e.  It  will  be  fuitable  to  its  pattern, 
 and  anfwerable  to  its  caufe;  the  glorious  body 
 of  the  Redeemer,  and  mighty  power  of  God. 
 And  if  his  body  appeared  fo  glorious  at  the 
 
 tra?if- 
 
 1a  Wet 
 
 apud  Oecura. 
 
 v'lAv-   Mech.  apud  Oecum,     O77   K-i'^'on^v  i^sLl   'r^   hiTTTXiTi^v 
 >C)  oJoj  id  iTr''  eH^Q"  oy^H^'     Chryfolt. 
 
the  Death  of  Mrs.  Barker.  i  j 
 
 tramjiguration^  that  his  face  jhone  as  the  fun^  Matth. 
 and  his  raitnent  was  white   as  the  lights  jfiow  ^^"'  ^* 
 excellent  and  bright  muft  the  glorified  body  of 
 the  Redeemer  appear  in  heaven  ? 
 
 And  now  let  us  paufe  a  while,  and  confider 
 what  comfort  may  be  derived  from  hence.    Our 
 prefent  bodies  are  often   inconvenient  and  un- 
 eafy  habitations  to  the  foul,  Hke  an  houfe  de- 
 caying and  out  of  repair.     We  groan  under  the 
 burden  of  a  mortal  body,  'tis  the  feat  of  grie- 
 vous dijlempers^  and  affliding  accidents.     The 
 pfahniji  in  allufion  to  this  reprefents  the  diflrefs 
 of  a  guilty  foul  by  broken  bojies-^  and  the  Apo- 
 ftle  fpeaks  of  the  thorn  in    the  Jiefi.     'Tis  the 
 fubjed;  of  prefent  fuffering:  The  Apoftle  bore 
 in  his  body  the  marks   of  the  Lord  fefus  :  Scars  ^  ^  '  ^^' 
 of  honour  by  fufferings  for  Chrift ;  and  often 
 fpeaks  oijiripes  and  fcourging^  bonds  and  im- 
 prifonments,  being  Jioned^  fawn  afunder^  killed^  ,     - 
 with  the  Jword.     'Tis  often  a  clog  and  fnare,  a  37. 
 great  hindrance  to  the  lively  adings  of  grace, 
 and  fpiritual  exercifesj  and  an  inftrument  and 
 occafion  of  fin.     Bodily  appetites  are  often  un- 
 ruly, and  the  prevalence  of  the  fenfual  nature 
 is  a  burden  under  which  thebeft  of  men  fome- 
 times  groan.    Hence  the  Apofi:le  fo  pathetically 
 exclaims  i  O  wretched  jnan  that  lam,  whojhall^^^  ^^i. 
 deliver  jnefrom   this  body  of  death  I  And  found  25. 
 it  neceflary  to  keep  under  his  body  and  bring  it  in  ^  Cor.ix 
 fubjeSiion.  Sin  is  laid  to  reign  in  our  mortal  body:  27- 
 And  the  unrenew'd  nature  is  often  reprelented  ^°"^  '^• 
 by  l\iQflef\  the  members,  the  deeds  of  the  body,  &c. 
 
 But  then  we  fhall  be  delivered  from  every 
 burden  of  the  prefent  body  :  There  will  be  no 
 
 dileale 
 
14  ^  Funeral  Sermon  on 
 
 difeafe  of  nature,  or  decay  offenfe;  no  pining 
 ikknefs,  or  racking  pain,  no  more  a  dim  eye, 
 or  a  trembling  hand,  or  an  aking  head  ;  nothing 
 to  difturb  the  order  of  nature,  or  hinder  its 
 repofe.  There  will  be  no  injury  or  oppreffion 
 from  any  hand  of  violence  or  accident  of  evil  j 
 Jobiii.  T^he  isDicked  ceafe  from  troubling^  and  the  weary 
 ^^'  are  at  reft.    Sin  and  fuffering  will  end  together. 
 
 Rev.  xxi.  ^^    ^^^y  began  together  -,  God  will  wipe  away 
 4.  all  tears  fro?n  their  eyes,  there  foall  be  no  more 
 
 death,  neither  forrow^   nor  cryi?ig^  nor  any  more 
 pain,  for  former  things  are  pafs'd  away.     They 
 will  be  no  longer  a  hindrance    in  our  way,  or 
 occalion  of  fin,  there  will  be   no    tedious  at- 
 tendance   upon    health,    or    painful  methods 
 of  cure;     no   efcapes   from   prefent    fatigues, 
 or  refreshment   and  diverfion   of  life.    There 
 will    be    no    vitious   and    unruly   appetite  to 
 curb  and  reftrain,  no   melancholy  fumes  and 
 vapours   to  darken  and  difturb  the  mind ;  no 
 dead  and  drowfy  frame,  or  lifllefTnefs  or  weari- 
 nefs  in  the  fervice  of  God.     Yea,  they  will,  be 
 quite  the  reverj'e  of  their  prefent  ftate.     The 
 glorified   body  will  be  advanced  and  improved 
 to  all  the  perfecftion,  and  all  the   glory  which 
 the  bodily  nature  is  capable  of:  They  will  be 
 more   healthy,    more   beautiful,  more  adive, 
 more  lafiing  than  ever  they  were  in  this  world. 
 And  hew  blefied  a  change  will  this  make,  and 
 how  plealing  a  profped:,  and  fenfible  a  relief 
 may    it  give,  under  the  remembrance  of  the 
 pain  and   diflrefs   of  their  pafl  lives,  and  laft 
 moments,  their  living  forrows,  and  their  dying 
 agonies  and  groans. 
 
 (2) 
 
the  Death  of  Mrs,  Barker.  15 
 
 (2.)  The  happinejs  they  will  poflefs.  The 
 entire  peifon,  body  and  foul  will  be  compleat- 
 ly  bleis'd,  in  the  prefence  of  Chrift,  or  bei72g 
 with  him.  This  may  be  confidered  in  the  fol- 
 lowing particulars  according  to  the  fcripture- 
 reprefentatioii,  and  will  be  fo  many  farther 
 grounds  of  comfort  in  the  cafe. 
 
 I.  Th  E  R  E  is  an  immediatey^Z^/  of  his  glory 
 without  prefent  diftance  and  darknefs.  Much 
 of  their  forrow  and  trouble  in  this  world  arifes 
 from  their  diftance  and  feparation  from  their 
 Lord,  many  clouds  of  darknefs  often  interpofe, 
 many  difcouraging  fears,  and  uneafy  thoughts, 
 fpring  up  in  their  mind.  But  then  they  will 
 be  brought  to  a  nearer  fight  and  immediate  pre- 
 fence of  his  glory.  This  is  a  conllant  defcrip- 
 tion  of  the  heayenly  ftate :  If  any  ma?i  J'erve  jqY^^w 
 me  J  let  him  follow  me^  and  where  I  am^  there  26. 
 jhall  alfo  my  Jervant  be.  I  will  come  again  and\\i, 
 receive  you  to  myfelf^  that  where  I  am^  there  ye 
 may  be  alfo.  This  was  our  Lord's  prayer  for 
 his  difciples,  Father^  I  will  that  thofe  alfo  whom  jj^ 
 thou  hajl  given  ine^  jnay  be  with  7Jie  where  lz\. 
 am^  that  they  may  behold  my  glory ^  which  thou 
 hajl  given  me. 
 
 They  will  be  brought  to  the  fame  place 
 where  Chrift  himfelf  is,  and  be  locally  prefent 
 with  hiai  in  his  glorify 'd  ftate.  He  is  gone  to 
 prepare  a  place  for  them  among  the  manlions 
 of  his  father's  houfc;  and  he  will  come  again 
 to  receive  them  unto  himfelf.  He  is  returned  in- 
 to his  glory ^  and  they  will  have  an  entrance  ad~ 
 miniflr.  d  to  them  into  his  everlafling  king- 
 dom. He  fits  upon  a  glorious  throne,  and  fhines 
 
 in 
 
 XIV. 
 
3  6  A  Funeral  Sermon  on 
 
 in  the  perfedions  of  the  deity  j  redeem'd  frbm 
 all  the  meannefs  and  reproach  in  which  he  ap- 
 pear'd  in  the  world;  and  they  ftand  round  his 
 till  one,  and  fit  down  ivith  him  on  his  right  ha'nd^ 
 cmd  on  his  left^  in  his  kingdom.  He  is  atteiided 
 with  glorious  hoils  of  holy  angels,  who  bow  be- 
 fore him,  and  do  his  will  ^  and  theyzxt  join'd  to 
 the  innumerable  company  of  angels^  and  bear  their 
 part  in  the  common  fervice  and  praife. 
 I  Cor.xiii.  S  o  the  Apoflle  reprefents  the  matter  :  For 
 '"■  now  we  Jee  through  a glajs  darkly,  but  then  face  to 
 
 face ;  now  I  know  but  in  part,  but  then  IJhall 
 
 1  John     kficWy  even  as  I  am  alfo  known.     And,  we  Jhall 
 "'•  ^"       fee  him  as  he  is.     They  have  now  only  a  diflant 
 
 view  of  Chrifl  in  the  glafs  of  his  word,  and 
 the  ordinances  of  woifliip,  in  the  lively  exer- 
 cifes  of  faith,  and  a  rais'd  and  fpiritual  frame 
 of  mind;  but  then  they  fhall  behold  him  as  Alofes 
 did,  face  to  face :  which  imports  the  nearefl  ac- 
 eefs,  and  moil:  familiar  converfe.  The  veil  will 
 be  drawn  a  fide,  and  they  will  behold  him  juft 
 as  he  is.  They  will  ftand  in  the  prefence-cham- 
 ber  of  the  king  of  heaven,  and  gaze  on  his 
 If.  xxxiii.  refplendent  glory.  Their  eyes  behold  the  kiizg 
 '7-  in  his  beauty,  advanc'd  to  the  highefl  dignityj- 
 and  pofTefs'd  of  the  highefl:  glory. 
 
 If  our  Lord  could  tell  his  difciples  here  orr 
 Manh.     earth,  Elc fed  are  your  eyes,  for  they  fee ,  and  your 
 xiij.  ID.    cars,  for  they  hear-,  and  many  prophets  and  righ- 
 teous men  ha've  defired  to  fe  what  you  havejeen„ 
 and  have  not  feen  them ;  a?id  hear  what  you  have 
 heard,  and  have  not  heard  them :  how  much 
 
 2  Cor.xii.^C)re  bleffed  are    they  who  fe  what  eye  hath 
 4-  not  feen,  nor  ear  heard,  neither  hath  it  entered  in- 
 
the  Death  of  Mrs.  Barker.  17 
 
 to  the  heart  of  man:  and  with  the  Apoftle,  are^Cor.  ii. 
 caught  Zip  into  the  thif^d  heaven^  and  hear  un-  ^' 
 Jpeakabk  words  ^   which  'tis  not  lawful  for  a  7nan 
 to  utter  -J  or  poffible  for  any  mortal  to  appre-       ^ 
 hend  or  exprefs. 
 
 2.  Perfect  likenefs  to  him,  without  any 
 weaknefs  or  defed:.  'Tis  the  glory  of  our  pre- 
 fent  natures,  to  bear  fome  likenefs  to  Chrift, 
 and  have  his  image  renew'dupon  our  fouls  j  but 
 there  is  a  great  degree  of  dijjimilitude  and  un- 
 likenefs  to  him  remaining.  We  often  complain 
 of  the  body  of  this  death,  as  well  as  of  the  mortal 
 body.  How  unlike  are  the  befl  faints  on  earth,  the 
 moft  enlighten'd  and  improved,  to  the  final  per- 
 fecftion  or  ih.Q  patterns  of  things  in  the  heavens  I  ^^^'  '^■ 
 
 But   now  the  immediate  fight  of  the  glo-  ^" 
 rified  redeemer,  will  transform  them  into  a  per- 
 fed:  likenefs  to  him.    So  'tis  reprefented  by  the 
 Apoftle;  Belovedy  now  are  we  the  fins  of  Go^jLJ^^*^ 
 but  it  doth  not  yet  appear  what  we  jhall  be:  but 
 we  know  that  when  he  Jhalt  appear^  we  Jloall  be 
 like  him  ;  for  we  floall  fee  hi?n  as  he  is.      It  car- 
 ries a  transforming  power  with  it,  and  produ- 
 ces a  wonderful  elfedl: ;  a  finlefs  likenefs  and  con- 
 formity to  him  :   we  fliall  be  as  like  him  as  we 
 are  capable  of  being.     Our  whole  nature  will 
 be  purify'd  and  exalted  to  its  higheil:  perfedion, 
 and  bear  the  exad;  image  and  refemblance  of  the 
 bleffed  Jefus.     Our  bodies  will  h^  fafioned  2ih&i' 
 his  glorious  body,   and  be  a  bright  copy  of  the 
 divine  original;  and  our  fouls  like  his,  in  holy 
 difpofitions  and  heavenly  qualities;   in  the  per- 
 te(fl-ion  of  our  knowledge,    and  purity  of  love. 
 The  8;lorifyd  perfonwill  receive  an  imprej/iony 
 
 C  like 
 
1 8  A  Funeral  Sermon  m 
 
 like  that  of  the  feal  upon  the  wax,  or  the  image 
 of  the  mould  into  which  any  thing  is  caft. 
 
 I F  converfing  with  God  a  Uttle  while  upon 
 the  mount,  made  Mojes^face  to  Pnne,  fo  that 
 he  put  a  'vail  upon  his  face^  while  he  fpake  to 
 Exod.      the  people  \  as  if  converfmg  with  God  had  ren- 
 XXIX.  33.  ^^gj.»j  \iYXi  unlit  for  human  converfe:   what  a 
 glory  muft  it  give  to  thofe  who  always  behold 
 the  face  0/  God  ?    If  Stephen,  full  of  faith  and 
 of  the  Holy  Ghofy  by  looking  Jledjallly  to  heaven ^ 
 and  feeing  the.  glory  of  God,  and  yejusfariding 
 at  the  right  hajid  of  God  y  appear'd  to  them  who 
 Adsvi.    fate  in  council  with  his  face  as  if  it  had  been 
 *^'         the  face  of  an  angel -y  with  how  bright  a  coun- 
 tenance will  they  appear,  who  always  fland  be- 
 fore the  throne  of  God  ?  If  the  prefent  glory  of 
 z  Cor.viii.  the  gofpel  is  fo  lively,  that  with  open  face  be- 
 '^'  holding  as  in  a  glafs  the  glory  of  the  Lordy  we 
 
 are  chaiiged  into  the  fame  image  from  glory  unto 
 glory y  e^en  as  by  the  fpirit  of  the  Lord-y  how 
 much  more  powerful  and  efficacious  muft  the 
 glory  of  heaven  be,  and  the  immediate  fight 
 of  God? 
 
 3.  T  H  E  higheftjoy  without  any  allay  of  for- 
 
 row.    Good  men  in  this  world  poffefs  the  trueft 
 
 Rev.  xiv.  joy:  they  have  comforts  which  the 'Z£;or/^^«C'Z£;i 
 
 *  °"  7wt  of  and  grangers  intermeddle  not  with  their  joy. 
 
 Our  Lord  appear'd  concern'd  for  his  followers, 
 
 John  xvi.  that  their^oy  jnight  rcmainy  and  that  it  might  be 
 
 ^^'         full.  But  there  are  m.any  alloys  of  their  prefent 
 
 joy ;  fometimes  a  bitter  cup  is  put  into  their  hands. 
 
 a  cup  of  tre?nbli?ig  and  afionifiment ;  or  a  bitter 
 
 drop  is  mingled  with  a  cup  of  confolation, which 
 
 gives  ad  ifagreeable  tind:ure,ifit  don't  embitter  all 
 
 the 
 
the  Death  of  Mrs.  Barker.  19 
 
 the  reft.  They  are  often  forrowful  and  fad  under 
 their  prefent  burdens,  or  the  fear  of  future  evil. 
 B  u  T  in  the  prefence  of  their  Lord  there  is 
 no  forrow,  hut  fuhiefs  of  joy -,  In  thy  prefence  is 
 fuhiefs  of  joy  ^   at  thy  right  hand  are  pleafures  for  uj^  "  ^^'* 
 evermore.    And,  I Jhall  behold  thy  face  in  righte-  t>i^^  j,^.jj 
 oufnefs^  IJlzall  bejatisfiedwhen  I  awake  with  thy  uk. 
 likenejs.     There  is  a  mighty  fatisfadlion  ariles 
 fi'om  the  immediate  fight  of  Cbrifl,  and  per- 
 fed:  hkenefs  to  him.  They  are  infinitely  pleas'd 
 with  the  exceeding  glory  round  about  them,  and 
 the  perfed:  rectitude  of  their  own  nature.  Their 
 meetiiefs  for   heaven    is  matter   of  everlafling 
 thankj'givirg  to  the  father. ,   They  are  faid  to 
 enter  into  the  joy  of  their  Lord.     'Tis  a  ilate  of  \x.j.i^ 
 joy  which  they  muft  enter  into,  and  will  be-^xv.  21. 
 come  the  element  in  which  they  breath.     And 
 when  his  glory  jlmll  be  revealed,  they  f  jail  be  glad  i  Pet.  i. 
 with  exceeding  joy :  exceeding  all  other  joys,  be-  ^  4- 
 yond  what  they  ever  found  before,  or  are  able  to 
 reprefent  to  others.  Or  exceeding  all  the  expec- 
 tations, and  ail  the  capacities  of  their  fouls;  an 
 overflowing  joy,  or  more  than  they  can  contain* 
 They  will  be  as  full  of  joy  as  they  are  able  to 
 hold,  without  any  mixture  of  forrow  with  it; 
 the  moft  refin'd  and  exalted  joy,   v>athout  any 
 check   to  their  plcafure,    or  damp  upon  their 
 minds  ;  any  danger  of  excels,  or  fear  of  fin. 
 
 If  the  difciples  were  ^.W  when  they  fav/ a 
 r//en  Lord,  and  hcJJoewed  them  his  hands   andj°^^  ^'•- 
 his  feet:   v/hat  gladnefs  will  it  give  them  to  fee~°* 
 the  afcended  and  glorified  redeemer  ?  Will  not 
 their /'oy  be  fulfilled,  when  they  fee  the  lamb  as 
 it  had  been  flat}!  in  the  midfi  of  the  throne'^  If 
 
 C  2  tiicre 
 
20  A  Funeral  Sermon  on 
 
 there  i^joy  and  peace  in  believing  j  in  the  di-^ 
 ftant  profped:  and  expedation ;  what  muft  be 
 Pct.i.  8.  the  joy  of  light  and  enjoyment  ?  If  by  loving  him 
 whom  we  have  notfeen^  and  believing  on  him,  thd 
 now  we  fee  him  not,  we  rejoice  with  joy  unfpeakable 
 and  full  oj  glory -y  how  unfpeakable  and  glorious 
 muft  the  joy  be  which  arifes  from  a  feenjefus, 
 when  we  {h^XXfee  him  as  he  is,  and  behold  his  glory  ! 
 4.  Everlasting  continuance,  or  duration 
 without  end.  They  will  hftfor  ever  with  the 
 Lord.  The  happinefs  they  vv^ill  polTefs  will  be 
 eternal.  And  tho'  this  is  only  a  circumftance  of 
 it;  yet  'tis  of  tlie  greateft  importance,  and  adds 
 unfpeakable  weight  to  all  the  reft.  If  it  were 
 limited,  tho'  to  ever  fo  long  a  diftance;  and 
 were  to  alter  and  ceafe,  after  ever  fo  long  an 
 enjoyment,  it  vi^ould  leffen  the  glory,  and  a- 
 bate  the  pleafure  all  the  while.  The  thought 
 of  leaving  it  at  laft,  would  damp  the  pleafure 
 of  the  higheft  enjoyment,  and  make  the  trou- 
 ble and  difappointment  the  greater  at  laft.  To 
 leave  fo  long  an  enjoyment,  and  be  turn'd  out 
 of  the  delights  of  the  heavenly  paradife,  would 
 give  the  deepeft  and  moft  affliding  grief. 
 
 But  now  'tis  a  great  addition  to  all  the  o- 
 thcr  coniiderations  of  their  happinefs,  that  it 
 will  never  Qn<^  :  The  righteous  go  into  Life  eter- 
 nal^ and  enter  into  the  evcrlajling  kingdom.  They 
 Vv^ili  never  be  feparated  from  the  glorious  pre- 
 (ence  of  Chrift.  The  general  alTembly  will  ne- 
 ver diirolve  and  break  up.  There  will  be  no 
 interruption  or  end  to  tlie  joyful  praife,  and  per- 
 fect fervice  of  that  bleffed  ftate.  And  it  muft 
 needs  be  fo :  for  there  is  no  period  fet  to  it  by 
 
 the 
 
the  Death  of  Mrx.  Barker.  21 
 
 the  divine  will :  The  promifes  of  the  gofJDel  are 
 every  where  of  eter7ial  life  -,  and  they  are  made  ^  y  ^"  "" 
 pillars  In  the  te?nple  cf  God,  2in(\  Jhallgo  no  more^     .ji 
 out.     It  will  not  be  in  the  power  of  any  enemy  12. 
 to  difturb  them  -,  for  they  are  out  of  the  reach 
 of  tempting  objedls,  and  every  envious  and  ma- 
 lignant power.     No  foul  fiend  can   enter  into 
 the  heavenly  paradife,  or  endanger  a  new  de- 
 fection there,     ii  the  Apoftle  could  triumph 
 in  this  world  over  all  his  enemies,  wbo  fiall Je-^omMu. 
 par  ate  from  the  love  of  Chrijl  \  how  much  more  "^^• 
 will  they  be  able  to  do  it  then,    when  their 
 warfare  is  accomplified,  and  the  vidory  com- 
 pleat  ?  And  it  will  never  decay  or  wax  old  :  for 
 'tis  an   inheritance  incorruptible,  a?td  undefiled^ 
 and  never  fadeth  away.     There  is  no  principle 
 of  corruption  in  the  heavenly  happinefs,  as  there 
 is  in  all  the  happinefs  of  this  world,  which  gra- 
 dually declines,  2ind  perijhes  in  the  ufng:  The 
 moth  cannot  corrupt,  any  more  than  the  thief 
 break  thro'  and  ileal.      Yea,  it  will  grow  and 
 improve,  and  be  ever  frefh  and  new.     The  fun 
 of  glory  will  never  fet,  or  fuffer  an  eclipfej 
 there's  no  cloud  to  intercept  its  light.  'Tis  fix'd 
 in  the  meridian  of  the   higheft  heavens,   and 
 ihines  with  an  equal  and  cverlafling  luftre.  The 
 continual  difplays  of  unknown  perfediions  will 
 yield  a  frefli  admiration  and  delight  to  all  eter- 
 nity. 
 
 Let  us  view  the  matter  in  this  light :  What  a 
 comfort  is  their  future  happinefs  proper  to  infpire 
 into  a  fad  and  forrowful  heart  ?  If  we  reckon 
 it  a  great  fatisfa(ftion,  that  'tis  well  with  our 
 abfent  friends,  in  a  foreign  country  or  remote 
 C  3  place; 
 
2  2  A  Funeral  Sermon  on 
 
 place ;  that  they  enjoy  perfed  health,  profper 
 in  their  affairs,  and  are  advanc'd  to  honours ; 
 how  much  greater  reafon  of  comfort  (hould  it 
 he,  that  thofe  we  love  and  efteem,  though 
 they  are  now  remov'd  and  at  a  diftance  from 
 us,  will  be  rais'd  to  fo  great  a  glory,  and  pof- 
 fefs  fo  high  a  happinefs  ?  that  tho'  they  drop'd 
 their  bodies  in  the  dafl  in  their  afcent  to  hea- 
 ven, as  Elijdb  did  his  mantle,  and  ^.vorms  dcjlroy 
 their  body -^  yet  in  their  Jtefi  they  fiall fee  God; 
 and  tho'  they  fee  man  no  more  on  earth  ivith  the 
 inhabit  afits  of  the  world;  yet  they  always  behold 
 the  face  of  Chrift,  and  find  an  infinite  and  ever- 
 lafting  pleafure  in  perfed  iikenefs,  and  full  en- 
 joyment of  him. 
 
 §.  2.  We  have  thus  far  confider'd  tht  per- 
 fonal  glory  to  which  they  will  be  advanc'd ;  we 
 are  now  to  confider  thtfiare^t  {hall  bear  with 
 them.  This  is  of  mighty  account  in  the  cafe 
 too.  The  Apoftle  makes  the  refurreBion  of 
 the  body,  and  being  with  the  Lord,  the  com- 
 mon happinefs  of  all  true  chriftians;  'tis  the 
 jlate  of  them  \^'ho  Jleep  injefiis.  So  fiall  vfQ  ever 
 be  with  the  Lord.  JVe,  as  well  as  they^  and  to- 
 gether wiJi  them.  This  implies  two  things 
 full  of  Confolation. 
 
 I.  That  we  fhall  be  with  them.  We  fliall 
 know  them,  and  enjoy  them  again,  and  to 
 greater  advantage.  "Tis  reafonable  to  fuppofe 
 that  we  fhall  know  our  departed  friends,  in  the 
 other  world,  efpecially  after  the  refurredion, 
 when  the  glorified  foul  will  be  united  to  its 
 own  body,  which  will  probably  retain  its  pro- 
 per form. 
 ^  If 
 
the  Death  of  Mrs,  Barker.  23 
 
 If  we  can  fuppofe  it  capable  of  contributing 
 to  our  fatisfadion,  or  being  any  ingredient  in 
 our  happinefs,  to  converfe  with  our  departed 
 friends ;  we  fliall  certainly  do  fo :  for  there  will 
 be  nothing  wanting  to  the  perfetftion  of  our 
 bleffednefs :  and  I  think  there  can  be  no  reafon- 
 able  doubt  but  it  will.  What  is  fo  fuitable  to 
 a  facial  nature,  and  fo  fenfible  a  delight  in  this 
 world,  will  not  furely  ceafe  to  be,  or  lignify 
 nothing  in  the  other :  tho'  ail  fond  regards  arifing 
 from  the  lower  confiderations  of  prefent  rela- 
 tion, or  mere  natural  injiin£lj  will  wholly  ceafe 
 in  that  refin'd  State. 
 
 There  are  leveral  intimations  in  fcripture 
 to  this  purpofe.     We  flmll  know  the  glorified 
 Redeemer  in  heaven ;  the  human  nature  of  the 
 Lord  Jefus  will  be  diflinguifh'd  by  peculiar 
 marks;  for  he  will  appear  as  a  lamb Jlain  in 
 the  midjl  of  the  throne.     Heaven  is  reprefented 
 as  a  general  affembly^  2.  univerfal  congregation 
 and  meeting  together ;  among  the  refl  there 
 will  be  the  fpirits  ofjuft  men  made  perfeSl.   An  Heb.  xii. 
 affembly  of  perfons  altogether  unknown  to  one-3- 
 another,  would  rather  gaze  and  wonder  than 
 communicate  fentiments,  or  maintain  a  plea- 
 furable  converfe.  Peter ,  '^ames  and  yohn^  knew 
 Mofes  and  Ejlias  upon  the  mount,  tho'  they  had  Match, 
 never  feen  one  another  before,  and  the  diftance^''"- 
 of  time  in  which  they  liv'd  v/as  fo  great.  The 
 rich  man  knew  Abraham^  tho'  one  was  in  hea- 
 ven and  the  other  in  hell.     The  angels  rejoice 
 at  a  finner's  converfion,  tho'  they  are  in  hea- 
 ven, and  we  on  earth.     And  we  fhally?/  ^'^^^^Matth. 
 w>^  Abraham,  Ifaac  and  Jacob  in  the  king-wn.ix. 
 
 C  4  dom 
 
24  A  Funeral  Sermon  on 
 
 dom  of  heaven.     If  we  fliall  know  them  then, 
 whom  we  never  faw  in  this  world,  whether 
 that  will  be  by  immediate  revelation^  or  by  any 
 Signature  they  wear,  or  mark  of  diftinftion  5 
 fhall  we  not  much  more  know  them  who  were 
 moft  intimate  to  us  in  this  world,   and  with 
 ^  whom  we  often  took  fweet  counfel  together  ? 
 And  it  muft  needs  be  to  infinite  advantage  that 
 we  fhall  fee  and  enjoy  tliem  in  that  perfedt  ftate, 
 without  any  prefent  defedl  or  fmful  weaknefs 
 in  body  or  foul,  which  often  leffens  the  com- 
 fort of  prefent  enjoyment  between  the  nearefk 
 relations,  and  the  dearefl  friends.  We  fliall  fee 
 them  rais'd  and  improved  to  the  higheft  perfec- 
 tion, and  the  greateft  happinefs.     If  we  were 
 never  to  meet  again,  and  death  made  an  ever- 
 lalling  feparation,  it  would  be  more  uncom- 
 Afts  XX.   fortable  and  afflicting ;   as  the  elders  wept  fore, 
 3°-  and  fell  on  Paul'j  7ieck^  and  kifs'd  him ;  Jbrrow- 
 
 ing  moft  of  all  for  the  words  which  he  fpake^  that 
 they  Jldould  fee  his  face  no  more.     But  how  fea- 
 Phllem.    f<3ri^"^t»le  a  Relief  does  this  afford,  that  they  ojily 
 1 5 .  depart  for  a  feajon,  that  we  may  receive  them 
 
 for  ever'? 
 
 2.  That"  we  (h^M  partake  with  them  in  all 
 their  happinefs.  And  this  makes  it  flill  a  more 
 comfortable  confideration.  For  tho'  'tis  a  great 
 fatisfaction  to  hear  of  the  welfare  and  profperity 
 of  our  abfent  friends,  when  we  are  never  the 
 better  for  it,  or  are  in  a  different  circumftance 
 of  things  our felves ;  yet  'tis  an  unfpeakable  ad- 
 dition to  it,  to  partake  of  their  honours,  and 
 fliare  in  their  joys ;  to  be  with  them,  and  to 
 be  like  them  in  their  profperity  and  advance- 
 ment. This 
 
the  Death  of  Mrs.  Barker.  25 
 
 Th  IS  is  the  cafe  here,  we  fhall  be  raisd  up 
 in  glory,  and  be  for  ever  with  the  Lord,  toge- 
 ther with  them.  We  (hall  be  fharers  with  them 
 in  all  the  glory  and  bleflednefs  of  the  heavenly 
 ftate,  as  we  are  now  feliow-citizefts  with  /^/'^Eph.il. 
 faints  J  and  heirs  according  to  the  hope  of  eternaU^- 
 life.     We  fliall  fee  the  Lord,  and  be  like  him, 
 and  rejoice  for  ever  with  him,  as  well  as  they, 
 and  in  fociety  with  them.     It  will  not  lefTen 
 the  heavenly  bleffednefs,  or  move  an  uneafy 
 paffion,  that  others  enjoy  it  as  well  as  we,  or 
 that  'tis  fhar'd  among  fo  many;  'twill  heighten 
 the  fatisfa6lion,  the  more  'tis    diffus'd:  each 
 one's  happinefs  will  increafe  another's,  and  add 
 conliderably  to  the  whole.     So  the  Apoftle  re- 
 prefents  it,  God haviitg provided fome  better  thing^^.  ix: 
 for  us,  that  they  without  us  Jhould  not  be  made^^' 
 perfeB.  The  final  perfediion  of  the  heavenly 
 bleffednefs  requires  all  the  heirs  of  glory :    and 
 there  is  fome  fort  of  defed;,  and  'tis  incompleat 
 while  any  member  is  abfent  or  wanting.     The 
 vail  of  the  heavenly  temple  will  be  re?2t  in  twain y 
 which  feparates  the  outward  court  from  the  ho- 
 lieft  of  ail :  we  fhall  enter  within  the  vail.  The 
 wall  of  partition  will  be  taken  down,  which 
 now  parts  the  family  of  God,  and  all  will  appear 
 in  a  body,  and  be  always  prefent  together.  And 
 what  a  fountain  of  confolation  is  this;  that  we 
 fhall  ever  be  happy  together  ?  It  may  be,  we 
 have  been  often  forrowing  and  mourning  to- 
 gether in  this  world  under  a  like  difeafe  of  na- 
 ture and  exercife  of  mind ;  engag'd  in  like  con- 
 flidis,  and  flruggling  with  the  fame  difficulties 
 of  life }  but  then  all  tears  jl: all  be  wiped  away, 
 
 and 
 
26  A  Funeral  Sermon  on 
 
 and  we  fhall  rejoice  together,  and  be  happy 
 together  for  ever.  What  a  joy  was  it  to  the 
 aged  patriarchy  to  hear  that  Jofeph  was  alive, 
 and  advanced  mEgyptf  'tis  faid  his  heart  faint - 
 ^"■^'^'  ed  and  he  believed  them  not ;  but  when  he  faw 
 the  waggons,  his  fpirit  reviv'd,  and  he  faid,  it 
 is  enough,  Jofeph  my  Jon  is  yet  alive.  And 
 when  Jofeph  met  him  in  Gofien,  ajid  prefented 
 himfelf  to  him,  and  he  fell  on  his  neck  and  kiffhd 
 him  ;  when  he  faw  him  in  all  his  glory,  and 
 fhar'd  with  him  in  the  profperity  of  his  exalted 
 iiate,  he  exprefles  himfelf  with  a  tranfport 
 of  joy,  after  Mvs^  mourning  for  him  many  da's s^ 
 and  refufing  to  be  comforted:  ^nd  Ifraelfaid  to 
 Jofeph,  Now  let  me  die  fine  e  I  havefeen  thy  face  y 
 becaufe  thou  art  yet  alive, 
 
 SECT.    11. 
 
 But  it  may  be  faid  here;  that  tho'  this  is 
 matter  of  comfort  indeed  in  fuch  a  cafe  -,  yet 
 it  is  re?note  and  diftant.  All  this  relates  only 
 to  their  happinefs  after  the  refurreftion  of  the 
 body,  and  at  the  appearance  of  the  Lord  Jefus 
 Chrift :  But  what  is  their  prefent  ftate,  who 
 fleep  inyefus^hct^ttn  the  time  of  their  death  and 
 refurredtion  ?  Is  there  no  comfort  to  be  drawn 
 from  the  conlideration  of  the  ftate  they  are 
 710W  in  ?  I  anfwer  briefly  in  the  following 
 particulars,  which  will  open  a  frefli  fpring  of 
 confoiation  in  this  cafe. 
 
 I.  They  are  now  prefent  with  the  Lord. 
 'Tis  true  their  happinefs  will  not  be  compleat 
 till  the  refurreftion,  and  their  being  with  the 
 Lord  in  foul  and  body  :   and  to  this  the  con- 
 texture 
 
the  Death  of  Mrs.  Barker.  27 
 
 texture  of  the  Apoftle's  difcourfe  has  all  along 
 con  fin 'd  us.  But  then  it  muft  be  confider'd, 
 that  tho'  the  body  fleep  in  the  dufl:  till  the  morn- 
 ing of  the  refurred:ion,  yet  the  foul  is  in  fome 
 fort  with  Chrifl  immediately  upon  the  diffolu- 
 tion.  They  are  already  happy  in  their  beft 
 part,  and  in  the  nobleft  kind,  tho'  not  in  the 
 higheft  degree ;  and  'tis  not  wholly  deferr'd  till 
 the  time  of  the  refurredlion. 
 
 The  fcripture  reprefents   the  prefent   ftate 
 of  good  men  in  the  other  world  in  the  fame 
 terms  by  which  the   final  happineis  is  repre- 
 fented,  this  day  thou  JJjalt  be  with  me  in  p^^(^-J^\i  .. 
 dife.     The  Apoftle  makes  it  the  immediate  con- 
 iequence  of  a  difTolution ;  JVe  are  confident,  /^  ^o""-  '^• 
 fa)\  and  willing  rather  to  be  abfentfrom  the  body, 
 and  prefent  with  the  Lord.     And  'tis  the  reafon 
 of  his  defire  to  depart,  and  leavea  flate  of  preient 
 fervice  and  enjoyment ;  Having  a  defire  to  de-PhilA.zy 
 fart,  and  to  be  with  Chrifi,  which  is  far  better. 
 
 Every  true  believer  is  imfnediately  with  the 
 Lord:  They  are  now  with  him  from  the  time 
 of  their  abfence  and  departure.  As  foon  as 
 ever  they  depart  from  their  friends,  and  are 
 abfent  from  the  body,  they  are  prefent  with 
 the  Lord,  beholding  his  glory,  conform'd  to 
 his  likenefs,  and  rejoicing  in  his  love ;  tho'  it 
 will  no  doubt  be  more  improv'd,  and  more 
 compleat  hereafter.  'Tis  now  with  them  as  they 
 could  wifh  5  and  they  enjoy  the  greatefl  defire 
 of  their  heart.  They  are  perfedly  fatisfy'd 
 with  their  prefent  fi:ate,  and  would  not  come 
 down  into  the  world  again.  They  would  not 
 leave   the  realms  of  light   and  joy,   for  this 
 
 dark 
 
28  A  Funeral  Sermon  on 
 
 dark  and  diftrefs'd  world  j  nor  the  prefence  of 
 their  Lord,  for  the  company  of  the  deareft 
 friends  on  earth.  A  late  excellent  perfon  could 
 fay  upon  his  dying-bed,  That  he  would  not 
 be  four  and  twenty  hours  from  the  prefence  of 
 his  Lord  for  the  fake  of  a  near  relation,  who 
 was  yet  deareft  to  him  in  all  the  world. 
 
 And  fhould  not  we  be  comforted  concerning 
 our  departed  friends,  confidering  the  prefent 
 happinefs  of  their  flate,  and  what  they  imme- 
 
 2  Cor.  vu.  diateiy  enjoy,  and  be  comforted  in  their  ccmforf^ 
 and  exceedingly  the  more  rejoyce^for  the  joy  with 
 which  their fpirits  are  refrejhedf  Should  we  dif- 
 agree  with  them  now,  with  whom,  it  may  be, 
 we  have  always  agreed ;  or  be  uneafy  at  their 
 advancement,  and  grieve  at  that  which  gives 
 them  the  greatefh  fatisfadion^  and  is  the  reafon 
 of  their  higheft  joy  ? 
 
 2.  The  relation  vjh.Qr:tm  we  ftand  to  them. 
 Death  diifolves  the  relations  of  this  world.  All 
 the  natural  and  civU  relations  of  life  ceafe  ; 
 'tis  our  late  relation  and  friend;  for  in  ftrid: 
 propriety,  they  are  no  longer  fuch.  They  lafl 
 no  longer  than  ////  death  do  us  fart.  But  the 
 Jpiritual  relation  remains  ftill,  and  is  never  dif- 
 folv'd  ;  for  they  ftand  related  to  God  as  their 
 father,  and  are  the  members  of  Chrifl.  They 
 are  alive   to  him,  tho'  dead  to  us:  He  is  the 
 
 37,  38.  G^<5^  ?/ Abraham,  Ifaac  ^W  Jacob  ;  he  is  not 
 the  God  of  the  dead^  but  of  the  living  j  for  all 
 live  to  him.  They  live  a  more  noble  and  ex- 
 cellent kind  of  life  ;  and  he  ftands  related  to 
 their  dead  duft,  and  will  raife  it  up  again. 
 They  remain  the  children  of  God,  and  living 
 
 mem- 
 
the  Death  of  Mrs,  Barker.  29 
 
 members  of  the  glorified  Redeemer  in  heaven : 
 They  are  the  children  of  Gody  being  the  children 
 of'  the  refurrediion. 
 
 Upon  this  confideration  the  Apoflle  tells 
 us,  For  this  caufe  I  bow  fny  knee  to  the  Father  of  ... 
 our  Lord  fefiis  Chriji,  of  whom  the  whole  fa?ni-  ,^,  j^.' 
 ly  in  heaven  and  earth  is  named:  All  the  chil- 
 dren of  God  make  up  one  family,  part  of 
 which  is  here  below^  and  part  above.  The 
 family  above  confifts  of  angels  and  glorified 
 faints;  but  they  are  the y^;^?^  family,  and  bear 
 a  common  name^  tho'  they  are  of  the  upper 
 houfe,  and  advanc'd  to  higher  ftations.  Our 
 departed  friends  are  in  our  father's  houfe, 
 tho'  in  a  higher  manfion  there.  They  are 
 children  of  the  fame  family,  tho'  like  elder 
 children,  or  thofe  grown  to  age,  they  have 
 enter'd  upon  the  inheritance.  When  the  Apo- 
 flle defcribes  the  heavenly  flate  by  an  innumera- 
 ble cofnpany  of  angels^  the  general  afj'embly^  and 
 church  of  the  fir/i-born,  and  fpirits  of  juji  ?nen 
 made  perfeB ;  he  fays,  ye  are  come  to  mount 
 Sion,  the  city  of  the  living  God^  the  heavenly 
 Jerufalem.  Which  can  reafonably  import  no- 
 thing lefs  than,  "  Ye  ftand  related  to  them, 
 * '  ye  belong  to  the  blelfed  fociety,  and  really 
 "  partake  with  them  already.  Ye  are  now 
 "  ally'd  to  angels  and  departed  fpirits." 
 
 So  that  the  fpiritual  relation  continues  be- 
 tween us:  They  are  our  chriflian  brethren, 
 and  fellow-members.  We  have  o?ie  Father, 
 and  are  named  by  the  fame  Lord,  their  Lord, 
 and  our  Lord,  Angels  2lx^  fellow-fervants ^  andv^tyf.  xxli. 
 brethren  of  them  who  keep  thefayings  of  this  book.  9' 
 
 The 
 
go  A  Funeral  Sermon  on 
 
 The  change  offtate,  and  diflance  of  condition 
 don't  alter  this  relation,  tho'  it  diiTolves  all 
 other.  And  how  comfortable  is  it  to  think  of 
 our  departed  friends  under  this  confideration ; 
 That  tho'  they  are  remov'd  out  of  the  world, 
 and  from  our  fight,  yet  they  are  not  wholly 
 loft  to  us  ?  They  are  ours  ftill  in  the  higheft 
 and  moft  valuable  relation  in  which  we  Hood 
 to  them  J  the  children  of  the  fame  family,  and 
 members  of  the  fame  Lord.  They  are  ours  in 
 Abraham  s  bofom,  and  parts  of  ourfehes  now 
 glorified  in  heaven. 
 
 3.  The  concern  we  had  with  them  in  this 
 world.  If  we  were  ferviceable  to  them,  or 
 they  to  us,  in  the  way  to  heaven.  If  they 
 were  our  natural  or  Spiritual  ofi^-fpring,  the 
 fruit  of  our  loins,  or  the  children  of  our  faith. 
 If  we  have  brought  them  forth,  or  brought 
 them  up  for  heaven .  If  of  the  fruit  of  our  loins y 
 according  to  the  flefo,  God  has  rais'd  up  an 
 holy  feed  to  himfelf,  and  we  have  the  great  joy 
 3  John  4.  to  fee  our  children  walking  in  the  truth :  'Tis 
 an  high  honour  to  bring  forth  a  child  of  God, 
 and  breed  an  heir  of  glory. 
 
 And  this  comes  with  peculiar  advantage, 
 if  we  have  been  the  inftruments  of  their  new 
 birth,  and  have  begotten  them  again  thro  the 
 gofpel.  If  as  parents  or  minijlers^  or  chriftian 
 friends^  we  have  had  a  hand  in  training  'em  up 
 for  glory.  Elpecialiy  if  feveral  confiderations 
 concur,  and  we  have  born  a  various  part  j  if 
 God  has  own'd  our  inftructions  and  counfels 
 for  the  firft  awaking  of  their  minds,  direding 
 them  in  their  courfe,  encouraging  them  in  their 
 
 diffi- 
 
the  Death  of  Mrs,  Barker.  21 
 
 difficulties,  fatisfying  their  doubts,  and  mini-  * 
 firing  to  their  eftabhfliment  and  joy.  If 
 they  receiv'd  either  the  firfl  lineaments^  or  iaft 
 finijfnng  from  our  hands.  The  Apoille  fpeaks 
 of  fuch  a  cafe  j  For  what  is  our  hope,  or  joy,  or 
 crown  of  rejoicing,  are  not  evenyeintheprefence\  , '^  ' 
 of  our  Lord  J  ef us  Chriji  at  his  coming^^  For  ye 
 are  our  glory,  and  our  joy.  And  doubtlels  it  ought 
 to  be  a  great  fatisfadion  at  prefent  to  confider, 
 that  fuch  are  fafely  arriv'd  to  heaven  thro'  our 
 means,  or  by  our  helpj  that  we  have  been 
 made  the  inftruments  of  their  being  in  this 
 world,  and  their  blelTednefs  in  the  other  too. 
 
 Or  if  they  were  fuch  whom  we  have  got 
 good  by :  Our  fathers  in  Chrifl ;  concerning 
 whom  we  may  fay ;  T^hd  we  had  many  injiruc-  \  Cor.  iv. 
 tors  in  Chrifl,  yet  not  many  fathers  -,  for  iji  ^  5  • 
 Chrifl  Jefus  they  have  begotten  us  through  the 
 Gojpel.  They  were  the  great  inilruments  of 
 a  laving  change,  or  fpiritual  edification.  They 
 are  now  in  heaven  whom  God  own'd  to  do  fo 
 much  good  to  my  foul :  my  parent  or  paflor, 
 ox  friend,  to  whom  I  owe  more  than  to  any 
 creature.  They  reft  from  the  labour  of  life, 
 and  receive  their  reward  in  heaven ;  rejoice  ifi 
 the  travail  of  their  Jhul,  and  poffefs  tht  joy  of 
 their  Lord!  Tho'  'Z£^d' have  loft  the  opportunity 
 of  farther  advantage  by  them,  and  fhall  no 
 more  receive  the  benefit  of  their  counfels  and 
 warnings ;  yet  they  have  received  the  commen- 
 dation of  their  faithfulnefs :  and  the  good  we 
 have  gained  by  them,  will  add  to  their  latis- 
 fadtion  and  reward,  increafe  their  pleafure, 
 and  add  to  their  weight  of  glory. 
 
 I  '  4. 
 
32 
 
 A  Funeral  Sermon  on 
 
 4»  Tn'E.JJjortnefs  of  the  diftance  and  repara- 
 tion. If  we  were  not  to  be  with  them  till  the 
 refurredlion,  it  would  not  be  a  great  while, 
 confidering  the  long  duration  and  continuance 
 of  their  happinefs,  and  judging  of  things  by- 
 God's  account;  for  a  thouj and  years  are  with 
 the  Lord  but  as  one  day :  and  the  end  of  all 
 things  is  at  hand.  We  read  exprefsly,  He  who 
 Jhall  come^  will  come,  and  will  not  tarry.  Andj 
 Behold  1  come  quickly. 
 
 But  if  it  appear  irkfome  and  tedious  to 
 wait  fo  long,  and  we  fhould  be  ready  to  think 
 it  an  age  of  abfence  from  our  beloved  and  glori- 
 fy'd  friends;  why  then  we  are  to  conlider,  that 
 we  (liall  be  with  them  in  their  prefent  happi- 
 nefs, as  foon  as  we  leave  this  world.  And 
 how  fliort  a  diftance  is  that  ?  The  whole  com- 
 pafs  of  life  in  this  world  is  but  a  fhort  fpace ; 
 our  days  are  but  a  hand's  breadth.  And  it  may 
 be  a  great  part  of  life  is  already  run-out;  per- 
 haps we  have  lived  the  beft  and  longeft  time  of 
 our  lives  in  this  world ;  why  then  we  are  fo  much 
 the  nearer  them,  by  all  the  time  we  have 
 lived  in  this  world  :  for  our  / ah  at  ion  is  nearer 
 than  when  we  Jirjl  believed. 
 
 You  maybe  with  your  departed  friends  in 
 a  little  time,  and  fooner  than  you  think  of. 
 Comfort  thyfelf  with  this  thought,  that  in  a 
 little  v/hile  you  lliall  fee  them  again,  and  en- 
 joy them  for  ever.  A  few  more  days  of  abfence 
 in  this  world,  and  we  fhall  go  to  them  and  be 
 where  they  arc.  A  few  more  fabbath-days  on 
 earth,  and  we  fliall  come  to  the  re/l  which 
 re?naineth  for  the  people  of  God ^  and  keep  a  glo- 
 rious 
 
the  Death  of  Mrs.  Barker.  33 
 
 ribus  everlafling  fabbath  together  above.  We 
 fliall  be  ad:ually  joined  to  \\i^  general affemhh^ 
 to  which  we  now  relate,  and  which  fliall  never 
 difTolve  and  break  up ;  we  fhall  join  in  the 
 praife,  and  partake  of  the  blelTednefs  v/hich 
 they  poflefs. 
 
 III.  Application. 
 
 I.  We  may  learn  the  great  excellence  of  the 
 gofpel-difpenfation,  which  affords  fiich  power- 
 ful reliefs  under  the  forrows  and  afiiidiions  of 
 life.  How  much  happier  are  we  in  this  re- 
 iped:  than  the  heathen  world,  who  had  only 
 the  light  of  nature  and  natural  confiderations 
 to  fupport  and  comfort  them.  The  philofo- 
 phcrs  fetched  their  confolations  againft  the  fear 
 of  death,  and  forrow  for  the  dead,  from  moral 
 conliderations  and  the  reafon  of  things ;  and 
 many  of  them  were  excellent  in  their  kind  and 
 have  their  proper  ufe :  but  a  chriftian  fetches  his 
 comfort  from  the  Scriptures^  and  fuch  conlide- 
 rations which  they  knew  nothing  of:  'That  we 
 through  patience  and  comfort  of  the  fcripture  Rom.  xv, 
 might  have  hope.  The  Gofpel  opens  new"^* 
 fprings  of  confolation^  and  furer  grounds  of 
 hope,  without  the  mixtures  ofmiflake,  un- 
 certainty and  fear,  which  the  wifeft  heathens 
 often  betray 'd  in  their  boldefl  flights  of  expref- 
 lion,  and  highefh  fallies  of  alTurance. 
 
 How  much  have  we  the  advantage  o£ for^ 
 mer  difpenfations  of  the  divine  will,  when  the 
 future  glory  was  obfcurely  reveal'd,  in  dark 
 ?.nd  general  hints,  like  the  types  and  figures  of 
 the  facrifice  of  Chrifl:  .f*  The  refurredtion  of  the 
 
 D  body,' 
 
2^  A  Funeral  Sermon  Of? 
 
 body,  and  the  eternal  life  of  the  other  world, 
 
 are  the  peculiar  glory  of  the  gofpel-revelation. 
 
 2  Tim.  i.  ^^  '^^^^   abolified  deaths  and  brought  life  and 
 
 1  o-  immortality  to  light  by  the  go/pel :  Brought  it  out 
 
 of  its  former  obfcurity,  and  plac'd  it  in  a  fuller 
 hght. 
 
 And  this  furniflies  more  powerful  fupports, 
 and  proper  grounds  of  comfort,  under  the  dark- 
 eft  appearance  of  providence,  and  the  worfl  cir- 
 cumrtance  of  life ;  as  the  lofs  of  the  deareffc 
 friend,  or  the  greatefl  afflidion  which  befalls  us. 
 And  upon  this  account,  as  well  as  upon  others, 
 the  miniflration  of  the  fpirit  is  rather  glorious^ 
 
 2  Cor.  Hi.  and  exceeds  in  glory.     Yea,  Rven  that  which  was 
 ^'  '°'     ?nade  glorious,  had  ?io  glory  in  this  refpeB,  by 
 
 reafon  of  the  glory  that  e.-^celleth.     The  clearer 
 difcoveries  of  the   gofpel-revelation,  darkened 
 the  dim  light,  and  drew  a  vail  over  the  fainter 
 glory   of  the  law  j  as   the   brighter  light   ob- 
 fcures  the   lefs.     And   in  allufion  to  this,  the 
 Ver.  13,  Apoftle  fays,  I'hat  Mofes   put  a  vail  over  his 
 x8.        face,  that   the  children  o/'Ifrael    could  not  look 
 fiedfafily  to  the  end  of  that  which  is  abolified; 
 but  we  all  with  open  face  behold  as  in  a  glafs, 
 the  glory  of  the  Lord.     This   fhould  raife  our 
 efteem  of  the  lively  oracles,  and  direft  the  ufe 
 of  them.     We   fhould  value   the   high  privi- 
 lege, and  improve  the   great  advantage,  efpe- 
 cially  to  thofe  purposes  to  which  'tis  peculiarly 
 fitted  and  defign'd  j  to   bear  afflidiions  with 
 compofure,  and  fubmit  to   the    hand  of  God 
 with  filence,  to  reftrain  unruly  paffions,  and 
 fupport  and  relieve  our  minds  under  the  great- 
 eft  lofTes  and  forrows  of  life. 
 
 2. 
 
the  Death  of  Mrs.  Barker.  35 
 
 2.  The  unreafonablenej's  of  immoderate  for- 
 row  for  the  dead ;  efpecially  for  godly  friends 
 departed.  It  was  this  caution  occafion'd  the 
 whole  dilcourfe :  but  /  would  not  have  you  ig- 
 norant, brethren,  concernin^themwho are ajleep-,  ^^'  ^* 
 concerning  their  ilate  in  the  other  world,  that 
 you  for  row  not, even  as  others  who  have  no  hope,  i.e, 
 with  excefs  and  defpair,  as  the  heathens  do  *, 
 who  have  no  hope  of  a  refurredtion,  or  certain 
 knowledge  of  a  future  ftate.  They  howl  and 
 lament  over  the  dead,  abandon  themfelves  to 
 inconfolable  grief,  as  tho'  they  were  loft  for 
 ever,  who  are  once  departed  out  of  the  world ; 
 and  there  were  no  hope  left  of  their  future 
 being,  or  any  farther  enjoyment  of  them. 
 
 He  does  not  forbid  them  all  forrow  for  the 
 dead  J  that  were  z^;/«^/z/r^/ and  impoffible.  The 
 affedion  o^ grief,  as  well  as  joy,  is  planted  in 
 our   nature  by  the  hand  of  God :  And  fome- 
 thing  is  due  to  the  memory   of  our  departed 
 friends,  according  to  the  degree  of  what  was 
 excellent   and  lovely  in  their   lives  >  and  the 
 nearnefs  of  our  relation  and  concern  with  them : 
 And   a   v/ife   and   well-tempered   forrow   in 
 fuch  a  cafe,  is  allowable  and  becoming.     'Tis 
 recorded  of  our  Lord,  when  Lazarus,  whom  Luke  xu 
 he  loved,  died,    iLhat  Jefus  wept,     'Tis  only 35- 
 forrow,  without   hope,  a   hopelefs,   delpairing 
 
 *  Some  fuppofe  the  Apoftle  refers  to  the  Jenuijh  zealots,  who 
 were  very  pompous  in  \.ht\r  funeral  forrows,  and  thought  that 
 rone  but  circumcisd  Ifraelites  could  have  any  fhare  in  the  hap- 
 pinefs  of  heaven  ;  and  that  the  chriftians  had  no  more  hope  than 
 the  heathens.  The  Epicureans  and  Sadducees  had  no  expectation 
 of  a  future  Hate ;  and  the  Pharifees  among  the  Jenus,  and  the 
 Flatonijls  among  the  philofophers,  had  no:  the  chrillian  hope, 
 and  were  liable  to  more  uncertainty. 
 
 D  2  forroWj 
 
^6  .  A  Funeral  Sermon  on 
 
 fbrrow,  when   men  let   loofe  the    paffion   of 
 grief,  and  fuffer  it   to  carry  them  beyond  all 
 bounds  j  and  the  bitter  waters  rife,  and  fwell, 
 and  overflow :   When  there  is  lamentation,  and 
 jg^    '^^'  iveeping,  and  great  7nourning\  '^'^f^oS.  weeping 
 for  her  children,  and  rcfiifing    to  be  comforted^ 
 becaiife    they  are  720t :  When  it  grows    intem- 
 perate and   ungovernable ;  runs   to    an  undue 
 degree  in  the  meafure  and    continuance  of  it^ 
 2  Cor  ii    ^^^^    rcitn    are  Jit' allow  d    up    with    overmuch 
 'J.  Jorrow ;  or  unfits  for  proper  duty,  and  affedts 
 
 our    bodily   health,     like  the  jorrow    of  this 
 '  world,  which  worketh  death. 
 
 This  the  Apoftle  charges  with /^/zor/?;?^^  of 
 the  flate  of  the  dead  ;  of  the  gofpel-revelation 
 concerning  the  refurre6lion  of  the  body,  and 
 a  future  life  in  the  other  world.  This  is  an 
 heathenijlo  grief,  and  like  the  Gentiles  in  their 
 fiate  of  darknefsj  and  highly  unfuitable  to 
 the  gofpel-ftate,  and  the  heavenly  hope. 
 
 I  Shall  conclude  all  vv^ith  the  exhortation 
 of  the   text,  Coinfort  one    another    with    thefe 
 words :  With  this   view  and    conlideration  of 
 the  cafe  of  our  departed  friends.     Let  mourn- 
 ful and    afflidling  chriftians  take  in  the  com- 
 fort of  this  thought,   and  minifler  comfort  to 
 one  another.     Let  them    who  fear  the  Lord 
 Jpeak  often   one   to  another  about  thefe  words. 
 When  Mofes  and  Rlias  appear'd  in  glory  upon 
 Luke  Ix.  the  mount,  they  fpake  of  our  Lord's   deceafe 
 3<-  which  he  was  to  accomplijh  at  feriijalem.     And 
 
 2  Pet.  i.    the  Apoflle  fpeaks  oi  fiortly  putting  of  his  ta^ 
 14,  15.    bernacle,  and  what  Ihould  happen  after  his  de^ 
 ceafe.     'Tis  good  to   be  fpeaking  of  one  ano- 
 ther's 
 
the  Death  of  Mrs.  Barker.  37 
 
 tiler's  departure  and  feparation,  elpecially  who 
 have  continued  long  in  the  world,  and  lived 
 many  years  of  life  together.  It  tends  to  pre- 
 ferve  an  habitual  ferioufnefs,  and  promote  a 
 heavenly  mind.  And  it  would  be  very  pro- 
 fitable to  be  fometimes  fpeaking  concerning 
 others  who  are  already  departed,  to  difcourfe 
 together  concerning  the  happy  ftate  of  departed 
 faints.  How  comfortable  is  it  for  chriftians 
 thus  to  befpeak  one  another  5  "  I  have  a  fh^ 
 ^^  ther  or  mother^  brother  or  fijler^  hujband  or 
 "  wife  J  Jon  or  daughter^  a  dear  and  intimate 
 ^''  friend^  now  with  Chrill:  I  have  loil  the 
 ^'  benefit  and  pleafure  of  their  acquaintance 
 *'  and  converfe  in  this  v/orldj  but  they  have 
 "  better  company,  and  are  in  a  better  ilate. 
 *'  They  are  fled  from  my  embraces,  but  they 
 *'  reft  in  Abraham's  bojom.  They  are  fafe  in 
 "  their  Father's  houje^  and  have  chang'd 
 *'  worlds  to  infinite  advantage.  I  am  waiting 
 "  my  departure  and  releafe,  when  I  fliall  fee 
 "  them  again,  and  dw^ell  with  them  for  ever. 
 *'  V/e  parted  with  forrow,  with  great  reluc- 
 *'  tance  of  nature,  and  deep  diflrefs ;  it  was 
 "  \\^^2LJhvord piercing  thro  the  bowels,  or  rend-  ,^  ., 
 *'  ingahmb  fromthebody  J  buthow  comfor- -^^ 
 ■ '  table  v/ill  be  our  mcetins;  too-ether  a2:ain,  how 
 "  joyful  will  be  the  firft  interview  and  greet- 
 "  ing  of  dear  departed  fl'iends;  how  pleafant 
 *'  the  enjoyment  after  fo  long  an  abfence,  and 
 "   how  unfpeakablc  the  delight  for  everl" 
 
 I  Hope  by  this  time   we  are  prepared  to 
 
 hear  what  I  have    to  ofter  concerning  our  de- 
 
 (;eajed friend,  whofe  death  occafion'd  this.dif- 
 
 D   x  courfe.. 
 
28  A  Funeral  Sermon  on 
 
 courfe.  I  fhall  fpeak  with  the  gvt2itQV  freedom, 
 becaufe  I  am  able  to  do  it  with  '^x^2Xfattsf ac- 
 tion^ and  upon  the  befl  authority.  It  was 
 moil  agreeable  to  her  known  difpolition,  to 
 ufe  great  modejiy  of  Ipeech  upon  fuch  occafions. 
 She  had  no  great  opinion  oi  funeral  oratory  fo 
 often  imploy'd  to  flatter  the  dead^  and  abufe 
 the  linking',  and  was  fometimes  ready  to  fuf- 
 pe(3:,  the  dead  were  often  praifed  for  no  other 
 reafon,  but  becaufe  they  were  dead.  Some- 
 thing however  is  due  to  her  memory^  and  to 
 the  honour  of  the  divine  grace  in  her,  in 
 whom  were  many  things  very  excellent^  and 
 exemplary  to  others. 
 
 The  name  of  her  father  Mr.  Robert  Gled- 
 hill  is  flill  very  precious  among  the  good 
 people  where  he  liv'd  and  died,  as  he  was  a 
 bright  example  o{  family  and  pradlical  religion, 
 and  publick  ufefulnefs  in  thofe  parts  *.  She 
 often  fpoke  of  his  eminent  holinefs  with  grati- 
 tude and  pleafure,  and  was  always  thankful 
 for  the  fingular  blefTing  of  defcending  from 
 godly  parents^  and  of  a  pious  education.  The 
 imprejiion  of  his  example,  inflruiftion,  and 
 prayers  remain'd  upon  her,  and  was  a  great 
 means  of  foftening  her  heart  and  influencing 
 her  behaviour.  The  more  ihe  grew  acquaint- 
 ed with  divine  things,  ihe  had  ftili  higher  and 
 greater  appreheniions  of  belonging  to  God  in 
 a  covenant  way^  and  of  the  value  and  im.port- 
 ance  of  the  relation  and  rights  of  a  covenant 
 ilate.  She  often  refleded  on  the  ^janity  o/"her 
 youth,  with  a  true  concern ;  but  was  always 
 
 fcnfible 
 
 *  Kear  Wakdield  in  VorkOiire, 
 
the  Death  of  Mrs,  Barker.  39 
 
 fenfible  of  the  mercy  of  being  preferved  by  di- 
 vine grace  and  providence,  in  the  midfl  of 
 many  fnares,  from  the  error  of  the  wicked,  and 
 the  path  of  the  dcji rover. 
 
 After  fie  became  a  wfe,  (lie  Increafed  in 
 fervent  defres  after  God.  And  as  ihz  Jiad  tlic 
 advantage  of  conllant  affiftance,  llie  was  a 
 mioft  fuitable  companion  to  her  nearell  rela- 
 tion ;  and  by,  her  natural  cheerfiihiefs,  and 
 eafy  mind;  her  great  fidehty  and  tender  af- 
 fection J  both  ftrengthen'd  his  hands,  and 
 comforted  his  heart.  Her  wifdom  and  expe- 
 rience in  y^zw//y  affix irs,  eafed  him  of  the  bur- 
 den of  worldly  cares,  and  her  prefence  and 
 converfation,  gave  a  fweetnels  to  all  the  blef- 
 fm2;s  of  life.  She  had  a  very  humble  fenfc  of  her 
 own  u?iworthi?iefs  towards  God,  and  would  of- 
 ten fpeak  of  thQ  future  happinefs,  as  a  vafi  and 
 mighty  thing ;  and  be  even  aftoniili'd  at  the 
 freedo?n  and  riches  of  divine  grace,  which 
 mufl:  bring  ^.finful  creature  to  heaven. 
 
 They  who  befl:  knew  her  will  readily  a- 
 gree,  fhe  was  ftricftly  honcji  and  fincere,  and 
 fpake  the  truth  from  her  heart.  Difimulation 
 was  her  averfion  and  dread.  She  was  courteous 
 and  civil  to  all,  and  had  a  pleafure  mjcrving 
 and  obliging  every  one  about  her.  She  Vv'-as  of 
 a  tender  and  /ympathizing  fpirit,  and  had  a 
 mighty  (tnHo,  of  the  afj'cElions  and  afiiBions  ot 
 her  friends  3  and  always  difpos'd  to  rejoice  with 
 them  who  rejoiced,  and  mourned  with  them  who 
 mourn.  She  was  always  contented  with  her 
 ftate,  and  thankful  for  the  happy  condition  in 
 which  God  had   placed  her ;  neither  defpifing 
 
 D  A  tiioic 
 
40  A  Funeral  Sermon  on 
 
 thofe  below  her,  nor  envying  thofe  above  her. 
 In  the  midil  of  every  earthly  enjoyment  heaven 
 had   her  heart,  and   heavenly  things  her  befl 
 
 afie'fLion. 
 
 Among  the  troubles  of  her  life,  the  lofjeSy 
 mifcarriagei    and    offiiBiom    of  her  relations^ 
 were  neither  few  nor    fmall ;  but  {lie  was  re- 
 markable for  a  great  and  fteady  trufi  in  God, 
 in    all  the   difficulties   which    befel  her;  and 
 would  often  fay,  profperity  was  thegreatefl;  fnare, 
 and  that  fhe  never  met  with  affiiBion^  but  fhe 
 had  reafon  to  bkfs  God  for   it.     She  waited  at 
 imfdoms gates  with  fpiritual  benefit,  and  found 
 peculiar   comfort  and   delight  in  a  ferious  at- 
 tendance upon  all  the  ordinances  of  the  gofpel- 
 worlhip.    She   excelled  in  the  moft  difficult 
 duty  of  the  chriflian  life,  and  what  is  commonly 
 found   fo  hard    to  others,  was  eafy  to  her;  a 
 readinefs  to  forgive  injuries :   She  had  formerly 
 been  try'd  in  feveral  inftances,  and  in  very  ten- 
 der points,  tho'  blelTed  be  God,  flie  had  little 
 occafion  to  exercife  this  vertue  in  this  place. 
 
 Her  \2i9i  Jiclmefs  was  grievous  and ^^z/V//^//; 
 and  tho'  made  as  eafy  by  the  tendernefs  and 
 compafhon  of  her  dear  friends  about  her,  as 
 poffible,  of  which  /he  exprefs'd  the  tendereft 
 refentment^  and  which  has  left  the  moft  grate- 
 ful re^nembrance  in  her  furvivlng  reliB ;  yet  it 
 was  fufficient  to  try  her  patience  and  her  faith 
 \^'^.  She  often  faid,  "  None  knew  what  flie 
 ''  eridured,  but  God  only:"  Tho  no  one 
 tliCught  her //;;^^//>;?/,  but  herfelf  alone.  Her 
 paiBge  at  length  was  eafy,  as  her  foul  was  calm 
 .ompos'd  :  Her  laft  vi^ords  were,   "  I  will 
 
 "  lie 
 
the  Death  of  Mrs,  Barker.  41 
 
 "  lie  down  and  fleep."  She  did  fo,  and  with- 
 out a  groan,  {htjlept  the  Jleep  of  death,  and  I 
 doubt  not,  Jleeps  in  Jejiis, 
 
 Tho'  her  iicknefs  and  death  were  the  more 
 grievous  and  furprizing,  by  being  abfent  from 
 home,  and  in  2,  journeying  ftate;  there  is  this 
 comfort  in  that  cafe,  that  every  place  is  equal- 
 ly near  our  heavenly  Father's  houfe,  and  the 
 prefence  of  Chrift,  which  makes  the  happinefs 
 of  heaven,  will  eafily  make  up  the  want  of  any 
 conveniences  on  earth.  'Tis  the  fame  thing  to  a 
 glorify  d  faint  in  heaven,  whether  his  pafTage 
 out  of  the  world  was  early  or  late,  with  diffi- 
 culty or  eafe,  from  his  own  home  or  the  re- 
 moteft  corner  of  the  earth.  The  firft  moment 
 of  the  heavenly  blefTednefs,  will  wear  out  all 
 the  impreffions  oi  for  row  in  this  world,  and  be 
 a  fure  earnefl  of  eternal  joys. 
 
 ^ 
 
 ii:;iP$«" 
 
 SER- 
 
42 
 
 SERMON     II. 
 
 The  death  of  good  men^  in  the 
 midft  of  their  day s^  confidered 
 and  improved. 
 
 PsAL.  cii.  23,  24. 
 
 He  weakeneth  my  Jlrength  in  the  way^ 
 he  Jhortneth  my  days:  Ifatdy  0  7ny 
 God^  take  me  not  away  in  the  midji 
 of  my  days^for  thyyeaf's  are  through^ 
 out  all  generations* 
 
 THIS  pfalm,  without  the  name  of  its 
 author,  is  entitled,  T})e  prayer  of  the 
 affiiSied  when  he  is  overwhelm' d,  and 
 foureth  out  his  complaint  before  the  Lord.  It 
 was  probably  compofed  at  the  end  of  the  Ba- 
 bylon ifh  captivity,  or  foon  after  the  Jews  re- 
 turji'd  to  their  own  country,  when  the  temple 
 lay  in  ruins  ^  and  the  building  of  it  met  with 
 great  obflrudlon.  This  occafion'd  many 
 mournful  refledions  and  complaints  j  as  he 
 lometimes  encourages  himfelf  in  the  hopes  of 
 
 God's 
 
A  Funeral  Sermo7t.  4  3 
 
 God's  faithfiilnefs  to  his  promlfe,  and  the  ho- 
 nour it  would  be  to  his  name  in  the  eyes  of 
 the  Gentile  world. 
 
 The  words  I  have  read  are  of  the  former 
 kin'd.  He  iDeakeneth  my  firength  in  the  iva)\ 
 he  Jhortneth  my  days  :  The  firength  of  nature 
 began  to  fail  in  the  midft  of  Hfe :  God  feemed 
 to  threaten  an  immature  death,  and  before 
 the  ordinary  courfe  of  nature.  This  put  him 
 upon  this  prayer  to  God  ^  O  God^  take  V7e 
 not  away  in  the  midft  of  my  days :  q.  d.  with 
 relation  to  the  cafe  he  had  in  view ;  "  I  hoped 
 *'  to  have  lived  to  fee  the  finidiing  of  the 
 "  temple,  and  that  I  had  been  in  a  fair  way 
 "  to  it  J  but  the  great  oppofition  made  to  it, 
 "  and  the  great  decays  I  find  in  my  felf,  make 
 "  me  fear  I  fhall  fail  of  the  pleafmg  hopes: 
 "  take  me  not  away  before  it  is  complete,  but 
 "  fufferme  to  live  to  fee  thypromife  fulfilled." 
 
 What  the  Pfalmift  here  had  only  the  ap- 
 prehenfions  of  concerning  himfelf,  is  fome- 
 times  actually  the  cafe  with  other  good  men : 
 He  weakeneth  their  firength  iii  the  way^  and 
 fi:)Ortens  their  days^  and  takes  them  away  in  the 
 midfi  of  their  days.  Nothing  is  more  affecfling 
 to  confidering  minds,  and  more  dark  and  un- 
 accountable in  prefent  providence,  than  when 
 eminently  good  and  ufeful  perfons  are  remov- 
 ed in  early  life,  while  wicked  and  ufelefs  per- 
 fons are  fpared  to  old  age.  It  carries  fomc- 
 thing  flrange  in  its  appearance,  and  is  con- 
 tray  to  nature.  That  old  perfons  die,  worn 
 out  with  fervice,  and  decays  of  nature,  is  no 
 wonder,  and  a  lefs  iofs  to   the  world  3  that   is 
 
 agreeable 
 
44  ^  Funeral  Sermon  for 
 
 agreeable  to  the  courfe  of  nature,  and  what 
 every  one  expeds.  But  when  younger  per- 
 fons  are  cut  off  in  the  midft  of  their  days, 
 and  the  height  of  their  ufefuhiefs,  richly  fur-f 
 nifliedj  and  ripe  for  fervice,  like  bloffoms  nip'd 
 in  the  tender  bud,  which  promifed  much  fair 
 zi^^^  fruit.  When  one  dies  in  his  full  fir ength^  and, 
 wholly  at  eafe,  while  their  breafis  are  full  of 
 '  milk,  and  their  bones  of  inarrow :  this  natu- 
 rally ftrikes  the  mind  with  furprize  and  aflo- 
 nifliment;  and  we  are  apt  not  only  to  grieve 
 at  the  lofs,  but  to  be  fhocked  at  the  appear- 
 ance, and  puzzled  at  the  difpenfation ;  and  to 
 fay  with  the  Pfalmift  on  the  like  occalion  -, 
 Pf.lxxxix.  The  days  of  his  youth  hafi  thoiif:ortnedj  remember 
 ^^'  '^''"  how  port  my  time  is — .  Wherefore  hafi  thou 
 made  all  Men  in  njain  !  I  believe  you  are  all  be- 
 forehand v/ith  me  in  this  refled:ion  upon  thi5 
 melancholy  occafion ;  and  I  thought  I  could 
 not  more  properly  improve  it,  than  by  the  con- 
 fideration  of  this  fubjed:.     I  lliall  only  propofe, 
 
 I.  To  enquire  into  the  reafons  of  this  dif- 
 penfation, and  coniider  what  account  can  be 
 given  of  it. 
 
 II.  To  dire(5i:  to  the  proper  improvementj 
 and  fhew  how  it  may  be  made  moft  ufeful  to 
 us.     I  fliall  fpeak  a  little  diflindly  to  both. 
 
 SECT.  I. 
 I.  I  fhall  enquire  into  the  reafons  of  it. 
 And  becaufe  the  thinGf  is  ftrang-e  in  its  firft 
 ^^.ppearance,  and  apt  to  perplex  and  diftrefs 
 our  minds ;  it  v/ill  be  the  m.ore  needful  to  of- 
 fer fomething  to  juflify  the  divine  conduct, 
 
 remove 
 
the  Rev^.  Mr.  S  a  m  u  e  l  H  a  r  v  e  y.       45 
 
 remove  the  horror  of  the  appearance,  and  re- 
 concile and  fatisfy  our  minds  about  it. 
 
 I.  There  is  ihe Sovereig?ity  of  the  divine 
 will.  God  is  the  Creator  of  the  world,  and 
 the  natural  Lord  of  his  own  creation.  He 
 made  lis,  and  not  we  our  Jehes :  and  we  arc 
 his,  ajid  not  our  own :  he  has  the  right  of  dif- 
 pofal  who  is  Proprietor  and  Lord,  and  may 
 do  his  pleafure  with  his  own  creature :  He 
 created  all  things,  and  for  his  pleafure  they  are 
 and  were  created.  He  is  an  abfolute  Sovereign, 
 and  he  only  is  fit  to  be  fo  ;  for  he  has  an 
 higher  right  to  all  his  creatures,  than  they 
 have  to  themfelves,  or  to  any  thing  they  call 
 their  own  :  and  he  is  fit  to  exercife  fuch  a  power, 
 who  is  infinitely  perfect,  and  can  never  mis- 
 take or  ufe  it  ill.  V/e  have  nothing  to  fear 
 from  one  who  adrs  under  the  condud:  of  infi- 
 nite wifdom  and  goodnefs  in  all  his  ways. 
 
 His  fovereignty  and  dominion  extend  to  all 
 his  creatures  in  heaven  and   earth :    He  doth 
 his  will  in  the  armies  of  hea'ven,  and  among  ail 
 the  inhabitants   of  the    earth.      Angels   move 
 at    his    command,    and   always    do    his    will. 
 And  it  reaches  to  all  the  difpofals,  and  all  the 
 circumftances  of  life:  He  hath  determined  the -^^^s  xvU. 
 bounds  of  our  habitation,  aiid  the  times  before  ap- 
 pointed:  the  place  of  our  birth  and  abode,  and 
 all  the  relations  and  conditions  of  life.     Yea, 
 it  reaches  to  life  itfelf  j  for  our  life  a7zd  our?^a.\.xxxi. 
 times  are  in  his  hand:    the  different  periods  of '3- 
 our  time  in  the  world,  and  of  our  difiblution 
 and  departure  out  of  it.     His  days  are  deter- job  xiv-s- 
 minedy  and  the  number  of  his  months  are  with 
 
 thee  J 
 
46  A  Fu7teral  Sermo7t  for 
 
 thee,  thou  hajl  appointed  his  bounds  that  he  cafi-^ 
 ^^"V  72ot  pafs.  He  claims  it  as  a  prerogative  of  Deity : 
 x^iu.  19.  J  ^.^^^^^  ^jj^  J  heal,  I  kill  and  I  make  alive. 
 
 God  ads  as  the  proper  Sovereign  of  life,  when 
 he  removes  any  out  of  the  world,  in  whatfo- 
 ever  feafon  or  circumflance :  he  has  the  keys  of 
 hell  and  death  j  of  the  invifible  world,  and  the 
 pailage  into  it.     And  this  is  always  a  reafon  of 
 filence  and  fatisfaftion.     When  Nadab  and  A- 
 hihu,  the  two  fons  of  Aaron,  prefumptuoofly 
 offered Jirange  fire  before  the  hord\    and  an  im- 
 mediate and  extraordinary  vengeance  overtook 
 Levlt.-jc.s.  them,    'tis  faid.    And   Aaron  held  his  peace. 
 I  Sam.  iii.  When   Samuel  related  the  terrible  judgment 
 18.  iiDon  EA's  houfe,   concerning  the  death  of  his 
 
 fons  Hophni  and  Phineas,  he  laid,  'Tis  the  Lordy 
 let  hifn  do  ivhat  feejueth  htm  good.     When  fob 
 received  the  heavy  tidings  of  the  death  of  all 
 his  children  in  a  violent  manner,  while  they 
 were  eating  and  drinking  in  their  elder  bro- 
 T^^j  ,.Q_  ther's  houfe  i  He  rent   his  mantle,  and  jl^aved 
 his  head,  cxprefiions  of  a  deep  forrow,  and  fell 
 upon  the  ground  and  'worjljippcd:  i.  f.  he  fliewed 
 a  becoming  and  a  religious  concern  :  and  as 
 foon  as  he  recovered   himfelf,  he  made  this 
 wife  and  humble  refiedion  -,  Naked  came  1  out 
 (f  my  7ncth€?'s  womb,  the  earth,  ^nd  naked Jhall 
 I  return  thither  :  the  Lord  hath  given,  and  the 
 Lord  hath  taken  away,  and  blefed  be  the  name 
 of  the  Lord.     He  has  a  right  to  take  his  own 
 gifts,  who  always  retains  his  own  propriety, 
 and  only  lends  us  theufe  of  them  for  a  fe:afon. 
 i\ND  his  dominion  is  uncontroulable,  as  well 
 as  abfolute;    and  always  takes  place  :  Behold 
 2  he 
 
//5^i?^i;^.Mr.SAMUEL  Harvey.        47 
 
 he  taketh  away,  who  can  hinder  him  ?  who  will 
 Jay  to  him  J  what  doji  thou?  And,  who  hath  r^-Job.ix.12. 
 Jijled  his  will?  Nor  is  he  accountable  to  his 
 creatures  for  his  proceedings:  God  is  greater xKxVn.ii, 
 than  man  J  why  doJi  thoujirive  againfl  him,  for 
 he  giveth  not  an  account  of  any  of  his  matters  ? 
 He  is  infinitely  above  us,  and  not  to  be  ar- 
 raigned at  our  bar  j  or  obliged  to  let  us  into  the 
 fecrets  of  his  government,  and  the  reafons  of 
 his  dilpofals :  that  were  for  the  judge  to  de- 
 fcend  to  the  bar.     We  may  fay  of  the  time  of 
 death,  what  the  Apoflle  fays  of  another  dif- 
 penfation  of  providence.  Nay  but y  O  man,  who  ^^^i^^ 
 art  thou  who  repUefl  againji  God?  It  is  finally  to  20. 
 be  refolved  into  the  fovereign  will  of  God,  and 
 his  abfolute  pleafures   and  this  confideration 
 alone,   ought  to  fatisfy  us,  tho'  nothing  elfe 
 could  be  faid  about  it.     But  the  will  of  God  is 
 always  reafonable,  and  we  may,  without  pre- 
 fumption,  affign  other  reafons  of  this  conduct, 
 tho'  we  cannot  pretend  to  take  in  all  his  views, 
 or  dive  to  the  bottom  of  his  defigns.     And 
 therefore, 
 
 2.  'Tis  a  point  of  wifdom.  We  are  born 
 mortal  and  under  a  lentence  of  death.  This 
 is  the  flate  of  fain  nature,  and  the  confe- 
 quence  of  the  original  threatning,  Dujl  thou 
 art,  and  unto  dujl  thou  fialt  return.  And 
 the  Apoflle  makes  it  the  ftanding  effedt  of  fin. 
 By  one  man  fin  entered  into  the  world,  and  death  Rom.  v, 
 by  fin,  a?2d  fo  death  pa  fed  upon  all  men,  for^^- 
 that  all  have  finned.  We  have  the  feeds  of 
 mortality  in  our  nature,  and  tend  to  a  diffolu- 
 tion  by  our  mske  and  conftitution,  tho'  no 
 
 accident 
 
48  A  Funeral  Sermon  for 
 
 accident  or  difeafe  ever  befel  us;  and  we  are 
 tinder  the  fentence  of  the  violated  law,  and 
 liable  to  the  execution   of  it  every  moment, 
 from  our  birth  to  our  diflblution.     It  muft  be 
 executed  fome  time  or  other :    That  is  afcer- 
 tain'd  by  the  divine  law,  and  evident  by  uni- 
 verfal  experience ;  'Tis  appointed  for  men  once 
 to  die  y    and  there   is  720  difcharge  from   that 
 war.     There  have  been  but  two  exceptions  in 
 all  the  o;enerations  of  men  for  more  than  five 
 thoufand  years,  that  of  Enoch  and  Elias^  by 
 a  peculiar  favour,    and  for  an  extraordinary 
 purpofe,  who  were  tranflated  alive,  and  car- 
 ried immediately  up  to  heaven.     It  was  a  noble 
 faying  to  this  purpofe,  oi  Anaxagoras,  one  of 
 the   eminent   Greek  Philofophers,    upon   the 
 tidings  of  his  fon's  death ;    1  knew  that  I  begat 
 a  mortal,  and  that  he  was  liable  to  death  when 
 he  firft  came  into  the  world*, 
 .   But  now  the  time  and  the  feafon  of  it  Is 
 not  fettled  by  the  divine  law  j  that  does  not 
 fay,  we  fhall  die  either  old  or  young.     'Tis 
 left  to  the  divine  pleafure,  and  is  a  point  of 
 wifdom,    in  what  feafon  of  life,  or  circum- 
 ftance  of  things,   the  fentence  {hall  take  place. 
 God  is  at  liberty  to  fix  the  time  as  he  pleafes, 
 and  to  execute  the  fentence  in  what  part  of 
 life  he  fees  fit,  whether  in  youth,    or  old  age. 
 And  'tis  highly  reafonabie  to  fuppofe,  That 
 the  07ily  wife  God  chufes  that  period  of  life 
 for  our  removal  out  of  the  world,   which,  all 
 
 cir- 
 
 *  Nihil,  inquit,  mihi  inexpedlatum  aut  novum  nuntias  :  ego 
 enim  ilium  ex  me  iiatum  fciebam  efic  mortalem — atque  ut  mori 
 ncmincm  Iblcre  qui  non  vixerit ;  ita  nee  vivere  uliquem  quidenS' 
 pofTe,  qui  non  fit  moriturus.     Val.  Max,  I.  v.  c.  lO. 
 
the  Rev^.  Mr.  S  a  m  u  e  l  tl  a  r  v  e  y.         49 
 
 clrcumftances  confider'd,  is  fitteft  and  beft,  and 
 which  we  could  not  but  approve  if  we  knev/ 
 them  all.  When  any  therefore  are  removed 
 in  early  life,  as  there  is  nothing  uncommon 
 and  extraordinary,  or  beyond  what  is  ufual, 
 and  may  be  expeded  at  any  time^  lo  'tis  no- 
 thing but  what  he  has  a  right  to  do  by  the  con- 
 ilitution  of  his  law,  and  has  referved  the  judg- 
 ment of  to  himfelf.  But  more  particularly  ftill, 
 
 3.  'Tis  a  difplay  of  his  all-f'ujfictenc)\  and  to 
 fliew  that  he  needs  not  the  beft  inftruments, 
 and  the  moft  fitted  for  his  fervice,  but  that  he 
 can  do  without  them,  or  raife  up  others  in 
 their  room.  When  God  takes  away  an  emi- 
 nently good  and  ufeful  perfon  out  of  the  world, 
 it  makes  a  great  gap,  like  the  fall  of  a  fair 
 fpreading  oak  in  a  foreft,  or  2.Jia72dard-bearer 
 in  an  army.  We  are  often  apt  to  defpond  in 
 fuch  a  cafe,  and  to  fay,  Religion  will  die  in  fuch 
 a  family  with  fuch  a  perfon  who  belonged  to 
 it,  and  was  the  great  example  and  fupport  of 
 it.  The  intereft  of  God  will  fmk  in  fuch  a 
 place,  with  fuch  an  a<ftive  and  ufeful  perfon ; 
 efpecially,  if  he  was  of  a  publick  charader, 
 of  fingular  worth,  of  great  efteem  and  influ- 
 ence, and  remarkably  owned  and  prolpered* 
 'Tis  ready  to  give  us  difcouraging  views,  and 
 make  us  think  with  the  prophet.  That  we  fhall 
 be  left  alone^  and  that  none  will  remain  to  bear 
 lip  the  pillars  of  the  earthy  to  fupport  the  in- 
 tereft of  goodnefs,  and  the  caufe  of  liberty  in 
 the  world,  ^c. 
 
 But  now  we  often  find  it  otherwifc,  and 
 that  we  judge  by  wrong  meafures,  and  form 
 
 E  unfuitable 
 
50  A  Funeral  Sermon  for 
 
 unfuitable  conceptions  of  the  great  God  :  His 
 thoughts  and  ivays  are  ?iot  like  ours.  He  fome- 
 times  removes  eminent  inftruments  of  publick 
 good,  to  make  room  for  others  to  ftand  up 
 in  their  places,  and  fill  the  vacancy  they  have 
 made.  He  raifes  up  other  inftruments  whom 
 he  deligns  to  ferve  him,  and  gives  them  an 
 opportunity  of  appearing  in  the  world.  Some 
 by  fuch  providences  have  been  drawn  out  of 
 great  obfcurity,  and  placed  in  greater  eminen- 
 cy  J  and  drawn  forth  to  greater  activity  and 
 undertakings,  than  their  more  private  ftations 
 did  admit  or  require.  Thus  God  raifed  up 
 yojlma  upon  the  death  oi  Mofes.  One  would 
 have  thought  that  Mojes\  great  experience  and 
 authority,  among  that  froward  and  rebellious 
 people,  could  never  have  been  made  up  ;  and 
 that  none  was  fo  fit  to  bring  them  into  the 
 promis'd  land,  as  he  who  in  fuch  a  wonder- 
 ful manner  brought  them  out  of  Egypt,  and 
 carried  them  thro'  the  wildernefs  :  And  yet 
 yojima  was  honoured  to  do  that,  which  Mojes 
 Avas  not  thought  worthy  of.  And  young  E- 
 lijha  had  a  double  portion  of  ElijaJj?,  fpirit, 
 when  he  was  taken  up  from  him,  who  was 
 the  chariots  of  Ifrael,  and  the  horjhne?!  thereof. 
 The  refidite  of  the  fpirit  is  with  God,  and  he 
 can  furnifli  and  fpirit  others  for  his  fervice, 
 for  whom  the  mofl  eminent  and  ufeful  re- 
 ceive all  their  capacities  and  fuccefs.  He 
 plainly  fhews  by  fuch  difpeniations,  that  he  can 
 never  be  at  a  lofs  for  proper  inflruments  to  do 
 his  work,  and  accompliih  his  defigns,  who 
 has  the  framing  and  forming  them  in  his  own 
 2  hands. 
 
theRev'K  Mr.S amuelHarvey.         51 
 
 hands.  He  can  eafily  raife  up  others  to  ferve 
 him,  who  can  raife  up  childre?!  to  Abraham, 
 out  of  tht  Jlones  of  the  Jireet  -,  fo  he  hides  pride 
 fro7n  man^  and  forbids  glorying  in  the  crea- 
 ture, ^ndnoJlefiJljaUgloryinhisprefence,  but 
 he  who  ghrieth^  Jhall  glory  in  the  Lord,  How 
 God  will  fupply  the  prefent  vacancy  he  only 
 knows;  but  we  have  reafon  to  exped:  his  di- 
 rediion  and  care,  who  has  remarkably  provi- 
 ded for  us  in  this  kind  feveral  times  over. 
 
 4.  'Tis  in  great  mercy  to  themfelves.     'Tis 
 a  great  kindnefs  to  them,  tho'  'tis  a  grief  and 
 lofs  to  us.     ThuSj  for  example ;  He  fometimes 
 removes  them  from  the  e'^oil  of  the  world,  and 
 impending  calamities  coming  upon  it.    So  the 
 prophet  reprefents    this   cafe  :     T^he    righteous l^^.^Wih 
 periJJ:^  and  no  man  layeth  it  to  hearty  and  77icr~ '  * 
 cifiil  ?ne7t  are  taken  away^  7ione  confidering  that 
 the  righteous  are  take7i  away  frojn  the  evil  to 
 co77ie.     He  fiall  e7iter  into  peace ^  they  Jhall  refi 
 171  their  beds,  each  one  walking,  or  having  v/alk-  ^^^^ 
 ed,  in  his  i7ttegrity.     In  that  cafe  they  are  fafe- 
 ly  houfed  before  the  impending  ftorm,  and 
 lodged  in  the  ark  before  the  deluge  comes. 
 'Tis  certainly    a  wife  a6t  of  kindnefs  in  tha 
 great  God  to  lay  up  his  treafure  in  a  publick 
 danger,    and   place    it  out  of  the  reach    of 
 harm.      The  death   of  excellent    and   ufeful 
 perfons  has  fometimes  betokened  approaching 
 judgments  upon  the  world ;  for  good  men  are 
 the  greatefl  ftrength,  as  well  as  the  glory  of* 
 the  places  where  they  live,  and  their  removal 
 is  like  the  taking  the  ark  of  God  by  the  P/j/« 
 liJiineSj  when   the  glory  was  departed  from 
 E  a  ijradj 
 
3° 
 
 J  2  A  Tuner al  Sermon  for 
 
 Ifrael,  and  judgments  came  upon  the  Philijimes, 
 God  could  not  deftroy  wicked  Sodom,  till  Lot 
 and  his  family  were  removed  out  of  it.     'Tis 
 a  remarkable  pafiage  of  Eliphaz  to  yob ;  He 
 Job  xxii.  jj^^ji  ^^iic^^y-  fiig  ijland  of  the  imioceiit,  afid  it 
 is  delivered  by  the  furenefs  of  his  hands :  That 
 is,  in  modern  language,  for  the  fake  of  the 
 puritans  who  live  in  it :  I  mean  all  righteous 
 and  upright  men.     St.  Aujiins  death  was  ob- 
 ferved  to  be  the  forerunner  of  the  terrible  de- 
 valuations oi  HyppOy  and  ZyZ-f^/^^r's  death    was 
 followed  with  the    iiege    oi  Heidleburgh,  the 
 ftrongeft  place  in  the   proteftant  interell,  and 
 where  was  that  noble    library  which    was  af- 
 terward tranfplanted  to  Rome^  and  is  now  in  the 
 Vatican.     God   only  knows  what  miferies  are 
 coming  upon  the  world   at  any  time,  and  the 
 great  decay  of  all  virtue,  and  the  abounding  of 
 impiety  and  wickednefs,  is  always  a  threatning 
 prefage.     And    in    that   cafe,  to    live   longer 
 would  only  be  a  calamity,  and  like  putting  back 
 into  atempeftuous  fea,  and  venturing  afrefh  in 
 the  midfl:  of  dangers,  at  the  harbour's  mouth. 
 
 Or  they  may  be  taken  from  the  fnares  of 
 life,  and  the  temptations  of  fin,  which  might 
 prove  a  great  difadvantage  to  themi  and  from 
 all  the  confii(fls  and  hazards  of  the  chriftian 
 life,  which  they  are  fure  to  be  exercifed  with. 
 Death  is  a  difcharge  from  the  chriftian  war- 
 fare, and  a  releafe  from  all  danger.  When 
 God  removes  ufeful  perfons  in  the  midft  of 
 their  days,  'tis  very  grievous  and  afflicfting:  It 
 certainly  has  a  dark  fide,  and  we  are  often  apt 
 to   pore   too   much  upon  it,     But  there  is  a 
 
 brighter 
 
the  ReV^. Mr. Samuel  Harvey.         53 
 
 brighter  and  better  view  of  the  cafe,  which  is 
 to  be  confidered  and  taken  into  the  account  ;i 
 that  tho'  they  are  taken  from  prefent  comforts! 
 and  enjoyments,  and  further  fervice  and  ufe-  •' 
 fulnefs  unto  others;  yet  they  are  taken  from' 
 the  evils  of  hfe  too,  and  all  farther  danger  of 
 evil  to  themfelves.  The  wife  God,  \Nho  hioivs 
 the  end  from  the  beginnings  and  to  whofc  all- 
 comprehending  mind  all  future  events  lie  di- 
 flindlly  open  j  forefees  the  tryals  of  continued 
 life,  and  further  engagements  in  the  world ; 
 the  different  circumflances  of  all  the  revolu- 
 tions of  time,  and  change  of  conditions  how 
 they  will  affedl  and  operate,  and  what  would 
 be  the  ifTue  and  event.  Perhaps  he  fees  they 
 would  be  too  hard  for  them,  and  difpropor- 
 tionate  to  their  flrength  ;  that  the  ftorm  would 
 rife   fo  high   as    to  endanger    the    overfetting 
 
 them,  and  after  they  have  efcaped the  pollutions ^^a.  ii. 
 of  the  worlds  they  icould  be  again  entangled  andzo,  21. 
 overcome ;  and  when    they  have  linoiai  the  way 
 of  right eoifncfs^   turn  from   the    holy  command-^ 
 ment ',  and   being  led  away  by  the   error  of  the     i"- ^7- 
 'wicked^   fall  from  their    own  ftedfaftnejl:  And 
 when    they   were    once  enlightned^  and  tafled         . 
 of  the  heavenly  gift^  fall  away.     In  wife  com-    ^  '^^■*^' 
 paffion    to  their  infirmity,  and  tender  concern 
 for    their  fafety,  he   takes  them    away  in  the 
 midfl;  of  their  days,  and    that  they  may  not 
 be  tried  above  what  they  are  able^  fometimes 
 makes    this  way  of  cfcape    out  of  it.     Plow 
 often  have  we  {^^"[v  inflances  of  young  perfons 
 hopeful    beginnings,     and    who     have    made 
 fome  progrefs  in  religion,  by   the  weight  of 
 
 E  3  worldly 
 
^A  A  Funeral  Sermon  for 
 
 worldly  cares,  and  the  fatal  baits  of  pleafurCj 
 in  a  long  courfe  of  years,  borne  dovs^n  and  over- 
 come? They  are  carried  at  length  off  from 
 their  biafs,  and  down  the  ftream,  by  the  power 
 of  fwitable  and  prevailing  temptations,  or  great- 
 ly weakened  and  impaired  by  them.  It  might 
 have  been  happier  for  them,  to  all  appearance, 
 if  they  had  died  feveral  years  fooner.  How 
 many  after  ferious  convicftions  and  purpofes  of 
 mind,  under  great  afflidlions  of  life,  or  upon 
 a  Ijck  bed,  have  foon  forgot  their  former  vows, 
 and  returned  to  their  former  vanity  of  mind, 
 and  carelefs  v/alk  ?  'Tis  related  in  the  life  of 
 the  famous  earl  of  Rockefter^  that  he  dreaded 
 the  thoughts  of  living  longer,  and  feared  if  God 
 fliould  refrore  him,  he  fhould  lofe  the  good 
 impreilions  upon  his  mind,  and  not  be  able  to 
 endure  the  future  temptations  which  might 
 --attend  him  *.  ¥/ho  can  tell  what  fome  might 
 poiTibly  have  proved,  by  a  longer  life  of  tryal, 
 who  appeared  to  have  made  a  good  end  ? 
 
 Besides,  'tis  a  great  inftance  of  divine  mer^ 
 cy,  that  he  takes  them  the  fooner  to  heaven^ 
 and  gives  them  their  reward  betimes.  They 
 are  not  only  the  fooner  out  of  danger,  but  the 
 fooner  happy.  The  remaining  years  of  life  in 
 time,  and  in  this  world,  are  made  up  to  them 
 in  the  glories  of  heaven,  and  the  bleiiednefs 
 of  eternity.  WhilH  others  live  in  the  \veak- 
 ncfs  and  imperfeftions,  and  with  the  many 
 flruggles  and  confiids  of  the  chriftian  life, 
 they  are  fet  free  from  the  body  of  lin,  and 
 perfectly  conformed  to  God.  They  are  im- 
 ployed  in  fmlefs  fervice  and  perfed  love.    They 
 
 *  See  his  I  ifc  by  Dr.  Burnet .  are 
 
the  Rev^,  Mr,  SamuelHarvey.        55 
 
 are  fafe  arrived  at  the  harbour  of  reft,  while 
 others  are  longer  out,  and  toil  in  a  tempeftu- 
 ous  fea.  When  God  removes  them  in  the 
 midft  of  their  days,  he  prevents  the  further 
 fervice  and  enjoyment  of  hfe;  they  leave  their 
 mourning  friends,  and  all  their  profped:s  and 
 deiigns  of  good :  But  then  he  brings  them  the 
 fooner  to  glory,  and  rewards  them  who  have 
 wrought  only  rme  hoiir^  the  firft  hour  of  the 
 day,  while  others  are  left  tc  bear  the  beat 
 and  burden  of  the  day.  He  does  them  no 
 hurt  to  take  them  from  the  good  of  this  world, 
 and  beftow  upon  them  infinitely  better,  to 
 remove  them  from  their  friends  and  comforts 
 here  below,  and  carry  them  to  Abrahani^ 
 bofom^  and  the  fociety  of  angels  and  faints  in 
 heaven.  They  live  out  the  reft  of  their  days, 
 which  we  fpend  under  fo  many  difadvantages, 
 in  a  better  ftate,  and  what  was  wanting  to 
 them  in  this  hfe,  is  all  made  up.  in  eternal  life. 
 They  are  joined  to  the  general  afenibh  above, 
 and  ferve  God  without  any  fmful  defedt,  and 
 with  the  higheft  fatisfuftion  and  joy.  And 
 how  wife  and  kind  is  this  ?  How  greatly  have 
 they  the  advantage  of  us  ? 
 
 I  might  add  here.  That  God  will  accept  the 
 piirpofes  of  their  heart,  and  what  they  further 
 deiigned  for  his  glory  in  the  world,  which 
 their  early  death  prevented  the  execution  of: 
 l^hey  will  not  be  loft  to  them,  but  turn  to  a 
 comfortable  account;  as  God  told  David  juft 
 before  his  death,  ^hou  did/i  well  that  it  was  in  jr. 
 tioy  heart  to  bin  la  an  hoiije  to  my  name.  Agam,viii.  {^ 
 E  4  5- 
 
^6  A  Funeral  Sermon  for 
 
 j;.  It  may  be confidered  as  an  a(5l  oi jujiice^ 
 and  as  the  punifhment   of  fin.     This  is    the 
 known  reafon  of  all  affliding  difpenfations  to 
 ourfelves    and  others.     'Tis    iin    which  pro- 
 vokes   the  anger  of  God,  and  brings  down 
 judgment-  upon  us:  even   death  itfelf  is  the 
 fruit  and  wages  of  Jin.     Now  God   may   re- 
 move ufeful    perfons    in  the  midft   of  their 
 days,  in  rebuke  for    their  oivfi  fin.     He  may 
 fee  fit  to  contend  with  them  for  former  offen- 
 ces, or  any  notable   mifcarriage  and  efcape  of 
 life,  by  cutting  their  days  fliort  on  earth,  tho' 
 their  fouls    are    accepted    and    faved.     Parti- 
 cularly for  difobedience  to  parents  5  for  as  the 
 .fifth  commandment    is    th^jirj}  cojnmandment 
 with  promife,  and  the  promij'e  is^  That   their 
 days  Jh all  be  h?ig  on  the  earth  \  fo  no  wonder  if 
 God  fometimes  cuts  (liort  the  lives  of  the  dif- 
 obedient,  and  punifhes  them  with  the  contra- 
 ry thrcatning,'  'That  they  fi all  not  live  out  half 
 their  days.     'Tis  pofiible  they   may  be  taken 
 out  of  the  world,  when  they  are  not  caft  into 
 hell,  and  r.liat  they  may  lofe  their  lives  for  their 
 difobedience,  when  they  don't  lofe  their  fouls, 
 and   the  punilliment  may  extend  no  further 
 than  to  the  temporal  life.     It  was  the  general 
 corruption  of  the    old  v/orld,  v/hich  brought 
 that  iweeping  defcruftion  upon  all  the  inhabi- 
 tants of  it }  and  the  difobedience  and  murmiur- 
 ing  of  the  Ifraelites,    provoked  the  Lord   to 
 cut  cif  that  whole   generation  Vv'ho  cam.e  out 
 of  Egypt  J  young  and  old,  and  none  were  fuf- 
 fcred   -o  enter  ii;to  Canaan,    but  only   Caleb 
 and  J  of  Ma  ^  who  h.d.d  followed  fully  after  the 
 
 Lord, 
 
lie  Rev^.Mr.SAMVELHARVEY*        57 
 Lord.     They  all  perifhed  in  the  wildernefs  by 
 death,  tho'   there    is  no  reafon  to    doubt  but 
 many  of  them   were  pious,  and    their   fouls 
 faved  in  the  day  of  the  Lord :  He  took  ven- 
 geance   on   their  inventions,    tho'   he  forgave    '^^^^'  ' 
 their  iniquities.       God   fufFered   Mofes    to  fee 
 the    land   of  Canaan  from  mount  Nebo,  but 
 commanded   him    to  die   there,    becaufe    he 
 trefpalJed  againft  hi)n  among   the   children  of 
 Ifraely  at   the  waters  of  Meribah.     Hezekiah,^^"^^.: 
 another  good   man,  becaufe  he  rendered  not  to 
 the  Lord  according  to  his  benefits,  and  his  heart 
 was   lifted  up,  was  fick   unto   death,  and   had 
 the  fentence  of  death   in  himfelf.     He  breaks 
 out  in   the  moft  mournful  and  moving  com- 
 plaints; He  f aid.  In  the  cutting  off  of  7ny  days ,^ 
 1  fid  all  go  to  the  gates   of  the  grave  3  /  am  de- 
 prived of  the  refidue  of  my  years.     I  fid  all  not 
 fee  the  Lord  in  the  land  of  the  living,  and  be- 
 hold man  no   more   with  the  inhabitants  of  th^ 
 earth;  my  age  is   departed  and  removed  from 
 me :  tho'  upon  his  humbling  himfelf,  and  ear- 
 neft   prayer,  the    fentence  was   reverfed,  and^Kinas 
 fifteen  years  added  to  his  life.  xx. 
 
 Or  elfe  they  may  be  removed  for  the  fins 
 of  others.  God  may  take  them  away  for  our 
 ovcr-iiidulgence,  and  too  great  opinion  and  ex- 
 pcclatiqn  from  them.  We  may  kill  them  with 
 our  kindnefs ;  and  by  fetting  our  hearts  too 
 much  upon  them,  provoke  the  jealoufy  of  the 
 Lord  againft  our  felves.  When  we  put  them 
 in  the  room  of  God,  and  place  our  confidence 
 and  hope  in  them,  we  make  them  an  image 
 of  jealoufy^  and  no  wonder  if  in  jull  difpleafare, 
 
 he 
 
E  8  A  Funeral  Sermon  for 
 
 he  cafls  it  down,  and  breaks  it  all  to  pieces. 
 'Tis  probable  David  was  criminal  this  way  to- 
 wards Abfalom^  a  lovely  and  beautiful,  but  re- 
 bellious and  difobedient  fon.     His  difconfolate 
 
 xvifr^cj  paffion  at  his  death  befpeaks  an  immoderate 
 love  to  him  living.  And  the  death  of  his  child 
 by  Bathjheba  was  ^he  execution  of  the  threat- 
 
 — xH.  14.  ning  by  Nathan;  T^he  child  alfo  ivho  is  born  of 
 thee  JJoall  fur ely  die.  And  we  find  God  threatens 
 
 Ptlxxxix.  the  houfe  of  David  this  way.  He  h2.diJworn 
 once  to  David,  that  his  fed  fooiild  continue  for 
 ever,  and  his  throne  as  the  fun  before  him.  But 
 the  Pfalmifl  afterwards  complains  of  God's 
 punifliing  for  lin,  T^hou  haf  caft  off  ajid  ab- 
 horred, and  been  wroth  unth  thy  aiiointed : 
 ^hou  haf  made  void  the  covenant  of  thy  fer- 
 vant,  and  profaned  his  crown  by  cajling  it  to 
 the  ground.  Thou  haf  fit  up  the  right  hand 
 of  his  adverfiries,  and  made  them  to  rejoice  : 
 and  particularly  V.  45.  The  days  of  his  youth 
 hafl  thou  fiortned,  and  haft  covered  him  with 
 fhanie.  Selah,  This  was  remarkably  fulfilled 
 in  the  cafe  of  fofiah  and  'Jehoiakim,  who  died 
 young  J  and  of  Zedekiah,  who  was  difgrace- 
 fully  condemned  as  a  rebel  to  the  King  of 
 
 2  Kings  Babylon,  to  lofe  his  eyes,  and  remain  a  prifoner 
 all  his  days.  The  renowned  Gifavus  Adolphus, 
 the  great  patron  of  the  Reformation,  is  re- 
 ported to  have  faid  in  the  midfl  of  his  re- 
 markable vid:ories  and  fuccefs,  "  That  he  be- 
 *'  lieved  God  was  about  to  lay  him  afide,  be- 
 *'  caufe  the  eyes  of  all  Europe  were  drawn  up- 
 **  on  him, '  and  their  expectations  raifed  to  fo 
 *'  great  an  height." 
 
 Or 
 
the  Rev^*  Mr.  SamuelHarvey.         ^g 
 
 Or  elfe,  it  may  be  on  the  other  hand,  when 
 they  are  negleBed  and  flighted.  God  fome- 
 times  punifhes  the  ungrateful  world,  by  re- 
 moving early  eminent  perfons,  whom  they 
 did  not  know  how  to  value  or  treat  with  kind- 
 nefs.  The  excellent  of  the  earth  are  taken 
 away,  for  the  negled;,  or  ill  treatment  they 
 meet  with  in  it:  yenifakjn  killed  fome  of 
 their  own  prophets^  and  Jloned  them  who  were 
 fent  unto  them.  When  men  of  great  ufeful- 
 nels  are  treated  with  coldnefs  and  dilregard, 
 and  great  excellencies  are  overlooked  for  the 
 fake  of  little  frailties  and  miftakes ;  God  may 
 raife  the  value  of  them,  by  removing  them ; 
 and  make  us  fenfible  of  their  worth  and  con- 
 fequence  to  the  world  by  the  want  of  them. 
 The  Apoftle  PW  was  contemptible  in  his/>?Y- 
 fence  and  fpeech  to  fome  of  the  Corinthians, 
 tho'  they  allowed  his  letters  to  be  weighty  and 
 powerful  y  probably,  as  fome  learned  men  think, 
 becaufehe  was  of  lefs  ftature,  and  of  a  hammer- 
 ing fpeech.  It  may  be  faid  of  fome  excellently 
 pious,  and  valuable  men,  with  relped:  to  the  dis- 
 regard of  their  friends,  as  well  as  their  fufferings 
 from  their  enemies  3  Of  whom  the  world  was  not 
 worthy.  Bat  let  no  man  think  it  a  light  mat- 
 ter to  flight  the  gifts  and  graces  of  any  of  God's 
 faithful  fervants,  and  grieve  and  wound  their 
 ipirits  by  a  vain  conceit,  or  a  wanton  curiofity. 
 
 6.  'Tis  for  the  good  of  others,  and  to  exer- 
 cife  the  graces  and  virtues  of  thofe  who  fur- 
 vive.  'Tis  one  of  the  greatefl  trials  of  life, 
 to  part  with  beloved  relations  and  friends  out 
 of  this  world,  efpecially  in  their  younger  years 
 
 of 
 
^o  A  Funeral  Sermon  for 
 
 of  life.  When  God  comes  into  our  houles 
 and  neighbourhoods,  and  gives  death  a  com- 
 miffion  to  feize  a  near  relation,  and  take  away 
 a  dear  friend,  what  does  he  mean  by  it  ?  what 
 is  the  language  of  the  difpenfation  ?  Why, 
 plainly  to  try  our  graces,  to  fee  how  we  will 
 behave  our  felves  under  one  of  the  greateft 
 difficulties  of  life  j  how  well  we  will  take  it 
 to  receive  evil  things  at  the  hand  of  the  Lord^ 
 as  well  as  good  things.  When  the  fame  hand 
 which  fupports  our  being,  and  reaches  out  all 
 our  bleffings,  fees  fit  to  touch  us  in  a  tender 
 point,  and  blafts  the  gourd  under  which  we 
 fat  with  delight,  this  naturally  calls  forth  the 
 exercife  of  fome  peculiar  graces,  and  gives 
 them  a  greater  advantage  j  they  appear  in  a 
 greater  glory,  and  redound  more  to  the  ho- 
 nour of  God.  So  he  tries  our  faith  and  truft 
 in  him,  when  he  ftrikes  off  our  hold  from  the 
 creatures ;  and  our  patience  and  fubmiffion  to 
 his  will,  when  he  lays  a  heavy  burden  upon  us. 
 When  an  affli<fled  Chriftian  can  lie  dov/n  at  the 
 foot  of  God,  and  humbly  adore  the  hand, 
 and  kifs  the  rod  that  fmites  him  5  can  put  his 
 mouth  in  the  duft,  and  hold  his  peace,  pofflfs 
 his  foul  in  his  patience,  and  accept  the  pimijh- 
 ment  of  his  iniquity  3  yea,  can  approve  his  con^ 
 duct  towards  him,  and  blefs  his  holy  name  5 
 how  highly  honourable  is  this  to  God,  and 
 how  glorious  does  a  Chriftian  appear?  what 
 a  reputation  does  it  give  to  the  Chriftian  prin-. 
 ciples,  and  to  the  divine  grace  ? 
 
 And  what  can  be  m.ore  proper  to  awaken 
 our  concern,  and  excite  our  diligence  in  every 
 
 fervice 
 
the  Revi Mr. Samuel  Harvey.       6r 
 
 fcrvice  of  God,  and  duty  of  life?  What  fo 
 powerful  and  effed:ual  to  keep  a  lively  fenfe 
 upon  our  minds,  and  be  a  conftant  fpur  to 
 duty  ?  fhould  we  not  work  witb  all  our  might ; 
 and  with  fear  and  tremblijig,  when  there  is 
 710  working  in  the  grave ^  and  the  night  is  ap- 
 proaching ?  when  this  is  the  only  working 
 time,  and  all  our  opportunities  and  helps,  the 
 whole  ftate  of  trial  and  mercy  is  meafured 
 by  the  fhort  time  of  life,  and  determined  by 
 it  ?  The  Apoftle  thought  it  meet  to  ftir  up  the 
 Chriftians  to  give  all  diligeiice^  becauie  he  2  Pet.  i. 
 knew  he  was  fhortly  to  put  off  this  tabernacle. 
 What  fo  proper  as  the  thoughts  of  death,  to 
 infpire  our  lluggifh  fouls  with  life  and  vigour, 
 and  make  us  n\ov&  fervent  in  fpirit,  and  zea- 
 ous  of  good  works?  to  keep  up  a  lively  fenfe  of 
 religion  in  the  world,  and  a  conflant  care  to 
 pleafe  God  ?  Hereupon, 
 
 7.  To  be  a  ilanding  monument  of  human 
 frailty y  and  give  warning  to  all  about  them. 
 When  God  removes  younger  perfons  out  of 
 the  world,  efpecially  of  great  eminence  and 
 worth,  'tis  a  ftanding  memorial  of  mortality 
 to  others,  and  plain  evidence  that  fuch  may 
 die.  Nothing  is  fo  fenfible,  and  apt  to  im- 
 prefs  our  minds,  as  the  death  of  thofe  of  our 
 landing  and  circumflance  of  hfe.  If  we  faw 
 only  elder  perfons  drop  into  the  grave,  and 
 that  death  always  obferved  the  order  of  na- 
 ture, we  might  pofTibly  think,  that  it  did  not 
 much  concern  us,  and  that  our  time  was  a 
 great  way  off.  But  God  gives  warning  to  us 
 by  the   death  of  others  like   our  felves,  not 
 
 only 
 
5  2  -^  Funeral  Sermon  for 
 
 only  of  the  fame  nature,  but  of  the  fame  age 
 and  rank  with  our  feh'es ;  our  familiar  friends, 
 with  whom  we  daily  converfed,  and  main- 
 tained the  offices  of  friendfliip  and  religion 
 together.  'Tis  a  home  inflance  to  younger 
 chriflians,  and  younger  minifters,  when  any 
 of  fuch  eminence  and  worth  are  taken  away ; 
 and  they  being  dead,  /peak  to  us  who  furvive, 
 prepare  to  follow  ;  be  ye  alfo  ready. 
 
 And  to  be  fure,  elder  perfons  are  concern- 
 ed to  take  the  warning  j  for  if  younger  than 
 we  die  before  us,  to  be  fure  we  muft  quickly 
 follow ;  and  every  perfon  who  dies  young, 
 loudly  calls  upon  thofe  more  advanced  in  life, 
 tabe  mindful  of  approaching  death,  and  at- 
 tend to  the  fhortnefs  and  uncertainty  of  life. 
 This  is  a  gracious  difpenfation  to  a  carelefs 
 world,  to  teach  us  wifdom  at  others  coil,  and 
 make  their  death  inftrudting  and  monitory  j 
 to  remind  us  of  what  fo  nearly  concerns  us, 
 and  quicken  our  regards,  where  we  are  fo  very 
 apt  to  forget. 
 
 8.  Perhaps  it  may  be  confidered  as  an  in^ 
 fiance  of  our  conformity  to  Chrift.  As  the 
 fervant  muft  not  be  above  the  Lord,  and  we 
 muft  not  expecft  kinder  ufage  from  the  world 
 than  he  met  with  j  fo  we  muft  not  wonder 
 if  we  are  fuffered  to  ftay  no  longer  in  it  than 
 he  did.  Our  Lord  lived  a  private  life  with  his 
 parents  in  Galilee,  and  Was  known  only  as 
 the  fon  of  Mary,  and  the  carpenter  s  fon,  till 
 he  was  about  thirty  years  of  age,  the  time 
 when  the  priefts  under  the  law  were  admitted 
 to  the  office  of  priefthood,  and  the  fervice  of 
 
 th© 
 
the  Rev^.Mr.SAMVELilAKvtY.         63 
 
 the  tabernacle ;  and  then  he  appeared  upon 
 the  ftage  of  the  world,  and  entered  upon  his 
 publick  miniftry.  And  he  Ipent  but  about 
 three  years  in  all  his  preaching  and  miracles, 
 before  his  deceafe  which  he  accomplijJoed  at 
 ye?^iijale?n.  He  had  a  flaort  miniftry  of  three 
 years,  and  a  life  of  thirty-three.  And  what  if 
 God  fees  fit  at  any  time,  that  any  difciple  whom 
 'J ejus  loves,  and  who  bears  a  great  fimilitude 
 to  his  Lord,  in  intire  devotednefs  to  God,  and 
 zeal  for  his  glory,  be  made  conformable  to 
 Chrift  in  this  refped:,  and  be  allowed  no  longer 
 time  for  his  miniftry  and  life  than  he  had ! 
 Our  Lord  tells  Peter  concerning  John,  If  Ijohnxxu 
 will  that  he  tarry  till  I  come,  what  is  that  to  ^^* 
 thee  f  And  if  he  will  that  any  fhould  come  to 
 him  fooner  than  others,  what  is  that  to  us? 
 have  we  any  reafon  to  complain  ?  Or  does 
 he  a(ft  unfuitably  to  himfelf?  Our  deceafed 
 friend  had  fomething  a  longer  miniftry,  but 
 not  quite  fo  long  a  life.  How  agreeable  is  it 
 to  fay  of  any  of  our  friends  j  He  was  removed 
 in  the  midft  of  his  days,  but  he  lived  and 
 preached  as  long  as  Chrift  did,  or  thereabouts. 
 Perhaps  they  have  done  a  great  deal  of 
 work  in  a  little  time,  as  he  did  j  and  tho'  no 
 good  man  ever  lived  to  do  all  that  was  in  his  heart 
 for  God,  but  the  man  Chrift  Jefus,  or  could 
 fay  as  he  did  before  his  death.  It  is  Jinijhed-, 
 I  have  done  all  I  ever  defigned  to  do  for  God 
 before  I  die  :  yet  they  may  have  filled  up  their 
 fhort  courfe  with  great  fervice,  and  run  over 
 a  great  com.pafs  of  ground  in  their  {hort  race. 
 Perhaps  they   have  begun  a  good  work,    and 
 
 left 
 
6  4  ^  Funeral  Sermon  for 
 
 left  impreffions  on  th^minds  of  many,  which 
 others  muft  perform  and  perfedl.  And  as 
 they  rejoice  at  the  converlion  of  a  finner,  and 
 in  the  prefence  of  their  glorified  Redeemer ; 
 fo  I  doubt  not  they  are  pleafed  with  every  in- 
 flance  of  hkenefs  and  agreement  to  him. 
 
 9. 'Tis  to  make  heavefi  movt  defireable  to 
 us,  and  raife  our  hearts  more  powerfully  thi- 
 ther.    Every  good  man  loft  out  of  this  world, 
 is  gained  to  the  other  :  and  heaven  is  the  richer 
 for  the  death  of  every  faint.      They  go  to  the 
 Spirits  of  jujl  men  made  perfect ^    when  they 
 leave  the  fociety  of  the  church  of  God  on  earth. 
 How  many  of  cur  Chriftian  friends  and  ac- 
 quaintance have  got  the  ftart  of  us,  and  gone 
 to  heaven  before  us,    younger  and  elder  ones? 
 One  would  be  tempted  to  envy  their  felicity. 
 And  fiiould  not  this  be  a  powerful  attractive 
 to  our  fiuggifli  earthly  minds,  and  raife  them 
 up  above  this  region  of  fenfe  and   fm,    and 
 make  us  ofmer  breath  in  a  purer  air,  and  con- 
 verfe  with  our  departed  friends  -,    elpecially, 
 Heb.  xiii.  '^^  remember  them  who  have  had  the  rule  over 
 7.  us,    and  fpoken  to  us  the   word  of  our  Lord  ? 
 
 Should  not  this  make  heaven  more  familiar 
 and  more  agreeable  to  our  thoughts,  that  fo 
 many  are  called  thither,  who  once  dwelt  in 
 flefli,  and  were  dear  to  us,  and  high  in  our 
 efteem  ?  And  every  circumftance  of  the  cafe 
 which  either  heightens  their  value,  or  aggra- 
 vates our  lofs ;  that  they  were  diftinguiihed  by 
 peculiar  excellencies,  or  died  in  the  midft  of 
 their  day ;  is  proper  to  ftrengthen  the  motive, 
 and  affedl  our  minds  the  more. 
 
 And 
 
the  Rev^.  Mr,  S  a  m  u  e  l  H  a  r  v  e  v.         65 
 
 And  tho*  God  is  the  chief  good,  the  cen- 
 ter of  bleflednefs,  and  reft  of  fouls  ;  and  that 
 is  the  greateft  reafon  and  motive  of  our  choice 
 and  iove  of  heaven,  and  all  our  defires  and 
 hopes  of  it ;  yet  the  divine  Being  is  vaftly 
 above  our  thoughts,  and  our  beft  conceptions 
 of  him  are  very  imperfed: ;  Behold  God  is  great,  job  xxxvi. 
 and  we  know  hifn  not.  But  the  confideration  ^^• 
 of  the  glorified  Redeemer  in  our  nature,  and 
 of  our  fellow- Chriflians  there,  is  a  more  fen- 
 lible  thing,  and  a  great  relief  to  our  thoughts, 
 and  is  both  more  within  our  reach,  and  more 
 apt  to  imprels  and  affe<5l  our  minds.  And  does 
 not  this  make  it  worth  the  while  ?  What  a 
 wife  expedient  is  this  to  help  the  infirmities 
 of  our  faith,  excite  the  exercife  of  devotion, 
 to  promote  the  heavenly  mind  and  life,  and 
 further  our  preparation  for  heaven  ? 
 
 Upon  thefe  feveral  accounts  this  flrange 
 condudl  of  providence  may  appear  reafonable, 
 and  be  juflified  in  fome  meafure  to  our  minds. 
 
 SECT.     II. 
 
 II.  Let  me  diredl  you  briefly  to  the  proper 
 improvement  of  this  contemplation,  and  fhew 
 how  it  may  be  made  ufeful  to  ourfelves,  ci- 
 ther to  regulate  our  condu(fl,  or  afFe6t  our 
 minds:  It  would  naturally  lead  us  to  many 
 ferious  reflections. 
 
 I.  We  fhould  reverence  and  adore  the  divine 
 fovereignty  and  wiJdo?n.  Things  are  fome- 
 times  fo  circumftanced  as  to  be  dark,  and  dif- 
 ficult to  account  for,  and  very  grievous  and 
 affliding  in  the  difpenfations  of  providence ; 
 
 F  Clouds 
 
66  jl  Funeral  Sermon  for 
 
 .  Clouds    and    darknefi   are    round  about    him  5 
 and  his  ivays  are  often  in  the  deep^    and  his 
 footfteps  are  not  known.     He  fits  encompafled 
 with  venerable  darknefs,  and  walks  in  untrod- 
 den   paths;  but    then    rightoiijnefs    and  judg- 
 ment are  the  habitation  of  his  throne  ;  and  his 
 ways  are  always  equal.      There  is  wifdom  and 
 reafon   in    the  mofl    involved  appearance   of 
 things,  and  the  moft  unfearchable  counfels  of 
 God ;  and  we  ought  to  juftify  God  in  all  his 
 dealings  with  us,  and  fubmit  to  his  difpofals ; 
 and  never  to  repine  or  complain  at  the  hand 
 of  God,  when  it  prelTes  hardeft,  and  we  are 
 mofl  at  a  lofs  about  it.     Who  art  thou  who  re- 
 flieji  againjl  God,  or  pretendeft  to  reafon  and 
 wrangle  the  matter  over  with  him  ?  Has  he 
 not  a  right  to  do  what  h^  pleafes  with  his 
 own  ?    Does  he  do  us  any  wrong,  when  he 
 takes  away  what  is  his,   and  calls  back  again, 
 what  we  firft  received  from  him,  and  enjoyed 
 fo  long  by  his  leave  ?  Let  us  adore  with  hum- 
 ble reverence  the  myflerious  difpenfations  of 
 providence,  and  acquiefce  in  his  wife  and  fo- 
 vcreign  pleafure.  Let  us  hold  our  peace ^  from  any 
 complaint ;  or  only  fay,  Let  him  do  what feemeth 
 him  good',  and  BlefJ'ed  be  the  7ia?ne  of  the  Lord. 
 O  the  depths  of  the  riches  both  of  the  wifdo7n  and 
 Rom.xi.  knowledge  of  God  I  how  unfearchable  are  hisjudg- 
 33-         ments,  and  his  ways  paft finding  out  I  Wait  with 
 filcnce  the  further,  and  final  revelation  of  the 
 John  Xiu  divine  will,  fince  what  he  does,  we  know  not  nowy 
 ''*  but fiall  know  hereafter;  as  our  Lord  told  Peter, 
 
 2.  Let  us  look  more  to  God,  and  live  more 
 entirely  upon  him.     Let  us  learn  this  point 
 
 of 
 
theRev^.  Mt-SamuelHarvey.         67 
 
 of  fpiritual  wifdom  from  fuch  difpenfations, 
 to  look  at  the  inilmments,  of  any  good,  lefs,  and 
 God,  more  ;  and  lay  lefs  ftrefs  upon  them,  and 
 more  upon  him.  We  are  very  apt  to  exceed 
 in  our  regards  to  creatures,  and  the  more,  the 
 more  excellent  they  are^  and  to  confine  and 
 limit  the  Holy-One  to  particular  means,  and 
 particular  perfons ;  and  we  often  find  ourfelves 
 difappointed  and  bereaved.  Let  this  teach  us 
 to  look  more  at  the  fountain  head,  from  whom 
 the  gifts  and  graces  of  the  befl  proceed,  and 
 on  whom  the  fuccefs  of  all  their  endeavours 
 depends ;  who  gives  them  ail  that  was  excel- 
 lent, and  made  all  that  ufe  of  them  they  were 
 of  to  us,  and  who  can  raife  up  other  inflru- 
 ments,  and  furnifh  them  with  like  abilities, 
 and  give  the  fame  effed:.  Paul  phnteth  and 
 Apollo  water eth,  but  God  gheth  the  increaje : 
 *Tis  by  the  grace  of  God  they  are  what  they  are ; 
 and  our  Jiifficiency  is  of  God.  Let  us  then  look 
 beyond  the  intermediate  caufes  to  the  firfh 
 caufe,  and  fetch  all  our  fupplies  more  imme= 
 diately  from  God,  and  live  in  a  clofer  depen^ 
 dence  upon  him,  in  the  ufe  of  all  prefcribed  means* 
 Eye  the  living  God  more,  and  dying  creatures 
 lefs :  there  we  fhall  never  be  difappointed ; 
 here  we  cannot  fail  of  being  fo. 
 
 3.  Let  us  cojnfort  ourfelves  in  their  lofs  by 
 the  confideration  of  the  viercy  it  is  to  them. 
 How  much  more  fafe  and  happy  are  they  iri 
 heaven^  than  they  could  be  here  on  earth  t 
 'Tis  well  with  them,  however  it  is  with  us. 
 They  are  fet  out  of  the  reach  of  every  danger^ 
 and  pofTeil  of  the  mofl  defirable  good,  ad- 
 
 F  t  taiice4 
 
68  A  Funeral  Sermon  for 
 
 vanced  to  the  higheft  honours,    and  enjoy  the 
 pureft  plealures.     And  fliould  not  we  be  com- 
 forted concerning  them,    tho'   we  grieve  for 
 ourfelves  ?  Let  us  not  think  much  at  their  hap- 
 pinefs,  or  their  early  arrival  at  it,  becaufe  we 
 want  their  prefence  and  help  :  God  will  take 
 care  of  us,  if  we  are  faithful  to  him  j  and  of 
 his  own  intereft,  when  the  befl  inftruments  on 
 earth  are  removed.     Let  not  us  be  uneafy  that 
 they  are  happy,  and  repine  at  that  which  is 
 the  matter  of  their  joy.     When  we  have  a 
 well-grounded  hope  of  the  happy  ilate  of  our  . 
 departed  friends,  we  fliould  rather  rejoice  at 
 their    preferment   and    advancement,    at   the 
 greater  improvement  of  their  ftate,  and  their  : 
 happy  and  advantageous  change ;  that  it  is  fo 
 much  better  with  them  than  it  is  with  us,  or 
 than  ever  it  was  before.     So  our  Lord  told 
 ,  V    •     his  forrowful  difciples.    If  ye  loved  ?ne  ye  would 
 28.  rejoice,  becaufe  I  faid,  I  go  to  the  Father. 
 
 4.  Yet  we  iliould  be  humbled  under  the 
 fenfe  of  their  lofs,  and  lament  it  as  a  great 
 afflidion.  "We  muft  not  be  infenfible  of  the 
 hand  of  God  upon  us  neither.  When  excel- 
 lent inflruments  of  God's  glory  are  removed, 
 'tis  a  gremt  lofs  to  the  world,  and  to  the  church 
 of  God :  All  the  ufefulnefs  of  their  lives  is  at 
 an  end,  who  might  have  lived  many  years, 
 and  done  great  good  to  many  fouls.  And  efpe- 
 cially  when  we  have  reafon  to  think,  that  we 
 had  any  hand  in  it,  or  contributed  any  thing 
 to  it,  either  by  too  great,  or  too  little  regard 
 to  them ;  we  fliould  be  fenfible  of  the  afflidi- 
 on, and  humbled  for  our  fin,     Tho'  i)Ci  mufl 
 
 not 
 
fie  Rev^.  Mr. SamvelHarvey,         69 
 
 not  weep  for  them,  'tis  their  advaatage  and 
 gain ;  yet  we  ought  to  weep  for  ourfel-oes,  for 
 'tis  a  lofs  to  us,  and  to  the  world  about  us.  And 
 when  'tis  in  a  quahiied  degree,  and  with  due 
 fubmiffion  to  the  will  of  God,  we  may  fitly 
 lament  their  lofs.  'Jefus  wept  at  the  death  of 
 Lazarus,  v/hom  he  loved  ;  and  the  elders  of 
 EpheJUs,  at  Paul's  departure  from  Miletus^  be-  a^s  xx. 
 caufe  they  Jhoiildfee  his  face  no  more.  And  the  28. 
 Apoflle  don't  forbid,  but  only  regulates  our 
 grief,  concerning  them  who  are  ajleep,  that 
 vj^forrow  not  as  others,  who  have  no  hope ;  with  « Thef.  \\\ 
 the  hopelefs  despairing  forrow  of  the  heathen  '^' 
 world,  who  were  ignorant  of  the  refurre6lion, 
 ^and  uncertain  about  eternal  life.  Something 
 is  certainly  due  to  natural  relation,  and  the 
 tender  afFedions  of  our  minds,  to  the  refent- 
 ments  of  gratitude,  and  the  obligations  of 
 duty,  in  fuch  a  cafe  ;  and  'tis  very  allowable 
 to  drop  a  tear  over  the  graves  of  our  departed 
 friends,  tho'  'tis  very  eafy  to  exceed.  There 
 indeed  is  our  danger;  for  the  palhons  are  the 
 unruly  part  of  our  nature,  are  difficultly  kept 
 within  bounds ;  and  fometimes  need  all  the 
 reflraints  which  reafon  and  religion  are  able 
 to  give  them. 
 
 5.  It  fliould  teach  us  to  value  ufeful  men 
 while  they  live,  and  make  the  beft  ufe  of  them 
 wo.  can.  Labour  to  be  better  for  them,  and  get 
 fome  good  by  them,  while  you  have  tl  em. 
 fohji  the  Baptift  was  a  burning  and  fining  light,  Joh.v.35, 
 in  his  miniflry  and  converfation  j  and  the  peo- 
 ple rejoiced  ill  it  for  afeafon ;  for  he  died  young 
 too.  Conlider  them  as  dying  creatures,  who 
 F  3  may 
 
no  A  Funeral  Sermon  for 
 
 may  be  removed  in  the  midft  of  their  days, 
 or  in  a  little  time  from  us ;  let  us  not  lofe  the 
 benefit  of  their  help  and  converfe  while  it  may 
 be  had ;  but  wifely  improve  for  fpiritual  ad- 
 vantage their  gifts  and  graces,  their  wifdom 
 and  experience,  their  kindnefs  and  concern  for 
 us  while  they  laft.  Let  us  never  have  reafoa 
 to  fay.  That  a  ufeful  minifter  and  friend  was 
 early  taken  away,  and  I  made  no  ufe  of  them 
 while  they  lived,  or  was  little  the  better  for 
 them :  I  now  regret  the  opportunity  I  loft,  of 
 great  advantage  by  their  fervice. 
 
 6.  The  reafonablenefs  oi early  religion^  and 
 beino;  in  eood  earneft  in  it.  And  here  let  me 
 caution  you  againft  dangerous  delays^  and  rec- 
 koning upon  long  life,  and  neglecting  prefent 
 duty.  How  natural  is  this  in  youth  and  health  ? 
 Who  is  there,  at  fuch  an  age,  who  thinks  of 
 dying,  or  ever  ferioufly  puts  the  cafe  to  himfelf  ? 
 Who  don't  exped:  to  live  many  years  longer, 
 if  not  to  arrive  to  old  age?  We  plainly  fee  this 
 in  the  fchemes  and  deligns  men  lay  in  the 
 worlds  which  the  longeft  life  feldom  fuffices  to 
 accomplifli.  They  reckon  upon  attaining  to 
 fuch  a  condition  of  life,  to  execute  fuch  pur- 
 pofes  of  their  minds,  to  reach  to  liach  a  pitch 
 of  grcatnefs,  and  fuch  a  proportion  of  years ; 
 and  in  the  mean  time  negle(5t  the  great  end  of 
 life,  and  are  cut  off  in  the  midft  of  all  their 
 other  defigns.  T^bey  reckon  their  houfes  fiall 
 continue  for  ever,  and  their  dwelling  -places 
 throughout  all  generations  :  But  this  their  ivay 
 is  their  folly,  though  they  l?le/s  themjelves,  and 
 poferity  approve  their  fay  ings.  The  rich  fool 
 a  "  in 
 
the  Rev^,  Mr,  SamuelHarvey.        71 
 
 in  the  golpel  reckoned  upon  taking  his  eafe^  and 
 having  ^W^  laid  up  for  many  years ^  v/hen  he 
 had  Uved  his  lafl  day  already,  and  that  jiight 
 his  foul  was  to  be  required  of  him.  What  a 
 difappointment  mufl  it  be  to  die  young,  to  one 
 who  never  doubted  to  hve  to  be  oldj  and  to 
 put  off  the  execution  of  every  ferious  purpofe, 
 "till  death  overtai<.es  him,  and  prevents  it  all ! 
 
 And  let  the  coniideration  of  dying  young 
 be  a  powerful  reflraint  ixom  youthful  vanities 
 and  vice.  The  fprightly  vigour  of  nature, 
 the  gaiety  of  mind,  and  the  high  relifh  of 
 fenlible  good,  at  fuch  an  age,  commonly  lead 
 them  to  vanity  of  life,  and  forgetfulnefs  of 
 God.  The  fuitable  baits  to  various  difpofitions, 
 and  the  conftant  follicitations  of  temptations 
 round  about  them,  powerfully  infinuate,  and 
 flrike  dangeroufly  upon  the  fenfes  and  imagi- 
 nation, which  are  generally  predominant,  and 
 carry  them  to  loofenefs  and  licentioufnefs,  and 
 prefumption  and  fecurity.  Keep  your  minds 
 under  the  ftrong  impreilion  of  your  mortal 
 ftate.  Ufe  this  thought  upon  every  occalion 
 to  preferve  your  innocence,  and  fortify  your 
 minds  againfl  the  impreffions  of  evil.  Oppofe 
 this  confideration  to  all  the  vanity  of  your 
 minds,  and  aliaults  of  temptation.  Sit  down 
 one  ferious  moment,  O  carelefs  and  licentious 
 youth,  and  confider  that  death  is  haftening  to- 
 wards thee,  whether  thou  thinkefi:  of  it  or  not, 
 and  may  fuddenly  furprize  thee  in  all  thy  fe- 
 curity and    mirth !  Rejoice,  O  young  man,  in 
 
 thy  youth but   know  thou  that  for   all  thefe 
 
 things  God  i^ill  bring  thee  to  judgment .     Death, 
 
 F  4  the 
 
<7  2  A  Funeral  Eerinon  for 
 
 Dan.  V.  6.  the  king  of  terrors^  like  the  hand-writing  upon 
 the  wally  will  quickly  appear,  and  make  thy 
 countenance  fa  11^  and  thy  thoughts  troubled y  and 
 the  joints    of  thy  loins  be  looj'ed^  and    thy  knees 
 fmite  againjl  one  another^  as    it  did  to    a  great 
 king,  in  the  midft  of  a  fplendid  feaft.     Death 
 will  humble  the  ftoutefl  heart,  and  make  the 
 vaineft  creature  ferious.     Improve  the  time  and 
 opportunity  of  life  to  fecure  the  fafety  of  thy 
 foul,  and  promote    the  ufefulnefs  of  thy  life  ; 
 and  wafte  not  the  precious  moments  of  fhort 
 uncertain  life  in  idle  negleds,  enfnaring  diver- 
 fions,  or  bold  violations  of  the  law  of  God. 
 
 If  men  die  in   the  midft  of  their  days,  'tis 
 infinitely    reafonable  to   be  religious  betimes, 
 becaufe  nothing  elfe  can   make  us  fecure  and 
 happy.     Men  commonly    take   up  with  the 
 firll:  impreffions  of  their  education,  whatfoever 
 they  happen  to  be ;  and  fatisfy  themlelves  with 
 a  traditionary   religion,  the  religion    of  their 
 anceftors,  and  the  places  where   they  live,  or 
 of  thofe  they  converfe  with  and  moll  efteem ; 
 without  ever  confidering  the  matter,  or  fettling 
 upon   right    grounds;    neither   underilanding 
 their  religion,  o;*  making  it  properly  their  own. 
 And  it  is  commonly    anfwerable,  a  mere  out- 
 w^ard  lifeleis  form,  or  a  fudden  flafli  and  blaze ; 
 without  proper  convictions  of  mind,  or  kindly 
 reliili  and  favour  of  things ;  without  fmcerity 
 or  zeal ;  without  conftancy  and  perfeverance, 
 eipecialiy  in  trials  or  oppolition.     But   this   is 
 not  a  religion  either  to  live,  or  to  die  with. 
 Let  me  advifeyou  to  be  wifely,  as  well  as  fe- 
 I'iouily  religious ;  upon  a  thorough  fatisfadlion 
 
 of 
 
the  /J^'y^.Afr.SAMUELHARVE  Y.  73 
 of  mind,  and  in  good  earneft.  Ufe  the  befl 
 judgment  you  have  in  the  greateft  concern  of 
 life :  Endeavour  to  be  well  grounded  in  the 
 great  principles  and  duties  of  the  gofpel-reli- 
 gion,  and  to  have  both  adiftind:  and  pradical 
 knowledge  of  them.  Let  it  become  the  govern- 
 ing habit  of  your  mind,  and  run  thro'  all  the 
 adiions  of  your  life.  Make  religion  your  biifi- 
 nefs  J  be  conftantly  diligent  and  watchful  in  all 
 the  duties,  and  all  the  fnares  of  Hfe,  in  ?  de- 
 pendence upon  the  divine  grace.  Let  younger 
 Chriftians  be  ambitious  to  make  up  the  lofs  of 
 ufeful  lives,  which  are  cut  off  in  the  midft  of 
 their  days,  and  fupply  their  lack  of  fer-vice  to 
 the  church  of  God ;  that  the  interelf  of  God 
 and  religion  may  fuffer  as  little  as  may  be,  by 
 the  death  of  any  who  were  great  examples  of 
 it,  and  greatly  inflrumental  to  promote  it. 
 
 And  let  me  particularly  recommend  it 
 to  younger  perfons  to  bethink  themfelves  of 
 their  bapttj'mal  covenant,  and  of  folemnly  re- 
 newing it  at  the  Lord's  table ;  to  perfetft  their 
 profeffion,  and  become  complete  chriftians. 
 Remember  the  death  of  Chrilf,  by  which  you 
 hope  for  acceptance  with  God,  in  the  way 
 he  has  prelcfibed,  before  your  own  death 
 overtake  you.  If  you  are  willing  to  be  the 
 Lord's  with  all  your  heart,  and  without  re- 
 ferve;  and  to  take  him,  through  the  bleffed 
 Redeemer,  for  your  Lord  and  portion,  whom 
 you  are  to  obey  and  enjoy ;  doulx  not  of  your 
 being  prepared,  and  fear  not  a  gracious  ac- 
 ceptance with  him.  .    - 
 
 7- 
 
A  Funeral  Sermon  for 
 
 7.  What  reafon  of  thankfulnefs  for  longer 
 life  and  opportunity  ?  Hov/  great  is  the  mercy 
 of  continued  life   in  a  view  of  further  ufeful- 
 nefs,  and  better  preparation  for  heaven  -,  to  be 
 Ipared   beyond  the  midil  of  our   days,  and  to 
 more  advanced    life,  when   many  others  are 
 taken  off  in  the  midft  of  their   days  ?  How 
 many  have  we    furvived  and   followed  to  the 
 grave,  of  our  acquaintance  and  friends,  younger 
 and  ftronger    than    ourfelves,  more   likely  to 
 live,  and    capable,  of  fervice  than   we   were? 
 We  2S^Jpared  yet  one  year  longer^  and  are  con- 
 tinued under  the  means  of  grace,  and  calls  of 
 mercy ;  and  have  the  opportunities  of  further 
 ufefulnefs  to  others,  and  improvement  to  our- 
 felves.    'Tis  certainly  a  great  mercy   in  itfelf, 
 and  in  the  intention  of  God  -,  for   the  long- 
 ^-J^^'^^^'  fiifferifig  cf  the  Lord  is  fahation.     Let  us  not 
 alter  the  nature  of  it  by  continued  neglefts  and 
 difobedience,  and  turn  it  into  a  greater  aggra- 
 vation of  fm.     Improve  it  with  all  thankful- 
 nefs while  it  lafts,  as  a  valuable  and  account- 
 able talent.     I  only  add, 
 .    8.  Let  us  all  be  mindful  of  our  ow7i  morta- 
 lity^ and  quickened  to  daily  preparation.     Re- 
 member that  you  are    dying  creatures  as  well 
 as  others,  under  the  fame  fentence   of  death, 
 and  liable  to  the    execution   of  it.     When  a 
 good  man  is  removed  out  of  the  world,  con- 
 lider   with  your  felves,  "  what  would    have 
 *'  been  my  condition,  if  I  had  been  removed, 
 *'  and  my  foul  had  gone  in  his  foul's  ftead  ? 
 *'  Whither    would  death    have  landed  me? 
 
 "  What 
 
 55 
 
the  Rev^,  Mr*  SamuelHarvey.         75 
 
 '*  What  would  have  been  my  lot  and  ftate  in 
 "  the  other  world  ?" 
 
 Let  the  thoughts  of  death  quicken  our  pre- 
 paration for  it :  Do  fomething  every  day  for 
 eternity ;  that  you  may  be  found  in  a  fafe 
 ftate  and  prepared  frame  of  mind ;  and  that 
 in  whatfoever  hour  of  the  nighty  or  age  of  life, 
 our  Lord  fliall  come,  we  may  not  be  fur- 
 prized  unprepared  j  but  be  found  ready,  and 
 •  watching,  and  ^waiting,  and  looking  for  his  ap- 
 pearance. 
 
 Particularly,  let  me  addrefs  myfelf  in 
 a  few  words  to  younger  minifiers,  whither  the 
 prefent  providence  particularly  points.  Let 
 this  awakening  inflance  of  mortality,  of  one  of 
 your  own  number  and  order,  of  your  age  and 
 ftanding,  of  your  friendship  and  acquaintance, 
 and  whom  ye  valued  and  efteemed,  excite 
 your  attention  and  regard.  Hear  your  deceafed 
 friend  and  brother,  thus  befpeaking  every  one 
 
 of  you:  "  Be  more  frequent  in  the 
 
 *'  thoughts  of  your  own  death,  for  the  pro- 
 "  phets  dont  live  for  ever,  and  fome  times  die 
 *'  young,  and  in  the  mid/i  of  their  days.  Be 
 *'  more  careful  about  the  fafety  and  profperity 
 ^'  of  your  own  fouls,  as  well  as  the  inflrudiion 
 ^'  and  falvation  of  others  j  that  you  may  not 
 ^'  preach  to  others,  and  be  cajiaways  yourfelves : 
 *'  And  of  your  daily  walk  and  converfition, 
 "  not  only  to  be  iinblameable,  but  examples  to 
 *'  the  flock.  Be  diligent  and  faithful  in  all 
 *'  your  preparations,  and  miniftrations ;  that 
 ^'  you  may  fill  up  the  time  of  life  with  proper 
 ^*  duty,  and  flnijh  your  courfe  with  joy,  and 
 "         ■  ^'  the 
 
76  A  Funeral  Sermon  for 
 
 "  the  minifiry  you  have  received  of  the  Lord. 
 "  Let  the  thoughts  of  death,  your  own  and 
 "  others,  infpire  you  with  tender  compaffion, 
 **  and  warm  zeal  for  the  good  of  dying  linners, 
 ''  and  precious  and  immortal  fouls  j  and  make 
 "  you  fpeak  and  preach  as  fmncrs  to  fmners ; 
 "  and  dying  men  to  dying  men.  Watch  over 
 "  the  fouls  of  others,  as  thofe  who  muft  give 
 *'  an  account :  Endeavour  by  faithful  inftruc- 
 *'  tion  and  warning,  to  ftand  clear  of  the  blood 
 **  of  all  men,  and  that  their  blood  may  not  be 
 ''  required  at  your  hands;  but  that  you  may 
 "  find  comfort  in  your  prefent  fervice,  and 
 **  they  among  whom  you  labour,  may  be 
 "  your  joy  and  crown  of  rejoicijjg  in  the  day  of 
 "  the  Lord!'  And  may  the  living  and  un- 
 changeable God  make  us  wife  to  underjland 
 and  confder  cur  latter  end;  and  teach  us  fo  to 
 number  our  days  that  we  may  apply  our  hearts 
 unto  wifdom ;  that  we  may  be  found  of  our 
 judge  in  peace ^  and  may  have  confidence  at  his 
 appearing^  and  not  be  ajhamed  before  him  at 
 his  coming. 
 
 I  have  finiflied  what  I  propofed  from  the 
 text,  and  fhall  fpeak  now,  as  this  mournful 
 occafion  direds,  of  our  deceafed  friend j  of 
 whom  I  fliall  give  this  exemplary  and  inftrucft- 
 ing  account,  from  a  long  intimacy  with  him, 
 and  the  undoubted  teftimony  of  others.  And 
 I  defire  io  fpeak  the  truth  in  Chrifl^  and  would 
 not  lye  for  God.  I  am  informed  by  them  who 
 knew  him  in  his  earlieft  youth,  That  there 
 weremanifefl  indications  of  a  VQvy  ferious  fpi^ 
 ritj  almoft  as  foon  as  he  could  Ipeak,  and  that 
 
 from 
 
//J^  TJ^'y^. Mr. Samuel  Harvey.       77 
 
 from  the  manly  gravity  of  his  deportment  in 
 the  firft  years  of  Ufe,  he  never  was  a  child. 
 He  told  a  worthy  minifter,  his  dear  and  inti- 
 mate friend  *,  That  as  long  as  he  could   re- 
 member any  thing,  he  remembered  his  being 
 concerned  for  the  falvation  of  his  foul;  and 
 that   he  always   preferred  his   books  and  his 
 clofet,  to  the    diverfions  of  the  childifh  age. 
 He  loved   the  converfation  of  minifters  and 
 chriftians,  efpecially  when  it  turned  upon  re- 
 ligion ;  and  from  the  fifth  year  of  his  age,  the 
 impreffions  of  the  beft  things  never  wore  off; 
 in  which  he  received  great  affiftance  from  an 
 elder  fifter    of  eminent  piety.     He  had  a   na- 
 tural love  of  learning,  and  inclination  to  the 
 miniftry;  and  was    much  employed    at  this 
 time  in  reading  the  beft  pra<ftical  books  of  re- 
 ligion, and  promoting  his  fpiritual  edification. 
 He  was  educated  for  the   miniflry,  fome 
 time  under  the  care  of  the  pious  and  ingenious 
 Mr.  'John  Reynolds  of  Shrewsbury ;  but  chiefly 
 under  the  learned  Mr.  Hill  of  Derbyjlnre,  of 
 whom  he  always  fpoke  with  particular  refpe(5t; 
 and  Mr.  'Jones  of  T'ewxbury:  and  he  finifhed  his 
 ftudies  at  Finder n^  under  the  worthy  Dr.  La- 
 tham, who  fucceeded  Mr.  Mill.     He  made  a 
 great  improvement  in  all  the  ufual  parts  of  r^- 
 //o;?^/ learning,  and  was  critically  fkiiful  in  the 
 Greek  tongue,  in  which  both  his  tutors  were 
 eminent.     But  he    efpecially  applied  himfelf 
 to  the  ftudy   of  divinity,    as  more  agreeable 
 to  the  temper  of  his  mind,  and  defign  of  his 
 
 life. 
 
 *  The  Rev.  Mr.  Broadhurfi,  ^i Birmingham  in  Warim.k^lrt, 
 Mr,  Hari'efi  naiivc  Town. 
 
y  8  A  Funeral  Sermon  for 
 
 life.  His  inclinations  to  the  minijlry  were 
 too  flrong  to  be  diverted  by  any  worldly 
 views,  but  grew  up  with  him  from  his  in- 
 fancy. When  his  tender  and  prudent  father 
 feared  left  his  ftature  fliould  render  him  de- 
 fpicable,  and  be  an  obftrud:ion  to  his  accep- 
 tance and  ufefulnefs  in  the  world  ;  he  decla- 
 red to  a  friend  as  his  deliberate  fenfe,  *'  That 
 •^^  he  was  willing  of  any  pains,  or  any  reproach 
 "  for  term  of  life,  if  he  might  be  the  inftru- 
 *'  ment  of  faving  one  foul :"  Such  was  his 
 high  fenfe  of  the  worth  of  fouls,  fuch  his  ar- 
 dent zeal  for  God  fo  early  in  life !  And  God 
 granted  the  thing  he  defired,  without  the  dif- 
 ficulty he  was  willing  to  undergo  for  the  lake 
 of  it.  Here  he  ufed  to  have  fet  meetings  with 
 a  fele(^  number  of  fellow  pupils  defigned  for 
 the  miniftry,  at  their  feveral  chambers,  for 
 folemn  prayer  to  God  for  a  bleffing  upon  their 
 ftudies :  a  cuftom  which  he  afterwards  pro- 
 pofed  to  fome  younger  minifters  of  his  parti- 
 cular acquaintance  in  this  city.  He  fpent 
 many  hours,  and  fometimes  parts  of  a  day  in 
 prayer ;  not  from  a  fuperftitious  fear,  or  as 
 an  impofcd  tafk,  but  for  the  kindly  breathings 
 of  his  foul  to  God,  and  as  a  way  of  delightful 
 communion  with  him. 
 
 His  natural  capacities  were  excellent.  He 
 had  a  found  judgment,  a  quick  apprehenfionj 
 a  tenacious  memory ;  as  he  read  much,  he 
 retained  what  he  readj  and  would  give  a  fur- 
 prizing  account  of  the  fermons  he  heard, 
 when  his  retired  and  clofe  attention  made 
 him  fometimes  thought   to  be  abfent      He 
 
 had 
 
//^^^^'y^.Mr.SAMUELHARVEY.  ^i^ 
 
 had  a  great  juftnefs  and  compafs  in  his  thoughts ; 
 a  natural  eafe  and  propriety  of  expreffion,  and 
 a  great  mixture  of  gravity  and  UveUnefs,  when 
 he  was  engaged  in  any  fervice,  in  his  counte- 
 nance, and  in  his  fpeech. 
 
 As  to  his  moral  and  Chrijiian  charaifter,  he 
 was  a  man  of  thorough  Jincerity^  of  clear  and 
 open  integrity  of  heart ;  an  Jfraelife  indeed^  in 
 'whom  there  was  no  guile.     He  was  a  ftranger 
 to  artifice  and  deceit,   and  greatly  difliked  any 
 appearance   of  them  in  others.      There  was 
 an  uncommon   degree  of  genuine  unaffedted 
 piety,  and  a  deep   and  habitual   fenfe  of  God 
 vifible  upon  his  mind.     He  was  of  great  di- 
 ligence and  application  to  his  work :  it  was 
 his  conflant  delight  and  joy.      He  was  very 
 confcientious  in  his  words  and  actions,   per- 
 fectly inoffenfive  in  his  behaviour  to  others  j 
 and  hated  detradiion,    or  taking  unrighteous 
 liberties  with  other  mens  charad:ers  and  con- 
 dud:  :    I   remember  not  to  have  ever  heard 
 \iYiXifpeak  evil  of  any  man^  in  all  my  acquain- 
 tance with  him.      He  delighted  in  religious 
 converfation,  and  feldom  cared  to  bear  a  part 
 in  any  other,    tho'  he  would  be  fometimes 
 chearful  too.     Here  he  flione,  and  appeared 
 with  great  advantage,  and  was  moil  free  and 
 communicative.     He  had  a  great  opinion  of 
 the  good  which  might  be  done  by  it,  when 
 it  turned  upon  ufeful  and  important  fubjecfls, 
 and  was  managed  with  difcretion,  and  with  a 
 ferious  delign.     Perhaps    he  was    led  to  this 
 by  the  remarkable  inftance  which  he  told  an 
 intimate  friend  j  That  when  he  was  a  fchool- 
 
 boy. 
 
8  0  A  Funeral  Sermon  for 
 
 boy,   his  converfation  about  religion  had  been 
 the  means  of  the   converiion  of  one  who  is 
 now  in  the  miniftry  ;  which  account,  he  faid, 
 he  received  fome  years  after  from  the  perfon 
 himfelf.      He    was    always    inquifitive    after 
 truth,  and  zealous  in  what  he  thought  im- 
 portant, efpecially  in  what  related  to  vital  and 
 pradlical  religion ;  and  greatly  lamented  the  vi- 
 iible  decays  of  it  among  Chriftians  of  all  forts 
 in  the  prefent  age.     It  appears  now,   that  he 
 kept  a  diary ^  for  more  than  fixteen  years  to- 
 gether, of  the  ftate  of  his  foul,  and  remarkable 
 providences  of  God  j    in  which  are  many  wife 
 and  judicious  remarks,  and  the  moft  devout 
 refled;ions  and  ejaculations,  bewailing  the  dis- 
 orders of  his  mind,  imploring  divine  aids,  and 
 adoring  the  divine  mercy,    ^c.     A   worthy 
 minifter    of  his    intimate    acquaintance,    and 
 who    knew    him    from  his   youth,    declares, 
 *'  That  in  the  latter  part   of  his  life,  he  con- 
 *'  fidered  him  as  a  Chriftian  fully  grown,  and 
 *'  arrived  to  the  moft  advanced  fteps  of  the 
 "  divine  life,    which  are  found  am^ong  men 
 •'  on  earth." 
 
 As  to  his  minijierial  charadler,  he  was  great- 
 ly furniflied,  beyond  his  years,  and  above  the 
 common  rate.  His  difcourfes  were  always 
 upon  the  moft  weighty  and  ferious  fubjedis ; 
 compofed  with  great  judgment,  and  difpofed 
 in  the  beft  order,  delivered  with  a  manly  de- 
 cency, and  a  becoming  warmth  and  zeal ; 
 which  engaged  attention,  and  gave  delight, 
 and  acquired  him  the  2;reat  efteem  of  the  fe- 
 rious and  judicious,  in  all  the  congregations  in 
 
 city 
 
the  Rev^.  Mr.  S  a  m  u  e  l  H  a  r  v e  y.         8i 
 
 city  and  country  wherever  he  came.  He  did 
 not  affect  a  vain  oftentation  of  learning  or 
 wit,  but  chofe  to  appear  ferious  and  concern- 
 ed, as  one  who  was  in  good  earneft  him felf, 
 and  intent  upon  doing  good  to  the  fouls  of 
 men.  He  had  great  apprehenlions  of  the 
 mediation  of  Chrifl,  and  the  {landing  ififluen- 
 ces  of  the  divine  Spirit,  as  the  grand  peculi- 
 arities of  the  Chriflian  difpenfation  ;  and  fear- 
 ed that  the  want  of  due  regard  to  them,  was 
 one  great  reafon  of  the  languifhing  ftate  of 
 the  Chriflian  intereil:  among  us,  and  the  fre- 
 quent revolts  from  it. 
 
 When  he  firft  fettled  in  this  place,  and  en- 
 gaged in  conftant  work,  he  thought  it  proper 
 to  fludy  over  the  church  controversy^  and  not 
 reft  in  the  iirft  impreffions  of  education.  He 
 read  the  honclon  cafes,  and  other  principal 
 books,  on  both  fides,  with  clofe  application 
 and  impartiality;  and  fettled  at  length,  upon 
 a  deliberate  judgment,  in  the  principles  of 
 moderate  nonconformity ;  which,  he  thought, 
 flood  upon  the  great  principle  of  the  Refor- 
 mation, ^v.^.'.  *'  The  perfection  of  the  fcrip- 
 "  ture  rule,  and  the  only  authority  of  Chrjil 
 "  in  the  Chriflian  church ;  and  the  unalie- 
 *'.  nable  right  of  every  man  to  judge  for  him- 
 "  felf,  accordin?^  to  the  bell;  lit^ht  and  advan- 
 "  tages  aifoided  him."  He  flood  hrm  upon 
 a  broad  bottom  ;  and  fatisfied  himfelf  to  be 
 l-aithtul  to  his  light,  without  cenfjre,  or  un- 
 eharitablenefs  to  others  ;  and  thought  he  had 
 the  advantage  of  the  narrow-fpirited  on  all 
 fides,  that  he  could  worfiiip  God  in  the  way 
 
 ( \  he 
 
82  A  Funeral  Sermon  for 
 
 he  preferred,  and  at  the  iame  time  own  and 
 receive  fellow  Chriftians  of  other  communi- 
 ons, and  was  not  confined  by  any  principle, 
 or  prejudice  of  mind,  v/ithin  any  little  circle, 
 or  diftingui{l:iing  denomination  ;  or  obliged  to 
 refufe  actual  communion,  upon  any  proper 
 occafions,  with  thofe  who  have  all  the  eflen- 
 tials  of  the  gofpel  religion,  and  whom  Chrift 
 will  own  at  lafl.  He  was  truly  a  primitive 
 Catholick^  who  loved  and  owned  all  fincere 
 Chriilians ;  and  was  of  no  one  party  exclufive 
 of  all  the  reft.  He  was  juft  reading  over  the 
 Chriftian  writers  of  the  three  firft  centuries, 
 when  his  ficknefs  feized  him. 
 
 He  had  great  anxiety  and  follicitude  about 
 his  choice  at  Sudbury^  for  fome  time  together ; 
 and  was  defirous  to  know  the  will  of  God,  by 
 carefully  weighing  the  circumftances  of  things; 
 and  determined  to  follow  it,  v/hoever  fliould 
 be  of  another  opinion  from  him.  His  friends 
 generally  apprehended  him  lit  for  this  city, 
 where  there  is  the  greateft  extent  of  fervice, 
 and  the  great  refource  of  all  reliefs  to  the 
 country ;  and  that  the  v/ork  there  would  be 
 too  great  for  his  ftrength.  Their  uncommon 
 value  and  affe(5lion  to  him,  and  the  ap- 
 prehenfions  he  entertained  of  greater  ufeful- 
 nefs  in  a  paftoral  relation,  among  a  confider- 
 able  number  of  very  ferious  people  ^  deter- 
 mined his  acceptance.  When  he  was  admo- 
 niilied  by  an  elder  minifter,  of  the  weakneis 
 of  his  conftitution,  he  faid.  He  was  willing 
 to  venture  his  life  in  the  fervice  of  God, 
 wherever  he  fliould  call  him ;  that  it  was  a 
 
 good 
 
tie  ReV^,  Mr.SAMVELHARVEY*  83 
 
 good  work,  and  he  fcrved  a  good  Mailer, 
 and  he  was  not  follicitous  about  the  event. 
 He  told  me,  then  in  confidence,  and  with  his 
 ufiial  modefty  and  humility ;  That  he  had 
 fpent  a  whole  day  In  the  exercifes  of  prayer 
 and  devotion,  for  the  divine  diredion  and 
 hleffing  upon  his  miniftry ;  and  next  morning 
 received  the  firft  motion  of  going  to  Sudbiay, 
 But  they  are  bereaved,  as  well  as  the  church 
 of  God,  of  his  further  labours  j  as  Paul  and 
 Silas  efjayed  to  go  to  Bithymia^  hut  the  Spirit  ^^^^^''^-7 
 fufl'ercd  them  ?iot.  The  little  earthen  velfel 
 which  contained  fo  great  a  treafure,  is  broken, 
 and  we  have  returned  it  to  the  dufl  from 
 whence  it  was  taken  :  God  has  determined  the 
 matter,  and  prevented  all  our  fears,  as  well 
 as  all  our  hopes,  concerning  him. 
 
 I  MUST  bear  this  tellimony  to  his  m^emory 
 from  the  moft  intimate  acquaintance,  and  I 
 know  1  have  the  concurrence  of  my  brethren, 
 who  beft  knew  him  3  That  I  never  knew  any 
 young  miniiler  of  fo  ferious  a  fpirit,  and  fo 
 earneltly  fet  for  doing  good.  He  was  indeed 
 ripe  for  fervlce,  and  ripe  for  heaven  betimes, 
 I  can  truly  fay,  That  I  never  heard  him  with- 
 out pleafure,  and  often  with  admiration  : 
 Tho'  I  defire  to  be  thankful  to  the  Father  of 
 lights^  for  the  excellent  furniture,  and  ferious 
 fpirits,  and  promifing  hopes,  of  many  of  the 
 younger  Minifters. 
 
 His  fickncfs  was  a  flow  fever ^  wliich  prov- 
 ed fatal,  thro'  the  weaknefs  of  his  conftitu- 
 tion,    before   it  was   apprehended   dangerous. 
 He  ventured  out  while  the  feverilh  diforder 
 G  2  hung 
 
84  A  Funeral  Sermon  for 
 
 hung  upon   him,    and   much   exhaufted  his 
 fpirits  in  a  converfation  with  fome  younger 
 perfons,  who  greatly  valued  his  miniilry,  to 
 enlarge  their  minds  to  generous  and  worthy 
 conceptions  of  the   divine  Being.     When  his 
 books  were  packed  up  for  his  removal,  he  faid 
 to  a  friend,  at  the  beginning  of  his  ficknefsj 
 "  Perhaps  I  have  a  longer  journey  to  go  than 
 "  to  Sudbury  ;"  and  fo  it  proved  3  for  he  died 
 within  one,  on  the   fame  day   he  defigned  his 
 journey  thither.     The  flow  advance  of  his  di- 
 ilemper  at  fir  ft,   v/hich  gave  no  apprehenfions 
 to  thofe  about  him ;  and  the  fudden  turn  of 
 it    afterwards,    prevented    any   expreffions  of 
 his  mind  about  his  death;  which  I  doubt  not 
 would  have  been  of  a  piece  with  the  reft  of 
 his  life,  and  a  lit  clofe  of  it :   greatly  to  the 
 edification  of  thofe  about  him.     He  was  of- 
 ten heard  to  pray  the  laft  night,  and   fome- 
 '  times  in  Latin  -,  I  fuppofe  for  the  greater  free- 
 dom of  his  thoughts,  and  that  he  might  not 
 be  underftood  by  thofe  who  attended  him. 
 
 He  defigned  to  have  taken  a  folemn  leave 
 of  this  congregation,  for  whom  he  ahvays 
 exprefifed  a  fincere  value,  in  2.  farcwel  J'er}7Jo?i -, 
 as  we  had  Iblemnly  refigned  him  up,  and 
 committed  him  to  the  divine  blelTmg,  the 
 lait  iacramxcnt  day  at  the  Lord's  table ;  for 
 which  he  exprefled  the  moft  affectionate  gra- 
 titude. He  had  begun  his  fermon  on  2  Cor. 
 xiii.  14.  The  Apoftolical  benedidion ;  which 
 he  defigned  to  publilhi  to  the  world,  and  leave 
 as  a  publick  mark  of  his  refpe(5t  to  you,  and 
 a  help  to  the  underftanding  of  one  of  the  moil: 
 
 weighty 
 
the  Rev'L  Afr. SamuelHar vey.         ^^ 
 
 weighty  and  comprchenfive  expreffions,  mofi; 
 ufed  in  all  the  Chriftian  churches,  and  per- 
 haps one  of  the  leaft  confidered,  of  any  in 
 the  New  Teflament. 
 
 This  was  the  Chriftian,  this  the  Minifter, 
 whofe  converfation  and  labours  we  enjoyed 
 for  almoil:  {cwQn  years.  I  doubt  not  many 
 found  that  benefit  by  his  miniftry,  which  will 
 never  be  forgot ;  I  am  fuje  we  have  all  a 
 great  account  to  give  •of  the  improvement  of 
 it.  And  God  grant  that  our  profiting  by 
 the  ficknefs  and  death,  as  well  as  by  the  life 
 and  labours  of  his'faithful  fervants,  may  ap- 
 pear to  all  men-y  and  that  we  may  give  our 
 account  of  them  a^^lafl,  with  joy  and  not 
 'With  grief. 
 
 O  z  An 
 
86 
 
 EPITAPH 
 
 To  the  Pious  Memory   of 
 
 •Mi.  SAMUEL   HARVEY. 
 
 H 
 
 ERE  lie  the  Ruins  of  a  lowly  Tent., 
 Where  the  Jlraphick  Soul  of  Harvey  fpent 
 Its  mcrlal  Tears,     How  did  his  Genius  JJjiney 
 Like  Htaveii's  bright  Envoy  clad  in  Powers  divine  ! 
 When  from  his  Lips  the  Grace.,  or  Vengeance  broke, 
 'Twas  Afajejly  in  Arms.,  *tzvas  tnelting  Mercy  f poke. 
 What  Worlds  of  Worth  lay  crouded  in  that  breajl  I 
 Too  f  rait  the  Manfionfor  ih^  illuftrious  Gueji. 
 "Zeal.,  like  a  Flame  JJm  from  the  Reahns  of  Day, 
 ^Seep.83.  /[ids  the  flow  Fever  to  confiime  the  Clay*, 
 
 And  hears  the  Saint  up  thro*  the  far  ry  Road 
 Triumphant :  So  Elijah  went  to  God. 
 What  happy  Prophet  fJjall  his  Mantle  find, 
 fleir  to  the  double  Portion  cf  his  Mind  ? 
 
 Sic  Mufa  jam  veterafcente  inter  jufliirimos 
 Amicorum  &  Ecclefias  fletus 
 
 HarvcBo  fuo  parentat 
 
 I.  WATTS. 
 
 S  E  R- 
 
87 
 
 SERMON     III. 
 
 Confolations    in    the    death    of 
 wicked  relations. 
 
 2  Samuel  xviii.  33. 
 
 y4nd  the  king  was  much  movedy  and 
 went  up  to  the  chamber  over  the 
 gate^  and  wept ;  and  as  he  went  he 
 faidy  0  my  fon  Abfolom,  my  fon^ 
 my/on  Abfolom  ;  would  God  I  had 
 died  for  thee^  0  Abfolom,  my  fon y 
 my  fon » 
 
 Bfolo?n  was  David's  third  fon,  while  hci  chron. 
 reigned    m  Hebron,    hy  Maachah   the"^- 3- 
 daughter  of  Talmai,  the  king  of  Gefbiir, 
 He  was  a  beautiful  and  lovely  perfon,   of  a 
 graceful  countenance,   and  well  proportioned  ; 
 hi  all  Ifrael  there  was  no?ie  fh  much  praijcd  as  zSam.xIv; 
 Abfolom  yor  beauty ^  from  the  file  of  the  foot  to^s- 
 the  crowji  of  the  head  there  was  no  hlemifh  in 
 him.     He  was  exceedingly  beloved,  and  a  great 
 favourite  of  his  father.     'Tis  faid  the  foul  of 
 
 G  4  king 
 
88  Confolations  in  the  death 
 
 2  Sain.     king  David  loi:ged  to  go  forth  unto  Abfolom,  and 
 ^'■"'  ^5     the  kinzs  heart  ivas  towards  him.     He  had  a 
 
 XiV,    I.  ^ 
 
 flrange  fondnefs  and  partiality  toward  him, 
 even  when  he  was  under  his  difpleafure.  •  Ke 
 had  been  all  along  very  diforderly  and  unruly, 
 perhaps  very  much  thro*  his  father's  fondnefs 
 and  indulgence  j  for  he  craftily  flew  his  eldefl 
 brother  A7nnion^  for  which  he  was  banifhcd 
 three  years  from  ^eriifalem  to  Geff.ur,  and  he 
 
 30.  fet  yoab's afield  of  barley-corn  on  fire^  bccaufe 
 he  cautiouily  refufed  to  come  to  him.  When 
 he  was,  by  Joab's  interpolition,  reftorcd  to 
 his  father's  favour,  he  foon  inlinuated  himfelf 
 into  the  people's  favour,  by  great  civilities  and 
 many  popular  arts :  Hejicod  in  the  way  of  the 
 gate  J  and  when  a?2y  controverfy  arofe,  he  faid^ 
 there  is  none  deputed  of  the  king  to  hear  thee. 
 XV.  begin.  O  that  I  were  made  a  judge  in  the  land^  that 
 a?iy  man  who  hath  .^ny  fuit  or  caife  might  come 
 unto  ?ney  ajid  1  would  ao  him f 'ft ice.  And  when 
 any  ca?ne  mgh  to  do  obeifance.^  he  put  forth  his 
 hand^  and  took  him^  and  Kiffed  him.  Thus  by 
 m\xch.fairjiy^akifjg  he  beguiled  the  hearts  of  the 
 fimple. 
 
 Upon  a  deceiifiji  pretence  of  performing  a 
 
 ,o_  vow  at  Hebron,  He  fe:'>t  fpies  thro  all  the  tribes 
 c/'Ifi  ael  y  and  maiiy  went  in  their  fimpUcity,  and 
 k?iew  not  any  thing ;  and  the  confpiracy  was 
 flrong,  and  the  people  increafed  continually  with 
 Abiblom.  He  proclaimed  himfelf  king,  aiid 
 fet  himfelf  at  the  head  of  a  formidable  rebellion 
 againfl.  his  rightful  foveieign  and  indulgent  fa- 
 ther, in  the  dechne  of  life.    This  created  great 
 
 23.       diforder  and  diltrefsj  for  all  the  country  wept 
 
 with 
 
 II. 
 
 12. 
 
of  wicked  relations .  89 
 
 with  a  loud  voice ;  and  all  the  people  who  were  ^  ^^"^• 
 with  David  covered  their  heads  and  went  up    '  ^  ' 
 weeping.    And  \^  Achitophers.  wile  coiinfel  had 
 not    been  defeated  by  the  advice   of  Hujloahy 
 David's  friend,  he  had  bid  fair  to  have  de- 
 throned his   father,     and   deftroyed    his    hfe.  xvii.  beg. 
 But  it    proved  otherwife  by  the  appointment 
 of  providence,  and  the  formidable  army  was 
 routed  in  the  wood  of  Ephrai?n^  and  in  the 
 flight,  Ahfoloni%  head  caught  hold  of  the  thick     g, 
 /roughs  of  a  great  oak^  and  the  mule  which  was 
 under  him^  went  away.    'Joab^  contrary  to  Da- 
 vid's exprefs  charge  to   the  generals  and  cap- 
 tains,   in    the    hearing  of  all    the    people,  to 
 deal  ge?ttly  for  his  fake,    with  the yomig  ?nan    i._ 
 Abfolom,  fir  lick  him  thro  the  body  with  a  dart. 
 Upon  the  tidings  of  his  death  by  Cufln,   Joab's 
 meffenger  to  the  king,  he  breaks  out  into  this 
 paffion ate  exclamation,  O  my  fon  Abfolom,  tny 
 Jon  J  7ny  fon  Abfolom,  would  God  I  had  died  for 
 thee,  O  Abfolom,  my  /on,  my  fon  ;  and  he  wept,  ^ix.  r   2. 
 and  mourned,  and  was  grieved.     This  was  a 
 llrange  inflance  of  unreafonable  fondnefs  for  a 
 rebellious  fon,    and  very  improper  and  impoli- 
 tick  in  this  juncture  of  affairs;  and  therefore 
 "Joab  told  him,  upon  his  return  from  his  vic- 
 tory, with  great  freedom  indeed,  but  juft  re- 
 fentment,  T'hoii  hajl  fha?ned  this  day  the  faces  of 
 thy  fir V ants,  who  have  faved  thy  life^  and  the 
 lives  of  thy  fons  ;  thou  lovefl  thy  enemies,    and 
 hatefl  thy  friends ;  for  thou  hafl  declared  this      5 
 dayy  that  thou  regardefl  neither  princes  nor  fer- 
 V  ant  S',  for  this  day  I  perceive,  ^'Abfolom  had 
 
 livedy 
 
90  Confolations  in  the  death 
 
 lived,  and  all  we  had  died  this  day^  then  it  had 
 plea  fed  thee  well. 
 
 The  ufe  I  defign  to  make  of  this  relation,  is 
 only  to  confider  the  cafe  of  the  death  oi  wicked 
 relations,  and  what  comfort  and  fupport  may  be 
 afforded  in  it.  This  indeed  is  the  feverefl:  tryal 
 of  the  kind,  which  moil  needs  comfort,  and 
 admits  the  leaft  of  any  other.  When  a  good 
 man  lofes  a  wicked  relation  or  friend,  concern- 
 ing whom  he  has  little  ground  of  hope,  and 
 great  reafon  of  fear  j  who  is  probably  lofl  and 
 undone  for  ever,  as  well  as  loft  out  of  this 
 world ;  it  muft  needs  raife  many  melancholly 
 refledions,  and  fet  very  heavy  and  uneafy  up- 
 on his  mind.  I  fhall  point  out  the  method  of 
 proceedure,  and  the  principles,  in  nature  and 
 fcripture,  from  whence  the  proper  relief  muft 
 |pe  drawn.     To  begin  with  the  loweft, 
 
 §  I.  We  muft  conlider  whether  we  have 
 fufficient  reafon  to  conclude  them  wicked,  and 
 that  they  lived  and  died  under  reigning  guilt 
 and  final  impenitence.  For  if  we  lliould  mif- 
 take  the  matter,  we  wrong  the  memory  of  the 
 dead,  and  difeafe  our  felves  without  a  caule. 
 This  may  require  fome  nicenefs  of  confidera- 
 tion,  and  admits  a  latitude  of  conftrucftion;  for 
 tho'  we  muft  judge  uprightly,  and  by  the  beft 
 appearance  of  things,  yet  we  muft  judge  cha~ 
 ritably  of  others,  and  in  the  moft  favourable 
 fenfe.  We  muft  be  careful  of  forming  rafti 
 and  peremptory  judgments  of  the  final  ftate 
 of  others,  tho'  we  muft  be  fevere  in  judging  of 
 'our  own,  as  we  beft  know  our  felves ;  left  we 
 fliQuld  be  found  to  damn  thofe  whom  God  has 
 
 faved. 
 
of  wicked  relations*  gx 
 
 faved,  and  think  them  miferable  who  are 
 among  the  blefled  ;  which  would  be  a  very  in- 
 jurious and  unworthy  thought,  tho'  it  fhould 
 proceed  not  from  prejudice  and  ill-will,  but  only 
 from  ignorance  and  miftake  of  the  cafe. 
 
 Now  then  let  us  fuppofe  that  our  departed 
 relation  or  friend  had  been  a  wicked  perfon,  and 
 lived  hi  ignorance  of  God,  and  negledt  of 
 duty  5  or  run  into  finful  excelTes,  and  open  and 
 notorious  crimes ;  perhaps  they  were  long  deaf 
 to  the  calls  of  God,  and  the  admonition  and 
 couniels  of  their  friends,  and  proved  long  ir- 
 reclaimable by  all  the  methods  of  mercy,  and 
 were  a  grief  of  heart  to  their  godly  friends,  and 
 caufed  great  thoughts  of  heart  about  them;  yet 
 we  are  to  confider,  if  there  were  no  marks  and  e- 
 vidence  of  true  repentance,  and  change  of  heart. 
 Were  they  never  brought  to  a  kindly  fenfe 
 of  fin,  and  deep  humiliation  of  foul ;  to  2c  godly 
 Jbrrow  which  worketh  repentance^  and  to  a  hear- 
 ty furrender  and  fubjedion  to  God  thro'  the 
 mediator,  to  quit  the  love  of  (in,  and  take  God 
 for  their  Lord  and  portion  ?  Were  there  no 
 obfervable  intervals,  no  appearance  of  ferious 
 felf-refledion  ;  no  fecret  retirements  for  folemn 
 devotions ;  no  alteration  in  the  frame  and  ha- 
 bit of  their  minds,  and  their  courfe  and  hfe, 
 fome  time  before  their  death  ?  Manafj'eh  after 
 great  impiety,idolatry,andcruelty,Z7/<?w/^/^^/?/;7/-  2  Chron. 
 fif  greatly  before  God^  and  prayed  unto  hini^  and^ 
 he  was  entreat ed^  and  heard  hisfupplication.  And 
 the  famous  Earl  of  Rochejier  was  thought  a 
 great  inflance,  in  later  times,  of  a  fincere  re- 
 pentance. 
 
 xxxm.  12. 
 
92  Confolations  in  the  death 
 
 pentance,   after  a  long  courfe  of  licentious  wic- 
 kednefs. 
 
 Or,  at  leafl,  what  were  the  appearances  of 
 things  upon  a  dying  bed,  and  in  the  laji  fick- 
 neis?  I  know  this  is  often  fallacious  and  de- 
 ceitful, and  carries    at   beft,  but  a  weak  and 
 uncertain  evidence  of    fincerity,  either  to  the 
 ilnner's  foul,  or  to    thofe    about   him.     'Tis 
 eafy  to  miflake,  and  'tis  very  rarely  real,  after 
 a  long  courfe  and  ftrong  habits  of  fin.     Never- 
 thf^leff.  I  chink,  it  cannot  warrantably  be  con- 
 cluded, that  'tis  never    fincere,  or  will  not  be 
 accepted    where   it   is.     Ir'  the    heart  be  tho- 
 roughly changed,  and  the  bent  of  the  foul  let 
 right,  if  it  is  broken  off  from  the  dominion  of 
 fin,  and  righ  ly  difpofed  towards  God,  and  it 
 would  appear  in  proper  fruits,  and  difcover  it 
 lelf,  if  further  time  were  allowed ;  which  the 
 great  God  only  knows,  but  we  cannot :    I  fee 
 no  reafon  to  think  that  it  will  not  be  conllrued 
 favouiably,    and  be    gracioufly  accepted,  tho' 
 that  can  be  no  pretence   for  an  uncertain  and 
 hazardous  delay.  Sicknefs  and  death,  as  well  as 
 other  afflidiions,  may  fometimes  work  kindly, 
 and  be    effecflual^  efpecially   a  long   lingring 
 ficknefs,  which  gives  the  greater  opportunity 
 for  it.     Why,  if  there  is  any /to^^/^/?  ground 
 of  a  real  change,  tho'  not  a  certain  one ;  if  it 
 appear  with  fome  degree  of  likelihood^  that  they 
 were  brought  home  to  God,  tho'  in  the  latter 
 part  of  life,  and  in  the  clofe  of  their  days;  there 
 will  be  a  proportionable  ground  of  hope,  and 
 degree  of  comfort,  and  we  muft  be   content 
 with    fuch  meafures  of  them  as  the  cafe  will 
 
 admit. 
 
of  wiched  relations,  gj 
 
 admit,    and   be  glad    of  any  relief  and  allay, 
 under  the  fear  and  trouble  of  our  minds. 
 
 §  2.  If  they  were  unqueftionably  wicked, 
 and  we  can  have  no  reafon  to  doubt  it,  we  are 
 next  to  conlider,  whether  we  v^^x^ faulty  and 
 wanting   in   our  care  and  endeavour  for  their 
 good.     This  makes   a  great   difference  in  the 
 cafe,  and  ought  in  reafon  to  affed:  us  different- 
 ly*    For  now  fuppofe  that  we   have  not  been 
 wanting  to  them,  in  fome  good  and  reafonable 
 meafure:     Let  me  afk    you  here   to  this  pur- 
 pofe.  Have  you  made  confcience  of  faithful 
 endeavours,  often  prayed  for  them,  and  repre- 
 fented  their  cafe   to  God,  perhaps  never  gone 
 to   your  knees  in  a   miore  folemn   retirement 
 without  an   hearty  and    affectionate    remem- 
 brance of  them  J  have  you  often  warned  them, 
 by  all  the  authority  you   had    over  them,  of 
 their  danger,  from  time  to  time;  reprefented 
 to  them  the  greatnefs  and  aggravation  of  their 
 guilt,  the  natural  tendency  and  certain  confe- 
 qiicDce  of  a  courfe  of  fin?  Have  you  put  good 
 books   into  their  hands,  fuitable  to  their  cafe, 
 and   recommended    the  daily    fiudy    of  the 
 bible,  and  brought  them  under  the  ordinary 
 mears  of  grace?  Have   you    often  befeeched 
 them  with  bowels   of  kindnefs,    to  confider 
 and   bethink    themfelves,  iliewed   them  their 
 obligations  and  engagements   to  God,  and  the 
 grounds    of   encouragement     and  hope?    In 
 lliort,  have  you  taken  all  the  proper  fteps  in 
 order  to  their  recovery,  which  a  fenfc  of  duty 
 did  oblige,  or  an  hearty  affection  and  concern 
 could    dired:  and  prompt   you  to?  Why,  in 
 
 this 
 
g^  Confolations  in  the  death 
 
 this  cafe  we  may  be  comforted  that  we  did 
 our  befl  to  promote  their  good ;  that  they  did 
 not   perifh  through  our  negledl.     It  was  not 
 our  fault,  who  did  every  thing  in  our  power 
 to  prevent  it.     They   dejiroyed  thetnfehes^  and 
 Jin  lies  at  their  own  door,  and  their  blood  will  not 
 be  required  at  our  hands.  We  may  fay  with  the 
 ^£^3  ^^    Apoflle,  /  am  pure  from  the  blood  of  all  men. 
 26.  And  'tis  a  great  comfort   in  this    fad  cafe  to 
 
 ftand  clear  of  any  guilty  and  be  free  from  any 
 juft  charge  from  others,  and  the  reproach  of 
 our  own  minds.  I  might  add,  That  there  are 
 degrees  of  wickednefsj  as  well  as  of  goodnefs, 
 and  circumftances  oi greater  and  leff'er  aggra- 
 vation, where  the  general  character  is  the  fame, 
 and  which  will  always  make  a  proportionable 
 difference  in  the  degrees  of  their  mifery,  and 
 the  reafons  of  our  forrow-  for  them. 
 
 But  if  on  the  other  hand,  we   have  been 
 wanting  to  them,  and  linfully  negligent  and  de- 
 fective in  our   duty  toward   them,    as  parents 
 and  minifters,  or  relations  and  friends,  accord- 
 ing; to  the  meafure  of  our  authority  and  influ- 
 ence  over  them,  and  the  opportunities  and  ad- 
 vantages put  into  our  hands  ^  if  we  did  not  fre- 
 quently and  ferioully  pray  for  them,  and  tra- 
 vail  in  birth  for  their  ibuls,  and  did  not  lieartily 
 and  zealoully  endeavour  their  reformation  and 
 amendmentj  if  we  feldom  or  coldly  told  them 
 of  their  fin,  and  were  only  mild  and  gentle  in 
 oiir  reproofs  of  the  greatell  mifcarriages,  as 
 1  Sam.  ii.  Eli  told  his  fons.   Why  do  ye  Jitch  things^  for  t 
 ^3'  ^-    hear  of  your  evil  dealings  before  all  the  people: 
 Nay  my  Jons  J  for  'tis  ho  good  report  which  I  hear-. 
 
of  wicked  relations.  95 
 
 ye  make  the  Lord's  people  to  tranfgrefs.  And 
 his  fons  made  thefnfeves  'u//f,  and  he  rejlrained'^^^^^'^' 
 them  7iot,  or  did  not  frown  upon  them,  for 
 which  he  was  feverely  rebuked  by  God;  if 
 we  have  not  ufed  proper  means,  or  been  faith- 
 ful in  our  endeavours,  they  will  periJJj  in  their 
 iniquity ^  but  their  blood  tnay  be  required  at 
 our  hands. 
 
 This  I  confefs  is  a  very  fad  and  forrowful 
 flate  of  the  cafe,  and  calls  for  great  humiliation 
 and  repentance.  We  fhould  heartily  bewail 
 it  before  God,  with  deep  contrition  and  the 
 moil  afflicting  grief.  Their  death  fliould  a- 
 waken  a  ferious  concern,  and  bring  our  fin  to 
 remembrance,  and  fet  it  home  with  greater 
 weight.  How  fad  is  the  refledion,  if  we  have 
 reafon  to  fear,  that  we  have  loft  a  child,  or 
 relation  who  was  dear  to  us,  and  part  of  our 
 care  and  charge,  and  that  he  is  loft  for  ever, 
 perhaps  very  much  thro'  our  fault  ?  This  muft 
 needs  fit  heavy  upon  the  mind,  and  be  very 
 grievous  and  diftrefBng.  In  this  cafe  we  muft 
 take  the  comfort  of  repentance^  when  we  can- 
 not of  our  fiithful  endeavours  5  and  that  is  the 
 only  comfort  the  wretched  cafe  admits.  We 
 muft  make  our  peace    with  an  offended  God  . 
 
 through  Chrift,  and  feek  the  mercy  of  for-  f^£j^//< 
 givenefs  in  the^giew  covenant.  And  though  ^ 
 'tis  a  great  and  highly  aggravated  guilt  to  ne- 
 glect our  part  towards  the  welfare  and  filva- 
 tion  of  others,  and  a  juft  reafon  of  humble 
 fhame  and  forrow  all  our  days,  and  fliould 
 quicksn  our  care  of  thofe  who  remain ;  yet, 
 bleffed  be  God,  there  is  forgivenejs  with  him^ 
 
 that 
 
g6  Confolattons  in  the  death 
 
 that  he  jnay  be  feared^  and  we  may  obtain  the 
 pardon  of  this  fin,  as  well  as  any  other,  in 
 the  way  the  gofpel  prefcribes.  And  there  is 
 no  other  comfort  to  be  derived,  in  this  cir- 
 cumftance  of  things,  but  from  the  fenfe  of 
 pardon,  and  the  hopes  of  acceptance  with 
 God. 
 
 §  3.  We  muft  confider  in  the  next  place j 
 our  own  covenant  fiate  and  relation  to  God. 
 If  we  can  derive  no  comfort  from  the  conli- 
 deration  of  the  ftate  of  our  departed  friends^ 
 let  us  confider  what  is  our  own  ftate  and  con- 
 dition with  reference  to  God.  Are  we  in  a 
 good  ftate,  and  upon  good  terms  with  God : 
 Can  we  make  out  our  covenant  interefl  and 
 relation?  The  covenant  is  propofed  in  the 
 ^  .  gofpel    in  this  form  ;  /  will  be  a  father  to  you, 
 
 J's.  and  ye  Jl J  all  be  my  fons  and  daughters,  faith  the 
 
 Lord  almighty.  And  again,  T^his  is  the  cove- 
 \q  '  "'*  Jiaftt  I  will  7?iake  with  the  houfe  of  Ifrael,  in 
 thofe  days,  faith  the  Lord,  I  will  be  to  them  a 
 God,  and  they  Jlmll  be  to  me  a  people.  There 
 is  a  clear  difcovery  of  God's  gracious  will  in 
 the  Gofpel^  and  a  free  offer  and  tender  made. 
 If  we  are  brought  to  an  hearty  effecftual  con- 
 fent,  and  actual  furrender  of  our  felves  to  God 
 through  the  mediator,  upon  full  convivftion, 
 and  fixed  purpofe  of  heart,  and  v/ithout  any  ex- 
 ception or  referve  j  if  we  have  Joined  our  felves 
 unto  the  Lord  in  an  everlafling  covenant,  and 
 yielded  our  felves  to  God,  and  prefnted  our  felves 
 a  living  facrifice  to  him,  we  are  in  a  covenant 
 ftate,  and  have  a  right  to  all  covenant  bleliings: 
 Then  all  the  promifes  of  God  are  in  Chrif  to  us 
 
 yea 
 
of  wicked  relations.  9  7 
 
 yea  and  amen-,  and  we  are  entitled  to  the  cx^' 
 ceeding  great  a  fid  precious  pro?niJes  of  the  par- 
 don of  fin,  the  divine  favour,  the  gift  of  the 
 ipirit,  and  eternal  life.  'Tis  the  highefl  pri- 
 vilege and  mercy  in  this  world  to  ftand  thus 
 related  to  God,  and  capable  of  yielding  the 
 Arongefl  confolation  in  the  worft  circum- 
 ftance,  and  greatefl  afBidion  of  life.  To  be 
 able  to  fay,  The  infinite  all-fafficient  Jehovah 
 is  ours  in  covenant :  This  God  is  our  God. 
 He  is  a  fure  and  faithful  friend,  whoever  de- 
 ceives or  forfakes  us:  The  Lord  lives ^  whofo- 
 ever  dies :  Our  chief  good,  and  proper  portion, 
 is  moft  fecure,  and  does  not  lie  at  the  mercy 
 of  accidents,  nor  is  fading  and  uncertain,  as 
 all  our  lower  comforts  and  creature-enjoy- 
 ments are. 
 
 This  was  the  great  comfort  of  holy  David 
 in  the  prefent  cafe.  There  was  a  great  con- 
 currence of  aggravations :  He  had  lofl  his  el- 
 ded fon  Anion  by  Abfolom\  treachery :  His 
 child  by  Bathfieba  was  ftricken  with  fickjiefs^  of 
 which  it  died  :  Fie  had  been  juft  bewailing  the 
 untimely  death  of  his  beloved  Ahjbloni,  who 
 was  cut  off  in  an  unnatural  rebellion  againfl 
 his  father  and  fovereign ;  and  he  was  greatly 
 affected  with  it  j  he  was  much  moved  and  wept.  ^^ 
 God  had  broken  him  with  breach  upon  breach :  22,  23 
 He  took  away  one  child  in  its  infancy,  and  in 
 difpleafure  for  fm ;  and  another  by  the  hand 
 of  violence  in  open  wickednefs.  Now  in  this 
 very  afflic^ted  and  diH: relied  circumftance  we 
 find  the  good  man  comforts  himfeif  with  the 
 confideration  of  God's  covenant  ^  Although  mv^  ^.^."'" 
 
 H  houy''''  ^ 
 
 am.xii. 
 
g8  Co7tJolati07ts  In  the  death 
 
 houfe  he  not  jo  with  God,  yet  he  hath  made  with 
 me  an  everlajiing  covenant^  order  d  in  all  things, 
 
 and  jure thd   he   make  it    not  to  grow.     If 
 
 this  was  the  covenant  made  with  David  per- 
 Ibnally  concerning  the  continuance  of  his  fa- 
 mily, and  that  there    lliould  not    want  one  of 
 cSam.vii.  his  feed  to  fit  upon  his  throne,  and  which  he  ac- 
 12,  19.    l^nowledges  as  a  great  favour  from  God  ;  then 
 he   comforts    himfelf  with   the  confideration 
 that  Adonijah  and  Solomon   v/ere   yet    aUve  to 
 fucceed  him  in  the  kingdom  3  and  God's  faith- 
 fuhiefs    to    his  promife    made   perfonally  to 
 David,  was  the  great  encouragement  and  fup- 
 port,  in  the    lofsofhis   other  children.     But 
 furely  the  covenant  which  was  confirmed  be- 
 fore of  God  in  Chrift,  io  Abraham^  and  to 
 all  true  believers,  his  fpiritual  feed,  and  which 
 was  not  only  before  David's  time,  but  four 
 hujidred  and  thirty  years  before    the  giving  the 
 law,  was  a  much  greater  reafon  of  comfort  in 
 fuch  a  cafe,  than  any  fpecial  promife  of  family- 
 bleliings;  and  I  cannot   doubt  but  he  had  at 
 kaft  an  ultimate  regard    to   it,  as  it  was  ulti- 
 mately defigned  in  that  promife  j  for  God  had 
 Lukei.     promifed  to  raife  an  horn  of  jalvation  for  us  in 
 69-  the  houfe  of  his  fervant  David.     And  the  A- 
 
 ASsii.     poftle  lays.  That  God  had /k/'cr^  with  an  cath 
 V^'  to  hi?n,  that  of  the  fruit  of  his  loins,  according  to 
 
 the  fiefi,  he  would  raife  up  Chrifl  to  fit  upon  his 
 If-  Iv.3.     throne ;  and  this  is  called  \h.<tfure  mercies  o/'David. 
 It  plainly  points  to  the    reign  of  the  Meffiah, 
 the  fon  £)/' David,  and  the  bieffmgs  of  the  gofpel- 
 flatej  or,  in  the  words  of  the  prophet,  to  the 
 Jer.  xxia.  j-^ijjj^g  to  David  a  righteous  branchy  who  f mild 
 2  reign 
 
of  wicked  i'elations»  99 
 
 reign  and  pj'o/pery  and  whofe  name  JJjoidd  be 
 called  the  Lord  our  righteoiijhefs. 
 
 God  may  make  breaches  in  our  flimilies, 
 and  pluck  the  finei'i:  flower  we  poliefs,  remove 
 a  favourite  and  beloved  relation  5  they  may  be 
 fnatched  away  by  violence,  or  die  in  their  fins  \ 
 yet  there  is  this  confolation  remaining  to  good 
 men,  that  God's  covenant  with  them  is  w>ell 
 ordered  and /lire ;  'tis  wife  and  fiithful;  and 
 this  is  all  their  falvation  and  all  their  dcfire ; 
 their  greateft  hope  of  falvation  and  the  utmoft 
 of  their  v/iflies.  They  fland  related  to  God, 
 and  have  a  fure  title  to  the  heavenly  inheri- 
 tance, though  fome  of  theirs  milcarry  and 
 come  fiort  of  the  glory  of  God.  We  mufl:  not 
 overlook  our  own  intereil  in  God,  and  the 
 grounds  of  our  own  hope,  when  we  cannot 
 have  the  comfort  of  others  intereil:  in  him,  or 
 any  ground  of  hope  concerning  them. 
 
 §  4.  'Tis  of  comfortable  confideration  in 
 this  cafe  too,  That  many  of  our  relations  and 
 friends,  we  may  hope  are  happ)\  and  ivith 
 the  Lord.  Tho'  fome  of  our  friends  are  loft 
 and  have  mifcarried,  vet  there  are  others  of 
 whofe  happinefs  we  cannot  reafonably  doubt. 
 We  may  pofTibly  be  able  to  recoiled;  feveral 
 of  our  intimate  acquaintance,  Vv^hom  we  loved 
 and  converfed  with  in  this  World,  who  have 
 got  the  ftart  of  us,  and  arrived  to  bleifedncis 
 before  us.  They  have  weathered  the  ftorms 
 of  this  world,  and  lafely  arrived  to  their  de- 
 fired  haven.  They  have  conquered  and  over- 
 come, and  are  now  triumphing  and  rejoicing; 
 and  have  paft  the   ftate  of  tryal,  and  entered 
 
 H  2  upon 
 
I  GO  Confolations  in  the  death 
 
 'J 
 
 upon  a  flate  of  reward.  When  we  fpeak  of 
 fuch  and  fuch  a  departed  friend,  we  may  fay 
 of  them  in  the  lang;uage  of  the  antient  Greeks 
 
 0  Iv  fjioL-itoioJiroi^,  He  is  one  among  the  bleffedj 
 one  of  the  happy  in  the  other  world.  Perhaps 
 we  are  able  to  fay,  tho'  fuch  a  one  left  no  hope 
 of  his  future  welfare  and  everlafling  bleffed- 
 nefs,  or  we  were  greatly  in  the  dark  about  his 
 ftate;  yet  bieffed  be  God,  there  are  feveral 
 others  of  whom  we  have  great  confidence  of 
 hope,  that  they  are  gone  to  the  everlafling  reft. 
 
 1  have  a  good  father  or  mother  now  with 
 God ;  fuch  a  friend  or  relation  walked  with 
 God  and  pic  a  fed  God,  and  is  not,  for  God  took 
 hi?n.  They  lived  holy  and  ufeful  lives,  and 
 made  a  comfortable  end.  They,  I  doubt  not,  are 
 with  Chrifi,  and  do  now  inherit  the  promife. 
 
 We  mull:  turn  our  eyes  from  the  dark 
 and  melancholly  fide,  to  the  brighter  fide  of 
 the  cafe.  We  muft  not  confine  our  views  to 
 one  point,  and  be  always  porejng  only  on  the 
 afilifted  circumfi:ance  of  things;  but  muft  en- 
 large our  views,  and  raife  our  minds  to  heaven. 
 Confider  what  there  is  to  balance  the  account^, 
 and  place  in  the  other  fcale.  Let  us  entertain 
 our  thoughts  with  the  more  pleafing  confide- 
 ration  of  our  happy  friends  in  the  other  world, 
 and  refrefli  and  delight  our  fouls  by  often  think- 
 ing of  their  high  advancement,  and  unlpeak- 
 able  joy.  Perhaps  we  can  fet  down  and  reckon 
 up  feveral  of  them  in  the  different  ftages  of  life, 
 and  places  of  abode,  in  the  families,  and 
 churches  to  which  we  belonged,  and  in 
 the   ncigbboixrhoods  and  vicinity   where  we 
 
 have 
 
of  wicked  relations.  i  o  i 
 
 have  lived,  and  are  able  to  fay,  fuch  and  fuch  a 
 one  does  now  behold  the  face  of  God,  with 
 whom  I  was  ufed  familiarly  to  converfe  :  They 
 were  lovely  and  pie aj ant  in  their  lives ^  and  tho' 
 divided  from  us  by  death,  they  are  gone  to  \^^^'  ** 
 the  general  affembly^  and  church  of  the  firji-born 
 above-.  Th&y  2^.vq  abjent  fro?n  the  body,  hxiipre- 
 jent  with  the  Lord.  Earth  is  now  lefs  delirable 
 than  ever,  and  the  other  world  more  defirable, 
 for  their  abfence  here,  and  prefence  there. 
 Every  one  of  them  adds  to  the  glory  and  plea- 
 fure  of  the  place,  and  renders  the  thought  of 
 it  more  delightful,  and  is  a  ftronger  attraftive 
 of  love  and  de lire.  Tho'  God  himfelfisthe 
 true  centre  of  reft,  and  fpring  of  happinefs  to 
 the  immortal  fpirit,  yet  'tis  certainly  a  reafon- 
 able  comfort  to  good  men  to  think  over  the 
 prefent  happinefs  of  departed  friends,  and  a 
 proper  lenitive  under  the  difconfolate  thought 
 of  the  lofs  and  ruin  of  others.  The  Apoftle 
 put  the  chriftians  upon  rememberifig  their  dead  ..« 
 
 mends  tor  their  comfort  and  imitation.  ^. 
 
 §  5.  Consider  further  tht  purpoje  of  God 
 does  ftand,  and  his  will  is  done  however :  God 
 is  the  fovereign  of  the  world,  and  is  not  ob- 
 liged to  give  an  account  of  his  matters  to  his 
 creatures ;  and  may  juftly  fay,  fiall  I  not  do 
 what  Iwill  with  my  ownf  We  are  more  his  than 
 we  are  our  own,  or  than  any  thing  we  pofTefs 
 is  ours.  He  has  an  higher  right  to  the  neareft 
 relation  and  the  deareft  enjoyment  of  life, 
 than  any  creature  can  have  to  it ;  for  his  right 
 is  original,  independent,  and  fupreme,  ours 
 only  fecondary,  derived  and  fubordinate  3  only 
 H  3  by 
 
I0  2  Confolat'iom  In  the  death 
 
 by  hisflivour,  and  at  his  pleafure.     We    hold 
 
 all  we  have  by  no  greater  a  title  than  courtefy. 
 
 Dan.  iv.   H/V  dominion  is  an  everla/iing  dominion^  and  lis 
 
 35-  kingdom  from  generation  to  generation^  and  all 
 
 the   inhabitants  of  the  earth  are  reputed  as  no-- 
 
 thing  J  he  doth  his  "will  i?2  the  armies  of  heaven, 
 
 and  among    the  inhabitants  of  the  earth ;  ajid 
 
 none   can  flay   his  hand  or  fay  to  him  what  dofi 
 
 Zjph.li  I J hoii?     So    the  Apoflle  fays,  Who  wcrketh  all 
 
 things  after  the  counfel  of  his  will:  And,  Who 
 
 hath  re/ifled  his   will?  The   great  God  has  an 
 
 -'J  o 
 
 undoubted  right  to  remove  what  he  has  given, 
 and  we  hold  only  at  pleafure. 
 
 Nov/  the  will  of  God  is  done  in  the  death 
 of  wicked  relations.  His  will  takes  place  in 
 whatfoever  feafon,  and  circumftance  it  was. 
 For  tho'  it  is  not  the  primary  and  proper  will 
 of  God,  or  what  is  pleafmg  and  acceptable  to 
 him,  that  any  die  in  their  fms;  yet 'tis  the  will 
 of  his  piirpofi\  that  they  Ihould  die  at  fuch  a 
 time.  It  was  his  pleafure  to  remove  and  take 
 them  away,  who  had  long  borne  with  their 
 neglects  and  difobedience :  He  has  a  right  to 
 fet  what  limits  he  pleafes  to  the  exercife  of  his 
 patience  and  mercy  j  and  if  they  have  not  made 
 their  peace  with  God,  and  improved  the 
 means  of  grace,  in  the  courfe  of  many  years, 
 he  is  no  ways  obliged  to  a  longer  continu- 
 ance of  life,  or  to  indulge  the  further  exer- 
 cife of  mercy  towards  them.  The  will  of  God 
 is  righteous  and  juft  in  cutting  them  off,  and 
 calling  them  to  an  account.  We  find  accord- 
 irgly  tliat  good  men  have  always  refclved  the 
 matter   into  the  divine  will,  and  derived  fup- 
 
 port 
 
of  wicked  relations,  103 
 
 port  and  fatisfadion  from  thence.  When 
 Aaron  s  Ions  were  cut  off  by  an  immediate 
 and  extraordinary  hand  of  vengeance,  when  they 
 offered  ft  range  fire  before  the  Lord  which  he  com-  Levit.  x. 
 mandcd  theiJinot  ^  and  there  went  out  fire  from  the'^*  ^' 
 Lord  and  dcooured  them^  and  they  died  before 
 the  Lord;  'tis  faid,  And h.2SO\\  held  hii peace: 
 He  filently  adored  the  divine  judgment,  and 
 fubmitted  to  the  divine  wilL  When  God 
 foretold  the  terrible  deftrudion  upon  thofe 
 leud  young  priefts  Hophni  and  Phineas^  the 
 fons  of  £//,  notwithftanding  their  facred  office, 
 and  near  relation  to  God,  that  he  would  do  a 
 thing  in  Ifrael,  at  which  both  the  ears  of  every  ^^^^'^^^' 
 one  who  heareth,  fhould  tingle^  and  judge  his  hoiife 
 for  ever  for  the  iniquity  which  he  knew^  and 
 retrained  jjot 'y  and  that  \t  Jhould  not  be  purged 
 by  facrifice  ;  he  faid,  'Tis  the  Lord^  let  him  do 
 what  fee meth  hi'm  good.  He  fupported  himfeif 
 under  this  terrible  denuntiation  of  divine  dif- 
 pleafare,  againft  his  fons  and  his  houfc,  witli 
 the  confideration  of  the  <\WmQjbvereigfity^  and 
 his  abfolute  right  to  do  his  will. 
 
 When  David  was  driven  f vom  yerufakm- 
 by  Ab/olom's  confpiracy,  he  expreffes  an  humbk 
 fubmiffion  to  the  divine  pleafure,  in  what  was 
 dearefl  to  him  in  the  world,  the  bringing  him 
 back  to  ferufilemy  and  to  the  ark  of  the  Lord  -, 
 If  I  find  favour  in  the  eyes  of  the  Lord^  he  will 
 bring  me  again^  and  jl:ew  fne  both  it  and  his  2  ^am. 
 habitation :  But  if  he  thus  fay^  I  have  ?70  delight 
 in  thee^  behold  here  am  /,  let  him  do  to  fne  as 
 feemeth  good  to  him.  Holy  fob  fatislied  himfeif 
 \tith  this  confideration,  in  the  difalfrous  death 
 H  4  of 
 
 XVI. 
 
104  Co7iJolatio7^s  in  the  death 
 
 of  all  his  children,  as  well  as  the  lofs  of  his 
 Job  i.  21.  ■worldly  fubilance,  Naked  came  I  out  of  ?ny  fno- 
 thers  womby  andnakedJJmll  I  return  \  the  hord 
 gave^  and  tloe  Lord  taketlo  awa)\  and  bleJJ'ed  be 
 the  name  of  the  Lord.     When  the  difciples  be- 
 fought  the  Apoftle  Faul  not  to  go  to  Jerii/a- 
 Aftsxxi.  lem^  where  he  was  to  be  bound,  'tis  faid.  When 
 ^'^'  he    ivould  not  be  perfuaded^  we  ceafed^  f^yifig-> 
 
 the  will  of  the  Lord  be  done.  I  might  add  the 
 example  of  our  Lord,  when  he  foretold  the 
 treachery  and  ruin  of  fudas^  one  of  his  own 
 family,  who  hanged\\\vi\i^\i  and  went  to  his  own 
 place,  and  jaftihed  his  Lord's  innocence,  by 
 John  xvii.  ^oing  juflice  to  himfelf^  Thofe  whom  thou  hafi 
 10.  gi'-ocn  ?ne,  I  have  kept;  and  none  of  them  is  lofi 
 
 but  the  Jon  of  perdition. 
 
 This  is  a  juft    reafon  for  filent  fubmiffion 
 under  themofl  grievous  difpenfations,  and  the 
 lail  refort  of  a  burdened  oppreiled  foul.     We 
 mud  awe  our  minds  with  a  reverence  of  God, 
 and  acquiefce  in  the  divine  difpofal.     The  will 
 of  God  is  done  in  this  matter :   'Tis  now  a  de- 
 cided cafe,  and  which  nothing  in  all  the  world 
 can  alter.     All  uneafmefs  and  diffatisfacftion  of 
 mind,  and  murmuring  and  complaint,  is  oppo-- 
 lition  to  the  divine  will  and  rebellion  againfl 
 the  fovereign  of  the  world;  and  that  will  always 
 be  the  greatefl  uneafincfs,  as  'tis  themofl  un- 
 natural ftate  of  the  mind.     But  an  humble  and 
 quiet  fubmiffion  to  the  divine  will,  is  infinitely 
 reafonabie  and   becoming,  the  mofl  creature- 
 like, and  fuitable  to  our  dependent  ftate :  And 
 it  carries  a  fecret  fatisfadion  along  with  it,  and 
 yields   the  truefl  comfort  and  lupport.     No- 
 thing 
 
of  wicked  relations,  I05 
 
 thing  can  create  fo  great  a  compofure  and  eafe 
 of  mind,  as  nothing  is  more  honourable  to 
 God,  than  to  be  wiUing  to  be  governed  by  the 
 divine  will,  in  what  is  crofs  to  nature,  and  dif- 
 ficult to  be  borne,  and  to  be  able  to  fay  after 
 the  example  of  our  fufFering  Lord,  tho'  nature 
 reluctate  and  recoil,  neverthelefs  not  my  will, 
 but  thy  will  be  done. 
 
 §  6.  It  will  be  for  the  glory  of  God  at  laft. 
 This  is  the  lafh  and  higheft    end  of  all  things 
 both  to  God,  and  to  the  creatures.     The  glory 
 of  God  in  the  difplay  of  his  perfedions,  is  the 
 higheft  end  to  the  great  God :  He  is  his  own 
 end,  becaufe  there  is  nothing  higher  or  greater 
 to  be  an  end  to  himj  as  the  Apoftle  fays,  iJifHeb.vi. 
 /ware  by  hij?jfelf^  becaufe    he  could  fwear  by  no^^^' 
 greater.     He    made  all  things  for  himfelf,  and'^'^ov.  xvi. 
 the  wicked  for  the  day  of  wrath;    and  for   his"^' 
 pleafure  they  are,  and  were  created;  and  of  htm  Rom.viii. 
 and  thro  him,  and  to  him,   are  all  things;  to^  ' 
 him  be  glory :  i.  e.  for  the  exercife  and  difplay 
 of  his  fovereignty  and  dominion,    and  of  all 
 his  moral  perfedions.     And  'tis  infinitely  rea- 
 fonable   that   what  is  the  higheft  end  to  God, 
 fliould  be  fo  to  his  creature,  and  what  he  is  to 
 propofe  to  himfelf  in  everything.     Whether  we  i  Cor.  x. 
 eat  or  drink,  or  whatjbever  we  do,  we    muji    dol^- 
 all  to  the  glory  of  God;  and  endeavour  that  God 
 in    all  things  may  be  glorified  by  us  thro  fefus '  ^^^  ^^'' 
 Chrifi.     This  is  the    center  of  all  our  defires/'' 
 and  the  aim  to  which  they  muft  be  diredled, 
 and  where  they  muft  meet  at  laft. 
 
 Now  if  it  ftiall  appear  that  this  is  for  the 
 glory  of  God,  and  will  be  a  means  to  prom.ote 
 
 it, 
 
io6  Confolations  in  the  death 
 
 it,  it  ought  to  carry  great  weight  with  it,  and 
 weigh  down  every  other  confideration.     To 
 underftand  this  we  muft  confider,  that  God  has 
 declared    his  gracious  will  concerning  Tinners 
 falvation,  with  the  greateft  folemnity,  and  af- 
 furance  of  fincerity ;  As  I  live,  faith  the  Lord, 
 I  have  no  pleafure  in  the  death  of  afinner,  but 
 that  he  turn  ajid  live.     He  invites  every  one  to 
 come,  and  him  who  cometh  unto  him,  he  will  in 
 no  wife  cafl  out  3  he  will  have  all  men  to  be  faved, 
 and  come  to  the  knowledge  of  the  truth  ;  and  is 
 not  willifig  that  any  fiould  perif?,  but  that  all 
 fiould  come   to  repentance.     He  proclaims  his 
 gracious  nature  and  good  will  to  men,  and  pro- 
 vides fufficient  means  for  their  recovery  in  the 
 gofpel.     He  fent  his  fon  into  the  world,   and 
 eftabudied  a  new  covenant  in  his  blood,   ap- 
 pointed the  proper  means  of  grace,  and  orders 
 his  providential  difpenfations,  with  a  direct  ten- 
 dency and  defign  of  their  good  3  and  exercifes 
 much  patience  and  long-fuffering  towards  them. 
 Upon  thefe  accounts  we  find  that  fmners  def- 
 tru(5lion  is  every  where  imputed  to  themfelves, 
 and  charged  upon  their  own  negled:  and  refufal. 
 
 Prov.i,24.  Why  will  ye  die?  O  Ifrael,  thou  hafl  dejlroyed  thy 
 felf:  you  would  none  of  me :  I  fir  etched  out  my 
 hajid,  and  ?io  man  regarded — you  would  fione  of 
 
 Joh.v.  4.0.  ^^'^y  reproof.  Our  Lord  fays,  Te  will  not  come 
 unto  me,  that  ye  may  have  life.  Many  who  were 
 invited  to  the  gofpel-feaft,  made  light  of  it. 
 Men  refufe  him  who  fpeaketh  to  thtiTifrofn  hea- 
 ven, and  negleul  the  great  falv  at  ion.  And  what 
 can  all  this  amount  to,  in  the  moft  obvious 
 conftrudion,lefs  than  this,  that  they  perifh  thro' 
 
 their 
 
of  wicked  relations*  iO't 
 
 their    own    fault,    and     notwithftanding  the 
 means  of  their  recovery  ? 
 
 Now  the  final  deflrudiion  of  impenitent  fin- 
 ners  will  turn  to  the  glory  of  the  divine  holinefs 
 and  juftice,  and  of  the  redeemer's  vengeance 
 and  wrath.  God  will  be  honoured  in  the  ruin 
 of  his  enemies,  and  the  deftru(flion  of  obftinate 
 irreclaimable  rebels,  though  his  mercy  will  not 
 be  glorified  in  their  falvation :  he  will  appear 
 with  the  majefby  of  a  righteous  judge  when  he 
 fliall  fay,  As  for  thofe  my  enemies  who  would  not  Lukexix. 
 that  I  Jkould  reign  over  tbem^  bring  them  for th'^l- 
 and  Jlay  them  before  me.  The  Apoftle  fays, 
 T^he  Lordjefus  will  be  revealed  from  heaven  with  '  Theff.  i 
 his  mighty  angels  i?i  fames  of  fire  ^  taking  ven-'^' 
 geance  on  them  who  hiow  not  God^  and  obey  ?iot 
 the  gofpcl,  who  fall  be  pimified  with  everlafiing 
 defiruBion,  from  the  prefence  of  the  Lord,  and 
 the  glory  of  his  power  -,  when  he  fjall  come  to  be 
 glorified  in  hisfai?2ts^  and  admired  in  the7n  who 
 believe.  His  more  direB  and  eminent  glory 
 will  be  in  the  admiration  of  believing  faints, 
 but  it  will  be  ^  fecondary  ^ovy  which  will  arife 
 from  the  vengeance  and  deftrudiion  of  the  ig- 
 norant and  difobedient  world  j  for  they  will  be 
 deflroyed  when  he  comes  to  be  glorified ;  and 
 this  is  all  the  glory  he  can  have  by  them,  or 
 which  the  cafe  admits.  So  the  Apoflle  fpeaks 
 again  j  What  if  God  willing  to  fiew  his  wrath^  Rom.  ix. 
 and  make  his  power  hiown,  endured  with  ?nuch'^~' 
 longfufering  the  vef'els  ef  wrath  fitted  for  de- 
 ftruclion^  and  that  he  might  make  known  the  riches 
 of  his  glory ^  on  the  vefjels  of  mercy  which  he  had 
 before  prepared  unto  glory.     He  will  Jljew  his 
 
 wrath^ 
 
io8  Confotations  in  the  death 
 
 wrathj  and  make  his  power  known,  towards  the 
 'veffels  of  wrath y  fitted;  not  by  any  pofitive  de- 
 cree which  (hould  make  it  necelTary,  for  he 
 endured  them  with  much  long-jiifi'ering^  in  or- 
 der to  their  recovery ;  but  by  their  own  wic- 
 kednefs,  for  future  deflrudiion,  as  he  will  the 
 riches  of  his  grace  to  the  vejfels  of  mercy  prepared 
 for  glory. 
 
 What  reafon  is  there  to  be  fatisfied  with 
 what  tends  to  the  glory  of  God,  how  much 
 foever  it  may  be  the  matter  of  private  refent-    | 
 ment,  and  perfonal  grief  to  us  ?    If  we  fliould 
 prefer  yerufalem^  or  the  intereft  of  God  in  the 
 world,  to  our  chief  joy,  (hould  we  not  much 
 more  rejoice  in  the  glory  of  God,  in  our  greateft 
 forrows?    The  confideration  of  the  divine  glory 
 fhould  have  greater  weight  with  us,  than  the 
 welfare  of  any  particular  perfon;  the  reafon  is^ 
 that  the  honour  of  the  divine  perfediions  is  a 
 greater  good  in  it  felf,    and  more  to  be  valued 
 and  regarded  by  us,  than  the  welfare  of  the 
 whole  creation  ;   and  the  falvation  of  rnen  is 
 chiefly  valuable  upon  this  account,  that  'tis  the 
 greatell  difplay  and  advancement  of  the  divine 
 glory.     With  what  force  fhould  it  come  upon 
 our  minds,  that  the  deftruftion  of  the  wicked 
 will  con  lift  with  the  honour  of  divine  mercy, 
 and  be  a  glorious  exercife  of  all  his  other  per- 
 fections ?   Yea,  the  falvation  of  finally  impeni- 
 tent and  difobedient  finners,    would  not  ftand 
 with  the  honour  of  God,    but  be  a  blemifh  to 
 the  glory  of  all  his  perfed:ions,  and  his  righ- 
 teous government  of  the  world.     And  fliall  the 
 great  God  wrong  hiiiiiLlf,    and  injure  his  own 
 
 honour, 
 
of  wicked  relations.  109 
 
 honour,  to  gratify  me  ?  fhall  he  fpare  a  wil- 
 ful firmer,  only  to  pleafe  me,  and  crofs  the 
 fettled  courfe  of  his  difpenfations,  and  violate 
 the  eternal  laws  of  righteoufnef^  and  truth,  in 
 meer  complaifance  to  his  creatures,  and  to  hu- 
 mour their  unreafonable  delires?  Is  that  lit 
 for  him  to  do,  or  reafonabie  for  us  to  exped;  ? 
 I  only  add, 
 
 y.'Tis  conliderable  in  this  cafe  too,  that  good 
 men  will  acquiefce  in  the  righteous  judgment 
 of  God,  and  concur  in  the  fentence  which 
 will  pafs  upon  them.  Let  us  confider,  how 
 grievous  foever  it  is  to  us  now,  what  will  be  our 
 judgment  of  the  cafe  then,  and  what  reafon 
 we  Ihall  have  for  it.  Every  good  man  will 
 approve  the  fentence  of  the  lall  day,  and  reve- 
 rence and  adore  the  divine  holinefs  and  juftice, 
 which  will  be  difplayed  in  it,  and  be  everlaft- 
 ingly  glorified  j  for  he  will  judge  the  world  in 
 right eoufnefs^  and  without  rejpeSl  ofperfons^  with 
 impartial  juflice  according  to  the  equity  of  the 
 golpel,  and  the  tint  Ji ate  oi  every  man.  It 
 will  appear  to  them  reafonabie  and  neceffary, 
 and  the  flrong  convid:ion  of  mind,  will  gain  a 
 full  confent :  they  will  heartily  join  in  the 
 heaviefl  fentence  upon  the  nearell  relation  and 
 dearefl  friend  in  the  world. 
 
 So  the  Apoftle  teaches  us  to  conceive  of  the 
 matter :  Do  you  not  know  that  the  faints  jhall  j  Cor.  v] 
 judge  the  world?  i.e.  the  wicked  world.  The  righ-  '^• 
 teous  will  be  firfl  judged  themfelves,  as  they 
 will  be  firfl  raifed,  and  then  fit  in  judgment 
 with,  and  become  afleffors  with  him.  This 
 kQ?iour  ha'^oe  allhisjmnts^Xo  fit  in  judgment  with 
 
 Chrifl 
 
no  Confolations  in  the  death 
 
 Chrift  the  judge  upon  the  wicked  world.  AikI 
 will  not  they  concur  in  the  righteous  fentence 
 he  will  pafs  upon  them,  and  approve  fo  great 
 a  difplay  of  the  glory  of  his  perfections  ?  Tho' 
 the  darknefs  and  weaknefs  of  our  minds  at  pre- 
 fent,  and  foolifli  tendernefs  towards  them  now, 
 make  us  blind  to  their  faults,  and  partial  in  our 
 regards  to  them,  yet  in  that  clear  and  enligh- 
 tened ftate,  and  perfecfl  recflitude  of  foul,  a 
 fuperiour  regard  to  God  above  all,  will  flrongly 
 dilpofe  them  to  defpife  every  interefl  inconlif- 
 tent  with  his  glory,  and  make  them  eafy  and 
 pleafed,  in  his  wife  and  righteous,  tho'  never 
 fo  fevere  and  terrible,  determination,  where- 
 ever  it  lights  and  falls.  All  fond  regards  arifing 
 from  natural  inftinft,  prefent  relation,  and 
 partial  confiderations,  will  ceafe;  and  every  foul 
 will  be  filled  with  the  love  of  God,  who  will 
 be  all  in  all,  and  fwallowed  up  in  a  conftant 
 regard  to  the  divine  will.  And  why  fhould  we 
 differ  fo  much  from  our  fehcs^  and  be  inor- 
 dinately grieved  for  that  at  prefent,  which  we 
 fhall  fee  reafon  to  be  fully  fatisfied,  and  well 
 pleafed  with  hereafter  ? 
 
 'Tis  an  inftance  of  chrljlian  herotfm  in  a 
 good  woman,  who  is  reported  to  have  laid,  to 
 a  beloved  but  incorrigible  fon,  whom  flie  had 
 often  admonifhed  and  reproved,  and  prayed  and 
 mourned  over  in  vain ;  "  Well,  God  will  beglo- 
 *^  rified  in  thy  eternal  ruin  ^  and  fince  all  endea- 
 "  vours  and  hopes  are  difappointed,  I  refign 
 "  thee  up  to  the  righteous  judgment  of  God, 
 "  and  fhall  rejoice  in  the  fentence  of  condem- 
 "  nation  at  lafl."  And  'tis  faid  to  have  been 
 with  a  good  eiFed.  To 
 
of  wicked  relations*  in 
 
 To  conclude ;  Let  us  learn  from  the  confi- 
 deration  of  this  cafe  to  ceafe  from  man,  and  be 
 lefs  fond  of  prefent  relations,  efpecij^liy  from 
 external  coniiderations,  fince  their  wickcdnefs 
 and  mifcarriage  is  fo  very  grievous :  let  us  live 
 more  entirely  upon  God,  who  will  never  fail 
 and  difappoint  us,  and  be  better  to  us  than  our 
 higheft  hopes:  take  the  comfort  of  prefent 
 mercies,  under  all  your  forrows,  efpecially  of 
 good  relations  and  friends,  who  are  left,  and  be 
 more  follicitous  and  careful  for  their  welfare : 
 and  think  more  of  the  heavenly  ftate  where  all 
 will  be  well,  and  there  will  be  no  difappoint- 
 ment  or  forrow  for  ever. 
 
 SER- 
 
112 
 
 SERMON     IV. 
 
 Confolations    in    the    death    of 
 infants. 
 
 Chap, 
 jcxvi.  15. 
 
 lii. 
 
 Matt.  ii.   18. 
 
 In  Raniah  was  a  voice  heard^  lamen- 
 tation^ and  weepings  aiid  great 
 mourning  \  Rachel  weepi?2g  for  her 
 children^  and  would  not  be  comfort edy 
 becaufe  they  are  not. 
 
 THESE  words  were  originally  fpoken  by 
 the  prophet  yeremiah^  concerning  the 
 lamentations  of  the  people  of  yeriifa- 
 lem,  at  the  fevcral  captivities  prophefied  of  in 
 another  chapter,  under  the  moving  reprefen- 
 tation  of  a  tender  mother  bewailing  her  dead 
 children.  The  fcenc  is  laid  in  Kamah  in  the 
 land  of  Benjamin^  which  is  not  far  from  Je-^ 
 rufalem,  and  in  which  part  of  it  flood  ;  and  fo 
 Rachel,  the  mother  of  Benjamin^  is  fitly  in- 
 troduced upon  this  occalion,  and  made  the 
 (hief  moiwner.     But  'tis  applied  here  by  the 
 
 Evangelift 
 
death  of  infaitts.  113 
 
 Evangellft  to  another  purpofe;  the  deftrudion 
 of  the  children  of  Bethlehem.,  which  was  near 
 yerufalejn  too,  by  the  cruel  jealoufy  of  Herody 
 at  the  tidings  of  the  birth  of  the  khii^  of  the  Jews^ 
 by  the  wije  men  from  the  eaft.  This  prophecy 
 is  faid  to  be  fulfilled  in  this  event ;  not  only 
 accommodated  to  it,  but  the  true  fenfe  of  the 
 prophecy,  and  which  only  had  its  literal  and 
 full  accomplifliment  in  it. 
 
 I  Ihall  confider  the  cafe  of  the  death  of  in- 
 fantSj  and  the  comforts  which  may  be  drawn 
 from  the  fcriptures  to  forrowful  parents  upon 
 that  account.  This  is  a  cafe  which  very  fre- 
 quently happens,  and  to  moft  per  Tons  at  fome 
 time  or  other  of  their  lives.  And  a  tender 
 cafe  it  commonly  is,  efpecially  to  the  weaker 
 fex :  feveral  circumflances  often  concur  to  ren- 
 der it  grievous  and  compaiTionable ;  as  where 
 it  is  the  child  of  our  youth ;  the  hopes  of  the 
 family;  an  only j  or  a  lovely  child;  endeared 
 by  little  tender neiTes  of  aff'eBion,  and  early 
 buddings  of  reafon  and  icflom.  And  this  is 
 fometimes  carried  to  great  excefs:  indulgent 
 mothers  are  apt  to  grieve,  as  they  are  to  love, 
 to  degrees  of  inordinacy  3  and  like  Rachel^ 
 mourn  for  their  children  becaufe  they  are  not., 
 and  refife  to  he  cotnforted.  The  dear  image  is 
 always  before  my  eyes;  methinks  I  fee  and  hear 
 it  wherever  I  go :  I  can't  put  the  thoughts  of 
 it  out  of  my  mind :  but,  O  !  the  grief 
 
 I  fliall  propofe  the  proper  grounds  of  fup- 
 port,  and  method  of  relief,  in  this  cafe. 
 
 §.  I,  Confider  the  fovereigjity  and  domi- 
 nion of  the  great  God.     This  is  always  funda- 
 
 I  mental 
 
1 1 4  Confolatlons  in  the 
 
 mental  in  every  inilance  of  this  general  cafe, 
 the  iuperiour  right  of  the  great  God,  to  oni- 
 own  right,  and  every  ether,  in  what  is  mofl 
 our  own,  our  perfons  and  our  lives.  We  cur 
 felves  are  more  his  than  we  are  our  o%v?2,  and 
 pfal.c  3.  more  entirely  at  his  difpofal:  IVe  are  his  peo- 
 ple^ for  he  hath  made  us,  and  not  ive  our  Jehes. 
 ^  And  we  are  not  our  own^  for  we  are  bought  with 
 
 a  price.    We  are  abfolutcly  his  upon  the  higheft 
 claims,  of  creation  and  redemption,  as  his  crea- 
 tures^ and  his  purchafe.     So  we  often  find  that 
 God  challenges  a  propriety  in  the  lives  of  his 
 ^^".*-       creatures ,  See  ?icw  that  I  even  I  am  he^  and 
 '  there  is  noGod  with  ?ne:  Ikill  and  I  make  ali've  y 
 I  wound  and  I  heal.     Yea,  the  prophet  repre- 
 Ezek.       fents  his  ris^ht  in  the  fouls  of  his  creatures;  Be- 
 xvm,  4.     hold  all  fouls  are  jnijie^  as  the  foul  cf  the  father^ 
 fo  aljo  the  foul  of  the  fon  is  mine. 
 
 This  mufc   reafonably  hold   with  greater 
 
 flrength,  in  the  cafe  of  every  enjoyment  of  life, 
 
 as  the  nearefc  relation,  and  the  befl  poffeflion 
 
 of  this  world.     Holy  "Job  acknowledges   the 
 
 fovereignty  of  the  great  God  in  the  prefenc  cale^, 
 
 and  comforts  himfelf  with  this  coniideraticn^ 
 
 when  all  his  worldly  fubftance  was  deflroyed, 
 
 and  his  whole  family  was  cut  off,  by  a  hand 
 
 of  violence,    and  with  all  the  circumilances  of 
 
 horror.     The  laft  meffage  brought  him  was 
 
 }ob  i.  1 8.  ihiis^Thy  fo72s  and  daughters  were  eating  and  drin- 
 
 Ving^  in  their  elder  brother  s  houf\  arid  a  mighty 
 
 wind  from  the  wildernefs  fmote  the  four  corners 
 
 of  the  houj'e,  and  it  fell  upon  the  young  m^en,  and 
 
 they  are  dead.     Upon  this  he  rent  his  garments^ 
 
 andfiavedhis  head^  and  fell  down  upon  the  ground^ 
 
 and 
 
death  of  Infants.  115 
 
 and  worjhipped 'j  expreffions  and  poflure  of  re- 
 verence, as  well  as  grief:  he  appeared  as  a 
 ivorjlnpper  as  well  as  a  jnoiirjier,  upon  this  ex- 
 traordinary affliction,  and  exprefl  his  devotion 
 and  ori'ief  tosrether,  in  this  humble  acknowleds:- 
 ment.  Naked  came  I  out  of  my  jnothers  womb ^joh'i.  21. 
 and  naked  flmll  I  return  thither :  the  Lordga^ue^ 
 and  the  Lord  taketh  away.,  bleff'ed  be  the  name 
 of  the  Lord,  The  confideration  of  the  divine 
 fovereignty  or  abfolute  right  to  all  his  creatures 
 is  a  filencing  thought,  which  ought  to  fitisfy 
 and  fupport.  He  has  taken  away,  who  firft 
 gave  them  to  us,  and  who  retained  the  higheft 
 right  to  them  all  along.  There  is  no  ground 
 of  challenge  and  complaint,  or  any  pretence 
 of  injury  and  wrong,  in  the  wife  and  righteous 
 fovereign  of  the  world,  in  what  lies  moll  crofs, 
 and  is  moft  grievous  to  our  minds.  Here- 
 upon, 
 
 2.  Consider  the  righteonfnefs  of  the  divine 
 difpenfation  herein.  Tho'  God  is  an  abjohite 
 fovereign,  and  has  a  right  to  do  what  he  pleafes 
 with  his  own  creature ;  yet  he  is  a  wife  and 
 righteous  fovereign,  who  never  a6ls  with  arbi- 
 trary will,  or  unreafonable  pleafure.  He  is  al- 
 ways bound  by  his  own  perfection,  though  not 
 fubjedt  to  any  fuperiour ;  and  can  no  more  ad: 
 iinreafonably^  than  he  can  inijiftly :  'tis  as  necel- 
 fary  that  he  aCt  with  wifdom,  as  with  righte- 
 oufnefs.  Now  'tis  the  jull  fentence  of  the  broken 
 law,  and  the  natural  effed:  of  our  fain  flate,that 
 we  become  mortal.  If  man  had  never  finned, 
 lie  had  never  died,  but  had  been  immortal.  The 
 original   fentence,   founded  upon  the  greatefl 
 
 I   2  reafon. 
 
1 1 6  Confolations  hi  the 
 
 reafon,  was  immediately  executed,  in  our  fub- 
 jedlon  to  death.  In  the  day  thou  eatejl  thereof 
 thou  jl:alt  furely  die.  And  'tis  the  righteous  ap- 
 pointment of  heaven,  for  'tis  appointedto  men 
 once  to  die :  they  mufl  die  fome  time  or  other. 
 This  is  founded  in  reafon,  and  juflice,  and  has 
 been  abfohite  and  univerfal  to  the  whole  race, 
 excepting  only  in  two  inflances,  by  an  extraor- 
 -dinary  favour,  and  for  fpecial  purpofes.  But 
 riow  the  feafon  and  circumflances  of  our  death, 
 the  kind  and  manner  of  it,  in  what  ftage  of 
 life,  or  period  of  time  j  is  a  referve  of  ivl/dom, 
 and  matter  of  pleafure,  and  lies  in  the  breafl 
 of  the  fovereign  difpofer  and  lord  of  life. 
 
 Upon  this  foot  'tis  eafy  to  account  for  the 
 
 rightcoufnefs  of  his  condu(5l  in  the  death  of  i?i- 
 
 fants  \  for  they  are  under  the  common  fentence 
 
 of  death,  and  born  mortal  and  fubjed:  to  death  : 
 
 they  are  a  part  of  the  fpoils  and  triumph  of 
 
 Rom.v.i2.death  in  this  world.  The  Apoflle  fays.  By 
 one  man  fin  entered  into  the  world^  and  death  by 
 Jin^  and  fo  death  paffed  upon  all  ??2enj  in  whom  all 
 have  firmed  y  which  holds  true  of  all  men.  He 
 is  thought  by  good  interpreters  to  have  fome 
 reference  to  the  cafe  of  infants  in  that  expref- 
 
 —14-  fion  in  a  following  verfe^  Neverthelefs  death 
 reigned  from  Adam  to  Mofes,  eve7%  over  thofe  who 
 had  not  fmned  after  the  fmiilitude  of  Adam'i 
 tranfgrejjion :  i.  e.  either  before  any  pofitive  law 
 was  o;lven  which  threatned  death :  for  until  the 
 IdWyfin  was  in  the  world:  or  who  had  not  fin- 
 ned in  their  own  perfons,  as  Adam  did,  but 
 only  as  defcendants  of  fmful  Adam^  and  the  po- 
 ilerity  of  mortal  creatures.     And  then  God  has 
 
 done 
 
death  of  infa72ts.  117 
 
 done  us  no  wrong,  or  ad:ed  an  unrighteous 
 thing,  when  he  fnatches  a  beloved  child  from 
 the  tender  mother's  embraces,  or  gathers  a 
 blooming  flower,  and  nips  it  in  the  blolfom ; 
 tho'  it  jufl  opens  as  a  flower  to  the  heat  of  the 
 fun,  and  Ihuts  again  at  night,  when  the  warm 
 influences  retire  j  or  fhrinks  and  withers  by  a 
 cold  froft,  or  blafl:ing  wind.  'Twas  a  noble  fay- 
 ing of  one  of  the  antients,  upon  the  tidings  of 
 his  fon's  death,   "  I  knew  that  I  begat  a  mor- ^^'^•^"' "■^^ 
 
 tc    f„1  "  genuijfe 
 
 ^'^^'  ^  moitalcm. 
 
 3.  Consider  that  they  are  in  co-vejiant  with 
 God,  and  we  have  reafon  to  believe  well  of 
 mXi^w  future  fl:ate.  It  would  be  a  melancholly 
 thing  if  we  had  reafon  to  think  that  they  were 
 lofl:,  or  perilh,  when  they  die  out  of  this  world, 
 or  we  were  altosrether  in  the  dark  about  their 
 future  ftate.  And  though  'tis  true  the  fcrip- 
 tures  don't  fpeak  much  of  the  fcate  of  infants, 
 becaufe  it  does  not  fo  immediately  concern  us 
 to  know  it;  they  are  written  for  the  adult,  who 
 are  only  capable  of  uflng  them,  and  de- 
 figned  to  inftrud:  us  in  the  great  and  important 
 truths  which  relate  to  our  prefent  duty  and  fu- 
 ture hopes  i  not  to  gratify  a  vain  curiolity,  or 
 amufe  us  with  unconcerning  fpeculations:  yet 
 there  are  fome  principles  laid  down,  and  in- 
 timations given,  which  are  fufficient  to  fupport 
 fuch  apprehenfions,  at  leall,  as  to  the  infants 
 of  good  men. 
 
 Indeed  fome  have  thought  that  all  infants 
 dying  baptized  are  certainly  iaved  *.     And  a 
 
 I  3  very 
 
 *  It  is  certain  by  God's  word,  that  children  who  are  baptized, 
 ilying  before  they  commit  adual  iin,  aie  undoubtedly  laved, 
 Kubrick  after  the  offce  of  baptifmi 
 
1 1 8  Corifolat'ions  in  the 
 
 very  learned  and  accurate  perfon  has  lately  cod- 
 tended  for  the  falvation  of  all  infants  -f-, whether 
 of  chriftians  or  heathens ;  and  that  by  the  ad- 
 dition of  the  v/hole  infant  worlds  the  number 
 of  the  faved  will  be  greater  than  that  of  the 
 damned.  But  I  doubt  we  cannot  eafily  be  cer- 
 tain of  this,  how  delirable  foever  it  may  ap- 
 pear to  be  true,  and  that  'tis  faying  more  thaii 
 we  have  any  fufficient  ground  in  the  fcripture 
 to  fupport.  Nor  dare  I  venture  to  deny  it  nei- 
 ther, or  fay  abfolutely  that  it  is  not  fo :  it  may 
 be  fo  for  ought  I  know,  and  'tis  certainly  a 
 very  agreeable  thought,  if  it  could  be  made 
 good.  But  I  think  v^^e  fliould  not  be  ^wife  abo've 
 ivhat  is  written^  or  pretend  to  greater  certainty 
 in  the  matter  than  we  have  fufficient  means  to 
 come  at. 
 
 But  now  with  refpe6l  to  the  infant-feed  of 
 good  men  J  the  cafe  feems  more  plain  :  for  they 
 are  in  covenant  with  God  with  their  believing 
 parents,  and  'entitled  to  pardon  and  life  upon 
 that  ground.  This  was  the  tenour  of  God's 
 Gen.  xvii.  covenant  with  Abraham',  I  will  efiablifi  a  co- 
 7-  'venant  between  me^  and  thee,  and  thy  feed  af- 
 
 ter thee,  i?t  their  generation,  for  an  e-verlafling 
 covenant^  to  be  a  God  unto  thee,  and  thy  feed  af- 
 ter thee.     And  the  token  of  the  covenant  was 
 _i  1, 1 2.  the  circiuncifi?ig  thefeffo  oftheforefkin^  and  that 
 at  eight  days  old.     This  was  a  vifible    mark 
 of  diftindion  from  others,   and  of  feparation 
 and  devotednefs  to  God.     The  Apoftle  fays, 
 Rom.  iv.  that  Abraham    received  the  fgn    of  circiim- 
 1 1  •         cifion,    the  feal    of  the    right eoufnefe  of  faith, 
 
 which 
 
 f  ProfefTor  Simpfon  of  Glafgoxv,  in  his  anfwer  to  Mr.  Wehpr, 
 
XIX. 
 
 death  of  infcmtSi  119 
 
 which  he  had  being  yet  iincircumcifed^  that  he 
 might  be  the  father  of  them  ivho  believe.  It  related 
 to  him  as  a  believer,  and  the  father  of  them 
 who  believe.     And  he  teflified  to  every  man 
 who  is  circumcifed,  that  he  is  a  debtor  to  the  Gal.  v.  3 
 ivhole  laii).     The   gofpel-covenant  extends  to 
 adult  perfons  who  heartily  confent  to  it,   and 
 to  their  infant- feed,  till  they  come  to  be  capable 
 of  ading  for  themfelves,  and  confenting  in  their 
 own  perfons.  Thus  when  they  brought  to  our 
 Lord  little  children,  that  he  fliould  lay  liis  hands 
 on  them  and  pray,  and  the  difciples  rebuked 
 them,  he  faid.   Suffer  little  children  to  come  to  M^tt. 
 7iie^  and  forbid  them  not.,  for  of  fuch  is  the  king-  13,  h- 
 dom  of  heaven  :\.Q.  feich  belong  to  my  kingdom, 
 as  well  as  thofe  of  fuch  a  temper,  and  that 
 whether  you  underftand  it  of  the  kingdom  of 
 his  grace  in  this  world,  or  the  kingdom  of 
 glory  in  the  other.  They  are  infant  difciples  and 
 me?nbers  oi  Chnix^  as  they  are  infant  ne  fibers 
 of  the  fimilies  to  which  they  relate.  The  Apoftle 
 tells   the  convinced  Jews,  T^he promife  is  to yoii^  \^^\{^ 
 and  to  your  children^  as  v/ell  as  to  all  afar  off^  39- 
 and  as  jnaiiy  as  the  Lord  our  God  JJjall  call. 
 And  he  fets  it  upon  the  plan  of  God's  covenant 
 with  Abraham^  and  makes  it  extend  to  all  the 
 fpiritual  feed,  or  true  believers.     And  if  ye  are  q^j  ... 
 Chrift's^  then  are  ye  Abraham'^  feed^  and  heirs  ac-  29. 
 cording  to  the  promifc  ;  according  to  the  tenour 
 of  God's  covenant  withy^^W^w^that  he  would 
 be  his  Godj  and  the  God  of  his  feed.  They  feem  to 
 be  conildered  as  parts  of  their  parents,  and  one 
 with  them  in  a  moral  confideration,  and  to 
 fland  upon  the  fame  foot  with  them  by  virtue 
 
 I  4  of 
 
I  20  Confolations  in  the 
 
 of  God's  covenant  with  them ;  and  therefore  the 
 
 Apoflle  reprefents  them  as  the  branches  of  a  tree, 
 
 Rom.  XI.  2,Y\d  fays,  If  the  root  is  hoh\  Jo  are  the  branches  ; 
 
 and  he  fays,  the  iinbelieijinghuJhandisJanBiJied 
 
 I  Cor.  vii.  by  the  wife  J  and  the  unbelie'vi?jg  wfe  by  the  huf- 
 
 ^4-  bafid;  elfe  were  your  children  unclean^   but  now 
 
 are  they  holy ;  which  I  underftand   of  relatjve 
 
 holinefs,  or  a  covenant-relation  to  God. 
 
 This  is  a  great  confolation  to  a  good  man, 
 that  his  departed  child  is  accepted  of  God,  and 
 in  covenant  with  him  ;  that  he  is  owned  as  an 
 adopted  child  of  God,  and  entitled  to  the  hea- 
 venly inheritance.  They  have  reafon  to  be- 
 lieve, that  he  is  now  with  God,  and  received 
 by  the  faviour  of  men,  and  lover  of  little  chil- 
 dren. If  he  would  not  have  them  kept  from 
 him  here,  he  will  not  rejed:  them  hereafter.  If 
 they  belong  to  the  kingdom  of  his  grace,  they 
 fhall  not  be  excluded  the  kingdom  of  heaven. 
 And  it  muft  needs  be  very  uncomfortable,  if  it 
 were  otherwife  with  them. 
 
 What  the  happinefs  of  an  infant  will  be  in 
 the  other  world,  we  cannot  certainly  tell ;  but 
 only  that  it  will  have  all  the  happinefs  it  is  ca- 
 pable of,  and  perhaps  with  great  improvements 
 to  their  prefent  ftate.  'Tis  certain  all  the 
 time  of  life  which  was  wanting  to  them  in  this 
 world,  will  be  made  up  with  great  advantage 
 in  the  other ;  and  'tis  probable  at  leafl  that  their 
 rational  powers,  which  are  now  limited  and 
 clogged  by  the  indifpofition  of  the  bodily  organs, 
 will  be  fet  free  from  prefent  reftraints,  and  be 
 enlarged  and  improved  -,  that  they  will  arrive 
 to  the  proper  perfedion  of  the  reafonable  nature, 
 
 and 
 
death  of  infants,  1 2 1 
 
 and  a  capacity  of  enjoying  the  fupreme  good  : 
 as  the  hght  and  influence  of  the  Sun  prefently 
 darts  into  any  place  when  the  obftrudion  is 
 once  removed. 
 
 4.  They  have  anfwered  the  ends  of  their  cre- 
 ation, and  the  purpofes  for  which  God  fent  them 
 into  the  world.  Indeed  they  make  a  fliort  Hay, 
 and  are  lefs  fignilicant :  they  have  lower  capa- 
 cities and  feebler  powers,  than  thofe  of  longer 
 continuance,  or  grown  up  to  maturity.  They 
 are  not  capable  of  adlual  choice,  or  adlive  fer- 
 vice.  But  they  ferve  to  difplay  the  perfed:ions 
 and  providence  of  God,  and  are  fo  many  in- 
 ilances  of  the  divine  power  and  wifdom,  and 
 goodnefs,  in  the  wonderful  formation  of  their 
 bodies,  and  covering  them  in  the  mother  s  womb, 
 where  they  wtiQ  fearfully  a?2d  wonderfully  made, 
 and  cur  ion fy  wrought  in  the  lower  parts  of  the 
 earth;  in  all  the  nice  circumftances  of  their  birth, 
 and  the  tender  care  watching  over  them  in  their 
 infant  ftate  -,  or  of  his  righteoufnefs  and  faith- 
 fulnefs  in  executing  the  fentence  of  death  ; 
 perhaps  of  punifhment  and  rebuke  to  over- 
 indulgent  parents,  to  try  their  faith  and  pa- 
 tience, or  teach  them  fubmiffion  and  refigna- 
 tion  to  the  divine  will. 
 
 'Tis  plain  however  that  God  has  ferved  his 
 own  purpofes  by  them,  and  whatfoever  he  in- 
 tended by  their  appearing  in  the  world.  And 
 every  thing  is  to  be  valued  but  in  proportion 
 to  its  end,  and  the  purpole  for  which  it  was 
 made.  'Twere  well  if  it  could  be  faid  of  moft 
 who  die  in  more  advanced  years  of  life,  that 
 they  had  as  truly  anfwered  the  ends  of  their 
 
 creation. 
 
12  2  Confolations  in  the 
 
 creation,  as  they  who  die  in  their  infant  flate.^ 
 'Tis  peculiar  to  their  cafe  that  they  have  com- 
 mitted no  adlual  fin.  They  are  not  chargeable 
 with  finful  faiHngs,  which  require  a  capacity 
 of  moral  government,  and  fappofe  their  own 
 confent.  It  could  not  be  faid  they  did  any 
 thing  amifs,  though  they  were  not  capable  of 
 much  actual  knowledge,  or  any  adive  fer- 
 vice ;  and  it  may  be  faid  of  them,  what  is  faid 
 Rom.  ix.  of  'Jacob  and  oi  Efau,  The  children  being  not  yet 
 ' ' '  horn^  neither  ha^'oiiig  done  any  good  or  evil.     So 
 
 that  how  fliort  foever  their  continuance  in  this 
 world  was,  and  how  few  purpofes  foever  they 
 were  any  way  capable  of  ferving,  they  have 
 notwithftanding  fully  reached  the  defign  of 
 God  concerning  them  here,  and  in  this  refped: 
 have  the  advantage  of  the  adult,  that  they 
 fland  under  lefs  guilt,  tho'  they  have  done  lefs 
 fervice. 
 
 5.  We  know  not  what  they  might    have 
 
 proved,  if  they  had  lived.     Fond  parents  often 
 
 pleafe   themfelves,  with  fair  appearances  and 
 
 future  profpedsj  of  feeing  them  bleffings  in 
 
 the  world,  ^.nd  fervijjg  their  ge?2cration  accord- 
 
 ing  to  the  will  of  God;  and  of  becoming  like 
 
 Pfal.        arrows  in  the  hands  of  the  inighty  man,  for  their 
 
 cxxvn.  4.  defence ;  or  like  olive-plants  round  about  their 
 
 cxxvni.3.^^^^^,^  for  delight :  Their  fans  as  plants  growing 
 
 '  up  in  their  youth,  afid  their  daughters  as  corner-^ 
 
 Jlones  polified  after  the  fifnilitude  of  a  palace, 
 
 'Tis  natural  to   raife  their  expectations   from 
 
 children  early  ripe,    of  quick  apprehenfions, 
 
 and  well   difpofedj  and  yet  nothing  is  more 
 
 common  than  to  find  themfelves  miftaken,  and 
 
 2  after 
 
death  of  hif ants*  123 
 
 after  all  the  exercife  of  tender  care  In  their 
 younger  days,  all  the  expence  of  education  and 
 furniture  for  fervice;  all  their  prayers  and  en- 
 deavours for  their  good ;  yea,  and  it  may  be, 
 after  promifing  appearances,  and  hopeful  be- 
 ginnings too;  to  fee  them  deceive  the  mofl 
 reafonable  expedations,  and  make  ill  returns 
 to  all  their  kindnefs.  'Tis  a  very  rare  and  fin- 
 gular  bleffing  to  have  all  prove  truly  good, 
 where  there  are  feveral,  and  no  one  milcarry 
 among  them. 
 
 Sometimes  by    natural  weaknefs  and  an 
 infirm  conftitution,  or  by  accidental  evils  thro' 
 careleilhefs  and  neglect,  by  falls  and  diftem- 
 pers  in  their  younger  years,  they  contrail  de- 
 formities, and  are  difabled  for  the  fervice  of 
 life:  So MephiboJIjeth^  yojiathan?, ion^  was /^;;7^ 2  Sam. iv. 
 in  his  feet  at  jive  years  old,  by  a  fall  from  his  4- 
 nurfe's  arms,  when  flie  fled  away  In  a  fright. 
 Or  elfe,which  is  a  worfe  circumftance  of  things, 
 prove  wicked  and  rebellious.     How  often  do 
 we  hear   the  groans  and  complaints   of  pious 
 parents    over  their  wicked    children,    drawn 
 away  by  ill   company,  and  evil    inclinations, 
 contracting  ill  habits,  and  running  into  open 
 exceiTes !  Sometimes  perhaps  unhappy  difpofals 
 of  life,  unfuitable    matches,  and  unfuccefsful 
 affairs,  whether  by  their  own  railmefs,  or  misfor- 
 tune of  others,  prove  a  heart-breaking  to  tender 
 and  concerned  parents.     When  'Efau  married  a 
 daughter  of  the  iJ/V/Z/^-i,  'tisfiid,  Which  thing  Q^^^^y^^^, 
 was  a  grief  of  heart  to  L^aac  and  to  Rebecca,     It  3  5 . 
 was  a  bitternefs  of  heart  to  them  both,  inflead 
 of  being  any  comfort  and  joy.     And  Rebecca 
 
 tells 
 
1 24  Confolations  in  the 
 
 Chap,      tells  Ifaac^  If  Jacob  takes  a  wife  of  the  daughters 
 ^^^"'  ^    o/'Heth,  fuch  as  they  who  are  the  daughters  of 
 the  landy  what  good  f  mil  my  Ufe  do  me^  I  fliall 
 have  no  comfort  in  either  of  them,  or  in  any- 
 thing I  have.     A  beautiful  and   beloved  Ab- 
 folom  raifed    an  open  rebellion  againft  an   in- 
 dulgent  father  in   his  old  age,  fet  himfelf  at 
 the   head  of  a  powerful  fadiion,  drove    him 
 from  ferifaleirij  and  put  him  in  danger  of  his 
 life,  tho'  it  proved    in   the  ifliie   fatal    to  his 
 own.     The  prodigal  fon,  who  had   been  long 
 entertained  in  his  father's  houfe,  with  a  boun- 
 T  ,         tiful  and  indulgent  care,  demands  the  portion  of 
 12.         goods  which  fell  to  his  jhare^  departs  from  his 
 father's  houfe,  goes    into  a  far  country,  Ipends 
 his  fubilance  in   riotous  excefs,  and   reduces 
 himfelf  to  the  utmofl  diflrefs. 
 
 Were  it  not  better  to  be  without  children, 
 or  to  follow  them  early  to  their  graves,  than 
 to  have  undutiful  and  rebellious  ones,  or  even 
 unhappy  and  miferable  ones?  How  unreafo- 
 nable  is  indulgence  to  intemperate  paffion  for 
 the  lofs  of  fo  uncertain  a  bleffing ;  and  what 
 may  pofTibly  prove  the  greateft  afflicflion  of 
 hfe,  and  embitter  all  the  other  comforts  of  it  ? 
 Perhaps  a  kind  and  gracious  providence  de- 
 ligns  your  good  by  this  evil,  and  to  prevent 
 a  greater  trouble  and  mifchief.  And  then  how 
 ungrateful  is  the  return }  Shall  we  repine  at 
 his  goodnefs  ?  I  have  been  informed  by  them 
 who  knew  the  cafe,  of  the  inconfiderate  rafh- 
 nefs  of  a  fond  mother,  who  paffionately  prayed 
 for  the  life  of  a  fick  child,  whatever  it  coft  her: 
 
 She 
 
death  of  infajits.  1 25 
 
 She  had  her  defire ;  but   he  lived   to  come  to 
 an  untimely  end,  and  to  break  her  heart. 
 
 6.  Perhaps  you  have  other   children  re- 
 maining.    If  God  takes  away  a  beloved  child 
 in  its  infant  ftate,    which  is  like  blalting  the 
 flower  in  the  bloflbm,  or  nipping  a  tender  bud ; 
 if  he  makes  a  breach  in  your  family,  and  lef- 
 fens  the  number  of  it  j  yet  'tis  a  great  comfort 
 in  that  cafe,  that  we  are   not  quite  deftitute, 
 and  cannot  fay  in  the  language  of  the  holy  Pa- 
 triarch, If  I  am  berea'-jcd  ojiny  children^  I  amGen.xlnl. 
 bereaved.     'Tis  a  proper  confolation  in  fuch  a  H- 
 cafe,  that  there  are   others  left,  in  whom  we 
 may  take  comfort.     Sd  we  find  Eve  comforts 
 her  ielf  upon  the  death  of  Abel.     Adam  knew 
 his  wife  agaijjy  and  fie  bare  a  Jon,  and  called^^"^  '^f- 
 his  name  Seth ;  for  God,  faith  fje,  hath  appoint-  ^^' 
 ed  me  another  Jon,  inftead  ^  Abel  whom  Cain 
 flew ;  that  is,  to  be  head  of  the  holy  feed.  And 
 Lamech  comforts  himfelf  with  the  profpedl  of 
 
 a  fon,  the  heir  and  hopes  of  the  family.  And y  ^a 
 
 Lamech  called  his  7ia?ne  Noah,  faying,  this 
 fa?ne  fljall  comfort  us  concerning  our  work  and 
 the  toil  of  our  hands,  becaufe  of  the  ground  which 
 God  hath  cuffed,  and  fo  under  any  other  eifed: 
 of  the  curfe,  for  the  fame  reafon. 
 
 God  fometimes  removes  a  favourite  child, 
 the  darling,  perhaps  the  idol  of  our  heart, 
 which  is  very  commonly  the  cafe ;  he  rebukes 
 the  excefs  of  their  regard,  or  prevents  a  great- 
 er mifchief  another  way  :  but  then  if  he  con- 
 tinues others  to  us,  or  raifes  up  others  in  their 
 room,  'tis  certainly  a  very  reafonabic  comfort 
 in  the  lofs  of  any   who  are  taken  away.     We 
 
 iliould 
 
Pfal 
 
 126  Confolat'io7ts  in  the 
 
 fhould  not  overlook  remaining  mercies,  when 
 fome  others  are  removed.  Look  upon  the  fur- 
 viving  offspring  with  thankfuhiefs :  Take  the 
 comfort  of  them  who  are  fpared.  Rejoice 
 with  the  wife  of  thy  youth,  and  in  the  children 
 of  thy  youth  too,  in  the  fruitful  vine  by  the 
 cxxvm.'^.fde  of  thy  houfe,  and  the  olive-plants  around  thy 
 table.  Is  it  not  a  great  comfort  to  have  health- 
 ful and  lovely  children,  a  wife  and  dutiful 
 offspring,  hopeful  and  promifing,  tho'  all  are 
 not  fpared  which  God  had  given  us,  and  that 
 we  are  not  wholly  bereaved,  tho'  our  houfe  is 
 not  fo  with  God,  as  it  has  been,  and  he  7nakes 
 it  not  to  grow. 
 
 7.  Suppose  the  worfl  circumflance,  That 
 
 ■i  8.  *tis  an  only  child,  or  that  all  are  removed  from 
 
 us.     yo^'s  fons  and  daughters  were  all  cut  off, 
 
 by   one    fudden  and  violent  flroke.    'Tis  faid, 
 
 when  our  Lord  came  to  the   gates  of  the  city 
 
 of  Nairn,  behold  there  was  a  dead  man  carried 
 
 out,  the  only  fin  of  his  mother,  and  fie  was  a 
 
 widow.     The   great  comfort    and  fupport  of 
 
 a  dcfolate  widow.     Why,  in  this  cafe,  .which 
 
 is   indeed  tender  and   companionable,  we  are 
 
 to  confider,  That  we  received  an   only  child 
 
 from  God,  and  every  one  of  our  children,  for 
 
 children  are  an  heritage  of  the  Lord,  and  the 
 
 fruit  of  the  womb  his  work.     'Tis  the  Lord  who 
 
 gave,  that  taketh  aivay.     They  are  his  gift  to 
 
 us ;  as  yacob  told    his  brother  E/iiu,  when  he 
 
 met  him  with  his  children,  'Thefe  are   the  chiU 
 
 dren  which  God  has  gracioufy  given  me.     And 
 
 fcfeph  told  his  father  facob,  when  he  prefent- 
 
 xlviii.Q.cd  Ephrai?:^  and  ManaJJ'ch  before   him,  T%j 
 
 arS' 
 
 Jobi. 
 
 Luke  vli. 
 
 Pfal. 
 cxxvii.3. 
 
 Gen. 
 xxxiii.  5. 
 
death  of  mfa?2ts,  127 
 
 a}'e  my  fons^  ivkom  God  hath  given  me  i?i  this 
 place.  But  then  his  right  to  them  remains, 
 and  they  are  more  his  than  they  are  ours  5  for 
 he  is  \\iQ  father  of  their  fpirits,  and  we  only 
 t\\Q  father  of  the  flefi.  He  is  the  fovereign  ^^''"  "^"^ 
 proprietor,  and  all  our  times  are  in  his  hands. 
 And  may  he  not  do  what  he  will  with  his 
 own  ?  Has  he  not  the  right;  of  diipofal  of 
 what  he  has  freely  given  ?  Muft  he  aik  our 
 leave  to  remove  his  own,  or  we  complain  of 
 injury  or  unkindnefs? 
 
 Besides,  Have  we  not  devoted  all  we  have 
 to  him,  our  lives  and  our  fouls^  as  well  as  our 
 children  and  poffejjions?  Have  we  not  made  a 
 covenant-liirrender  of  all  we  have  to  God, 
 without  exception  and  referve?  Do  not  we 
 ftand  obliged  by  folemn  engagements  to  an 
 hearty  devotednefs  to  his  intereft,  and  refigna- 
 tion  to  his  will  ?  Have  we  not  given  up  our 
 children  to  God,  in  baptifm^  and  owned  his 
 abfolute  right,  quitted  all  propriety,  and  hold 
 only  under  him  ?  The  Senfe  of  the  baptifmal 
 covenant  is  plainly  this;  "  I  give  up  my  child 
 "  to  God,  the  giver  and  rightful  owner  of  it: 
 "  I  folemnly  acknowledge  God's  right  to  it, 
 "  and  devote  it  to  his  fervice  and  difpofal." 
 Can  we  be  fuppofed  to  mean  any  thing  leis  by 
 this  folemn  tranfaclion  ?  And  fliall  we  be 
 grieved  or  difpleafed,  if  he  fees  fit  at  any  time, 
 to  take  us  at  our  word,  and  try  the  fincerity 
 of  our  heart;  to  exercife  the  right  he  juftly 
 claims,  and  the  power  we  have  freely  given 
 him?  It  was  the  great  commendation  of  A- 
 hrahani%  faith,  that  he  readily  obeyed  the  di- 
 vine 
 
128  .  Conjolat'ions  in  the 
 
 vine  will  in  the  greateft  difficulty,  and  upon 
 the  fhorteft  notice,  and   againft  the  ilrongeft 
 reluctance  of  nature.     He  was  ready  to  offer 
 up  his  only  fon,  dearly  beloved,  and  the  fon 
 of  the  promife,  in  whom  all  the  nations  of  the 
 earth  iicere  to  be  blejjedj  at  the  plain  command 
 of  God.     This  was  the    nobleft  exercife   of 
 faith,  and  fo  highly  pleafing  to  God,  that  he 
 had   the   honour,  upon    this   occafion,  to  be 
 called  ihQ  father  of  the  faithful,  and  thtfriejid 
 of  God.     How  much  eafier  is  it  to  part  with  a 
 child,  tho'    an    only  child,  by   the  ftroke  of 
 death,  from  the  hand  of  God,  than  to  offer 
 up  an  only  child  with  one's  own  hands,  and 
 prefent  it,  in  a  literal    fenfe,  a  living  facrifice 
 to  God?  We  are  ready  to  fay.  Who  can  fup- 
 port  under    fo  heavy  a  flroke  ?  Nature   fmks 
 and  faints,   fo  forely  opprefl :  True,  but  faith 
 in  God   can  reconcile  us  to  the  greateft  diffi- 
 culties, and    fatisfy  the  mind  without   inde- 
 cent excefs  either  of  grief,  or  complaint. 
 
 But  above  all,  conlider  the  unequalled  love 
 of  God,  who  gave  his  own   fon,  his  o?ily  fon, 
 johniii.    for  US :   God  fo  loved  the  ivorld  that  he  gave  his 
 ^     -    q  only  begot  t  eft  fon  'y  the  only  begotten  Jon  who  lay  in 
 '  the  bojbm  of  the  father  ;  and  of  whom  he  gave 
 Matt.  iii.  this  t-ftimony  from  heaven,  Tljis  is  my  beloved 
 ^7-         fon  in  whom  I  am  well  pleafed -y  and  who  is  the 
 ileb.  i.  2.  bright 7iefs    of  the  father  s  glory,     and  exprejs 
 image  of  his  perfon.     He  gave  him   up  as  a  fa- 
 crifice, or  fm-offering,  to  the  ftroke  of  death. 
 He  [pared  not  his  own  fon,  but  freely  gave  hitn 
 up  for  us  all:  He  did  not  withhold,  or  deny 
 him  to  us,  when  it  became  neceffary  for  our 
 
 good  i 
 
death  of  infants.  129 
 
 good  J  and  he  did  not  fiivour  him  in  the  leaft 
 degree,  upon  that  account.  He  laid  o?i  him  tbe^-^- 1'"» 
 iniquity  of  us  all ;  and  it  plea  fed  theLord  to  bruife  ' 
 him  i  he  hath  put  him  to  griefs  thou  Jhalt  m^ke 
 his  foul  a?!  offering  for  fin.  How  much  greater 
 thing  has  God  done  for  us,  from  the  treeft 
 love,  than  we  can  do  in  duty  to  him?  He 
 parted  with  more  upon  our  account,  than  we 
 can  part  with  for  him.  How  gi eat  is  thedif- 
 proportion  in  the  highefl  inflance  of  our  obe- 
 dience, to  his  unparalleiled  love  ?  What  is  the 
 life  of  a  child  of  ours,  to  the  blood  of  the  fon 
 of  God  i  and  why  fhould  we  Ihew  fo  much  re- 
 luctance and  ?rief,  when  he  aded  with  fo  free 
 and  forward  a  kindnefs  to  us.? 
 
 8.  Consider  your  own  co'-oenant-jlafe  how- 
 ever.Your  covenant-intereft  is  fecure,whatfoever 
 he  removes  from  you  :  God  is  yours,  and  all 
 the  gracious  promifes  of  the  new  covenant.  'The 
 eterjial  God  is  your  refuge :    the  unchangeable 
 God  is  your  friend  and  portion.     Chrifl  the  fon 
 of  God  is  yours,    and  all  the  purchafe  of  his 
 blood  :  All  things  are  yours^  if  you  are  Chrifs.  i  Cor.  ill. 
 This  was  the  great  confolation  of  holy  D^z'vid--- 
 in  the  clofe  of  his  days,  and  under  great  breach- 
 es' and  difiippointmcnts  in  his  family;    Altho\%?im. 
 my  hoife  be  not  fo  ivifh  God,  yet  he  hath  made^^^^^-  5- 
 with  me  an  everui/iing  covenant^  ordered  in  all 
 things  and  fur  e^    tfois  is  all  my  fa  hat  ion  and  all 
 7ny  defire  though  he  make   it  not  to  grow.  q.  d. 
 This  is  my  great  relief  in  the  death  of  my  chil- 
 dren, and  misfortunes  of  my  fuirdly,  that  tho' 
 it  is  not  now  as  it  once  was,    and  inflead  of 
 fiourilhing  and  increafmg,    it  decays  and  de- 
 
 K  clines; 
 
1^0  Confolations  tn  the 
 
 dines  j  yet  God's  covenant-promife  ftands  good, 
 
 '         and  will  be  fulfilled.    This  is  my  great  fupport 
 
 and  comfort  under  all  my  family-IofTes  and  for- 
 
 Vide        rows.     But  I  have  fpoken  of  this  more  fully 
 
 S^^"^- 1"- before. 
 
 If  God  fay  concerning  you,    as  he  does  in 
 
 Jer.  xxii.  the  prophet  concerning  jfeconiah ;  Write  ye  this 
 
 3°-  man  childle/s^  a  man  who  fiall  not  p?'oJper  in  his 
 way :  the  expreffion  denotes  the  certainty  and 
 importance  of  the  thing.  This  was  the  pu- 
 nifliment  and  judgment  upon  Jeconiahy  that 
 in  him  the  dired:  line  of  the  'Jewijh  kings, 
 down  from  Solomon^  fliould  fail,  and  the  crown 
 Ihould  defcend  to  a  collateral  branch.  If  you 
 are  without  children,  whb  were  dear  and  de- 
 firable,  you  are  not  without  God^  and  without 
 Chriji  in  the  world :  not  deprived  of  your  beft 
 friend,  and  chief  good.  If  you  ftand  related 
 to  God,  and  have  him  your  father  and  friend, 
 you  have  fomething  greater  and  more  valuable 
 than  all  the  friendfhips,  or  any  bleflings  of  this 
 world.  'Tis  a  greater  mercy  to  have  God  our 
 father,  than  to  have  the  dearefl  child  of  our 
 own  ;  and  to  be  our  felves  the  children  of  God, 
 and  heirs  of  the  heavenly  inheritance,  than  to 
 have  a  numerous  family,  and  the  greateft  pro- 
 
 ir.  IvI,  5.  fperity  of  lifej  according  to  that  ^vomikyUnto 
 them  who  keep  my  Jabbaths^  and  chufe"  the  things 
 which  pleaje  77ie,  and  take  hold  of  my  covenant^ 
 unto  them  I  will  give  in  my  houfe^  and  within 
 my  walls,  a  place  and  a  name,  better  thafi  of 
 Jons  and  of  daughters;  I  will  give  them  an  ever- 
 lajling  name,  which  fhall  never  be  cut  off.  They 
 fhall  be  entitled  to  the  privileges  of  God's  cove- 
 nant. 
 
death  of  infa^tts,  i  jj^ 
 
 nant,  though  they  have  no  children ;  and  be 
 written  i?!  the  book  of  life,  which  will  be  a  more 
 lafting  memorial  oF  them  than  any  pofterity 
 on  earth  can  pofTibly  be.  In  this  cafe  there  is 
 a  more  valuable  good  left  behind,  than  any 
 taken  away  j  for  is  not  God  himfelf,  and  the 
 fon  of  God,  a  greater  good,  than  the  dearefl 
 child,  and  the  nearefl  relation  in  this  world ; 
 and  his  Iovi?ig  kindnefs^  and  covenant-favour, 
 better  than  life,  or  any  of  the  comforts  and  en* 
 joy  men  ts  of  life? 
 
 9.We  mufl  quickly  ^(3  to  them,  and  be  with 
 them  again.  'Tis  not  an  cverlafting  feparation, 
 or  parting  with  them  for  good  and  all.  They 
 are  not  rent  from  our  embraces,  never  to  be 
 feen  any  more  :  'tis  only  a  feparation  for  a  time; 
 and  the  utmoft  diflance  is  only  the  fliort  con- 
 tinuance of  this  world.  'Tis  only  the  diftance 
 of  the  two  worlds  and  flates,  which  is  fome- 
 times  only  a  fmglefep,  ror  we  ftep  out  of  one 
 world  into  another  :  or  it  may  be  the  difference 
 of  a  breath  -,  for  we  no  fooner  ceafe  to  live  and 
 breathe  in  this  world,  but  we  are  immediately 
 in  the  next,.  Tho'  the  two  worlds  are  vaftly 
 different  from  one  another  in  kind,  yet  they 
 lie  upon  the  borders  of  one  another,  and  are 
 almoil  contiguous.  And  afcer  many  years  of 
 life  already  Ipent  in  this  woild,  it  cannot  be 
 very  long  before  we  are  removed  j  and  ahvays 
 the  fhorter  a  time,  in  proportion  to  the  length 
 of  our  continuance  here  Parents  may  reafon- 
 ably  apprehend  it  fliort,  when  they  have  lived  to 
 fee  their  children  go  before  them,  and  furvive 
 their  own  offspring.      However,   the  utmoft 
 
 K  2  bounds 
 
132  Confolatio7is  in  the 
 
 bounds  of  our  time  in  this  world,   is  no  great 
 while,  in  the  ordinary  courfe  of  nature  and 
 providence,  and  we  are  daily  haftening  to  our 
 long  home^  and  advancing  forward  every  mo- 
 ment which  pafies  away.     In  a  little  while  the 
 iW/ which  now  parts  the  two  worlds  will  be 
 drawn  afide,   and  a  new  fceiie  of  things  will 
 open.     We  ihall  find  our  felves  agreeably  fur- 
 prifed,  and  fee  them  again,  and  enjoy  them  to 
 greater  advantage ;  and  have  all  the  entertain- 
 ment and  delight,  which  their  company  and 
 prefence  will  be  able  to  give,  without  the  mix- 
 ture of  prefent  weaknefs,    or  fear  of  feparation 
 again. 
 
 So  David  comforted  himfelf  upon  the  death 
 2Sam.xii.0f  his  child  by  Bathfeba  :  And  he  f aid ^  while 
 22-  the  child  was  yet  alive,  Ifafted  and  wept  j  for 
 1 1  aid  J  who  can  tell  whether  God  will  be  gracious 
 to  me,  and  the  child  ?nay  live ;  but  now  he  is  dead, 
 wherefore  fldould  Ifaji  ?  Can  I  bring  him  back 
 iigai?i?  I JJjall go  to  him^  he  fiall  not  return  to 
 ?ne.  I  fliall  foon  be  with  him  in  the  grave, 
 and  in  the  other  world ;  for  the  dufl  returneth 
 to  the  dufl,  and  the  Jpirit  returneth  to  God  who 
 gave  it.  It  muft,  in  all  reafon,  be  fo  under- 
 ftood  as  to  be  fit  to  minifler  a  proper  ground 
 of  comfort  and  fupport.  Thy  tender  infant, 
 or  beloved  child,  has  only  got  the  ftart,  and  is 
 gone  a  little  before.  Prepare  to  follow,  inftead 
 of  grieving  immoderately :  turn  the  ftream  in- 
 to the  right  channel;  dry  up  the  tears  from  thy 
 eyes,  and  refufe  not  to  be  comforted  i  for  thou 
 flialt  fee  them  again  in  the  other  world,  and 
 be  with  them  for  ever.     In  the  mean  time, 
 
 there 
 
death  of  infaitts.  i^ 
 
 there  is  this  confolation  left,  that  though  thou 
 haft  brought  forth  children  for  the  grave,  yet 
 they  are  brought  forth  for  God  and  for  heaven 
 too ;  and  though  thou  haft  never  a  child  left 
 in  this  world,  there  are  fo  many  more  gone 
 before  thee  to  heaven. 
 
 K  ^  S  E  R- 
 
134 
 
 SERMON     V. 
 
 Confolatlons    in    the    death    of 
 aged  chriftians. 
 
 Job  v.    26. 
 
 ^ou  Jhalt  come  to  thy  grave  in  a  full 
 age^  like  as  ajhock  of  corn  cometh  in^ 
 !      in  his  feafon. 
 
 rr^: 
 
 ,HE  words  are  part  of  Eliphaz's  dlf- 
 
 courfe  to  Job^  in  which  he  reprefents 
 
 the  happinefs  of  good  men  though  af-^ 
 
 •rr-j  7.       flicfted  .•    Beholdy    happy  is  the  man  whom  God 
 
 corrcBeth^  therefore  dejpife  not  thou  the  chajlenmg 
 
 of  the  Lord-y  t:hat  is,  who  fubmit  to  divine  cor- 
 
 redions,  and  comply  with  the  defign  of  them  ^ 
 
 and  don't  negied,  or  flight  them,  as  unreafon- 
 
 able,  or  infignificant.     There  is  a  promife  of 
 
 prefent  perjonal  bleflings,  of  prefervation  and 
 
 deliverance  in  the  various  troubles  and  calamities 
 
 •-1 8,  24.  of  life  :  and  of  blefiings  in  \\\€\x  families  and 
 
 affairs;     T^hou  JJjalt  know  that  thy  tabernacle 
 
 JJmll  be  in  peace ^  and  thou  fialt  vifit  thy  habi- 
 
 ^^'^'      tat  ion  ^  and  JJmlt  ^otfm  3  and  of  bleffings  upon 
 
 their 
 
Confolations  in  the  deaths  &c.  135 
 
 their y^t"^  and  pofterity  after  them;  ThouyZ'^//— 25, 
 know  aljb  that  thy  feed  fid  all  be  great,  and  thy 
 offspri?igas  the grafsofthe  earth -y  numerous  and 
 flourifliing.     In  this  verfe  there  is  the  promife 
 of  a  comfortable  deaths  as  the  clofe  of  the  de- 
 fcription  and  foot  of  the  account;  T^hou  f.mlt--z(}. 
 co?ne  to  thy  grave  ifi  a  full  age ;  -with  freedom 
 of  mind,  and  without  reludlance,  latished  with 
 \ik,  and  waiting  for  a  releafe ;  and  at  full  ma- 
 turity, arrived  to  the  utmoft  bounds  of  human 
 life,  as  Abraham  died  in  a  good  old  age,   an  oldGen.xxv. 
 7n  an,  full  of  years:  not  by  a  violent,  or  un-^' 
 timely  death,  but  dropping  kindly  like  ripe  fruit, 
 or  like  as  afhock  of  corn  cometh  in^  in  its  feafon ; 
 as  a  flack  of  corn  fully  ripe  is  gathered  into 
 the  barn,  or  ilorehoufe,  at  the  time  of  har- 
 veft. 
 
 What  I  propofe  is  to  conlider  the  death  of 
 ^_g-^^chriflians ;  and  though  this  is  a  cafe  which 
 feems  leaft  to  need  comfort  of  any,  becaufe 
 'tis  agreeable  to  the  order  of  nature,  and  all 
 reafonable  expedtation  concerning  them  :  they 
 mufl  needs  leave  the  world,  who  have  lived 
 long  in  it,  and  that,  one  would  think,  can  be 
 no  furprize  to  any,  or  any  great  occafion  of 
 grief.  And  yet  we  often  find,  that  great  per- 
 Ibnal  worth  and  ufefulnefs,  long  endearments 
 of  mutual  affcdion,  the  nearnefs  of  relation,  or 
 ipecial  obligations ;  where  our  efteem  of  them 
 runs  high,  and  affed;ion,  by  length  of  time, 
 has  taken  a  deeper  root,  make  parting  with 
 them  at  laft,  no  very  eafy  matter,  and  fome- 
 times  fufficiently  grievous  and  affliding.  I 
 ihall  propofe  the  following  confiderations  more 
 
 K  4  briefly. 
 
136  Confolations  In  the  death 
 
 briefly,  as  proper  to  this  cafe,   and  as  reajom  of 
 comfort  and  fupport. 
 
 §  I.    Consider   that  they  lay  under  the 
 common  feiitence  of  death  all  their  days.     The 
 original  curfe   ftands  tmreverfedy    and  in  full 
 force,  and  will  be  executed  fooner,  or  later, 
 upon  every  fallen  creature.     Death  hath  paffed 
 upon  allmen^  for  that  all  have  finned.     And  'tis 
 appointed  to  men  once  to  die.     *Tis  the  great 
 fat  lite  law  of  heaven,  and  a  ftanding  mark 
 of  the   divine  difpleafure  againfl   fm.     They 
 were  under  the  fentence  of  death,  all  the  while 
 they  Hved  in  this  world,  and  a  long  life  was 
 only  a  longer  reprieve.     When  any  uieful  per- 
 fon  dies  after  many  years  fervice  in  life,  the 
 common   fentence   is  executed:    the   will   of 
 God  is  done  towards  them ;  his  purpofe  and 
 appointment  takes  place.     This  is  the  flate  of 
 fallen  nature :   fo  died  the  antient  patriarchs 
 and  prophets,  the  apoftles  and  martyrs,  and  all 
 the  beft  men  who  ever  lived  in  every  age. 
 
 Did  we  not  know  our  friends  were  mortal^ 
 all  the  while  they  lived  with  us,  and  exped: 
 that  they  mufl  die  from  us  ?  Can  we  be  fur- 
 prized  to  fee  the  fettled  courfe  of  nature  take 
 place ;  any  more  than  to  fee  a  gloomy  night 
 after  a  fair  day ;  or  the  fun  iet  in  a  cloud,  and 
 fmk  beneath  the  horizon,  after  the  highefl  ele- 
 vation, and  the  brightefl  glory  of  noon-day  ; 
 or  the  cold  hoary  froft  of  the  winter,  after  the 
 fummer  heat  ? 
 
 §  2.  'Tis  comfortable  to  confider  in  this  cafe^ 
 how  long  they  were  fpared,  and  continued  to 
 us  in  a  ufefulik.2i.iQ.     If  we  can  fay,  God  fpared 
 
 my 
 
of  aged  chrijiians.  137 
 
 my  dear  and  ufeful  relations  many  years  of 
 life,  and  indulged  me  fo  great  a  bleiling,  a 
 long  while  together  5  I  enjoyed  the  great  ad- 
 vantage of  their  company  and  care,  to  a  con- 
 fiderable  age  of  life  :  and  was  not  depi'ived  of 
 them  in  early  youth,  before  I  was  capable  of 
 ading  for  my  felf,  or  comfortably  fettled  in 
 the  world  :  How  many  years  of  comfortable 
 enjoymient,  and  mutual  delight  did  we  live  to- 
 gether? How  many  fleafant  days,  and  folemn 
 feafons  have  we  had,  through  the  weary  pil- 
 grimage of  this  world  ?  Hov/  many  times  have 
 we  gone  to  the  houfe  of  God^  and  taken  jhjoeet 
 counfel  together  \  conferred  and  prayed,  and  per- 
 formed holy  duties,  in  private  and  publick? 
 this  is  the  more  regardable  ftill,  if  God  Ipared 
 their  lives  through  much  iceaknefs  and  many 
 dangers 'j  and  fpun  out  the  frail  thread  of  life, 
 and  fupported  a  weak  conftitution,  through  a 
 couife  of  many  years,  and  to  a  competent  age 
 of  life  :  perhaps  he  often  raifed  them  up  from 
 lick  beds,  eafed  their  pains  j  added  to  their 
 days,  when  they  had  the  fcntcnce  of  death  in 
 thejnfehes,  and  prolonged  life  under  all  the  in- 
 firmities of  nature,  and  cafualties  to  v/hich  it 
 was  lubied:,  beyond  all  expedation. 
 
 What  great  reafon  have  we  of  thankfulncfs 
 to  God,  who  has  dealt  fo  bounti fully  with  his 
 fervants^  and  fpared  the  comfort  of  their  ufe- 
 ful lives,  when  great  numbers  have  been  re- 
 moved, of  fliorter  flanding  in  life,  and  a  fir- 
 mer conflitution,  of  greater  natural  Itrenaith, 
 and  much  more  like  to  live,  than  they.  God 
 has  fpared  our  dear  relation  many  years  under 
 
 all 
 
1 2  8  Confolattons  in  the  death 
 
 all  the  difficulties  of  the  cafe,  when  fo  many 
 others  have  been  bereaved -y  xhtir  father  and  mo- 
 ther has  forfaken  them,  and  their  friends  and 
 acquaintance  put  into  darkncfs,  and  they  left 
 expofed  to  difficulties  and  negleifl.  A  ferious 
 reflediion  upon  the  long  enjoyment  of  any 
 bleffing,  fhould  make  us  the  more  thankful 
 to  God  for  the  peculiar  favour,  and  the  more 
 eafy  and  refigned  in  parting  with  it  at  laft. 
 
 Let  us  often  recollect  the  more  remarkable 
 inflances  of  their  former  ufefulnefs,  and  ex- 
 emplary character,    while  they  lived.      The 
 Apoftle  direds  the  chriflians  to  this  purpofe ; 
 Heb.  xiii.  Remember  thejn  who  had  the  rule  over  you,  whofe 
 /•  faith  follow,   conjiderifig  the  end  of  their  conver- 
 
 fation.  We  have  not  done  with  our  departed 
 friends  when  we  have  lodged  them  in  the 
 grave;  but  we  muft  remetnber  what  was  emi- 
 nent and  exemplary  in  the  feveral  flations  of 
 life,  and  circumftances  of  things  thro'  which 
 they  pafTed.  Call  over  the  many  graces  and 
 virtues  in  which  they  excelled,  and  the  more 
 lingular  dilplays  of  them,  upon  particular  oc- 
 cafions;  the  admirable  patience  with  which 
 they  bore  their  afflidions ;  their  ftedfaft  faith 
 and  truft  in  God,  in  all  the  tryals  of  life ;  their 
 zeal  for  his  glory,  and  delight  in  his  fervice ; 
 their  watchful  care  over  themfelves,  and  cau- 
 tious fear  of  fin.  Recollecft  the  ieveral  inftan- 
 ces  of  faithful  fervice,  and  in  how  many  re- 
 fpe6:s,  God  made  ufe  of  them,  amidil  all  their 
 natural  frailties,  and  finful  infirmities,  for  good 
 to  us,  and  others  about  us.  What  a  tender  care 
 and  concern  for  our  welfare  in  vounger  life? 
 
 What 
 
of  aged  chrijiians*  139 
 
 What  wife  and  faithful  counfels  and  reproofs  ? 
 How  fympathizing  and  compalTionate,  in  all 
 our  diftrefs  and  griefs?  Mow  great  an  addition 
 to  all  our  comforts  and  joy  ?  Perhaps  their 
 ftridt  and  watchful  care  over  us,  which,  it  may- 
 be, we  then  regretted,  was  the  great  means  of 
 the  early  imprelfion  of  goodnefs  upon  our 
 minds,  of  inflilling  the  principles  ofvertueand 
 religion,  and  preferving  us  from  youthful  fol- 
 lies, and  dangerous  fnares ;  of  fixing  the  fear 
 of  God,  and  the  dread  of  fin  upon  our  minds. 
 'Tis  likely  much  of  the  comfort  and  improve- 
 ment of  life  is  owing  to  their  early  inilrudion 
 and  wife  care  over  us. 
 
 'Tis  this  way  we  may  maintain  communion 
 with  our  departed  friends,  and  converfe  with 
 them  ftill  to  advantage,  and  is  properly  one 
 branch  of  the  communion  of  faints.  'Tis  faid  of 
 Dorcas  y  'This  wotnan  was  full  of  good  works,  and  ^q^ 
 alms-deeds  which  fl:e  didy  and  it  came  to  pafs  in  36 
 thofe  days  that  fie  was  fick  and  died-,  and  all 
 the  widows  flood  by  weepings  and  f  jewing  the 
 coats  and  ^anjients.  which  Dorcas  7nade,  while 
 flje  was  With  thejn :  that  is,  the  garments 
 they  were  clothed  with,  as  the  evidences  of 
 her  charitable  kindnefs  to  defolate  widows.  'Tis 
 certainly  a  reafonable  comfort  in  fuch  a  cafe, 
 to  review  the  many  inftances  of  ufefulnefs  and 
 excellency  in  our  deceafed  friends,  while  they 
 lived. 
 
 §  3.  Consider  further  the  great  honour  put 
 upon  them  who  were  long  ferviceable  in  this 
 world.  'Tis  a  great  honour  and  favour  to  ar- 
 rive to  a  confiderable  age  of  life,  and  the  ac- 
 
 complilliment 
 
 SIX. 
 
i4o  Confolations  in  the  death 
 
 complifhment  of  a  gracious  promife,  T^hou  Jhalt 
 
 come  to  thy  grave  in  a  full  age.     The  wife  man 
 
 fays,  The  hoary  headis  honourable^  when  'tis  found 
 
 in  the  ivay  of  rtghteoujhefs.     'Tis  a  remarkable 
 
 prophecy  concerning  the  fehcity  of  fome  ftate 
 
 If.lvi.  2o.of  yenifalem,  perhaps  of  the  new  Jerujdlem, 
 
 which  is  to  come  down  fro?n  heaven^  That  there 
 
 Jhall  he  no  more  there  an  infant  of  days ^  nor  an 
 
 old  man  who  hath  not  filled  up  his  days.      None 
 
 fhall  die  immature,  or  in  their  infant-ftate,  or 
 
 who  hath  not  filled  up  the  number  of  his  days. 
 
 It  was  a  curfe  threatned  upon  Rli%  family, 
 
 31.  They  have  had  a  greater  exercife  of  divine 
 
 care  over  them,  and  a  larger  experience  of  di- 
 vine goodnefs,   in  the  many  expreffions  of  a 
 gracious  concern  for  their  good,   of  feafonable. 
 interpofure,   and  diftinguifhing  favour.     They 
 have  by  that  means  greater  opportunities  and 
 advantage  of  being  ufeful,    than  thofe  cut  ofF 
 in  their  youth,  or  in  the  midfl:  of  their  days, 
 who  are  confined  to  narrower  limits,  and  have 
 fewer  advantages.     And  as  doing  good  is  the 
 noblefl  pleafure  and  the  greatell:  purpofe  of  life, 
 *tis  in  confequence,  a  valuable  bleffing,    to  be 
 continued  many  years  together,   efpecially  if 
 our  capacities  of  fervice  are  continued  too,  and 
 like  Mofes  at  one  hundred  twenty  years,    whofe 
 eye  was  not  dim.,  nor  his  natural  force  abated  % 
 xxxiv.  -.  which  was  a  rare  felicity ;  and  are  enabled  to 
 bring  forth  fruit   in  old  age ;   like  a  tree  laden 
 with  rich  fruit,  when  the  blofibms  are  long 
 dropt,    and  the  leaves  wither,    and  are  ready 
 to  fall.     What  a  mercy  is  it  to  our  deceafed 
 
 friends 
 
of  aged  chrijliam,  141 
 
 friends  to  ripen  by  long  {landing,  in  wifdom 
 and  experience,  and  be  fiiccefsful  inftruments 
 of  the  divine  glory,  and  good  to  the  world, 
 for  a  great  while  together?  'Tis  a  great  inftance 
 of  the  wifdom  and  goodnefs  of  providence,  that 
 amidll  the  multitudes  who  die  every  day,  there 
 fliould  be  always  fome  examples  of  elder  and 
 more  experienced  perfons  left  in  the  world,  in 
 every  age,  to  feafon  and  inftru(5t  the  rifmg  ge- 
 neration, and  train  them  up  for  ufefulnefs,  by 
 proper  counfels  and  cautions,  in  the  direction 
 and  condud:  of  life.  Otherwife  the  experience 
 of  former  generations  would  be  in  a  great  mea- 
 fure  loft,  and  every  age  muft  begin  afrefli,  and 
 fet  out  upon  their  own  ftock,  which  muft 
 needs  be,  with  great  difadvantage. 
 
 §  4.  Consider  how  much  they  often  out- 
 Ihe  their  own  ufefulnefs.  'Tis  no  wonder  if  ac- 
 tive natures  and  briik  fplrits,  long  exercifed 
 in  painful  fervice,  begin  at  length  to  decay  : 
 the  Apoftle  fays,  Though  I  fpend  and  am  Jpcnt ;  2  Cor.xii. 
 and  he  was  ready  to  be  offered  upon  tbejacrifice^y  . 
 andfer'vice  of  their  faith.  The  more  zealous  _^'''P- ^'' 
 and  induftrious  they  are  in  the  fervice  of  God, 
 the  more  likely  they  are  to  find  their  natural 
 ftrength  abated  ;  as  the  fliaking  of  an  antient 
 building,  which  ftands  open  to  the  wind,  is 
 a  prefage  of  a  Ipeedy  fall.  The  dim  eye,  the 
 feeble  joints,  the  (liaking  hand,  the  hoary  head, 
 the  lliort  breath,  are  fo  many  marks  of  decay- 
 ing nature,  and  fymptoms  of  an  approaching 
 diflblution :  efpecially  where  this  is  haftened 
 by  accidental  evils,  or  by  frequent  diforders ; 
 by  chronical  diftenipers,  acute  pains,  or  fre- 
 quent 
 
142  Confolations  in  the  death 
 
 quent  ficknefs  j  which  give  a  mighty  fliock  to 
 the  ftouteft   conftitution,  and  impair  all  the 
 delights  and  relifli  of  life.  As  old  Barzilla  told 
 David  when  he  invited  him  to  court,  and  to 
 2  Sam.      eat  at  his  table;  /  am  this  day  f our Jc  ore  year 
 six.  35.    oU^   and  can  I  difcem  betwixt  good  and  eviU 
 can  thy  fervant  tafie  what  I  eat  and  drink  ?  caji 
 I  hear  any  more  the  voice  of  the  fmging  men,  and 
 Jinging  women"^  I  am  dead  to  all  the  delights  of 
 a  court,  and  the  pleafure  of  fenfe.    Solomon  re- 
 Eccl.  xii.  prcfents  old  age,  as  the  evil  days^  and  the  years 
 4.  wherein  we  p^  all  Jay  ^  that  we  have  no  pleafure. 
 
 Sometimes  good  and  ufeful  men  are  dif- 
 abled  for  fervice  not  only  by  the  decay  of  the 
 bodily  nature,  but  the  weaknefs  of  their  intel- 
 ledlual  powers.  The  eye  of  the  mind  grows 
 dim,  as  well  as  that  of  the  body :  The  memory 
 is  frail  and  unfaithful,  the  underftanding 
 flow  of  apprehenfions,  the  affections  cold  and 
 dull  J  the  whole  frame  of  nature  is  greatly  im- 
 paired, and  a  liftlefs  inacftivity  runs  through  all 
 their  powers :  They  are  rendered  uncapable  of 
 active  fervice,  and  are  preferved  only  as  monu- 
 ments of  the  divine  goodnefs,  and  for  the  ex- 
 ercife  and  example  of  faith  and  patience.  Yea 
 perhaps  they  may  need  a  great  deal  of  careful 
 attendance,  and  occafion  many  concerned  and 
 felicitous  thoughts  for  their  fafety.  In  fuch 
 circumftances  their  death  in  all  reafon  ought 
 to  be  lefs  grievous,  and  fet  eafier  upon  others, 
 as  it  becomes  more  defirable  to  themfelves. 
 Why,  all  the  ends  of  Ufe  are  anfwered,  and 
 further  ufefulnefs  ceafes :  There  is  only  the 
 ruins  and  decay  of  the  vigorous  foul,  and  ^f 
 
 the 
 
of  aged  chrijiians*  143 
 
 the  former  a<5live  and  ufeful  nature  left.  Per- 
 haps the  weaknefs  and  diforders  of  nature  may 
 fometimes  affedl  their  temper,  and  make  them 
 impatient  and  uneafy  to  thofe  about  them. 
 
 §  5.  Consider  how  well /r^^/zr^"^ they  were 
 for  death,  and  ripe  for  another  world.  I  confefs 
 'tis  a  melancholly  and  uncomfortable  thought, 
 when  an  aged  perfon  efpecially,  dies  unpre- 
 pared, and  goes  out  of  the  world,  after  a  long 
 flate  of  tryal,  unrenewed  arid  unreformed. 
 They  are  like  an  old  dried  ftump  of  a  tree,  fit 
 only  for  fewel.  So  the  Apoftle  fays,  But  that Heh.vi.s, 
 ivhich  bearcth  thorns  and  briers  is  rejeSied^  and  is 
 nigh  u7ito  ciirfing^  ivhofe  end  is  to  be  burnt :  and 
 fo  a  [inner  being  an  hujidred  years  old,  is  ac- 
 curfed. 
 
 But  now  when  a  good  man  dies  out  of  the 
 world,  prepared  for  death  and  ripe  for  glory, 
 ready  for  the  coining  of  the  Lordy  and  meet  for 
 the  heavenly  inheritance^waiting for  his  appear- 
 ance, and  willing  to  refign  his  departing  fpirit, 
 and  breathe  out  his  foul  into  the  Redeemer's 
 arms  :  When  they  are  prepared  in  the  habitual 
 temper  of  their  minds,  and  a  bleffed  compo- 
 fure  of  fpirit ;  it  may  be  with  delires  of  depart- 
 ing; what  a  fenfible  evidence  is  this,  of  the 
 truth  of  religion,  and  a  confirmation,  and  la- 
 tisfadion  to  all  about  them  ?  When  they  can 
 think  ofGod2i^6.  not  be  afraid  j  look  upon  death, 
 without  terrour  j  look  into  the  other  world, 
 without  difmay,  and  with  a  fenfible  emotion 
 of  joy  ;  and  wait  their  appointed  change  with 
 defire  and  hope,  only  wanting  leave  to  de- 
 part, to  fee  them  drop  like  fruit  fully  ripe,  of 
 
 their 
 
144  Confolatiom  in  the  death 
 
 their  own  accord,  and  not  fnatched  away  with 
 reluctance,  by  the  violent  hand  of  death,  to 
 go  to  their  grave  ^  and  hQ  gathered  to  their  fathers 
 in  peace'.  And  efpecially  flill,  if  they  paiTed 
 thro'  our  hands,  or  received  any  help  or  finifli- 
 ing  from  us ;  if  we  were  inftrumental  to  the 
 forming  their  minds,  or  polifliing  and  im- 
 proving them,  and  contributed,  in  any  degree, 
 to  the  ufefulnefs  of  their  foregoing  life,  or  of 
 their  comfortab  death ;  to  fee  the  bleffed 
 end  of  their  linilhed  courfe,  to  hear  their  dy- 
 ing teftimony  for  God,  and  religion  ;  what 
 comfortable  refledions  muft  it  needs adminifter, 
 and  what  powerful  fupport  may  it  well  afford  ? 
 My  friend,  or  relation,  is  dead  indeed,  and 
 gone  out  of  the  world  ;  but  he  was  well  pre- 
 pared for  death,  and  fit  for  a  better  ftate. 
 
 §6.  Consider  too  the  merciful  rcleafe 
 from  the  long  fatigues  and  confii6ls  of  life. 
 They  are  fet  free  from  all  the  biirdcjis  of  na- 
 ture, which  fometimes  are  very  grievous, 
 and  all  the  affiiBiom  of  life,  which  often 
 create  them  a  great  deal  of  trouble.  Ail  the 
 labours  of  life  and  the  difficulties  of  fervice 
 ceafe.  T^hey  rejl  from  their  labour.  They  were 
 often  exercifed,  in  one  kind  or  other,  fome- 
 times forely  prefl:  and  grieved,  groaning  un- 
 der a  heavy  burden,  or  fmarting  afflid;ion, 
 and  difcouraged  with  the  fear  of  an  approach- 
 ing or  impending  danger.  They  are  delivered 
 from  the  power  of  all  t\\t\v  fpiritual  enemies, 
 and  fet  out  of  the  reach  of  all  their  attempts ; 
 from  the  fear  of  evil  as  well  as  the  reach  of 
 harm.     77^^  wicked  ceafi  frojn  troubling^  and 
 
 the 
 
of  aged  chrijliam.  145 
 
 the  weary  are  at  reji.  God  will  ceafe  to  be  angry 
 with  them  for  fin :  They  will  no  more  flruggle 
 and  complain  of  the  law  in  their  members^  and 
 the  body  of  death :  There  will  be  no  more  any 
 conflid:  with  Satan's  temptations,  or  need  to  be 
 upon  our  guard,  and  always  awake  and  watch- 
 ful. They  have  fought  the  good  fight^  and 
 fnifded  their  coiirfe :  Their  warfare  is  accom- 
 plijhed,  and  they  have  received  their  difcharge. 
 
 And  how  merciful  a  releafe  to  a  burdened 
 foul  ?  How  great  a  deliverance  is  death  to  a  good 
 man,  after  a  long  courfe  of  hard  fervice,  and 
 great  trial  ?  What  a  kindnefs  is  it  to  a  weary  foul 
 to  be  fet  at  eafe,  and  a  confined  foul  at  liberty  ? 
 To  have  their  fliackles  knocked  off,  to  be  deli- 
 vered from  the  prifon  of  the  body,  and  all  the 
 uneafy  and  incommodious  circum  fiances  of  their 
 prefent  habitation  in  it?  While  they  were  in  this 
 tabernacle  they  groaned^  being  burdened.  And  {hall 
 we  regret  their  releafe,  and  that  they  have 
 groaned  their  lafl,  and  are  now  enter'd  upon 
 a  ftate  of  refl  and  joy  ?  Hereupon, 
 
 §  7.  Consider  the  blefed ftate  they  are  en- 
 ter'd upon,  and  the  infinite  advantage  of  a  remo- 
 val. They  leave  a  flate  of  lin  and  forrow,  of 
 the  burdens  of  nature  and  miferies  of  life,  for  a 
 flate  of  purity  and  peace,  of  liberty  and  enlarge- 
 mei;it,  where  all  their  burdens  are  removed,  and 
 their  defires  fatisfied.  They  enter  into  peace ^  and 
 into  the  joy  of  their  hord;  and  will  be  with  him  in 
 faradife.  They  reji  from  their  labours^  and  their 
 works  follow  them :  The  fatisfadlion  and  reward 
 of  them.  They  meet  with  the  approbation  of 
 their  Lord  and  Judge,  and  they  will  receive  a 
 
 L  crown 
 
14-6  Cofifolations  in  the,  death 
 
 crcwn  of  righteoujhejl  and  life  at  lall.     They  are 
 joined  to  the  general  ajjcjiMy^  and  church  of  the 
 firfl-boiii  above ^  and  to  thefpirits  ofjiif  men  7nade 
 perfcB^  and  will  be  dX-sN-sc'j'i  prefent  with  the  "Lord. 
 They  have  gained  a    final  decifive  vicflory 
 oyer  all  their  enemies,  and  will  alii-ays  triumph 
 in  Chriji  fefus.     They  change  worlds  to  infi- 
 nite   advantage   and    to  full    latisfadlion,  and 
 would  not  return  into  this  vale  of  tear s^  for  all 
 they  have  left  behind  them,  or  quit  their  high- 
 er   enjoyments,  for    the  fake    of  the   deareffc 
 Pfal.xvi.   fi'iend,  or  the  befl  comfort  of  life.     In  his  pre- 
 "^'-  fe}tcc  is  f nine  I s  of  joy  ^  and  at  his  right  hand  are 
 
 pleafuresjor  evermore.  The  aged  and  decayed 
 will  recover  a  new  youth,  and  fpring  and  flourifli 
 for  ever.  The  fpirits  of  the  jull  are  made  per- 
 fe5i^  arrive  to  proper  perfedlion  and  maturity^ 
 the  full  vigour  of  all  their  powers,  and  enlarged 
 capacities,  and  higher  improvements  too,  fuit- 
 able  to  the  flateand  employment  of  thatblefled 
 world.  How  much  clearer  will  be  their  lightj 
 and  nearer  their  likenefs  to  God ! 
 
 Consider  with  pleafure  the  high  advance- 
 ment and  honour  of  our  deceafed  friends,  the 
 noble  enjoyments,  the  pure  delights,  the  per- 
 fed:  fatisfadion  and  joy.  Aiethinks  an  un- 
 due concern  for  the  death  of  good  men,  looks 
 a  \ii\\Q  flfijh^  and  like  envying  their  happinefs. 
 To  be  fure  'tis  unfuitable  to  the  flate  and  tem- 
 per of  bleflednefs;  they  are  always  praifmg 
 and  always  rejoicing,  while  we  are  grieving 
 and  weeping  for  their  lofs  :  And  how  uh- 
 feemly  and  difagreeable  is  that  ?  But  rather 
 as   our  Lord  told  the  daughter  of  Jcj-ufalefn^ 
 
 when 
 
of  age  (J  thrift  ia7is*  147 
 
 \vhen  he  went  to  be  crucified,  Weep  not  for 
 mcy  but  weep  for  your  Jehes,  and  for  your  chil-. 
 dren :  Let  us  not  weep  for  them  whom  we  be- 
 lieve to  be  happy,  and  out  of  the  reach  of  dan- 
 ger, but  for  our  felves  and  ours,  who  hve  in  a 
 ftate  of  conflid:  and  trial,  and  are  expofed  all 
 the  while,  to  danger  and  hazard. 
 
 §  8.  Let  usthinkof //6^  ;z^^r;2^  of  our  dif- 
 folution,  and  how  foon  we  fhall  meet  together 
 again.  *Tis  but  a  little  while  and  the  prefent 
 flate  will  be  over,  and  a  new  ftate  of  things 
 will  appear :  Tet  a  little  while ^  and  he  who  Jloall 
 comey  will  come^  and  will  not  tarry  :  The  end 
 of  all  things  is  at  hand.  We  are  following 
 them  apace  to  the  other  world,  who  are  gone 
 before,  and  may  meet  before  we  are  aware: 
 In  a  few  days  we  may  be  with  them  in  para- 
 dife.  When  we  have  been  a  little  longer  ex- 
 erciled  and  triedj  driven  and  toffed  about  in 
 this  tempeftuous  fea,  we  fhall  arrive  at  the  fame 
 port,  and  land  on  the  fame  fliore. 
 
 This  is  the  more  confiderable,  if  we  lived 
 long  together  in  this  world,  and  are  now  ad- 
 vanced in  years.  It  cannot  be  long  before  we 
 receive  a  difcharge,  and  have  leave  to  go  too. 
 After  many  years  of  life  already  run  out,  there 
 can't  be  a  long  fpace  remaining.  The  numbei' 
 of  years  we  lived  together,  with  our  departed 
 friends,  muft  be  dedu(fled  from  the  total  fum, 
 and  the  remainder  only  brought  to  tiie  foot  of  the 
 account,  and  how  little  may  that  polTibly  be? 
 
 What  a  comfort  is  it  that  vfQ  ait  followers 
 of  them  ^  who  thrd  faith  and  patience  inherit  the 
 promife^  and  fhall  quickly  come  to  them,  and 
 
 L  2  be 
 
148  Cojtfolations  in  the  death 
 
 be  with  them  where  they  are.  If  'tis  fo  (tw- 
 fible  a  pleafare  in  this  world,  to  meet  a  beloved 
 friend,  after  a  long  abfence,  and  great  diflance^ 
 how  great  muft  be  the  fatisfadion  of  meeting 
 them  in  the  other  world,  of  feeing  them  again, 
 and  being  with  them  for  ever,  of  mutual  en- 
 joyment, in  their  improved  ftate,  and  without 
 any  of  their  prefent  defecfls,  or  any  allay  of 
 weaknefs,  or  fin  ?  Wipe  the  tears  from  thy 
 eyes,  and  behold  the  near  approach  of  the  fu- 
 ture blefTednefs :  See  by  faith  him  who  is  in- 
 vifibky  and  yejhs  fitting  at  the  right  hand  of 
 God,  and  all  our  departed  friends,  loft  at  diffe- 
 rent times,  out  of  this  world,  and  whom  we 
 efteem.ed  and  loved,  met  together  in  one  place, 
 and  making  up  one  bleffed  fociety  above. 
 
 §  9.  'Tis  a  confiderable  reafon  of  comfort, 
 
 where  that  is  the  cafe,  that  there  are  many 
 
 pirnjiving  relations  left.     If  God  takes  away  an 
 
 aged  parent  to  whom  we  owe  the  firft  feafon- 
 
 ing,  and  the  after-difpofal  of  life :    If  he  take 
 
 away  cur  majicrfrom  our  head  as  he  took  £//- 
 
 jah  from  Elijhay  but  leaves  us  many  brethren, 
 
 or  gives  us  a  double  portion  of  their  Jpirit ;  if  he 
 
 takes  away  the  defre  of  cur  eyes  with  a  Jlroke^ 
 
 and  removes  the  old  and  dear  companion  of  our 
 
 lives,  but  leaves  us  feveral  furviving  children, 
 
 the  dear  pledges  of  a  faint  in  heaven,   flourifli- 
 
 ing  in  the  ways  of  God,  ufeful  in  the  world, 
 
 of  growing  hopes  and  capacities  of  fervice,  i?!- 
 
 Li  ke  ii.    creafug  in  wijdom  and  Jlature^  and  in  favour 
 
 j*.  with  God  and  men-,    what  an  unfpeakable  allay 
 
 of  our  forrow,  and  how  great  an  inftance  of 
 
 tender  compalTion,    in  our  heavenly  father  ? 
 
 We 
 
rcn. 
 I. 
 
 of  aged  chrijlia7ts»  1 49 
 
 We  cannot  lay  we  are  wholly  berea'-oed^  or 
 quite  defolatej  and  there  is  no  greater  joy  thanll^^'^  \ 
 to  fee  our  childre?i  ivalking  in  the  truth.  This 
 is  like  fo  many  green  twigs  fpringing  from  the 
 body  of  an  old  tree,  which  being  tranfplanted 
 to  a  proper  foil,  become  fruitful,  when  the 
 tree  from  whence  they  were  taken,  decays, 
 and  is  cut  down.  Men  fometimes  Hve  in  their 
 pofterity  feveral  ages. 
 
 Or  if  our  own  family  and  relations  are  cut 
 off,  and  God  has  raifed  up  other  friends,  among 
 our  acquaintance,  or  ftrangers,  to  fhew  us  the 
 kindnefs  of  the  dead ^  or  io  J'upply  the  lack  offer- 
 vice  to  us ;  as  David  fhewed  kindnefs  to  the  houje  ^  ch 
 ofS2iu\^for  Jonathan'sy^V/(T ;  and  2.  friend  is  born  ix 
 for  adverfty,  and  there  is  -^  frieiid  which  jiick- 
 sth  clofer  than  a  brother :  If  he  provide  for  us 
 in  our  moft  defolate  flate,  by  the  care  of  a  gra- 
 cious providence,  and  be  himfelf  a  father  and 
 friend  to  us ;  if  he  will  be  the  father  of  the  fa- 
 therlefSj  or  hufhajid  of  the  ividoWy  and  fland 
 himfelf  inilead  of  all  the  relations  of  life,  who 
 lives  for  ever,  and  will  never  leave  us  nor  for  Jake 
 lis ;  how  great  is  the  confolation,  what  reafon 
 have  we  to  mix  thankfgiving  with  our  griefs, 
 and  tofing  of  jnercv  as  well  z's^  judgment^ 
 
 Concerning  our  deceafed  friend,  I  fhall 
 fay  but  little,  for  as  (lie  knew  not  how  \o  give 
 flattering  titles  to  any^  fo  the  leaft  appearance 
 of  it  in  others,  was  always  difagreeable  to  her. 
 I  fhall  not  draw  a  piBure^  but  only  touch  the 
 principal  /t'^/f/r^^,  and  diflinguifliing  lineaments^ 
 by  which  they  who  were  acquainted  with  her, 
 will  eafily  know  her,  and  they  who  were  not, 
 L  3  will 
 
150  Confolat ions  in  the  death 
 
 will  find  fomething  inftru6ting  and  exemplary. 
 She  was  v&xy  J]?2cere  in  heart,  and  flridlly  con- 
 fcientious  in  her  ordinary  walkj  very  much 
 under  the  influence  of  a  religious  education, 
 and  by  the  advantage  of  the  fpecial  afliftance 
 her  cafe  afforded  her.  She  had  the  teftimony 
 of  all  about  her,  as  well  as  of  her  own  confci- 
 ence,  That  in  fimplicity  and  godly  fine  erity^  not 
 by  fiejldy  njoifdom^  but  by  the  grace  of  God,  Jhe 
 had  her  converfation  in  the  world.  There  was 
 an  undifguifed  and  inflexible  honefl;y  in  her 
 make,  from  the  impreffions  of  the  fear  of  God, 
 and  without  regarding  the  opinion  of  men ;  of 
 which  I  reckon  this  a  great  evidence,  that  they 
 who  knew  her  moft,  and  v/ere  mofl  intimate 
 with  her,  knew  the  beft  of  her :  She  did  not, 
 like  painted  beauties,  or  counterfeit  vi^are,  ap- 
 pear beft  at  a  difiance,  and  by  the  favour  of  a 
 >//?  light. 
 
 She  was  very  ufeful  In  her  place,  by  pru» 
 dent  management,  and  great  ad:ivity,  in  her 
 proper  affairs:  And  God  profpered  her  endea- 
 vours with  remarkable  fuccefs,  in  the  education 
 of  a  numerous  family,  under  circumftances  of 
 difadvantage,  to  the  great  comfort  of  her  own' 
 heart,  and  the  fervice  of  their  generation,  in 
 difl:erent  ways.  She  was  a  rare  example  of  a 
 Angular  excellency :  Tho'  her  temper  was  ac- 
 tive and  zealous,  (lie  employed  her  whole  time, 
 and  confined  all  her  care,  to  her  proper  iphere, 
 and  to  her  own  affairs,  without  thrufting  her- 
 felf  into  others  Families,  meddling  with  their 
 character,  or  cenfuring  their  condud:.  The 
 forward  cenfurer  of  other  men's  faults  and  flate, 
 
 is 
 
of  a^ed  chrijliam,  151 
 
 is  not  always  the  mofc  careful  and  concerned 
 about  his  own ;  and  would  be  more  iafely  and 
 profitably  employed,  in  obferving  and  imitating 
 what  was  excellent  and  ufeful  in  them,  and  in 
 which  perhaps,  notwithitanding  all  their  faults, 
 we  may  come  a  great  deal  O^ort  of  them.  Her 
 behaviour  in  this  refped,  was  an  excellent 
 comment  upon  the  apoHolical  precepts,  Study 
 to  be  quiet ^  and  7nind your  ow?i  bufmejs ;  and  not 
 being  bufy-bodies  in  other  mejis  matters.  This 
 was  fo  much  her  judgment  and  pradlice,  that 
 it  was  the  only  thing  llie  defrred  fliould  be  faid 
 pf  her  upon  this  occafion ;  and  is  therefore 
 worthy  our  fpecial  notice  and  regard.  I  am 
 fure  the  careful  obfervance  of  this  rule  would 
 tend  very  much  to  promote  the  peace  of  the 
 world  about  us,  and  prevent  a  great  deal  of 
 trouble  and  inconvenience  to  ourfelves. 
 
 She  was  long  exercifed  with  bodily  weak- 
 nefs,  and  periodical  pains,  which  ilfued  in  the 
 lofs  of  her  fight,  and  wliich  to  a  perfon  of  a 
 brifk  and  active  temper  could  not  but  be  fome 
 uneafinefs :  But  as  flic  had  ferved  her  genera- 
 tion for  many  years  together  in  the  ad:ive  life, 
 to  good  purpofe ;  fo  (lie  fliewed  an  exemplary 
 patience  and  fubmiffion,  under  the  burdens  of 
 nature.  She  was  calm  and  compofed  through 
 her  lafl  ficknefs,  thoush  not  without  the  feri- 
 ous  workings  of  a  concerned  mind,  and  exprefl 
 a  fteady  truft  in  God  through  the  Mediator, 
 and  an  u-nfliaken  firmnefs  of  mind.  She  was 
 fearlefs  and  unruffled  under  violent  pains,  and 
 gradual  approaches,  and  even  vifible  profpeds 
 of  her  great  change.  She  died,  like  Stephen, 
 L  4  calling 
 
152  Confolations  in  the  deaths  &c. 
 
 calling  upon  the  name  of  the  Lord.  Her  laft 
 words  were  thofe  of  the  difciples,  in  a  great 
 difficulty,  Lord  increafe  my  faith.  May  this 
 fubjedt  and  example  help  to  quicken  us  in  the 
 prefent  duties  of  life,  and  yield  confolation  and 
 relief  under  all  the  afflidtions  of  itj  and  may 
 Vfcfinijh  our  courfe  with  joy,  and  inherit  the  pro- 
 mife  at  laft. 
 
 PART 
 
PART   IL 
 
 Preparations  for  our  own 
 Death. 
 
 SERMON     I. 
 
 The  happy  End  of  an  ufeful 
 Life. 
 
 Acts  xiii.    26. 
 
 For  David,  afur   he   had  ferved  his 
 own  generation   by  the  will  of  God^ 
 fell  on  fleep* 
 
 TH  E  words  are  part  of  the  Apoftle's 
 difcourle  at  Antiochy  and  relate  to 
 the  proof  that  Jefus  is  the  tvu^Meffiah 
 promis'd  to  the  fathers,  becaufe  God 
 raifed  him  from  the  dead:  and  this  was  evi-  '^ 
 dent  in  that  he  was  J'ee?i  many  days  of  thejn 
 
 who 
 
3^4  ^  Funeral  Sermon 
 
 31.  who  came  up  with  him  from  Galilee  to  yerufa- 
 
 km,  who  were  his  witnefj'cs  to  the  people.  And 
 to    this  the  Apoftle  applies   the  expreffion  in 
 
 3^-  the   fecond  Pfalm ;  Thou  art  my  fin,    this  day 
 
 have  I  begotten  thee ;  or  declared  thee  to  be  my 
 fon.  And  he  was  raifed  from  the  dead  with 
 this  pecuhar  circumflance,  Now  no  more  to  re- 
 turn to  coi'ruption :  or,  as  he  exprelTes  it  in  an- 
 
 Rom.  vi.  other  place ;  Knowi?2g  that  Chriji  being  raisd 
 
 9-  from  the  dead,  dieth  no  more-,  death    hath  no. 
 
 more  dominion  over  him :  as  it  had  in  the  cafe 
 of  Lazarus,  the  widow's  fon,  and  thofe  who 
 rofe  out  of  the  grave,  at  the  time  of  his. 
 refurredtion :     and    to    this    he    applie's    the 
 
 Mat.        pafTage  of  the   prophet,  I  will  give   thee  the. 
 
 ■s.^N\\.  z^zjlire  mercies  of  David,  i.e.  the  faithful  pro- 
 mifes  of  the  Mejjiah,  and  of  the  bleffings  of 
 his  everlafting  kingdom,  made  to  David:  or 
 it  may  be  underftood  of  Chrifi  the  fon  of  Da-- 
 vid,  who  is  fometimes  fo  reprefented  in  the 
 prophetick  language.  Bclides,  it  was  prophe- 
 fied  of  him,  Thou  fo  alt  not  fuffer  thy  Holy -One 
 to  fee  corruption:  he  fliould  not  continue  fo 
 long  in  the  grave  to  fee  corruption;  as  he 
 ihould  not  return  to  it  again.  Now  this 
 could  not  be  underftood  of  David,  becauie  he 
 fellonfeep,  and  was  laid  unto  his  fathers,  and 
 faw  corruption :  and  he  tells  the  Jews  at  ano- 
 
 Chap.  ii.  ther  time,   The  patriarch  David  is  both  dead 
 
 '^'         and  buried,  and  his  fepulchre  is  with  us  unto 
 this  day :  but  this  was  ftrie^ly  true   of  Chrift, 
 
 37-         for  he  whom  God  raifed  from  the  dead,  faw  no 
 corruption. 
 
 The 
 
on  Mr.  John  Merge  R.  155 
 
 The  words  of  the  text  contain  the  charac- 
 ter and  defcription  of  a  good  and  ufeful  man, 
 in  the  perfon  of  David.  In  fpeaking  to  them 
 I  {hall  confider, 
 
 I.  The  chara<fler   of  his  ufefal  life.     He 
 ferved  his  owngeneratiojt  by  the  will  of  God. 
 
 II.  The  account  of  his  happy  and  com- 
 fortable death :  He  fell  on  fleep. 
 
 III.  The  relation  between  thefe  two;  or 
 how  the  one  depends  upon  the  other. 
 
 IV.  I  (hall  apply  it. 
 
 SECT.     I. 
 
 I.  I  fhall  confider  the  charadter  of  his  ufe- 
 ful life :  He  ferved  his  omn  generation  by  the 
 will  of  God.  I  fhall  briefly  open  the  feveral 
 parts. 
 
 I.  His  life  is  a  Rate  of fervice.  David  hs-d 
 the   peculiar   commendation    of  being  a  man 
 after  God's  ow?i  heart ;  i.  e.  of  great  lincerity, 
 and   entire  devotedncfs  to  God.     He  was  an 
 fidive   inflrument    of  the  glory  of  God,  and 
 zealous   in   his    fervice.     He    difpatched  the 
 whole  bufinefs  God  appointed  him   to  do  in 
 his  place;  and  had   it  in  his  heart  to  do  ^^^ore ;  j^^q^^  ^.■ 
 for  lie  defird  to  find  a  tabernacle  for  the  God^G 
 of  facob.     'Tis   fpoken    dired:ly    of  David,  P'^i.  ixix. 
 tho'  ultimately  of  Chrift,  The  zeal  of  thy  houfe'^' 
 hath  eaten  me  up ;  and  my  zeal  hath  confumed       ^^'^' 
 me.     He  was    faithful  to  the   interefl  of  God 
 in  an  exalted  flation,  for  many  years  together, 
 in  his  main  bent  and  courfe  of  life  :  tho'  not 
 without  the  allay  of  imperfe(5lions  and  faults ; 
 J  like 
 
 22. 
 
156  A  Funeral  Sermon 
 
 like  a  flaw  in  a  diamond,  or  a  ipot  in  the  bo- 
 dy of  the  fun ;  yet,  with  the  clearefl  marks 
 of  a  found  and  deep  r-pentance. 
 
 A  chriftian's  whole  Hfe  is  a  ftate  of  fervice 
 and  warfare :  we  are  to  work  the  works  of 
 God,  and  contend  with  our  fpiritual  enemies. 
 In  this  refped:  it  refembles  the  cafe  of  the 
 Jews  in  the  oppofition  they  met  with  in  build- 
 ing the  walls  of  the  city,  after  their  returrt 
 ^  ,  .  from  the  Babylon iili  captivity  :  Every  one 
 17.  with  one  (f  his  hands  wrought  in  the  work^  and 
 
 with  the   other  hand  held  a    weapon:  for  the 
 builders  every  one  had  his  /word  girt  by  his  fide ^ 
 and  fo  built.     The  Apoftle    reprefents  this  by 
 an  hearty  devotednefs    to  Chrifl,  and  engage- 
 Aasxxvii.nient  in  his  fervice;  whofe  I  am^  and  whom  T 
 37-         ferve:  and  makes  it  the  matter  of  folemn  ap- 
 Rom.  i  Q  P^^^  ^^^  thankfgiving  to  God ;  for  God  is  my 
 witnefs  whom  I  ferve  with  my  fpirit  in  the  gofpel 
 z  Tim.  i.  of  his  (on.     And  I  thank  God  whom  I Jerve  from 
 3-  my  forefathers,  with  apure  confcience.     This  is 
 
 made  the    end  of  our  redemption  by  Chrift, 
 lj^^\_~^_that  we  being  delivered  out  of  the  hands  of  our 
 enemies,  might  ferve  him  without  fear  in  righ- 
 rr,     ..     teoufnefs  and  hclinefs  all  our  days.     He  redeems 
 
 "  itusii.  -/.J        ,,  .     .       .     ''  1  n         111 
 
 2^.  us  from  all  iniquity that  we  Ihould  be  a  pe- 
 
 culiar people  zealous  of  good  works.  Our  Lord 
 fays,  If  any  man  ferve  me,  let  him  follow  me-, 
 and  'tis  the  ultimate  view    in  all  the  duties  of 
 
 .  ^     ...  every  relation,  that  we  ferve  the  Lord  Chrifl. 
 
 ^ouD  .  111.  ^^^  Apoflle  makes  it  the  oppofite  term  of  the 
 chriftians  converfion   from  their  gentile  flate; 
 
 1  Theff.i.  ■^"'^'^'^  turned  to  God  from  idols  ^  to  ferve  the  li-^. 
 
 9'  ving  and  true  God. 
 
 There 
 
071  Mr.  John  Mercer.  157 
 
 There  muft  be  the  united  exercife  and  force 
 of  all  our  powers  in  the  fervice  of  God ;  and 
 it  muft  be  the  proper  work  and  bufinefs  of  Hfe. 
 Chriftianity  is  not  a  flate  of  idlenefs  and  floth  ; 
 of  carnal  indulgence,  and  carelefs  negled: :  on 
 the  contrary,  we  mufl  not  ho.  Jlotfjful  m  biifi-^^^->^y^' 
 nefs,  but  fervent  in  fpir  it  y  fermng  the  Lord  \  and^"' 
 not  Jlothfiil^  but  followers  of  them  who  through'^^^'v\. 
 faith  and  patiejice  inherit  the  promife.     To  this  '^" 
 purpofe  'tis  obfervable,  that  the  word  here  us'd 
 \)iT-f\fiT-t\(joii  is  a  metaphor  taken  from  rowers  in 
 a  velTel  under  the  direction  of  a  pilot ;  and  de- 
 notes hard  labour  in  our  proper  place.     Every 
 one  muft  ply  his  oar,  and  keep  his  rank  -,  we 
 muft  employ  our  capacities,  and  fill  up  our  time 
 with  proper  inftances  of  fervice  and  duty  in  the 
 feveral  relations  of  life  and  circumftances  of 
 things  in  which  we  are  placed. 
 
 2.  He  fervcs  his  generation.  David  was  of 
 a  publick  fpirit,  and  ferviceable  to  others  as  well 
 as  to  himfelf.  He  was  ufeful  in  every  capacity 
 in  which  he  ftood,  as  a  ruler  and  a  prophet, 
 to  the  church  and  to  the  world.  'Tis  faid  of 
 him,  \.h;\.t  he  fed  Kx^qX  according  to  the  if^ttgrity  ^r^^.^^.-^ 
 of  hii  heart  J  and  guided  them  by  thefkilfulnefsof-z. 
 his  hands.  The  word,  we  render  generation^ 
 fignifies  alfo  age :  he  was  a  blefling  to  the  age 
 or  generation  in  which  he  lived  :  the  one  refers 
 to  the  people  among  whom  he  lived  5  the  other 
 to  the  period  of  time  in  which  he  lived. 
 
 A  good  man  is  a  publick  good,  and  makes 
 others  about  him  the  better  for  him.  He  looks 
 not  at  his  ow?i  things;  fjih  tx  Iocutoov  o-jcox^Tg, 
 makes  not  his  own  concerns  his /cope  and  end: 
 
 but. 
 
1^8  A  Funeral  Sermon 
 
 Philip,  ii-but  looh  at  the  things  of  others,  and  naturallj 
 
 f;; „^    cares  for  their  flate.      The  Apoflle  fays  of  him- 
 
 J  Cor.  ix.  felf  i    T^hd  I  am  free  from  all  meuy  yet  have  1 
 
 ^^\^     made  myfelf  a  fervant  to  all 1  ain  made  all 
 
 things  to  all  men,  that  I  might  by  all  means  fave 
 Rom.  i.  fome.  And  again,  lam  debtor  both  to  the  Greeks^ 
 *4-  and  to  the  Barbariajis,  both  to  the  wife  and  to 
 
 the  unwife.  He  complied  with  others  weaknefs 
 and  miftakes,  and  accommodated  himfelf  to 
 every  circurriftance,  in  all  lawful  things,  in  or- 
 der to  the  good  of  others. 
 
 He  is  concern'd  to  do  good  to  all  within  his 
 reach,  and   to  make  the  world  the  better  for 
 him.     Our  blefled  Redeemer  went  about  doing 
 good  wherever  he  came,    to  the  bodies  and  the 
 fouls  of  men ;    and  the  Apoftle  requires  to  do 
 good  unto  all  men,  cfpecially  to  thofe  of  the  houjhold 
 of  faith.     We  are  not  to  be  conlider'd  as  fmgle, 
 independentj  individuals  in  the  creation  -,  as  if 
 we  were  made  only  for  our  felves,  and  uncon- 
 cerned with  others :  but  as  parts  of  the  whole^ 
 and  varioufly  related  to  others,  and  flanding  in 
 connexion  with  the  world  about  us.   This  mufl 
 give  meafures  and  diredlion  to  all  our  fervice  of 
 others ;    as  it  is  the  reafon  and  ground  of  it. 
 Some  indeed  have  a  larger  fphere  of  activity 
 than  others,  by  a  publick  charader,  and  a  high 
 ftation,  a  greater  capacity,  and  a  wider  influ- 
 ence ;  but  a  truly  good  man  will-  be  as  ufeful 
 as  he  can,  and  extend  his  fervice  in  proportion 
 to  the  place  he  holds,  the  furniture  he  pofleflefe, 
 and  the  opportunities  and  calls,  put  into  his 
 hands.     He  lives  for  others  as  well  as  for  him- 
 felfj  and  is  really  a  bleffing  to  the  world  about 
 
 him. 
 
on  Mr.  John  Mercer.  159 
 
 him  *.  And  for  this  reafon  the  death  of  a  good 
 man  is  always  a  pubhck  lofs :  the  world  loles 
 a  friend  and  benefadior^  and  the  lofs  is  as  gene- 
 ral  as  all  the  inflances  of  his  ufefulnefs  and  fer- 
 vice  to  it,  amounted  to. 
 
 3.  He  is  efpecially  concerned  to  ferve  his 
 own  genei'ation.  David  /?r'i;^J  his  own  genera- 
 tion :  he  was  ufeful  to  the  age  and  generation 
 in  which  he  lived :  and  tho'  his  fervice  and  ufe- 
 fulnefs was  not  confined  to  it,  but  furvived  his 
 own  death,  and  defcended  to  after-ages ;  his 
 vidtorieSj  and  writings,  and  preparations  for 
 building  the  temple,  had  a  beneficial  influence 
 upon  after-times ;  yet  that  which  is  particularly 
 remarked  to  his  commendation  here,  is,  that 
 he  ferved  his  own  geiieration.  And  we  are  plainly 
 infi:ru6ted  by  this  example,  tiiat  a  good  man 
 mufi:  be  as  ferviceable  as  he  can  in  the  genera- 
 tion and  age  in  which  he  lives.  We  muft  do 
 whatfoever  our  hands  find  us  to  do  with  all  our 
 fnight ;  and  work  the  works  of  him  w}?o  Jent  us^ 
 while  it  is  day.  We  ihould  contribute  our  befl 
 endeavours,  and  lay  out  ourfelves  to  the  utmoft, 
 to  make  the  world  and  age  in  which  we  live 
 the  better  for  us. 
 
 Improve  your  talents  and  trufts  with  faith- 
 ful diligence  and  wife  care,  to  every  purpofe  of 
 the  divine  glory,  and  all  the  interefts  of  the 
 kingdom  of  God  in  the  world.  Make  your 
 own  hands  and  eyes,  as  much  as  may  be,  your 
 
 eX" 
 
 *  Uni  quippe  vacat  ftudii{que  odiifque  carenti, 
 
 Humanum  lugere  genus,-- 
 
 — —  Patriaeque  impendere  vitam, 
 
 Nee  fibi,  fed  wti  genitum  fe  credere  mundp. 
 
 Lucan.  1.  2, 
 
i6o  A  Fwieral  Sermon 
 
 executors  and  overfeers ;  and  leave  not  a  need- 
 lefs  burden  to  the  uncertain  care  of  thofe  who 
 coine  after.     Men  fometimes  leave  large  eftates, 
 to  charitable    ufes  and   publick  benefaction S, 
 when  they  can  enjoy  them  no  longer  them- 
 felves;    and  without  any   proportionable  im- 
 provement of  them  while  tney  live  :  the  world 
 is  more  beholden  to  death,  than  to  them,  for 
 all  the  good  they  do ;    and  they  rather  enable 
 others  to  do  good,  than  do  any  good  themfelves. 
 And  it  fometimes  proves  accordingly  -,  and  is 
 either  mifapplied  and  turn'd  afide  from  the  pur- 
 pofc  defign'd  j  or  mifmanaged  by  unfaithfulnefs 
 and  negleiftj    and  it  may  be,    in  a  courfe  of 
 years,  entirely  funk  and  loft.  They  are  fo  care- 
 iiil  to  do  good  to  pofterity,  that  they  have  no 
 fuitable  regard  to  their  own  generation  with 
 which  they  are  more  immediately  concern'd. 
 They  eredl  ftately  monuments  to  perpetuate 
 their  memory  in  after-times  j  and  fuifer  the  li- 
 ving members  of  Chrift-,  and  the  temples  of  the 
 Holy  Ghoft,  to  fuffer  want,  and  lie  in  ruins. 
 And  tho'  I  would  not  difcourage  any  good  de- 
 lign   for  the  fervice  of  pofterity,  and  readily 
 own  the  great  benefit  to  the  world  of  fome 
 wliich  have  been  well  chofen,  and  wifely  ma- 
 naged; and  no  doubt  we  Ihould  extend  our  ufe- 
 fnlnefs  to  as  wide  a  compafs,  and  long  duration 
 as  we  can  ;  yet  I  fear  there  is  fometimes  a  mix- 
 ture of  vanity,  and  pride  of  tame,  when  men 
 are  careful  to  do  good  to  thofe  who  come  after 
 them,  to  the  negledt  of  their  own  generation, 
 and  without  being  ufeful  to  the  prefent  age:  as 
 men  fometimes  Itarve  themfelves,  and  live  in 
 
 the 
 
on  Mr,  Jo htN  Mercer*  i6i 
 
 the  meaneft  obfcurity,  to  leave  enormous  eflates 
 to  prodigal  heirs.  Tliey  ca/I  their  houfes,  as 
 well  as  their  lands^  after  their  own  iiames ;  and 
 fojierity  approve  their  faying.  But  don't  we 
 take  the  work  out  of  the  hands  of  the  next  ge- 
 neration, who  are  more  immediately  concern- 
 ed to  fupport  and  ferve  it,  as  we  are  to  do  our 
 own  ?  If  every  man  fliithfully  ferved  his  own 
 generation,  and  did  the  utmofl  good  he  could 
 ih  the  age  in  which  he  lived ;  there  would  be 
 the  lefs  need  to  be  careful  about  future  gene- 
 rations, and  every  one  would  be  able,  in  a  great 
 meafure,  to  fupport  it  felf. 
 
 4.  This  fervice  is  meafured  and  determin- 
 ed by  the  divine  ic///.     He  ferved  his  oimi  ge- 
 neration by  the  will  of  God \  the  conftrudidn  of 
 the  words  admit  another  rendering,  i.  e.  That  'ij^^,  ^.^^ 
 in  his  generation   \\q  ferved  the  will  of  GodjC-^ri^^incai 
 which  makes  the  fervice  to  refer  dired;ly,    not  1.''  ^,'f  ^ 
 to  the  generation,  but  to  the  will  01  God;   he 
 ferved  the  purpofes  and  defigns  of  the  divine 
 will  in  the  generation  ih  which  he  lived.    The 
 reference  of  the  will  of  God  to  h.isfalli;7g  on 
 fleep-y  i.  e.  that  he  fell  on  fleep  by  the  will  of 
 God,  has  no  pretence  from  the  letter  of  the 
 text,  or  propriety  in  the  character  of  David \ 
 for  that  is  common  to  all  men,  and  no  mai^k 
 of  peculiar  excellence.     I  (liall  follow  our  own 
 rendring,  that  in  all  his  fervice  of  his  genera- 
 tion, he  was  under  the  dire(rtion  of  the  divine 
 will :  it  may  be  underflood  in  a  double  refe- 
 rence. 
 
 I.  To  the  difpofing  will  of  God.     So  David 
 ferved  his  own  generation  according  to  the  fo- 
 
 M  vcrcigri 
 
1 6  2  ^  Funeral  Sermo?t 
 
 vereign  pleafure  and  difpofal  of  his  providence,. 
 in  his  high  liation,  and  larger  fphere ;  and  in 
 the  different  capacities  of  a  prince  and  prophet. 
 We  muft  ferve  our  generation  according  to  the 
 will  of  the  fovereign  ruler  of  the  world  j  in  fuch 
 places  of  abode,  and  ftations  of  ufefulnefs  j  in. 
 fuch  a  condition  of  life  and  circumftance  of 
 things,  as  he  fees  fit;  and  according  to  the 
 opportunities  afforded,  and  during  the  fea- 
 fon  allotted  to  us.  We  muft  be  willing  to 
 ferve  God  in  his  own  way,  whether  it  be 
 the  way  we  would  chufe  or  no  :  if  he  fee 
 fit  to  call  us  upon  the  publick  fi:age,  and  place 
 us  in  open  view  ;  to  engage  us  in  difficult 
 fervice,  and  great  oppofition,  as  the  Apoftle 
 J'erved  the  Lord  with  many  tears  and  temptati- 
 ons :  or  elfe  to  call  our  lot  in  obfcurity  and 
 meannefs,  and  confine  us  to  a  private  circum- 
 flance  of  life,  and  narrower  fphere  ofufeful- 
 nefs :  if  he  fees  fit  to  continue  us  long  in  ex- 
 ercife  and  labour,  and  give  us  many  years  of 
 ufefulnefs  in  the  world;  or  to  call  us  off  more 
 early  in  life,  and  in  the  midft  of  our  days  3  be- 
 fore we  have  finidied  our  undertakings,  or  in 
 the  eager  purfuit  of  them;  our  fervice  muff  be 
 determined  by  his  fovereign  will,  in  the  kind, 
 and  all  the  circumffances  of  it.  We  muff 
 readily  comply  with  our  own  prayers,  when 
 we  fay,  l^hy  will  be  done,  and  folio v/  the  ex- 
 ample of  our  obedient  Lord, in  every  thingwhieh 
 ...  befills  us ;  Neverthekfs^  not  my  will^but  thy  will  be 
 21.'  'done.  The  holy  Apoflle  paid  a  profound  de- 
 I  Cor.xvi.  ference  to  the  divine  will ;  /  will  return  again 
 ''  to  yen,  if  Godwin  J  and,  Itriijl  to  tarry  a  while 
 
 with 
 
on  M?\  Jonn  Mercer.  ^,  i 6^ 
 
 with  you,  if  the  Lord  permit.     And  he  dii(^s 
 the  chriflians  in  this  cafe  -,  for  that  you  ought  toj^^  j^, 
 Jay^  if  the  Lord  U'ill,  we  fhall  li^ve,  aiid  do  this^i- 
 or  that. 
 
 V/e  (liould  always  a6t  tinder  a  fenfe  of  the 
 divine  difpofal  in  the  nature  of  our  fcrvice,  and 
 every  circumftance  of  our  cafe :  "  God  has 
 *'  fixed  me  here  by  his  providence,  and  called 
 "  me  out  to  the  duty  of  my  place:  I  mud 
 *'  not  move  but  by  his  diredion,  and  the  fig-- 
 "  nification  of  his  providential  will ;  I  miifl 
 "  not  n^ift  my  flation,  however  diflicult  and 
 ^'  uneafy,  without  a  jufl  warrant  and  callj"  as 
 a  centinel  keeps  his  poll:,  though  full  of  ha- 
 zard, till  he  is  relieved^  and  regularly  difcharg- 
 cd.     Or  elfc, 
 
 2.  To  his  dire(5iing  and  commanding  will,  as 
 the  rule  and  meafure  of  our  fervice.  It  is  faid 
 here  o^  David;  To'^vhomalfo  God  gave  teftimony,  __^^ 
 mid  faid,  I  have  found  David  the  foil  of  fef/'e, 
 after  my  own  hearty  who  Jh  all  fulfill  all  my  will; 
 which  is  explain'd  by  keeping  that  which  the ,  sam. 
 Lord  commanded,  in  the  place  referred  to  byxiii-H* 
 the  Apoftle.  We  every  where  iind  the  marks  of 
 his  high  efleeni  and  delight  in  the  divine  law; 
 and  his  conftant  regard  to  it  upon  all  occafions. 
 The  revealed  will  of  God  is  the  reafon  and  rule 
 of  all  our  fervice,  and  fets  the, bounds  and  li- 
 mits to  it.  Wemuft  do  the  will  of  our  heavenly 
 father,  and  work  the  works  of  him  who  fmt  us , 
 and  walk  according  to  this  rule.  A  good  man 
 follows  the  light  and  direction  of  the  divine 
 word  :  he  confults  the  lively  oracles,  and  m.akes 
 the  laWi  of  God  his  counjellors.^    in  all  the  dark- 
 
 M  z  -tie  ft 
 
164  A  Funeral  Sermon 
 
 nefs  of  his  mind,  and  difficulty  of  the  way.    He 
 cheerfully  fubmits  to  any  fignification  of  the 
 divine  will  wherever  he  can  difcern  it,    and 
 firmly  adheres  to  it,    whatfoever  difficulty  or 
 inconvenience  may  attend  it.     'Tis  the  fmcere 
 fenfe  of  his  foul  as  well  as  his  outward  profef- 
 iion,  Whatfoever  the  Lord  our  GodJhaUJa)\  that 
 will  we  do ;  and  Speak  Lord^  for  thy  J'ervant 
 heareth.     I  own  thy  fovereign  right  to  com- 
 mand 5  and  profefs  iincere  fubjed;ion  to  thy  will. 
 II.  I  am  to  confider  his  happy  and  comfor- 
 table D^^z"/? :    Y{q  fell  on  Jleep.     The  metaphor 
 is  often  us'd  in  Scripture  to  iignify  the  happy 
 death  of  good  men,    and  I  think  is  never  us'd 
 but  of  them  in  this  fenfe.     So  David  and  So- 
 lomon^  ychojljaphat  and  Hezekiah^  in  the  old 
 teilament  are  laid  to  fall  on  fleep.     Our  Lord 
 ufes  it  of  Lazarus  in  the  new  3  and  the  Apoftle 
 frequently  when  he  is  difcourling  of  the  refur- 
 red:ion.     Now  this  mufi  not  be  underflood  of 
 th^fotd;  as  if  that  fell  afleep  at  our  dilTolution  j 
 for  that  is  not  agreeable  to  the  nature  of  the 
 foul,  which  is  a  fpiritual  intelledual  fubftance  j 
 not  capable  of  being  divided  into  parts  i  or  be- 
 ing dilfolved  and  corrupted,    like  grofs  matter, 
 or  bodily  fubftance.     Befides,  'tis  ellentially  vi- 
 tal and  adive :   it  always  ads,  and  cannot  but 
 ad:,  in  one  kind  and  way  or  other.     So  that 
 to  fuppofe  the  foul  to  fleep,  or  fill  into  a  ftate 
 of  inadivity,   is  quite  oppofite  to  all  we  know 
 of  the  nature  of  the  foul,    and  the  moft  elTen- 
 tial  properties  of  it.     Nor  does  it  any  better 
 agree  with  the  Scripture-^iccount  of  the  matter, 
 than  with  the  reafon  of  the  thing :  For  a  ftate  of 
 
 fer- 
 
on  Mr.  John  Mercer.  165 
 
 fervice  to  our  generation  is  preferable  to  a  ftate  ' 
 of  fleep  and  inactivity ;  and  the  Apofdc  could 
 not  reafonably  defire,  upon  this  fuppofitioij';  to 
 be  abjmt  from  the  body,  that  he  might  be  prefent 
 with  the  Lord;  or  be  in  a  ftrait  betwixt  two,  23.^'^"^* 
 i.  e.  the  dc/ire  to  depart  and  be  with  Chrijl^  which 
 was  far  better  for  him  :  and  the  continuing  in 
 the  flef:>,  which  was  more  needful  for  them.  The 
 thing  would  admit  of  no  competition ;  for  a 
 life  of  ufefulnefs  to  the  church  of  God,  and 
 prefent  enjoyment  of  Chrift,  v/as  certainly  bet- 
 ter, than  a  ftate  of  infenfibility  in  the  grave. 
 And  death  would  not  be,  upon  this  fuppofition, 
 as  'tis  every  where  reprefented,  a  gain  and  be- 
 nefit to  good  men  j  but  a  great  difadvantage 
 and  lofs;  a  long  interval  of  darknefsand  iilence; 
 and  an  interruption  to  all  the  comfortable  fer- 
 vice and  enjoyment  of  this  world.  Nor  would 
 it  fuit  the  defcription  of  the  heavenly  flate,  of 
 being  this  day  with  Chrif  in  paradi/e,  and  be- 
 ing prefent  with  the  Lordy  and  of  the  fpirits  of 
 juft  men  being  now  made  pejfeSl ;  if  that  refer 
 to  the  future  ftate. 
 
 It  can  therefore  only  be  underflood  with  re- 
 lpe(^  to  the  bodily  life,  or  feparation  of  foul 
 and  body :  and  fo  'tis  reprefented  hy  falli?ig  on 
 Jleep,  upon  fuch  accounts  as  thefe ; 
 
 I. With  refpect  to  the  temper  of  their  minds, 
 or  the  eafe  and  calm  of  fpirit  with  which  they 
 die.  Death  is  no  more  terrible  to  a  o-ood 
 man's  mind,  who  has  a  clear  fenfe  of  his  own 
 integrity,  and  of  the  divine  favour,  than  lying 
 down  and  taking  one's  repofe  ;  or  fliutting  one's 
 eyes,  and  going  to  fleep.  The  putting  off  the 
 M  3  body 
 
A  Funeral  Sermon 
 
 body  is  but  like  putting  off  one's  clothes,  or  be- 
 ing unclothed;  and  lying  down  in  the  grave, 
 like  Gripping  and  going  to  bed.  So  God  laid 
 Dr.1t,  to  Mofes,  with  an  air  ot.  familiarity,  Go  up  info 
 xxxii.  49-  mount  Neboj  and  die  in  the  mount :  q.  d.  Go  take 
 thy  reft,  and  bid  the  world  good-night.  The 
 reafon  is,  that  death  is  unilung,  and  difarnied 
 of  all  its  tenors:  The  curfe  is  removed  by  the 
 death  of  Chrift,  and  good  men  are  deliver'd. 
 from  the  bondage  of  fear.  'Tis  a  covenant  friend, 
 and  does  them  the  kindeft  office,  which  is  the 
 king  o'i  terror  to  other  men.  They  wait  the 
 appointed  time  for  their  great  change,  and  re- 
 ceive it  with  welcome  and  joy. 
 
 2.  As  'tis  a  celHition  and  t^ejl  from   the  la- 
 bour and  toil  of  the  foregoing  life.     As  men 
 reft  from  their  ordinary  labour,  and  forget  the 
 cares  and  forrow  of  life,  when  they  lay  them- 
 felves  down  to  fteep ;  fo  a  good  man,  at  death, 
 fnif::es  his  courfe  of  fervice,   and  hiis  fought  the 
 ■good  fight  of  faith :   his  ivarfare  is  accompUJhed^ 
 and  he  is   difcharged  from  laborious  fervice, 
 and    Ipiritual   coniiids,    and  all    the  troubles 
 and  difficulty  of  life.     There  is  an  end  of  every- 
 thing which  was  uneafy  to  them  here  j    of  all 
 the  licknels  and  pains  of  body,  and  all  the  cares 
 and  grief  of  their  minds :   Inhere  the  wicked  ceafe 
 from  troubling^  and  there  the  weary  are  at  refl : 
 -''Tbcy  refl  in  their  grave ,  they'  enter  into  peace \ 
 each  one  walkings  or  having  walked,  in  his  up- 
 rightnefs.  The  blefled  dead  refl  from  the  labour 
 ^^       .  oftlie  prefent  ftate;    and  in  the  future,    God 
 ^        "    "ji'ill  wipe  away  all  tears  from  their  eyes -j    and^ 
 there  will  be  no  more  death ^  nor  forrow^  nor  cry^ 
 
 ing. 
 
c;^  Mr.  John  Mercer.  ibj 
 
 ingy  nor  any  more  pain :  i.  e.  nothing  to  diflurb 
 their  repofe,  or  interrupt  their  happinefs  and  joy. 
 3.  With  refpecl  to  their  being  awaked^  and 
 railed  up  at  laft.      They  are  fallen  afleep  in- 
 deed ;    but  they  will  awake  again,    and  rife  at 
 the  general  refurrection.  The  holy  Pialmift  fays 
 of  himfelf  J  I  fJjall  befatisjiedwhen  I  awake  with^^f^-^''^'^' 
 thy  likenefs ;  and  he  fays  of  wicked  men  ;    Like  ^ ' 
 fieep  they  are  laid  in  the  grave  -,  death  Jhall  feed^^^^-  '4- 
 iipo?t  them  :  the  upright  Jhall  have  dominion  over 
 them  in  the  morning :    i.  e.  The  morning  after 
 the   night  of  death.     The  prophet  fays,  7?jy  if.  xxvi. 
 dead    men  fiall  live-y    together  with    my   dead^^- 
 body  Jhall  they   arife;  awake  a?jd  Jing  ye  who 
 dwell  in  the  duft     And  more  diredly,  Many  o/Dan.xii. 
 them  who  Jleep  in  the  dujl  of  the  earth  fi all  a-^' 
 wake  yfome  to  everlajling  life,  andfome  to  [barney 
 a?7d  everlajling  contempt.      The  prophet  fpeaks 
 in  the  perfon  of  Chrift,   as  a  glorious  conque- 
 ror, /  will  ranj'om  them  from  the  power  of  the  Hof.  xui. 
 grave ^   I  will  redeem  them  JVom  death.     So  our  H- 
 Lord  lays  of  Lazarus ;    Our  friend  Lazarus  ^^^  ^j^ 
 Jleepeth,   but  1  go  that  I  may  awake  him  out  ojw. 
 Jleep :    i.e.  raife  him  from  the  dead.     The  A- 
 pollle  fpeaking  of  the  rufurreition,  fays,   And^  Thefl; 
 they  who  Jleep  in  feJuSj  will  God  bring  with  him^  "•  '4- 
 i.  e.  in  a  glorious  manner,    and  to  infinite  ad- 
 vantage ;  as  a  man  rifes  refrefhed  after  a  found 
 ileep,   or  in  the  Pfalmill's  expreihon,    as  the 
 riling  fun  which  rejoiceth  as  ajlrong  man  to  run 
 a  race.     They  will  rife  with  new  vigour  of 
 nature,  and  capacities  more  enlarged  and  im- 
 proved:  and  then  the  glorified  body  lliall  be 
 joined  to  its  foul,  and  both  be  compleatly  hap- 
 py,  and  never  be  parted  any  more. 
 
 M  4  SECT. 
 
i  u  ci  A  Funeral  Sermon 
 
 S  E  C  T.     II. 
 III.  I  am  to  confider  the  j'-elation  betweeu 
 tliefe  two,  and  fliew  how  the  one  depends  up- 
 on the  other  ;  /.  e,  how  a  hfe  of  ufeful  fervice  is 
 the  way  to  a  comfortable  death,  and  will  have  a 
 bleffed  end.  1  Ihali  reprefent  it  a  little  diftindly. 
 I.  'Tis  the  befl:  evidence  oifmcerity  of  heart 
 or  the  truth  of  our  grace.    Sincerity  is  the  com- 
 prehenfive  indifpenfible  article  of  the  new  co- 
 venant ;    the  merciful  allowance  of  the  gofpel, 
 andlowefl  condeicenfion  of  the  divine  grace, 
 in  diftinftion  from  legal  rigour,  or  fmlefs  per- 
 fedion.     It  runs  through  all  the  graces  of  thq 
 chriiliian.  life,  and  is  the  edentiaiyor;;;  of  them  j 
 'tis  iincere  faith,  and  iincere  love,  &c.     Now 
 iincerity  of  heart,  which  is  the  inward  real  fenfe 
 pf  the  mind,  and  the  prevailing  bent  and  biafs 
 of  it,  in  its  pradical  choice  and  determination ; 
 is  bePt  evidenced  by  genuine  correfpondent  ad;- 
 ings  and  exercifes  of  it,  as  every  habit  and  dif- 
 pofition  of  mind   is    known  by  the  ordinary 
 courfc  of  adions.     An  adive  ufeful  life,  in  an 
 entire  devotednefs  to  God,  and  zeal  for  doing 
 good  J  is  a  lurer  evidence  of  an  upright  mind, 
 and  right  habit  of  foul,  than  the  fairefl  out- 
 ward profeffioR,  or  the  mo  ft  rapturous  preten- 
 iions.     This  Ihews  the  true  make  and  temper 
 of  the  mind,   and  expreiles  the  real  (tn(t  of  it. 
 And  tho'  particular  adions  of  any  kind,    and 
 ^  upon  particular  occafions,    may  proceed  frorn 
 other  caufes;  yet  an  uniform  courfe  of  adion,  is 
 an  undeceiving  evidence  of  the  make  and  habit 
 of  the  m.ind :  for  no  man  dillembles  or  difguifes 
 
 his 
 
on  Mr.  John  Mercer.  169 
 
 his  main  courfe,  tho'  he  may  offer  violence  to 
 nature,  and  lay  a  reftraint  upon  himfelf  in 
 particular  ad:ions,  and  for  a  certain  time. 
 
 And  nothing  is  fo  proper,  in  its  own  place, 
 to  make   death    comfortable,  as    the  fenfe  of 
 our  own  integrity:  for  this  carries  a  clear  con- 
 viction to  our  mind   of  our  main    ftate,  and 
 delivers  us   from  uneafy  fears  and  doubt,  and 
 the  darknefs  and  uncertainty  which  often  cloud 
 and  perplex  it.     This    plainly  fliews  that  we 
 are  truly    fancftified   and  renewed  ;  and   have 
 that   faith  which  jufliiies  when   it  works  by  ]^m.i\. 
 lo-ve^  and  is  vn2At  perfe5i  by  works,  i.e.  entire^-- 
 and  compleat  in  its  proper  fruits  j  and  that  our 
 love    is   unfeigned,    and   witbcuf  dijjimulation 
 when  'tis  not  in  word  or  in  tongue,  but  in  deed ^  t^j^  -j_ 
 and  in  truth:  as  a  tree  appears  to  be  alive  in- 18. 
 deed,  and  in  a  flourifliing  ftate,  when  'tis  not 
 only  covered  with  blofToms,  but   laden  with 
 ripe  fruit.     It  anfwers  the  challenges  of  our 
 own  mind,  and  the  charges  of  hypocrify  and 
 unfaithfulnefs,    when   we   have    walked  up- 
 rightly,  and  been  ufeful  in  the  world.     This 
 was  the  comfort  of  the  Apoftle's  foul  when  he 
 had  t\\Q  Jentence  of  death  in  himfelf  3  This  is  our  zCor.  i. 
 rejoicing,  the  teflimony  of  our  confcience,  that  i?i9- 
 fitnplicity  and  godly  fine  er  it y,  not  by  fiefijly  wif-  '^ 
 
 dom,  but  by  the  grace  of  God,  we  have  had  our 
 conver/dtion  in  the  world. 
 
 2.  It  entitles  us  to  certain  promifes  of  the 
 covenant.  The  promlfe  of  the  gofpel  is  the 
 proper  ground  of  our  faith,  and  fpring  of  our 
 joy,  living  and  dying  :  and  tho'  the  promifes 
 of  the  new  covenant  are  gracious  and  free,  in 
 
 oppotition 
 
1 7  o  A  Funeral  Sermon 
 
 oppofition  to  worthinefs  and  defert;  for  they 
 are  ill  founded  in  the  blood  ofChrift^  and  are  all 
 yea^  and  amen  in  him ;  yet  they  are  not  promif- 
 cuous  and  common,  but  limited  to  a  qualified 
 fubject.     We  can  lay  no  claim  to  the  bleffings 
 of  the  promife,  but  in  the  way  in  which  it  is 
 promiff=i,  and  upon  the  gracious  terms  of  it: 
 It  would  be  otherwife  a   bold    and  groundlefs 
 prefumption,  and  prove  a  falfe  and  pernicious 
 hope.     Now  there  are  promifes  made  to  faith- 
 ful diligence  and  adtive  fervice ;  and  God,  for 
 Chrift's  fake,  will  gracioufly  accept  and  for- 
 give, and  will  own  and  reward  a  faithful  foul, 
 who  has  laid  out  himfelf  in  the  fervice  of  Chrifl:, 
 and  in  doing  good.     They  who  improve  their 
 talents,  and  make  an  anfwerable  increafe,  will 
 be  approved  and  rewarded  at  laft :  Well  done 
 good  and  faithful  fervant^  enter  thou  into  the  joy 
 of  thy  Lord;  when  the  unprofitable  fervant, 
 the  flothful  and  negligent,  will  be  condemned 
 and  puniflied.     The  Apoftle  fays,     'To  them^ 
 "■    who  by  patierd  continuance  in  well  doing  feek  for 
 glory  and  honour  and  i^nmortality^  he  will  ren- 
 der eternal  life.     We  muft  not  bey7(5//6/z//,  but 
 ?"  followers  of  them  who  through  faith  and  patience 
 now   inherit  the  promife.     It  was  not  by  lloth, 
 but  in  the  way  of  diligence,  and  in  the  exer- 
 cife  of  faith  and  patience,  that  they  came    to 
 inherit  the  promife  j  and  fo  it  muft  be  with 
 us.     And  again.  Wherefore  the  rather  brethren 
 \q^/^'    give  diligence — for  if  you  do  thefe  things^  ye 
 f mil  never  fall -y  and  fo  an  entrance  fioall  be  7m- 
 nijired  to  you  abundantly  into  the  everlajii?2g 
 Rev.  xxii.  kingdom.     And,  Blejj'ed  are  they  who  do  his  coni- 
 ' '''  ?nandmetttSy 
 
on  Mr.  John  Mercer.  lyi 
 
 mandments^  that  they  may  have  a  right  to 
 the  tree  of  life,  and  enter  in  thrd  the  gates  ijjto 
 the  city-y  i.  e.  a  right  by  gracious  promife. 
 
 And  it  cannot  but  be  an  unfpeakable  com- 
 fort to  a  dying  chriftian  to  refle(fl  upon  the 
 covenant  of  God,  which  is  well  ordered  and 
 fure,  and  is  all  his  Jahatio?i  and  all  his  defre. 
 What  ilrong  confolations  and  living  fupports 
 may  be  derived  in  his  dying  moments,  from 
 the  confideration  of  his  relation  and  interefl  in 
 God  ?  With  what  peace,  and  reft,  and  liberty 
 of  mind  may  he  depart,  who  has  the  fecurity 
 of  an  everlafting  covenant,  and  the  faithful 
 promife  to  plead  and  depend  upon  ?  How  firm 
 a  foundatioh  is  this  for  our  faith  3  what  a 
 Ipring  and  reafon  of  joy  ? 
 
 3.  It  will  minifter  comfortable  reflediions 
 to  our  mind  at  laft.  Tho'  there  is  no  pretence 
 to  defert  at  the  hands  of  God  in  a  fallen  crea- 
 ture, or  poffibility  of  obliging  the  Almighty 
 by  our  beft  fervice  j  when  we  have  done  all, 
 we  are  tpiprof  table Jervants  in  that  refped: ;  and 
 have  great  reafon  to  lament  our  unvv^'orthinefs 
 and  imperfetflion,  and  look  to  the  great  a- 
 tonement  for  pardon  and  acceptance ;  yet,  as 
 it  is  an  evidence  of  our  fmeerity  of  heart,  and 
 of  our  intereft  in  the  promife  3  fo  'tis  a  proper 
 matter  of  thankfulnefs  to  God,  and  comfor- 
 table refle(flIon  of  mind,  that  we  have  ferved 
 our  generation,  and  been  uieful  in  life.  It 
 will  fet  Qdiy  upon  our  minds,  and  admit  a  com- 
 fortable review,  and  yield  powerful  fupports, 
 under  all  the  uneafinefs  of  diflblving  nature, 
 and   the  neareft  exped:ation   of  our  change. 
 
 We 
 
1^2  A  Funeral  Sermo7t 
 
 We  fliall  be  able  to  look  back  upon  a  ufeful 
 life  with  this  comfortable  thought  -,  that  we 
 have,  in  our  main  courfe,  been  well  employed, 
 and  in  fome  meafure  anfwered  the  ends  of 
 life  J  that  wx  have  done  what  was  our  duty  to 
 do,  and  our  governing  ends  and  views  were 
 right.  The  fenfe  of  regularity  and  fervice  of 
 life  will  naturally  excite  our  thankfulnefs  and 
 praife  upon  a  dying  bed ;  "  BlefTed  be  God  in 
 '^  the  midft  of  many  defecfts,  I  have  not  been 
 *'  wholly  ufelefs  and  infignificant  j  that  the 
 *^  bufinefs  and  defign  of  life  has  been  to  pleafe 
 "  God,  and  do  good  j  that  by  the  grace  of 
 *'  God  I  have  laboured  in  his  fervice,  I  hope, 
 "  with  faithfulnefs,  tho'  not  more  abundant- 
 "  ly  than  many  others."  As  on  the  other 
 hand  5  the  remembrance  of  floth  and  neglecfts, 
 of  a  carelefs  and  diforderly  walk,  will  fill  the 
 mind  with  confufion,  and  breed  the  greatefl 
 diflrefs. 
 
 So  we  find  that  holy  men  have  comforted 
 themfelves  in  the  troubles  of  life,  and  the 
 pro fped:s  of  death,  with  refle(5tions  upon  their 
 pait  ufefulnefs.  When  Hezekiah  was  fick 
 unto  death,  he  turned  himfelf  to  the  wall,  and 
 2iV.m%  faidj  1  bcfecch  thee,  O  Lord,  remember  how  I 
 XX.  3.  have  walked  before  thee  in  truth,  and  with  a 
 perfecl  heart,  and  have  done  that  which  was 
 good  in  thy  fight .  His  p£j.-ffi|>al  integrity,  and 
 ufefulnefs  in  the  world,  was  a  cordial  to  his 
 fainting  mind,  and  a  living  comfort  under  the 
 apprehenfion  of  death  :  And  he  was  not  com- 
 forted by  falfe  or  miilaken  grounds.  When 
 Arfi6^/«/Wj  refled:ed  upon  his  good  government, 
 
 and 
 
on  Mr,  J  o  H  N  M  E  R  e  E  R.  173 
 
 and  reformation  of  abufes  in  the  Jewifli  church ; 
 he  faySj  Think  iipo?i   me^  O  my  God^  for  good^'Ht\i.y. 
 according   to  all  I  have  done  for  this  picrpofe.'^9- 
 And  again,  Remember  me,  O  my  God,  concern- 
 ing this  alfo,  and  fpare    me  according  to    the 
 grcatnefs  of  thy  mercy.     And  the  holy  Pfalmiffc 
 fays;  Judge    me,  O   Lord,  for  I  have  walked^^^^- ^^'^'^' 
 in  my  integrity;  I  have  triifted  alfo  in  the  Lor  d,^' 
 there fre  I  Jhall  not  fide.     What   a    comfort 
 muft  it    be  to    a  true    behever  to  clofe  his  Hfe 
 with  the  words  of  his  dying  Lord ;  I  have  glo- 
 rified thee  on  earth,  1  have  finified  the  w(?r/^Johnxvii> 
 which  thou  gave  ft  me  to  do;  and  now,  O  father,^' 
 glorify  thou  ??2ef 
 
 4.  It  is  a  good  reafon  of  our  future  hopes. 
 A  good  man  may   look   forward,  as  well  as 
 backward  with  comfort  and  peace  in  a  dying 
 hour,  from  the  fenfe  of  hisufefulnefs  and  fer- 
 vice  of  life :  for  it  gives  him  the  profped:  of  a 
 gracious  regard    from  God,  and  a  glorious  re- 
 ward for  ever.     The  reward  is  indeed  of  grace 
 2X\di  not  of  debt ,  and  infinitely  beyond  the  pro- 
 portion of  our  fervice,  and  all  pretence  of  de- 
 fert;  but  we   are   encouraged    to  exped:  the 
 heavenly  bleffednefs,  purchafed  by  Chrifl,  and 
 promifed   in  the  gofpel,  after  a  life  of  faithful 
 fervice.     So  the  Apoftle,  in    profped:   of  his 
 approaching  change,  when   he  was  now  ready 
 to  be  offer  d  up,  and  the  time  of  his  departure 
 was  at  hand,  fays,  /  have  fought  the  good  fight, 
 I  have  finijhed  my  courfe,  and  kept  the  faith ; 
 I  have  been  faithful  to  my  trufl,  and  diligent    ^.     . . 
 in  my  work ;  and  henceforth  is  laid  up  for  me  -j, 
 a  crown  of  righteoufnefs,  which  God  the  righ- 
 teous 
 
Heb.  vi 
 II. 
 
 1^4  A  Funeral  Sermon 
 
 teous  judge  will  give  me.     And  he   iliys,  that 
 .     .    they  who  do  good,  and  are  rich  in  good  works 
 
 1 8,  19-  ' ^'^y  ^^P  ^^  fi^^^  fi^  themfehes,  a  good  foiin- 
 
 dation  againji  the  time  to  come,  i,  e.  an  evidence 
 of  title  or  ground  of  hope,  that  they  may  lay 
 hold  on  eternal  life.  And  he  exhorts  the  chri- 
 ilians,  to  jhew  the  fame  diligence  to  the  full  af- 
 furance  of  hope  unto  the  end;  and  not  befothful^ 
 but  followers^  Sec.  By  a  courfe  of  diligence  we 
 attain  a  confirmed  hope  of  the  future  blefled- 
 nefs. 
 
 A  good  man  has  the  profped:  of  reft  and  blef- 
 fednefs  after  all  the  labour  of  life,  and  lofs  of  pre- 
 fent  good.     He  is  leaving  the  world  indeed,  and 
 all    the  comforts   of  life ;  but  he  is  looking  for 
 the  blejfed  hope ;  and  has  a  joyful  and  lively  hope  of 
 the  glory  of  God,and  of  the  heavenly  inheritance. 
 He  can  have   refpeB  to  the  recompence  of  re- 
 ward, when  the  fervice  and  fufferings  of  life  are 
 over  J  and    look  to  the  joy  which    is   fet  before 
 him,     under     all     the     burdens    of    dying 
 nature,  and  the  forrows  and  mourning  of  all 
 about  him.     He    fometimes    feels   his    heart 
 Ipring  with  joy  under  the  nearer  views  of  the 
 final   bleftednefs,  and  rejoices  with  a  glorious 
 and  unlpeakable  joy,  that  his Jiihation  is  fiear- 
 er  than  when  he  firft  believed;  and  his  ccm- 
 pleat  redemption   draweth  nigh.     His  heart   is 
 glad,  and  his  glory  rejoiceth,  his  fejh  alfo  rejlcth 
 Pfal.  xvi.  in  hope :  for  God  will  not  leave  his  foul  in  hell, 
 ]att.         Qj.    ^YiQ  grave ;  but    will  few  him  the  path  of 
 life :  in  his  prefence   isfulnefs  of  joy,  and  at  his 
 right  hand  are  plea  fur  es  for  evcrfnore.    Thus  the 
 righteous  hath  hope  in  his  death.     I  proceed, 
 
 1  V  * 
 
e>;^  Mr.  John  Mercer.  175 
 
 IV.  To  apply  it  in  fome  practical  remarks. 
 
 I.  It  reproves  thofe  who  are  of  an  oppo- 
 fite  character  to  this  of  the  text,  and  dont 
 ferve  their  generation :  men  of  a  narrow  and 
 felfifli  fpirit,  who  only  ferve  themfelves,  and 
 mind  their  own  things  j  but  not  the  things  of 
 Chriji,  or  the  things  of  others :  who  confine 
 their  cares  within  the  little  circle  of  their  pri- 
 vate interefls,  or  their  own  party  ;  without 
 regarding  the  welfare  of  others,  and  the  good 
 of  the  world  about  them :  as  if  they  were 
 born  for  themfelves,  and  all  the  world  was 
 made  for  them  3  inftead  of  their  being  born 
 for  the  good  of  others.  Th^y  fee k great  things 
 for  themfelves^  in  a  common  diftrefs ;  and  are 
 not  grieved  for  the  afiiSiions  of  Jofeph.  They 
 are  latisfied  to  be  fafe,  whofoever  is  in  danger ; 
 and  not  concerned  for  the  welfare  of  the 
 church  of  God,  or  zealous  for  its  interefls  and 
 fervice :  they  don't  feek  the  ivcfare  of  the 
 places  where  they  live,  or  prefer  Jerufalem  to 
 their  chief  joy.  This  is  directly  contrary  to 
 the  character  and  manner  of  a  publick-fpirited 
 and  ufeful  man. 
 
 And  much  more  are  they  to  be  blamed,  up- 
 on the  fame  ground,  who  diferve  their  gene- 
 ration, and  make  the  world  the  worfe  for  them, 
 and  do  harm  to  all  about  them :  who  by  the 
 advantage  of  fuperiour  wit  and  power,  or  re- 
 putation and  influence,  Ipread  the  infedlion  of 
 error  and  vice,  and  corrupt  the  principles  and 
 manners  of  men.  What  have  they  to  anfwer 
 for,  who  inilead  of  promoting  the  publick  good, 
 and  the  interell:s  of  religion  in  the  world,  in- 
 
 ilil 
 
176  A  Funeral  Sermon 
 
 ftil  the  principles  o^faSiion  and  infidelify^  to  the 
 difturbance  of  the  pubUck  peace,  and  the  weak- 
 ning  the  evidence  and  credit  of  divine  revela- 
 tion, which  is  the  befl  rule  of  our  duty,    the 
 fpring  of  our  comforts,    and  fureft  ground  of 
 our  future  hope  ?     'Tis  a  melancholy  refledli- 
 on,  that  fo  many  men  of  the  fineft  parts  and 
 accomplifliments,    of  credit  and  efteem  in  the 
 world,  and  capable  of  ferving  the  interefts  of 
 virtue  and  religion  with  peculiar  advantages, 
 have  fpent  their  lives  in   recommending  vice, 
 and  putting  religion  out  of  countenance.     This 
 will  be  fo  far  from  making  death  comfortable, 
 that  it  will  fit  heavy  upon  an  awakened  mind, 
 and  render  death  full  of  terrors.  They  will  have 
 reafon  to  wifh  they  had  never  been  bor?i',    or 
 never  had  fuch  talents  and  opportunities  from 
 God,  or  credit  and  regard  from  men  :   or  that 
 they  had  been  born  idiots^    and  lived  all  their 
 days  in  obfcurity  and  contem.pt. 
 
 2.  We  fhould  be  cautioned  from  hence,  that 
 under  a  pretence  of  ferving  our  generation,  we 
 don't  negleSi  our  own  fouls  and  our  own  affairs. 
 Tho'  this  don't  fland  in  direct  oppofition  to 
 the  charader  of  the  text  j  yet,  it  makes  it  in- 
 confiftent  with  other  duty.  We  muft  not  there- 
 fore be  careful  of  others  good,  and  neglcd;  our 
 own  fouls ;  or  be  forward  and  zealous  in  pro- 
 moting publick  affairs ;  and  in  the  mean  time 
 negle6t  our  own  families,  and  private  concerns. 
 We  muft  not  be  ciimbrcd  with  fcr^oing  others, 
 and  negled;  the  one  tJmig  needful ;  and  while  we; 
 become  our  brother  s  keeper^  forget  our  felves, 
 
 and 
 
on  Mr.  John  Mercer.  177 
 
 and  be  keepers  of  others  vhieyards,  when  our  own 
 vineyard  we  have  not  kept. 
 
 Let  men  begin  at  home, and  lay  the  foun- 
 dation right :  look  to  your  own  fouls,  and  your 
 own  affairs,  in  the  fir  ft  place ;  for  we  are  to  love 
 our  neighbour  as  ourfelves^  not  more  than  our- 
 felves,  or  above  ourfelves.     See  that  your  own  > 
 
 fouls  are  fafe,  and  that  you  ftand  upon  good 
 terms  with  God,  before  you  pretend  to  cenfure 
 and  reform  what  is  amifs  in  others.  Let  no 
 regard  to  the  publick  good  make  you  negledi 
 the  duty  of  your  place,  or  break  in  upon  reti- 
 red converfes  with  God,  and  the  daily  care  of 
 your  fouls.  This  would  bring  a  fcandal  upon 
 our  pretences  to  ferve  the  publick  good,  and 
 unfpeakably  prejudice  the  fuccefs  of  our  endea- 
 vours. Whereas  if  we  firft  take  heed  to  our- 
 felves^ we  fhall  ferve  our  generation  with  the 
 greater  advantage  j  for  we  Ihall  acfl  in  our  pro- 
 per place,  and  with  greater  effecft  of  good, 
 
 3.  Let  me  exhort  every  one  to  ferve  his  ge- 
 neration by  the  will  of  God.  Let  your  life  be 
 a  ftate  of  fervice  and  doing  good :  a(5l  with 
 faithfulnefs,  and  the  full  force  of  all  your  pow- 
 ers, rais'd  to  the  higheft  pitch,  and  improved  to 
 the  beft  advantage,  Stir  up  the  gift  and  grace 
 of  God  which  is  in  you :  fummon  all  that  is 
 within  you  :  be  noX flo'hful,  hutfervent  infpirit: 
 whatfoever  you  do,  do  it  heartily,  and  with  all 
 your  might :  Give  all  diligence.  Let  every  one 
 be  up  and  doing  in  his  proper  place,  and  fui- 
 tably  employed,  as  thofe  who  are  heartily  de- 
 voted to  God,  and  engaged  in  his  fervice, 
 
 N  Da 
 
I  y  8  A  Funeral  Sermon 
 
 Do  all  the  good  you  can  to  others,  and  don't 
 confine  your  care  to  your  own  fouls,  and  your 
 own  affairs;  though  they  muil  not  be  neg- 
 lected ;  we  mud:  begin  there,  but  we  muft 
 not  end  there  too.  Ad;  always  with  generous 
 views :  extend  your  regards  to  all  about  you  : 
 lay  it  down  as  a  point  of  duty,  and  propcfe  it 
 to  yourfelves  as  a  fixed  end,  to  be  doing  all  the 
 good  you  can,  and  be  bleflings  to  the  world 
 about  you :  that  your  age  and  generation  may 
 be  feme  way  or  other  the  better  for  you ;  and 
 it  may  never  come  to  be  faid  of  you,  ''  He  only 
 "  cumbered  the  ground,  and  took  up  the  place 
 *'  of  a  more  ufeful  perfon  ;  it  had  been  as  w;ell 
 '^  for  the  world  if  he  had  never  been  born,  or 
 "  had  any  being  and  fcanding  in  it :  or  never 
 "  had  fuch  capacities  of  nature,  or  pofTeflions 
 *'  of  life ;  or  had  died  much  fooner  than  he  did  ; 
 "  the  vv'orld  fuftained  no  lofs  by  his  death." 
 Ailc  yourfelves  often,  v/hom  have  I  profited, 
 and  who  is  the  better  for  me  ?  Have  I  done  all 
 I  could  for  others  benefit  within  my  reach  j  ac- 
 cording to  the  compafs  of  my.  ability,  and  op- 
 portunities of  fervice  ?  Yea,  and  if  you  can, 
 extend  your  ufefulnefs  beyond  your  own  gene- 
 ration, and  to  the  utmofl  length,  as  well  as  the 
 greateft  numbers.  Let  following  ages  reap  the 
 fruit  of  your  diligence  and  care,  or  of  your 
 kindnefs  and  bounty  to  the  world. 
 
 Part  icuLARL  v,meafure  all  your  fervice  by 
 the  divine  will.  Walk  and  ad:,  not  at  random, 
 but  according  to  rule;  not  by  your  own  will 
 and  humour,  or  by  the  will  of  other  men ;  but 
 according  to  the  will  of  God.  Prove  ii'bat  is 
 the  good  and  holy  and  acceptable  will  of  God; 
 
 fearcb 
 
<5;^  Afr.  John  Mercer*  179 
 
 fearch  the  Jbriptures  for  proper  notices  of  the 
 divine  will,  where  the  great  lines  of  duty,  as 
 well  as  of  truth,  are  made  plain,  that  a  way^ 
 faring  man  fl: all  not  err^  and  he  who  runs  may 
 read.  Keep  clofe  to  your  rule,  and  follow  its 
 guidance  wherever  it  leads  you.  Govern  your 
 whole  courfe  by  the  light  and  dired:ion  of  it, 
 and  yield  up  every  interefh  and  inclination  to 
 it.  Let  a  plain  declaration  of  the  divine  will, 
 in  any  cafe,  weigh  more  with  you,  and  weigh 
 down  every  other  confideration. 
 
 4.  Be  excited  to  the  fervice  of  your  genera- 
 tion, by  the  confideration  of  your  death  :  This 
 is  an  awful  and  ferious  thought,  that  death 
 will  come,  and  we  muft  quickly  fall  on  fleep. 
 We  know  not  hov/  foon  it  may  be,  but  we 
 know  that  'tis  very  certain,  and  daily  approach- 
 ing. We  have  fo  much  the  lefs  time  to  live  in 
 this  world,  by  all  the  time  we  have  already  lived 
 in  it.  Who  knows  hov/  foon  our  turn  may  come, 
 or  who  among  us  fhall  be  removed  next  ?  We 
 may  be  feized  with  a  fudden  diilemper,  arret- 
 ed by  death  before  we  are  aware  j  ftruck  off 
 the  ftage  of  action  at  once,  and  difabled  for  fer- 
 vice for  ever.  Death,  whenfoever  it  comes,  puts 
 an  end  to  our  ftate  of  prefent  fervice,  and  all 
 our  opportunities  and  advantages  for  it.  There 
 is  no  ivork  in  the  grave  whither  thou  art  going, 
 and  the  night  co?neth  when  no  man  can  work.  In 
 the  grave  there  is  no  refnembra?ice  of  him.  We 
 are  now  the  children  of  the  lights  and  of  the  day, 
 let  us  net  feep  as  do  others',  but  watch  andbe  fc- 
 ber.  Fill  up  the  little  fpace  of  uncertain  time 
 with  faithful  diligence,  and  proper  duty.     Put 
 
 N  2  not 
 
1 8  o  A  Funeral  Sermon 
 
 not  off  the  work  of  life,  nor  any  fervlce  to 
 others ;  becaufe  you  know  not  but  you  may 
 be  furprized  and  prevented  :  death  may  flop 
 you  {hort  in  a  full  career,  and  cut  you  off  in 
 Pf.  cxlvi.  the  midft  of  your  defigns:  His  breath  goeth 
 4-  forth  J  he  returneth  to  his  duji^  in  that  very  day 
 his  thoughts  per ijlj :  all  thoughts  of  further  ufc- 
 fulnefs  in  the  world.  This  will  make  death  com- 
 fortable whenfoever  it  comes;  and  afford  power- 
 ful fupports  under  all  the  troubles  which  may 
 attend  it.  Death  will  be  no  furprize  to  a  pre- 
 pared foul ;  and  will  lofe  its  terror  to  one  who 
 is  faithful.  The  {tn^tt  of  his  own  fmcerity  of 
 heart,  and  of  his  intereff  in  God;  the  prefent 
 experience  of  the  divine  mercy,  and  the  future 
 hopes  of  bleffednefs ;  will  make  him  eafy  un- 
 der all  the  preffures  of  finking  nature ;  and  joy- 
 ful, in  theprofpect  of  eternity.  Nothing  will 
 fet  fo  well  upon  his  mind,  or  be  io  fenfible  a 
 relief  under  the  exigence  and  agonies  of  his  laft 
 moments;  as  a  life  fnicerely  devoted  to  God, 
 Heb.  X.  and  employed  for  the  good  of  the  world.  And 
 ^^'  faithful  diligence  in  doing  good  will  be  follow- 
 ed with  a  great  recompejice  of  rewards  and  ren- 
 der the  remaining  reft  defirable,  as  well  as  death 
 comfortable.  'Tis  a  dangerous  deceit  to  reckon 
 upon  peace  in  our  end,  and  happinefs  in  hea- 
 ven; after  a  courfeof  (in;  or  llothful  negled:&: 
 but  they  who  give  diligence^  will  be  found  of 
 their  judge  in  peace ;  and  faithfulnefs  in  pre- 
 fent  fervice,  will  meet  with  acceptance  and 
 Rev  xiv  approbation  at  laft.  Blejfed  are  the  dead  who 
 13.  die  in  the  Lord for  they  reft  from  their  la- 
 bours^   and  their  works  foJlcw  the?n  :   i.  e.  The 
 
 fruit 
 
on  Mr.  John  Mercer.  i8i 
 
 fruit  and  reward  of  them.  The  thoughts  of 
 the  future  bleifednefs,  and  final  reft,  will  en- 
 large their  views,  and  revive  their  hearts ;  raife 
 them  above  the  fears  of  death,  and  give  them 
 the  joy  of  hope.  Death  will  be  only  a  releafe 
 from  a  ftate  of  mifery  and  imperfediion ;  and 
 an  entrance  into  a  flate  of  glorious  light  and 
 everlafling  joy. 
 
 I  have  finiflied  what  I  defigned  from  the 
 text;  and  (liall  proceed  to  fpeak  of  our  deceaf- 
 ed  friend ;  to  whom  the  words  agreed  fo  well 
 in  both  their  parts ;   as  to  the  ufefulnefs  of  his 
 life,  and  the  comfort  of  his  death :    and  nei- 
 ther the  long  intimacy  of  acquaintance,    nor 
 great  endearments  of  friendfliip,    fliall  lead  me 
 to  fay  any  thing  of  him,   but  what  I  knew  to 
 be  true ;  and  believe  may  be  honourable  to  the 
 divine  grace,    and  exemplary  and  inftruding 
 to  others.     He  was  born  of  parents  who  were 
 eminently  pious  and  ufeful,  and  had  the  great 
 advantage  of  religious  education  and  example  : 
 but  received  the  firft  thorough  impreflions  of 
 ferious  religion  in  attending  the  evening  lec- 
 tures of  a  reverend  perfon  in  this  neighbour- 
 hood.    He  became  a  member  of  this  church 
 in  his  early  youth,    and  before  his   fcttlement 
 in  the  world.     He  began  betimes  with  God, 
 and  v>^as  in  good  earnefl  in  religion ;    and  had 
 that  ferious  {tnic  of  God,  and  zeal  for  doing 
 good  in   his  younger  years,    wliicli  grew  up 
 with   him,    and  was  fo  confpicuons  and  re- 
 markable in  him  all  his  days.      He  fometimes 
 lamented  the  eap;ernefs  of  his  youth,  in  wranjy- 
 ling   about   difficult    fpeculaiions    with    other 
 N  3  chriftians. 
 
1 8  2  A  Funeral  Sermo?t 
 
 chriftians,  whom  he  had  reafon  to  believe 
 were  fincerely  good,  and  had  often  a  great 
 deal  to  fay  for  themlelves  :  but  was  early  cu- 
 red of  the  hurtful  vanity  by  his  ov/n  experience, 
 Xvho  found  it  injurious  to  his  own  fpirit,  and 
 prejudicial  to  practical  godlinefs  and  brother- 
 ly love.  He  faithfully  followed  his  own  light ; 
 but  had  a  fincere  good- will  to  thofe  who  dif- 
 fered from  him,  and  in  proportion  to  the  de- 
 grees of  goodnefs,  he  apprehended  in  them. 
 
 He  was  a  man  of  the  c\t2.it{)i  fitcerity ;  and 
 in  whofe  fpirit  was  ?jo  guile.  The  franknefs 
 and  opennefs  of  his  mind,  joined  with  a 
 fweetnefs  and  goodnefs  of  temper,  and  mix- 
 ed with  candour  and  difcretion,  rendered  his 
 converfation  exceeding  agreeable,  and  his 
 friendfliip  highly  valued.  He  was  naturally 
 aftive,  and  had  a  zeal  for  doing  good:  of  this, 
 the  many  perfons  and  families  lupported  and 
 relieved  in  the  difficulties  and  dillrefles  of  life, 
 by  his  help,  and  by  his  influence,  are  living 
 witnelles.  He  was  always  ready  to  bear  a  part 
 in  any  good  defign  ^  and  had  an  admirable 
 /kill  in  engaging  the  help  of  others.  I  never 
 once  found  him  backv/ard  ;  but  have  often 
 been  afraid  to  move  him  upon  fuch  occa- 
 iions.  He  had  found  it  the  way  to  the  divine 
 bieiling,  and  earneflly  recommended  it  to  thofe 
 about  him :  and  contrary  to  the  unaccounta- 
 ble humour  which  ordinarily  prevails,  with 
 the  incrcafe  of  wealth  -,  he  enlarged  his  boun- 
 ty, upon  all  occafions,  in  proportion  to  the 
 increafe  of  his  lubftance.  And  it  was  return- 
 ed back  into  his  own  bofcmi    for  God  re- 
 
 m^arkably 
 
on  Mr.  Jo HT<!  Me RCE  R.  183 
 
 markably  profpered  his  diligence  and  dexte- 
 rity i  and  he  was  as  generally  efteemed  and 
 beloved,  as  any  man  of  his  rank  and  condi- 
 tion, I  have  ever  known  j  and  his  death  as 
 generally  lamented  and  laid  to  heart. 
 
 He  retained  his  integrity  till  he  died,  and  • 
 carried  a  clear  and  unfpotted  reputation  thro' 
 the  world,  in  the  midit  of  a  great  variety  of 
 biifinefs,  and  many  fnares  of  life.  He  was  un- 
 der an  habitual  fenfe  of  God,  and  watcliful- 
 nefs  over  himfelf.  No  man  ever  more  con- 
 flan  tly  attended  the  publick  worfliip,  in  the 
 flated  and  occafional  opportunities.  \Vho  ever 
 £iw  him  abfent,  for  many  years  together,  from 
 the  houie,  or  the  table  of  the  Loid  ?  and  his 
 clofe  attention,  ~  and  ferious  deportment,  were 
 the  lively  indications  of  the  inward  reverence 
 and  delight  of  his  foul.  Fie  attended  the  af- 
 fairs of  the  church,  of  which  he  was  fevei-al 
 years  an  officer,  with  an  exad:  care,  and  a  ten- 
 der regard  to  the  interefts  of  the  poor,  and  was 
 ever  forward  to  any  fervice  in  which  the  wel- 
 fire  of  it  was  concerned.  His  religion  was 
 not  confin'd  to  the  publick  woriTiip  ;  for  he 
 conftantly  worfliippcd God  in  his  family  ;  and 
 often  infl:rud:ed  and  called  them>  to  an  account; 
 and  encouraged  and  dire(iled  them  in  the  vv-ays 
 of  God,  in  his  private  difcourfe.  He  had  a 
 great  favour  of  divine  things  in  his  own  heart  ; 
 and  by  the  advantage  of  a  fiithfal  memory, 
 was  able  to  repeat  the  principal  parts  of  the 
 fermons  he  heard  on  the  Lord's  davs,  to  his 
 family.  It  was  very  obfcrvable,  that  he  was 
 never  known,  inany  hurry  of  bufmcfs,  to  neg- 
 led:  fecret  duty,  and  retiring  into  his  clofct. 
 
 N  4  He 
 
;t84  A  Funeral  Sermon 
 
 He  had  a  found  underflanding  and  a  quick 
 and  lively   apprehenfion   of  mind ;    and  had 
 looked  with  care,  as  far  as  his  leifure  and  op- 
 portunities allowed,    into  the  fl:ate  of  religion 
 in  the  world,  and  the  workings  of  human  na- 
 ture :    The  effe6t  was  an  humble  modeft  fenfe 
 of  himfelf,    and  a  love  to  all  whom  he  jugded 
 iirxere.    His  mind  was  entirely  delivered  from 
 '4II  intemperate  zeal  for  any  party  or  peculiar 
 opinion.    He  firmly  adhered  to  the  great  prin- 
 ciples and  duties  of  the  chriilian  dod:rine}  and 
 afted  in  an  entire  dependence  upon  the  divine 
 grace  in  all  the  fervice  he  performed,    and  ex- 
 ped:ed  pardon  and  acceptance  only  thro'  Chrift. 
 He  was  remarkably  jufl  and  inoffenfive  in  his 
 tongue  and  behaviour  towards  other  men  ;  for 
 he  was  a  lo'uer  of  good  me?i,    and  a  friend  of 
 mankind.     He  detefled  a  ra(h  and  cenforious 
 humour,    and  fitting  in  judgment  upon  the 
 hearts  and  the  ftates  of  other  men  :    he  would 
 no  more  have  flander'd  a  fellow-chrifi:ian,  than 
 he   would   have  cheated   and  opprefi^ed  him. 
 How  faithful  and  tender  he  was  in  every  re- 
 lation in  which  he  flood,  as  a  child  and  a 
 brother  j    as  a  hufband  and  father  ;    as  a  chri- 
 f!:ian  and  a  friend,  is  well  known  to  all  who 
 knew  him,    and  had  the  advantage   of  any 
 relation  to  him. 
 
 He  was  feiz'd  with  a  violent  diforder, 
 v^bich  quickly  run  to  a  great  height,  and 
 carried  him  off  in  a  few  days.  He  told  me 
 when  I  firft  (aw  him,  that  he  blefied  God, 
 he  had  made  it  the  bufinefs  of  his  life  to  pleafe 
 liim ;  and  that  he  was  not  afraid  to  die,    and 
 
 had 
 
on  Mr,  J  o  H  N  M  E  R  c  E  R.  185 
 
 had  no  concern  upon  that  account :  he  on- 
 ly feared  impatience  of  fpirit  under  his  reft- 
 lefs  diforders.  When  he  once  apprehended 
 himfelf  in  the  agonies  of  death,  he  expref- 
 fed  an  unfliaken  latisfad:ion  of  mind,  and 
 a  triumphant  joy^  "  That  if  it  pleafed  God 
 **  he  might  have  his  own  choice,  he  would 
 "  not  return  back  to  this  world  upon  any 
 "  account ;  and  tho'  his  wife  and  children 
 '*  were  very  dear  to  him,  yet  being  with 
 **  Chrifl  was  far  better ;  and  that  he  now 
 "  faw  an  interefl:  in  him  was  more  valuable 
 "  than  ten  thoufand  worlds."  And  when  his 
 friends  deiir'd  him  to  forbear  lj3eaking,  for 
 fear  of  heightening  his  diflemper,  he  fiid, 
 **  What,  muft  I  hold  my  peace  when  God 
 "  has  been  fo  gracious  to  me,  and  manifefled 
 **  himfelf  in  fiich  a  manner?  I  am  full  of  the 
 "  manifeflations  of  his  love,  and  mufc  I  be 
 "  lilent?  I  know  not  how  long  Satan  may 
 ^'  be  chained  up."  And  when  he  attempted 
 to  fpeak  fomething  to  every  one  about  him, 
 and  was  prefs'd  to  iilence,  he  faid!  "  Then 
 *'  a  full  veiTel  mufl  be  pent  up  -,  but  I  leave 
 ''  you  all  with  God."  Pie  departed  in  filent 
 jQumbers,  and  after  he  had  fervcd  his  ge- 
 nerafio?2y  fell  onjleep.  He  lived  ufefully,  and 
 died  in  peace;  and  has  left  us  who  remain 
 a  great  example  of  a^ftivity  and  zeal  in  the 
 fervice  of  God;  and  a  lively  iiifcance  of  the 
 comforts  and  hope  of  the  chriftian  life.  And 
 may  we  '^SS.pew  the  fame  diligeuce  to  the  full  a f- 
 furance  of  hope  unto  the  end\  and  ht  followers 
 of  them  ^  who  thrd  faith  and  patience  do  now  in- 
 herit the  proniife.  S  E  R- 
 
i86 
 
 SERMON     II. 
 
 Of  Readinefs  for  the  coming  of 
 the  Lord. 
 
 M  A  T  T  H.  Xxiv.  44. 
 
 'Therefore  be  ye  alfo  ready^  for  in  fuch 
 an  hour  as  you  thi?tk  not^  the  Son 
 of  man  cometh. 
 
 I 
 
 "^HE  Words  were  occafioned  by  our 
 Lord's  Anfwer  to  a  twofold  ^lejiion 
 of  the  difciples,  in  the  beginning  of 
 the  chapter :  ^ell  us  when  fiall  thefe  things  be ; 
 and  what  JJmU  be  the  figns  of  thy  comings  and 
 of  the  end  of  the  world?  Now,  tho'  'tis  probable, 
 they  thought  thefe  two  would  be  together  j 
 and  that  he  would  not  appear  to  the  deftruc- 
 tion  Qiyerufaleju,  till  the  endoi  the  world ;  yet 
 our  Lord,  who  knew  otherv/ife,  gave  a  di- 
 ftind:  Anfwer  to  each,  and  fufficiently  marks 
 out  the  difference  to  thofe  who  clofely  obferve. 
 He  difcourfes  concerning  the  deflrudion  of 
 "J eriifalon ^  in  anfwer  to  the  firft  part  of  their 
 queflion,  from  njcr.  4.  to  28.  and  of  the  end  of 
 the  world,  and  his  appearance  to  judgment, 
 
 from 
 
A  Funeral  Sermon.  187 
 
 from  thence  to  3  i.  And  as  the  former  gave 
 occafion  to  the  difcourfe  of  the  latter,  and  was 
 a  remarkable  type  and  reprefentation  of  it ;  fo 
 'tis  plainly  diftingiiified  from  it,  by  a  diflindl 
 manner  of  expreffion.  Thus  he  oppofes  thoje 
 things^  i.  e.  the  deflrudtion  of  'Jerufalejn^  and 
 which  Mark  explains  by  thoje  great  buildings ; 
 and  his  comifig  or  appearing  at  the  end  of  the 
 world 'y  which  are  expreffion s  appropriate  to 
 his  final  appearance :  The  one,  he  expreffies 
 plurally  all  along,  thofe  days ;  the  tribulation  of 
 thofe  days ;  and  the  days  of  vengeance :  The 
 other  always  fmgularly ;  that  day^  and  that 
 hour ;  denoting  fome  o?ie  great  day,  and  which 
 is  frequently  called  in  other  places,  the  day  of 
 the  Lord,  Th^  former ^  he  conllantly  fpeaks  of 
 in  the  fecond  perfon,  and  diredis  his  difcourfe 
 to  them  who  were  prefent ;  take  ye  heed^  and 
 ye  jhall  hear  of  wars.  Of  the  latter^  he 
 Ipeaks  in  the  third  perfon,  without  particular 
 application  to  any  age  or  people,  and  as  a 
 thing  of  more  general  and  extenlive  concern. 
 He  diflinguiflies  between  \\\tfgns  of  the  one, 
 and  the  other ;  'tis  after  the  tribulation  ofjhofe 
 days  J  which  relate  to  the  deflrudtion  of  Jeru- 
 falejn^  that  the  fun  fl:; all  be  darkned^  and  the 
 moon  not  give  her  light  ^  a?id  the  f  ars  fall  from  ^^' 
 heaven.  Of  the  former,  he  fays  exprefly. 
 This  generation  fiaJl  not  pafs  away  till  all  theje  i\. 
 things  are  fulfilled :  Of  the  latter,  of  that  day 
 and  hour  knoweth  no  ?nan.  ^ 
 
 After  thisdefcription,  he  proceeds  to  ex- 
 hort them  to  difcern   thcfgiis  of  the  deflruc- 
 tion  of  yerufale/n,   which  would  be  fo  vifible ; 
 2  and 
 
1 88  A  Funeral  Sermon 
 
 42-  and  to  ivatchj  becaufe  they  knew  not  the  time 
 4j.  when  the  Lord  would  come -,  i^S2LW\(QhoiiJljolder 
 would  watch  if  he  had  known  the  hour  when  the 
 thief  would  come.  And  renev/s  this  advice  in  a 
 different y^r;;/  in  the  words  of  the  text :  There^ 
 fore  be  ye  alfo  ready ^  &c.  Q^D.  Since  worldly 
 prudence  is  fufficient  to  direcfl  you  in  the  lower 
 affairs  of  life  to  fecure  the  polfeffions  of  the 
 world,  and  provide  againfl  a  probable  danger  ; 
 how  much  rather  fhould  you  be  prepared  for 
 the  coming  of  the  Lord,  which  is  a  matter  of 
 infinitely  greater  concern,  and  the  precife 
 time  is  not  certainly  known  ? 
 
 The  Words  confift  of  two  parts. 
 
 I.  The  ^z/()' exhorted  to :  Be  ye  alfo  ready, 
 
 II.  The    reafon    to  inforce  it.  For  in  an 
 hour  that  ye  think  not  the  fon  of  man  comcth. 
 
 I  fliall  fpeak  diftindly  to  both  3 
 
 SECT.     I. 
 I.  The  duty    to   which  we  are  exhorted. 
 To  be  ready.     And  becaufe  this  is  a  matter  of 
 greatefl  mom.ent  to  every  one,  I  fliall  endea- 
 vour to  give  you  a  diflind;  idea  of  that  readi- 
 mfs  for  the  coming  of  Chrifl,  which  the  goi^ 
 pel  requires  and  makes  neceifary.     It  fignifies 
 in  the  general  a  due  preparation;  fo   'tis  faid 
 in  the  gofpel  feafl,  to  denote  the  fuitablenefs 
 Luke  xiv.  and  preparation  of  divine  mercy,    All  things 
 17-  are    ready.     It   comprehends    whatfoever    is 
 
 neceffary  to  the  prefent  favour,  or  final  ac- 
 ceptance with  our  judge.  But  more  particu- 
 larly, this  readinefe  may  be  diftinguiflied  into 
 
 habitual 
 
on  Aff.  Thomas  Pickard.  189 
 
 habitual  and  aBual\  either  as  'tis  necelTary  to 
 a  fafe  or  comfortable  departure  and  appearance 
 before  him. 
 
 §  I.  Habitual  readinefs.  'Tis  prima- 
 rily and  fundamentally  necelTary,  that  we 
 lliould  be  upon  good  terms  with  God ;  and  be- 
 caufe  every  fallen  creature  labours  under  the 
 double  mifery  of  the  condemnation  arid  difplea- 
 fure  of  a  righteous  God ;  and  a  depravation  of 
 nature,  which  renders  him  contrary  to  an 
 holy  God  ^  in  order  to  his  reconciliation  and  ac^ 
 ceptance^  two  things  are  abfolutely  necellliry ; 
 the  one,  relative^  and  refpeds  \\\s>  fate :  the 
 other  real,  and  refpeds  the  temper  of  his  mind. 
 
 I.  As  to  the  relative  change  oi  fate:  and 
 that  confifts  in   the  pardo?i  of  fin   thro'  the 
 blood  of  Chriff:.     The  fufferings  and  death  of 
 the  Lord  Jefus  Chrift  was  the  great  atonement 
 2lx\^  propitiation  for  lin.     We  have  redemptionY.^\i.\,  j. 
 thro    his  blood,  even  the forgivenefs  offn :  and 
 he  has  made  reconciliation  for  the  fins  ofthepeo-Uth.n. 
 pie.  He  has  made  atonement  to  God,  and  pro- 17- 
 cured  the  divine  favour  upon  the  moft  graci- 
 ous terms  revealed  and  propofed  in  the  gofpel. 
 This  is  the  tenour  of  the  gofpel-covenant,  that 
 fincere  penitent  believers  (hall  be  forgiven  and 
 accepted :    for  him  hath  God  fet  forth  to  be  a  Rom.  iii, 
 propitiation  thro  faith  in  his  blood  ^  and  repent,  2^ 
 and  be  converted,  that  your  fins  may  be  blotted  f^^ 
 out.     So  that  in  order  to  our  acceptance  and 
 favour  with   God,    God  for  Chrifisfakc  ;//?//2- Eph.  iv. 
 forgive  our  fin.     Upon  our  fincere  believing  in  5^' 
 Jefus,    and  repenting  of  fin,  the  obligation  to 
 punilhment  is  remitted,  and  we  are  difchargcd 
 
 from 
 
1 90  A  Funeral  Sermon 
 
 from  condemnation.  Sin  is  no  longer  impu^ 
 ted  to  us,  or  laid  to  our  charge ;  and  there  is 
 now  no  condemnation^  or  damning  guilt. 
 
 And  there  is  always  neceffarily  confeqiiejit 
 
 upon   pardon,    and  conneBed  with  it  reftored 
 
 rights  i  a  right  to  all  purchafed  benefits,    and 
 
 a  title  to  the  heavenly  inheritance.      We  find 
 
 them  both  joined  together   in  that  excellent 
 
 Aa.  xxvi.  fcripture  :  To  open  their  eyes^  and  turn  themfro?n 
 
 darknefs  to  lights  and  from  the  power  of  Satan 
 
 to  God',    that  they  might  receive  the  fofgivenefs 
 
 offin^    and  an  inheritance  among  them  who  are 
 
 fanBificd^    hy  faith  that  is  in  jne.     And  this,  I 
 
 take  it,  is  the  precife  meaning  of  what  the  A- 
 
 poflle  io  often  reprefents  under  the  notion  of 
 
 Tit.  111.  i-jzijiif  cation :    we  are  jujiifed  by  his  grace^    and 
 
 made  heirs  according  to  the  hope  of  eternal  life. 
 
 In  this  way  only  a  guilty  finner  can  hope  to  be 
 
 found  of  his  judge  in  peace  \  ox  find  mercy  of  the 
 
 ^   °'""^'    Lord  at  the  great  day.     The  Apoftle's  great 
 
 Philip,  iii.  ambition  was,    whether  prefent  or  ahfent  to  be 
 
 9'  accepted  of  him ^  and  to  ht  found  in  him. 
 
 2.  A  s  to  what  is  real^  or  the  change  of 
 nature ;  there  mufl  be  the  renovation  of  the 
 fpirit,  or  refboration  of  the  divine  image. 
 The  fra?7je  of  depraved  nature  muft  be  rec- 
 tified, and  the  prevaihng  bent  altered  :  we 
 mufl  be  fet  to  rights  in  all  the  powers  of  our 
 fouls,  and  in  a  prevailing  degree.  And  this 
 may  be  conceived  diftindily  to  lie  in  an  hearty 
 furrender  and  entire  fuhjeSlion  of  foul  to  God 
 thro'  Chrift.  With  refped  to  the  former,  he 
 is  reprefented  as  the  bridegroom ;  one  to  whom 
 we  are  to  ftand  in  fo  near  a  relation,    and 
 
 whom 
 
on  Mr.  Thomas  PicKARD.  191 
 
 whom  we  are  to  choofe  as  the  moft  fuitable 
 and  defirable  good.     So  we  are  faid  to  be  be- 
 trothed unto  the  Lord  ;    and  to  be  efpoufed  tmtoHoC  U. 
 Chrift  as  a   chafie  virgin ;    and  to  be   7narried^9^ 
 to  him.     We  wiUingly  take  him  as  our /^^//-^ 
 band  and  head,  and  confent  to  him  as  the  blef-Rom.  vii. 
 fed  bridegroom  of  our  fouls.     He  is  dear  and"^" 
 precious  to  them  who  believe :  fo  near  a  relation 
 is  efteemed  the  higheft  honour^  and  our  hap- 
 pinefs  lies  in  being  with  him  and  beholding  his 
 glory.      They  reckon   it  better  to  be  prefent 
 with  the  Lord,   tho'  abfent  from  the  body,    than 
 every  earthly  good.     Has  there  ever  been  fuch 
 a  folemn  tranfaciion  between  God  and  your 
 foulsj    as  a  covenant-fjrreuder  to  him,    with 
 all  your  heart,  and  without  referve  ?  Have  you 
 been  brought  to  give  your  J'elves  to  the  Lord, 
 upon  a  thorow   convidion   of  his  real  excel- 
 lence and  unqueftionable  right;    and  to  look 
 upon  your  Jelves,  and  all  that  is  yours,  as  things 
 dedicated  and  devoted  to  him,  and  which  can- 
 not without  the  groUkdJacrilege,    be  alienated 
 from  him  ? 
 
 Besides,   there  muft  be  an  entire  fubjeBion 
 of  foul  to  him  j  for  we  take  him  as  our  Lord, 
 as  well  as  choofe  him  for  our  portion.     The 
 Apoftle  mentions  both  together :    whofe  I  am,  Aa.xxvii. 
 and  whom  Iferve.     He  is  reprefented  here  as  23- 
 the  Lord  of  the  houjljold,  who  appoints  his  fer- 
 vants  their  proper  work,    and  gives  them  their ^y^. 
 meat  in  due  feajbn:    He  is  a  Lord  to  be  obey- 
 ed, as  well  as  a  portion  to  be  enjoyed ;  and  we 
 mull  ferve  him  faithfully,   as  well  as  expedl 
 our  reward  from  him.     We  mufl  have  refpeB 
 
 to 
 
ig2  A  Funeral  Sermo?t 
 
 to  all  his  commands^    and  walk  in  all  the  ordi^ 
 nances  and  commandments  of  the  Lord  blamelefs ; 
 2  Cor.  X.  without  a  fingle  exception,  or  any  dillike.  We 
 ^^'  muft  cafi  down   imaginations,    and  every  high 
 
 thing  which  exalt eth  it  felf  againjl  the  knowledge 
 of  God-,  and  bring  into  captivity  every  thought 
 to  the  obedience  of  Chrifi.  As  we  are  devoted 
 to  him,  we  muft  be  imployed  by  him;  and  be 
 wiUing  inftraments  of  his  glory ;  ready  to  ferve 
 his  interejls,  and  to  be  at  his  difpofe  :  his  will 
 mufl  be  a  llifficient  reafon  of  cheerful  obedience 
 in  the  moil  difficult  inilance  of  duty,  and  his 
 glory  the  higheft  end  of  all  we  do.  To  us  to 
 live  mufi  be  Chrijl ;  the  proper  bufmefs  of  life 
 and  the  end  of  every  action  of  it.  It  mufl  be 
 Philip,  i.  our  earnefl  deliie,  that  Chrifi  may  be  magnified 
 ^^-  in  our  body,    whether  by  life  or   by  death -,    and 
 
 —20.  that  God  in  all  things  may  be  glorified  by  us  thro 
 1  Pet.  iv.  fcfus  Chrifi.  And  thus  every  (incere  chriitian 
 is  ready  for  the  coming  of  Clirift,  and  can't  be 
 utterly  furprized,  or  found  unready.  But  be- 
 caufe  they  may  not  be  always  in  a  fuitable 
 frame,  or  right  difpolition  of  foul,  therefore, 
 
 §.  2.  There  is  an  aclual  readinefs  j  or  a 
 fuitable  fratne  and  pofture  of  foul.  And  this 
 may  be  confidered  as  lying  either  in  the  per- 
 formance of  certain  fpecial  duties-,  or  in  the 
 exercife  of  certain  fuitable  graces.  And  both 
 are  neceffary  wherever  there  is  time  and  oppor- 
 tunity afforded ;  and  according  to  the  meafure 
 of  our  capacities  and  helps :  I  fliall  briefly  re- 
 prefent  them  both. 
 
 I.  There  mufl  be  the  performance  of  fome 
 fjpecial  duties,   which  have  a  nearer  relation  to 
 
 th© 
 
 1 1 
 
On.Mr.TnOMAS    PiGKARD.  I93 
 
 the  prefent  cafe.  As  now  for  example:  there 
 mufl  be  a  wife  improvement  of  our  proper  ta- 
 lents. We  are  2\\ Jiewards  offeveral  talents; 
 the  Lord  of  the  houfliold  has  committed  many- 
 things  to  our  care,  and  dealt  forth  his  mercy 
 with  a  kind  and  bountiful  hand  :  there  are  di- '  Cor.  xH, 
 verfities  of  gifts  ^  but  the  fame  fpirit  \  and  he^^' 
 divideth  to  every  man  fever  ally  as  he  will.  Thus 
 we  have  natural  faculties  and  noble  powers,  of 
 underflanding  and  memory,  of  will  and  af- 
 fed;ions,  and  executive  powers:  the  gifts  of 
 CGmjnon  providence,  as  life  and  time ;  liberty 
 and  health ;  convenience  and  comfort  of  hfe  j 
 riches,  intereft,  reputation  in  the  world :  efpe- 
 cially  vouchfafements  of  divine  mercy  j  the 
 means  of  grace,  and  opportunities  of  fpiritual 
 advantage,  and  efficacious  influences  of  the  di- 
 vine fpirit.  Now  a  feward  jnuji  be  faithful^ 
 if  he  would  give  a  good  account  of  his  jieward- 
 Jlnp.  We  muft  ^;W^  with  our  talents  till  hcLvik.-xXx, 
 come  J  that  he  may  receive  his  own  with  ujiiry  ^'^l- 
 and  wifely  improve  every  bleffing  to  its  relpec- 
 tive  purpofe  and  end ;  to  promote  the  glory 
 of  the  great  Lord,  and  ferve  his  interef  in  the 
 world,  in  all  the  capacities  and  relafio?ts  m 
 in  which  we  ftand.  '^  If  any  thing  I  pofTefs 
 "  in  this  world,  or  any  thing  I  am  capable  of 
 "  doing,  may  the  leafl  contribute  to  promote 
 "  his  glory  j  I  ftand  ready  to  obey  his  call, 
 "  and  am  willing  to  make  the  befb  advantage 
 *'  of  it."  And  they  who  hide  their  talents  in  a 
 napkin^  as  well  as  they  who  abufe  and  fquander 
 them  away,  will  h^Jlript  naked^  and  ieverely 
 cenfured  at  laft. 
 
 O  Again, 
 
194  -^  Funeral  Sermon 
 
 Again,  there  mufl  be  faithful  diligence  in 
 our  particular  callings.  The  great  Lord  of  all 
 has  determined  the  bounds  of  our  habitation  ;  and 
 direded  the  circumftances  of  our  lives :    and 
 
 1  Cor.vli.  ^'^^O'  ^^^^  '^^'fi  ^^^^^  ^^^  the  fame  calling  where- 
 20.  in  he  was  called^    till  he  is  called  from  it,    by 
 
 the  plain  voice  of  providence.     This  feems  in- 
 —46.      tended  in  the  expreffion  :    bleffed  is  the  jervant 
 whom  the  Lord  when  he  cotneth  fiallfi^id Jo  do- 
 ing ;  properly  imployed,  in  the  refpedive  du- 
 ties of  his  place,  as  a  wife  and  faithful  fervant 
 under  the  fpecial  direction  and  appointment  of 
 his  Lord.     We  mull  be  diligent  in  the  parti- 
 cular bufinefs  of  life,  each  one  in  his  proper  y?^- 
 tion^  and  about  his  proper  work.     The  Apoftle 
 Colo^.  ii.  diredls  fervants ;    whatsoever  ye  do,    do  it  hear- 
 *4-  tily^  as  to  the  Lord,  and  Jtot  as  to  men  j   know- 
 
 ing that  of  the  Lord  ye  JJ:all  receive  the  reward 
 of  the  inheritance  j  for  ye  /erve  the  I^ord  Chriji  : 
 they  ferve  Chrifl  in  faithful  doing  their  mat- 
 ter's fervice.     And  the  Apollle  Peter  excites 
 2  Pet.  iii.  chriflians  to  be  diUge?it,  that  they  may  be  found 
 » +•         of  him  in  peace.    Idlenefs  and  fecurity,  a  carelefs 
 and  indifferent  mind,  is  a  juil  reproach  at  pre- 
 fent,  and  will  fall  under  a  heavy  condemnation 
 at  laft.     The  wicked  and  fothful  fervant  will 
 be  caft  into  outward  darhiefs.     It  was  an  ex- 
 cellent faying  to  this  purpofe  of  the  renowned 
 Calvin,   when  his  friends  diffuaded  him  from 
 immoderate  fludy  in  his  declining  age ;   that 
 his  Lord  whe?i  he  came,  Jl:ould  not  find  him  idle. 
 
 Besides,    there  mufl  be  a  cautious  watch- 
 
 fulnefs  againft  Hn.    Here  lies  our  danger  in  the 
 
 prefent  llate :    we  are  furrounded  withy;z^r^i 
 
 on 
 
on  Mr.  Thomas  Picicard.  195 
 
 on  every  hand,  and  almofl:  every  objecfl  about 
 us  is  capable  of  drawing  forth  our  corruption, 
 enflaming  our  paffions,    and  raifing  fome  irre- 
 gular or  immoderate  deiire;    or  being  an  in- 
 ilrument  and  occafion  of  fin.     Now  there  is 
 need  of  continual  watch  over  our  felves,    and 
 guard  againft  every  thing  about  usj   efpecially 
 the   temptations  of  our  own  inclination  and 
 temper ;  and  our  refpeftive  places  and  circum- 
 ftances  of  life,  that  no  agreeable  good  entangle 
 and  defile  our  fouls ;  or  any  propenlity  to  evil, 
 be  encouraged  and  indulged.     Our  Lord  him- 
 felf  cautions  his  difciples,  w'ith  reference  to  this 
 cafe,  a  gain  ft  violence^  Jhifuality^    and  ivorldli- 
 nefs.     'Tis  faid  of  the  evil  fervant  who  began  to      ^^ 
 finite  his  fellow-fervants,  and  eat  and  drink  with 
 the  drunken ;  the  Lord  of  that  fervant  fiall  come 
 in  a  day  when  he  looketh  not  for  him.    And  more 
 particularly  in  Luke^    take  heed  to  your  felves^  Luk.  xxi, 
 lefi  at  any  time  your  heart  be  overcharged  with  34- 
 furf citing  and  driuikennefsy   and  the  cares  of  this 
 world'.,  and  Jo  that  day  come  upon  you  unawares^ 
 'Tis  an  ill  pofture  of  mind  for  the  coming  of  the 
 Lord  to  be  found  in  the  midft  oi  angry  con- 
 tention,   and  violent  oppoiition  to  other  good 
 men  *  j   or  to  be  at  enmity  with  others,  w^hen 
 we  fliould  h^  found  of  our  judge  in  peace.    And 
 
 O  2  fen- 
 
 *  A  good  man  would  not  be  very  willing,  when  his  Lord 
 cemes,  to  be  found  fo  doing,  and,  as  ic  wete.  beating  hisftU.v:- 
 fer-vant  ;  and  all  controvcriy,  as  'tis  ul'ualiy  managed,  is  litile 
 better.  A  good  man  would  be  loth  to  be  taken  out  ot  the 
 world,  reaking  hot  from  a  lliarp  contention  with  a  jrcverie  ad- 
 verlary  ;  and  not  a  littie  out  of  countenance,  to  find  himiflf  in 
 this  temper  tranflated  into  the  calm  and  pf  actable  rf  gions  of 
 blefTodneis,  where  nothing  but  perfect,  charity  and  good- will 
 reign  for  ever.  Arcnbiflit-p  Tillotfoni  pixfdce  lo  tlie  lenr.una  cf 
 JieJfajV/ie/s  in  religion. 
 
ig6  A  Funeral  Sermon 
 
 fenfual  cxcefs,  and  earthly  cares^  eafily  iniinuatG 
 and  polTels  the  mind,  and  ftrongly  divert, 
 and  indifpofe  it  to  any  ferious  and  fpiritual  pur- 
 pofe. 
 
 Finally,  there  miift  be  the  folemn  exercife 
 oi  devotion.  We  mufl:  watch  and  pra)\  t^hat  we 
 —64.  e?iter  not  info  temptation  3  and  that  we  may  be 
 accounted  worthy  to  efcape  all  thefe  things  which 
 JJoall  come  to  pafs^  and  tojiand  before  the  Jon  of 
 man.  Our  Hfe  mull  be  a  daily  converfe  with 
 God  in  a  courfe  of  religious  duties,  with  whom 
 we  hope  to  live  and  converfe  for  ever.  There 
 mud  be  fervent  prayer  enliven'd  with  the 
 thoughts  of  the  appearance  of  Chrift,  and  its 
 daily  approach :  conftant  attendance  on  all  the 
 parts  of  divine  worfhip  in  private  and  publick, 
 as  we  have  call  and  opportunity :  particularly 
 the  folemn  exercife  of  meditation  j  the  work- 
 ings of  holy  thoughts  and  deiires ;  and  inward 
 reflections  and  reviews  of  our  Hate,  and  fre- 
 quent tryals  and  flf-exa^nination.  By  conver- 
 ling  much  with  God  and  our  felves,  we  come 
 to  be  transformed  into  his  likenefs,  and. fit  for 
 the  appearance  of  our  Lord. 
 
 2.  There  is  the  exercife  of  certain  fuitable 
 graces-,  or  due  difpofitions  of  mind  peculiarly 
 fuitable  to  it.  For  example :  there  muft  be  a 
 wea?7ed  heart  from  the  prefent  world ;  and  a 
 willingnefs  to  leave  it  at  his  call.  The  world 
 is  a  fenjibk  thing,  and  fuitable  to  our  feniible 
 nature:  'tis  always  near  us,  and  always  about 
 us,  and  under  fome  or  other  appearance  of  it, 
 fmiling  and  grateful.  'Tis  apt  to  frike  pow- 
 erfully upon  our  fenfes  which  lie  outwardmofl, 
 
 and 
 
on  Mr,  Thou  AS   Pickard.  197 
 
 and  receive  the  firft  impreflion  -,  and  to  ralfe 
 too  high  a  value  in  our  minds,  and  too  ftrong 
 afFed:ions  toward  it.  And  nothing  is  fo  dead 
 a  weight  upon  the  afpirmg  foul,  or  fo  flrong  a 
 dherjion-y  nothing  fo  apt  to  make  us,  likeZ/O/'s 
 wife,  linger  and  hancker  after  what  we  muft 
 leave  behind  us ;  or  ready  to  fiy  with  the  dif. 
 ciple  upon  the  mount,  'tis  good  for  us  to  be 
 here.  This  earth  has  a  central  ioxct^  and  na- 
 turally draws  to  it  felf  whatfoever  is  congenial 
 within  it^Jphere  of  motion.  And  \h&  fpirit  of 
 the  worlds  or  an  earthly  mind,  naturally  tends 
 towards  its  center. 
 
 Now  in  order  to  our  adiual  readinefs  for  the 
 coming  of  Chrift,  we  muft  be  mortified  to  fen- 
 iible  good  3    and  crucified  to  the  world  by  //^^Gal  vl  14. 
 crofs  of  Chrifl  ^    and  have  the  viBory  of  faith  i  Joh.v.  4. 
 which  overcometh  the  world.  We  muft  be  dead 
 to  the  charms  and  terroiirs  of  a  vain  and  flat- 
 tering world  ;    that  is,    fo  thorowly  convinced 
 of  the  vanity  of  the  creature,  as  to  renounce  it 
 as  a  portion^  and  fet  loofe  to  all  the  lawful  en- 
 joyments of  it.     We  muft  keep  up  an  indiffe- 
 rence of  mind  in  the  fuUeft  enjoyment,  and  be 
 as  though  we  pojj'efi  it  not ;    and  let  our  modera- 1  Cor.  vii. 
 tion  be  known  to  all  jnen^   becaufe  the  Lord  is  aty^-  .    . 
 hand:  which  refpects  moderate  cares  and  enjoy- ^  ^^^'^^' 
 ments  of  worldly  good;    that  we  may  not  be 
 too  eagerly  engaged  in  the  purfuit,  or  violent- 
 ly rent  from  it  at  la  ft,    and  torn  from  its  em- 
 braces with  a  grieved  and  relu5lant  heart.  We 
 muft  be  content  to  leave  the  world  at  the  call 
 of  Chrift,  and  for  the  fake  of  being  with  him, 
 who  is  our  hope^    and  our  life ;   and  which  is 
 O  3  far 
 
1^8  A  Funeral  Sermon 
 
 far  better  than  the  deareft  enjoyment,  andbefl 
 circumflance  of  life. 
 
 Besides,  A  ^2X\Qnt  fubmijjion  under  prefent 
 tryals,  is  very  proper  to  this  cafe;  and  that  not 
 only  under  the  prefent  delays  of  his  coming, 
 which  is  fometimes  an  exercife  to  a  prepared 
 foul :    they  are  ready  to  fay,    'why  are  his  cha- 
 riots fo  Jong  a  coming  ?  why  tarry  the  wheels  of 
 his  chariots  f   but  efpecially  under  the  burdens 
 of  nature,    and  fufferings  of  life,    in  the  mean 
 time ;  and  whatfoever  he  fees  fit  to  make  their 
 tryal  in  this  world.     If  the  latter  end  of  their 
 way  is  rough  and  uneafy  to  them ;  thick  befet 
 with  difficulties ;    encompafled  with  darknefs, 
 with  many  pains  of  body,  and  decays  of  na- 
 
 L^k.  XXI.  ^yj-g .  ^vith  perplexities  of  affairs,  and  trouble 
 in  their  foul  \  they  mufl:  fofefs  their  fouls  in  their 
 ■patience-,  i.  e,  not  be  turned  out  of  the  pof* 
 feilion  of  themfelves,  or  lie  at  the  mercy  of  any 
 accident  v/hich  befalls  them.  They  mufl  have 
 a  quiet  compofure  under  the  burden  of  difolv- 
 ing  nature,  and  the  greatefl  afliBion  of  life, 
 
 Jani.v.  7.  and  h^  patient  until  the  comi7ig  of  the  Lord^  and 
 in  the  view  and  conlideration  of  it.  'Tis  e- 
 qually  the  language  of  impatience  and  fcurity 
 to  fay  with  the  evil  fervant,  miy  Jjord  delays 
 his  coming. 
 
 Again,  Humble  refgnation  to  the  divine 
 pleafure  is  peculiarly  proper.  We  mufl  not 
 only  be  compofed  into  flent  fubmiffion,  but 
 chearful  refignation  to  his  fovereign  will :  will^ 
 ing  to  be  at  his  diredion  and  difpofal  as  to  the 
 
 '  time  and  place ^    the  manner  and  circumflances 
 
 q{  our  departure  and  removal ;  "  let  him  do 
 
 "  what 
 
Oft  Mr^TnOMAS    PiCKARD.  I99 
 
 "  what  he  will  with  me,  for  he  has  a  right 
 
 "  to  difpofe  of  his  own.     I  am  more  his  than 
 
 "  I  am  my  own,  and  his  right  to  me  is  greater 
 
 "  than  any  creature's  can  be.  He  is  my  graci- 
 
 ''  ous  Redeemer,  as  well  as  my  proper  Lor^;  I 
 
 **  have  given  up  my  felf  to  him,    and  chofen 
 
 *'  him  as  my  portion :    I  love  him  more  than 
 
 "  all,    andean  fafely  truJI  him  with  all:  /zTim. i. 
 
 "  kn(nio  in  whom  I  have  believe d^  and  am  per-^^' 
 
 *'  fiiadedy    that  what  I  have  committed  to  him^ 
 
 **  he  is  able  aljb  to  keep  againji  that  day  ;  and 
 
 "  I  freely  refign  to  his  holy  pleafure  in  all  his 
 
 "  difpofals  of  me,    and  am  ready  to  yield  a 
 
 "  willifig  foul  to  his  powerful  care  and  faith- 
 
 "  ful  mercy ;    to  fay  with  my  latefk  breath ; 
 
 "  Father,    into  thy  hands  I  co??i?nit  my  fpirit.  Luk.xxiij. 
 
 "  Now,  Lord,  letteji  thou  thy  ferv ant  depart  in'^^:. 
 
 "  peace:  And  hord'Jefus  receive  my  foul y        Aa.vii. 
 
 To  conclude  this  matter,  there  muft  be  earn- 59- 
 eft  expediation  and  waiting  for  him.  Sincere 
 chriflians  are  often  defcribed  by  this  temper, 
 they  love  his  appearance,  and  wait  for  the  Son 
 of  God  from  heaven ;  and  look  for  the  blejjed  hope 
 and  glorious  appearance  of  the  great  God,  and 
 our  Saviour  Jefus  Chrift :  they  look  for,  and 
 haflen  to  the  coming  of  the  day  of  the  Lord.  This 
 is  reprefented  by  a  parallel  EvaTigelift  in  figu- 
 rative expreffions ;  Let  your  loins  be  girt,  ajid^^^^'^^'^- 
 your  lights  burning,  a7id  you  your  fives  like  me?!^^^' 
 who  wait  for  the  Lord:  an  allufion  to  men  re- 
 turning home  from  a  wedding,  and  waiting 
 for  the  bridegroom.  They  fland  in  a  pofture 
 of  expectation,  welcome  the  diftant  appearance 
 of  his  return,  and  are  ready  to  fly  into  his  arms. 
 O  4  They 
 
200  A  Funeral  Sermon 
 
 They  wait  iov  tht  glorious  manifejlation  of  the 
 Sof2s  of  God^  and  their  compleat  redemption -, 
 and  are  ready  to  embrace  him  with  ope?i  hearts 
 and  warm  affeclions  of  foul.  This  is  the  next 
 and  neareft  infiance  of  adual  readinefs  for  the 
 coming  of  the  Lord. 
 
 I  fliall  only  larther  obferve  here,   that  this 
 fometimes  in  eminent  chriftians  rifes  up  to  ho- 
 1  Cor.v.  ly  confidence^    and  earn  eft  defre:    they  are  con- 
 2'  fdenty  and  willing  rather  to  be  abfent  from  the 
 
 body  andprefent  with  the  Lord ;  are  armed  with 
 chriftian  courage  againft  the  terrors  of  death : 
 Philip,  i.  and  are  in  a  fir  ait  betwixt  twOy  having  a  defire 
 ^^'  to  depart,  and  be  with  Chrijl.     They  are  able  to 
 
 exprefs  in  their  dying  moments,  not  only  a 
 fatisficiion,  but  ajjurance  of  mind-,  the  tri- 
 umphs, 2Xi^joy  of  faith  :  tho'  this  is  not  the  ne- 
 cefary  fruit  of  faith,  or  ejjential  to  our  be- 
 ing ready,  but  the  rare  privilege  of  thofe 
 who  are  more  confirmed  and  improved,  who 
 have  reached  to  higher  attainments  in  the  chri- 
 ilian  life,  and  been  remarkably  faithful  to  God. 
 
 SECT.     II. 
 
 II.  I  am  to  confider  the  reafon  here  affign- 
 ^d :  for  in  ari  hour  you  think  not,  the  [on  of  man 
 cofneth.  The  coming  here  fpoken  of  is,  his  io- 
 jemn  appearance  in  glorious  majefty  at  the  final 
 judgment,  furrounded  with  hofls  of  Angels,  en- 
 compafled  with  flames  of  fire  :  fummoning  all 
 the  world  before  him  in  one  general  affembly  j 
 entring  into  the  merits  of  every  particular  cafe, 
 and  diflributing  rewards  and  punifhments,  ac- 
 f ofding  to  their  refpedive  Hate.     This  is  every 
 
 where 
 
on  Mr. Thomas    Pickard.  201 
 
 where  mention'd  under  the  notion  of  his  com- 
 ing or  appearing.  But  becaufe  our  Hfe  and  ti?7je 
 are  in  his  hands ^  as  well  as  owv  future,  and  6- 
 ternal  ftate  ^  and  the  one  of  thefe  is  fo  clofely 
 connected  with  the  other ;  we  may  upon  good 
 reafon  extend  the  fignification,  and  take  into 
 the  cafe  the  confideration  of  our  death,  or  re- 
 moval out  of  the  world.  For  death  to  every 
 particular  perfon  is  in  many  refpedls  the  fame 
 thing,  with  the  general  judgment  to  the  whole 
 world  y  death  ends  all  the  world  with  every 
 man,  and  brings  him  to  his  determined  ftate; 
 and  'tis,  in  a  manner,  the  fame  thing  with  him, 
 as  if  the  world  were  immediately  diffolved. 
 Our  Lord  concludes  this  diicourfe  in  Mark, 
 with  thefe  remarkable  words  ^  what  I  Jay  to.. 
 you,  I  fay  to  all,  watch.  37. 
 
 But  tho'  the  latter  may  be  comprehended 
 in  the  meaning  of  the  expreffion,  at  leaft  in  the 
 reafon  and  deiign  of  it;  yet  'tis  ihtfortner  on- 
 ly is  expreffed,  as  that  which  is  more  awful 
 in  it  felf,  and  more  apt  to  imprefs  our  minds. 
 Befides  that,  'tis  upon  the  account  of  the  fol- 
 lowing judgment,  that  death  is  at  all  fo  awful. 
 jifter  death,  the  judgment.  Kwdi  behold  a  pale  ^ith.'x^. 
 hcrfe,  and  he  who  fat  on  him  was  death,  and  helhi- 
 followed.  If  death  v/ere  alone,  and  without  a  ^^^•'^^-  ^• 
 companion;  if  it  were  only  annihilation,  or  dif- 
 folution  of  our  beings  a  ftate  of  eternal  y^/t';^^;^, 
 and  oblivion ;  it  would  not  be  fo  terrible  a 
 thing :  but  as  death  configns  us  to  judgment, 
 and  is  the  next  ftep  to  the  bar  of  Chi  ill ;  it 
 becomes  very  awful  and  important,  and  wor- 
 thy our  deep  and  ferious  thoughts. 
 
 In 
 
202  A  Funeral  Sermon 
 
 In  confidering  this  branch  of  the  fubjedt,  I 
 fhall,  I .  Enquire,  ivhy  God  has  fo  ordered  the 
 matter,  and  vindicate  the  divine  condu(fl,  in 
 hiding  from  us  the  time  of  his  coming.  2 .  Con- 
 fider  the  force  of  the  reafon,  or  the  juft- 
 nefs  of  this  confequence -,  from  the  coming  of 
 Chrift  to  our  being  always  ready. 
 
 §.  I.  I  fhall  enquire,  why  God  has  fo  order- 
 ed the  matter ;  that  we  {hould  not  k?2ow  the 
 hour  when  the  fon  of  man  cometh.  Of  this,  fome 
 account  may  be  given  in  the  following  parti-^ 
 culars : 
 
 (i.)  To  difplay  Yiisfovereignty.     'Tis  a  roy^ 
 alty  of  the  divinity,    and  a  referve  of  know-* 
 ledge  to  himfelf :   a  mark  of  fovereign  author 
 rity^    and  diJiinSiion  from  the  creatures.     He, 
 who  knows  all  thiiigSy  has  feen  fit  to  keep  this 
 knowledge  from  us.     And  as  the  thing  de- 
 pends upon  divine  pleafure^  and  is  an  adl  of 
 fovereign  freedom,  it  cannot  be  known  by  any 
 creature  without  an   exprefs  revelation.     We 
 find  the  great  God  glories  in  this  diftindlion, 
 and  triumphs  over  all  the  idols  of  the  earth,  in 
 the  knowledge  o^ future  events.  Shew  the  things 
 which  are  to  come  hereafter  j  that  we  may  ktiow 
 that  ye  are  gods.     And  'tis  made  a  grand  pecu- 
 xlvi.  10,    Uarity  of  the  divine  being,  that  he  declares  the 
 endfrotn  the  begimiing^    and  from  ancient  times 
 the  things  which  are  not  yet  done.     And  if  what 
 depends  upon  the  actions  oi  free  agents,   is  a 
 knowledge  too  wonderful  for  us ;  how  much  more 
 what  entirely  depends  upon  his  own  pleafure  F 
 
 Now  he  has  not  revealed  his  will  about  it, 
 but  exprelly  alTured  us,   that  no  one  knows  it. 
 
 This 
 
 If.  xliii 
 
 23. 
 
on  Mr.  Thomas  Pickard.  203 
 
 This  account  our  Lord  here  gives  of  it :  of  that  ver.  36. 
 day  and  hour  knoweth  no  7nan ;  no  not  the  angels^ 
 but  my  father.     Neither  man  or  angel :    'Tis 
 a  fecret  in  the  divine  counfel,    and  concealed 
 from  the  knowledge  of  all  the  world.     And 
 'tis  highly  congruous^    there   fhould  be  a  fove- 
 reignty  of  knowledge  as  well  as  o^  goodnefs^    or 
 any  other  perfedlion  of  his  nature.     And  our 
 Lord  tells  his  difciples  after  his  refurreition,  *tis  Aft.  i.  7. 
 not  for  you  to  know  the  times  andfeafons,   which 
 the  father  hath  put  in  his  own  power.     It  be- 
 comes us  to  reverence  and  adore  the  fovereign 
 majefty  and  unfearchable  perfection  of  God, 
 and  not  to  be  either  bufy  or  bold  in  prying  into 
 things  not  revealed  j    or  determining  times  de- 
 clared, uncertain.     Secret  things  belong  unto  the  jy^^^ 
 Lord  our  God  -y    but  thoje  things  which  are  re-  xxix.  29. 
 vealedy  belong  unto  us,  and  to  our  children  for 
 ever^  that  we  may  do  all  the  words  of  this  law. 
 
 (2.)  'T IS  an  cxercife  oi  wifdom  and  mercy  in 
 feveral  refpeds.     As, 
 
 I.  It  would  be  altogether  ifelefs  to  us.  It 
 could  lignify  nothing  to  any  valuable  purpofe, 
 to  know  the  time.  It  would  only  gratify  the 
 ciiriofty  of  our  minds,  and  be  a  piece  of  ufelefs 
 fpeculation ;  but  could  add  no  weight  to  the 
 argument,  or  contribute  any  thing  to  our  real 
 improvement.  The  precife  time  when  a  thing 
 will  happen  is  only  accidental  to  it,  and  an  ex- 
 trinfick  circumftance,  which  does  not  affedl 
 the  nature  of  the  thing :  and  we  have  fuffi- 
 cient  evidence  of  the  truth  of  his  coming, 
 though  we  know  not  the  time  of  it,  to  en- 
 gage our  prefent  readinefs,  aod  utmofl  concern. 
 
 All 
 
204  ^  Funeral  Sermon 
 
 All  the  reafom  of  readinefs,  and  motives  of 
 perfuaiion,  would  in  themjehes  have  the  fame 
 force,  and  ftand  juft  as  they  did,  whenever  he 
 fhould  appear.     Befides, 
 
 2 .  T  H  E  R  E  is  a  manifeft  inconvenience  vf ould 
 neceflarily  attend  the  knowledge  of  it.  For  fup- 
 pofe  it  fhould  appear,  that  the  coming  of  Chrift, 
 either  by  death  or  judgment,  were  2i great  way 
 off,  or  at  a  confiderable  dijiance  from  us  :  there 
 would  be  danger  in  that  cafe  oijecurity  and 
 prefumptiQU.  Men  are  ftrangely  prone  to  grow 
 remifs,  and  greedily  catch  at  every  occafion^  or 
 excufe.  And  it  would  be  too  llrong  a  tempt  a- 
 tion^  as  they  fVand  difpofed  and  circumftanced, 
 with  all  their  appetites,  and  enjoyments  about 
 them,  to  run  into  fecurity  and  negled: ;  and 
 they  Vv'ould  naturally,  upon  this  prefumption, 
 delay  their  preparation  for  his  coming,  and 
 think  it  time  enough,  hereafter  >  perhaps  a 
 httle  before  the  clofe  of  life  :  at  leaft,  that 
 there  could  be  no  danger  in  a  longer  delay, 
 while  they  have  fo  much  time  before  them. 
 They  would  reckon  themfelvesy^  in  a  free 
 enjoyment,  and  farther  purfuits  of  life ;  in 
 carelefs  neglects,  or  indulgence  to  fin  j  and 
 while  they  put  the  evil  day  far  off\  come  to 
 put  it  out  of  their  mind.  When  the  evil 
 —48,49.7^^'"'-'^^^  began  to  fay  in  his  heart,  My  Lord 
 delay eth  his  coming  ;  he  then  fmote  his  fellow- 
 fervants^  and  eat  and  drunk  with  the  drutiken. 
 And  the  rich  man  in  the  gofpel  very  com- 
 fortably reckoned  upon  taking  his  eafe^  and 
 eating  and  drinking^  and  being  merry,  when 
 Luk. xii.  i^e  jiad  faid  to  his  foul,  lihou  hajl  goods  laid 
 '^"  up 
 
m  Mr.  Thomas  Pickard.  205 
 
 up  for  many  years.  We  fee  how  common 
 a  Jhare  this  is,  notwithftanding  all  the  lui-- 
 certainty  of  his  coming ;  and  the  general 
 carelclTnefs  which  prevails  in  the  world,  is 
 ,.  a  matter  of  daily  obfervation  and  comp^ii'nt. 
 And  how  much  more,  may  we  reafonably  fup- 
 pofe,  muft  it  needs  be  fo,  upon  certain  know- 
 ledge of  a  greater  diftance  from  them  ?  and 
 'tis  wife  and  merciful  to  moil  menj,  to  keep 
 them  ignorant  of  what  is  fo  liable  to  be 
 abiifed^  and  in  all  likelihood  would  increafe 
 their  guilt. 
 
 Or  if  we  fliould  fuppofe,on  the  other  hand, 
 that  the  coming  of  the  Lord  were  certainly 
 near^  and  within  a  little  while  3  a  few  days  or 
 months  hence ;  there  would  be  danger  in  that 
 cafe,  of  an  overwhelming  concern,  and  difcou' 
 raging  dread.  The  appreheniion  would  be  too 
 firong  and  affe(5ting :  it  would  be  like  to  engage 
 their  minds  too  intently^  and  indifpofe  them  for 
 every  thing  clfe  :  as  we  fee  the  terrors  of  a 
 criminal  at  a  fentence  of  deaths  or  the  fight  of 
 the  place  of  their  execution.  Men  would 
 think  it  reafonable  upon  this  fuppofition,  ef- 
 pecially  good  men,  to  fpend  all  the  little  re- 
 mainder of  life  in  aBual  preparation,  and  to 
 do  nothing  but  get  ready.  So  near  an  ap- 
 proach would  aftonifh  and  furprize  ;  be  over- 
 bearing to  the  mind,  and  look  too  much  like 
 force  }  and  make  their  endeavours  the  effecSt  of 
 fear,  and  not  of  reajon  and  choice.  And 
 this  mufl  neceffarily  interrupt  all  the  bifmefi 
 of  life,  and  prevent  all  care  of  any  farther 
 improvement  j    of  acquiring  ufeful  knowledge^ 
 
 or 
 
2o6  A  Funeral  Sermon 
 
 or  contributing  to  the  puhlick  good.  No  man 
 would  have  the  heart  to  apply  in  good  earneft 
 to  any  bufinefs  of  the  world,  or  attend  to 
 any  of  the  concerns  of  it  ;  who  had  a  cer- 
 tain knowledge  of  a  fpeedy  removal^  and  be- 
 ing cut  off  in  the  midft  of  it :  fo  it  would 
 be  injurious  to  the  prefent  welfare  of  the 
 world,  and  very  much  afFed:  it  in  all  its  in- 
 tereft.  And  'tis  certainly  right  and  kind,  to 
 hide  that  knowledge  from  us,  which  would 
 not  only  lignify  nothing  to  us,  but  be  like 
 to  do  us  fo  much  hurt^  and  hinder  us  from 
 doing  fo  much  good, 
 
 3.  'Tis  beft  fuited  to  the  prefent  y?^/^,  as 
 well  as  the   temper  of  our  minds.     We  are 
 placed  here  in  a  jiate  of  trial,  under  the  exer- 
 cife   of  divine   patience,    and   enjoyment   of 
 means,    and  with  many   encouragements  to 
 our  endeavours  and  hope.     We  are  now  to 
 ad:   our  part  in  order  to  the  future  ftate  of 
 the  other  world :  and  'tis  very  fuitable  to  fuch 
 a  flate,    to  make   the  beft  ufe  of  the  meam 
 afforded,  and  be  in  a  pofture  of  preparation  : 
 we  fhould  be  always  found  in  the  way  of 
 our  duty  while  we  are  in  a  ftate  of  proba- 
 tion, and  kept  under  a  conftant  fenfe  of  our 
 dependance  upon  God  :    for  the  whole  ftate 
 of  the  other  world,  depends  upon  our  prefent 
 improvemejity  and  preparation.     And  nothing 
 is  more    agreeable    to    the    nature    oi  faith y 
 which   is    the  diftingnifiing   principle  of  the 
 2  Cor.  V.  chriftian    life :    for  ff^e   ivalk   by  faith,    and 
 Heb  xi.  I .  ^^^  4x7%^*'^  J    ^"^^  faith  is  lousthejubjianceof 
 things  hoped  for,    and  the  evidence  of  things  not 
 
 feen. 
 
.  I. 
 
 on  Mr.  Thomas  Pickard.  207 
 
 feen.     Faith  is  inftead  of  fight  and  prefence, 
 and  gives  a  reality  and  nearnefs  to  things  in- 
 vifible  and  diftaat :  we  fee  him  who  is  invifibky^zS,  i-j. 
 and  have  refpeSi  unto  the  recompence  of  reward. 
 We  depend  upon  the  credit  of  the  word  of 
 God,  and  are  fully  perfuaded  of  his  faithfulnefs 
 and  power,  and  a5i  in  believing  views  and  ap- 
 prehenfions  of  what  is  to  come.    In  the  power 
 of  this  principle,  Noah^    being  warned  of  God, 
 was  moved  with  fear ,    and  Abraham  obeyed  the—i>  ^^ 
 call  of  Gody  and  went  out,  not  knowing  whither 
 he  went.     And  chriftians  rejoice  in  hope  of  2.  pro-  Rom.v 
 mifed  glory.      'Tis  the  excellence  and  glory  of 
 faith  to  trufl  God  with  all  our  concerns,   and 
 wait  his  pleafure  in    the   difpofal  of  them  : 
 and  'tis  a  proper  pollure  and  temper  of  mind, 
 to  be  waiting  for  the  fon  of  God  from  heaven, 
 and  looking  for  his  fecond  appearance  without 
 fin  unto  falvation.     It  would  be  unfuitable  to 
 a  fiate  of  trial,  and  principle  of  faith,  to  have 
 fenfible   evidence,    or    proper  knowledge  :    for 
 then  we  fhould  walk  by  fght  in  this  world, 
 and  faith  become   ujelejs.     It  would  deftroy 
 the  diJiinSiion  between  the  two  worlds,  and 
 anticipate  the  future  ftate  ;  for  it  would  com- 
 mence knowledge,  and  be  no  longer  faith. 
 
 4.  'Xis  beft  calculated  for  our  advantage  : 
 for  it  naturally  tends  to  quicken  our  diligence, 
 and  make  us  con/la?itly  ready.  We  know 
 not  the  time  when  our  Lord  fliall  come,  that 
 both  good  and  bad  men  may  have  no  pre- 
 tence or  excufe  for  negledt  and  delay  ;  and  that 
 both  may  be  getting  ready.  It  has  the  ad- 
 vantage  of  a*  powerful  motive,    of  continual 
 
 efficacy 
 
20 8  A  Funeral  Sermo7t 
 
 efficacy  and  force  -,  without  the  difadvantags 
 of  either  of  the  former  fiippoiitions :  for  if 
 we  know  not  the  hour  when  the  fon  of  man 
 Cometh^  there  can  be  no  pretence  for  frefump- 
 tion  or  dfcouragement ;  but  all  the  reafon  in 
 the  world  for  timely  care.  It  mufl  be  highly 
 unreafonable  upon  this  fuppofition  to  delay 
 a  moment,  and  highly  reafonable  to  be  al- 
 ways prepared  j  and  in  the  midft  of  all  the 
 cares  and  enjoyments  of  life,  to  attend  chief- 
 ly to  what  is  more  confiderable  and  impor-* 
 tant.  'Tis  a  wife  artifice  of  providence  to 
 keep  us  always  waitings  and  always  watch- 
 ing J  and  to  furnifli  a  quickening  motive  to 
 all  diligence.  How  careful  fhould  we  always 
 be,  who  continually  expecfl  the  coming  of  tlie 
 2  Pet.  11.  Lord  ?  What  majiner  of  per/bns^  fays  the  A- 
 poftle,  ought  ye  to  be  ?  ^ind  feeing  ye  look  for  fuch 
 things^  be  diligent  that  ye  may  be  found  of  him  in 
 peace.  But  this  leads  me  to  conlider  more  par- 
 ticularly the. 
 
 §  2.  The  force  of  the  reafon,  from  the 
 coming  of  the  Lord^  to  our  being  ready.  I  fliall 
 argue  only  from  the  circumftances  of  the 
 text: 
 
 I.  From  the  Nature  of  his  coming,  or  the 
 true  Defgn  and  importance  of  it.  He  will  not 
 appear  in  empty  (late,  only  to  JIjcw  himfelf  to 
 the  world,  and  difplay  the  cnfigns  o/^majefty; 
 to  be  gazed  at,  and  beheld  with  wonder,  and 
 receive  the  homage  of  the  adoring  world.  'Tis 
 not  a  matter  of  ceremony  2inA  fate  :  his  appear- 
 ance is  to  great  and  weighty  purpofes,  and  is 
 every  where  fpoken  of  as  a  moft  momentous 
 
 thing. 
 
 II,  14. 
 
0^  Mr.  Thomas  Pickard.  209 
 
 tiling.     And  very  reafonably  :    for  the  coming 
 of  Chrift  will  put  an  enJ  to  the  preicntjiate  j 
 to  all  the  means  of  grace,   and  mercies  of  life, 
 and  the  whole  ftate  of  tryai  and  probation. 
 Now  God  m7/Vi  to  be  gracious^  and  God  is  in 
 Chrijl  reconciling  the  world  to  himfclf.      His 
 fpirif  Jirives  in  the  hearts  of  men  by  powerful 
 LonviBions^  and  kindly  ??iotions.    The  ??iinijlers 
 of  Chiifl  befeech  you  in  his  name^  and  by  power- 
 ful •2iX<y\i\i\<zx\l^ perfiiade  men.     The  opportuni- 
 ties of  mercy  are  lengthened  out,    and  there  is 
 now  a  day  of  fa  hat  ion  and  an  accepted  time^^rA 
 I'pace  to  repent^  and  fair  encouragements   and 
 hopes.     We  are  not  fa?'  from  the  kingdom  of 
 heaven  under  the  outward  difpenfation  of  the 
 gofpel  grace :    nothing  is  wanting  but  hearty 
 willi?2gnfs^    and  faithful  improve?nent  to  make 
 you  fecure  and  lafe.     But  the  coming  of  the 
 Lord  will  put  an  end  to  all,  and  (hut  up  the 
 prefent  il:ate:  when  the  endjhallcome^  he  will  de-  1  Cor.  xv, 
 liver  up  the  kingdofn  to   God^  even  the  father  j  24- 
 /.  e.  the    mediatorial    kingdom.     The    whole 
 difpenfation  of  grace  will  be  abolished  by  the 
 fecond  coming  of  Chrifl,  as  that  of  the  law  was 
 by  the  /?/•//,  and  there  will  be  no  one  opportu- 
 nity or  call  of  mercy  more  to  them  who  are 
 found  unready. 
 
 Besides,  The  coming  of  the  Lord  will  de-^ 
 termine  our  eternal  ftate,  and  put  a  final  iffue 
 to  all  our  depending  concerns;  It  v/iil  leave  us 
 to  all  eternity  in  the  ftate  in  v/hich  it  finds  us. 
 For  he  will  appear  in  the  quality  of  a  judge, 
 and  call  every  man  to  account,  and  pafs  a  de- 
 cifive  fen te nee.  TJie  Apoftle  tells  us;  we  mn/f  ^^''^■'^'■ 
 l'  all''- 
 
Rev.r.xxii 
 
 12. 
 
 2 1  o  A  Funeral  Sermon 
 
 all  appear  before  the  judgment-feat  of  Chrifl  to 
 receive  the  things  done  in  the  bod)\  according  to 
 what  ive  have  done,  whether  it  be  good,  or 
 whether  it  be  evil.  And  he  is  introduced,  fay- 
 ing ;  Behold  I  CGfne  quickly,  and  my  reward  is 
 with  me,  to  give  to  every  man  according  as  his 
 work  fall  be.  Unprepared  fouls  v/ill  be  con- 
 cluded under  an  irreverfible  doom,  without  any 
 rcfcrves  of  mercy,  or  hope  of  relief.  There 
 will  be  no  opportunity  of  red:ifying  the  errors 
 of  our  pafl  conduct,  or  executing  iht  future 
 purpofes  of  our  minds;  of  retrieving  former 
 neglects,  or  providing  better  for  our  fouls;  there 
 will  be  no  changing  the  bent  of  the  heart,  or 
 altering  the  fate  for  ever.  Time  will  be  no 
 more,  and  the  eternal  world  commence.  And 
 is  it  not  of  the  laf  confequence  to  our  beft  in- 
 terefls  to  be  prepared  for  his  coming,  which 
 will  conclude  the  pre/hit  ftate  of  m.ercy,  and 
 introduce  an  unchangeable  fiate? 
 
 2.  From  xS\^  certainty  of  it.     This  is  here 
 
 fuppofed,    and  taken  for  granted,  as  'tis  often 
 
 exprefly  afferted  in  other  places.     Be  ye  ready, 
 
 for  he  will  certainly  come.     The  Jews  had  all 
 
 along  a  traditional  belief  of  the  coming  of  the 
 
 Mefjiah  to  judge  the  world,    according  to  the 
 
 ver.  14.    iM\z\^\\x.  prophecy  recorded  hyjude :  And  Enoch 
 
 afo,  the  feventh  from  Adam,  prophefed  of  thcfe, 
 
 J  trying,  behold  the  Lord  com  cth  with  ten  t  hoi f and 
 
 cf  his  'faints,  to  execute  judgment  upon  all.  And 
 
 Dan.  vii.  we  read  in  Daniel's  vifion,  that  ten  thou/and 
 
 ^'^-  times  ten  ihcufand flood  before  him, :  the  judgment 
 
 was  Jet,    and  the  books  w£rc  opened.     Our  Lord 
 
 himfelf  frequently  allures  us  of  it,    and  direds 
 
 this 
 
on  Mr.  Thomas    Pickard.  2ir 
 
 this  confideration  to  the  comjcrt  and  fupfort  of 
 his  faithful   followers  under  ail  the  fuiferings 
 and  tryals  of  life :   They  Jha II  fee  the  Jon  of  fnan-^io. 
 coming  in  the  clouds  of  heaven^    with  poiver  and 
 great  glory,    and  promifes  his  ^/ya/Z^?^;    /  W//joh.xiv.3. 
 come  again,  and  receive  you  to  my  /elf.     And  he,  ^^^   .  .■■ 
 who  tefiifieth  thefe  things,  faith,  fiirely  I  come.  20. 
 The  Apollles  always  made  the  coming  of  the 
 Lord  the  great  argument  of  perluafion  to  a- 
 waken  i^OMX^fmners,  and  encourage  chriftiaiis 
 to  j7ioderation,  patience,  andy(9y.     He  tells  tlie 
 Athenians  oi  a  day  appointed  to  judge  the  world  t^^.' 
 hi  righteoufnefs  by  the  man  whom  he  hath  or- 
 dained.    And    fpeaks  to    Chriftians,    knowing  2.  Cqx.  v. 
 therefore  the  terrors  of  the  Lord  we  perfuade  men.  ^  ^  • 
 The  Lord  Jefus  will  be  revealed  from  heaven  2  Theft  L 
 with  his  mighty  Angels,  in  fames  of  fire.     And?- 
 behold  he  comet h  with  clouds,   and  every  eye  fljall^^y^  i  7. 
 fee  him,    and  they  alfo  who  pierced  him,    and  all 
 the  kindreds  of  the  earth  Ihall  wail  becaufe  of 
 him.     And  the  Apoftle  Feter  reprefents  it  as 
 the  foolilhi  feoff  oi  wicked  men  in  the  laft  days, 
 to  fay,    where  is  the  promife  cf  his  coming,  yw'zPet.  iil 
 fnce  the  fathers  fell  afieep,  all  things  continue  as^- 
 they  were  from  the  beginiiiyg  of  the  creation? 
 
 There  is  an  abioiute  necefjityoi  his  com-» 
 ing  upon  the  higheil  accounts,  both  with  re- 
 iped;  to  himjelf,  and  to  us  ;  to  vindicate  his  in- 
 jured honour,  and  do  /3/w/^^y 'publick  right  j  and 
 to  fulfil  his  gracious  promifes,  and  complcat 
 his  undertaking.  He  will  i'.s  certainly  come 
 in  the  clouds  of  heaven,  as  if  we  now 
 law  him  with  our  eyesj  and  will  cs  farely 
 come  bv  death  to  every  one,    as  if  we  weie 
 
 P  2  al- 
 
212  A  Funeral  Sermon 
 
 already  dead^  wrapt  in  a  winding -{[Ket^  and 
 adlually  laid  in  the  g7'ave.  We  pafs  on  like 
 bufy  travellers  on  the  road,  or  pafjengers  in 
 a  fiipt  however  we  are  employed ;  and  ad- 
 vance every  Jlep  to  our  journey's  end,  whe- 
 ther we  think  of  it  or  no.  A  few  more  years 
 and  fabbaths  j  a  few  more  days  and  nights  ;  a 
 few  more  opportunities  and  mercies  3  and  the 
 trump  will  found  in  our  ears,  the  dead  will  rife 
 to  judgment ;  the  world  will  be  all  on  fire  round 
 about  us  3  and  the  glorious  redeemer  will  ap- 
 pear. 
 
 He  will  certainly  come,  whatfoever  ftate  we 
 are  in,  and  whether  we  are  provided  or  not. 
 There  is  no  preventing  his  appearance,  or 
 elcaping  our  own.  It  don't  depend  upon  thy 
 diligence  and  readinejs  v/hether  he  will  come 
 or  no :  he  will  not  delay  a  moment,  becaufe 
 thou  art  not  prepared.  And  every  day  haftens 
 his  approach  :  it  comes  toward  us  as  faft  as 
 tlie  moments  fly  away  5  and  he  is  nearer  to  us 
 now  than  when  we  firft  came  hither.  And 
 Ihould  we  not  be  ready  for  what  is  fo  certain 
 to  come,  and  impofiible  to  be  avoided  ?  Should 
 we  venture  fo  great  a  concern  upon  fo  dejpe- 
 rate  an  iiliie,  that  all  our  fafety  lliould  de- 
 pend upon  his  not  coming  at  all ;  and  that, 
 if  he  certainly  come,  we  fhould  utterly  be 
 undone  ? 
 
 3.  From  the  fiiddenncfs  of  it  ;  or  uncer- 
 tainty of  our  knowledge.  This  i&  particularly 
 expreft  here  :  for  in  juch  an  hour  as  you  think 
 7iot,  the  [on  of  man  cometh :  when  you  have 
 no  thought  of  it  in  your  mind  i   and  this  i& 
 
 varioufly 
 
onMr.TnoMAs  Pickard.  213 
 
 varloufly  reprefented  in  the  fcripture  by  the 
 Hvelieft   images    of  fuddennefs    and    furprize. 
 As  the  light  cometh  out  of  the  Eaji^  and  fiineth^zj. 
 €ve}i  to  the  Weji  :  Jo  Jhall  aljo  the  coming  of  the 
 joft  of  man  be  3  and  nothing  is  more  in  flan  ta- 
 neous.     'Tis  compared  to  the  times  of  Noah'% 
 flood;  They  knew  not  until  the  flood  ca?ne,  and^1>9- 
 took  them  all  away  :  Jo  JJ:all  aljo  the  coming  of 
 the  Jon  of  man  be.      And   to   a  thiej^  in    the 
 night,  who   comes    when    no   one   looks  for 
 him,    in   the   darknejl  of  the  night,  and  the 
 depth  of  fleep  :  If  the  good  man  had  known  in-^M- 
 what   watch  the  thief  would  come^    he  would 
 have  watched.     And  the  Apoftle  fays,  The  ^^jzPet.  IH. 
 of  the  Lord  cometh   as  a    thiej^  in  the  night ^°' 
 Mark  fpeaks  more  particularly  :  Tou  know  not  iM.ir.  xiii. 
 ispheji  the  majler  of  the  houfe  cometh^  at  evenings  ^''' 
 or  midnight^  or  cock-crowing^  or  in  the  ?norn- 
 ing'y  leji   coming  Jiiddenly  he  find  you  Jleeping. 
 And  our    Lord   fays ;    Behold  I  come  quickly.  Rev.  xxii. 
 And  by  reafon  of  this  uncertainty  of  the  time,  *^' 
 it  will  be  a  great  J'urprize  upon  the  carelefs 
 world  :  and   fo  'tis  compared  to   the  days  of 
 Noahy  when  they  were  eating  and  drinking^  and-^z^- 
 marrying^  and glvitig  in  marriage;  -iiXidi  Luke 
 fiys ;  And  fo  that  day  come  upon  you  unawares^         ^^'" 
 for  as  a  fnare  Jhall  it  come  upon  all  who  dwell 
 upon  the  face  of  the  earth.     The  world  at  laH: 
 will  be  generally  fecure  ;  fome  quiet  and  indo- 
 lent ;    others    aBive  and  bufy,  without    any 
 fear  or  appreheniion  of  mind.     The  terror  of 
 his  appearance  will  fl:rike  the  amazed  world 
 with  filence,  create  a  univerfal  hujh,  and  put 
 a  ftopy  and  put  an  end  to  all  the  bujlnej's  and 
 
 P  3  pur- 
 
214  ^  Funeral  Sermo72 
 
 purfaits  of  life,  and  all  the  thoughts  and  pur- 
 pofes  of  their  hearts. 
 Gen.xxlii.     We    k72ow  iiot  thc  day  of  our  death  ;  what 
 -•  day  or  yea7\  y/hether  this  or  the  next :  what 
 
 Jea/o/i  of  life,  whether  )w//7g-  ovoid:  in  what 
 c'lrciunjiance  and  condition,  whether  in  thc 
 hurry  of  bufinefs,  and  purfuit  of  pleafure;  or 
 in  a  fecrct  retirement,  ov  Jolemn  attendance  up- 
 pn  God  :  in  what  place  of  the  world,  whe- 
 ther in  the  houfe,  or  field,  at  home,  or  abroad. 
 You  defign,  it  may  be,  to  tliink  of  death  and 
 judgment,  hereafter,  and  only  put  it  off  to  a 
 more  coiroenicnt  feafon  3  when  you  can  find 
 leifure  from  other  things,  or  have  loft  the  re- 
 lijh  of  them.  You  don't  intend  to  live  all 
 your  days  in  this  negled:,  or  to  be  overtaken 
 Unprovided.  But  you  tliink  there  is  time  e- 
 nougli  before  you,  and  there  is  no  need  of  fo 
 great  hajle  ;  that  a  liwle  more  de-ay  can  do  no 
 Prpy.  V3,  great  harm.  Tet  a  little  Jleep^  a  little  jlumber^ 
 ^°-  a  Utth  folding  of  the  hands  tajleep.     But,  thou 
 
 fool,  this  night  thy  foul  may  be  required  of  thee ; 
 and  thou  knowejl  not  what  a  day  may  bring 
 forth.  At  midnight  the  cry  may  be  made^  be- 
 held thc  bridegroom  cometh,  go  ye  forth  to  jneet 
 him.  'Tis  pofiible  thou  may'ft  not  have  the 
 leaft  learning,  or  room  to  offer  up  2,  fingle 
 defire  to  God,  or  to  i-iy  once.  Lord,  have 
 mercy  upon  me.  Thou  may'ft  be  fuddenly 
 hurried  out  of  the  world,  and  dragged  to  the 
 tribunal  above  ^  and  fn atch'd  in  a  momeiit 
 fiom  fiU  the  mercies  of  life,  and  all  the  hopes 
 of  mercy  for  ever.  Deatli  may  ftrike  thee 
 M0\yn   unfesn,  and  ruin   all   thy  purpofes  for 
 
 ever '; 
 
on  Mr,  Thomas  P  i  c  k  a  r  d.  215 
 
 ever  j  and  hi  that  very  day  thy  thoughts  perijl:. 
 Thou  may'fl;  be  taken  away  under  the  grcateft 
 difadvantagc,  and  when  thou  would'ft  leafl 
 chufe  to  be  found ;  in  the  mid  ft  of  open 
 wickednefs^  or  carelefs  ;/(?^/i^7j  3  or  in^Jprofound 
 Jkurity^  and  a  treacherous  peace  :  when  they  i  TheiT.v 
 fiall  fay  peace  and  frfety^  fudden  deJlruBion  3- 
 Cometh  upon  them^  as  travail  upon  a  ivoman  ivith 
 childy  and  they  fiall  not  ejcape.  He  may  ap- 
 pear in  the  midft  of  thy  golden  dreams,  and 
 the  midnight  cry  awake  thee  out  of  thy  fatal 
 flumbers.  And  lliould  we  leave  the  matter 
 to  infinite  uncertainty,  and  a6l  i'O  unreafonahle 
 a  part,  and  fo  inconfiftent  with  ourfelves,  to 
 run  an  apparent  a  hazard  in  fo  grand  an  af- 
 fair J  who  are  careful  in  every  h^ver  intereft 
 to  provide  againft  a  lefs  uncertainty  ?  Can  we 
 be  eafy  and  patient  when  oiw  louls  are  in  dan- 
 ger, and  our  Jdhation  lies  at  ftake,  who  ex- 
 prefs  fo  great  a  concern  when  our  health  or 
 cfiates  are  nearly  affected  ?  And  be  only  un- 
 concerned in  our  greateft  intereft,  who  are  all 
 for  certainty,  and  being  fecure  in  every  other 
 thing  ? 
 
 4.  I  argue  from  the  confeqiiences  of  his  com- 
 ing, cfpecially  when  'tis  fudden.  And  I  fiiall 
 reprefent  it  briefly  loth  ways,  and  in  a  diffe- 
 rent light. 
 
 I.  Let  us  confider  the  <:/r^^^/i/:/ furprize  of 
 an  unprepared  iinner.  Suppofe  now  that  cotn- 
 ing  I'uddenly  he  fi-id  you  f.eeping  ^  in  a  fecure 
 and  unpardoned  ftatc.  Who  can  conceive  the 
 horror  and  woe  of  the  miferable  foul,  under 
 the  power  of  fiich    a  furprize  ?    When  BeU 
 
 P  4  Jhazzar 
 
2i6  ^  Funeral  Sermon 
 
 fiazzar  faw  the  finger  of  a  man's  hand  wri- 
 ting upon   the  plailler   of  the   wall,    in  the 
 Pan.  V.  6.  midft    of  all    his    company   and    mirth;    kis 
 countcjiance  ^ivas  changed,  and  his  thoughts  trou- 
 bkd  him  \  jo  that  the  joints  of  his  loins  luere 
 locfd^  a?id  his  knees  fmote  one  againji  another. 
 The  midnight  cry  rouzed  \\\t  jlu inhering  'vir- 
 gins, and  made  them  in  great  confulion  cry- 
 Matt. xxv.  out  to  the  wile,  Give  us  of  your  oil,  for  our  lamps 
 ^"  are  gone  out  :    a  lively  image   of  horror  and 
 
 furprize. 
 
 How  will  they  iiand  confounded  and  amazed ; 
 what  palenrfs  will  appear  in  every  counte- 
 nance ;  what  anguijJj  fill  every  heart  ?  The 
 firft  fight  ci  the  glorious  judge  will  ftrike 
 them  into  jilcnce,  and 'throw  them  into  agonies 
 of  foul.  How  fad  will  be  the  ruin  of  tlieir 
 prefumptuoiis  hopes.  ;  how  cutting  the  review 
 of  their  pail  ncghtls ;  how  hideous  the  noife 
 of  th.eir  fruitlcis  cries  ?  Lofl  opportunities^ 
 and  defpifed  mercy  will  awaken  the  torment- 
 mg  pajjic?is,  and  every  thought  will  feed  and 
 aggravate  the  pain. 
 
 Why,  to  be  hurried  out  of  the  world  in  a 
 mcm-nt,  and  find  ourfclves  at  the  bar  of  God  ; 
 to  be  liirprized  into  eternal  mifery  all  at  once, 
 and  eniompajjed  round  with  flames  before  we 
 are  aware  ;  to  fall  under  the  dreadful  fentence 
 Matt.  of  \\\t  fiothjul  fervant ;  Caji  him  into  outward 
 darknejs  %  cut  him  cjunder,  and  appoint  him  a 
 portion  iJDith  the  hypocrites ;  to  have  ihtworm. 
 ivhich  ncjer  dies,  added  to  the^^^r^*  which  never 
 can  be  quenched-,  to  fall  under  the  weight  of 
 divine  wrath,  and  the  torment  of  eternal  de- 
 
 Jpair 
 
 XXIV.  5, 
 
on  Mr.  Thomas  Pickard.  217 
 
 /pair  at  the  fame  time,  Lord,  who  Qan  con- 
 ceive the  infupportablc  diftrefs !  Carelefs  and 
 flupid  finners  will  rouze  and  awake,  and  feel 
 the  quickeft  lenfe  ;  they  will  fay,  Let  me  die 
 the  death  of  the  righteous^  and  Jet  my  latter  end 
 be  as  his'y  they  will  fee  it  infinitely  reafonable, 
 when  they  are  moil  impartial^  and  curfe  their 
 folly  when  'tis  too  late.  Thofe  arguments  and 
 means,  which  could  not  now  prevail,  and 
 were  eafily  forgot  j  will  then  come  freih  to 
 their  mind,  and  appear  with  piercing  bright^ 
 nefi^  and  irrefiftibleycrc^  :  they  will  wiili  ten 
 thoufand  times,  that  they  had  been  footer 
 wile,  or  had  never  been  born. 
 
 2.  The  happy  furprize  of  2i  prepared  foul. 
 Let  us  view  the  other  iide  of  the  cafe,  and 
 look  upon  it  in  the  more  agreeable  light.  We 
 are  now  then  to  fuppofe  the  fon  of  man  ap- 
 pearing in  the  clouds  of  heaven,  and  fitting 
 upon  a  glorious  throne^  attended  with  fhining 
 bo/is  J  and  a(!rting  as  the  Jadge  of  the  world:  and 
 how  eidivening  will  the  glorious  appearance  be, 
 how  joyful  the  furprize  to  waiting  fouls,  when 
 the  times  of  refrejhing  Jhall  come  from  the  pre- 
 fcnce  of  the  Lord,  and  their  com  pleat  redemp- 
 tion draiveth  'nigh  ?  when  he  lliall  wipe  away  all 
 tears  from  their  eyes  ^  and  remove  all  forrow  from 
 their  hearts  ;  when  he  will  biow  them,  and  own 
 them  at  lafl:,  and  pais  a  fentence  of  abfolution 
 and  life  ;  when  tliey  fhall  have  con  fide  7  ice  at 
 his  coining y  and  appear  with  him  in  glory  .^ 
 
 And  happy  fouls  who  are  immediately 
 caught  up  into  paradife,  and  hear  unutterabk 
 things  5   v/ho  leave  this  vale  of  tcars^  and  arc 
 
 furprized 
 
;g  1 8  A  Funeral  Sermon 
 
 furprized  with  glory ;    who  quit  the  body,  as 
 it  will  be  raifed  at  laft,  iji  a  moment-,  m  the 
 twmkling  of  an  eye^  and  find  themfelves  among 
 the  bleiled  before  they  are  aware :  who  never 
 pafs  through  tedious  fickncj^i^    or  acute  pains ^ 
 and  are  not  exercifed  with  the  troublefome  paf- 
 fions    oi  fear  or  Jorrow ;    the    fear    of  their 
 own  mind,  or  the  forrows  of  thofe  about  them  : 
 who  have    a  S^vxcrU  an   eafy  paflage  out 
 of  life,    and  leave  this  dark  and  iinful  world, 
 for  the  inherita?ice  of  faints  in  light  y  the  taber- 
 7iacle  of  clay ^    in  which  they  often  ^rc^2;?,    for 
 the  manf^ns  of  their  father  s  houfe^  and  the  hoiife 
 which  is  from  heaven ;    the  labour  and  conflidl 
 of  life,    to  enter  into  re[i^    and  into  th^joy  of 
 their  Lord.     Happy   fouls  indeed,  who   only 
 awake  and  die,    or  fall  afeep  on  earthy    and 
 wake  in  heaven ;  who  oxAy  fgh  and  groan,  and 
 then  depart,    or  take  wing  and  fly  av.^ay  at 
 once :    who  leave  the  noify  and  bufy  world  to 
 gaze^    and  their  friends  to  %Deep^    and  lament 
 alone :    who  are  raifed  above  the  dujl  of  this 
 world,    and  the  reach  of  all  difiiirhance  from 
 it :   who  have  got  the  flart  of  us,  loitering  be- 
 hind   and  waiting  our  difcharge,    expofed  to 
 fiirther  dangers,  and  exercifed  with  many  try- 
 als  of  life :   who  are  carried,  like  Elijah^  as  in 
 a  fiery  chariot  up  to  heaven^  and  receive  the  e7jd 
 of  their  faith,    and  rcfi  in  the  fupreme  good ; 
 who  burn  in  ^^//Jt-i  of  heavenly  love,  and  fmg 
 eternal  longs  of  praife. 
 
 How  glorious/?^ri  are  they  in  heaven,  who 
 once  Jbone  fo  bright  on  earth  ?  they  rije  in  the 
 other  world,  as  foon  as  thev  ft  in  this.     And 
 
 how 
 
071  Mr.  Thomas  PicKARD.  219 
 
 how  high  is  the  orb  in  which  they  move,  how 
 bright  the  luftre  with  which  they  fliine  ?  How 
 much  better  fabbaths  do  they  keep  in  heaven^ 
 than  thofe  they  kept  on  earth,  or  rather  one 
 continued  flibbath  ?  with  what  unflunting  vi- 
 gour and  nobler  deHght?  how  unwilHng  would 
 they  be  to  return  again  ?  how  loth  to  leave 
 the  prefence  of  their  Lord  ?  BlelTed  fouls,  who 
 now  behold  their  redeemer's  face,  and  are  made 
 perfed:Iy  like  him,  who  are  joined  to  the  ge- 
 neral afjembly  above,  and  converfe  with  the 
 fpirits  of  the  perfeB  jiifl.  O  fweet  fociety  !  O 
 pleafint  and  delightful  work!  O  happy  and 
 joyful  flate ! 
 
 And  what  do  we  do  here,  now  our  Redeemer 
 is  afccnded,  and  our  deareftj^vVWi  are  leav- 
 ing the  world  fo  fafl ,  when  what  was  mofl 
 attraBive  of  our  love,  the  moft  defirable  part 
 of  this  lower  world,  is  gone  before  us  ?  Let 
 this  dry  our  tears,  and  raife  our  hearts  to  hea- 
 ven, and  comfort  us  in  their  lofs,  whom  we 
 had  reafon  to  beheve  were  well  prepared,  and 
 habitually,  and  adually  read-^  for  the  coming 
 of  the  Lord,  though  he  came  fuddenly,  and 
 in  an  hciir  "which  they  thought  not  of.  And 
 this,  you  will  £afily  perceive,  leads  me  to 
 fpeak  of  cur  dcccofed  friend^  whofe  fudden 
 death  occafioncd  this  difcourfe,  and  of  whom 
 I  ihall  give  you  this  P-ort^  but  Jlncere  ac- 
 count. 
 
 He  was  difcemkd  q{  godXj  parents,  and  had 
 the  advantage  of  a  religious  edia^ation,and  ten- 
 der care :  and  by  the  blefhng  of  God  upon 
 family  and   pubiick  inflrudions,    he  became 
 
 early 
 
2  20  A  Funeral  Sermon 
 
 c^iiXy  feriouSy  and  entered  into  church  commu" 
 nion  upon  his  firft   fettlement  in  the  world  : 
 he  fet  out  with  God.     He  was  many  years  a 
 worthy   7nember^    and   fometime  an  officer  in 
 the  church  to  which  he  belonged  :  and  how 
 highly  he  was  efteemed,  and  how  greatly  la- 
 mented there,  I  need  not  fay.     He  was  hear^ 
 tily  devoted  to  God,   and   his  interejft  ;    and 
 conilant  in  his  attendance  on  all  the  parts  of 
 divine  worfliip  in  \\\%fa?nil)\  and  in  the  pub- 
 lick  y  and  fometimes  greatly  affe(5led  and  de- 
 lighted  in  it.     He  was  exactly  jiijl  in  all  his 
 ways,  and  managed  his  afEiirs  with  difcretion. 
 As  he  had  much  experience  of  the  goodnefs  of 
 God   himfelf^  fo  he  was  ready  to  every  good 
 ivcrky  and   many  ways  ufeful  to   the  world. 
 He  bore  a  part,  without  vanity  and  ojientation, 
 in   many  defigns  of  a  different  kind  for  the 
 good  of  the  world.     He  was  a  great  lover  of 
 good  meny  and  chofe  the  company  and  conver- 
 fation  of  the  faints  which  are  in   the  earthy 
 the  excellent  in  whojn  was  all  his  delight.     He 
 was  exemplary  m  all  the  relations  of  life,  as  a 
 tujbandy  -Afathcr^  a  majicr  i\\^  friend :  in  tender 
 atfcBioji,  arid  faithful  r<7;r,  and  wife  condcfcen- 
 liofis^hi:  far  exceeded  moll,  was  rnrcly  exceeded 
 bv  any.  He  diligently  attended,  in  the  midllof 
 other  bufniefs  and  cares,  the  improvements  of 
 his  mind  j  and  by  much  reading  and  objerva- 
 tion^  had  greatly  increafed  his   knowledge^  and 
 formed  his  own  judgment  of  things  :  he  fettled 
 in  a  love  of  real  goodnefs,  and  a  noble  large- 
 ncf^  of  foul;  large  enough  to  receive  all  whom 
 lie  had  reufon  to  believe  Qhrifl  would  receive 
 
on  Mr.  Thomas  Pickard.  221 
 
 -  at  laft.  He  was  faithful  to  his  own  light, 
 and  charitable  in  his  judgment  of  other  men. 
 After  all,  his  integrity  was  his  glory,  as  'tis 
 the  highefl  excellence  of  any  man,  whatever 
 elfe  he  excels  in-,  the  fmplicity  and  godly Jin- 
 cerity  with  which  he  had  his  convcrfation  in 
 the  world;  that  open  franknefs,  and  hearty 
 chearfulnefs,  and  Jweetnefs  of  temper,  with 
 which  he  always  converfed ;  render'd  him 
 truly  defirable,  and  greatly  beloved  by  all  who 
 knew  him.  He  was  removed  by  a  fudden 
 Jirokey  and  with  aftoniihing  Jiirprize,  m 
 the  midji  of  his  days,  and  in  perfed:  healthy 
 in  a  fmgle  moment:  perfectly  welly  and  per- 
 fectly dead  in  one  inftant. 
 
 This  is  a  loud  and  awaking  call  to  all  who 
 knew  him,  and  all  who  hear  of  it.  When 
 we  fee  others  fo  often  drop  into  the  grave  on 
 every  hand,  and  death  comes  near  us,  and 
 round  about  us ;  when  they  with  whom  we 
 converfed  but  the  other  day,  perhaps  the  fame 
 day  ;  as  healthy  and  like  to  live,  as  ufeful  and 
 fignificant  in  the  world,  as  any  of  us  -,  are 
 fuddenly  fnatch'd  away  :  fliould  we  not  all 
 bethink  ourfelves,  and  is  not  this  a  proper  re- 
 feBion ;  if  I  had  died  in  his  room,  where 
 had  I  now  been  ?  And  wJiat  would  have  be- 
 come of  me  ?  Perhaps  fome  liave  reafon  to 
 fay,  **  I  had  gone  dired:ly  to  hell,  devils  had 
 "  feized  my  trembling  foul,  and  dragged  me 
 "  to  my  judge,  and  the  infernal  prifonT  Or 
 at  leafti  "  I  had  died  fully  iinprovidedy  and 
 "  in  very  improper  circumftances ;  with  many 
 "  worldly  thoughts  in  my  mind,  and   many 
 
 "  good 
 
22  2  A  Funeral  Sermon. 
 
 "  good  defigns,  unfinifh'd."  And  fhould  we 
 not  all  be  awakened  to  a  lively  care,  by  (o 
 av/ful  an  inflance  j  be  wife  and  fpeedy  in  every 
 purpofe  of  good,  and  do  whatfoever  our  hands 
 find  us  to  do  with  all  our  might :  and  while  we 
 look  fo  often  into  other  mens  graves,  read  it 
 written  in  their  dujl,  as  well  as  upon  their 
 coffin  y  F  rep  are  to  follow:  Be  you  aljo  ready. 
 
 S  E  R^ 
 
223 
 
 SERMON     III. 
 
 A  Chriftian's  unealiiiefs  in  the 
 mortal  body  ,  and  defire  of 
 the  heavenly  happinefs. 
 
 2  Cor  IN.  V.  2. 
 
 For  in  this  we  groan^  earnejlly  de firing 
 to  he  clothed  upon  with  our  houfe 
 which  is  from  heaven, 
 
 I  Shall  have  occallon  to  confider  what  Is 
 nioft  remarkable  in  the  context,  in  the 
 progrefs  of  this  difcourfe  ;  and  iliall  pro- 
 ceed immediately  to  the  words  themfelv£;s. 
 Li  this  we  groan :  either  in  this  body,  while 
 we  dwell  in  the  eai'thly  houfe  of  this  taberna- 
 cle^ ver.  I.  or  elfe,  upon  this  account,  and  for 
 this  caufe,  h  lisi:^,  with  v/hich  the  word 
 oijci'o.  will  not  agree.  We  labour  under  fo 
 many  preiTures  and  difficulties  in  this  bodily 
 ftate,  that  we  cannot  but  be  unealy  j  fo  ver.  4. 
 M'ljile  we  arc  in  this  tabernacle^  we  groan  be- 
 ing biiribenedj  feroc^oueyj  the  fume  word  with 
 
 this 
 
^24  ^  Funeral  Sermon  on 
 
 this  In    the  text;    we    are    ftreightned,  and 
 prefTed  with  the  burthen  of  prefent  miiery. 
 
 Earnestly  de firing  to  be  clothed  upon  with 
 bur  houfe   which   is  from  heaven  :    the  houfe 
 Jrom  heaven^  or  of  heaven,  ex.  yes^v'^,  of  hea- 
 venly   materials.     It    flands    oppofed    to   the 
 earthly  houj'e  in  the  former  verfe  -,  and  figni- 
 fies  the  heavenly  ftate  and  glory  immediately 
 upon  the  dilTokition   of  the   piefent   taberiia- 
 cle ;  and  compleatly  at  the  refurredlon,  when 
 our  bodies  will    be  fuitabie   to   the   heavenly 
 ftate^  and  the  glorified  foul.    The  Apoftle  ufes 
 the  metaphor  of  a  houfe  and  clothing  all   thro 
 this  context ;  the  body  is  coniidered  as  the  ta- 
 bernacle and  garment  of  the  foul :    And  we 
 are  clothed  upon  with  the  heavenly  houfe.     The 
 Apoftle  feems  to  defire  in  this  expreffion,   not    I 
 to  put  off  the  body,   but  to  be,    as  it  were, 
 clothed  upon  the  body,    or  have  it   fuperin- 
 duced,  iTciv^dOL^cjn  \  the  word  alludes  to  an 
 upper  garment^    which   is   put  over   another, 
 which  feems  favoured  by  ver.3.  If  fo  he  that  be- 
 ing clothed^  we  Jhall  not  he  found  naked],  or  with- 
 out any  body  at  all,    as  thofe  in  the  ftate  of 
 the  dead  till  the  refurreftion.     And,  ver.  4.  not 
 that  we  would  be  imclothed,    divefted  of  the 
 body,    but  clothed  upon.     Which  is  agreeable 
 I  Cor.  XV.  to  what  he  fays  of  them,    who  fliall  remain 
 55-  at  the  coming  of  Chrift^  that  they  fiall  not  fie ep^ 
 
 but  Jloall  be  changed. 
 
 And  this  he  earneftly  dc fired:  he  not  only 
 groaned^  but  earncflly  de  fired :  The  one  refpeds 
 the  uneafinefs  under  which  he  laboured  in  thia 
 mortal  and  bodily  ftate  ;  the  other  the  h^avetdy 
 
 houfe 
 
 ! 
 
t^e  Revi  Mr.  John  Billingsly.  '    225 
 
 hou/e  which  he  expe6ted  to  be  clothed  with. 
 And  fo  it  is  as  if  he  had  faid;  in  this  body  we 
 labour  under  conftant  uneaiinefs  of  one  kind 
 or  another,  which  makes  us  groan  for  deHve- 
 rance  and  releafe :  and  we  earneftly  delire  to 
 be  better  clothed,  even  with  the  incorruptible 
 and  heavenly  glory ;  the  proper  perfection  of 
 foul  and  body.  We  groan  ivithtJi  our  feheSy  Rom.viii. 
 loaiting  for  the  adoption^  to  wit,  the  redemption  H- 
 of  our  bodies. 
 
 The  Apodle  in  thefe  words  exprefTes  the 
 temper  of  a  fmcere  chriflian  in  a  double  view. 
 
 I.  In  thQw  groans  while  they  are  in  the  body 
 under  prefent  uneafmefs. 
 
 II.  In  their  defres  of  the  heavenly  blefledneis. 
 
 I  fliall  a  little  diftindly  reprefent  them  both, 
 and  briefly  apply  them  in  the  clofe. 
 
 SECT.     I. 
 
 I. We  are  to  coniider  achriftian's^ro^;zJwhile 
 he  is  in  the  body  under  prefent  uneaiinefs.  In 
 this  we  groan.  And  while  we  are  in  this  ta- 
 bernackj  we  groan,  being  biirthened.  There  are 
 feveral  things  which  render  the  bodily  ftate 
 uneafy  to  fmcere  chriflians;  and  to  which  the 
 bodily  nature  much  contributes.  I  fhall  reduce 
 them  to  two  principal  heads :  i.  To  what  the 
 body  is  the  more  immediate  feat  and  fubjedt  of, 
 2.  To  what  it  further  occafions  to  the  foul. 
 
 §  I.  As  to  what  the  body  is  the  more  im- 
 ff^ediatey^^/  and  fubjed:  of.  Of  this  kind  we 
 may  coniider  the  following  inflances. 
 
2  26  A  Funeral  Sermon  on 
 
 I.  The  weaknefs  and  diforder  of  the  bodily 
 nature.  It  is  naturally  frail  and  mortal,  and 
 gradually  decays  and  moulders  away,  tho'  no 
 difeafe  or  accident  befall  it.  It  cannot  endure 
 long  by  its  own  make,  and  has  the  principles 
 of  decay  within  it  felf.  It  is  a  houje  of  clay^ 
 whofe  foimdations  are  in  the  dujl\  and  an  earthly 
 veffel,  which  is  foon  broke,  tho'  it  have  no 
 blow,  or  crack:  as  a  weak  crazy  building, 
 wears  out,  and  falls  down  at  length,  tho'  it  is 
 not  Shattered,  or  blown  down  by  a  ftormy 
 wind. 
 
 But  befides,  it  is  liable  to  many  diforders: 
 and  confidering  the  contexture  of  a  human 
 body  J  the  variety  and  finenefs  of  many  of  its 
 parts,  and  the  neceflary  connexion  and  order 
 of  the  whole ;  it  is  a  great  wonder  it  is  not  oft- 
 ner  out  of  frame,  and  fooner  diffolved :  As  a 
 fingle  wheel  or  pin  of  a  watch,  out  of  order, 
 diflurbs  the  whole  motion. 
 
 How  many  diftempers  is  the  bodily  nature 
 liable  to  ?  every  member  of  the  body  is  fubjedt 
 to  its  proper  difeafe,    and  fometimes  many  of 
 them  affed;  us  at  once.     How  much  pining 
 and  diym^ficknefs^  which  creates  loathing  of  pro- 
 per food,    fainting  of  fpirit,    finking  of  nature 
 under  its  burthen ;    which  gives  a  difi-elifh  to 
 all  the  comforts  of  life,  and  a  continual  reft- 
 lefTnefs  in  every  pollure  and  every  place  ?  How 
 many  acute  and  violent  pai?is^  which  humble 
 the  ftouteft  heart,  and  break  the  flrongeft  con- 
 ftitutioui    when  nature  is  fet  upon  the  rack, 
 and  all  its  powers  llretched  to  the  utmoft,  and 
 ready  to  crack  and  fly .?  and  nature  grieved  and 
 
 opprefl:, 
 
the  Rev^.  Mr.  John  Billings ly.        227 
 
 oppreft,  muft  needs  groan  and  complain,  when 
 it  is  either  pining  under  languilhing  ficknefs,  or 
 fmarting  under  the  torment  of  pain.  Holy 
 yoi>  was  not  impatient  under  all  his  miferies, 
 till  the  devil  obtained  leave  to  touch  Ins  bone 
 andhis  jJejhy  2indfm'ite  him  with  fore  boils.  The 
 diforders  of  the  body  made  the  patientefl  man 
 on  earth,  curfe  his  day.    And  the  Ffalmift  com-  job  Hi.  i.' 
 
 plains  upon  this  account :  O  Lord^  heal  me  ^  for  ^^  . 
 
 1  11  'j.1  P^-vi-  2,6, 
 
 my  bo?2es  are  vexea^  1  am  weary  with  my  groan- 
 ing. 
 
 2.  Weariness  of  labour.     The  chriflian 
 
 life  is  a  ftate  of  ivarfare^  as  well  as  fervice,  and 
 
 there  are  many  difficulties  attend  it  in  either 
 
 confideration.      Every  chriftian  is  a  lifledyo/- 
 
 dier  under  the  banner  of  Chrifl,  the  captain  of 
 
 his  j ah  at  ion  \  and  ilands  obliged  to  endure  hard- 
 
 nefs,  s.ndjight  the  good  fight  of  faith :   he  mufl 
 
 fight  his  way  to  heaven  through  great  oppofi- 
 
 tions   of  his   fpiritual    enemies.     We  wrefile 
 
 with  principalities  and  powers,    as  well  as  with 
 
 fieJJj  and  blood,  and  are  engaged  in  a  clofe  con- 
 
 flidl,  and  conftant  contention ;   and  muft  either 
 
 conquer  or  be  undone.     We  ru7t  as  thofe  in 
 
 a  race,  and  xnw^fo  run  as  that  we  may  obtain, 
 
 and  win  the  glorious  prize.     We  vc\w^  forget  Phil,  iil, 
 
 the  things  which  are  behind;  and  reach  forth  to^^' 
 
 the  things  which  are  before ;  and  prefs  forward 
 
 to  the  ?nark  :  which  are  allulions  to  the  Olym- 
 
 ptck  games   among    the  Greeks,    and   import 
 
 great  earneftnefs  and  contention  of  mind.  We 
 
 mull  flrive  to  enter  in  at  the  firait  gate,  and 
 
 flrive  againfifin:  we  vcwx^give  all  diligence  to 
 
 add  to  our  graces,  and  make  our  calling  and 
 
 0^2  eleBion 
 
2  28  A  Funeral  Sermon  on 
 
 eleB ion  Jure ;  and  be  found  in  the  daily  per- 
 formance of  the  difficult  duties  oi  Jelj -denial, 
 mortification^  and  crucifying  the  world ;  crof- 
 iing  and  reftraining  bodily  appetites  and  inte- 
 reft  J  and  uiing,  upon  proper  occafions,  watch- 
 ing, and  failing,  and  prayer. 
 
 Now  as  ?nuchfiudy  is  a  wearinefs  to  the  flefj, 
 
 fo  conftant  labour  breeds  a  wearinefs.     There 
 
 is  the  toil  and  fatigue  of  duty,    as  well  as  the 
 
 comfort  and   rcfrefhment  of  it  j    and  tho'  a 
 
 chriftian  is  not  weary  ^duty,   and  never  fays 
 
 with  the  formal  Jews^  luhat  a  wearinefs  is  it  ? 
 
 yet  he  is  often  weary  in  duty,    and  finds  his 
 
 Mat.xxvi.fpirits  flag  and  faint:    thtjpirit  is  willing^  but 
 
 41-         the  fieflj  is  weak,     as  it  was  with  the  difciples 
 
 Aftsxx.    themfelvesi    and  the  AYjoftle  Jerved  the  Lord 
 
 19.         with  many  fears  and  tcjnptations  which    befel 
 
 Rev.  xir.  ^^-^.^ .  ^^^  ^^^  ^^^  ^.^^^  ^^  reft  from  their  labours 
 
 hereafter,  upon  this  account. 
 
 3.  The  afiiSlions  2.v\d  fiiffl'rifigs  of  life.  We 
 are  liable  to  many  accidents  of  evil  and  cala- 
 mities of  life,  in  this  open  ftate,  which  affect 
 and  grieve  the  bodily  nature  :  The  Ffalmifi 
 complains  of  his  broken  bones.  Many  groan  un- 
 der the  ftreights  of  poverty,  or  diftrefs  of  want  5 
 and  are  glad  of  the  meaneft  refrefliment  from 
 others  fuperfluities :  as  Lazarus  lay  at  the  rich 
 Lukexv'i.m^n's  door  full  of  fores,  defiring  to  be  fed  with 
 ao,  21.     ^jrj^  crumbs  which  fell  from  his  table. 
 
 But  the  cafe  of  this  kind  particularly  re- 
 ferred to  in  the  context  is  that  oi perfecution : 
 
 we  are  troubled  on  every  fide perplexed — per- 
 
 f&cutcd — always  bearing  about  in  our  bodies  the 
 
 dying 
 
the  Rev^,  Mr*  ]oim  Bjllingsly.        229 
 dying  qf  the  Lord  y ejus.     This  was  frequently  Chap. iv, 
 the  cafe  of  the  firft  chriftians :  the  ivorid  hated''' 
 theniy  becaufe  they  were  not  of  the  ivoj'Id,  but  cho- 
 fen  out  of  it -J  \.  e.  of  quite  another  fpirit  and 
 defign  :  and  they  felt  the  marks  of  their  hatred 
 and   ill-will    in    various  inflances:   bo?jds    and 
 imprifonements  did  abide  the??t  in  every  place ; 
 and  they  were  fometimes  fioned^  fawn  afunder^  Heb.  xi. 
 flain  ivith  the  fword^    wafidred  in  foeep-fkim^  37- 
 a?2d goat-fiinSy  being  defiiftite,  affJioied^  tormejitcd. 
 
 And  he  who  will  lii^e  godly  in  Chrijl  yefus 
 muji  fujfer  perfeciition  in  one  kind  or  otlier  from 
 a  wicked  world:  every  chriftian  is  obliged  to 
 take  up  the  crofs  and  follow  Chrifi\  and  to  be 
 content  thro  many  tribulations  to  enter  into  the 
 kijigdom.  He  muft  fland  the  fliock  of  injury 
 and  'uiolence^  as  well  as  dijljonour  and  reproach, 
 and  be  prepared  in  the  temper  and  purpofe  of 
 his  heart,  to  lay  down  his  life,  as  well  as  to  Jiif- 
 fer  the  lofs  of  all.  And  this  is  a  hard  faying  to 
 fefd  and  blood;  and  no  wonder  if  nature  flirink 
 a.nd  recoil  under  fo  great  a  prelfure  j  tho'  the 
 power  of  divine  grace,  and  extraordinary  fuc- 
 cours,  have  fometimes  enabled  them,  not  only 
 to  endure  them  with  patience  j  but  to  rejoice 
 and  glory  in  them  too. 
 
 4.  The  dijjblution  of  the  bodily  frame.  There 
 is  a  natural  love  in  the  foul  to  the  body,  ariling 
 from  the  clofe  union,  and  long  intimacy  to- 
 gether. The  body  is  one  part  of  our  confti- 
 tution,  and  too  often  pampered  and  indulged  ; 
 and  death  which  is  the  feparation  of  foul  and 
 body,  and  a  rending  the  two  parts  afunder, 
 mufl  needs  be  grievous;    for  it  is  the  dcflruc- 
 
230  A  Funeral  Sermon  on 
 
 tlon  of  our  prefent  nature,  and  dijjolvmg  the 
 houfe  of  our  tabernacle.  And  there  cannot  but 
 be  the  natural  \\oxxox  of  dying  in  the  minds  of 
 good  men,  tho'  they  are  delivered  by  Chriji 
 from  the  bondage  of  (\x\i\x\fear ;  as  old  friends 
 part  with  regret,  who  will  be  a  great  while 
 abfent  from  one  another. 
 
 And    fometimes    the  aSiual  difTolution    is. 
 painful :    It  puts  nature  into  agonies  and  con- 
 vulfions,  and  extorts,    in  a  literal  fenfe,  many 
 deep  groans;  efpecially  in  vigorous  youth,  and 
 llrong  conftitutions,    it  is  the  hardeft  conflid: 
 of  their  whole  lives.    The  flruggles  of  dilTolv- 
 ing  nature  are  often  terrible,    and  prove  griev- 
 ous and  infupportable  to  ftanders  by.      The 
 Aas.ii.24.^P°^^^^^  fpeaks  oiloofing  the  pains  of  death -y  the 
 pangs  and  throv/s  which  death  occafions,    as 
 olir  tranllators  plainly  underilood  it.     Some- 
 times the  tendernefs  of  dear  relations  wound 
 Aasxiii.  them  deep,  and  make  them  ready  to  lay,  what 
 -'•  mean  sou  to  weep  and  to  break  my  hearth  and 
 
 this  is  the  common  lot  of  fillen  nature,    and 
 -    the  fixed  appointment  of  heaven,  to  which  the 
 whole  human  race  is  fubjed:,    and  there  is  7io 
 df charge  from  this  warfare. 
 
 §  2.  What  the  body  may  farther  occafion 
 to  the  foul.  And  it  feveral  ways  occalions 
 uneafinefs. 
 
 I.  It  is  a  great  hindrance  to  our  fpiritual  at- 
 tainments, and  to  all  our  improvements  in 
 knowledge  and  grace.  Our  bodies  are  like  a 
 dark  veil  over  our  fouls,  or  a  dead  weight  hang- 
 ing upon  them,  when  they  afpire  and  afcend 
 upward.     The  care  of  the  bodily  welfare,  and 
 
 the 
 
the  Rev^.  Mr.  John  Billingsly.  231 
 the  violence  of  bodily  appetite,  often  divert 
 and  millead  us,  and  indifpofe  for  the  diligent 
 purfuit  of  knowledge,  and  the  vigorous  exer- 
 cife  of  grace.  When  Martha  was  cumbered 
 with  ynuch  ferving^  and  careful  and  troubled  with 
 many  things  j  fhe  negled:ed  the  one  thing  need- 
 ful^  and  the  better  part,  i.  e.  the  great  oppor- 
 tunity of  faving  inftrud:ion,  and  fpiritual  im- 
 provement, by  the  prefence  and  converfation 
 of  Chrift. 
 
 How  often  do  the  necejjities  and  pkafures  of 
 the  bodily  life  hinder  a  ferious  attendance  on 
 means,  and  a  wife  improvement  of  opportu- 
 nities ?  how  ;often  dillurb  and  interrupt  the 
 clofe  attention,  and  retired  exercife  of  our  fouls; 
 cramp  and  confine  our  views  j  and  check  the 
 riiing  motions,  and  noble  ambition  of  our 
 minds?  We  are  apt  to  indulge  to  iloth,  and 
 Jpare  our  Jehes,  and  regret  the  neceilary  pains 
 of  higher  improvement.  We  find  a  great  deal 
 of  darknefs  and  diforder,  not  only  from  thq 
 carelelTnefs  and  inadvertence,  the  prejudice  and 
 prepoflefTion  of  our  minds ;  but  from  the  work- 
 ing of  our  paffions,  and  gratifications  of  fenfe, 
 under  all  the  means  of  knowledge,  and  all  the 
 
 helps  afforded  us. 
 
 J. 
 
 By  this  means  we  are  kept  low  in  our  at- 
 tainments :  we  know  but  in  part  what  we  ought 
 to  know,  and  our  little  knowledge  often  puffs 
 us  up.  We  are  but  of  little  faith,  and  often 
 fagg^r  through  u?2belief  under  a  difficult  trial, 
 or  dark  appearance  of  things ;  and  find  reafon 
 to  fay.  Lord,  I  believe,  help  thou  mine  unbelief 
 We  love  but  little^   tho'  much  has  been  forgiven 
 
 Q^  us,. 
 
2^2  A  Funeral  Sennon  07t 
 
 us.  The  fear  of  man  often  proves  a  fnare^  and 
 prevails  againil:  the  fear  of  God.  We  experi- 
 ence a  weaknefs  in  our  powers,  and  unfuita- 
 blenefs  of  temper  in  holy  exercifes ;  and  eafily 
 lofe  the  good  impreffions,  and  find  an  abate- 
 ment of  fpiritual  vigour,  in  the  moft  folemn 
 ordinances,  and  mofl  compofed  frame.  And 
 a  fincere  chriftian  who  loves  God  with  all  his 
 heart,  and  values  his  image  as  the  grcateil 
 good ;  who  deiigns  his  ov/n  improvement  un- 
 der all  the  means  of  grace,  and  aims  at  perfect 
 conformity  to  God  j  can't  but  be  grieved  under 
 the  fenfe  of  his  low  attainments  in  the  chriftian 
 life,  and  faint  refemblance  of  God.  The 
 weaknefs  of  their  grace,  and  imperfedlion  of 
 their  fervice,  are  great  articles  of  uneafmefs  and 
 complaint. 
 
 2.  It  is  a  great  occafion  of/?;;,  as  well  as  of 
 imperfedion.  The  depravation  of  nature  feems 
 interwoven  with  the  bodily  conftitution,  and 
 by  the  laws  of  union  between  the  body  and 
 foul,  the  one  is  much  affe(fted  by  the  other. 
 The  imwieldinefs  and  diforder  of  our  bodily  na- 
 ture betrays  us  into  a  great  deal  of  guilt.  We 
 indulge  to  many  finful  gratifications,  and  fin- 
 ful  negled:s,  by  bodily  appetite  and  inclination, 
 and  bodily  eafe  and  convenience ;  and  the  body 
 is  often  made  not  only  the  cccafion^  but  the 
 Rom.  vi.  injiniment  of  fin.  IVe  yield  our  members  in- 
 »3-  Jlrnments  of  unrighteoulhej's  unto  fin.  We  find 
 a  lifileffnefs  and  wearinefs  in  holy  duties  3  the 
 exercife  of  unruly  pajfons  wliich  are  often 
 troublefome,  and  difiicultly  reflrained  5  the 
 power  of  our  peculiar  ^ndijpecial  corruption, 
 
 which 
 
the  Rev  .  Mr,  John  Billing  sly.        233 
 
 which  may  be  called  our  own  iniquity ;  and 
 the  ftny  which  does  Jo  eafily  bejet  us  ;  the  Irequent 
 prevalence  of  a  carnal,  or  worldly  mind,  in- 
 numerable follies  and  efcapes  of  life;  and  fome- 
 times  grofler  negleds  and  commiflion  of  fin. 
 There  are  many  workings  of  corruption  after 
 all  the  influences  of  divine  grace,  and  all 
 our  watchfulnefs  and  care.  And  fometimes 
 frelli  occafions  give  a  revival  to  a  latent  cor- 
 ruption, and  renew  the  fpiritual  combat ;  and 
 a  good  man's  foul  is  made  the  feat  of  war, 
 and  ftage  of  continual  conflid:  :  the  JleJhGzX.v.ij. 
 lujieth  againfl  the  fpirit^  and  the  fpirit  a- 
 gainfl  thejiejh.  How  often  do  chriftians  com- 
 plain, that  they  are  not  what  they  would  be, 
 and  cannot  do  as  they  would?  for  the  good  Rom. viL 
 that  I  would,  I  do  not  \  and  the  evil  that  /'9>^o- 
 would  not,  that  I  do.  I  find  a  law  that  when  I 
 would  do  good,  evil  is  pre  (bit  with  me.  And 
 again;  1  find  a  law  in  my  members  warri?ig_ 
 againfi  the  law  in  my  mind,  and  bringing  me 
 into  captivity.  The  body  of  death  hangs  about 
 them,  and  cleaves  to  them,  like  a  dead  body 
 to  a  living  foul.  The  holy  Apoftle  never  com- 
 plained of  any  of  his  fufFerings,  as  he  did  up- 
 on this  occafion :  O  wretched  man  that  I  am.  _, 
 who  ft: all  deliver  me  from  this  body  of  death  ! 
 And  no  wonder  a  fan(5tified  foul  is  weary  and 
 heavy  laden  with  the  fenfe  of  fin,  and  heartily 
 grieved  and  uneafy  with  fo  difagreeable  a  mix- 
 ture. 
 
 The  fenfible  world  round  about  us  power- 
 fully ftrikes  our  fenfible  natures,  and  proves  a 
 dangerous  fnare.     How  often  are  we  infnared 
 
 and 
 
234  -^  Funeral  Sermon  on 
 
 and  entangled  by  fenfible  good  ?  There  is  fome- 
 thing  fuitable  to  all  our  lenfes,  and  proper  to 
 I  John  11.  ^ffg^c^.  ^g  every  way  :  the  luji  of  the  jiefi,  and 
 the  luft  of  the  eyes,  and  the  pride  of  life,  are  fui- 
 table baits  to  all  the  powers  of  the  bodily  na- 
 ture. And  how  difficult  does  it  become  to 
 preferve  our  integrity  in  the  midft  of  perpetual 
 fnares,  and  to  keep  our  f elves  unjpotted  frojn  the 
 Ivor  Id  F 
 
 Besides,    it  gives  a  great  advantage  to  the 
 devil's  temptations.     We  read  of  a  ?neffevger  of 
 Satan  fent  to  buffet  the  Apoftle,  and  it  was  by 
 aCor.xii-a  thom  in  the  jiejh-y  by  which  fome  underfland 
 ^'  fome  painful  bodily  difiempcr -,  and  others   a 
 
 violent  temptation.  This  reduced  him  to  a 
 great  diftrefs,  and  made  him  cry  thrice  to  the 
 Lord  for  help.  The  devil  takes  the  advantage 
 of  our  bodily  make,  whether  fanguine,  or  me- 
 lancholy; and  knows  how  to  apply  himfelf 
 fuitably  to  the  different  temperature  of  the 
 body,  and  circumftance  of  things  about  us ; 
 and  is  too  often  fuccefsful  to  draw  us  inta 
 fin,  or  difturb  us  in  the  performance  of  duty ; 
 to  perplex  our  minds  with  doubts  and  fears, 
 and  deilroy  our  comfort  and  peace. 
 
 And  this  is  fometimes  aggravated  by  the  of-^ 
 fence  to  God,  and  the  marks  of  his  difpleafure^ 
 He  is  provoked  to  fufpend  his  gracious  influ-r 
 ence,  and  with-hold  the  light  of  his  counte- 
 nance,  and  former  manifeflations  of  hi?nfelf  \xx\.X.o 
 them.  A  thick  cloud  gathers  round  about 
 their  foul,  and  there  appears  nothing  but 
 frowns  and  difpleafure.  They  groan  fome- 
 times under  the  fenfe  of  divine  anger,  as  well 
 
 as 
 
the  Revi  Mr.  John  Billingsly.        235 
 
 as  departure  from  them  :  Co  holy  yoi>,  the  ar~  J"^  v^-  4- 
 rows  of  the  Ahnighty  are  within  ine^  the  poifon 
 thereof  drinketh  up  my  J'pirit^    the  terrors  of  the 
 Lord  have  fet  themfehes  in  array  againjl  me.  And 
 th^PfahmJi  often  complains  upon  this  account 
 in  a  very  awful  and  affe(fting  manner;  thy  ^r-Pralm  ' 
 rows  flick  faji  in  me ^    and  thy  hand  pre fj'eth  ;;;^^^x^"'-2» 
 fore-y  there  is  nojbiuidnefs  in  my  flejlo  becaufe  of 
 
 thy  anger. 1  have  roared  becaufe  of  the  dif- 
 
 quiet  of  my  heart.  The  anguifh  of  his  mind 
 diflurlDed  all  his  repofe,  and  affedted  his  bodily 
 health.  And  again,  How  lojig  wilt  thoufo7get?^-x\n.i. 
 ?ne,  O  Lord,  for  ever  j  how  long  wilt  thou  hide 
 thy  face  from  me  ?  He  thought  it  exceed- 
 ing long  3  and  looked  upon  it  as  a  kind  of 
 eternity,  a  duration  which  would  never  end. 
 He  Ipeaksas  one  almoft  in  defpair;  Wilt  thouVf-^^^vil 
 cafl  of  for  ever^  wilt  thou  be  favourable  no  more ;  7'  ^• 
 is  his  mercy  clean  gone  for  ever ;  hath  God  for- 
 gotten to  be  gracious ;  hath  he  in  anger  jhut  up 
 his  tender  mercies .?  And  this  of  all  other  things 
 is  mofh  grievous  to  an  holy  foul,  who  loves 
 God  above  all,  and  places  his  chiefeft  happi- 
 nefs  in  his  favour.  The  frowns  of  an  angry 
 and  difpleafed  father  cannot  but  give  a  gloomy 
 fadnefs,  and  pungent  grief  to  every  child  of 
 God. 
 
 3.  It  expofes  them  to  many  troubles.  How 
 many  calamities  befall  us  by  accident  or  vio- 
 lence ;  by  the  hand  of  providence,  or  our  own 
 miftake ;  which  create  us  great  uneafmefs  in 
 this  bodily  ftate  ?  many  difficulties  rife  up  every 
 flep  of  our  way,  and  in  all  the  affairs  of  life. 
 We  are  often  croffcd  in  our  beft  deligns,  and 
 
 dif- 
 
236  A  Funeral  Sermon  on 
 
 difappointed  in  our  moft  pleafing  hopes  j  things 
 prove  otherwife  than  we  wiili,   after  all  our 
 
 Jobxlv.  i.cares  and  precaution.  Man  who  is  born  of  a 
 wo  ?n  an  is  of  few  days  ^  and  full  of  trouble -.,  and 
 ^v.  7.  jjrjj^fi  fQ  trouble  as  the  fparks  fly  upwards.  This 
 world  is  the  element  of  trouble  :  labour  and 
 forrow  is  a  part  of  the  original  curfe,  and  the 
 proper  ftate  of  fallen  nature. 
 
 And  whilft  we  dwell  in  this  bodily  flate, 
 and  ftand  allied  to  the  world  about  us  y    we 
 cannot  but  be  affedled  with  the  cafe  of  others^ 
 as  well  as  of  our  own.     The  frequent  diforders 
 and  diflurbance  in  the  courfe  oi public k  affairs^ 
 in  which  every  man's  interefl  is  concerned,  of- 
 ten occafion  great  thoughts  of  heart.     The  cafe 
 of  the  Church  of  God,    efpecially  under  violent 
 ferfecutions,  or  great  degeneracy^    is  a  very  me- 
 lancholly  refletflion  to  a  good  man's  foul.     His 
 heart  trembles  becaufe  of  the  ark  of  God;  and  he 
 is  grieved  for  the  afliiBions  of  Jofeph  j  and  is 
 fomctimes  ready  to  fay,  in  the  deep  concern 
 of  his  foul  J  Can  thefe  dry  bones  live  F  what  wilt 
 thou  do  for  thy  great  name  ?  by  whomfhall  Jacob 
 arife^for  he  is  fmall?  Lord,  what  will  become 
 of  the  rifing  generation  ?  which  way  will  God 
 give  a   revival  to  the   truly  chriftian  intereft 
 among  us  ?    When  fliall  there  be  greater  light, 
 and  purity  j  greater  truth  and  fmcerity ;  greater 
 peace  and  love  in   the  chriflian  world  ?  How 
 often  do  the  weaknefs  and  follies,  the  raflinefs 
 and  miftakes  of  good  men;  the  open  and  daring 
 impieties  of  wicked  men  ;  the  contempt  of  divine 
 authority,    and  divine  revelations  ;   the  forma- 
 lity and  worldlinefs  of  mind  3  thecarelefs  neg- 
 
 k6ts. 
 
iLe  Rev^,  Mr*  John    Billingsly.       237 
 
 ledls,  and  cold  indifference ;  the  uncharitable- 
 nefs  and  animofity,  among  the  profeflbrs  of 
 religion  ;  afflid;  their  fouls,    and  make  them 
 fay  in  a  ferious  retirement  j    PFoe  is  me  that  I 
 Jbjourn  in  Mellieck,  and  dwell  in  the  tents  ofY^t- 
 dar?  How  fenfibly  touched  was  the  hoXyPjalmiJl 
 with  this  afflid:ion  when  he  fays ;    rivers  of 
 tears  run  down  my  eyes^    becaiife  they  keep  not 
 thy  law?    The  Apoftle   tells  the   Philippians^^^],.^^^^ 
 weepingj  of  the  fenfual  and  worldly  enemies  of^  3^- 
 the  crofs  ofChrifi :  and  jufl  Lot  vexed  his  righte-^^^^^'"^'  '"' 
 oiis  joid  from  day  to  day  with  their  unlawful zV^\\.%. 
 deeds. 
 
 We  often  groan  under  the  fenfe  of  other 
 men's  afliBions,  when  it  may  be,  w^e  have 
 none  of  our  own ;  if  ever  we  are  fo  happy ; 
 and  are  called  to  weep  with  them  who  weep, 
 and  mourn  with  them  who  mourn.  The  diflrefles 
 ofthofe  about  us,  and  who  are  dear  to  us,  is 
 often  a  fenfible  grief  to  a  tender  and  generous 
 foul.  God  himfelf  is  reprefented  as  being  af- 
 flioled  in  the  aJfiiSfions  of  his  people :  and  the 
 holy  Apoftle  could  fay  j  IVho  is  weak,  and  I^  Cor.  xj. 
 am  not  weak ;  who  is  offended,  and  I  burn  29- 
 not  ? 
 
 But  of  all  the  troubles  of  this  mortal  ftate, 
 nothing  is  more  grievous  than  the  death  of 
 our  friends  :  when  we  are  called  to  part  with 
 an  old  companion  of  our  lives ;  a  dear  and  in- 
 timate friend,  in  whom  we  placed  a  confi- 
 dence, and  took  delight ;  where  there  has  been 
 a  long  acquaintance,  and  great  endearment; 
 and  many  ties  of  mutual  kindnefs :  this  is  a 
 fad  interruption  to  all  our  pleafures,  and  abates 
 
 the 
 
238  A  Funeral  Sermon  on 
 
 the  relifli  of  every  other  enjoyment.  It  is  a 
 bitter  allay  to  all  the  fweets  of  life ;  and  wrings 
 many  a  tear  from  our  eyes,  and  many  a  groan 
 from  our  heart :  we  mourn  and  refufe  to  be  com- 
 forted^ becaufe  they  are  not.  For  what  is  the 
 world  when  om^  friends  are  removed  out  of  it^ 
 and  we  are  left  as  it  were,  to  converfe  with 
 fir  angers  f 
 
 4.  The  neceffary  di fiance  and  abfence  from 
 the  Lord.  The  Apoftle  diflinguiihes  and  op- 
 pofes  thefe  two :  he  fets  the  bodily  life  in  this 
 world  in  oppolition  to  being  with  Chrift,  ver. 
 6.  Knowing  that  while  we  are  at  home  in  the 
 body^  we  are  abfent  from  the  Lord  j  and  ver.  8. 
 Willing  rather  to  be  abfent  frojn  the  body,  and 
 Phil  i  'z%  P^f^^'^i  '^^'^'^  ^^^  Lord.  And  he  was  in  2ifiraif 
 upon  this  account,  hailing  a  defire  to  depart ^ 
 and  be  with  Chrift.  We  mufl  depart  from 
 hence,  before  we  can  be  V\^ith  the  Lord  \  and 
 quit  the  body,  before  we  can  be  in  heaven i 
 There  is  no  entering  within  the  vail  till  we 
 are  unbodied-,  we  drop  the  body  in  the  duft  in 
 our  afcent  to  heaven  j  for  fiefh  and  blood  can- 
 not inherit  the  kijigdo?n  of  heaven,  nor  corrup- 
 tion inherit  incorriiption. 
 
 And  to  them  who  love  the  Lord  Jfus  Chrifi 
 
 infincerity,   and  place  their  happinefs  in  being 
 
 with  him ;    it  cannot  but  be  an  unealinefs  to 
 
 Prov.xiii.be  loug  abfcnt  and  feparate  from  him.     Hope 
 
 1 2.         deferred  makes  the  heart  fick ;  and  the  very  pof- 
 
 ture  of  expectation  has  fomething  uneafy  in  it. 
 
 While  they  are  long  waiting  for  the  fin  of  God 
 
 from  heaven,  and  love  his  appear afic e  -,  they  are 
 
 fometimes  ready  to  tire  and  faint  with  the 
 
 length 
 
the  Rev^.  Mr.  John  Billingsly.       239 
 
 length  of  the  delay,  and  to  fay  with  the  mo- 
 ther of  Sifera^  Why  is  his  chariot  Jo  long  in  coin- 
 ing f  and  with  the  church ;  cojne.  Lord  yc/iis, 
 come  quickly.  The  flrength  of  their  faith,  and 
 warmth  of  their  defire,  may  reduce  them  to 
 an  uneafy  ftrait,  efpecially  when  their  capaci- 
 ties of  fervice  are  much  abated,  and  their  op- 
 portunities more  confined.  The  clearer  pro- 
 iped:s,  and  fuller  affurance,  and  more  lively 
 foretafte  of  the  heavenly  glory,  make  them 
 more  heartily  weary  of  the  world,  and  unwil- 
 lingly abfent  from  the  Lord ;  even  when  they 
 have  leafl  trouble  and  fuffering  from  it ;  or  en- 
 joy the  greatefl  abundance  of  its  bleffings. 
 
 SECT.     II. 
 
 II.  I  am  to  confider  a  chriftian's  defires  of 
 the  heavenly  happinefs.  He  earnejlly  defires  to 
 be  clothed  upon  ivith  his  hoiife  which  is  from  hea- 
 "oen^  i.  e.  To  be  pofiefs'd  of  the  heavenly  glory 
 in  the  immediate  prefence  of  Chrifl  5  and  the 
 future  glories  of  the  refurredlion.  But  v/hy 
 does  a  chriflian  fo  earneflly  defire  it  5  and 
 what  account  can  be  given  of  it  ? 
 
 There  is  the  weight  of  their  prefent  bur- 
 thens. They  not  only  groan,  but  defire ;  and 
 the  groanings  breed  defires.  Opprefied  nature 
 longs  for  reil  J  and  tho'  every  chriftian  has  not 
 all  the  reafons  of  uneafinefs  before  mentioned, 
 and  fome  have  much  more  of  them  than  o- 
 thers  i  yet  all  have  fome,  and  commonly 
 many  of  them  :  and  the  more  of  them  fall  to 
 their  fhare,  and  the  more  uneafy  they  are  made 
 by  them  -■,  the  more  they  defire  deliverance  and 
 
 eafe. 
 
240  A  Funeral  Sermon  on 
 
 eafe.  So  that  all  the  inftances  of  prefent  grief 
 which  make  them  groan,  are  fo  many  reafons 
 of  their  earneft  delire,  and  make  them  long 
 the  more  for  heaven.  It  would  be  ftrangely 
 imnatural  to  fuppofe  them  eafy  under  fo  many 
 weights,  and  not  to  feel  the  burthen  which 
 often  lies  fo  heavy,  or  not  defire  releafe. 
 
 Besides,  there  is  the  excellency  of  the  heavenly 
 ftate,  or  the  objcB  of  their  defires.  Every  thing 
 ought  to  be  delired  in  proportion  to  its  degrees  of 
 excellence,  and  what  is  really  valuable  and  love- 
 ly in  it.  The  Apoftle  here  particularly  defcribes 
 it.  He  calls  it  the  hoiife  from  heaven  ;  fo  it  is 
 oppofed  to  the  earthly  houfe  of  this  tabernacle. 
 The  prefent  body  is  earthly  in  its  original  and 
 make,  and  in  its  tendency  and  iffue :  it  is  a 
 tabernacle  of  clay,  whofe  foundation  is  in  the  duji; 
 and  will  return  to  the  dufl  from  whence  it  was. 
 But  the  other  will  be  a  heavejily  houje ;  a  houfe 
 from  heaven,  or  of  a  heavenly  make  and  ma- 
 terials ;  fuitable  to  the  heavenly  fhate,  and  glo- 
 rified foul.  In  the  former  verfe,  it  is  a  build- 
 ing of  God',  a  divine  building,  framed,  and 
 reared  by  the  hand  of  God.  He  is  the  author 
 and  efficient  of  it ;  and  the  workmanship  muft 
 be  anfwerable  to  its  author ;  the  efftcTr  fuitable 
 to  its  caufe^  that  is,  moft  excellent  and  perfed: 
 in  its  kind;  for  all  his  works  are  perfeSl.  And, 
 it  is  not  made  with  hands,  like  other  houfes 
 which  partake  of  the  frailty  and  weaknels  of 
 the  maker,  and  are  attended  with  imperfedion 
 and  inconvenience.  And  it  is  eternal  in  the 
 heavens :  an  houfe  of  a  lafling  nature,  and  end- 
 lefs  duration,  which  will  never  perifh  and  de- 
 cay 5 
 
the  Rev^.  Mr.  John   Billingslv.       241 
 
 cay  ',  and  will  never  be  difTolved  and  taken 
 down.  Our  Lord  fpeaks  of  mafiy  manfio?is  //zJohnxiv. 
 his  fat  heft's  houfe :  as  if  every  believer  would  ^" 
 have  a  diftin(ft  abode  of  reft  and  blelTednefs;  or 
 they  were  to  be  difpofed  of  in  feveral  apart- 
 ments fuitable  to  their  different  ftate  and  im- 
 provement in  this  world. 
 
 In  verfe  4,  he  fpeaks  of  being  clothed  upo?2, 
 or  covered  all  over  with  it  -,  and  mortality  be- 
 ing Jwalloived  up  of  life.  And  elfewhere,  this 
 ??iortal  JJ:all  put  on  i?nmortalityj  and  death  be 
 fwalhwed  up  in  njiBory :  death  will  be  utterly 
 abolijhed,  as  an  antiquated  thing,  quite  out  of 
 date  ',  and  there  will  be  no  more  any  deaths  as 
 there  will  be  710  more  ajiy  pain.  Even  the  mor- 
 tal part,  or  what  was  before  mortal  of  us,  will 
 become  immortal. 
 
 He   reprefents  the  future  flate  by  a  pre  fence 
 with  Chrill :  prefent  ^itb  the  Lord.  We  fliall  be 
 brought  into  the  immediate  prefence  of  Chrift, 
 and  light  of  his  glory;  ioxwe Jhallbe  with  himjohnxvU. 
 where  he  is,  and  behold  his  glory.     And  the  im-  24- 
 mediate  fight  of  the  glorihed  Redeemer  will 
 transform  our  fouls  into  a  perfect  llkenefs  to 
 him,    and  fill  them  with  unfpeakable  fatisfac- 
 tion  and  joy.    JFl\/i  befall  appear,  wefiall  be  i  John  Hi. 
 like  him,  jor  we Jljall  fee  him  as  he  is:  and  if 2. 
 noiv  thd  we  fee  him  not,   yet  believing ;    how 
 much  more  when  we  fee  him,    fliall  we  rejoice 
 with  joy  unfpeakable  and  full  of  glory  ?  And  how  i  Pet.  i.g. 
 natural  is  it  to  defire  fo  great  a  good ;    and  to 
 long  for  fuch  a  fate  and  prefence,  fo  different 
 from  our  prefent  flate,    and  fo  every  way  de- 
 firable  and  excellent  ?  It  is  a  greater  wonder, 
 
 R  in 
 
242  ^^  Funeral  Sennon  on 
 
 in  a  juft  eftimate  of  things,  that  chriftians 
 who  have  the  hope  of  heaven,  have  no  more 
 of  the  joy  of  hope,  and  find  no  more  warm  and 
 vigorous  defires  of  fo  perfet5tly  excellent  and 
 agreeable  a  good :  That  the^^zr  ?nore  exceeding 
 and  eternal  weight  of  glory  does  not  make  hea- 
 ven more  defirable,  as  well  as  prefent  affii^iions 
 light ;  that  we  can  endure  life  fo  eafily,  and 
 bear  fo  long  an  abfence  with  patience.  Efpc- 
 cially  if  we  add 
 
 The  peculiar /^;;7/)^r  of  a  chriftian's  mind 
 with  reference  to  it.     This  is  particularly  de- 
 fcribed  by  the  Apoftle  in  this  noble  context : 
 I  fhall  conlider  \\\<t  force  of  the  feveral  expref- 
 lions,   and  reprefent  the  genuine  tejnper  of  a 
 real  chriftian  with  reference  to  the  heavenly 
 ftate.     And  tho'  every  one  does  not  adiually 
 poflefs  it,  in  the  fame  degree  the  Apoftle  did  ; 
 yet  the  prevalence  of  fuch  a  temper  is  efj'ential 
 to  the  chriftian  ftate;  and  the  higher  meafures 
 of  it,  what  every  chriftian  is  obliged  to  defign 
 and  aim  at. 
 
 I.  He  defcribes  it  by  theiry^///?  of  the  hea- 
 venly bleftednefs.  This  he  expreftes  in  ver.  i. 
 by  knowledge.  We  know  that  when  the  earth- 
 ly hoiife  of  this  tabernacle  is  dijfohedy  we  have  a 
 building  of  God.  And  again,  ver.  6.  hiowing  that 
 while  we  are  at  ho?ne  in  the  body^  we  are  abfentfrofn 
 the  Lord.  eiS)aj€s :  knowing  or  confidering  it. 
 But  how  did  he  know  it  ?  not  hy  fight  3  for  it  is 
 invifible:  not, by  any  of  hisyi?«/?i;  for  it  is  out 
 of  the  reach  of  them  all :  but  hy  faith,  which 
 Heb.xi.5.is  the  evidence  of  things  not  feen  :  there  is  an 
 
 evidence 
 
the  Rev^,  Mr.  John  Billingsly.        243 
 
 evidence  in  faith  with  refped:  to  unfeen  things. 
 Faith  is  never   unreafonable,    but  always  the 
 higheft  reafon.     The  Apoflle   iliys,    ive  Z»<^^'t• »  John  Iv. 
 known  a?2d  believed:  and  with  reference  to  this* 
 very  cafe  he  fays  in  ver.  7.   We  walk  by  faith ^ 
 not  by  fight. 
 
 We  know  it  by  faith  in  the  promife  of  God, 
 which  is  the  reafon  and  mcafure  of  faith  :   and 
 therefore  the  Apoftie  fays,  in  hope  of  eternal  life  Tit.  I.  2. 
 which  God  who  cannot  lye  hath  proniifed.     This 
 is  the  true  temper  of  a  chrillian's  mind,  to  be- 
 Heve  the  promife  of  God,  and  rely  upon  his 
 faithfulnefs :  they  have  not  feen,  and  yet  believe  :]°^^^^' 
 and  whom  having  not  fcen^  yet  believing.    They  ^^^j^j^g^ 
 know  there  is  fuch  a  glorious  and  excellent 
 flate,    upon  the  foundation  of  the  divine  pro- 
 mife, with  far  greater  certainty,  than  they  be- 
 lieve upon  credible  report,    there  are  fuch  dif- 
 taqt  countries,    which  they  have  never  feen ; 
 and  which  yet  no  man  pretends  to  doubt  of. 
 
 A  chriflian  is  able  upon  this  principle  to  fiy ; 
 "  I  am  fully  perfuadcd  and  fitistied  of  the 
 *'  truth  of  the  heavenly  ftate^  and  of  a  future 
 *'  happinefs  after  death;  and  a  glorious  ex- 
 *^  change  of  the  body  for  the  Lord  :  If  I  am 
 "  a  true  believer  I  flvall  certainly  enter  into  his 
 "  glory ^  and  be  admitted  to  a  ftate  of  imme- 
 "  diate  enjoyment  upon  the  diirolution  of  my 
 *'  pre fent  frame."  They  dcfire  it  upon  certain 
 knowledge^  and  a  firm  faith  of  it ;  not  by  un- 
 certain report,  or  mere  pro!*able  conjcBure, 
 Hereupon, 
 
 2.  There  is  their  preparation  for  it.     This 
 
 we  have   ver.  5.     Now  he  who  hath  wrought  us 
 
 R  2  for 
 
244  A  Funeral  Sermon  on 
 
 for  the  felf-fame  thing  is  God^  who  hath  alfo  given 
 to  us  the  earneft  qfhisfpirit.  He  hath  wrought 
 us  for  it,  /.  e.  He  hath  fitted  us  for  this  im- 
 mortal flate,  framed  our  minds  fuitable  to  it, 
 and  given  a  difpofition  and  make  of  foul  agree- 
 able to  that  glorious  place,  and  the  noble  ex- 
 ercife  and  enjoyments  of  it.  They  have  a  hea- 
 venly mind  and  temper,  and  are  made  meet  to 
 be  partakers  of  the  inheritance  in  light.  The 
 form  of  the  exprefTion  is  defigned  to  fhew  the 
 greatnefs  of  the  work,  from  the  confideration 
 of  the  author  of  it :  he  who  hath  wrought  us  — 
 is  Gody  q.  d.  This  is  the  work  of  a  God ;  an 
 ad:  of  divine  power.  None  but  God  is  able 
 to  do  fo  great  a  thing,  to  fit  an  apoflate  foul 
 Eph.i.  1 9.  £-Qj.  j-je^ygj^ .  jj-  is  the  working  of  his  mighty  power 
 
 to  US-ward  who  believe. 
 
 He  adds,  who  hath  alfo  given  us  the  earnejl 
 of  his  fpirit^  or  the  pledge  of  enjoyment.  The 
 ianditying  work  of  the  divine  fpirit  in  prepar- 
 ing us  for  the  heavenly  ftate  j  and  his  abiding 
 prefence  with  us ;  is  alfo  an  earneft  of  enjoy- 
 ment :  for  why  are  we  fitted  for  it  at  fo  great 
 an  expence  of  power  j  but  to  pofiefs  it  ?  Shall 
 fo  great  a  preparation  be  loft,  and  prove  in 
 Eph.  iv.  vain  ?  in  this  itn(Q  we  are  alfo  faid  to  be  fealed 
 3°-  by  him  unto  the  day  of  redemption.     And  how 
 
 natural  is  it  to  a  renewed  foul,  and  one  born 
 from  above,  to  tend  thither,  and  defire  to  be 
 clothed  with  the  houje  from  heaven -,  who  both 
 finds  a  fuitablejiefs,  and  pofiTefies  the  earnefl 
 of  it  ?  who  is  fatisfied  of  his  title  by  his  pre- 
 i^xw.  preparation^  who  can  fay,  I  am  perfua- 
 Rom.  vlii.  ^^^  ^Ij^^  neither  death  nor  life- — nor  any  other 
 
 creature 
 
the  Rev'-K  Mr,  John   Billingsly.        245 
 
 creature  JJ:all  he  able  to  fepcirate  us  from  the 
 love  of  God  in  Cbriji  Je/us.     And  /  blow  m  2  Tim.  i. 
 whom  I  have  believed^    and  am  perfuaded  that 
 what  I  have  committed  to  him^  he  is  able  alfo 
 to  keep  unto  that  day. 
 
 3.  Their  courage^  or  fortitude  of  mind. 
 This  is  mentioned  in  ver.  6  Therefore  we  are 
 confident — knowing  that  while  we  are  at  home 
 in  the  body\  we  are  abfciit  from  the  Lord.  And 
 in  ver.  8.  }Fe  are  confident  I  fay  ;  ^ppvples, 
 the  word  don't  import  per/uafion  or  afTur- 
 ance  of  mind,  as  our  tranllation  would  incline 
 one  to  think  ;  but  plainly  courage  or  boldnels ; 
 an  undaunted  fpirit,  fearlefs  of  danger.  It 
 manifeflly  refpedls,  as  appears  by  the  connec- 
 tion, the  difficulty  of  dying,  or  parting  with 
 the  body.  The  cafe  is  plainly  thisj  death 
 ilands  in  the  way  to  heaven,  and  we  mufi:  pafs 
 thro'  the  grave  to  the  manfions  of  glory.  Death 
 with  all  its  terrors  mull  be  tirll  encountered 
 and  overcome;  the  prefent  tabernacle  mufl  be 
 difolved^  and  we  muit  be  alfent  f-om  the  body 
 before  we  can  be  pre  Tent  with  the  Lord.  Why 
 now,  fays  the  Apoflie,  we  have  courage,  and 
 are  of  good  heart ;  we  don't  flinch,  or  (lirink 
 from  the  danger.  We  have  bravery  fufficient 
 to  fupport  our  minds  in  the  profpecfls  andcon- 
 dids  with  death  ;  wc  dare  to  die,  rather  than 
 w^t  be  with  the  Lord. 
 
 Though  death  is  naturally  frightful,  and  is 
 never  deiirable  for  it  felf,  for  it  is  the  greatefl 
 natural  evil:  yet  it  may  be  veiy  reafonably  fo, 
 as  it  (lands  connecfled  with  fomething  elfe,  and 
 i?  coniidered  by  us  as  the  neceflary  paflage  to 
 
 R  3  eternal 
 
246  A  Funeral  Sermon  on 
 
 eternal  life.    So  that  a  chriftian  can  fay  ;  "  tho* 
 "  ten  thoufand  deaths  flood  hi  the  way  to  the 
 "  prefence  of  Chrift,  and  enjoyment  of  hea- 
 "  ven  s  I  would  venture  through  them  all,  ra- 
 "  ther  than  be  for  ever  detained,    and   kept 
 "  from  them.     Tho'  I  lualk  thro*  the  'valley  of 
 "  the  fiadow  of  death ,   yet  will  I  fear  no  evily 
 *'  for  thou  art  with  me.     I  have  got  rid  of  the 
 *'  bondage  oi  ih^  fear  of  death -y    and  am  w^/V- 
 "  /Vzg'  for  my  appointed  change^  and  the  ap- 
 *'  pearance  of  my  Lord."     Hereupon  there  is, 
 4.  Complacency,  or  willingnefs.  This  the 
 Apoftle  adds  in  ver.  8.    IVe  are  confident  Ifay^ 
 and  willing  rather  to  be  abfent  from  the  body, 
 and  prefent  with  the  Lord.    Noi;  only  confident, 
 or  couragious,  with  refpeft  to  the  difficulties  in 
 the  way  ;  but  willing  rather.    The  fenfe  hardly 
 appears  in  our  tranflation :  the  word  Iv^-nX^iv 
 fignifies  complacency,  or  being  well  pie  a  fed.  It 
 is  the  fame  word  which  is  often  ufed  of  the 
 good  pie  afure  of  God.  The  fenfe  is;  "we  have 
 "  a  complacency  of  mind,  or  relifli  of  delight 
 "  in  the  fore-thoughts  of  the  heavenly  flate, 
 "  and  the  expedlation  of  the  houfe  from  heaven. 
 **  We  prefer  it  to  life  it  felf ;  and  choofe  rather 
 **  to  be  abfent  from  the  body,    that  we  may  be 
 *'  prefent  with  the  Lord.     We  have  natural  in- 
 *'  clinations  to  the  body,   and  can't  but  love 
 *'  what  is  apart  of  our  felves:   we  could  be 
 "'  content  to  dwell  in  the  body  as  well  as  other 
 **  men,  if  that  would  confilT:  with  our  proper 
 "  happinefs :  but  now,  in  the  prefent  flate  and 
 *'  confideration  of  the  cafe,    and  taking  the 
 **  thing  as  it  really  il:ands3    wc  rather  incline 
 
the  Rev^,  Mr.  John  Billingsly.        247 
 
 '*  the  other  way,  and  our  ftronger  propeiiiity 
 **  is  to  leave  it.  This  is  what  we  approve  in 
 "  our  dehberate  judgment  of  things :  we  are 
 *'  ^willing  to  die,  for  the  fake  of  being  with  the 
 *'  Lord." 
 
 And  this  arofe  to  fuch  a  pitch  in  the  holy 
 Apoftle,  that  he  was  reduced  to  a  flrait :  /  am  pj^j^  j^  ^s. 
 in  a  fir  ait  betwixt  two^  halving  a  defire  to  de- 
 part, and  be  with  Chriji,  which  is  far  better. 
 His  willingnefs  of  further  fervice  to  the  church ; 
 and  his  defn-e  of  being  with  Chrift,  prefs'd 
 hard  on  either  fide :  only  with  this  difference, 
 that  others  good  made  him  content  to  live;  tho' 
 his  own  de/ires  were  to  depart,  and  that  he  ac- 
 countedyizr  better.  And  can  they  do  other- 
 wife  than  earneilly  deiire  what  is  fo  agreeable 
 and  pleafing  to  them ;  and  what  they  mani- 
 feftly  choofe  and  prefer  ?  they  cannot  but  de- 
 fire  what  is  of  all  other  things  moil:  pleafurable 
 to  their  fouls,  and  the  proper  fitisfad:ion  of 
 their  highefl  hopes.     Add  to  this, 
 
 5.  Their  conftant  endeavours.  This  we 
 find  in  ver.  9.  Wherefore  we  labour,  that  whe- 
 ther prejent  or  ahj'ent  we  may  be  accepted  of  him  : 
 evdps^oij  well-pleafing  to  him,  and  approved 
 of  him.  His  favour  is  our  happinefs  living  and 
 dying ;  in  this  world,  and  in  the  other.  Now, 
 fays  the  Apoftle,  wc  labour,  or  we  endeavour : 
 *'  this  is  our  main  view,  and  conftant  care  in 
 **  all  we  do  j  what  we  make  the  drift  and  de- 
 "  iign  of  our  whole  lives,  and  to  which  we 
 *'•  refer  every  other  thing.  This  is  the  end  of 
 *^  all  our  endeavours  and  diligence  in  the  chri- 
 *'  ftian  life  j  of  all  our  attendance  on  duties  and 
 
 R  4  "  ufs. 
 
248  A  Funeral  Sermon  on 
 
 *'  life  of  means;  for  this  we  ilrive,  and  watch 
 **  and  pray."  So  he  had  faid  in  the  laft  verfe 
 of  the  foregoing  chapter  :  we  look  at  the  things 
 which  are  notjeen^for  they  are  eternal:  a-aoTrspJcav, 
 this  is  our  /cope;  the  center  of  our  endeavours, 
 and  the  mark  at  which  we  always  aim.  And 
 he  fpeaks  in  this  fenfe  oi  feeking  glory  and  ko- 
 ?tour  and  immortality ;  and,  feeking  another 
 country,  that  is^  a  heavenly  one;  which  plain- 
 ly imports  the  bent  and  drift  of  their  courfe 
 and  walk. 
 
 I  fhall  only  further  obferve,  that  the  word 
 alfo  imports  ambition,  (p/Ao7//xs/^g^  ;  and  it  is 
 as  if  he  had  faid;  "  this  is  the  higheft  honour 
 "  of  which  we  are  ambitious,  and  what  we 
 "  propofe  as  the  proper  prize.  We  efteem 
 *'  the  favour  and  acceptance  of  God  as  the 
 *'  highefl  point  of  honour;  and  value  his  ap- 
 "  probation  and  well-pleafedncfs  v^ith  us  above 
 ^*  the  higheft  opinion  of  men,  and  th."  greateft 
 "  worldly  advancement."  The  Apoftle  could 
 Cor.  iv.  fay  ;  But  with  fne  it  is  a  very  /mall  thing  that 
 Ijhould  be  judged  of  you^  or  of  mari s  judgment 
 
 but  he  who  judge th  me  is  the  Lord :  "  Let 
 
 **  me  ftand  right  in  his  account,  tho'  all  the 
 
 world  condemn  me ;  let  me  be  approved  of 
 
 my  proper  judge,  and  I  value  not  the  cen- 
 
 fures  and  reproach  of  men."     And  can  they 
 
 chufe  but  defne  what  is  the  end  of  their  faith, 
 
 or  chriftian  courfe ;  the  very  defign  and  bu- 
 
 fmefs  of  their  whole  lives  to  attain  ;  and  what 
 
 they   value  and   regard  above    every  outward 
 
 goodf 
 
 III, 
 
 f< 
 
the  Rev^.Mr.  John  Billingsly.        249 
 
 III.  I  fhall  clofe  this  fubje<fl  with  two  or 
 three  praBical  remarks  very  briefly. 
 
 1.  We  may  learn  from  hence,  the  nature 
 of  the  prefent  ftate.  It  is  made  up,  accord- 
 ing to  this  account  of  it,  o^  groans  2in6.  dejires : 
 we  groan  under  prefent  burthens,  and  defire 
 a  future  happinefs.     The  one  is  the  fruit  of 
 
 fallen  nature,  the  other  of  the  renewed  nature. 
 The  one  is  the  eifed:  of  the  ctirje  j  the  other 
 of  divine  grace.  This  is  the  fiate  of  tJie 
 chriftian  hfe  in  this  world ;  it  is  a  flate  of 
 trial  and  conflict,  and  of  preparation  and  ex- 
 pedation.  We  are  either  groaning  under  our 
 burthens,  or  longing  and  wifliing  for  reft.  So 
 little  reafon  have  v^e  to  be  fond  of  the  body 
 which  gives  lis  fo  much  unealinefs;  or  to  take 
 up  our  reft  in  this  world  which  is  not  our  hap- 
 pinefs. 
 
 2.  The  difference  between  fincere  chriftians 
 and  other  men.  They  groan  under  their  pre- 
 fent burthens  indeed,  and  have  fometimes  a 
 larger  fliare  than  other  men  :  but  then  they 
 have  their  defires  too  ;  they  earfie/lly  dc/ire  their 
 hoiife  from  heaven.  And  it  is  a  great  allay  un- 
 der our  prefent  burthens  and  forrovvs,  to  have 
 the  hopes  of  the  heavenly  reft  and  joy. 
 
 But  now  wicked  men  have  groans  without 
 delires :  they  groan  under  prefent  burthens  too; 
 but  have  no  defires  of  the  heavenly  ftate.  They 
 enjoy  only  the  good  of  this  bodily  life  and 
 ftate,  and  that  is  often  mixed  with  2;iief  and 
 groans ;  and  they  have  no  comfort  under  their 
 troubles,  but  what  this  world  can  give  them ; 
 no  dcfrcs  of  a  hoife  from  heaven^  nor  faith  and 
 
 iitnefs 
 
$^o  A  Funeral  Sermon  on 
 
 iitnefs  for  the  heavenly  flate.  When  they  quit 
 the  body  and  leave  the  world,  they  lofe  all  the 
 good  they  fliall  ever  have ;  for  their  portion  is 
 in  this  life,  and  they  have  their  reward  here. 
 So  that  their  cafe  comes  to  this :  they  enjoy 
 their  prefent  good  with  many  groam^  and  leave 
 it  at  laft  for  eternal  for  rows. 
 
 3.  We  fhould  look  well  to  our  inter  eft  in 
 the  heavenly  glory.  We  groan  under  prefent 
 burthens;  this  is  the  common  lot  of  fallen  na- 
 ture, and  we  find  it  true  by  fad  experience. 
 But  have  we  earneft  defres  of  heaven  ?  We 
 muft  quickly  be  unclothed :  I  may  invert  the 
 Apoftle's  words  j  the  day  isfarfpent  with  many 
 of  us,  the  night  is  at  hand.  Death  will  ftrip 
 us  of  all  our  prefent  enjoyments,  and  of  our 
 bodily  nature :  can  we  warrantably  look  to  be 
 clothed  upon  with  the  houfe  from  heaven ;  and 
 to  be  received  into  everlajling  habitations^  when 
 the  prefent  tabernacle  is  diJJ'olved? 
 
 It  infinitely  concerns  us  to  confider  the  ftate 
 we  are  in,  as  to  the  immortal  life  of  the  other 
 world ;  and  the  evidence  of  our  interefl.  Why, 
 according  to  the  prefent  temper  of  our  minds, 
 fuch  is  om- Ji ate,  and  fuch  the  meafure  of  our 
 hopes.  I  don't  mean  the  flight  and  fudden 
 motions  of  mind  ;  the  rifings  and  workings  of 
 our  affe(5tions  under  the  power  of  prefent  con- 
 vi(5tions  of  mind,  or  great  afflictions  of  life: 
 they  are  fleeting  and  deceitful ;  and  a  very  un- 
 certain and  unfafe  rule  of  judgment :  but  what 
 is  the  habitual,  abiding,  prevailing  temper  of 
 our  minds.  Have  we  the  chriflian  frame  be- 
 fore defcribed,  confifting  in  faith,  preparation, 
 
 courage. 
 
the  Rev^,  Mr.  John  Billing  sly.        251 
 
 courage,  complacency,  and  endeavours?  Be 
 exceeding  careful  not  to  miftake  in  a  matter  of 
 fo  great  a  confequence :  and  let  me  leave  this 
 important  thought  with  anfwerable  weight  up- 
 on all  your  minds ;  that  it  is  not  names  and 
 appearances  will  fit  men  for  heaven.  All  our 
 privileges  and  enjoyments,  all  our  knowledge 
 and  profelTion,  will  fignify  nothing  to  this  pur- 
 pofe,  without  a  right  temper,  and  a  heavenly 
 make  of  mind.  Without  this  we  fliall  be 
 found,  under  the  greateil  advantage  of  life, 
 and  higheft  confidence  of  mind,  to  have  built 
 upon  a  deceitful  ground ;  and  fliall  meet  with 
 a  fad  difappointment  at  lafl. 
 
 4.  The  happineis  of  ^/t'/'^r/t'*^  faints,  who 
 are  clothed  upon  with  thei?-  hoiffe  from  heaven^ 
 tho'  the  earthly  hoi'le  of  their  tabernacle  is  dif- 
 J'ohed.  They  groaned  here,  being  burthened: 
 and  tliey  earnejlly  de fired  the  heavenly  refl.  And 
 they  are  now  delivered  from  the  burthen  of 
 the  mortal  body,  and  all  the  groans  and  for- 
 rows  it  occalioned.  It  is  now  with  them  ac- 
 cording to  their  defires:  they  have  their  own 
 defn-e ;  they  are  where  they  would  be.  They 
 would  not  change  worlds  back  again  for  all 
 the  world ;  or  return  into  this  frail  body,  for 
 all  the  enjoyments  of  life.  They  have  the  full 
 fatisfadion  of  their  highefl  delires,  and  the 
 perfed:ion  of  their  felicity  and  joy.  And  what 
 comfort  is  this  to  furvivi?2g  friends  in  fuch  a 
 cafe,  to  confider  their  releafe  from  the  bur- 
 thens of  life,  and  the  clothing  of  the  heavenly 
 hoiife :   that  they  are  now  at  perfe(^  eafe,  and 
 
 in 
 
252  A  Funeral  Sermon  on 
 
 tnfulnefs  of  joy ;  and  that  mortality  is  fw  allowed 
 up  of  life. 
 
 And  this  leads  me  to  fpeak  of  my  deceafed 
 friend  and  brother,  the  reverend  Mr.  fohn 
 Billing  fly;  in  whom  both  parts  of  the  text 
 were  Hterally  fulfilled :  He  ^r^^;^^^  under  the 
 burthen  of  the  mortal  body  3  and  earneftly  de- 
 fired  the  hoiife  from  heave?i.  1  fliall  give  you 
 this  fhort  account  and  characfter  of  him ;  and 
 fhall  prefcribe  this  law  to  my  felf ;  to  fay  no- 
 thing but  what  I  believe  is  true  of  him,  and 
 may  be  for  the  edification  of  others. 
 
 He  was  born  at  Cheflerfield  in  Derbyfiire^ 
 and  was  the  fon  of  the  ejecfled  minifler  of  that 
 place  \  a  perfon  of  great  piety  and  worth ; 
 and  a  dear  and  intimate  Friend  of  the  late  ex- 
 cellent Mr.  Matt.  Silvefter.  We  have  a  par- 
 ticular  account  of  him  in  Dr.  Cala?jiys  abridg- 
 
 169.  Vol.  n^ent ;  and  an  handfome  Latin  Epitaph  drawn 
 
 2-,  up  by  his  fon. 
 
 Our  Mr.  Billing  fly  was  firfl  admitted  a 
 member  of  I'rinity-College  in  Cambridge  % 
 and  when  neither  his  inclination,  nor  circum- 
 flance,  allowed  his  longer  continuance  there, 
 he  was  placed  under  the  care  of  the  famous 
 Mr.  Reyner  of  Lificoln  j  and  had  confiderable 
 afTiflance  afterward  from  his  worthy  father, 
 and  his  uncle  Whitlock  of  Nottingham.  He 
 was  ordained  to  the  miniflry  by  fafling  and 
 prayer,  and  impofition  of  hands  by  his  father, 
 the  eminent  Mr.  Robert  Porter^  Mr.  John  Old- 
 field,  Mr.  Edward  Prime,  Mr.  William  Cotes, 
 names  of  renown  in  that  country  j  and  at  the 
 
 fame 
 
the  Rev^,  Mr,  John    Billingsly.      253 
 
 fame  time  with  Mr.  Jo/m  OUfieU/jun.  Mr.  Sa- 
 muel  Cotes,  and  Mr.  Samuel  Rofe, 
 
 He  entred  upon  the  miniflry  in  the  dark- 
 eft  times  of  King  Charles  the  fecond's  reign,  as 
 feveral  other  of  our  worthy  brethren  alfo  did, 
 who  yet  remain  among  us  j  without  any  prof- 
 pedts  of  worldly  advantage,  or  even  opportu- 
 nity of  publick  fervice  ;  and  under  the  great- 
 eft  difficulties,  and  difcouragement.  His  firft 
 fervices  were  at  ChefierfM^  on  the  Lord's-day 
 evenings :  He  preached  for  feven  years  at  Sel~ 
 fion^  to  a  plain  but  ferious  auditory  j  and  after- 
 ward removed  to  Kingjlon  upon  Hull,  where 
 he  lived  ten  years  with  as  great  ufefulnefs,  and 
 reputation,  as  any  minifter  in  thofe  parts. 
 
 Soon  after  his  coming  to  this  city,  the 
 providence  of  God  directed  his  fettlement  in 
 this  place,  with  the  advice  and  opinion  of  fe- 
 veral worthy  minifters  his  particular  friends. 
 He  continued  among  us  about  fifteen  years, 
 and  preached  among  us,  as  conftantly  as  the 
 frequent  returns  of  bodily  diforder  would  ad- 
 mit. I  ever  efteemed  him  a  great  blefiing  to 
 the  congregation ;  and  I  believe  he  was  thought 
 fo  by  every  one  in  it.  We  lived  together 
 through  that  courfe  of  time  in  a  perfed:  unin- 
 terrupted friendftiip  and  endearment :  His  la- 
 bours, and  his  memory,  will  be  always  pre- 
 cious in  my  account. 
 
 As  to  \i\%  perjonal  charaBer  \  he  was  a  man 
 of  grQ2iX.fmcer{ty  and  plain nefs  of  heart ;  as  re- 
 mote from  guile  and  defign  as  any  man  I  ever 
 knew  fo  well.  His  fpirit  was  deeply ymW;-; 
 and  under  an    habitual    awe  and  reverence  of 
 
 God. 
 
254  -^  Funeral  Sermon  on 
 
 God.  His  higheft  care  and  ambition  was  to 
 pleafe  God,  and  be  accepted  of  him  in  all  he 
 did.  He  was  a  diligent  enquirer  after  know- 
 ledge, and  ufed  great  application  to  inform 
 his  mind,  and  fit  himfelf  for  his  iacred  work. 
 He  was  v^tW  furjiijhed  with  the  feveral  parts  of 
 ufeful  learning,  and  well  accquainted  with  the 
 antient  and  modern  languages^  in  which  he 
 took  a  particular  pleafure,  and  was  a  confide- 
 rable  critick.  He  was  exceeding  humble  and 
 modeft  under  all  his  attainments,  and  had  a 
 natural  diffidence,  and  diftrufl  of  himfelf. 
 He  was  always  ready  to  receive  light  from  the 
 meanefl  hand  j  and  paid  a  great  deference  to  the 
 judgment  and  reafons  of  other  men.  He  had 
 learnt  of  his  Lord  to  be  meek  and  lowly  of 
 heart,  and  lived  peaceably  with  all  men  in  the 
 feveral  places  of  his  abode :  He  had  a  natural 
 averfion  in  all  affairs  to  any  methods  of  vio- 
 lence and  wrath.  He  was  peculiarly  remark- 
 able for  tender nefs  of  mind,  and  a  fcrupulous 
 confcientioufnefs  in  all  his  ways.  His  conver- 
 fation,  thro'  a  long  courfe,  and  many  trials, 
 was  unblameable  and  exemplary.  In  fome 
 matters  of  late  difference  among  us,  which  ap- 
 peared at  firfl  view  to  have  a  difficulty  j  no 
 man  was  more  anxioufly  careful  to  fee  his  way, 
 or  more  throughly  fatisfied  in  his  deliberate 
 judgment  about  them. 
 
 His  preaching  was  always  folid  and  judi- 
 cious}   the    refult  of  mature    thoughts,   and 
 great  diligence.     He  never  offered  to  God  that 
 which  cofl   him  nothing,  or  latisfied  himfelf 
 with  fudden  and  loofe  compofures  i  he  ahvays 
 
 did 
 
the  Rev^»  Mr.  John  Billingsly.      255 
 
 did  his  beft  in  the  circumflance  in  which  he 
 flood ;  and  never  allowed  himfelf  in  idle  ne- 
 glecfts,  or  unguarded  Hberties,  where  he  ap- 
 prehended the  honour  of  divine  truth,  and 
 the  welfare  of  the  fouls  of  men,  were  concern- 
 ed. His  manner  W3.5  grave  and  feriousi  and 
 fometimes  upon  awakening  and  important  fub- 
 jed:3,  very  folemn  and  awful  j  fuch  as  exceed- 
 ingly engaged  the  attention,  and  afFedled  the 
 hearts  of  the  hearers.  His  JubjeBs  were  the 
 great  things  of  God's  law,  and  the  peculiar 
 dodlrines  of  the  gofpel ;  which  he  had 
 throughly  digefted  in  his  mind,  and  knew 
 well  how  to  reprefent  to  others.  His  ufual 
 method  was  to  reduce  his  fubjed:  into  propoji- 
 tions^  and  then  apply  it  fuitably  to  the  various 
 cafes. 
 
 He  fpent  feveral  winters  in  a  catechetical 
 evening;  exercife  on  the  Lord's-day  to  a  nume-  ^,  ^.. 
 rous  congregation  m  the  heart  or  the  city ;  and  Jewry, 
 went  over  in  his  expoiitions  both  the  Ihorter, 
 and  larger  affemblies  catechiftns,  and  the  prin- 
 cipal points  of  the  popijh  controverfy.  Many, 
 efpecially  of  the  younger  perfons  who  attend- 
 ed that  exercife,  remember  it  with  pleafure : 
 God  remarkably  own'd  and  blefled  his  endea- 
 vours for  found  inftrudtion,  and  ferious  im- 
 preffions  upon  the  hearts  of  many. 
 
 He  was  excellent  in  prayer,  and  remark- 
 able for  pertinence   anAfulneJs   of  matter  upon 
 Jpecial    occalions.     The   many    opportunities 
 we  have   had  of  praying  together  in  private 
 families,    and   upon    particular    emergencies, 
 
 have 
 
556  A  Funeral  Sermon  o?t 
 
 have  given  very  affedling  and  inftruding  in- 
 ftances  of  it. 
 
 He  was  tender  of  the  reputation  of  younger 
 minifters,  and  greatly  delighted  in  their  con- 
 verfation.  Nothing  was  a  more  agreeable  en- 
 tertainment than  to  communicate  any  light 
 and  diredlion,  which  his  own  obfervation  and 
 experience  had  furnifhed  him  with :  and  he 
 greatly  rejoiced  in  the  hopeful  profpedls  from 
 the  ferious  fpirit,  and  excellent  accomplifh- 
 ments  of  feveral  of  them.  And  younger  mi- 
 nifters  mull  be  countenanced  and  encouraged, 
 if  ever  we  exped:  to  keep  up  the  intereft  of 
 chrijlian  liberty^  and  praBical godl'mefs^  among 
 us.  He  had  himfelf  the  fingular  bleffing  of 
 feeing  five  children  grown  up,  and  difpofed  of 
 in  the  world,  who  were  all  dutiful  and  religi- 
 ous ;  one  of  them  a  worthy  minifter,  who  is 
 labouring  in  the  vineyard  with  great  acceptance 
 and  fuccefs. 
 
 He  laboured  under  the  great  infelicity  of  a 
 crazy  conftitution^  which,  he  ufed  to  fay,  he 
 brought  into  the  world  with  him ;  and  was  of- 
 ten exercifed  with  weaknefs  and  pain.  He  has 
 many  a  time  gone  into  the  pulpit,  without 
 any  comfortable  reil  the  night  before,  and 
 groaning  under  the  burthen  of  the  mortal 
 body.  '  He  ufed  to  repeat  upon  fuch  occalions 
 an  expreffion  he  heard  from  the  mouth  of  an 
 excellent  perfon,  who  was  much  experienced 
 this  way  ;  "  when  we  are  fick  we  groan,  when 
 "  we  are  well  we  lufl :  ficknefs  is  our  burthen, 
 "  health  is  our  fnare."  In  all  his  long  and 
 various  exercife,  he  always  exprelTed  a  patient 
 
 fubmiffion. 
 
 Mr.  Bax 
 ter. 
 
the  Rev^,  Mr.  John  BillinoslYo        25 
 
 fubmilTion,  and  humble  refignation,  to  the  di- 
 vine willi  and  was  only  Iblicitous,  that  his 
 faith  and  patience  might  hold  out  to  the  end. 
 
 His  natural  temper  was  fomething  mela?!- 
 choiy  and  timorous.  When  I  dilcourled  with 
 him  concerning  his  fpiritual  ftate,  and  future 
 profpecfls,  in  his  lall;  licknefss  he  ipake  to  this 
 ienfe  j  "  I  hope  my  heart  has  been  right  with 
 "  God  :  I  think  I  have  made  it  the  bufinefs  of 
 "  my  life  to  pleafe  him:  I  have  an  humble 
 "  conhdence  in  the  covenant  fiithfulnefs  of  a 
 "  gracious  God  J  and  thd  precious  merit  of  the 
 "  RedeemxCr's  blood:  biit  pretend  not  to  tran- 
 ^'  fports  of  aifeillion,  and  rapturous  joys;  for, 
 "  fays  he,  you  know  my  temper  and  make." 
 
 He  had  a  profound  reverence  of  the  glori- 
 ous majefty  of  God  :  The  higheft  thoughts^ 
 and  moil  ardent  affection  to  the  blelfed  Re- 
 deemer :  his  foul  was  full  of  love  to  all  good 
 men  :  And  he  poifeffed  a  fettled  peace  and 
 compofure  of  mind :  nor  did  his  bodily  weak- 
 iiefs,  or  fearful  temper,  which  ever  made  him 
 cautious  and  humble,  appear  to  diflurb  his 
 peace,  or  give  him  uneafmefs  of  mind. 
 
 He  had  a  large  acquaintance  among  the  ie- 
 rious  and  judicious  part  of  the  Town^  of  all 
 the  denominations  among  us ;  and  poifelled  a 
 general  love  and  erteem.  I  believe  he  is,thoueht 
 by  all  who  knew  him  a  lols  to  the  world,  and 
 to  the  church  of  God. 
 
 It  will  be  but  a  little  time,  and  it  will  be 
 faid  of  pie,  and  faid  of  every  one  ofyoij,  "  he 
 is  dead."  Many  of  our  friends  are  already  jvj/- 
 kfi  ajleep'j    we  are  haflening  apace  one  after 
 
 S  another. 
 
 ^ 
 
25 
 
 8  A  Funeral  Sermon, 
 
 another.  God  only  knows  whofe  turn  It  will 
 be  next ;  and  God  grant,  that  whenever  our 
 turn  fliall  come,  we  may  be  found  ready  j  and 
 may  be  able  to  leave  the  world  without  uneafy 
 fear^  and  with  the  well-grounded  hope  of  e- 
 ternal  life. 
 
 S  E  R- 
 
'S9 
 
 S  E  R  M  O  N     IV. 
 
 Finiining  the  Chnftiaii   Gourfe 
 coniidered  and  argued. 
 
 Ac 
 
 TS 
 
 2  '*  . 
 
 But  72one  of  thefc  ihifiTS  mo~oe  iiie^  nei- 
 ther cou?it  1 77iy  life  dkar  ten  to  myjeify 
 Jo  that  I  anight  finijh  7Tiy  courje  with 
 joy^   and  the  Ivliniftry  "which  I  have 
 7'eceived  of  the  Lo?'d  yefus^   to  tejli- 
 fy  the  Gofpcl  of  the  Grace  of  God. 
 
 I  Think  myfelf  very  nnliappy  this  day,  that 
 the  firil  time  I  am  called  to  preach  in  this 
 place,  ,  fliould  be  iipoa^this  mournful  oc- 
 cafion. — But  I  mufb  not  touch  this  tender 
 point  too  foon,  lefl  I  prevent  myfelf  in  what  I 
 have  further  to  fay. 
 
 The  words  arc  part  of  the  Apoftle's  dii- 
 courfe  to  the  elders  of  Epbefiis^  in  which  he 
 declares  to  them  his  pad:  courfe  and  manner 
 of  life,  and  what  was  the  temper  of  his  miiid, 
 and  his  dodrinc  and   minidry  among  them  ; 
 
 S  2  Xe 
 
260  A  Funeral  Ser-mon  on 
 
 —  '9-  Te  know  after  what  manner  I  have  been  with 
 you  at  all  feajbnsy  ferving  the  Lord  with  all  hu- 
 mility of  mind^  and  with  many  tears  and  temp- 
 tations which  befell  me :  i.  e.  with  a  great  fenfe 
 of  his  own  unworthinefs,  which  he  always  kept 
 in  view ;  and  an  affe(ftionate  concern  for  the 
 fuGcefs  of  his  fervice,    and  with  many  tryals 
 
 —20.      from  his  enemies,     ^nd  how  I  kept  back  no- 
 thing which  was  profitable  unto  you  -,  but  have 
 Jhewed  you    and    taught   you   publickly^     and 
 from  hoife  to    houfe :    He   with-held    no  part 
 of  the   Chriflian   Doftrine    from  them,    nor 
 
 —27.  ftmnned  to  declare  all  the  counfel  of  God;  and 
 took  all  occalions  to  inculcate  it  in  their  pub- 
 lick  alTemblies,  and  in  their  own  houfes.  But 
 he  kept  to  things  profitable  to  them^  and  of 
 great  importance,  and  did  not  trouble  them  with 
 impertinent  curiofities,    and  unprofitable   ni- 
 
 —21.  cety.  Thefe  he  fums  up  in  r^^f;2/^;7<:^ /OTO^r^-c 
 God^  and  faith  in  our  Lordyefus  Chrif;  which 
 were  abfolutely  neceflary  to  the  filvation  of  a 
 Jew^  and  fufficient  to  iave  a  Gcjitile. 
 
 He  further  declares  to  them  the  profped:  he 
 liad  of  fufrering  before  him  :  And  7iow  behold  I 
 
 jiAfj.i-_    go  bound  in  fpirit  to  Jerufalem,  not  knowing  the 
 
 [^,  things  which  kief  all  jne    there  ;  i.  e.  by  the  im- 
 
 pulfe  and  dire<flion  of  the  fpirit;  forefeeing  by 
 
 the  fpirit,  and  afTured  by  the  prcdi6lion  of  in- 
 
 fpired  and  prophetical  men,   which  he  calls  in 
 
 the  next  verfe,    the  witneffing  of  the   Holy 
 
 Cih.oft ;  fave  that  the  Holy  Ghojl  witnefeth  in 
 
 every  city,  foying^    that  bonds  and  afliBio?2s  a- 
 
 bide  me.     He  teftified  this  bv  fome  who  had 
 
 ht  ipiri  of  prophefv,    as  we  find  particularly^ 
 
 ^  '  Chaiy. 
 
 •z. 
 
 \ 
 
 VJiV/ua 
 
fie  Rev^,  Dr.  John  Evans.  261. 
 
 Chap.  xxi.  4,  II.  q.  d.  Tho'  I  don't  know  what 
 my  particular  fufFerlngs  will  be,  and  what  the 
 circumftances  and  ifTues  of  them;  yet  I  am 
 well  allured  that  wherever  I  go,  I  ftiall  meet 
 with  fjiFerings  of  one  kind  or  another. 
 
 The  words  of  the  text  defcribe  the  temper 
 of  his  mind  in  this  flate  and  profpedl  of  things. 
 They  confiil  of  two  parts; 
 
 I.  His  fledfaft  7'efolution  and  iirmnefs  of 
 mind  under  prefent  tryals ;  None  of  thefe  things 
 move  me,    neither  count  I  m.y  life  dear  to  my- 
 
 II.  His  great  defire  and  aim  in  it ;  fo  that  I ' 
 may  fniJJj  my  courfe  with  joy^    and  the  minifiry 
 'which  1  have  received  of  the  Lord,  &c. 
 
 I  fliall  confider  them  both,  and  apply  them 
 in  the  clofe. 
 
 I.  Here  is  his  fledfaft  rcfoliition  and  iirm- 
 nefs of  mind  under  prefent  tryals.  And  this 
 lies  in  tv/o  things. 
 
 I.  That  he  was  not  movedhy  them  :  he  was 
 immoveable  at  the  threatning  profped:.  None 
 of  thefe  things  move  me,  iiS'evoi  Miyov  'woii^fjiai, 
 I  make  no  account  of  any  of  tl^m  ;  literally, 
 I  don't  make  a  word  of  them,  or  think  them 
 worth  mentioning.  The  expreffion  imports 
 not  only  a  fixed  refolution,  but  a  wife  and  ra- 
 tional determination  of  mind,  upon  a  due 
 weighing  and  comparing  things  together,  and 
 confidering  the  reafons  on  either  hand..      It 
 
 S  3  W.U 
 
262  A  Funeral  Sermorz  o?t 
 
 "''  was  a  deliberate  purpofe  upon  a  certain  pro- 
 ipeil  J  q,  d.  1  kjtow  that  ho?ids  and  aJjtiBions  a- 
 bide  me^  and  am  fully  perliiadcd  by  the  reve- 
 lation of  the  fpirit ;  but  this  does  not  fhake 
 my  faith  and  refolution,  or  deter  me  from  my 
 duty,  or  difcoiirage  me  in  it.  I  am  not  mo^oed 
 from  my  fieiifapf fiefs  by  the  certain  profped:  of 
 fufiering ;  tho'  I  fee  my  danger  before  me,  I 
 am  i?i  nothrag  terrified^  or  oppreffed  with  the 
 ^pprehenfion  j  neither  brought  to  make  a  ftand 
 in  my  way,  or  confult  my  fafety  by  a  timely 
 retreat.  I  find  myfelf  in  fall  heart,  and  arn 
 determined  v/ith  unfliaken  refolution  to  go  on 
 in  my  way,  and  fland  the  fl^ock  of  all  aflaults 
 from"  every  quarter :  I  have  counted  the  cofl, 
 and  am  prepared  for  all  events. 
 
 Tins   was  the  herolck   courage,    and  un- 
 daunted bravery  of  the  Apoftle's  fpirit  in  the 
 face  of  danger,  and  the  nearefl  viev/s  of  it. 
 Nor  v/as  this  a  vain  boaO;  j    for  we  find  him 
 ileady  and  unniovedj  preferving  a  firmnefs  and 
 compofare  of  mind,  •  and  expreffihg  a  noble 
 triiiinpli  and  joy,  in  the  greatefl  tryals  he  met 
 4iom.v.3.  with.     W^  gloried  in  tribulations^  and  in  the 
 ,  Cor,  xii.  ^'^^fi  ^f  ^-b^iJ^  3    took  pleafiire  in  infirmities  a?id 
 10.  difre/jes for  Chrifl filie  \  "and  reckoned  ihtfiff- 
 
 ^a^,f''^'feri??gs  qf^t]:/f!  prefcnt  life  not  ".vorthy  to  be  com- 
 pared ivith  fke  glory  to  be  revealed. 
 .  ■  2.  He  did  not  value  his  life.  Neither  count 
 I  my  life  dear  id  iny  fclf.  Here  the  word  Ix^un 
 is  underlldbdj  as  appears  by  the  wj  in  the  latter 
 claufei  q,  d.  1  count  not  my  life  fo  dear  as  to 
 finiih  my  courfej  I  reckon  that  uf  more  con- 
 iequence  than  my  life;     The  exprciTioh  is  an 
 
 hebraijmc^ 
 
XXXVl.    ^. 
 
 itie  Rev^*  Dr,  ]oHN  Evans.  263 
 
 ebraifme^  often  ufed  in  the  old  teftament.     A 
 man's  life  is  faid  to  be  dear  to  him  when  he  is 
 careful  of  it,  and  willing  to  fave  it  from  danger, 
 and  loth  to  part  with  it.     So  the  captain  of 
 the  third  fifty  /aid  to  Elijah-,    O  man  of  God ^  2Kmgi, 
 I  pray  thee  let  my  life,  and  the  life  of  thfe  fifty ,  i3'  h- 
 thy  fervantSy    be  precious  in  thy  fight.     On  tlie 
 contrary,  'tis  not  precious,  when  'tis  not  ipared, 
 and  is  ready  to  be  laid  down  -,    ib  we  read  in 
 the  prophet,  after  the  tranllation  of  the  Seventy, 
 which  beft  exprefles  the  fenfe  of  the  Hebrew, 
 they  defpifed  their  lives;    which  we  render  ob-Ez^k. 
 fcureiy,  with  defpiteful  minds. 
 
 So   the  fenle   here  is,    I   know   the  worfl  ^JX;^«V^ 
 which  can  befall  me,  and  the  utmofl  my  ene-  ^>^^IJ 
 mies  can  do  j  they  can  only  kill  the  body,  and^?:.' 
 take  away  my  lifej    and  I  am  fo  far  from  be- 
 ing afraid  of  lufFering,  that  I  am  not  afraid  of 
 dying.     I  am  ready  to  fpend  or  part  with  my 
 life  in  the  fervice  of  Chrift,    or  for  his  caufe. 
 My  life  is  devoted  to  him,   and  'tis  the  lame 
 thing  to  me,  to  lay  it  out,    or  lay  it  down  for 
 him,  to  Ipend  it  in  painful  fervice,  or  lofe  it 
 by  violent  fufFering. 
 
 And  we  find  this  was  acflually  the  cafe,  and 
 the  temper  he  expreft  upon  the  tryal.  When 
 the  difciples  of  Cefarea  diifuaded  him  from  go- 
 ing to  jerufalem,  upon  Agabiis^  prophefy  of 
 his  fuffcring  there ;  he  fays,  IVhat  mean  you  to 
 weep  and  to  break  my  heart  f  to  move  the  ten- 
 der pafjions  of  my  nature,  by  your  immode- 
 rate afFccftion  to  me.  /  am  ready  not  to  be  bound  ^^ 
 only,  but  alfo  to  die  at  yerufalem,  for  the  name  13. 
 of  the  Lord  Jefus.  He  tells  the  PhilippianSj 
 S  4  According 
 
 XXI- 
 
264  ^  Funeral  Sermon  on 
 
 Fbiiip.  i.  Accardiyig  to  my  carneft  expeuiation  and  hope^ 
 ^^'         that  in  720thhtg  IfJjall  be  affoamed^  but  that  with 
 all  boldnefs — -Chrift  may  be  magnified  in  my  body^ 
 ivhcther  by  life  or  by  death ;  by  fervice,  or  fuf- 
 fering.     And  what  a  noble  unconcern  does  he 
 2  Tirn.  Iv.  exprefs  in  the  views  of  a  violent  death!    I  am 
 ^;    ■"      ready  to  be  offered^  andthe  time  of  my  depay-ture 
 is  at  hand:  I  am  not  only  near  it,  but  prepar- 
 ed for  it,  crjii-S'oM^i  to  be  poured  forth  as  a 
 drink-offering,    alluding  to  the  blood  of  the 
 facrifice.' 
 
 II.  His  great  drfire  end  aim  in  it,  or  v/hat 
 he  propofed  to  himfelf,  and  had  in  his  eye,  in 
 this  refolution  of  mind  :  That  I  may  finijh  my 
 £ourf\  &c.  This  is  what  I  would  particularly 
 confider  at  this  time.  And  here  it  will  be  ne- 
 ceiTary,  i.  To  fettle  the  (cn^c  of  the  expref- 
 fions,  and  fiate  the  meaninp;  of  them.  2.  To 
 reprefe?it  the  grounds  of  it,  or  the  reafons  of 
 4uch  a  defire. 
 
 §  la   To  fettle  tht  fcjife  and  meaning  of  the 
 
 igxprelTions.     They  are  allufions  to  the  Olym- 
 
 pick    games    among   the  antient    Greeks^    to 
 
 which  the   Apoflle  often  refers,    efpecially  in 
 
 his  epiflles  to  the  Gentile  chriifians.     To  finijh 
 
 my  courfe^  %A^6oa(xtlou  ^^fjiovy  to  perfed:  my 
 
 cuurfcj  and  bring  it  to  an  end ;  to  run  out  my 
 
 race:    for  the  allufion  is  to  racers  who  run 
 
 within  the  lines  mark'd  out  to  the  appointed 
 
 goal.     ji?2d  the  miniftry  1  have  received  of  the 
 
 Lord  S^axoviav:  If  this  word  is  agonifiicaly  and 
 
 fignified  the  fervants  who  attended  in  the  race, 
 
 ■  -       -  '  the 
 
ths  Rev^^  Dr.  John  Evans.         26J 
 
 the  allufion  is  ftill  preferved,    and  the  expref- 
 fion  the  more  beautiful.     It  plainly  refers  to 
 the  Apoftle£hip,    or  his  extraordinary  miniflry 
 immediately  receiv'd  from  Chri/l.     To  tejlijy 
 the  gofpel  of  the  grace  of  God :    To  tejify  was 
 Droper  to  the  Apoftles,    who  were  peculiarly 
 the  witneffes  of  Chriji.     They  openly  declared 
 the  dodtrine  of  the  Gofpel  to  the  world,    and 
 confirmed   it  by   the  miracles  they  wrought 
 themfelves,    and  by  thofe  which  they  teftiiied 
 concerning  him.    It  was  the  Gofpel  of  the  grace 
 of  God,   as  it  contained  the  greateft  inftance 
 and  difplay  of  the  favour  of  God  to  the  guilty 
 world,    and  was  beftowed  upon  any  place  by 
 a  fpecial  favour.     With  joy  ;  with  cheerfulnefs 
 and  fatisfadion  of  mind.     The  fenfe  is.  That 
 I  may  fully  execute  the  extraordinary  commif-    • 
 fion  immediately   received  from  Chrift,    and 
 -  have  the  fatisfadion  of  a  faithful  difcharge  of 
 it.     So  that  it  diredly  relates  to  the  apofloUcal 
 office,    and  his   immediate  commiffion  to  his 
 extraordinary  work,    and  is  moft  properly  ap- 
 plicable to  the  minijiers  of  the  Gofpel  in  their 
 ordinary  and  flanding  work,     Neverthelefs  I 
 conceive,    they  may  fitly  be  confidered  in  a 
 larger  view,  and  as  they  refpedt  the  common 
 chrljlian,  as  well  as  the  mimjierial  cowxio.',  and 
 perhaps  the  exprellions  here  of  my  courfe  and 
 the  miniftry^  may  be  delign'd  to  have  a  diftind: 
 refped  to  each  3  as  he  had  himfelf  a  chriftian, 
 as  well  as  an  apoftolical  and  minifterial  courfe. 
 And  this  will  render  the  confideration  of  them 
 the  more  profitable,    and  fit  for  common  be- 
 nefit. 
 
 Now 
 
266  A  Fimeral  Sermon  on 
 
 Now  the  iinifhing  our  courfe,  whether  chri- 
 ilian  or  miuifterial,  may  be  confider'd  to  iig- 
 nify,  either, 
 
 I.  The  entirejiefs  zwdi  compleatnefs  of  it;  er 
 the  performing  every  part  of  our  proper  work. 
 The  Apoftie  was  always  exceeding  careful  of 
 this.  He  tells  the  elders,  That  he  had  kept 
 back  nothing  which  was  profitable  to  them^  nor 
 jhunned  to  declare  all  the  coiinfel  of  God.  He 
 2  Tim.  IV.  ^g||g  cj-^^^ffjy^  ^-|^at  he  had  kept  the  faith,   as 
 
 well  as  fimfSd  his  courfe,    i.  e.   prcfervcd  the 
 dod:rine  of  the  Golpel  entire  and  uncorrupt, 
 without  any  maim  or  mixture.     He  exhorts 
 Colof.  IV.  jlrchippus,  "-To  fulfil  his  miiiiflry  -,  and  'Timothy, 
 ^hi^'p':-  ^^  make  fill  proof  of  if  ;  to  liU  it  up  with  pro- 
 P-icTBu.       per  duty,  and  attend  to  every  part  of  it. 
 2    im..v.      ^Yg  muft  have  a  proper  regard  to  every  part 
 of  the  chriftian  duty,    and  not  difpenfe  with 
 the  negletfl  of  any.    He  cannot  be  faid  to  finifj 
 his  courfe,    or  to  perfetft  it,  who  leaves  any 
 part  of  it  untouched ;  a§  he  who  runs  a  race 
 mufl  go  over  all  the  ground  mark'd  out.     In 
 this  fenfe  we  iiniili  our  courfe  when  we  per- 
 form all  the  work  which  is  cut  out  for  us,  and 
 hli  up  the  feveral  capacities  and  relations  of 
 life  with  anfvverable  duty,    according  to  the 
 circumfiances  of  our  condition,  and  abilities  of 
 ufefulnefs,    and  opportunities  of  good  :    when 
 Pi.cxix.  6.  ^Ye  have  a  refpcEi  to  all  his  commandments^  and 
 '■     walk  in  all  the  commandments  and  ordi?ia?ices  of 
 the  Lord  blamelefs.     So  the  Apoftie  prays  for 
 ^^^'^^^'^^■iX-.^rheJalonians,    That  he  might p erf eB  that 
 which  was  lacking  In  their  faith :    and  Epa- 
 phroditus  prays  for  the  Colojjians-,    That  they 
 
 might 
 
the  Rev^.  Dr.  John  Evans.  267 
 XTA'^it  J}a?id. pcrfcB  and  compleat  in  all  the  willOoUv.iz. 
 of  God  J  where  there  are  both  the  words  liXaot 
 ^  ireTrKrtpojjih'oi.  We  leave  our  courfe  unfinifli- 
 ed  in  this  view  of  it,  when  'tis  defeBivCy  and 
 we  live  in  the  negled:  of  any  part  of  the  chri- 
 flian  duty,  or  fuffer  any  divine  command  or 
 appointment  to  be  difregarded.     Or, 
 
 2.  Perseverance  unto  the  end.  He  who 
 runs  a  race  mull  reach  the  goal,  and  come  to 
 the  marie  prefcribed,  before  he  can  be  faid  to 
 have  finifli'd  the  courfe ;  and  then  'tis  moll 
 properly  finifiiedjOr  perfecfted^when  'tis  brought 
 to  an  end.  The  Apollle's  meaning  plainly  is, 
 that  he  might  conclude,  as  well  as  compleat  it, 
 and  continue  faithful  to  God  in  the  whole 
 courfe  of  his  fcrvice,  thro'  all  the  difficultiea 
 in  the  way  to  the  end  of  his  life.  So  he  fays, 
 I  have  fought  the  good  fight — and  finijhed  my 
 courfe  ;  he  finifhed  by  fighting  and  overcom- 
 ing. In  this  fenfe  our  Lord  fays  of  himfelf, 
 /  have  fijifjcd  the  ivork  thou  ga-vefi  me  to  ^c?;joh.  xvij. 
 and  cried  out  upon  the  crofs.  It  is  fimfied:^- 
 where  the  word  is  the  fame  in  both  places.       —  1    3  • 
 
 A  Chrillian  mufl  continue  in  the  way  pre- 
 fcribed him  to  the  end  ol'  it.     'Tis  not  enoush 
 to  enter  upon  the  chrillian  Hate,  or  go  a  con- 
 fiderable  way  in  it  j  but  he  mufl  go  thro'  it, 
 and  reach  the  end  of  it.     So  we  are  required, 
 To  ferve  the  Lord  without  fear,  in  rightcoufnejs  \^^\^x^  ,5^ 
 ai:d  holinefs  before  him^  all  the  days  of  our  life; 
 to  Hand  perfeSl  and  compleat — unto  the  end:  to 
 hcfiedfafi  aiid  immoveable,  and  bring  forth  fruit,  l^,j^  ^j^j 
 and  run  our  race  with  patience-,  i.  e.  with  per-  15. 
 feveiance  under  all  tryals  and  dangers.     The ^^^''^- ^"' 
 
 promife 
 
268  A  Funeral  Sermon  on 
 
 promlfe  is  always  to  him  who  endureth  unto 
 Matt.  X.  th^  ^nd:  and  \s  faithful  to  the  death -j  and  over- 
 22.  Cometh  a?id  keepeth  bis  work  unto  the  end.  And 
 ^^ev.ii.io,^^  it  flands  oppofed  to  looking  and  drawing 
 '"'-  back^  to  fainting  ^aA  growing  weary  y  to  forjak- 
 
 ing  our  prpfeffion,  2Lndfalli?ig  away,  to  fail- 
 ing of  the  grace  ofXiit^  and  coming  jhort  of  the 
 glory  of  God,  &c.  Or  elfe, 
 
 3.Th e  cheerfulnefs  and  pleafure  which  ought 
 to  attend  it.     The  Apoftle  was  not  only  con- 
 cerned to  hold  on  in  his  way  and  continue  to 
 the  end,  but  to  go  on  with  alacrity  and  de- 
 hght,    without   reluctance   and   defpondence, 
 or   a  backward  and  difcouraged  heart:  And 
 that  he  might  have  comfort  upon   a  review, 
 and  find  matter  of  thankfulnefs  to  God,    and 
 joy  of  heart  in  the  laft  ftage.     He  defired  to 
 iinilh  his  courfe  fo  that  he  might  have  the  com- 
 fort of  it,   and  find  that  inward  peace  which 
 ariics  from  a  fenfe  of  integrity,  and  the  hopes 
 ^^°''-^-'^- of  divine  acceptance.     So  he  fays,    'This  is  our 
 rejoicing,  the  tejiimony  of  our  confcience  that  in 
 fmiplicity  and  godly  fmcerity—— we  have  had  our 
 cowoerfation  in  the  world.     The  tefirimony  of 
 a  well-informed  confcience  to  the  fincerity  of 
 our  hearts,  is  a  ground  of  rejoicing  in  the  clofe 
 of  lite,  and  the  nearefl  profpecl  of  death ;  as 
 'tis  the   great  comprehenfive  requirement  of 
 the  goipel-covenant,  and  the  necefiary  means 
 !  johniii.of  interefl  in  all  the  t^leilings  of  it :    If  our 
 ^''         heart  condemn,  us  not,    then,  have  we  confidence 
 Kom.  XV.  towards  God.     So  he  fpeaks  of  being  ^//<?^  with 
 '3-         all  joy  and  peace  in  believing,  a7id  abounding  in 
 hope  thro  the  power  of  the  Holy  Qhofl  -,  and,  we 
 
 are 
 
tie Rev^.  Dr.  John  Evans.         269 
 
 are  filled  with  comfort,  and  exceeding  joyful  in  2  Cor.  vii. 
 all  our  tribulations,  ^' 
 
 A  Chriftian  muft  endeavour  to  go  on  in  the 
 chriftian  courfe,  with  a  cheerful  mind,  and  to 
 iind  a  pleafure  in  the  clofe  of  hfe  upon  the  re- 
 flexion on  his  own  fincerity,  and  the  profpedt 
 of  approaching  glory,  without  doubtfulnefs  or 
 diftrefs,  about  the  prefent  ftate  of  his  foul,  or 
 his  title  to  the  future  bleflednefs. 
 
 §2.1  fhall  confider  more  largely  the  grounds 
 of  it,  or  the  reafons  of  fuch  a  defire  and  aim, 
 in  all  the  fufferings  and  troubles  of  life.  I  Ihall 
 confider  them  as  extending;  to  the  common 
 cafe  of  chriftians,  and  repreient  and  urge  them 
 in  all  the  various  views  referred  to  in  the  fcrip- 
 ture,  the  more  to  imprefs  and  affed:  our  minds. 
 
 I.  Our  courfe  is  by  the  appointment  and  will 
 of  God.  The  racer's  courfe  was  mark'd  out 
 by  the  mafler  of  the  race,  and  they  were  ob- 
 liged to  keep  within  the  bounds  and  limits  pre- 
 fcribed  j  which  the  Apoille  calls  ftriving  la^jo-  ^.  - 
 fully.  If  they  run  out  of  the  bounds,  they  5. 
 loft  the  prize,  as  well  as  if  they  did  not  reach 
 the  goal.  God  has  prefcribed  the  chriftian 
 courfe,  and  every  fpecial  and  particular  fervice 
 in  it,  to  every  one.  That  I  m2iyfnif:>  my  courfe, 
 and  the  ininifry  which  I  have  received  of  the 
 Lord :  His  chriftian  courfe  was  appointed  by 
 the  Lord,  as  well  as  his  extraordinary  mi- 
 niftry.  He  is  the  mafter  of  the  race,  who  has 
 marked  out  the  ground,  and  preicribed  the 
 length  and  li:i;its  of  the  way  we  are  to  run. 
 He  has  cut  out  our  work  and  lervice  in  the 
 ftated  duties  of  tlie  chriftian  life,     and  the 
 
 fpecial 
 
270  A  Funeral  Sermon  on 
 
 fpecial  fervices  in  which  we  are  engaged.  Ke 
 has  made  it  our  duty  by  the  appointment  of 
 his  will,  who  is  the  fovereign  Lord  of  the  crea- 
 ture, and  has  a  right  to  prefcribe,  and  to  be 
 obey'd.  We  are  to  confider  the  chriflian  duty 
 I  Cor.  xi.  as  received  from  the  Lord^  not  only  by  the  dic- 
 ^^'  tates  of  the  reafonable  nature,  and  the  direction 
 
 of  providence,  but  by  the  appointment  of  his 
 word,  and  the  authority  of  his  law,  even  when 
 'tis  not  by  any  fupernatural  and  immediate  con- 
 veyance, as  the  Apoftlefhip  was.  'Tis  all 
 mark'd  out  by  the  divine  law,  and  the  bounds 
 and  limits  prefcribed.  So  we  read  of  the  path 
 Ga.l.vli6.  of  Ms  comma?tdments,  and  walking  in  the  ordi- 
 '^h:i\\^.in.  nances  and  cojnmandments  of  the  Lord;  and  ac- 
 cording to  this  rule  J  and  by  the  fame  rule :  where 
 the  word  x.arwj'fignifies  the  lines  by  which  the 
 race  was  mark'd  out.  We  mujfl:  confider  oiu* 
 felves  as  under  a  divine  direcflion,  and  within 
 limits  prefcribed  us  by  our  great  Lord ;  and  by 
 which  wc  are  properly  obliged,  antecedently 
 to  any  formal  confcnt  or  engagement  on  our 
 part.  The  will  of  a  fovereign,  or  fuperior, 
 immediately  binds  as  foon  as  it  is  made  known. 
 Besides,  we  are  under  the  ftrongefl  chliga- 
 tions  to  God.  They  v\4io  are  engaged  in  any 
 IjDCcial  fervice,  and  placed  in  an  higher  ftation, 
 are  under  fpecial  obligations  of  duty,  and  more 
 particularly  bound  to  faithfulnefs.  The  A- 
 poftles  and  Minifters  of  Chrift  were  not  only 
 under  the  common  chriftian  obligation  j  but 
 fpecially  devoted  to  God,  as  they  were  fpcci- 
 ally  favoured  by  him.  But  all  chriftians  are 
 under  facred  obligations  to  God,    and  adually 
 
 bound 
 
the  Rev^,  Dr*  John  Evans.  2^1 
 bound  to  the  performance  of  the  chriflian  duty: 
 For  they  are  early  devoted  to  God  by  their 
 baptifmy  which,  Hke  circumcifion,  obliges  to 
 the  whole  chriftian  law.  We  have  taken  the 
 oath  of  allegiance,  and  fworn  fidelity  to  this 
 great  Lord.  And  our  engagement  in  his  fer- 
 vice,  and  acknowledgment  of  his  authority  is 
 a  {landing  obligation  ;  as  he  who  undertakes  to 
 run  a  race,  is  obliged  to  exert  himfelf,  and  do 
 his  befl  to  win  the  prize  ;  or  he  who  lifts  him- 
 felf in  the  fervice,  is  obliged  to  fight,  and  obey 
 orders. 
 
 We  are  not  left  at  liberty  wliether  to  finifli 
 our  courfe,  or  break  it  off.  We  ftand  engaged 
 by  the  highefl  right,  and  by  folemn  oath.  The 
 "oows  of  the  Lord  are  upon  us :  We  n2,vQ  fworn ^ 
 and  we  mufl  perform  it,  that  we  will  keep  his 
 righteous  judgments.  Having  entered  upon  the 
 christian  courfe,  we  are  obliged  to  go  on,  and 
 never  to  retreat  or  go  back.  Having  given  up 
 our  names  to  Chrift,  we  have  given  up  all  right 
 to  our  felves,  and  are  obliged  to  follow  him 
 wherever  he  goes :  Having  put  our  hands  to  the^^  j.  ; 
 plough,  "iVe  jjiujl  72ot  look  back.  We  deal  treache-6z. 
 roujly  with  the  Lord,  ^xv^falfy  in  his  ccvefiant, 
 if  we  don't  continue  and  perfevere,  for  the 
 chrifcian  obligation  is  for  perpetuity  ;  and  we 
 can  never  at  any  period  of  life  defill,  Vv'ithout 
 violating  the  moft  folcmn  and  facred  bonds. 
 
 2.  There  is  a  gveat  favour  and  grace  at- 
 tending it.  The  Apoltie  had  not  only  the 
 chriftian  courfe  prefcribed  to  him,  but  a  ?ni- 
 niflry  i.vhich  he  received  of  the  Lord,  that  is,  the 
 fingular  favour  of  the  Apoftle/hip :  He  was  an 
 
 extraordinary 
 
272  A  Funeral  Sermon  C7i 
 
 extraordinary  minifter  of  the  kingdom  of  Chriit,* 
 and  extraordinarily  called  and  qualified,  to  plant 
 the  gofpel  in  the  world,  and  confirm  it  by  mi- 
 racles, and  fettle  the  affairs  of  the  chriftian 
 church.     It  was  a  great  vouchfafement  from 
 
 2Cor.xi.5.QQ(j^  that  he  was  not  behi?id  the  chief  cf  the 
 Apojiles^  who  had  been  among  the  chief  of  Jin- 
 ners,  and  was  lefs  than  the  h'aji  of  all  Sai7jts  i 
 and  that  he  who  before  perfeciited  the  church:^ 
 
 Gal.i.23.f}iould  now  preach  the  faith  ^hich  he  once  de- 
 ftroyed.     And  he  often  fpeaks  of  it  under  this 
 
 Eph.iil.8.  notion.  Unto  jne — is  this  grace  given,  that  I 
 Jlootild  preach  to  the   Gentiles  the  iinfearchable 
 
 Rom.  i.  5.  riches  of  Chrifi,  And,  we  have  received  grace 
 and  Apojilefhip.  And  when  the  glorious  go- 
 fpel of  the  blefi^ed  God  was  committed  to  him^ 
 
 1  Tim.  i.  he  thanks  Chrifi  fefus  the  Lord,  and  fays,  The 
 ^'-  grace  of  our  Lord  was  exceedifig  abundant.  And 
 
 fo  is  the  chriftan  miniftry  a  great  vouchfafe- 
 —1 2.  ment  from  God,  when  he  enables  any,  count- 
 ing them  faithful,  putting  them  into  the  miniflry  -, 
 when  he  calls  them  to  this  fpecial  fervice,  and 
 fits  them  for  it,  and  enables  them  in  it.  'Tis 
 a  fpecial  favour  and  trufl,  as  well  as  a  peculiar 
 fervice  and  office. 
 
 But  the  chriftian  courfe  it  felf  is  to  be  con- 
 fidered  as  a  favour.    'Tis  a  difpenfation  olgrace'^ 
 attended  with  fingular  privileges  and  great  ad- 
 vantages, and  vouchfafed  to  any  place  by  Ipe- 
 Rom.  vi.  cial  favour.     So  the  Apoftle  fays,  We  aYe  not 
 ^t-      •   under  the  law,  but  under  (rrace.     And  we  re- 
 
 2  Cor.  Vi.         .  /•  ^     ;       1      ,  1      •      • 
 
 1,  ceive  the  grace  oj  Ljcd,  tho  many  do  it  in  vain. 
 
 And  he  te/lijyed  the  Gofpel  of  the  Grace  of  God: 
 ©f  his  free  favour  and  rich  goodncfs  unto  the 
 
 world. 
 
the  Rev^,  Dr.  John  Evans.  273 
 
 world.     We  have  many  merciful  iifUftances  of 
 light  and  grace ;  clearer  difcoveries  of  the  will 
 of  God,  and  more  powerful  influence  and  aids^ 
 than  the  religion  of  meer  nature,  or  any  for^ 
 iner  difpeniation  of  God  to  the  world.    We 
 have  the  outward  helps  of  Gofpel-ordinances^ 
 which  are  wifely  fitted  to  reach  their  gracious 
 ends,  to  enlighten  and  refrfeili  our  minds,  and 
 recruit  our  fpiritual  ftrength  j  and  the  inward 
 fuccours  of  the  divine  prefence  and  fpiritj  who 
 Jirejigthens  tis  with  7night  in  the  inward  /;m;z,  Eph.lil, 
 helpi  our  infirmities  in  our  prayers  and  afflic-'^- 
 tions;    and  fi:ieds  abroad  the  love  of  God  in  oz/rRom-viii. 
 hearts,  and  makes  us  to  abound  with  hope.  Good  26- 
 men  have  many  comfortable  experiences  of  di-_xv.  iv 
 vine  fupports,  and  gracious  alfurances  of  favour 
 and  regard  5    fo  that  tho'  our  work  in  any  re- 
 iped:  is  difficult,  and  our  tryals  fometimes  great, 
 yet  our  aids  and  advantages  are  always  pro- 
 portionable to  them ;  and  extraordinary  tryals, 
 in  any  circumflanceSj  are  attended  with  extra- 
 ordinary aids.  As  thy  day  is^  fojhall  thyfirength  Deut. 
 be :  my  grace  is  fujficient  for  thee,  and  myfirength  x-^"'-  2?» 
 is  made  perfeB  in  weaknejs.     He  will  woi  juf- ^ 
 fer  us  to  be  tryed  above  what  we  are  able  \  and 
 as  our  fufi'erings  abound^    fo  our  tonfolatwns  J-_>i.  5. 
 hound  by  Chrifi. 
 
 And  how  reafonable  is  (ledfaftnefs  and  per- 
 feverance  under  fuch  encouragements  and  ad- 
 vantages !  We  are  concerned  in  gratitude  to 
 God,  and  from  a  fenfe  of  kindnefs,  to  perform 
 the  chriftian  duty,  and  finifli  our  courfe ;  which 
 is  not  only  a  wife  and  reafonable  fervice,  but 
 made  eafy  under  all  its  difficulties,    by  divine 
 
 T  ividbj 
 
274-  A  Funeral  Ser mm  on 
 
 aids  -y  to  take  his  yoke  which  is  eafy,  and  his  bur- 
 Matt.  xi.  ^£j2  luhich  is  lights  and  obferve  his  comma7tds 
 ijoh.v.3.'^^'^^^^^  ^r^  not  grievous.     This  will  further  ap- 
 pear  if  you  coniider, 
 
 3.  The  great  danger  we  are  in  of  failing  and 
 mifcarrying.  There  cannot  but  be  great  dan- 
 ger under  the  difadvantage  of  our  prefent  cir- 
 cumftances  from  the  inward  weaknefs  and  dif- 
 orders  of  our  minds,  and  external  temptation 
 and  afTault.  Our  prefent  graces  and  virtues 
 are  very  imperfed,  the  appetites  and  paffions 
 of  cur  natures  are  ftrong  and  unruly.  The 
 befl  Men  are  imperfectly  fandiiied,  and  there 
 are  great  remainders  of  lin  -,  the  one  often  fails 
 us  in  the  tryal ;  the  other  creates  us  a  great 
 deal  of  trouble.  There  are  many  fnares  of  fin 
 round  about  us,  many  fenfible  objedls,  the 
 baits  of  concupifcence,  fuitable  to  our  various 
 inclinations  and  temper  of  mind,  and  every 
 circumftance  and  condition  of  life.  The  A- 
 Heb.xii  i.po^^^  fpeaks  of  they?;2  which  does  fa  eajily  befet 
 iLSy  which  like  a  loofe  garment  clings  about 
 our  legs,  in  running  the  chriftian  race.  And 
 there  is  the  old  ferpeiit  the  devil,  the  watchful 
 adverfary,  who  is  always  ready  to  deceive  and 
 enfnare  us,  to  throw  a  falfe  light  upon  things, 
 to  ilrike  upon  the  Vv^eak  fide  of  our  nature,  to 
 take  the  advantage  of  an  unguarded  moment, 
 and  make  the  befl  of  every  opportunity.  And 
 when  thefe  two  thino;s  meet  together,  the 
 weaknefs  of  our  virtue,  and  the  ilrength  of  a 
 well-timed  and  well-managed  temptation,  how 
 iricat  mufl,  our  d;Mtp;er  be?    liow  eafilv  are  we 
 
 drawn 
 
the  Rev\  Dn  John   E\^ans.         275 
 
 drawn  into  fin,    and  difcouragcd  in  the  chri- 
 fl'ian  courfe  ?  * 
 
 The  Apoftle  iifes  this  confideration  in  his 
 own  cafe  :   /  therefore  fo  riin^  not  as  imcej'-tai?!' 
 h\  or  at  random,  fo  fight  I  not  as  one  ivho  beat- 
 cth  the  air^  brandiilies  his  fword  in  the  air,  only 
 for  exercife  and  without  doing  any  execution ; 
 but  I  keep  under  my  bGd)\  and  bring  it  into  fuh-  j  Cor.  ix. 
 je5iion^    lejl  that  by  any  means^    ivhen  I  have"^^- 
 preached  to  others^  I  my  felf  fimild  be  a  caft^ 
 azs^^ay.     'Tis  an  allufion  to  boxing;  q.  d.  I  beatiJ/Tro-a^'® 
 it  black  and  blue,  and  ufe  is  as  a  flave  or  fer-^'  '^f'''-'^' 
 vant:  I  keep  it  in  order  and  fit  for  fervicej  by 
 proper  abilinencc  and  labour.     And  upon  this 
 ground  he  often  exhorts  the  chrifiians  to  cau- 
 tion and  watchfulnefs :    Let  him  ^ivho  thinketh  i  Cor  x. 
 hejlandeth^    take  heed  left;  he  fall,     L"t  us  fear^\^,  ... 
 le/i  a  promife  being  left  us  of  entering;^  into  his 
 7'eft^  any  of  you  f mild  fee  m  to  come  Jhort  of  it . —.-j^^w.  ,^, 
 JuOoking  diligcjitly  left  any  man  fail  of  the  grace 
 of  God^    leji  any  root  of  bifternfs  fpringing  up 
 trouble  you ;    left  you  be  drav/n  to  apoflacy  by 
 the  difficulties  of  fcrvicc,   or  the  fear  of  fuffer- 
 ing.     He  cautions  the  chrifi:Ians,    hef  Satan zQqx.W. 
 get  an  adi^antage  of  us^  for  we  are  not  ignorant ' '  • 
 of  his  devices;  and,  Put  on  the  whole  ar?nGur  cfY,v\\.\\. 
 God  J  that  you  may  be  able  to  jland  agai?i/i:  the  1 1  • 
 wiles  of  the  devil;  his  fubtlety  and  arts.     And 
 again,   Be  j'ober^  be  vigila?ity  for  your  adverfary 
 the  devilj  as  a  roaring  lion^  goes  about  f  eking 
 whom  he  may  devour;    q.  d.  Watch,    for  he 
 watches:  Be  upon  your  guartl,  for  he  is  un- 
 wearied  in  his  ailluilt'',    and  cruel  in  his  dc- 
 
 fign. 
 
 T   %  4, 
 
276  A  Funeral  Sermon  Q7t 
 
 4.  The  honour  of  religion  and  of  the  divine 
 grace  is  very  much  concerned  in  it.     'Tis  the 
 end  crowns  the  work,  and  gives  the  glory  and 
 perfection  to  the  whole.  The  fkill  and  ftrength 
 of  the  racer  is  feen  in  reaching  the  goal.  When 
 a  chriftian  finifhes  his  courfe,   and  compleats 
 his  work,  'tis  to  the  honour  of  the  religion  he 
 profefles  at  prefent,  which  has  enabled  and  fup- 
 ported  him,    in  all  the  fteps  and  tryals  of  itj 
 and  it  will  be  to  the  everlafling  honour  of  the 
 divine  grace,    which  firft  began  a  good  work 
 in  him,  carried  it  thro'  all  difficulties,  and  per- 
 formed it  until  the  day  of  Chrift.     They  are 
 Eph.i.  GXo  the  praife  of  the  glory  of  his  grace -,    and  the 
 I  Pet.  1.7. faith  of  a  tryed  christian  will  hQ  fou7id  to  praife, 
 and  honour,    and  glory,    at  the  appearance  of 
 Jefiis  Chriji.     It  gives   a  credit  to  religion  in 
 the  account  of  the  world,  to  fee  a  good  man, 
 under  prefent  weaknefs  and  difadvantage,    and 
 thro'  all  the  tryals  and  fufrering  of  life,   fland 
 his  ground,  and  maintain  his  conftancy  to  the 
 end. 
 
 But  now,  on  the  other  hand,  when  a  chri- 
 flian  forfakes  his  profeffion,  and  lets  go  his 
 confidence ;  when  the  prevalence  of  fin,  and  the 
 power  of  temptation,  carry  him  off,  and  he  is 
 aizain  entanofed  and  overcome  ;  how  diflionour- 
 able  is  it  to  religion,  what  a  reflection  does  it 
 cail  upon  the  divine  grace  ?  As  if  all  the  pow- 
 ers of  religion,  and  the  world  to  come,  were 
 not  fufficient  to  preferve  and  fecure  him  j  and 
 he  who  was  the  author,  was  not  able  to  be 
 t\\t  finifKer  of  his  flilth.  It  opens  the  mouth 
 of  inililting  enemies,     and  miniflers  to  their 
 
 reproach 
 
 \ 
 
the  Rev^,  Dr,  J  OWN  Evans.  277 
 
 reproach  and  triumph,  as  if  they  had  prevail- 
 ed againft   all  the  fuccours  of  rehgion,    and 
 aids  of  grace  :  fo  the  name  of  God  is  blafphcm-  ■^om.  \\. 
 ed  thro  them.     What  an  infinite  dillionour  to  24- 
 rehgion,    and  difadvantage  to  the  gofpel,    to 
 the  gentile  world,    and  to  all  after-ages,  mufl 
 it  have  been,    if  fuch  a  man  as  the  Apoftle 
 Faul  had  failed  at  laft,    and  not  Jinified  his  i  Cor.  ix. 
 £o:l7J€  ?  a  f-ippolition  which  he  makes  himfelf.  ^^• 
 There  is  a  revenue  of  glory  to  God  loft  for  ever 
 from  one  of  his  ci'eaturcs  j  the  honour  of  his 
 finllhed  falvation,    and  everlafting  praife  and 
 triumph  in  heaven,  after  all  which  had  been 
 done  in  order  to  it.     'Tis  a  difcouragement 
 and   ftumbling-block   in   the  way   to   others, 
 whenfoever  it  happens;    and  tends  to   lefferk. 
 their  efleem,  abate  their  comfort,  and  difcou- 
 rage  their  hope,    in  the  chriftian  courfe.     No 
 wonder  a  chriftian   is  fo  much  concerned  to 
 finilli  his  courfe,    when  the  honour  of  God 
 and  religion  is  every  way  fo  greatly  affed;edby 
 it,    and  it  carries  confequences  in  it  o^  fo  high 
 a  nature,    and  great  importance, 
 
 5.  Unless  we  finifli  our  courfe,  all  we  have 
 done  in  the  mean  time  will  be  /o//,  and  in  vain. 
 We  had  as  good  do  nothing,  as  not  to  do  to 
 the  pnrpofe.  Pie  who  ftops  ihort  in  a  race  on 
 this  iide  tlie  goal,  as  certainly  lofes  the  prize, 
 as  he  who  never  fet  out  in  it,  and  only  lofes 
 the  labour  of  the  way  he  has  run.  'Tis  a  very 
 awful  and  affe^fting,  but  a  moft  certain  and  un- 
 doubted truth,  That  tho'  we  have  made  a  great 
 profellion,  and  done  many  things  in  religion ; 
 have  gone  a  great  way,  and  held  out  a  great 
 
 T   3  while, 
 
^yS  A  Fmieral  Sermon  07t 
 
 while,  perhaps  thro'  many  difficulties  and  try-* 
 
 ajs  J    yet  if  we  defifl  and  forfake  it,  and  grow 
 
 weary  and  difcouraged,    all  our  former  labour 
 
 is  wholly  loft,  and  all  we  have  done  will  go 
 
 for  nothing.     So  God  tells  us  bythe  prophet, 
 
 Ezek.       When  the  righteous  maji  turneth  from  his  right e- 
 
 "■  ^'  ^^'  oiifncfs^  and  commit tcth  iniquity^    and  doth  ac~ 
 
 co7^ding  to  all  the  abominations  of  the  wicked ; 
 
 i.  e.  not  only  falls  into  fin,  but  gees  into  a 
 
 coiirfe   and  way  of  fin  ;  jhall  he  live  f    All  the 
 
 righteojfmfs  which  he  hath  done^  jlmll  not  be 
 
 mentioned  \  in  the  trefpafs  which  he  hath  tref- 
 
 pafcd^  and  in  the  fin  which  he  hath  finned^  fiall 
 
 he  die.  i.e.  He  fliall  periili  in  his  prefent  courfe 
 
 and  way  of  lin,  notwithihinding   his  former 
 
 rightcoufnefs.     So  our  Lord  tells  his  difciplesi 
 
 Luke  IX.    2s^Q  jj^^jjj  havi?7g  put  his  hand  to  the  plough^  a?id 
 
 Icoketh  back^  is  ft  for  the  kingdom  of  heaven, 
 
 Hcb.x.ult.  ^j^^  the  Apoftle  tells  us  diredly,  If  any  man 
 
 draw  hack,  my  foul  fall  have  no  pleafiire  in 
 
 him  :  He  iliall  find  no  acceptance  with  God, 
 
 but   fiill    under   his    difpleafure.      Upon    this 
 
 sCor.vi.i.  g^'ound  he  warns  the  chrifi.ians,  not  to  receive 
 
 ^  ^      ,   the  grace  of  God  in  vain;  and  to  look  to  them- 
 
 Juli.  s.    felves^  that   they   lofe  not  thofe  things  they  have 
 
 wrought^  but  that  they  receive  a  full  reward. 
 
 We  lofe  all  we  have  been  doings  as  well  as  all 
 
 we  exped:. 
 
 We  have  many  examples  of  this  kind  in 
 the  Scripture :  Judas  went  to  his  own  place ^ 
 v/hen  he  forfook  and  betrayed  his  Lord,  not- 
 W^ithilanding  his  high  ofiice,  and  great  advan- 
 tages. The  young  man  in  the  gofpel  went 
 ^way  forrowful^  and   mifcarricd  at  lafi,    not- 
 
 withftanding. 
 
the  Rev^^  Dr,  John  Evans.  279 
 
 withftanding  his  coming  to  Chrift,  and  keep- 
 ing the  commandments  from  his  youth.     De- 
 mas  forfook  the  Apoftles  thro'  the  love  of  the 
 world,  after  a  fair  and  forv/ard  profeiTion,  and 
 long  accompanying  with  them.     The  Apoftle 
 ipeaks  of  fome,  who  putting  aivay  faith  and 
 a  good  confcience^    concerfiing  faith   had  made 
 jloipucreck;  and  of  thofe  who  were  enlightened^ 
 and  had  tafted  the  heavenly  gift  ;  and   yet  fell 
 away  -,  and  who  had  efcaped  the  pollutions  of 
 the  world  thrd  the  knowledge  of  Chrift  and  v/ere 
 again  entangled  and  overcome.     Many  hopeful 
 beginnings  and  fair  appearances  come  to  no- 
 thing ;  like  fair  bloilcims  in  a  forward  ipring, 
 which  are    blafted    by   unkindly  winds,    and 
 never  come  to  ripe  fruit.     So  that  all  we  have 
 already  done  depends  upon  finifliing  what  re- 
 mains, and  holding  out  to  the  end.     The  lafl 
 habit  of  a  man's  mind,  like  his  lafl  will  and 
 teflament,  revokes  all  the  former,  and  makes 
 the  final  difpofitlon  of  his  fplrltual  ilate.     E- 
 very  man  is  that  for  ever,  which  he  is  at  laft ; 
 not  in  the  prerenty;"<^;;2t%  which  depends  very 
 much  upon  bodily  temperature,  and  accidental 
 circumflances  3  but,   which  is  conflant  and  in- 
 variable,  tlio'  perhaps  in   different  degrees,   in 
 the  prevailing  and  governing  bent  of  his  mind. 
 And  it  muft  needs  be  io^   becaufe  perfcverance 
 to  the  end  is  a  ncceffary  eifential  requifite  In 
 the   gofpel-covcnant,  and   can   only   give   the 
 proper  denomination :  As  treafon  and  rebellion 
 againft  a  fovereign  prince,  cancels  all  the  for- 
 mer loyalty  and  obedience,  and  forfeits  life  and 
 honour  for  ever.     Yea  further, 
 
 T  4  6. 
 
^8o  A  F inter al  Sermon  on 
 
 6    It.  will  fare  ivorfe  with  us  than  if  we 
 had  never  begun.     We  fhall  not  only  lofe  our 
 pad  labour,  but  fall  into  a  worfe   ftate   than 
 w^e  were  in   before  :  For  he  v/ho  falls  away 
 after  good  beginnings,  and   forfakes  the  pro- 
 feifion  and  pradice  of  religion,  after  fome  tryal 
 and  continuance,  is  in  a  more  hazardous  Hate, 
 and   of  all    others    moil  difficultly  recovered. 
 |Ieb.vi.4.xhe  Apodle  fays  of  fuch,  'T^is  impcjjible  to  re- 
 new them  again  to  repentance  ;  that  is,  at  leaft, 
 extremely   difficult   and   very  rare.     And  the 
 rcafon  is,  they  have  baffled  the  convi(flions  of 
 their  own  mind,  refifted  and  grieved  the  Holy 
 Spirit  of  God,  defeated  all   the   fuccours  and 
 aids  of  religion,  and  all  the  hopes  and  proiped:s 
 it  gives  them ;  and   what   is   left  to  take  hold 
 pf  in  them,  or  to  work  upon  them  by  ?  They 
 have  laid  v/afle   their  confcience,   and  are  en- 
 llaved  by  fm,  and  have  forfeited  all  friendly 
 and  gracious  regards  from  God. 
 
 Yea,  and  they  fall  under  a  greater  difplea- 
 
 fure  from  God,  as  they  have  abufed  a  greater 
 
 grace.     They  have   fmned  againil   tryal   and 
 
 experience,  rebelled  againjl  the  light,  and  done 
 
 dejpighf  to   the  Jpirit  op'  grace.     So  much   is 
 
 implied   in  the  expreffions   concerning  fuch, 
 
 they  are  not  Jit  for  the  kingdom  of  hea'uen;  and^ 
 
 my  foul  pall  ha"oe  no  pleafure  in  them.     They 
 
 who  are   exalted  up  to  heaven,  and  are  not  far 
 
 from  the   kingdom  of  God,    will   fall    into  the 
 
 loweft  depths  of  mifery,  and   be  baniffied   to 
 
 the  greateft  diftance   from  it.     What  difap- 
 
 pointment  and  reproach,  what  confufion  and 
 
 diilrefSj  muft  it  caufe  at  lafl,  toy^^  ethers,  enter 
 
 inta 
 
the  Revi  Dr.  John  Evans.  281 
 
 Info  the  kingdom  of  God ^  and   tbey   the?nfches 
 cajl  out  ?    To  fee  other  chrillians,   perhaps  of 
 the  fame  ftanding  and  advantages  with  them- 
 felves,  hnifli  their  courfe,  and  receive  their  re- 
 ward,   while  they  mifcarry  and   are  loft   for 
 ever  ?    Upon   thefe  accounts  the  Apoftle   re- 
 prefents  it  as  a  worfe,    and  more  deplorable 
 cafe,  than  that  of  thofe  who  never  began  the 
 chriftian  courfe,  or  once  enter'd  upon  it  :   i^2Pet.  ii. 
 bad  been  better  for  them  not  to  have  known  the^^- 
 way  of  righteoiifnefs,  than  after  they  have  hiown 
 it^  to  turn  from  the  holy  com7nandment.     In  that 
 cafe,  the  latter  end  is  ivorfe  with  them  than  the 
 beginning ;    and  the   laft  fate  of  that  man  is  Mat.  xIL 
 worfe  than  the  jirft.     They  perifh  under  greater  41- 
 aggravations  of  guilt  and  mifery. 
 
 7.  'Tis  neceffary  to  ihcfnal  reward.  He 
 who  runs  a  race  cannot  obtain  the  prize,  till 
 he  reach  the  goal:  He  muft  firft  finifli  the 
 courfe  prefcribed,  before  he  can  lay  claim  to 
 the  revv^ard.  He  who  fights  in  a  warfare  muft 
 firft  overcome,  before  he  is  crowned  an.d  tri- 
 umphs. A  chriftian  has  great  experience  of 
 the  divine  goodnefs  in  a  religious  courfe,  at 
 prefcnt,  and  great  afTurances  and  fecurity  of 
 what  is  to  come  ;  but  yet  the  final  bleffednefs 
 and  recompence  of  reward  is  fufpended,  and 
 made  to  depend  upon  thQfnifii?jg  his  courfe  ; 
 as  a  fervant  muft  do  his  work,  before  he  has 
 any  right  to  his  wages  :  We  muft  be  good  and 
 faithful fer-o ants ^  before  we  can  receive  the  ap- 
 probation of  our  judge.  So  we  fee  in  the  ex- 
 ample of  our  Lord  J  /  ha^oe  glorified  thee  C7zjoh.xvii. 
 earthy  I  have  finified  the  work  which  thou  gaveft\^  5- 
 
 me 
 
282  A  Funeral  Sermon  on 
 
 me  to  do :  I  have  performed  the  mediatorial 
 undertaking  here  on  earth  :  And  now^  0  fa- 
 ther^  glorify  thou  me  with  thy  own  felfy  with 
 the  glory  which  I  had  with  thee,  before  the  world 
 was  :  He  lays  claim  to  the  promifed  reward, 
 
 Heb.xii.2.And  he  was  animated  in  it  by  this  view,  JVho 
 for  the  joy  which  was  fet  before  him,  endured 
 the  crofs,  defpifmg  the  jhame.  And  in  the  ex- 
 ample of  the  Apoftle,.  in  agonifiical  terms  quite 
 
 Philip.  111.  j-|-j^.q' .    -Qif^f  fjyi^  Q12Q  thing  I  do,  forgetting  the 
 
 '  ^'  things  which  are  behind,  and  re  aching  fo7'th  uiito 
 the  things  which  are  before,  I  prefs  towards  the 
 mark,  for  the  prize  of  the  high  calling  of  God 
 in  Chrift  fefus ;  and,  if  by  any  means  I  may 
 attain  to  the  re/hrreBion  of  the  dead.     And  a- 
 
 zTim.iv.  gain  in  the  dole  of  life,  I  have  fought  the  good 
 
 7-  fghf,   I  have  kept  the  faith,  I  have  finified  my 
 
 coiirfe  ;  my  chriflian  and  minifterial  courfe  :  He 
 
 —  8.     adds  in  the  next  words  j  Henceforth  is  laid  up  for 
 
 me  a  crown  of  7'ighteoufnefs  :  from  this  time  of 
 
 finifhing  my  courfe  :   When  he  had  run  his 
 
 race,  he  reckoned  upon  the  glorious  prize. 
 
 And  fo  'tis  every  where  reprefented  in  fcrip- 
 
 Rom.ii.  y.ture,  'To  them  who  by  patient  continuance  in 
 well-doing,  feck  for  glory  and  honour,  and  im^ 
 mortality,  he  will  render,  eternal  life.     And, 
 
 I  Cor.  ix.  He  who  f  rivet  h  for  the  mafery,  is  temperate  in 
 
 ^^'  all  things,  that  he  may  overcome  :  now  they  do 
 it  to  obtain  a  corruptible  crown,  a  garland  of 
 
 1  Tim.vi.  leaves,    but   we  an    incorruptible.     Fight    the 
 
 Pev  ii  10  Z^^^fiiJ^''^    ^^^'■^  ^^y  ^•'^^^  ^f  ^^^^^^^  ^^fi'      ^^  ^^^^^^ 
 
 faithful  to  the  death,  and  I  will  give  thee  a 
 
 — 26.     crown  of  life  ;  and  to  him  who  overcometh  will 
 
 I  give  the  morning  far.     We  have  no  title  to 
 
 the 
 
the  Rev^.  Dr.  JohnEvans.         283 
 
 the  final  bleffednefs  by  the  gracious  promife  of 
 the  golpel,  but  upon  the  fuppolition  of  finifli- 
 ing  our  courfe  ;  and  we  may  certainly  depend 
 upon  it,  when  we  have  hnifliied  it.  And  how 
 reafonable  is  it  that  we  fliould  llirive  and  con- 
 tend, and  perfevere  and  overcome;  that  we 
 fliould  /o  run  that  ive  may  obtain  and  win  the 
 glorious  prize,  which  will  make  a  rich  amends 
 for  all  our  labour,  2ind  he.  -^  full  reward'^        Ep.joh.ii. 
 
 8.  I  would  further  fuggefl,  efpecially  to  el-^- 
 der  chriftians.  You  are  ?tear  finifliing,  and  have 
 not  much  of  your  courfe  to  run.  Perhaps  you 
 have  run  far  the  greateil  part  of  your  courfe  al- 
 ready, and  have  but  a  little  v/ay  to  go.  Let 
 me  befpeak  you  in  the  words  of  the  Apoftle, 
 you  have  run  well  hitherto^  beware  of  any  thing 
 which  fliould  hinder  you.  You  have  held  out  ^  '  ^'7' 
 a  great  while,  perhaps  thro'  many  tryals  of 
 life;  how  fid  would  it  be  to  m.ifcarry  at  laft! 
 that  would  be  like  a  fliip  richly  laden,  after  a 
 long  and  dangerous  voyage,  from  a  fir  diftant 
 country,  fuffering  fhip wreck,  or  bulging  upon 
 a  rock,  in  the  harbour's  mouth. 
 
 Christian,  hold  out  a  little  longer,  and 
 thy  race  vvill  be  run,  and  thou  wilt  win  the 
 prize,  and  ail  the  labour  and  the  danger  of  life 
 will  be  over.  Be  not  weary  or  difcouraged  the 
 little  remainder  of  thy  courfe,  in  which  thou 
 haft  run  fo  far  already.  The  greateft  difficulty 
 of  religion  is  over,  the  greateft  good  is  to  come: 
 rather  quicken  thy  pace,  and  encourage  thy  felf 
 by  the  nearer  profped; ;  as  the  racer  exerts  all 
 his  vigour,  and  Iprings  forward  at  the  fight 
 pf  the  goal ;    and.  even  natural  bodies  move 
 
 fwifter. 
 
284  A  Funeral  Sermon  on 
 
 fwifter,  the  nearer  the  center.  The  Apoftk 
 had  the  profpedt  of  his  change  before  him,  and 
 was  the  more  deiirous  to  finiih  well :  /  am 
 ready  to  be  offered^  and  the  time  of  my  depar- 
 ture is  at  hand, — /  have  fought  the  good  fight  ^  I 
 have finified  my  courfe.  Minifters,  who  have 
 laboured  many  years  in  the  vineyard,  and  Chri- 
 flians  of  long  ftanding  in  the  chriftian  ftate, 
 fhould  be  often  thinking  of  their  end,  and 
 fpeaking  of  their  deceafe,  which  they  are  fhort- 
 ly  to  accompUJh ;  and  be  the  more  concerned, 
 and  the  more  careful  to  finifli  the  fliort  remain- 
 der of  their  courfe  with  joy.     I  only  add, 
 
 9.  It  will  make  ouv pa ff age  out  of  the  world 
 at  laft,  more  eafy,  and  our  e7itrance  into  hea- 
 ven joyful.     To  this  purpofe  the  Apoftle  di- 
 
 Heb.  vi.  red:s  the  chriftians,  T^hat  every  one  of  you  do 
 fioew  the  fame  diligence  to  the  full  afurance  of 
 hope  unto  the  end^  that  you  be  not  flothful^  but 
 followers  of  them ^  %vho  thro  faith  and  patience 
 inherit  the  promife :  By  diligence  we  arrive  to 
 a  full  affurance  of  hope,  and  become  followers 
 of  them  v/ho  inherit  the  promifed  bleffednefs. 
 
 1  Pet.i.io,  And  more  dire(ftly  5  Give  diligence  to  mah  your 
 calling  a?id  eleSiionfure ;  more  evident  to  others, 
 and  more  firm  to  your  felves,  by  the  proper 
 exercife  of  the  chriftian  virtues :  for  if  you  do 
 thefe  things  you  fioall  ?iever  fail^  and  [0  an  eii- 
 trance  Jl:all  be  minifircd  to  you  abundantly  into 
 the  evcrlaflijig  kingdojn  of  our  Lord  and  Saviour^ 
 yefus  Chrifi:  They  are  more  fecure  of  their 
 prefent  ftdnding,  and  of  the  heavenly  kingdom 
 hereafter  j  and  ufually  they  have  the  eafieft  paf- 
 iiige  out  of  the  world,    who  have  been  moft 
 
 faith- 
 
 II 
 
 II 
 
f  lie  Revi  Dr.  John  Evans.  285 
 
 faithful  in  it,    and  a  finiflied  coiirfe  on  earth, 
 prepares  for  the  perfed:  glory  of  heaven. 
 
 And  this  is  a  great  matter  too;  for  many, 
 we  have  reafon  to  hope,  get  fafe  to  heaven  at 
 laft,  who  don't  go  joyfully  and  comfortably 
 thither ;  it  may  be  with  many  fears,  and  thro* 
 great  darknefs ;  Hke  a  man  who  makes  the 
 harbour  thro'  crofs  winds,  in  a  cloudy  and  tem- 
 peftuous  feafon,  when  he  is  often  beat  back, 
 and  in  danger  of  being  lolt.  But  a  chriftian 
 who  has  finifhed  his  courie,  is  looking  and 
 waitifig  for  the  comings  and  for  iht  Jahation  of 
 the  Lord;  he  pafTes  thro'  the  "jalley  of  the  JJoa-'^^xxxn.  ^: 
 dow  of  death,  by  the  divine  prefence  with  him, 
 with  much  comfort,  and  without  fear;  and 
 enters  into  the  joy  of  his  Lord,  with  holy  confi- 
 dence and  triumph  of  foul ;  like  a  man  who 
 runs  into  the  harbour  with  a  frefh  gale,  and 
 full  fails ;  or  one  who  has  reached  the  goal, 
 and  looks  with  confidence  for  the  prize. 
 
 I  have  no  time  left  for  application ;  the  befh 
 improvement  I  can  make  at  prelent,  is  to  fet 
 before  you  an  inftance  and  example  of  tlie 
 doctrine  I  have  been  confidcring  in  my  dear 
 deceafed  friend  and  brother.  Dr.  Evans ;  of 
 whom  I  have  many  things  to  fiy,  which,  I 
 think,  may  be  honourable  to  religion,  and  the 
 divine  grace,  and  ufeful  and  inflructing  to 
 others :  and  I  delire  to  lay  nothing  of  him  but 
 with  this  view. 
 
 He  was  born  at  Wrexham  in  Denbighfiire, 
 and  defcended  from  a  race  of  minifters  for  four 
 generations,    and  excepting  one  interruption, 
 
 quite 
 
2  86  A  Funeral  Senmn.  on 
 
 quite  up  to  the  reformation.  His  father  was 
 ejedied  for  his  nonconformity  at  OJweftry  m 
 Shropjloire^  in  1662.  He  afterwards  fettled 
 with  the  congregational  church  at  Wrexham^ 
 where  he  lived  in  general  efleem  among  the 
 gentlemen  of  that  country,  and  was  often  fi- 
 voured  and  fcrecned  by  them  in  the  troubles  of 
 thofe  times,  efpecially  by  Sir  IVilliam  V/illiams-y 
 and  Judge  Jefferics^  who  had  a  particular 
 kindnefs  for  him.  His  Mocher  was  the  daugh- 
 ter of  the  eminent  Colonel  Gerard^  who  was 
 governour  of  Chejlcr  Gafble,  a  wom.an  of  ail 
 excellent  fpirit,   and  great  underftanding. 
 
 He  had  his  education  firft  under  Mr.  Thomas 
 Ro-za  of  London  y  and  afterwards  under  Mr.  Ri- 
 chard Frank/and  at  Ratbmill  in  TorlzjJdirL  He 
 enjoyed  great  advantages  under  both,  and  made 
 a  great  proficiency  in  all  the  parts  of  rational 
 and  polite  literature,  which  he  cultivated  and 
 improved  all  his  life.  He  enlarged  his  views 
 of  feveral  things  beyond  thofe  of  his  education^ 
 as  fincere  and  inquilltive  minds  often  fee  rea- 
 fon  to  do. 
 
 His  fixfk.  fettkment  in  life  was  in  the  flimily 
 of  Mrs.  Hunt  of  Bore  at  ton  in  Sbropfiire"^.  Pie 
 was  treated  with  the  kiiidnefs  and  refjoedt 
 of  a  fon  by  that  excellent  Lady,  and  by 
 all  the  family ;  which  he  always  fpoke  of 
 with  a  fingular  pleafure  and  honour.  Here 
 he  enjoyed  the  great  felicity  of  an  agreeable 
 retirement  in  a  religious  fiimily,  and  pleafant 
 country,  with  all  the  convenience  for  fludy 
 and  devotion,    and  proper  diverfion  v/hen  he 
 
 could 
 
 *  She  tvas  relitl  of  Rowland  Hunt  Ej'q;   avJ  Sifer  of  Lord 
 Paget,  ijuho  ivas  Zmhajfador  tj  t/W  Oltoni.iii  Cjiat. 
 
the  Rev^.  Dr>  JohnEvans.  287 
 
 c-ould  be  perfuaded  to  take  it.  Being  now  in 
 the  vigour  of  life,  and  abounding  with  leifure, 
 he  read  over  entire  Mr.  Pool's  Latin  Syjiopjis 
 in  five  large  folio's,  which  laid  the  foundation 
 of  his  great  fkill  in  the  Scripture  criticijm^ 
 without  fonie  knowledge  of  which  no  man  can 
 throughly  underftand  his  Bible,  or  make  the 
 proper  ufe  of  it.  He  read  over  all  the  chriflian 
 writers  of  the  three  firft  centuries,  under  the 
 direction  of  the  learned  Mr.  'James  Owen^  and 
 made  judicious  extrads  of  what  related  to  the 
 dodlrine  and  pradice  of  the  primitive  church, 
 which  were  of  great  ufe  to  him  ever  after. 
 
 While  he  was  in  this  family,  he  firft  be- 
 gan to  preachy  before  he  was  quite  twenty.  Af- 
 ter fome  time  he  was  called  to  his  father's  con- 
 gregation at  Wrexham,  but  upon  their  refufal 
 to  join  with  the  other  congregation  in  the 
 town,  which  became  vacant,  they  defired  he 
 would  rather  fettle  in  the  other  congregation 
 than  leave  the  town.  Here  he  was  ordained 
 according  to  the  fcripture-pattern  ^yfqftijtg  and 
 prayer,  and  impojition  of  hands,  by  Mr.  Talents 
 of  Shreivsbury,  Mr.  James  Owen  of  Ojkveftry, 
 Mr.  Henry  of  Chejler,  and  Dr.  Benion ;  and 
 lived  feveral  years  with  great  acceptance  and 
 high  efteem.  He  was  once  obliged  to  diipute 
 the  point  of  Water  Baptifm  with  one  of  the 
 people  called  ^takers,  before  a  felecl  number 
 of  friends,  whom  he  baffled  by  the  many  in- 
 fbances  of  thofe  converted  to  chrillianity  in  tlie 
 ABs,  and  even  after  their  receiving  tlie  Holy 
 Ghoft, 
 
 After 
 
288  A  Funeral  Sermon  on 
 
 After  fome  time  he  received  an  invitatloii 
 to  fettle  at  Dublin^  but  the  judicious  and  fa- 
 gacious  Dr.  Williams^  who  was  lo  ufeful  by 
 the  labours  of  his  life,  and  fo  great  a  bene- 
 factor,  at  his  death,  to  the  diflenting  interefl, 
 and  the  interefl  of  religion  in  the  world,  tho* 
 he  was  not  fatisfied  to  remove  him  from  Wrex- 
 ham ^  which  was  his  own  native  town,  yet  ra- 
 ther than  to  let  him  leave  the  kingdom,  pre- 
 vented that  defign,  by  fending  for  him  to  I^on- 
 don^  where  he  was  feveral  years  his  Affiilant; 
 and  afterwards,  at  his  own  defire,  joint  Paftor, 
 and  fucceeded  him  at  his  death.  They  lived 
 together  in  the  greateft  mutual  affedion  and 
 efteem,  notwithftanding  the  difparity  of  years, 
 and  diiferent  fentiments  in  fome  particular  mat- 
 ters, which  they  fome  times  debated  with  great 
 freedom,  and  without  any  offence. 
 
 He  fpent  a  whole  week  in  a  folemn  retire- 
 ment, and  in  extraordinary  exercifes  of  devo- 
 tion, when  he  firft  took  the  whole  paftoral 
 charge  of  this  congregation ;  where  he  (pent 
 the  principal  part  of  his  life  and  labours,  and 
 which  he  always  reckoned,  with  great  thank- 
 fulnefs  and  pleafure,  was  iober,  judicious,  aiid 
 peaceable:  And  God  owned  his  minillry  and 
 endeavours  many  ways  to  the  good  of  many, 
 younger  and  elder,  and  in  fome  in  fiances  very 
 fmffular  and  remarkable.  He  was  feveral  yeai's 
 concerned  in  the  Lord's-Day  Evcning-LeBure 
 at  Saltcrs-Hall ;  and  was  cholen  one  of  the 
 fix  preachers  at  the  Meixhants-hetture  in  that 
 place  in  the  room  of  Mr.  Jere?niah  Smith, 
 
 Hb 
 
the  Rev^,  Dr,  John  Evans.  289 
 
 He  publiflied  many  Sc?vnon^  upon  various 
 occaflonsi  and  two  volumes  of  very  judicious 
 and  ufeful  difcourie^  upon  the  Chriftian  T^em- 
 per-y  a  noble  argument,  and  of  ftanding  ufe, 
 and  which  has  met  with  uncommon  regard  in 
 the  world.  He  was  once  engaged  in  a  con- 
 trover  fiai  writing  with  a  late  learned  perfon, 
 concerning  the  Importa?ice  of  j'cripture  confe- 
 qiiences,  which  was  generally  allowed  to  be 
 done  in  a  mafterly  and  chriflian  way,  with 
 great  clearnefs  and  judgment,  and  with  great 
 fobriety  and  decency. 
 
 He  had  formed  a  defign  many  years  ago  of 
 writing  A  HiJIory  of  Nonconformity,    from  the 
 beginning  of  the  Reformation  to  the  times  of 
 the  Civil  War-,    and   to  trace  it  from  its  iirft 
 rife  and  fpring,  through  the  feveral  fteps,  and 
 gradual  progrefs  of  it  j  to  reprefent  the  various 
 ftruggles  and  fuffering  of  thofe  who  contended 
 for  a  farther  reformation,    and  the  principles 
 and  methods  of  thofe  who  all  along  oppofed 
 it.    He  had  made  a  vaft  preparation  of  proper 
 materials  from  ail  quarters,  with  great  induftry, 
 and  at  great  expence,    for  feveral  years  toge- 
 ther ;  and  had  fome  afliftance  from  feveral  gen- 
 tlemen who  were  fkilful  that  way,  and  ap- 
 proved the  delign.     He  had  read  over  an  in- 
 credible number  of  books  upon  that  fabjcdt, 
 he  thought  very  few  had  efcaped  him  during 
 that  period  j  and  has  filled  feveral  quire  of  pa- 
 per with  proper   references  under  each  year. 
 He  began  to  tranfcribe  and  hnifli  it  fome  years 
 ago,  and  has  left  fairly  written  about  a  third 
 
 U  part 
 
2Q0  -^  Fu7teral  Sermon  on 
 
 part  of  one  of  the  two  folio's  he  deligned.  But 
 his  conftant  employment  in  the  minifterial 
 work  in  a  large  congregation,  the  great  variety 
 of  publick  affairs  which  pafTed  through  his 
 hands ;  the  early  decays  of  his  conftitution  ; 
 and  various  difappointments  and  troubles  in  his 
 own  affairs ;  prevented  the  clofe  application  the 
 nature  of  the  work  required,  in  the  later  years 
 of  his  life.  So  the  work  is  left  unfinifhed,  to 
 the  great  lofsand  difappointment  of  the  learned 
 and  curious  world.  Whether  it  may  be  reviv- 
 ed and  finiflied  by  other  hands,  I  am  not  yet 
 able  to  fay.  The  deiign  was  noble,  and  would 
 have  been  of  great  ufe  feveral  ways.  To  be 
 fure  no  one  was  fitter  for  the  tafk  he  had  un- 
 dertaken, or  would  have  executed  it  with  more 
 advantage,  or  greater  fatisfa(flion  to  the  world. 
 
 He  received  the  highefl  marks  of  refped: 
 from  two  learned  bodies,  the  Univeriities  of 
 Edi?7burgh  and  Aberdeen^  with  fome  other  of 
 his  brethren,  without  their  knowledge,  and  in 
 the  mofl  honourable  manner.  He  fometimes 
 prefided  at  publick  ordinations,  with  great  gra- 
 vity and  wifdom,  and  v^as  greatly  delighted  in 
 having  prayed  over  three  perfons,  who  were 
 all  born  in  this  congegration,  and  diflinguifhed 
 by  their  piety  and  worth*. 
 
 His  characler  was  remarkable  for  many  ex- 
 cellent endoiioments^  which  were  verv  diftin- 
 guiiliing  in  him,  and  fuperiour  to  mofl  others. 
 He  had  a  great  folidity  oi judgment ,  and  un- 
 common capacity  of  dillinguifliing  the  diffe- 
 rences of  things,    and  difcerhing  the  true  ffate 
 
 of 
 
 *  Mr.  George  Smith,    Mr.  Thomas  Newman,    Mr.  John 
 Oakes. 
 
de  Revl  Dr.  John  Evans.  291 
 
 of  a  matter.  There  was  a  marvellous  flrength 
 and  connexion  in  his  thoughts  and  expreffion, 
 upon  any  fubje<fl,  in  his  preaching  and  his  con- 
 verfation.  His  vivacity  and  quicknefs  joined 
 with  fo  great  a  judgment,  made  a  very  rare  and 
 uncommon  mixture.  He  had  the  folidity  of 
 cooler  and  flower  minds,  and  the  life  and  quick- 
 nefs of  thofe  of  the  warmefl  imagination.  His 
 induftry  and  diligence  was  indefatigable :  He 
 could  bear  hard  fbudy,  and  go  through  a  great 
 variety  of  buiinefs  with  eafe  and  difpatch :  He 
 was  peculiarly  made  for  the  adive  life,  and 
 was  not  ealily  tired  or  difcouraged  by  the  dif- 
 ficulties of  an  attempt.  His /'rz^^<?;/^£' was  of- 
 ten feen  in  conducting  a  difficult  affair,  or 
 managing  a  debate  of  confequence ;  in  forefee- 
 ing  probable  difficulties,  and  iinding  out  pro- 
 per expedients,  in  which  he  was  often  fingu- 
 larly  happy.  His  vigilance  and  care  made  a 
 proper  difcovery,  and  prevented  a  late  defign 
 in  a  neighbouring  nation,  to  cramp  the  pro- 
 teflant  dilfenters,  which  was  equally  ungrate- 
 ful and  impolitick,  againfl  fo  great  a  body  of 
 zealous  friends  to  the  government,  and  in  cir- 
 cumftances  of  fo  great  diftrefs  in  the  country. 
 
 He  excelled  in  feveral  vertues  of  the  chri- 
 flian  life.  He  had  great  integrity,  and  open- 
 nefs  of  mind  :  There  was  an  honefty  and  frank- 
 nefs  in  his  temper,  which  never  fuffered  him 
 to  crouch  or  diffemble :  He  knew  not  how  to 
 flinch  or  flatter :  You  law  his  heart  at  once, 
 and  might  depend  upon  his  word.  He  deteft- 
 ed  the  low  methods  of  flander,  and  cenfure, 
 without  a  fufficient  ground,  or  any  proper  call, 
 U  2  as 
 
2Q2  A  Funeral  Sermon  on 
 
 as  a  great  wickednefs.    The  fame  greatnefs  and 
 genei'ofity  of  mind,    which  led  him  to  do  all 
 manner  of  good  to  others,    fet  him  above  do- 
 ing the  leaft  hurt  to  any.    He  was  fteady  and 
 immoveable  in  what  he  apprehended  right,  and 
 thought  of  importance.     He  knew  no  friend, 
 and  feared  no  danger,  in  the  way  of  his  duty  -, 
 tho*  no  man  was  a  ii-ntvfriend,  or  had  a  greater 
 zeal,  or  a  greater  pleafure  in  friendfliip ;  as  no 
 man  was  more  generally  loved  and  efteemed. 
 I  think  I  may  be  allowed  to  know  it,  and  have 
 a  right  to  fay  it,    after  living  about  fix  and 
 twenty  years  in  the  full  confidence  and  endear- 
 ments of  friendfliip,    in   all  the  fervices  and 
 flruggles  of  life,   without  the  leaft  difgufi:  or 
 diftance :    God  only  knows  how  great  a  fliare 
 I  bear   in  the  lofs,    and  in  the  affli(51:ion  -y    and 
 2  Sam.  i.  how  truly  I  can  fay,  /  a?}i  dljlrejj'ed for  thee^ 
 *^*  7ny  brothcj\ 
 
 His  pie fy  was  a  fteady  regular  courfe  of  fe- 
 rious  regard  to  God,  in  his  daily  walk,  with 
 great  fobriety  of  mind,  and  without  the  leafl 
 tindure  or  tendency  to  eiithufiafm^  notwith- 
 flanding  fome  natural  warmth  and  eagernefs 
 of  temper.  His  religion  was  not  confined  to 
 God,  or  the  mere  ads  of  worfhip,  but  extend^ 
 ed  to  all  his  fellow-creatures :  He  was  of  a 
 publickj'pirit^  and  had  a  zealous  regard  to  the 
 common  good.  No  man  among  us  bore  a 
 greater  fhare  in  all  the  affairs  of  the  difienting 
 interelT:,  or  what  related  to  the  welfare  of  his 
 country ;  or  was  more  ready  to  do  good  offices 
 to  others,  to  ferve  art^  worthy  defign,  or  help 
 any  cafe  ojf- jdiftrefs'j  and  no  man  ever  ferved 
 
 the 
 
/ie  Revi  Dn  John  Evans.  293 
 
 tlie  intereft  of  fo  many  others,  with  greater 
 felf-denyal,  or  lefs  advantage  to  his  own.  Tho' 
 he  had  a  ftrange  firmnefs  of  mind,  and  often- 
 times a  noble  neglec^l  of  what  concerned  him- 
 ielf,  yet  he  had  a  greater  tcndernefs  to  others 
 affliftions,  than  always  ilood  with  the  comfort 
 of  his  hfe,  or  the  convenience  of  his  circiim- 
 ftances.  His  companionate  heart  to  others 
 wants  and  miferies,  made  him  fometimes  wil- 
 ling not  only  to  his  power ^  but  greatly  beyond 
 his  power.  His  principles  in  religion  were  fo- 
 ber  and  moderate,  without  any  zeal  for  ufe- 
 lefs  fpeculations,  or  running  into  any  extreme: 
 He  much  attended  to  what  was  profitable.  He 
 invariably  judged  the  caule  of  moderate  Non^ 
 cofiformity  to  be  a  jufl  and  a  noble  caufe ;  and 
 was  ftrong  in  his  fentiments  of  the  fcripture 
 perfe(ftion,  and  of  chriflian  liberty,  againfl:  all 
 principles  of  tyranny  and  impofition.  The 
 Bible  only  was  his  religion  and  rule,  and  the 
 great  encouragement  and  fupport  in  all  his 
 tryals  and  conflid:s,  living  and  dying.  He 
 was  foberly  orthodox:,  and  throughly  catholicky 
 difpofed  to  think  well  and  to  honour  thofe  who 
 diiler'd  from  him,  who  appeared  upright  and 
 deferving,  of  the  feveral  denominations  among 
 us.  He  knew  no  difference  in  his  affe6tion 
 and  efteem  between  one  good  man  and  ano- 
 ther, but  what  the  different  degrees  of  their 
 goodnefs  made. 
 
 His  lafl  faknefs  was  a  complication  of  dif- 
 
 tempers,  which  gradually  broke    his  conflitu- 
 
 tion,  tho'  it  feem'd  built  for  a  longer  flanding; 
 
 and    became  grievous  to  him,  not  only  as  a 
 
 U  3  con- 
 
2  94  A  Funeral  Sermon  on 
 
 confinement    from   active  fervice,    which  he 
 mofl  dreaded  ;  but  as  it  was  fometimes  very 
 painful  and  diftreffing.     He  preferved  however 
 ^n  immoveable    fteadinefs  and  compofure   of 
 mind  through  fo  long  an  exercife,  with  a  pro- 
 found fubmiflion  to  the  divine  will,    and  an 
 exemplary  patience  under  the  greateft  diftrefs; 
 and  was  ready  to  wait  the  event   which  God 
 iliould  allot.     Indeed  the  long  continuance  of 
 the  diforder,  and  frequent  intervals  of  it  j  the 
 opportunities  of  extraordinary  devotions,    and 
 the  uncommon  concern  through  the  town  fot 
 fo  eminent  and  ufeful   a  perfon   among  us  -, 
 fometimes  flattered  us  with  hopes  of  recovery; 
 But  the  wife  fovereign  of  the  world  had  de- 
 termined otherwife. 
 
 His  lingring  illnefs  gave  the  opportunity  of 
 dropping  fevcral  pafTages  which  were  inftrud:- 
 ing  and  affed:ing.  He  had  \\i^  fentetice  of  death 
 in  himfelf  2.  confiderable  time,  and  rejoiced  in 
 the  views  of  eternity.  He  would  fometimes 
 check  himfelf  in  the  midfl  of  exquilite  pain, 
 "  But  I  mull  not  complain  :  God  is  good, 
 "  and  the  will  of  the  Lord  be  done."  He 
 once  faid,  "  Though  I  cannot  fay,  in  the 
 ^'  great  expreffion,  worthy  of  an  Apoflle,  of  a 
 "  late  venerable  minifler  *  among  us,  a  little 
 "  before  his  death,"  ['  I  have  no  more  doubt 
 *  of  my  acceptance  with  God,  than  I  have  of 
 ■  my  own  exiftence,']  "  yet  I  have  good  hope 
 *'  thro'  grace,  and  fuch  as  I  am  perfuaded  will 
 "  never  make  me  afhamed."  Tho'  he  was 
 fenfible,  he  faid,  of  many  failings,  he  could 
 
 appeal 
 
 f  Ihe  very  fious  and  lcarne4  Mr.  WiH,  Lorimore. 
 
the  Rev^,  Dr,  John  Evans.         295 
 
 appeal  to  God,  "  That  he  had  walked  before 
 *'  him  with  integrity."  When  he  was  in  acute 
 pain,  he  faid  to  his  worthy  friends,  where  he 
 was  treated  with  fo  high  refped:,  and  tender 
 a  care,  *'  The  formality  and  ceremony  of  ta- 
 "  king  down  this  tabernable  by  degrees,  is 
 "  irkfome  and  grievous  3  how  much  better 
 "  were  it,  if  it  pleafed  God,  that  it  might 
 "  tumble  all  at  once  !  but  the  will  of  God  be 
 "  done."  When  he  looked  upon  his  body, 
 fwoUen  with  his  diftemper,  he  would  often 
 fay  with  pleafure,  "  This  corruptible,  fliall 
 "  put  on  incorruption, — O  glorious  hope  !" 
 He  was  full  of  thankfulnefs  to  God  for  any 
 intervals  of  reft :  When  he  found  himfelf  to- 
 lerably eafy,  "  Thank  God  for  this."  When 
 in  great  pain  of  body,  "  BlelTed  be  God  for 
 "  the  peace  of  my  mind." 
 
 He  told  a  particular  friend  who  vifited  him, 
 "  That  he  was  obliged  to  his  friends  who  ex- 
 "  preffed  fo  great  a  concern  for  his  life,  but 
 *'  it  was  not  fo  much  his  own  defire."  He 
 added,  "  If  I  might  be  continued  for  further 
 *'  ufefulnefs  in  the  church  of  Chrift,  I  fhall 
 *'  be  glad  to  live;  but  if  not,  'tis  my  earnefl 
 "  defire  to  finifh  at  prefent."  He  faid  with 
 earneftnefs  and  tears,  "  I  have  reafon  to  thank 
 "  God  for  an  early  fenfe  of  religion,  and  an 
 "  early  dedication  to  God  :  I  have  endeavoured 
 "  to  order  the  m.ain  part  of  life  as  before 
 "  God  ;  and  have  ever  defired  to  be  faithful 
 "  in  the  miniftry  :  I  am  confcious  of  many 
 "*'  failings  in  publick  and  private  life  s  but  I 
 *'  can  rell  upon  the  gofpel-covenant  for  mercy  : 
 
 U  4  ''I 
 
296  A  Funeral  Sermon  on 
 
 *'  I  am  fully  perfuaded  of  the  truth  of  it,  and 
 "  defire  no  other  falvation."  He  faid  at  an- 
 other time,  "  I  die  in  the  faith  and  hope  of 
 "  the  gofpel  I  have  preached,  and  find  great 
 "  comfort  in  it."  Upon  the  occafion  of  the 
 hours  of  prayer  on  his  account,  he  faid,  *'  I 
 "  heartily  wifh  that  my  affliction  may  occa- 
 *'  fion  the  reviving  a  fpirit  of  prayer ;  I  fhall 
 *'  not  think  much  of  any  thing  I  endure,  if 
 "  it  may  have  that  effed."  He  fpent  whole 
 -  nights  in  prayer  to  God,  when  he  could  not 
 fleep,  for  himfelf,  his  family,  his  friends,  and 
 the  church  of  God  :  It  v/as  the  proper  breath 
 of  his  foul.  He  faid  to  an  old  and  intimate 
 friend,  "  That  the  greateft  difficulty  he  found 
 "  in  the  thoughts  of  leaving  this  world,  was 
 "  parting  from  the  company  of  his  brethren, 
 "  whom  he  had  always  loved,  and  with  whom 
 *'  he  had  converfed  with  fo  much  pleafure." 
 He  began  to  write  fome  hints  of  meditation 
 for  the  ufe  of  himfelf  and  his  friends,  fome 
 days  before  his  death,  with  a  trembling  hand  j 
 the  infcription  of  it  was,  "  What  I  am  as  a 
 "  creature ;  as  a  reafonable  creature  ;  as  a  iin- 
 *'  ful  creature;  as  a  redeemed  creature;  as  a 
 "  creature  in  a  ilate  of  trial  for  eternity  ;  as 
 "  a  fociable  creature,  and  related  to  other  be- 
 "  ings  about  me."  But  it  was  only  begun. 
 The  lafl  thing  remarkable,  while  he  was  fen- 
 fible,  and  fome  of  the  lafh  words  he  was 
 Jieard  to  fay,  were ;  he  lift  up  his  hands,  and 
 cry'd  cut,  "  All  is  well,  all  is  well."  Indeed 
 he  had  a  firm  undaunted  Ipirit  upon  chriflian 
 prin-ciples,    thro'  his  long   illnefs,    and  truly 
 
 foiified 
 
the  Rev^,  Dr.  John  Evans.         297 
 
 Jinified  his  courfe  with  joy.  And  O  may  we  go 
 and  do  like  wife  !  •  Let  the  in  fiance  of  the  A- 
 poftle  in  the  text,  and  that  of  your  deceafed 
 friend  and  paftor  be  to  every  one  of  us,  both 
 a  moving  example,  and  an  encouraging  mo-- 
 tive  to  do  foc  I  conclude  with  the  words  of 
 the  Apoftle  to  the  chriflian  Hebrews  j  Remem-  Heb.  xiii. 
 ber  them  who  have  had  the  rule  over  you^  and'^' 
 have  fpoken  to  you  the  word  of  God,  whofe  faith 
 follow y  confidering  the  end  of  their  converfation. 
 
 S  E  R- 
 
298 
 
 SERMON     V. 
 
 Acts  xx.  24. 
 
 But  no7te  of  thefe  things  jnove  me^  nei- 
 ther co^nt  I  my  life  dear  to  myfelfy 
 fo  that  I  might  finifh  my  courfe  with 
 joyy  a?2d  the  minijiry  which  I  have 
 received  of  the  Lord  Jefus — 
 
 I  Have  already  confidered  thefe  words  in  a 
 doftrinal  way,  and  have  reprefented  both 
 the  ftedfaft  refolution  and  firmnefs  of  the 
 Apoftle's  mind  under  prefent  trials  j  and  his 
 great  defire  and  aim  in  it  :  I  have  ihewed  di- 
 ftindlly,  what  it  is  to  finifh  our  courfe,  and 
 upon  what  grounds  'tis  fo  defirable. 
 
 What  I  propofe  at  prefent  is  only  to  con- 
 fider  the  praSlical  improvement^  and  various 
 ufes  which  may  be  made  of  it  to  ourfelves : 
 and  becaufe  the  fubject  is  of  a  very  ferious  na- 
 ture, and  great  importance  in  the  chriflian 
 life,  I  fliali  endeavour  to  reprefent  it  a  little 
 diltinclly,  and  fliall  reduce  w^hat  is  mofl  ma- 
 terial to  the  following  inferences  and  exhorta- 
 tions. 
 
 I. 
 
A  Funeral  Sermon,  299 
 
 I.  I  infer  from  hence,  That  every  chriftian 
 has  his  courfe  of  fervice  appointed  by  God. 
 The  Apoftle  fpeaks  here  of  his  courfe  and  mi-^ 
 nijlry  j  but  this  was  not  peculiar  to  him  j  for 
 he  fpeaks  elfewhere  of  the  race  which  is  Jet  u.Qh.xn.u 
 before  us.  The  whole  compafs  of  chriftian 
 duty  is  the  common  courfe  of  every  one,  how- 
 ever otherwife  diftinguifhed.  The  Apoftles 
 of  Chrifl  were  equally  obliged  to  this,  with 
 the  meanefl:  chriftian.  The  fpecial  duties  of 
 our  particular  places,  which  are  proper  to  our 
 condition  and  circumftance  of  life,  and  the 
 relation  in  which  we  ftand  to  others,  is  a 
 courfe  proper  to  ourfelves  ;  fo  magiftrates  and 
 minifters,  thofe  of  publick  characfters  and 
 higher  ftations  of  life,  and  private  chriftians 
 of  the  loweft  rank,  and  moft  obfcure,  have 
 their  proper  courfe,  and  refpediive  work, 
 mark'd  out  and  appointed  by  God.  Th.t  per- 
 feB  law  of  the  Lord  is  the  common  rule  to 
 every  one,  which  the  Apoftle  calls  the  ^o)'^/ jam.  li.  8, 
 laWy  and  the  law  of  liberty. 
 
 It  would  very  much  contribute  to  raife  our 
 efteem,  and  difpofe  to  a  fuitable  regard,  to  con- 
 iider  every  part  of  the  chriftian  duty  as  the 
 will  of  God,  and  fixed  by  a  divine  diredion 
 and  appointment ;  and  the  higher  our  appre- 
 henfions  are  of  the  divine  authority  and  do- 
 minion, the  more  eafily  they  will  command 
 our  attention,  and  make  the  deeper  impreflion 
 upon  the  heart.  How  cheerful  and  ready  will 
 all  our  obedience  be,  when  we  are  throughly 
 fatisfied  of  the  right  of  the  authority,  and  the 
 reafon  of  the  command  ? 
 
 2^ 
 
 12. 
 
12 
 
 ■^oo  A  Funeral  Sermon  on 
 
 2.  We  muft  be  prepared  and  refohed  agalnil 
 difficulties  and  tryals  in  our  way.  We  may 
 certainly  know  without  the  fpirit  of  prophecy, 
 or  immediate  revelation  of  the  Holy  Ghoft, 
 that  tryals  and  afflictions  of  one  kind  or  ano- 
 ther, will  abide  us  wherever  we  go.  The 
 chriilian  life  is  a  flate  of  warfare  as  well  as  fer- 
 vice  -y  there  are  not  only  great  difficulties  in  our 
 work,  but  great  oppofition  from  without,  and 
 'tis  an  obfervation  which  extends  farther  than 
 the  Apoftles  times,  and  is  found  true  In  every 
 
 zTim.iii.  age,  ihat  they  who  will  Iroe  godly  in  Chriji  Je- 
 JiiSj  miifi  Jiijfer  perfecution^  or  be  ready  to  fufFer 
 it. 
 
 We  muft  count  the  cofi  of  being  difciples  of 
 Chrift  at  iirft  fetting  out,  and  reckon  upon 
 bufferings  and  tryals  before  hand,  that  we  may 
 be  prepared  and  fortified  againft  them ;    and 
 
 x^ciXv.x.d^'rii  our  J'ehes  with  the  fame  mind  with  our 
 
 V„  fuffering  Saviour,  that  we  may  not  be  moved 
 
 >  from  our  Jledfajlnef,  and  may  ftand  all  affaults, 
 and  maintain  our  sround.  Difficulties  and 
 tryals  always  take  us  at  a  difadvantage,  under 
 an  eafy  careleiTnefs  and  fecurity  of  mind,  and 
 when  they  fm-prize  us  undetermined  and  un- 
 prepared. Nothing  is  more  neceflary  in  cir- 
 cumilances  of  danger,  or  more  likely  to  fecure 
 our  ftanding,    than  a  wifely  and  v/ell  refolved 
 
 Acixi.2'.  ii'^hid:  We  muft  cleave  to  the  Lord  with pur- 
 poje  of  hearty  and  not  be  foonflmken  in  mind^  if 
 
 2  Pet  iii    "^^  liope  to  be  fiedfafl  and  unmoveable^  and  not 
 
 17.  X.O  fall  from  our  own  ftedfaflncfs. 
 
 3.  We  muft  not  grudge  ouv  lives  in  the  fer- 
 vice  of  Chrift,    or  think  much  to  lay  them 
 
 down 
 
the  Rev^,  Dr.  JoHNfevANS.         301 
 
 down  for  his  fake.     We  mufl  not  count  our 
 lives  too  dear  a  facrifice  for  his  honour,    if  we 
 are  called  to  it,  or  confult  our  fafety  at  the  ex- 
 pence  of  it.     It  cannot  be  denied  or  diifem- 
 bled,    that  this  is  the  ftanding  law  of  the  go- 
 fpel  to  all  the  difciples  of  Chrifl: ;  He  whofiid- 
 €th  his  life,  jhail  lofe  it  -,  and  he  who  lofeth  his  life., 
 for  my  fake,  foallfnd  it.     And,  If  any  man  ^'fa•tt.  x. 
 Cometh  to  me,  and  hateth  not  his  own  life ;  or  as  ^^" 
 it  is  in  Matthew,  loves  it  more  than  me,  he  can- 
 not be  my  difciple.     And  whatfoever  appearance 
 or  pretence  there  may  be  of  harddiip  in  the 
 cafe,  'tis  certainly  a  wife  and  reafonable  choice 
 to  offer  our  lives  upon  the  facrifice  andfervice  o/^Luk.  xlv. 
 the  faith,  and  to  the  honour  of  him,  who  is-^" 
 the  Lord  of  life,    and  has  the  greatefl  right  to 
 it ;  and  has  greater  ends  of  good  to  ferve  by 
 them,  more  noble  and  lading,    than  our  tem- 
 poral lives  amount  to;    ysha  gave  his  own  life 
 for  us,  and  redeemed  us  by  his  precious  blood; 
 and  who  will  give  eternal  life  to  all  his  faithful 
 followers,    an  hundred  fold  in  this  prefent  time,  — xvi'ii. 
 and  in  the  world  to  come  life  everlafii?jg.  3°- 
 
 4.  We  learn  from  hence,  what  to  think  of 
 thofe  who  have  not  yet  begutt  the  chriflian 
 courfe:  Who  have  never  heartily  fet  about  the 
 chriftian  life,  or  been  in  good  earneft  in  it, 
 but  lived  in  ignorance  and  carelefs  negled:,  in 
 a  deep  fecurity,  and  unconcern  of  mind,  or 
 under  governing  habits  and  cuftoms  of  fm ; 
 who  are  taken  up  with  the  bulinefs  or  vanities 
 of  life,  and  purfue  their  pleafurcs  and  interefls 
 in  it ;  but  never  made  a  perfonal  furrender  of 
 themfelves  to  God,  or  made  it  their  daily  en- 
 deavour 
 
J02  A  Funeral  Sermon  on 
 
 deavour  to  do  his  will,  or  be  approved  of  him  2 
 Who  never  made  religion  the  care  of  their 
 fouls,  or  the  bulinefs  of  their  lives. 
 
 How  great  are  the  numbers  of  fuch  in  a 
 chriftian  country,  and  under  the  chriftian  pro- 
 feffion  ;  who  have  really  no  more  of  a  chriftian, 
 than  what  is  contained  in  their  chriftian  name; 
 and  are  not  diftinguifhed  from  heathens,  by  any 
 thing  in  their  temper,  or  in  their  lives  ?  How 
 far  are  they  from  finifliing  their  courfe  who 
 have  not  yet  begun  it  ?  They  have  their  whole 
 race  to  run,  and  have  not  gone  one  flep  in  it. 
 When  do  you  intend  to  begin?  When fl^ all  it 
 once  he  f  If  they  mifcarry  who  don't  finifh  their 
 courfe,  what  muft  their  cafe  be  who  never  en- 
 ter upon  it,  or  ever  made  the  tryal  and  attempt  ? 
 Surely  'tis  high  time  to  begin,  if  ever  you  hope 
 to  finifh  it,  and  to  fet  about  it  immediately, 
 Pfal  cxix  ^^^  make  the  utmoft  difpatch ;  O  think  on  your 
 59.  ways,  and  turn  your  feet  to  his  tejlimonies-,  make 
 
 hojle  and  delay  not  to  keep  his  commandments. 
 \Ve.t.\.i\.  Let  the  time  paji  of  your  life  fiiffice  to  work  the 
 — iv.  3.    wll  of  the  Ge?2tiles ',    and  become  obedient  chil- 
 dren,   not  fafiioning  your  fehes  according  to  the 
 former  lufts  in  your  ignorance.     On  the  con- 
 Hebiii.7.  trary  J    to-day  while  it  is  called  to-day,  hear  his 
 njoice,  and  harden  not  your  hearts.     Bring  your 
 minds  by  clofe  attention  to  a  full  perfuafioOj 
 and  a  fixed  point,    that  you  may  have  fome 
 certain  view  before  you,  and  be  direded  and 
 excited  by  it,  in  all  your  meafures  and  con- 
 du6t  of  life. 
 
 The  longer  you  continue  in  this  ftate,    the 
 farther  you  are  from  your  end :  Thefe  two  are 
 
 diredt 
 
the  Rev^.Dr.  John  Evans.         303 
 
 dlre«5t  extremes,  and  ftand  at  the  greateft  diA 
 tance  from  one  another,  th^  Jinijhing  our  courfe, 
 and  not  beginning  it.  And  what  if  you  fliould 
 die  in  the  mean  time,  and  be  called  off  the 
 ftage  of  the  world,  while  you  are  only  confi- 
 dering  and  defigning,  and  before  you  begin  to 
 ad:  a  proper  part  in  it,  or  have  done  any  thing 
 in  order  to  it  ?  What  if  you  had  died  in  their 
 ftead  who  are  now  removed,  and  your  care- 
 lefs  and  ufelefs  lives  had  gone  in  the  room  of 
 their  valuable  and  ufeful  ones  ?  What  had  been 
 the  ftate  of  your  cafe,  and  how  had  you  been 
 difpofed  of  for  ever  ?  What  a  figure  will  you 
 make  in  the  other  world  ?  how  will  you  think 
 of  your  felves,  and  be  thought  of  by  all  the 
 World  ?  How  fad  an  end  muft  he  make  of 
 the  natural  life,  who  has  not  yet  made  a  be- 
 ginning in  the  ipiritual  life  ?  Let  me  call  you 
 to  confider,  how  many  uncomfortable  thoughts 
 muft  it  neceflarily  adminifter  to  upon  a  dying 
 bed  ?  What  foundation  muft  it  lay  for  future 
 forrow  ?  What  fhame  and  reproach  muft  it 
 occafion  upon  a  review  ?  What  anguifti  and 
 diftrefs  in  the  profped:  before  you  ?  Sinner, 
 what  a  favour  is  it  from  God  to  be  fpared  and 
 continued  in  life  after  fo  many  trifling  neglects 
 and  long  delays,  and  that  it  can  yet  be  faid. 
 Behold  now  is  the  accepted  time ^  behold  ftow  is  ^Cor 
 the  day  of  fa  hat  ion ;  and  that  2.Jpace  of  repen- 
 tancey  and  opportunity  of  good,  the  exercife 
 of  patience  and  mercy,  are  lengthened  out,  af- 
 ter fo  many  years  of  provocation,  and  when, 
 perhaps,  many  others  of  thy  companions  and 
 acquaintance  in  life,   -^x^fiknt  in  the  grave,  or 
 
 in 
 
 VI. 2. 
 
304  -^  Funeral  Sermon  on 
 
 in  the  place  of  torments  f  What  aggravation  of 
 thy  folly  and  guilt,  how  amazing  and  infup- 
 portable  muft  thy  fhame  and  condemnation  be 
 at  laft,  if  thou  continued;  carelefs  and  incorri- 
 gible unto  the  end  ? 
 
 5.  'Tis  not  enough  to  begin  well,  but  we 
 vnniifimjh  oiir  courfe  too:  Many  begin  well, 
 and  go  a  confiderable  way  in  the  chriftian 
 courfej  who  never  iinifh  and  hold  out  to  the 
 end.  Many  hopeful  beginnings  come  to  no- 
 thing,   and  are,  in  the  reprefentation  of  the 
 
 Hof.vi.4.  prophet,  as  an  untimely  birth ^  or  as  the  morn- 
 ing cloudy  and  early  dew,  which  foon  vanijheth 
 away-,  is  prefently  fcattered  and  dried  up  by 
 the  rifing  fun*  The  Apoflle  tells  the  Gala- 
 tians,  who  were  for  revolting  from  Chrijlianity 
 to  yudaifm,  and  mingling  the  law  of  Mojh 
 
 Gal.v.  7.  with  the  dodrine  of  Chriji  ;  Tou  did  run  well, 
 who  did  hinder  you,   that  you  Jhculd  not  obey  the 
 
 t— ili.  3.    truth?  And,  are  you  fofooliJl:>,  ha'uing  begun  in 
 
 the  spirit ;    entered  upon  the  fpiritual  religion 
 
 of  the  Golpel :    are  ye  now  made  perfeB  in  the 
 
 Jlejl.\  or  by  the  carnal  ordinances  of  the  legal 
 
 difpenfation  ? 
 
 'Tis  very  fad  to  confider,  how  many  have 
 begun  betimes,  and  fet  out  well  in  religion, 
 who  have  been  difcouraged  by  difficulties,  of 
 entangled  by  lin,  and  have  come  to  forfake 
 their  profeffion,  to  grow  gradually  carelefs  and 
 wicked,  and  fall  at  laft  under  a  fuller  power 
 of  the  Devil ;  like  the  cafe  reprefented  by  our 
 Lord  in  the  Gofpel :  When  the  imclean  fpirit  is 
 gone  out  of  a  man,  and  walketh  through  dry 
 places y  a?id feeketh  rcfl,    andfindcth  none;  then 
 
itie  Revi  Dr.  John  Evans.  305 
 
 he  faith  y  I  will  return  to  mine  own  houfe^  from 
 whence  I  came  out  -,  and  when  he  cometh^  he  find- 
 eth  it  empty y  Jwept  and  garnifhed'.  When  the 
 Devil  is  difpofleffed  for  a  while,  and  a  man  be- 
 gins to  be  religious,  and  grows  regular  and  fo- 
 ber;  T^he7i  he  goeth  and  taketh  feven  other  /pirits, 
 more  wicked  than  himfelf  and  they  eJtter  in  and 
 dwell  there  ;  a?2d  the  lafl  Jiate  of  that  man  is 
 worfe  than  the  fir jl :  He  returns  with  frefli  re- 
 cruits, and  greater  force,  and  if  he  can  find 
 admiffion,  he  takes  a  fuller  polleffion,  and 
 makes  him  worfe  than  he  was  before.  We 
 muft  not  reft  in  good  beginnings,  tho'  'tis  ab- 
 folutely  neceflary  to  make  a  beginning ;  as  the 
 meer  fetting  out  right  in  a  race  will  never  bring 
 a  man  to  the  end  of  it. 
 
 But  now  a  lincere  chriftian  is  much  fet  up- 
 on finijhing  his  courfe,  and  the  true  fpirit  of  a 
 chriftian  is  much  feen  in  it.  Hypocritical  and 
 formal  profeftbrs  of  religion  look  no  further 
 than  prefent  things,  and  outward  appearance ; 
 all  their  care  is  to  he  feen  of  men,  and  approved 
 of  men.  If  they  can  keep  a  fair  outfide,  and 
 gain  the  good  opinion  of  others,  and  promote 
 and  fecure  their  worldly  intereft  and  conveni- 
 ence; they  trouble  themfelves  no  further,  and 
 are  not  folicitous  about  futurities.  But  a  chri- 
 ftian's  eye  is  very  much  upon  his  end:  His 
 conftant  care  and  chief  concern  is  to  hold  out, 
 and  finifti  well  at  laft :  *'  Let  me  die  the  death 
 "  of  the  righteous,  as  I  have  endeavoured  to 
 **  live  his  life."  "  Let  my  end  be  peace^  like 
 **  the  upright  man."  He  matters  not  what 
 iryals  and  troubles  he  meets  with,   fo  that  he 
 
 X  may 
 
3.0  6 
 
 A  Fu7ural  Sermon  on 
 
 Yr\?iy  finijlo  his  courfe  with  joy, — Indeed  finifliing 
 work  is  a  great  and  difficult  work,  and  of  an- 
 other kind  from  all  the  former ;  as  the  finifh- 
 ing  any  work  gives  the  beauty  and  glory  to 
 the  whole  ;  and  it  requires  the  niceft  care  to 
 give  the  iinifhing  touches,  and  laft  hand  to  a 
 curious  piece.  *Tis  the  great  bufinefs  of  life  to 
 make  a  good  end,  and  we  fhould  be  always 
 doing  fomething  towards  it.  The  chriflian 
 courfe  is  not  a  fudden  hafty  work,  to  de  done 
 all  at  once,  or  in  a  fhort  fpace,  in  a  laft  fick- 
 nefs,  or  upon  a  dying  bed ;  but  it  extends  to 
 the  whole  compafs  of  life,  and  all  our  time  in 
 this  world  is  little  enough  for  it.  There  will 
 be  always  fomething  to  do  as  long  as  we  live, 
 tho'  life  were  extended  to  never  fo  great  a 
 length,  towards  tinifliing  our  courfe,  and  com- 
 ing off  well  at  laft.  And  it  fliould  be  our  day- 
 ly  endeavour,  That  the  longer  we  live,  the 
 better  we  may  be,  more  refined  from  all  iinful 
 and  earthly  allay,  more  improved  and  con- 
 firmed in  the  divine  life,  and  fitted  for  the 
 heavenly  ftate;  that  our  laft  days,  may  be  our 
 RvV.ii.ig.beft  days,    and  our  laft  lijorks  more  than  the 
 
 And  miniflers  of  all  men  are  efpecially  con- 
 cerned in  imitation  of  Chrift,  Xojinifh  the  work 
 ivhich  God  has  grje?i  them  to  do  ;  and  with  the 
 Apoftle,  to  Ji?iifi  their  courfe  and  the  (mnifiry 
 ivhich  they  have  received  of  the  L^'d ;  for  they 
 are  under  Ipecial  obligations,  and  have  greater 
 advantages;  they  ftand  more  in  the  eye  of  the 
 .  world ;  and  are  bound  by  their  office,  living 
 I  Pet,  V.  3.  and  dying,  to  be  examples  to  the  flock, 
 
 6. 
 
the Rev^. Dr.  John  Evans.  307 
 
 6.  How  happy  are  they  who  have  finilhed 
 their  courle!  If  a  chriftian  is  fo  much  concern- 
 ed,  and  upon  fo  great  reafon,    to  iinifli  his 
 courfe ;    what  a  fatisfadion  muft  it  be,  upon 
 the  fame  grounds,    to  have  finiflied  it,  or  to 
 have  the  end  of  it  in  view  ?  There  is  a  mighty 
 pleafure  in  any  other  cafe,  to  iinifli  our  work, 
 elpecially  if 'tis  a  Vv'ork  of  great  labour  and  coft, 
 which  has  been  long  bringing  about,  and  thro' 
 many  difficulties  and  difappointments  in   the 
 way  J    and  if  it  be  a  matter  of  great  moment, 
 and  in  which  our  heart  is  much  engaged.  The 
 great  God  looked  with  pleafure  upon  the  fi- 
 niflied creation  ;    He  re/led  or  rejoiced  in  his 
 work,  and  faid.  It  was  very  good.     When  theoen.i.ji.' 
 foundations  of  the  earth  were  laid,    the  morur  j  , 
 ingjiars  fung  together^    and  all  the  fons  of  Godxxx\m.-j, 
 JJjouted for  joy.     What  a  folemn  thankfgiving 
 and  rejoicing  was  obferved  at  the  finifliing  So-    ^. 
 lo77ion\  Temple,  which  was  raifed  with  fo  great  viii.  beg. 
 magnificence,    and  at  fo  vaft  expence;    and 
 when  it  was  rebuilt  by  Zerobabel^    vj\\2X  fioiit- 
 i?igs  were  there,  when  the  top  Jio72e  was  laid,  Zach.  iv. 
 and  crying  out,  grace ^  grace  to  it?  7- 
 
 The  fatisfad:ion  and  joy  which  arifes  in  a 
 chriflian's  mind,  upon  the  finifliing  his  courfe, 
 is  iinfpeakable  and  glorious,  and  will  recompence 
 all  the  labour  and  forrow  he  has  maCt  with  in 
 the  way.  And  there  is  a  great  deal  of  reafon 
 for  it;  for  when  he  has  finiflied  his  courfe,  he 
 is  paft  all  danger  of  mifcarrying,  and  being 
 loft  ;  and  is  placed  out  of  the  reach  of  temp- 
 tation and  fnare,  and  every  envious  and  mali- 
 cious power.     They   have  run  the  race  and 
 
 X  2  won 
 
30 8  A  Funeral  Sermon  on 
 
 won  the  prize,  and  after  the  battle,  received 
 the  crown  :  They  have  got  fafe  through  the 
 ftorm,  and  are  laid  up  in  the  quiet  harbour  : 
 They  have  reached  their  native  country  and 
 proper  home,  after  a  long  and  wearifome  paf- 
 fage,  in  a  foreign  land,  and  through  a  how^- 
 ling  wildernefs.  What  they  h^ivt  fown  in  tearSy 
 they  will  reap  in  joy ;  and  how  great  is  the 
 joy  of  harvefi !  When  they  have  wrought  out 
 their  falvation  with  fear  and  tremblings  they 
 will  enter  into  the  joy  of  their  Lord:  And  what 
 a  furprize  of  joy  after  the  many  fears  and^for* 
 rows  of  life? 
 
 What  a  blefled  difference  does  this  make 
 in  their  cafe,  from  that  of  others !  They  ftai^d 
 fife,  upon  the  flioar,  while  we  are  tofled  in  a 
 tempeliuoiis  fea :  They  are  crowned,  and  they 
 triumph,  while  we  are  purfued  by  powerful 
 enemies,  and  expofed  to  many  dangers.  We 
 bear  the  heat  and  burden  of  the  day,  when  they 
 rejifrom  their  labour s,  and  enter  upon  their  re- 
 ward J  and  have  many  ailaults  and  conflicts  to 
 pafs  through  which  they  have  quite  efcaped. 
 
 And  what  rcafon  have  we  oi comfort ^  and 
 not  to  for  row  as  thofe  who  have  no  hope^  for 
 them  who  h^vQ  fi?iifhed  their  couife,  ^undifeep 
 in  ye/us?  Wq  ihould  weep  for  our  Jelves,  and 
 ?wt  for  theniy  for  their  warfare  is  accomplifiedy 
 and  they  have  received  their  difcharge  ;  while 
 we  are  employed  in  a  difficult  fervice,  and  en^ 
 gaged  in  a  certain  confli(5l,  and  a  doubtful  war. 
 I  only  add  once  more, 
 
 7.  How  much  iliould  it  be  our  concern,  that 
 prefent  tryals  may  not  difcourage  us,  and  that 
 
 we 
 
the  Rev^,  Dr.  John  Evans.  309 
 
 we  vci2.y  jinijh  our  courfe  with  joy?     It  may  be 
 we  have  long  ago  entered  upon  the  chriftian 
 courfe,  and  proceeded  in  it  a  conliderable  way: 
 Perhaps,    we  are  fome  of  ns,    near  finifliing, 
 and  drawing  to  the  clofe  of  it :    Of  what  con- 
 fequence  is  it  to  finifh  well  ?  Let  me  earneftly 
 recommend  this  exhortation  efpecially  to  elder 
 perfons,  minifters  or  chriftians,  who  have  liv- 
 ed a  confiderable  time  in  the  world,  in  any 
 ftate  of  fervice  and  ufefulnefs ;    and  are  vifibly 
 haflning  out  of  it.     Have  you  any  work  for 
 God  upon  your  hands,  or  in  your  defign  ?  leave 
 it  not  negled:ed  or  unfiniflied,  but  make  aU 
 proper  difpatch.     Is  there  any  part  of  the  chri- 
 ftian  courfe,  any  ordinance  of  worfliip  or  duty 
 of  life,  which  lies  negle(fted  ?    fee  that  it  be 
 immediately  performed,  and  attended  to.    Are 
 there  any  of  the  graces  of  the  chriftian  life  re- 
 mar  kaby  defecTtive,    or  any  fins  more  than  or- 
 dinary prevalent  ?   labour  earneftly  to  have  the 
 one  ftrengthened  and  improved,  and  the  other 
 mortified  and  fubdued ;    that  what  is  lacking 
 may  ht  perfeBed,  and  that  you  nizy  ftrengthen 
 the  things  which  remain. 
 
 If  any  ferious  and  concerned  chriftian,  from 
 the  coniideration  of  the  cafe,  as  I  have  repre- 
 fented  it,  ll:iould  be  ready  to  fay.  But  hov/  (liall 
 we  be  able  to  finifli  our  courfe,  and  what  is 
 necefiary  in  order  to  it,  or  may  be  ufeful  and 
 helpful  in  it?  I  anfvver  briefly  in  the  following 
 fiiggellior.s,  by  way  of  direction. 
 
 Begin  well,  and  lay  the  foundation  right. 
 If  vou  miftake  here,   no  woader  vou  mifcarry 
 
 X  3  at 
 
3 1  o  A  Funeral  Sermon  on 
 
 at  lafi.  If  the  foundarion  be  not  firmly  laid, 
 the  building  cannot  fland.  If  we  build  upon 
 the  fandy  the  building  will  fall  m  a  time  of  try- 
 al,  and  great  will  be  the  fall  of  it :  But  if  we 
 build  upon  a  rock,  the  building  willjland  all  af-r 
 faults,  and  will  never  fall.  And  'tis  he  who 
 Matt.vii.  heareth  his  Jayi?igs  avd  doth  thetn,  who  is  like 
 ^4-  to  a  man  who  buildeth  his  houfe  upon  a  rock,  in 
 
 pur  Lord's  reprefentation  of  it :  /.  e.  Who  re- 
 ceiveth  the  dodrine  of  the  gofpel  of  which 
 Chrift  is  the  author,  and  foundation,  and  which 
 dired:s  us  to  the  great  propitiation  for  fin,  and 
 prefcribes  the  method  of  our  acceptance  with 
 God,  and  pleafing  him.  Particularly,  there 
 mull  be  a  hearty  corfejit  to  the  gofpel-fO'u^;?^^/, 
 and  a  chufmg  of  God  in  Chrift,  for  our  God, 
 and  a  giving  up  our  felves  entirely  to  him,  ab- 
 folutely  and  Vv'ithout  referve,  to  ferve  him  as 
 pur  proper  Lord,  and  enjoy  him  as  our  chief 
 good  and  laft  end.  The  governing  habit  and 
 bent  of  the  mind  m.uft  be  let  right,  taken  off 
 from  all  fenfible  good,  and  prevailingly  fet  for 
 God  and  iieaven,  againft  all  attempts  and  op- 
 poiition.  There  muft  be  a  fliving  change  of 
 heart  in  order  to  an  intereft  in  the  bleffings  of 
 the  gofpel,  and  to  our  continuance  and  over- 
 coming in  the  chriftian  ftate.  This  is  the  good 
 V^-^'^^'V-'-^- work  begun,  and  which  is  io  h^  perforfned  \xnii\ 
 the  day  of  Chrift. 
 
 Again,  Look  well  to  your  daily  fianding"^ 
 We  are  daily  employed  in  the  chriftian  fervice, 
 and  in  danger  from  our  fpiritual  enemies :  We 
 need  daily  watchfulnefs  and  care.  Watch  over 
 your  own  fpirits,  and  often  call  them  to  an  ac- 
 count. 
 
the  Rev^.  Dr,  John  Evans.         31 
 
 count.  Carefully  obferve  every  decay  of  good- 
 iicfs  and  declining  from  God,  the  firft  motions 
 and  tendency  to  careleiTnefs  and  neglcdls  of 
 life,  or  indifference  and  unconcern  of  mind. 
 We  grow  worfe,  not  all  at  once,  but  by  gentle 
 fteps,  and  various  flov/  and  unheeded  degrees. 
 Retrieve  a  falfe  ftep,  check  a  riling  diforder  of 
 heart,  before  it  gather  ilrength  by  repetition 
 and  indulgence,  and  grow  into  a  habit :  Be 
 diligent  in  your  daily  work,  and  keep  up  a 
 lively  fenfe  of  God  upon  your  minds,  and  a 
 governing  regard  to  him  in  all  your  ways.  See 
 what  progrefs  and  improvement  you  have  made 
 in  the  chriflian  life,  what  ground  you  have- 
 gained,  what  advances  you  have  made,  &c. 
 Our  fecurity  and  ilanding  in  circumilances  of 
 perpetual  danger,  depend  very  much  upon  daily 
 watchfulnefs  and  diligence  j  and  negligence 
 and  remiffnefs  of  fpirit  will  always  weaken  our 
 hands,  and  endanger  our  flanding.  And  there- 
 fore the  Apoftle  fo  oftens  calls  the  chrilllans  to. 
 caution  and  fear,  and  diligence;  to  take  heed, 
 and  look  diligently^  &c. 
 
 Besides,  Guard  again  ft  hindrances  and  dif- 
 couragement.  Be  well  apprized  of  the  true 
 ftate  of  things.  There  are  various  afi^iults  from 
 different  quarters,  and  of  very  different  kinds. 
 You  may  be  diverted  and  drawn  off  from  the 
 •chriftian  courfe  by  the  cares  and  pleafures  of 
 Iife,and  the  entanglements  and  purfuit  of  world- 
 ly good ;  or  terrified  and  difcouraged  by  pre- 
 lent  evil,  and  the  fear  of  danger. .  Now  be  al- 
 ways aware  of  the  danger  about  you,  and  al- 
 ways upon  your  guard,  that  you  niay  not  b;^ 
 
 X  4.  takeii 
 
312  A  Funeral  Sermon  on 
 
 taken  at  a  difadvantage,    or  furprized  before 
 you  are  aware.    Reckon  upon  the  tryals  of  the 
 chriftian  courfe,  that  you  may  be  prepared  and 
 fortified  againft  them.    So  the  Apoftle  exhorts 
 the  chriftians ;    Let  iis  lay  afide  every  weighty 
 lith.xn.i.a?2d  the  fin  ivhich  does  Jo  eafily  befet  us^  and  run 
 with  patience  the  race  which  is  Jet  before  us ;  /.  c, 
 all  encumbrance  about  us,  which  would  hin- 
 der our  running  in  the  chriftian  race,  or  ren- 
 zPet.  iii.  der  it  more  difficult  to  us.     And  again,   Te 
 *^"  therefore  beloved^  feeing  you  know  thefe  things  be^ 
 
 fore^  beware  lefi  ye  alj'o  being  led  away  with  the 
 error  of  the  wicked^  fall  from  your  ownjiedfojl- 
 nefs. 
 
 Further,   Ufe  the  proper  helps  afforded 
 for  your  farther  improvement  in  the  chriftian 
 life :    The  greater  progrefs  you  make  in  reli- 
 gion,  and  the  more  confirmed  the  habit  of 
 your  mind  is,    you  will  be  more  fecure  from 
 falling,  and  the  more  likely  to  hold  out  to  the 
 end,  as  you  gather  greater  ftrength,  and  take  a 
 deeper  root.     Attend  upon  all  the  ordinances 
 cf  the  gofpel,  and  the  means  of  grace,  upon  all 
 proper  occafions,  for  your  greater  eftablifhment 
 of  heart,    and  encouragement  and  fupport,    in 
 all  the  difficulties  of  the  chriftian  courle.  Watch 
 and  pray  that  you  enter  not  into  temptation.  Put 
 on  the  whole  armour  of  Gody    and  above  all,  the 
 '^^^'^■'^9-Jljield  of  faith.     Renew  your  Jirength  by  waiting 
 upon  the  Lord,  for  the  way  of  the  Lord  is  Jirength 
 to  the  upright,    and  they  go  from  Jirength  to 
 VlUT^xivJlyength:    We  grow  ftronger,  and  not  more 
 2  Pet.  i    weary,   the  farther  we  go  in  it.     Give  all  di- 
 ligence  in  the  duties  of  the  chriftian  life,  to  add 
 
 to 
 
the  Rev^.  Dr.  John  Evans.         313 
 
 to  your  graces,    and  to  make  your  calling  and *^ 
 
 elediion  fure.  We  muft  grow  ifi  grace  and 
 knowledge^  that  we  be  not  led  away,  ov  fall  i.  ly.is* 
 from  our  jledfajlnefs.  Endeavour  to  revive  and 
 ftrengthen  the  good  impreflions  which  have 
 been  made  upon  your  minds,  and  to  raiie  frefh 
 and  deeper  impreffions,  by  a  regular  ferious  at- 
 tendance upon  every  appointment  of  the  chri- 
 ftian  worfhip,  and  all  the  duties  of  the  chriftiaa 
 life.  The  befl  way  to  fecure  our  ftanding,  is 
 to  make  a  gradual  progrefs,  and  daily  improve- 
 ment, as  'tis  by  going  forward,  we  arrive  to 
 our  journey's  end.  The  flronger  the  convic- 
 tions and  perfuafion  of  our  minds  are,  the  fir- 
 mer the  refolution  and  purpofe  of  our  heart, 
 and  the  greater  our  fatisfadlion  and  joy,  in  the 
 fervice  of  God,  the  furcr  will  our  ftanding  be 
 under  all  our  tryals,  and  the  more  certain  our 
 continuance  to  the  end. 
 
 Further,  Adt  in  all  you  do  in  a  conftant 
 dependence  upon  God.     Beg  the  fupplies  of  the 
 divine  grace,  as  well  as  ufe  your  daily  endea- 
 vours, or  elfe  your  endeavours  will  be  without 
 eifed:.  Our  flrength  will  fail  in  the  tryal,  and  the 
 power  of  our  fpiritual  enemies  will  prevail.  The 
 obfervation  and  experience  of  ferious  chriilians, 
 as  well  as  the  teftimony  and  examples  of  the 
 fcripture,  confirm  this  pradical  truth.   That  a 
 vain  confidence  in  our  felves,    and  prefuming 
 upon  our  own  ftrength,  with  a  negledt  of  God, 
 and  of  divine  aids,   betrays  our  weaknels,  and 
 invites  our  fall  j  as  we  fee  in  the  cafe  of  Fctcr. 
 The  diredion  therefore  here  is,  Enc^af^e  the 
 divine  prefence  and  (pirit,  by  prayer  ar.d  de~ 
 
 Dcndciice. 
 
314  v^  Funeral  Sermon  on 
 
 pendence.  Plead  the  promlfii  oi fujficient  grace,, 
 and  proportionable  flrength  to  all  the  circum- 
 flances  of  the  cafe.  Engage  it  by  dependence, 
 as  well  as  by  prayer.  Live  in  1  daily  depen- 
 dence upon  it,  and  always  ad;  in  every  thing, 
 in  the  name^  and  in  the  Jirengtb  of  the  Lord^ 
 Our  continuance  and  prefervation  in  all  the  dif- 
 ficulties and  fnares  of  the  chriftian  life,  depends 
 Ai^.xxvi.  upon  the  divine  help  :  Having  obtained  help 
 ^  p  •  from  the  Lordy  we  co?2tinue  to  this  day, ;  and  we 
 are  kept  by  the  power  of  God  thro  faith  unto 
 fahation.  The  divine  grace  can  be  ealily  fuf- 
 jficient,  under  the  greatelT;  labours  and  con- 
 iiids,  and  will  both  fupport  you  in  the  way, 
 and  preferve  you  to  the  end. 
 
 To   conclude,    Look  to    the  example  and 
 
 undertaking  of  the  Redeemer.     When  he  had 
 
 ]o\.x\'n  finified  his  worky  he  ^x^ytd  tohtglorifed  with 
 
 3'  the  father.     And  the  Apoille  requires  us,  to 
 
 i{th.xn.zJ^ok   imto  ycJuSj  the  author  ajtd  finijher  of  our 
 
 faith,    who  for  the  joy   which  was  ft  before 
 
 him  endured  the  crofs^  defpifing  the  Jlmme  ;  and 
 
 3.     to  confuier  him  who  endurcth  fuch  contradi&ion 
 
 of  fvnners  againfl  himfelf  leji  we  be  weary  and 
 
 faint  i?i  our  jninds.     Eye  the  example  of  the 
 
 patient  and  faithful  Redeemer,    v/ho  always 
 
 did  the  will  of  God,  and  iiniihed  his  courfe 
 
 thro'  the  greateft  tryals  and  oppolition.     Let 
 
 us  keep  our  end  always  in  our  eye  :  Set  before 
 
 you  the  incorruptible  crown,  the  glorious  prize 
 
 for  which  you  run,  to  animate  and  encourage 
 
 __  .    ,    you  J  that  you  may  have  a  rejpcoi  unto  the  re- 
 
 ___27.   compcnce  of  reward,  and  endure  as  feeing  him 
 
 wko. 
 
the Rev^,  Dr.JowN  Evans.  315 
 
 wbo  is  inviftbk.  Should  we  tire  or  faint  with 
 fuch  glorious  hopes  in  our  minds,  and  fo  near 
 and  certain  views  before  us  ? 
 
 And    efpecially   look   to  his  gracious  im- 
 dertaking:  His  promife  and  power  concur;, 
 there  is  inclination  and  ability  conjunft :  He 
 is  both  a  merciful  and  faithful  high  prieji.     He 
 has  undertaken  to  keep  all    the  fincere  and 
 faithful :    He   Itands  charged  with    the  care 
 of  them,  and  is  accountable  for  them  to  God. 
 He  who  prayed   for  Peter,    That    his  faith 
 might  Jiot  fail  in    an    hour    of  temptation  -, 
 and   promifed  the   Apoftle   Paul,    My  grace 
 Jhall  be  fiifficient  for  thee,  when  he  was  buf- 
 feted by  a  meifenger  from  Satan  ;    has   pro- 
 mifed to  all  his  difciples,  T^hat  he  will  give]6h^x.2-, 
 them  eternal  life,    and  none  jhall  pluck    them^^- 
 out  of  his  hands  ;  and  will  be  able  to  appeal 
 to  God  at  la  ft,    Thofe  whom   thou  hafl  given 
 me  I  have  kept,     aiid  none    of  them   is    loji. 
 The  Apoftle  encourages    himfelf  and   other 
 chriftians  with  this  apprehenfion,  That  what 
 he    had   coimnitted  to    him,    he    was  able  /^zTim.  i. 
 keep  to  that  day  -,  and   that  he  is  able  to  keep^^- 
 us  from  falling,    and    to  prefent  us  fault lefs      '^^' 
 before  the  prefence  of  his  glory  with  exceeding 
 joy.     Let  us  put  our    felves  under  the   con- 
 dud:    of  the    great  Redeemer,    and   commit 
 our  felves    to    his  powerful    care  :    Make    a 
 daily  ufe  of  his  mediation,    looking  to   him 
 for  all  fupplies  of  grace,  encouragements  to 
 our  fiiith,    and  acceptance  with   God  in   all 
 we  do.     And   then  we  have  all  the  reafon 
 
 which 
 
2 1 6  A  Funeral  Sermon. 
 
 which  the  nature  oi  the  thing,  and  the  pro- 
 mile  of  the  gofpel,  can  give  us,  that  we  fhall 
 iPet.i.  9.  not  fail  or  mifcarry  at  laft,  but  fhall  ^«//Z> 
 our  courfe  with  joy  y  and  receive  the  end  of  our 
 faith  in  the  fahation  of  our  fouls. 
 
 S  E  R. 
 
317 
 
 SERMON     VL 
 
 Diligence  in  the  Chriftian  life 
 neceflary  to  be  found  in  peace. 
 
 I  Peter  iii.  14. 
 
 Wherefore^  beloved^  feeing  ye  look  for 
 fuch  things^  be  diligent  that  ye  may 
 be  found  of  him  in  peace^  without 
 fpot  and  blamelefs. 
 
 THE  Apoftle  is  fpeaking  in  the  fore- 
 going verles  of  the  drowning  the 
 world  by  water,  the  coming  of  the 
 day  of  the  Lord,  the  deftruftion  of  the  world 
 by  fire,  and  of  a  better  ftate  of  things,  in 
 anfwer  to  the  /coffers  of  the  laft  days,  who 
 faid.  Where  is  the  promife  of  his  coming  ?  JinceYd.  4. 
 the  fathers  fell  djleep,  all  things  continue  as 
 they  were.  The  words  are  an  inference  or 
 conclufion  from  thefe  premifes  j  Wherefore, 
 beloved,  fmce  ye  look  for  fuch  thifigs.  I  fhall 
 have  occafion  to  conlider  the  context  in  fpeak- 
 ing to  the  words.     What  I  propofe  is  to  draw 
 
 forth 
 
giS  A  funeral  Sermon  on 
 
 forth  the  fenfe  of  them  in  the  feveral  parts  of 
 which  they  confift. 
 
 I.  'Tis  here  fuppofed  that  we  muft  be  judged^ 
 and  that  an  enquiry  will  be  made  into  the 
 ilates  of  men.  1 
 
 II.  I  obferve.  That  a  chriftian's  great  concern 
 is  to  be  found  of  his  judge  in  peace^  and 
 without  fpot  and  blame. 
 
 III.  That  in  order  to  his  being  found  in 
 peace,  he  mufl  be  diligent. 
 
 IV.  I  fhall  confider  the  powerful  motives  and 
 reafons  to  this  diligence,  here  fuggeiled  and 
 referred  to ;  Wherefore,  beloved,  feeing  ye 
 look  for  fiich  things.  The  conlideration  of 
 thefe  things  will  take  in  the  full  fenfe  and 
 ftrength  of  the  words. 
 
 I.  'Tis  here   fuppofed,  That  we  muft  be 
 
 judged,  and  that  an  enquiry  will  be  made  into 
 
 the  ftates  of  men.     This   is  implied  in  the 
 
 expreffion  of  being  found  in  him^  i.e.  by  him 
 
 as  judge,  or  before  him,  when  he  fhall  come. 
 
 Jer.  1. 20.  A  like  expreffion  is  ufed  by  the  prophet  j  The 
 
 iniquity  oflfaelfhallbejoughtfor,  and  there 
 
 jhall  be  noiie  ,  and  the  fms  of  fudah,  and  they 
 
 fall  not  be  found 'y  for  I  will  pardon  thejn  whom 
 
 I  referve.     The  Apoflle  ufes  the  fame  expref- 
 
 Fhil.iii.  9.  iion  in  the  fame  itnie.  And  be  found  in  him  : 
 
 The  term  relates  to  the  final  judgment,  when 
 
 the  great  enquiry  will  be  made,  and  the  liates 
 
 2  cf 
 
the  Rev^,  Mr.  DanielMayo.       319 
 
 of  men  determined.  And  as  the  future  judg- 
 ment is  one  of  the  principles  and  foundations 
 of  the  doBrine  of  Chrijiy  fo  'tis  particularly  re- 
 prefented  and  defcribed  in  fcripture  :  I  fliall 
 give  you  a  fhort  view  of  it,  to  engage  and 
 affed:  our  minds. 
 
 The  ti?7ie  of  it  is  appointed.     The  Apoflle 
 here  fpeaks  of  the  ^^_y  of  judgment^    and  the^h.  ii.9, 
 coming  of  the  day  of  God.     God  has  fettled  a—iij.i^. 
 determined  time  for  the  exercife  and  folemni- 
 zing  the  general  judgment,  He  hath  appointed  ^Aasxvii. 
 day  in  ivhich  he  ivill  judge  the  world.     There  is  ^ ' ' 
 a  certain  determinate  day  mark'd  out  in  the 
 divine  decree,  tho'  kept  as  a  fecret  from  all  the 
 creatures,  for  of  that  day  and  hour  knoweth  no 
 man ;  and  of  v^^hich  we  may  fay,  what  the  A- 
 poflle  does  in  another  cafe,  the  day  will  declare  1  Cor.  ili. 
 /'/.     It  will  reveal  itfelf  in  the  appointed  feafon.  '3- 
 The  Lord  is  not  Jlack  concerning  his  pro?nife^ 
 and  He  who  Jhall  come,  will  come,  and  will  not 
 tarry:    There  will  not  be  a  moment's  delay 
 beyond  the  appointed  time,  how  long  foever 
 it  may  appear  j    and  it  will  come  too  foon, 
 whenfoever  it  comes,  for  them  who  fccff  at 
 the  feeming  delay. 
 
 The  judge  is  ordained.  This  our  Lord 
 himfelf  tells  us,  The  Father  judgeth  no  man,  but  JQ]^riv .zz. 
 hath  committed  all  judgment  unto  the  Son.  And 
 he  hiih  given  him  authority  to  execute  judg?ne7it  y^t.  27. 
 bccauje  he  is  the  Jon  of  man.  The  Apof  lie  fays, 
 He  hath  appointed  a  day  in  which  he  will  judge 
 the  world — hy  that  man  whom  he  hath  ordained, 
 of  which  he  hath  given  aJJ'urance  to  all  men,  in 
 that  he  hath  raij'ed  him  from  the  dead.     Tlie 
 
 judge, 
 
320  A  Funeral  Sermon  on 
 
 judge,  as  well  as  the  day,  falls  under  a  divine 
 Rom.  ii.  ordination.     And  again ;    He  11)111  judge  the  fe- 
 crets  of  men  by  "J ejus  Chriji;    and  'tis  there- 
 2Cor.v.   fore  called,    Tlje  judgment-feat  ofChrtjl.     The 
 '°-  fallen  world  will  be  judged  by  the  Mediator^ 
 
 not  diredly  and  immediately  by  the  Father ; 
 Heb.  xii.  for  tho'  God  the  Judge  of  all,  and  Jefus  the 
 ^3-  Mediator  of  the  New  Covenant,  are  diftinguifh- 
 
 ed ;  yet  he  is  the  judge  of  the  world,  not  in 
 his  own  perfon,  but  through  the  Mediator, 
 or  by  Jefus  Chrifi.  He  is  the  judge  of  iinners, 
 v/ho  is  the  Saviour  of  them ;  and  he  will  be  a 
 judge  in  our  nature,  as  he  was  a  Saviour  in  our 
 nature.  The  exercife  of  judgment  is  part  of 
 his  dominion,  and  belongs  to  that  all  pawer  in 
 heaven  and  earth  which  is  given  to  him,  and  to 
 his  univerfal  lordflnp  over  all.  The  appearance 
 of  the  judge  will  be  very  glorious,  and  with 
 great  magnificence  and  grandeur,  for  he  will 
 Luke  ix.  appear  in  the  clouds  of  heaven,  with  his  own  glory, 
 and  the  glory  of  the  Father,  and  of  his  holy  An- 
 gels. 
 
 The  rule  of  judgment  is  fixed,  or  the  mea- 
 fure  of  proceeding  at  that  day.  As  we  muft 
 fland  before  the  judg7nent-feat  of  Chrifi,  or  at 
 the  Mediator's  bar,  fo  we  muft  be  tried  by  the 
 gofpel  of  Chrifi,  and  not  by  the  law  of  inno- 
 cence j  and  be  dealt  with,  not  as  innocent  crea- 
 tures who  have  never  offended,  but  as  fallen 
 creatures  under  methods  of  recovery.  If  he 
 was  to  enter  into  judgmeiit  with  us,  and  to  be 
 firiSl  to  mark  iniquity,  no  living  creature  could 
 be  juflified,  or  fland  before  him :  The  whole 
 fallen  world  would  be  condemned  at  the  Crea- 
 tor's 
 
 26. 
 
the Revd.Mr.l^Mil^'L  Mayo.         321 
 
 tor's  bar,  and  upon  the  foot  of  rigorous  juftice. 
 But  we  {hall  be  judged  by  the  gofpel  of  Chrift, 
 and  according  to  the  gracious  conftitution  of 
 the  new  covenant.     So  the  Apoftle  fays,  In  the  Rom.  ii 
 day  when  God  will  judge  the  Jecrcfs  of  men  by  ' 
 J  ejus  Chrift,  according  to  my  gofpel -y  which  may 
 be  underftood,  not  only  according  to  the  reve- 
 lation of  the  gofpel  which  I  have  preached, 
 but  by  the  rule  of  the  gofpel.     The  Apoflle 
 yames  is  more  direct,  Sojpeak  ye,  andfo  do,  ^jjam.i.25. 
 they  who  fhall  be  judged  by  the  law  of  liberty, 
 which  he  alfo  calls  the  perfeB  law  of  liberty  j  ~"" '  ^' 
 and  which  the  Apoflle  Paul  calls  the  law  of  Rom.  iii. 
 faith,  in  oppofition  to  the  law  of  works-,  which  ^7- 
 accepts  of  true  believers  in  Chrift,   or  fincerity 
 of  heart,  without  abfolute  perfedlion,  and  with 
 many  imperfe(flions.     This  is  included  in  the 
 books  which  fJjall  be  ope?ied,   and  by  which  the  Rev.  xx, 
 dead  are  judged,    and  according  to  which  he  22. 
 will  judge  the  world  in  righteoujhefs. 
 
 The  perfons  to  be  judged  are  the  whole  fal- 
 len world,    or  all  the  race  of  iinful  man.     All 
 who  died  in  Adajn,   (hall  be  judged  by  Chrift, 
 as  well  as  made  alive  by  him  j  for  they  are  raifed 
 in  order  to  be  judged.     So  'tis   reprefented  by 
 the  Evangelifl,    And  before  him  foall  be  ga-Matt-xxv. 
 thered  all  nations.     The  Apoftle  fays,  We  muft^'^- 
 all   appear    before  the  judgment-feat  of  Chrift.  ,0. 
 The  Apoftle  John    faw  the    dead  fmall  aiidRtw.  xx. 
 great  ftand   before  God,    afid  the   books  were^^' 
 ope?iedj    and  the  fea  gave  up  the  dead  which 
 Were  iji  it,  and  death  and  hell  delivered  up  the 
 dead  which  were  in  them.     There  will  be  an 
 
 Y  univerfal 
 
322  yi  Funeral  Sermon  on 
 
 univerfal  fummons  to  all  the  prifons  and  re- 
 pofitories  of  the  dead,  and  a  general  aflembly 
 of  fallen  creatures  in  every  part,  and  every  age 
 of  the  w^orld. 
 
 The  matter  of  judgment,  or  the  caiife  to 
 be  tried  is  exprefs'd  in  the  moil  comprehenfive 
 Eccl.xii.  terms:   So  the  v^^ife  man  fays;    God  will brhjg 
 H-  every  work  into  judgment, with  every  fecret  things 
 
 whether  it  be  goody  or  whether  if  be  evil.     And 
 this  is  the  conftant  language  of  the  goipel.  The 
 I  Cor.  V.  Apoflle  fays,   that  every  one  muji  receive  the 
 *°'  things  done  in  the  body,    according  to  that  he 
 
 hath  done,  whether  it  be  good  or  bad.     And  when 
 he  is  fpeaking  of  the  day  of  wrath  and  the  re- 
 velation of  the  righteous  judgment  of  God ^  he  fays, 
 V.omn.6.  who  will  render  to  every  man  according  to  his 
 Rev.  XX.  deeds.     And  again,  they  were  judged  every  mait 
 *  3-  accordiitg  to  his  works.    The  judge  is  introduced 
 
 — xxii.i2.^y^"g>  ^ehoXdi  I  come  quickly y  and  my  reward  is 
 with  me,  to  give  every  man  according  as  his  work 
 Jhall  be.     They  muft  be  judged  for  all  the  ac- 
 tions of  their  lives,    and  according  to  the  te- 
 nour  and  courfe  of  them,  as  righteous,  or  un- 
 righteous,   tho'  not  according  to  the  proper 
 merit  of  them.    Particularly  we  fhall  be  judged 
 according  to  our  benevolence  and  kindnefs  to 
 good  men  in  their  diflrefs,  for  his  fake,  or  our 
 unkindnefs  and  negledl  of  them  ;  as  our  Lord 
 Matt.  XXV.  himfelf  exprefsly  reprelents  it.     God  will  judge 
 xht  fecret s  of  men  by  Jefus  Chrifl ;    the  moft 
 retired  paiTages  of  their  lives,  and  the  workings 
 of  their  thoughts  and  defires,  which  lie  con- 
 Matt  xii  ^^^^^^  ^^  ^^^^^  <^wn  breaft,   and  fall  not  under 
 26.       '  the  notice  of  others.   Knd  every  idle  word  which 
 
 men 
 
tiie  Rev^,  Mr.  Daniel  Mayo.        323 
 
 men  fiall  fpeak^  they  fi all  give  account  thereof 
 in  the  day  of  judgment ;  for  by  thy  words  thou 
 jhalt  be  jufitfiedy  and  by  thy  words  thou  Jh alt  be 
 condemned:  i.  e.  every  evil  w^ord,  which  is  either 
 faife  or  hurtful. 
 
 And  then  there  is  the  final  ilTue  and  event 
 of  judgments     After  the  folemn  appearance  of 
 the  whole  world  of  mankind  at  the  Redeemer's 
 bar,  and  the  tryal  of  each  one's  cafe,  according 
 to  the  true  ftate  of  things,  by  the  gofpel  rule, 
 'they  will  be  anfwerably  dealt  with  and  difpo- 
 fed  of,  i.  e.  rewarded,  or  puniflied.     He  will 
 pafs  a  refpetftive  fentence  upon  each;  to  the 
 one  he  will  lay,  JVell  done^  good  and  faithful 
 fervant^ — enter  thou  into  the  joy  of  thy  Lord. 
 And,  Come  ye  biejjed  of  my  Father,  inherit  the  M&ttxxv. 
 kingdom  prepared  for  you^froin  the  foundation  of'^^'  '^'" 
 the  world.      To  the  other,    T^hou  wicked  and 
 Jlothfulfervanty—caft  the  unprofitable  ferv ant  into 
 outer  darknefs,  there  floall  be  weeping  and  gnafi:- 
 ing  of  teeth :   And,  Go  ye  curfed  into  everlajliftg 
 fret  prepared  for  the  devil,  and  his  angels.    The  ver.  46. 
 execution  of  the  fentence  will  immediately  fol- 
 low,   for  T^hefe  Jl?all  go  away  into  everlafiing 
 punifijfnent,  but  the  righteous  into  life  eternal. 
 They  each  go  to  their  refpedlive  ftate  for  which 
 they  are  fit,  and  to  v/hich  they  are  doomed, 
 that  is,  a  final  and  unchangeable  ftate  of  hap- 
 pinefs  or  mifery  3  and  fo  from  the  confequence 
 of  it,  'tis  called,  xkiz  eternal  judgment.  Heb.vi.2, 
 
 II.  I  obferve.  That  a  Chriftian's  great  con- 
 cern is  to  be  found  of  his  judge  in  peace,  and 
 without  fpot  and  blamelefs.     Here  is  a  double 
 Y  2  exprefTion 
 
324  A  Funeral  Sermon  on 
 
 expreffion  ufed,  which  evidently  refers  to  two 
 different  things  of  the  greateft  importance  in 
 their  feveral  kinds. 
 
 I.  It  refers  to  owx  jiijlification  and  accep- 
 tance with  God.  So  we  are  found  of  him  in 
 peaccy  i.  e.  in  a  ftate  of  favour  with  God,  and 
 to  our  own  advantage  and  felicity.  There 
 can  be  no  peace  to  a  fallen  finner  in  the  day 
 of  judgment,  but  in  the  way  of  forgivenefs. 
 We  mull:  therefore  be  pardoned  thro'  the  blood 
 of  Chrift,  and  juftified  from  condemning  guilt; 
 be  interefted  by  our  faith  in  the  benefit  of  his 
 death,  and  entitled  to  the  forgivenefs  of  fin  ac- 
 cording to  the  gofpel-covenant;  for  that  is  the 
 meafure  of  our  prefent  acceptance  with  God, 
 which  will  be  the  rule  of  the  final  judgment. 
 
 Phil.iii.  9.  So  the  Apoftle  fays ;  A?id  be  fou?id  i?i  kim,  not 
 having  my  own  righteoiijnefi  ivhich  is  of  the  law^ 
 but  that  ivhich  is  through  the  faith  of  Chriji^  the 
 righteoufnefs  which  is  of  God  by  faith :  which  is 
 
 ^      ...    parallel  to  that  of  the  Apoflle,  A?id  by  him  all 
 
 3g.  *  who  believe  are  jufified from  all  things^  from 
 which  they  could  not  be  jujlifcd  by  the  law  of 
 Mofes  J  and   agreeable  to  another  remarkable 
 
 Gj^I  ij  J  5  paffage,  Kjiowing  that  a  man  is  72ot  jujlified  by 
 the  works  of  the  law,  but  by  the  faith  of  fejiis 
 Chrift ',  even  we  have  believed  i?ijefus  Chriji,  that 
 ive  might  be  jujlified  by  the  faith  of  Chrift,  and  not 
 by  the  works  of  the  law,  for  by  the  works  of  the 
 lawfiall  nofefi  be  juftifed.  We  muft  be  found 
 fincere  believers  in  Chrift,  who??i  God  has  jet 
 forth  to  be  a  propitiation  through  faith  in  his 
 blood -y  and  there  is  ?io  condemnation  to  the?n  who 
 
 are 
 
^6e  Revi  Mr.  Daniel   Mayo.       325 
 
 dre  171  Chj'ifi  ycfus,  a  fid  ivalk  not  after  the  jiejk^ 
 but  after  the  Jpirit,  Thus  wp  are  brought  into 
 a  flate  of  friendfhip  with.<^ocl,  and  rendered 
 acceptable  to  him ;  for  being  jufiifed  by  faith^  Rom.v.  i. 
 we  have  peace 'Z£-7V>6  God^  and  made  accepted'^^\,\,-i, 
 in  the  beloved^  of  the  objects  of  Ipecial  and  di- 
 ilinguilliing  favour. 
 
 The  confequence  of  this  is  peace  o^  7712nd ^ 
 or  inw^ard  fatisfacftion  in  the  (tvik.  of  the  di- 
 vine favour,  and  the  ineftimable  bleffing  of  ac- 
 ceptance with  God.  And  io  they  are  found  of 
 him  in  peace ^  i.  e.  in  the  quiet  poffelTion  of 
 their  own  fouls,  in  a  compofed  frame  of  mind, 
 without  the  uneafmefs  of  doubt,  or  torment  of 
 fear,  or  dread  of  divine  dilpleafure :  with  a 
 blefled  calm  and  ferenity  of  mind  arifmg  from 
 the  tefti7nony  of  co7i/cience  to  their  own  f72cerit\\ 
 and  the  wit7iefs  of  the  fpirit  to  their  interefl  and 
 relation  to  God ;  they  have  that  peace  of  God 
 which paJJ'eth  all  imderjlandi7ig^  and  which  none 
 of  the  troubles  of  life,  or  fears  of  death,  not 
 the  prefence  of  the  judge,  or  the  terror  of 
 judgment,  can  diflurb  *.  This  the  Apoflle  re- 
 prelents  by  hiv'iu^  co?2fde7ice  when  he  Jhall  ap- x  ]Q\^n'ni,, 
 pear^  and  not  being  ajhamed  before  him  at  his  - » •. 
 comi72g\  and  by  having  bold72cjs  in  the  day  of^^^''^"^' 
 jiidg772C72t.  So  fome  good  Criticks  conned  the 
 words  in  pcace^  not  with  bei?2gjound^  but  with 
 looki72g  for  f2ich  thi72gs  -f-,  or  expeding  thcni 
 with  a  quiet  mind,  and  undiflurbed  with  fear. 
 
 Y  3  And 
 
 * Non  quatit 
 
 Nee  tulminantis  magna  Jovis  manus. 
 
 Si  fraftus  iiiabatur  oibis,  i 
 
 Impavidiim    tericnt  ruinx.  Hor, 
 
 t  Be^a  in  locum. 
 
226  A  Funeral  Sermon  on 
 
 And  this  will  appear  in  a  peaceable  frame  of 
 mind  towards  others  \    or  a  foul  full  of  bene- 
 volence and  good- will  towards  men  ;  purified 
 from  angry  paffions,  and  undue  refentments, 
 poffefl  with  pure  and  fervent  love  to  all  the 
 children  of  God  j  doing  no  injury  to  any,  tak- 
 ing no  revenge  for  any  injury  {   not  living  in 
 malice  and  ftrife,    or  found  beating  our  fellow- 
 fervattts,    when  our  Lord  fliall  come.     And 
 this  was  proper  to  fay  to  the  Jews  who  lived 
 among  the  perfecuting  Gentiles,    and  were  of- 
 Coi.iii.15.ten  injured  and  provoked  by  them.     T\\q peace 
 Piijl.iv.  1- of  God  ruled  in  their  hearts^  aiid  kept  their  hearts 
 and  mi?tds  by  Chrijl  Jefus ;  i.  e.  was  a  proted:ion 
 and  defence  from  the  violence  of  pallion  and 
 unruUnefs  of  fpirit.     In  this  fenfe  Jojiah  was 
 2  Kings    gathered  to  the  grave  in  peace :  And  the  Apoftle 
 xxii.  20.   exhorts,   to  follow  peace  with  all  men,    and  ho- 
 ^"'  linefs,  without  which  no  fnan  Jh  all  fee  the  Lord. 
 I  lliall  only  further  obferve  here,    that  tho' 
 every  lincere  believer  in  Chrift  is  adiually  juf- 
 tified,  and  brought  into  a  ftate  of  favour  with 
 God;  yet  we  are  molf  properly  juflified  at  the 
 final  judgment,    when  it  will  be  moil  folemi^ 
 and  moft  compleat. 
 
 2.  It  refers  to  ouv  fani:f  if  cation  ^nd  ho- 
 linefs.  This  is  the  import  of  the  other  ex- 
 preffion,  without  Jpot  and  blamelefs  *'.  Tfee  al- 
 lufion  feems  to  be  to  the  yewifi  facrifices, 
 which  were  required  to  be  without  blemifi  and 
 fpot.  The  Apoille  feems  to  reflect  upon  the 
 feducers,  whom  he  had  mentioned  under  this 
 — ii.  13.   character ^c/j-  they  are  and  blemifies  -f;  i.  e.  a 
 
 difgrace 
 
the  Rev^,  Mr.  Daniel  Mayo.        327 
 
 difgrace  to  their  profeffion  and  to  the  chriftian 
 fociety.  He  would  have  them  take  care  that 
 they  be  not  found,  Hke  them,  under  the  do- 
 minion of  any  fin,  or  reigning  impurity  of 
 heart  and  Hfe,  which  would  be  a  reproach  and 
 dishonour  to  the  chriftian  name. 
 
 This  may  be  underftood  to  refer  to  our  pre- 
 fent  SanSlification^  which  is  called  the  SanBi- 
 fication  of  the  fpirit,    and  renewing  of  the  Holy 
 Ghoji  ',   and  being  renewed  in  the  fpirit  of  oz^rEph.i.  4. 
 mind^  and  after  the  image  of  God  in  righteouf- 
 nefs  and  holinefs.     The  Apoftle  fays,  He  to^Phil.ii.25. 
 chojhi  us  i?i  him  before  the  foundation  of  the  worlds 
 that  we  Jhould  be  holy  and  without  blame  before 
 him  in  love,  and  he  makes  it  conlift  in  being 
 blamelefs  *  and  harmlefs^  the  fons  of  God  without 
 rebuke^  in  the  midjl  of  4  crooked  and  per'verfe  ge- 
 neration^ among  whom  we  are  tojhine  as  lights  in 
 the  world.     And  he  fpeaks  of  keeping  them- 
 felves  u?iJpotted  -f  frofn  the  worlds  and  hating  the  jam.  i.  27. 
 garment  fpotted  with  the  flefh^   where  the  fameJ"^^^3- 
 words  are  ufed.     The  fenfe  is,  that  we  mufl 
 be  free  from  the  reigning  pollutions  of  fm  in 
 the  heart,  and  theprad:ice  of  fin  in  the  life,  by 
 fandtification  and  holinefs  j  from  greater  vices, 
 and  lefler  faults,  which  either  gives  offence  to 
 God,    or  fcandal  to  the  world ;    fo  Zachariah  Luke  i.  6. 
 and  Elizabeth  were    both  righteous  before  God^ 
 walking  in  all  the  ordinances  and  commandments 
 of  the  hord  blamelefs.     And  the  Apoftle  fpeaks 
 of  being  fmcere  and  without  offence  unto  the  day  p, .,  . 
 o/'C/6r//?  :  i.e.  with  a  blamelefs  fmcerity  of  heart, 
 and  regularity  of  life,   according  to  the  grace 
 Y  4  aiJid. 
 
328  A  Funeral  Sermon  on 
 
 and  equity  of  the  gofpel,    without  any  reign- 
 ing fm,  or  allowed  guile. 
 
 But  this  is  imperfe(5l  in  this  world,  and  not 
 properly  ^without  fpot ;  and  therefore  I  think  the 
 expreffion  mufi;  finally  refer  to  Chrift  prefenting 
 us  at  laft  before  God,  purified  from  every  re- 
 mainder of  fin,   and  made  perfed:  in  hoHnefs. 
 fitted  for  the  divine  prefence,  and  a  ftate  of 
 fpotlefs  purity.     I  find  thefe  exprefiions  often 
 T  Cor.viii.ufed  by  the  Apoftle  in  this  reference :  Whojhall 
 alfo  confirm  you  unto  the  end,    that  you  may  be 
 blamelefi  in  the  day  of  yejus  Chrifi.     He  tells 
 Eph.v.27.j-|^e  Ephefians,  that  he  might  pre/hit  it  to  him- 
 felfa  glorious  church,  not  having  Jpot  or  ivr inkle, 
 c/r  any  fit  ch  thing,  but  that  it  Jhould  be  holy  and 
 without  blame:    The  whole  body  entire  and 
 compleat,  and  every  one  without  any  blemifh. 
 Col.  i.  22.  In  the  Epiftle  to  the  ColoJJiam -,    To  prefent  you 
 holy  and  unblameable  and  unreprovable  in  his 
 iThtlvA. fight :  and  to  the  Thejjalonians,  To  the  end  that 
 *^'  he  may  efiablijh  your  heart  unblameable  in  holinefis 
 
 before  God,  even  the  Father,  at  the  cofnifig  of 
 fefus  Ckriji  ^.vith  all  his  Saints.  And  the  A- 
 Judc  24.  poll:le  fude  lays,  Noav  to  him  who  is  able  to  keep 
 you  from  falling,  and  pre fent  you  fault  lefs  before 
 the  prefence  of  his  glory  with  a^xeedingjoy.  'Tis 
 a  great  adl:  of  the  mediation  of  Chrift  towards 
 his  members,  not  only  to  wafi:)  thern  from  their 
 fins  in  his  blood,  but  to  prejent  them  pure  and 
 faultlefs  at  iaftj  and  reprefent  them  in  a  full 
 glory  before  the  throne  of  God,  delivered  from 
 every  ilain  of  fin,  and  mixture  of  impurity.  So 
 the  compleat  fenfe  is,  that  we  may  be  found 
 fuch  whp  are  now  fan(^ified  by  the  ipirit,  and 
 
 will 
 
the  Rev^.  Mr»DANiEL  Mayo.         329 
 
 will  be  prefented  at  laft  with  perfe(ft  purity  and 
 fpotlefs  blame. 
 
 And  of  what  importance  is  this,    and  how 
 juft  a  concern  to  every  chriflian  ?    for  this  is 
 reprefented  as  the  great  reafon  and  end  of  the 
 death  of  Chrift,  and  of  his  whole  undertaking 
 to  bring  back  revolted  fmners  to  a  ftate  of  fub- 
 jed:ion  to  God,  and  reftore  them  to  the  divine 
 favour,  make  them  acceptable  to  him  now,  and 
 approved  of  him  at  laft;  for  he^^'U^'  /;/Wt^^Tit.ii.i4. 
 Jbr  us  J  to  redeem  lis  from  all  i7iiquity\  a?id  purify 
 to  himfelf  a  peculiar  people :  And  Chrift  alfo  hath  '  P^^-  '"• 
 once  fuffered for  fin,    the  jufl  for  the  unjufi^  that  ^ 
 he  inight  bring  us  to  God.      And  this  is  the 
 higheft  ambition  of  a  chriftian's  heart,  and  what 
 he  propofes  to  himfelf  as  the  chief  fcope  of  all 
 his  fervice  and  attendance  on  God :  all  the  lines 
 of  his  endeavours  meet  in  this  point :    This  is 
 the  center  of  all  his  defires,  and   bounds  his 
 hopes  and    expedations,    as   to    himfelf  and 
 others.     So  the  Apoftle  fpeaks  of  himfelf,  un- 
 der the  rafli  judgment  of  other  men,    'T/'i  ^  iCor.  iv^ 
 f nail  thing  to  be  judged  of  you,  or  of  majis  judg-\- 
 ment ;  but  he  ivho  judgeth  me  is  the  Lord.     I^e 
 reprefents  it  as  the  common  fenfe  of  Chriflians, 
 IVe  labour,  that  ivhether  prefnt,  or  ab lent,  icj^- zCor.v.g. 
 may  be  accepted  of  him.     This  was  the  greatefl 
 thing  he  could  pray  for  others  ^    and  the  bell 
 return  for  the  grcatefl  favours  j  And  this  I  pray,  pi^ji  ;  ,c_ 
 that  your  love  may  abound,  that  you  in  ay  approve 
 the  things  that  are  excellent,    and  that  you  mav 
 be  fine  ere  and  without  offence  to  the  day  of  Chrijl. 
 He  exprefles  his  gratitude  for  the  fingular  kind- 
 nefs  of  Onefiphorus  in  this  manner ;  T^he  Lord 
 
 $'' 
 
3  3  o  A  Funeral  Sermon  on 
 
 2  Tim.iii.^/'y^  mcrcy  to  the  hoiife  ^Onefiphorus— T/^^-  Lord 
 '  '  '  ■  grant  to  him  that  he  may  find  mercy  of  the  Lord 
 at  that  day.  The  hope  of  this  is  the  beft  fup- 
 ■port  under  the  troubles  and  fufFerings  of  Life ; 
 We  therefore  labour  andfuffer  reproach^  becaufe 
 we  truft  in  the  living  God:  and  'tis  abfolutely 
 necelTary  to  the  bleiTednefs  of  the  other  ,;  for 
 as  we  are  found  at  laft,  we  fhall  fare  for  ever, 
 and  every  man's  ilate  will  be  determined  ac- 
 cording to  the  real  appearance  of  things  at  that 
 day,  'Tis  only  they  who  are  approved  at  laft 
 will  be  pronounced  blejj'ed,  and  go  into  eternal 
 life  J  all  who  are  found  in  an  unpardoned  and 
 unholy  flate,  will  be  rejected  and  condemned  ^ 
 will  depart  accurfed,  and  go  into  everlafting  pu- 
 nifhment.     But  I  proceed  to  obferve, 
 
 III.  That  in  order  to  our  being  found  of 
 our  judge  in  peace,  we  muft  be  dtMge?2t :  Be 
 diligent,  that  you  may  be  found  ofhi??i  in  peace. 
 'Tis  a  work  of  labour  and  care,  and  not  to  be 
 done  with  idlenefs  and  floth.  Men  may  fit 
 flill  and  perifli,  but  they  muft  be  diligent  who 
 would  be  faved.  Here  the  great  queftion  is,, 
 What  is  that  diligence  which  the  Apoftle  re- 
 quires, and  which  is  neceffary  to  be  found  at 
 lafl  in  peace  ?  The  word  *  is  of  a  ftrong  and 
 comprehenfive  fenfe,  which  imports  great  ear-r 
 neilnefs  and  intention  of  mind,  and  may  be 
 extended  to  the  whole  compafs  of  chriftian 
 duty.  I  fhall  reprefent  it  according  to  the 
 fcripture-account  of  it,  and  as  far  as  the  pre^ 
 fent  limits  will  allow,  in  the  following  inftances. 
 
 I. 
 
the  Rev^*  Mr,  Daniel  Mayo.       331 
 
 I.  There  muft  be  the  due  exercife  of  our 
 natural  faculties,  and  reafonable  powers.  I 
 readily  own  the  weaknefs  and  diforder  of  our 
 natures  by  fin,  efpecially  by  long  cuftoms  and 
 habits  of  fin,  and  the  need  of  the  fuccours  of 
 divine  grace  j  that  we  are  not  fiifficient  of  our- 
 Jelves,  but  ou?'  fufficiency  is  of  God.  Never- 
 thelefs  as  we  are  made  reafonable  creatures,  and 
 under  the  influence  of  common  grace  and  pro- 
 vidence, we  are  obliged  to  a6l  fuitably  to  the 
 nature  which  God  has  given  us,  and  the  rank 
 and  order  of  beings  in  which  he  has  plac'd 
 us.  We  muft  ufe  the  powers  which  God  has 
 given  us,  for  he  is  the  God  of  nature,  as  well 
 as  grace,  and  we  dilhonour  him  by  difpara- 
 ging  his  workmanfliip.  We  are  reafonable  crea- 
 tures when  we  are  not  holy  creatures,  and  can 
 adt  as  men  when  we  cannot  a<ft  2,%  faints^  and 
 in  order  to  our  being  fuch. 
 
 So  Mofes  complains  of  the  fews^  They  are  ^Deut. 
 jiation  ^oid  of  counfel,  neither  is  there  any  un-  ''^^""  ^*^* 
 derfianding :    O  that  they  were  wije,  that  they 
 iinderjiood  this^    that  they  would  confider  their 
 latter  end,  or  the  proper  confequence  of  things, 
 the  natural  tendencies  of  obedience  and  dilbbe- 
 dience.     The  prophet  calls  upon  linners,    i^^'-lf.xlvi.  g. 
 member  this,  and  few  yourfelves  men  ;  bring  it 
 again  to  remembrance,  Oye  tranfgrefj'ors.     An- 
 other prophet  charges  it  upon  them,  That  they  ^of.  v.  4. 
 will  not  frame  their  doings  to  turn  ujito  the 
 Lord',  and  calls  upon  them,  Vo  confder  their ^^Z- '^- s- 
 ways.      The  Apoflle  exhorts  the  Chriftians, 
 Be  not  children  in  iinderfanding ;  in  malice  be  r  Cor.xlv. 
 ye  children,    but  in  underfianding  be  yp  men  :  ^^• 
 
 Ufe 
 
332  A  Funeral  Sermon  on 
 
 Ufe  the  underftanding  of  men.  And  again, 
 Philip,  ii.  Work  out  your  falv  at  ion  ivith  fear  and  tremblings 
 »2.  for  it  is  God  who  worketh  in  you  to  will  and 
 to  do.  We  miift  work,  though  'tis  God  who 
 worketh  in  us  j  and  for  this  very  reafon,  be- 
 caufe  he  worketh,  or  is  ready  to  help  us.  We 
 muft  ufe  the  powers  of  our  reafonable  natures, 
 and  exercife  our  thoughts  and  our  underftand- 
 ings,  to  excite  a  concern  and  endeavour/uitable 
 to  the  moment  of  things,  and  the  confequence 
 which  depends  upon  them,  as  you  do  in  any 
 affair  of  moment,  and  which  greatly  affcfts 
 your  interefl  in  any  other  refped.  This  ftands 
 oppofed  to  inconfideration  and  floth,  which 
 naturally  breed  neglecft,  and  prove  the  ruin  of 
 many. 
 
 2.  The  improvement  of  the  talents  and 
 enjoyments  of  life.  Every  man  has  his  pro- 
 per talents,  befides  his  natural  powers,  tho* 
 in  a  diverfe  degree.  The  bleHings  of  provi- 
 dence, and  mercies  of  life  are  improveable  to 
 great  advantage,  and  muft  be  accounted  for 
 at  laft.  So  our  Lord  reprefents  the  matter  ; 
 l^l^^^^^^.  The  kingdom  of  heaven,  or  the  gofpel-ftate,  is 
 41-  as  a  man  travelling  into  a  far  country,  who 
 
 ^''^'  called  his  fervants,  and  delivered  to  them  his 
 goods ;  to  one  he  gave  five  talents,  to  another  two, 
 to  every  one  according  to  his  ability  :  And  they 
 went  and  traded  with  them  -,  and  he  fald,  Oc- 
 cupy till  I  come.  Sucli  are  life  and  health, 
 acquired  knowledge,  and  experience,  liberty 
 and  opportunity,  pofleffions  and  pro/]3erity, 
 intcrcft  and  credit  in  the  world,  which  are 
 capable  of  great  advantage  by  wife  manage- 
 
 ment^ 
 
the  Rev^^,  Mr.  Daniel  Mayo.       333 
 ment,  and  faithful  diligence,  for  the  glory  of 
 God,  and  the  good    of  men.     And   after   ^Mattxxv. 
 long  time  the  Lord  of  thofe  Jervants  cotneth  and9- 
 reckoneth  with  them.     He   calls  them    to  an 
 account,  and  deals  with   them  according   to 
 their  different  conduct,     the  faithful    fervant 
 who  by  a  wife  improvement  had  gained  other 
 talents,    was  approved,  commended,  and  re-ver.  21. 
 warded  j  but   the   flothful,  who  had  ufed  no 
 diligence,    and  made  no   improvement,    was 
 upbraided,  ftript  and  puniflied.  ver.  26. 
 
 We  are   only  ilewards  of  all  our  talents, 
 and  2ific'ward  mufi  be  faithful^  and  diligently 
 improve  his  truft,  as  one  who  muft  give  ^^wLukexvi. 
 account^  when  he  muft  be  no  longer Jieward.     In  ^• 
 this  fenfe   we  muft  make  the  proper  ufe   of 
 all  the  privileges  and  advantages  of  life,    and 
 improve  them  to  the  beft  advantage  to  their 
 proper  purpofes,  and  fo  as  may  turn  to  a  com- 
 fortable account  at  laft.     So  our  Lord  diredts 
 in   this  cafe,    Make  to  yoiirj'ehes  friends  of  the 
 mammon  of  unrighteoifnefs^    that  when  they  fail 
 you  may  be  received  into  everlafling  habitations  j 
 and  the  Apoftle  charges  the  rich,   jwt  to  tru/i^tr.g. 
 in  uncertain  riches^    but  in  the  living  God\  tOy^-^-^^^.\ 
 do  good  and  be  rich  in  good  works ^  ready  to  dif-^i- 
 tribute^  willing  to  cotnmunicate^  laying  up  infiore 
 for  themfelves  a  good  foundation  againji  the  time 
 to  come^  that  they  may  lay  hold  on  eternal  life. 
 
 3.  We  muft  perform  the  proper  duties  of 
 our  place,  and  whatfoevcr  is  fuitable  to  the 
 flate  we  are  in,  and  thecircumftances  of  things 
 about  us,  and  for  which  the  different  talents 
 of  life  are  a  proportionable  advantage  and  ob- 
 ligation. 
 
334  -^  Funeral  Sermon  on 
 
 ligation.  Thus  we  muft  do  whatfoever  our  hands 
 
 johnix.^.Jifid  us  to  do,  with  all  our  might;  and  work 
 the  works  of  him  whofent  us  while  it  is  day,  he-^ 
 fore  the  night  comes  when  no  7nan  can  work.   In 
 
 Mat.  xxiv.  this  fenfe  our  Lord  fays,    Blejfed  is  the  fervant 
 
 ^^'  whom  his  Lord  when  he  cometh  Jhalljind  fo  do- 
 
 ing ;  i.  e.  properly  imployed  in  the  duties  of 
 his  place,  and  heartily  engaged  in  the  fervice  of 
 his  Lord.      The  Apoftle  requires  the   Chri- 
 
 aPet.i.io.  ftians,  to  give  diligence  fo  make  their  calling  and 
 eleBionjure  j  and  adds.  For  if  you  do  thefe  things, 
 ye  ftjall  never  fail,  and  Jo  an  entrance  Jh  all  be 
 miniflred  to  you  abundantly  into  the  everlajling 
 kifigdom. 
 
 Faithfulness  in  the  way  of  duty  is  a 
 good  preparation  for  the  coming  of  the  Lord. 
 The  faithful,  in  the  loweft  flations,  and  with 
 the  meaneft  capacities,  will  be  accepted  and 
 approved,  when  the  wicked  and  flothful  will 
 be  rejedled,  with  the  greateft  privileges  and 
 highefl:  pretenlions.  We  mufl  be  careful  and 
 confcientious  in  all  the  inftances  of  perfonal 
 and  relative  duty ;  in  every  relation  and  con- 
 dition of  life  ;  in  our  daily  walk,  and  all  our 
 tranfad:ions  in  the  world  j  in  all  the  duties  of 
 holinefs  and  right eoufnefs,  or  proper  expreffions 
 of  reverence  and  love  jto  God,  and  of  juflice 
 and  charity  towards  men.  We  mufl  diligently 
 I  Tim.  v.follow  every  good  work,  and  abound  in  the  work 
 ^°-  of  the  Lord,  knowing  that  our  labour  in  the  Lord 
 
 ]^°J'^^f  will  not  be  in  vain.  So  the  Apoftle  Ipeaks  in 
 this  chapter  :  What  manner  of  perfons  ought  ye 
 to  be  in  all  holy  converfation  and  godlinefs^  ;  in 
 
 all 
 
the  Rev^,  Mr.  Daniel  Mayo.        335 
 
 all  the  various  turns  of  life,  and  offices  of  re- 
 ligion. 
 
 4.  There  muft  be  watchfulnefs  againft  fin. 
 *Tis  a  great  point  of  chriftian  diligence  to  be-  . 
 ware  of  the  fnares  of  fin,    and  entanglements 
 of  life,  in  every  condition  and  circumftance  in 
 which  we  are  plac'd  ;  to  guard  againfl  the  im- 
 preffion  of  furrounding  evil,    and  refift  the  at- 
 tempts of  our  fpiritual  enemies.     So  our  Lord 
 dired:s  his  difciples,    in  this  cafe ;  'Take  heed  to  Luke  xxi, 
 yoiirfehcs^  left  at  any  t'une your  hearts  are  over-  34- 
 charged  with  furf eking  and  drunkennefs^  and  the 
 cares  of  this  life,    and  fo  that  day  overtake  you 
 unawares.  In  this  view  he  often  requires  watch- 
 fulnefs.   Watch  and  pray  that  ye  enter  Jtot  i?itoMit.\x\\ 
 temptation,  i.  e.  avoid  the  occalions  of  fin.  And,  41- 
 Watch  therefore,  for  ye  know  not  what  hour  your  ^xxv\. 
 Lord  fall  come.     And  again,  with  great  fo-42- 
 lemnity  and  particular  emphafis.    What  I  fay  ^f[^^\^^.^[[ 
 unto  you,  I  fay  unto  all,  Watch.  o7- 
 
 The  Apofile  abounds  with  exhortations  to 
 fohriety  and  watchfulnefs,    or  the  exercife  of  a 
 cautious  fear  of  fin,    of  a  due  guard  over  our 
 fenfes  and  appetites  j  and  a  moderate  enjoy- 
 ment of  the  blefTings  of  life,  without  excels  or 
 abufe.     So  when  he  fpeaks  of  the  coming  of 
 the  day  of  the  Lord,  he  fays.  Therefore  let  us  i  Thef.  v 
 not  fcep  as  do  others^  but  let  us  watch  and  be  fo-^' 
 her ;  and  let  us  who  are  of  the  day  be  fiber.  'Tis  ver.  s. 
 an  awful  expreflion  of  this  Apoftle,  The  ejid  ^  ^^^  j 
 of  all  things  is  at  hand,  be  ye  therefore  fober,  andj. 
 watch  unto  prayer.     This  is  otherwife  repre- 
 fented  in  the  Epiflle  to  the  Hebrews,    Looking  i-ieb  xi'u 
 diligently  lejl  any  man  fail  of  the  grace  of  life  j  's- 
 
 i,  e. 
 
336  A  Funeral  Sermon  on 
 
 i.  e.  be  drawn  off,  by  any  temptation  or  dan- 
 ger, to  fin  or  apoftacy :  And  in  this  chapter, 
 
 ver.  17.  Beware  lefi  ye  alfo  being  led  away  with  the 
 error  of  the  wicked^  fall  from  your  own  fiedfaji- 
 nefs.     And  the  judge  is  reprefented,    faying, 
 
 Rev.xvi.  Behold  I  come  as  a  thief  blejfedis  he  who  watch- 
 
 '^"         eth  afjd  keepeth  his  garments. 
 
 5.  The  ufe  of  appointed  means,  or  in/litu- 
 tions  of  worjhip.  Thefe  are  properly  mea?is  of 
 grace,  or  inftruments  of  fpiritual  good,  the 
 channels  of  conveying  divine  influence  to  us, 
 as  well  as  expreffions  of  our  homage  to  God, 
 by  which  we  are  quickened  and  ftrengthened 
 in  his  fervice,  and  receive  direction  and  com- 
 fort in  all  the  tryals  of  life.  Thus  we  remit 
 be  found  in  the  daily  pracftice  of  prayer  to 
 God  for  the  fuccours  of  his  grace,  and  thtfup- 
 
 Luk  xviii /''^  <f  ^h^  fpl^^^  of  Chrifl.     So  our  L,ov6.fpake 
 
 I.  a  parable  to  this  end^    that  men  ought  always 
 
 to  pray,  and  not  to  faint.     And  with  relation 
 
 — .\xi.36.to  this  very  matter.  Pray  always^  that  you 
 may  be  accounted  worthy  to  efcape  all  thefe  things 
 which  fiall  come  to  pafs,  and  tofiand  before  the 
 Son  of  man.  We  muft  converfe  with  the  word 
 of  God,  which  is  the  fountain  of  Ipiritual  wif- 
 dom,  and  rule  of  the  chriftian  life ;  and  by 
 daily  fearchifig  the  fcriptiires,  come  to  be  fkiU 
 fill  in  the  word  of  right eoujiiefs,  and  able  to  ac- 
 commodate it  v.'ifely  to  every  purpofe,  to  keep 
 up  juft  apprehen lions  of  God  in  our  minds, 
 and  a  due  temper  of  mind  towards  him,  to 
 form  our  fpirits,   and  red:ify  and  regulate  our 
 
 ITtb.iii.  daily  courfe.     So  the  Apoflle  fays,  T^herefore 
 we  ought  to  give  the  more  eamejl  heed  to  the 
 
 things 
 
fj!}e  Rev^.  Mr.  t)ANiEL  Mayo.  337 
 things  we  have  learnt,  left  at  any  time  we 
 fiould  let  the?n  Jlip.  And  in  this  Epiftle,  /F^chap.i.19, 
 haije  a  more  fire  word  of  prophecy  whereto  you 
 do  well  that  you  take  heed.  ,  And  the  ApolHe 
 fays,  That  God  is  a  rewarder  of  them  who 
 diligently  feek  him,  or  come  to  him  in  any- 
 way of  worfhip  and  fervice.'  Particularly  the 
 Lord's  Supper  is  a  perpetual  memorial  not 
 only  of  the  death,  but  of  the  coming  of  Chrift  5 
 for  as  often  as  we  eat  this  bread  and  drink  this 
 cup,  we  Jhew  forth  the  Lord's  death  till  he  come^ 
 We  keep  up  the  remembrance  of  his  death,  and 
 the  expe(flation  of  his  coming  again.  This 
 naturally  tends  to  flrengthen  the  faith  of  his 
 appearance,  and  promote  a  conformity  to  him, 
 though  'tis  fadly  negleded,  through  carelefT- 
 nefs  or  fear,  by  many  profeffors  of  the  prefcnt 
 age,  to  the  great  difhonour  of  the  chriftian 
 profeflion,  and  prejudice  of  their  own  fouls. 
 We  forget  that  which  is  appointed  to  preferve 
 the  remembrance  of  him  :  But  will  not  our 
 negledl  be  remembred  with  a  painful  concern 
 hereafter  ?  Thus  by  frequent  converfcs  with 
 God  in  the  ordinances  of  his  worfhip,  and 
 receiving  communications  from  him,  we  are 
 formed  to  a  more  fpiritual  frame  and  ferious 
 habit  of  mind,  and  in  a  nearer  fitnefs  for  the 
 coming  of  the  Lord.     Hereupon, 
 
 6.  There  mufl  be  the  exercife  and  im- 
 provement of  luitable  graces,  or  proper  dif- 
 pofitions  of  mind.  The  Apoftle  has  an  ex- 
 hortation in  this  Epiftle  to  this  purpofe  i-  yf;:r/,Pgj  ; 
 hcfdes  this,  give  all  diligence,  add  to  your  faith 
 vertue,  to  vertuc,   knowledge,  &c.     He  w^ould 
 
 7j  have 
 
238  A  Funeral  Sermon  on  j 
 
 have  them  ufe  diligence  with  refped;  to  their 
 graces,  both  as  to  the  exercife  and  increafe  of 
 them.  He  clofes  the  Epiftle  with  a  hke  ex- 
 hortation, But  grow  in  grace ^  atjdi?zthe  know- 
 ^  '^'^'^  'ledge  of  our  Lord  and  Saviour  J  ejus  Chriji,  as 
 thole  words  are  generally  iinderftood. 
 
 Thus  there  mnft  be  a   lively  exercife   of 
 faith^  by  which  we   overcome  the  n^orld^  and 
 look  to  the  things  which  are  eternal^  and  which 
 are  not  feen,    which  reprefents  and  realizes  to 
 the  mind  things  future  and  at  a  diftance,    the 
 i?rcijible  God,  and  the  recompence  of  reward.  So 
 Hcb.vi.    the  Apoflle  fays,   'That  you  be  not  fiothfulj   but 
 *^'        followers  of  them  who  througlf faith  and  patience 
 inherit  the  promife.      Our  Lord  direds  his  dif- 
 Luke  xii.  ciples  to  have  their  loins  girt,    and  their  lamps 
 ^^"  burning,    ami  they  themfelves  as  meji  who  wait 
 
 iThefT.  \fQr  the  Lord:  And  the  Apoftle  Ipeaks  oi  wait- 
 '°'  ingfor  the  Son  of  God  from  heaven.     So  there 
 
 Heb.  vi.    mull:  be  hope  j  PFe  defire  that  every  one  of  you  do 
 ^'-         fiew  the  fame  diligence  to  the  full  afj'urance  of 
 iPet.i.  13.^0/^  unto  the  end.    And  in  this  Epiftie,  Where- 
 fore gird  up  the-  loins  of  your  mind,  he  fober  a?2d 
 hope  to  the  end,  for  the  grace  which  is  to  be  brought 
 imto  you  at  the  revelation  of  jfus  Chriji.     We 
 often  read,  as  another  proper  exercife  of  mind, 
 Tit.ii.  i-'.of /cc-^'^V;^  for  his  appearance;  Looking  for  the 
 hlefj'ed  hope  and  the  glorious  appearance  of  the 
 great  God,  and  our  Saviour  yefus  ChriJl.  And 
 Heb.  ix.   to  them  who  look  for  him,  fb all  he  appear  a  fc- 
 28-  cond  time  without  fin  unto  jalvation ;  and  in  the 
 
 Epiflle  of  "jude.  Keep  yourfelves  in  the  love  of 
 God,  looking  for  the  mercy  of  the  Lord  yefus 
 Chriji  unto  eternal  life-,    and  in  this  chapter. 
 
 Looking 
 
 Ter.  2 1 . 
 
the  Rev^,  Mr*  Daniel   Mayo.         339 
 
 IjOoking  for  and  hajlenmg  to  the  conwig  of  the  ^'^^'  ^  2  ■ 
 day  of  the  Lord;  hallening  to  it  by  earneft  de- 
 lires,  and  daily  preparations  for  it.     This  is  a- 
 greeable  to  what  the  Apoflle  fays.  And  not  only 
 they  but  we  oufehei  alfo  who  have  the  fir/if riiits 
 of  the  Ipirit,  even  we  our felvcs  groan  within  5-:/r- Rom.  viii. 
 f elves  ^  wait  i?jg  for  the  adopt  ion,   to  wit^  the  re-  ^5- 
 demption  of  the  body-,  and  to  the  folemn  wifli 
 of  the  church,    Evenfo  come  Lord  fefiis^  come  Rev.  xxli. 
 quickly.     Thus  we  muft  llir  up  the  grace  of -°-- 
 God  which  is  in  us,  and  be  found  in  the  pro- 
 per exercile  of  faith  and  hope,  and  waiting  and 
 delire,  as  an  adiual  meetnefi  for  heaven,    and 
 rcadinefs  for  the  coming  of  the  Lord. 
 
 IV.  I  fhall  coniider  the  ?notives  and  reafons 
 of  this  dihgence,  here  fuggefted  and  referred 
 to.  This  is  intimated  in  the  words  of  connec- 
 tion. Wherefore^  beloved,  feeing  you  look  for  fuch 
 things,  i.  e.  the  things  which  he  had  been  fpeak- 
 ing  of,  or  the  arguments  of  his  foregoing  dif- 
 courfe.  And  if  we  look  back  into  the  context, 
 we  fhall  find  thefe  two  great  thoughts  reign- 
 ing in  his  mind,  and  governing  his  difcourfe  j 
 the  one  is  the  dcfruBion  of  the  prefent  world ; 
 the  other,  the  expe6iation  of  a  better  ftate.  I 
 am  only  concerned  to  confider  them  as  argu- 
 ments in  the  prefent  cafe,  and  not  obliged  to 
 enter  into  all  the  nicety  of  the  expreffions.  I 
 fl:iall  reprefent  them  briefly. 
 
 I.  The  defiriiBion  of  the  prefent  world. 
 Whatfoever  allufion  the  Apoftle  might  have 
 to  the  deflrudion  of  Jerujalem,  I  think  the 
 whole  context  plainly  points  to  the  day  of  judg- 
 ment, and  the  end  of  the  world,  as  our  Lord 
 Z  2  fpoke 
 
340  A  Ftmeral  Sermon  on 
 
 fpoke  of  them  both  together  in  the  xxivtli'of 
 Matthew.  This  is  here  defcribed  in  a  "magni- 
 ficent and  affeding  manner.  In  the  general, 
 ver.  7.  The  heaveju  and  earth  'which  now  are^  by  the  fame 
 word  are  kept  in  /lore  referved  unto  fire.  They 
 *Diiu.  will  be  dellroyed  by  2l  deluge  of  fire  ^^  as  the 
 nis"/-f7z  °^*^  world  was  by  water,  not  perhaps  the  being 
 and  fubdance,  but  the  prefent  form  and  qua- 
 ver. 10.  lities  of  it.  More  particularly,  the  earth  and 
 all  the  works  which  are  thereifijhall  be  burnt  up» 
 The  whole  globe  of  the  earth  (hall  be  fet  on 
 lire,  and  whatfoever  belongs  to  it,  and  has  been 
 infeded  with  fin.  All  the  inhabitants  of  the 
 earth,  and  all  the  things  of  the  earth,  whether 
 natural  or  artificial ;  all  the  variety  of  creatures 
 with  which  God  has  repleniflied  the  earth,  and 
 which  is  now  fub-ed:  to  vanity  by  the  fin  of 
 man ;  all  the  flately  buildings  and  proud  palaces, 
 the  monuments  of  vanity,  ambition  and  cut  iofi- 
 ty,  which  have  endured  for  many  ages,and  flood 
 the  longefl:  injuries  of  time ;  all  the  grandeur  and 
 glory  of  this  woi  Id,  the  pageantry  and  fhew  of 
 itjwillbe  then  deflroyed  and  confumed  to  afhes, 
 and  there  will  be  no  remainder  or  ruins  of  them 
 Ibid.  left.  The  hcavcjis  fJ:a II  fajs  away  with  a  great 
 noife^  and  the  elements  melt  with  fervent  heat, 
 and  tl)e  heavens ,  being  on  fire^  fl:all  be  diffohed; 
 the  heavens  as  well  as  the  earth,  not  only  the 
 fublanary  but  the  planetary  and  flarry  heavens, 
 with  ail  the  furniture  and  hofls  of  them  ;  the 
 heavens  and  the  elements  thereof,  as  well  as  the 
 earth  and  all  the  works  therein,  fl:iall  make  a 
 rattling  noife,  and  crack  and  burfl  with 
 the  vehemence  of  the  flames,  and  fliall  be 
 I  dif 
 
 ver.  12. 
 
the  Revd,  Mr.  Daniel  Mayo.        341 
 
 difjolvcd*  or  melted  down  with  tlie  fiercenefs*'po'fr«- 
 oif  the  fire,  in  that  general  tempell  andwreck  of  '/'  "^J^' 
 nature -|-.     So  the  heavens  fiall per iflo^  ivaxold^nx^Ai. 
 like  a  garimnt^  and  as  a  vejiure  be  changed.       g*^'-  ^"• 
 
 There  will  be  an  univerfal  conflagration  ; 
 heaven  and  earth  will  be  all  on  fire  at  once, 
 and  make  one  burning  vault,  one  funeral  pile: 
 It  will  be  the  funeral  of  the  world.  What 
 will  be  the  terror  of  the  frighted  inhabitants 
 when  they  fliall  fee  the  fir'd  world  round  a- 
 bout  them,  and  no  flying  for  refuge,  or  ef- 
 cav'i'^2;  the  general  defolation,  as  Ltot  fled  to 
 2,0. '-r  from  Sodom  and  Gomorrah.  Yea  the 
 fire  which  will  confume  the  world,  will 
 deflroy  the  wicked  :  They  v/ill  periili  in  the 
 ruins  and  afhes  of  the  world  they  loved  and  , 
 adored  i  for  'tis  referred  unto  fire  againjl  theVcv.  j 
 day  of  judgment^  and  perdition  of  ungodly  ?nen. 
 Now  how  forcible  is  the  reafon  ?  Be  diligent 
 to  be  found  of  him  in  peace^  when  the  great 
 day  of  his  wrath  JJjall come:  and  to  be  accepted 
 of  him  when  all  nature  will  expire,  and  ail 
 the  vifible  world  will  be  deflroyed.  If  you 
 would  efcape  the  deflrud:ion  which  awaits 
 the  ungodly  world,  who  will  be  burnt  with 
 fire  here,  and  cafi:  into  unquenchable  fire  here- 
 after J  if  you  would  be  happy,  when  they 
 are  miferable,and  find  favour  in  the  fight  of  the 
 judge,  when  they  will  fall  uhder  his  wraths  be 
 diligent  that  ye  may  be  found  of  him  in  peace, 
 
 2.   The    expectation    of    a    better    ftate. 
 Neverthelefsy  we  according  to  his  promife  looli^^'  ^^ 
 
 Z  3  for 
 
 \  EfTe  quoque  in  fatis  reminifcitur  afFore  tempus, 
 Quo  mare,  quo  tellub  correptaque  regia  cceli 
 Ardeat;  &  raundi  moles  operola  laboret.  Qmd-  Met.  ix 
 
342  A  Ftmeral  Sermon  on 
 
 for  new  heavens  and  a  neiv  earth  wherein  dweU 
 leth    righteoiij'/iefs.     He    rcprefents   it    as   the 
 common  expcdiation    of  Chriilians  grounded 
 upon  the  promife  of  God :  JVe  according  to  his 
 fromife  look  for  it,  i.  e.  either  before,  or  be- 
 fides  the  conflagration,  as  fome  underftand  it, 
 we  exped.t  a  new  heaven  and  a  new  earth ;  a 
 great  and   happy  change  in  the  'moral  world; 
 fuch   a  liate  of  things  here  on  earth  before 
 the  ccnfummation  of  all  things,  as  will  make 
 it   referable  heaven ;    in  which  there  will  be 
 a  wonderful  reformation  of  its  prefent  ftate, 
 and  in  vv'hich  holinefs  and  righteoufnefs  wdll 
 take  place  in  an  eminent  manner,  and  abound 
 among  all  forts  of  people ;  when  the  fewijlo 
 nation   fliall    be   converted  to    the  Chriflian 
 faith,    and  be    reflored    to  their  own    land, 
 and  the  fulnefs  of  the  Gentiles  fhall  come  in  \ 
 which    will     amount    to    a    kind    of    new 
 creation,  and  make  a    new  world,  like  that 
 promifed  to  the  y^zc^i  under  the  fame  terms  i 
 Behold  I  create  a  new  heaven  and  ea^-thy  and 
 irr!-.  ixv.  the  former  Jhall    not    be    rejnejnhred,  or  come 
 *^'  ^^"    into   ?nind.     This    is    thought    to    be    meant 
 by   the    marriage    of    the    Lamb,    and    the 
 'New  feriifaleni,    the  binding  of  Satan,  and 
 the   Thou  fan  d    Years   Reign,     in    the   book 
 of  the   Revelations  *.     But    this    could    not 
 be  a  motive  to  driigence  to    thofe  to  whom 
 the    Apollle  wrote,   but  upon    the    fuppoli- 
 tion    that  lome  things  of  this  kind  were  to 
 hnppen   in   their   time,  or   they  were    to  be 
 rais'd  from  the  dead  to  enjoy  it. 
 
 Others 
 
 }  *  Vid.  Jof.    McdeV  Works,  p.   609, 
 
the  Rev^.  Mr.  Daniel  Mayo.  343 
 Others  therefore  underftand  it  in  a  literal 
 fenfe,  and  after  the  conflagration  of  the 
 prefent  material  world.  We  nevcrthelefs^  i.  e. 
 notwithftanding  this,  and  what  this  fliall 
 not  hinder.  The  earth  will  be  purified  by- 
 fire  and  reftored  to  its  original  ftate,  free 
 from  the  fin  an.d  imperfedion  brought  upon 
 it  by  the  fall.  Heaven  and  earth  fliall  be 
 alike,  at  leafi:  for  a  limited  time,  and  be- 
 come a  glorious  fiate,  in  which  only  righteouf- 
 nefs  and  righteous  perfons  fliall  dwell,  after  the 
 deflrud:ion  of  the  wicked  by  fire.  This  is 
 fuppofedto  be  called  the  regeneration^  the  times 
 of  refreJJjingy  and  the  ti?ne  of  the  rejiitiition 
 of  all  things^  and  when  the  creature  itfelf 
 jhall  be  deliiJered  from  the  bondage  of  cor- 
 ruption into  the  glorious  liberty  of  the   children  ^-^^^^^ 
 
 of  God  "^^  n(t\ 
 
 But  whatfoever  was  the  precife  thought  •^^^'°''>'" 
 of  the  Apoftle  in  this  difficult  expreflion, 
 ^tis  certain  that  God  was  all  along  fpoken 
 of  by  all  the  holy  prophets  as  the  God  of 
 his  people,  their  portion  and  inheritance  and  yei,  2, 
 €xceedi?ig  great  reward;  and  that  life  and  im- 
 mortality are  brought  to  light  by  the  gofjpel, 
 and  promifed  by  Chrifl  to  all  his  followers, 
 and  is  the  great  object  of  their  defires  and 
 hope;  where  perfed:  purity  will  always 
 reign,  and  ?iothing  enters  which  does  defile. 
 He  will  raife  them  up  at  the  lafi  day,  and 
 give  them  eternal  life  ;  and  they  look  for  a 
 city  who/e  builder  and  maker  is  God,  and 
 defre  another  country,  that  is  an  heavenly 
 &ne;  and  are  faid,  becaufe  of  their  prefent 
 Z  4  relation 
 
344  A  Funeral  Sermon  on 
 
 Heb.  xii.  relation    to   it,  to  be  come  unto  mount  Sh?!, 
 
 ^^'  the   city    of  the  living  God,   the  heavenly  Je- 
 
 rufalenty  and  to  an  inmunerable  company  of 
 angels,  and  the  general  afembly  and  church  of 
 the  fijf-born,  'who  are  written  in  heaven ; 
 to  God  the  judge  of  all,  the  fpirits  of  juji 
 inen  fnade  perfeci,  and  to  fejus  the  Media-! 
 tor  of  the  neiv   covenant.     The  Apoflle  in  this 
 
 1  Pet.i.  4.  Epiille  fays,  We  are  begotten  to  an  incor^ 
 ruptible  and  undefiled  inheritance,  which  fa^ 
 deth  not  away,  referved  in  the  heavens  for 
 us. 
 
 And  the  expeiftation  of  fuch  a  ilate  of 
 things,  of  greater  purity  and  improvement 
 in  the  chriflian  church,  and  of  a  ftate  of 
 peifedlion  and  bleflednefs  in  heaven,  is  the 
 moft  powerful  motive  now,  that  we  may 
 not  come  Jhort  of  the  gloiy  of  God,  but  be 
 fir  to  partake  of  it,  and  fliare  in  all  the  blef- 
 fednefs  of  it  Let  us  therefore  according  to 
 our  Lord's  dire6lion,  watch  and  pray  that 
 vr  may  be  accounted  worthy  to  efcape  all  thefe 
 things  which  fiall  come  to  paj's,  and  tojiand 
 before  the  Son  of  man.     And    in  the  words 
 
 Heb.  iv.   of   the  Apoflle,  Give  diligence' fo  an  en- 
 
 *'•  trance  fiall  be  miniftred  abundafitly   into  the 
 
 everlajting  kingdom ;    and.    Let   us  labour  to 
 enter  into  that  reft,  leji  any  man  fail   afterr 
 the  fame  example    of  unbelief 
 
 I  have  finiilied  what  I  propofed  from 
 the  text,  and  fhall  now  fpeak  to  the  fpe- 
 cial  occalion  of  this  difcourfe,  and  of  my  ap- 
 pearing at  this  time,  in  this  place;  the  de- 
 
 ceaf^ 
 
the  Rev^.  Mr.  D a n i el  Mayo.       345 
 
 ceafe  of  my  reverend  brother  and  friend,  and 
 your  worthy  and  beloved  paflor,  Mr.  Da- 
 niel  Mayo, 
 
 He  was  the  fon  of  a  worthy  minifler 
 who  was  ejedted  in  this  town  in  1662,  and 
 was  afterwards  well  known  and  efleemed 
 in  London.  He  was  ftrongly  inclined  to 
 the  miniftry  from  his  early  youth,  but  was 
 diverted  from  it,  for  fome  years,  by  the 
 difficulty  of  the  times.  He  was  bred  in  Hol- 
 land under  the  care  of  the  very  pious "  and 
 learned  profeflor  WitJiuSy  whom  he  always 
 fpoke  of  with  honour  and  affection,  and  at 
 the  fame  time  with  feveral  other  per  fon s  of 
 great  eminence  in  different  ways,  and  who 
 made  a  '  conliderable  figure  in  life.  He  ap- 
 plied with  great  diligence,  and,  made  a 
 good  proficiency  in  ufeful  learning.  While 
 he  continued  in  Holland  he  published  a 
 Latin  Thejis  upon  the  fubjed:  of  Miracles^ 
 as  he  did  fome  occafional  Sermons  after- 
 wards. He  was  firft  fettled  at  Wefiminjier 
 as  an  Affiflant  to  Mr.  Alfop,  and  was  well 
 accepted  at  his  firft  appearance  in  the 
 world;  but  was  early  removed  to  this  town, 
 where  he  lived  about  thirty-five  years,  with 
 as  great  ufefulnefs  and  general  a  reputation, 
 as  perhaps  any  minifter  of  his  kind.  He  lived 
 to  fee  more  than  one  whole  generation  go 
 off  the  flage  before  him.  He  was  of  a  ftrong 
 conflitution,  and  continued  health  for  many 
 years,  till  the  laft  year  of  life,  in  which  he 
 gradually  declined,  and  fuddenlv  funk  at  lafl. 
 
 He 
 
346  A  Fmteral  Sermon  on 
 
 H  E  was  a  man  of  regular  piety ^  and  real  re- 
 gard to  God,  which  run  through  all  his  fa- 
 inily  and  relative  engagements,  and  often  mix- 
 ed with  his  ordinary  converfation.  He  al- 
 ways fpake  of  God  and  religion  with  great  re- 
 verence and  favour  of  mind.  His  converfes 
 with  men  were  eafy  and  chearful,  with  an  o- 
 pennefs  and  freedom  which  were  very  agree- 
 able, and  recommended  his  friendlhip  to  o- 
 thers. 
 
 He  had  a  deep  concern  for  the  intereft  of 
 religion  in  the  world,  and  the  good  of  the 
 fouls  of  men  ;  was  conftant  and  diligent  in  his 
 proper  work,  preaching  twice  a  day  all  his 
 life,  and  was  feldom  ever  abfent.  Indeed  he 
 delighted  in  his  work :  his  heart  and  foul  was 
 in  it.  His  preaching  was  prad:ical  and  ferious, 
 with  great  gravity,  and  warm  affedion.  He 
 chiefly  infifted,  in  the  courfe  of  his  miniftry, 
 upon  the  great  principles  and  duties  of  religi- 
 on, which  tended  to  promote  the  faith  and 
 holinefs  of  his  hearers,  not  fpeculation,  or 
 party.  His  labours  were  greatly  bleifed,  and 
 very  ufeful  to  many,  not  only  in  this  town, 
 but  at  Hachiey^  and  London^  where  he  ipent 
 fome  part  of  his  laft  years  of  life. 
 
 Tho'  he  was  well  fatisiied  in  the  great  prin- 
 ciples of  his  dijj'efit  from  the  eftabliilied  church, 
 upon  the  foot  of  the  rights  of  private  judg- 
 ment, and  clofe  adherence  to  the  authority 
 of  Chrift,  and  the  perfedion  of  the  fcripture- 
 rule,  in  oppolition  to  human  appointments 
 and  impoiitions,  as  terms  of  Communion  :  yet 
 he  did  not  allow  himfelf  to  judge  other  men, 
 
 but 
 
the  Revl  Mr,  Daniel  Mayo.  347 
 but  always  maintained  moderation  of  mind, 
 lived  in  friendfliip  with  the  minifters  and 
 people  of  the  eftablifliment,  and  fcrupled  not 
 to  worfliip  with  them  upon  any  proper  occa- 
 fion.  It  were  to  be  wifli'd  this  temper  were 
 mutual,  and  that  we  could  agree  to  live  toge- 
 ther as  Fellovv-Chriftians,  tho'  we  cannot  a- 
 gree  in  fome  fpeculative  opinions  and  external 
 rites.  He  greatly  difl iked  a  fpirit  of  jeaioufy  and 
 fuipicion,  and  violence  and  wrath,  among  Chrii- 
 tians,  as  difligreeable  to  the  genua  of  the  Gof-' 
 pel,  and  dilTerviceable  to  the  true  interell:  of  it. 
 
 He  was  adlhe  in  bufmefs,  and  never  fpa- 
 red  himfelf  to  ierve  the  publick.  In  the  care 
 of  deftitute  congregations,  and  the  fervice  of 
 his  country  and  his  friend,  few  men  bore  a 
 greater  fliare,  or  were  more  ufeful,  in  his 
 Jlation  of  life  j  as  he  had  a  large  acquaintance, 
 and  general  efteem,  among  all  forts  of  people. 
 I  wilh  his  interell  and  influence,  in  this 
 Town,  and  in  the  whole  couni»y,  on  many 
 occafions,  be  not  greatly  miffed.  He  was 
 fingularly  prudent  in  the  condudl  of  affairs, 
 capable  of  adviling  in  difficult  matters,  and 
 ready  and  communicative  upon  all  occalions. 
 
 He  feemed  not  fo  fenfible,  through  the 
 flattering  nature  of  his  diftemper,  of  the  near 
 approach  of  his  end,  as  they  did  who  were 
 about  him  j  which,  together  with  his  weak 
 flate  of  health,  much  prevented  the  inftruc- 
 tions  and  counfels  to  thofe  about  him,  which 
 it  was  fo  natural  to  him  to  give.  He  told  me 
 however,  the  laft  time  I  iaw  him  here, 
 *  That  he  was  willing  to  live,  if  it  pleafed 
 
 '  God, 
 
3^8  A  Funeral  Sermon. 
 
 '  God,  for  further   ufefulnefs,  but  was  ready 
 
 *  to  fubmit  to  the  will  of  God,  and  was  not  a- 
 
 *  fraid  to  die.'  The  day  in  which  he  died, 
 fenfible  of  the  increafe  of  his  weaknefs  he 
 faid,  *  He   ihould  now  be  confined   to   his 
 
 *  chamber,  and   then   to  his  bed,    and  then 
 
 *  to  his  grave:'  A  near  relation  prefent,  ad-  I 
 ded,  And  *  then  a  happy  ftate.'     He  replied, 
 
 *  He    had  had  his   faults  and   failings,   but 
 
 *  trufted,  that  they  were  all  pardoned  ;  and 
 •^  that  he  had  a   good  hope  of   eternal  life, 
 
 *  without    any  uneafy    fears    and    doubt   a- 
 
 *  bout  it,  and  for  which  he  believed  he  had 
 
 *  good  grounds.'     He  added,    *  And  then  I 
 
 *  fhall  be  delivered  from  a  vain  and  wicked 
 
 *  world.' 
 
 And  God  grant,  that  we  who  live  in  a 
 mortal  ftate,  and  have  fo  many  in  fiances  of 
 mortality  frefh  about  us,  may  be  found  ready 
 when  our  turn  fhall  come,  and  found  of  him 
 in  peace  at  lafl :  that  we  may  give  the  fame 
 diligence  to  the  full  affurance  of  hope  unto  the 
 end-,  and  may  not  be  jlothful,  but  followers  of 
 them  who  through  faith  and  patience  inherit 
 the  promife. 
 
 S  E  R- 
 
349 
 
 SERMON     VII. 
 
 The  love  of  Chrift's  Appearance 
 the  Character  of  a  fincere 
 Chriftian. 
 
 2  Tim.  iv,  8. 
 ^And  not  to  7ne  only^   hut  to  all 
 
 them  alfo  who  love  his  appearance. 
 
 I  Shall  not  undertake  at  prefent  to  enter  in- 
 to a  particular  account  of  this  great  con- 
 text, the  noble  profeffion  and  expectation 
 of  the  Apoflle,  upon  the  conclufion  of  his  la- 
 bours and  profped  of  his  dilTolution.  /  ha've 
 fought  the  good  fight :  the  expreffions  are  agonif- 
 ticaly  taken  from  the  exercifes  among  the  an- 
 cient Greeks.  I  have  contended  with  all  my 
 fpiritual  enemies,  and  accomplifhed  my  war- 
 fare: The  allufionis  to  them  whowreflled  in 
 the  olympick  games.  I  have  JifiiJJoed  my  courfe  : 
 I  am  now  at  the  lall  flage  of  my  chriltian  and 
 minifterial  courfe  :  The  alluiion  is  to  thofe  who 
 run  in  a  race.     I  have  kept  the  fyith :  I  have 
 
 adhered 
 
350  A  Fimeral  Sermon  on 
 
 adhered  in  judgment  and  pradice  to  the  faith 
 of  the  Gofpel  which  I  have  taught  and  profef- 
 fed,  without  denying  or  betraying  any  part  of 
 it ;  I  have  been  faithful  to  my  truft  and  en- 
 gagements to  Chrift.  This  is  the  account  he 
 gives  of  himfelf.  Aoiirovy  from  henceforth^  as 
 to  what  remains  and  is  before  me,  as  to  God's 
 part,  and  what  I  further  exped:  from  him, 
 henceforth  is  laid  up  for  me  a  crown  of  righteouf- 
 nejs,  which  the  Lord  the  righteous  judge  will  gi've 
 me  at  that  day.  Having  fought  and  iiniflied, 
 nothing  remains  but  the  promifed  crown,  the 
 reward  of  thofe  who  prevailed  in  the  combat, 
 and  reach'd  the  goal.  He  adds.  And  not  to  me 
 only^  but  to  all  them  alfo  who  love  his  appearance^ 
 It  was  not  peculiar  and  appropriate  to  the  A^ 
 poftle,  or  the  high  and  extraordinary  attain- 
 ment of  a  few  ;  but  enters  into  the  charad:er, 
 and  is  defcriptive  of  the  real  temper  of  a  fincere 
 Chriftian.  They  all  love  the  appearance  of 
 Chrilf ,  and  he  will  give  to  all  of  them  a  crown 
 of  life.  This  is  the  point  I  propofe  to  confi- 
 der. 
 
 In  fpeaking  to  thefe  words,  I  fliall, 
 
 I.  Open  this  chara<^er  of  fmcere  Chriflians, 
 that  they  love  his  appearance. 
 
 II.  Consider  the  recfons  of  it,  and  flievv 
 why  they  do  lb. 
 
 III.  Represent  the  hleffmg  which  belongs 
 to  it;  that  he  will  ^/'u^  them  a  crown  of  righ- 
 teoufnefs.     And  then  apply  it. 
 
the  Rev^,  Dr*  Joshua  Oldfield.       351 
 
 1. 1  fhall  open  this  charad:er  of  a  fincere  Chrl- 
 flian.     I  think  I  may  take  it  for  granted,  that 
 'tis  the  appearance  of  Chrijl  which  is  here  in- 
 tended, for  he  is  the  Lord  the  righteous  judge  \  " 
 and  the  word  here  ufed  is  every  where  apphed  ^^ptivnct. 
 to  him  in  the  New  Teftament,  and  not  to  the 
 Father,  of  whom  our  Lord  fays.  No  man  hath 
 feen  God  at  any  time.     And,    Te  ha"oe  neither ]o\^.\.\9,. 
 heard  his  'voice  at  any  time^    nor  feen  his  jloape,      ^-  ?''• 
 And  the  Apoftle  fays,  Who  only  hath  immorta- ,  Tim.vi. 
 //*/)',  and  dwelleth  in  the  light  which  no  man  can  16. 
 approach  unto  j  isohom  no  7nan  hath  feen,  or  can 
 fee.    The  Scripture  /peaks  of  a  twofold  perfonal 
 appearance  of  Chrift,  his  firft  and  fecond  ap- 
 pearance.    The  firft  was  in  flefh  and  in  an 
 humble  ftate;  the  word  was  made  jiejh,  and  ap- 
 peared in  the  likenefs  offmfulJIeJJj,     He  cloth- 
 ed himfelf  with  human  nature,   and  converfed 
 with  men  on  earth.    This  did  exactly  agree  in 
 every  circumftance,  to  the  prophecies  and  pre- 
 didions  of  the  Old  Tcilament ;    and  fully  an- 
 fwered  the  great  ends  propofed  by  it,  to  reveal 
 the  will  of  God  to  men,    and  become  a  facri- 
 fice  for  fin.     But  this  is  long  over,    as  it  was 
 long  expedied  and  waited  for.    He  forfook  the 
 earth,    and  afcended  to  heaven.     But  he  will 
 appear  again,  and  become  vifible  at  the  end  of 
 the  world.     And  this  is  the  fecond  appearance 
 as  diftinguiilied  from  the  former,  and  propo- 
 fed here  as  the  objedl  of  our  love. 
 
 This  is  reprefented  by  fcveral  words  in  the 
 New  Tcftament  with  fome  diverfity  of  figni- 
 fication.     There  is  7ra^K<7<'a,  which  fignifies  his  i  Cor.  xv. 
 making  himfelf /r^j;?/  to  us,   after  a  long  ab-  ^3- 
 
 fence  ; 
 
252  A  Funeral  Sermon  on 
 
 fence ;  prefenting  himfelf  before  us.  A7ro)cc&Ai>4'<> 
 
 ^;,  _,     which  we  render  the  revelation  oiyefiis  Chrift, 
 
 or  difcovering  himfelf  to  us  after  he  had  been 
 
 long  concealed,  and  out  of  fight,     ^ctvi^ta^y 
 
 1  Johnii.  being  made  manifeji^    and  well  known,  as  he 
 
 28.  was  before    manifejl  in  the  flejh.     The  word 
 
 here  ufe  is  eTrKpocveio,,  which  fignities  an  illuftri- 
 
 ous  appearance  in  diftindlion  from  the  former, 
 
 or  his  appearance  in  his  humble  ftate. 
 
 I  fhall  reprefent  it  more  particularly  in  all 
 the  circumftances  in  which  'tis  defcribed  in  the 
 New  Teftament. 
 
 I.  'Tis  reprefented  as  a  certain  thing :  For  yet 
 Heb.x.37.^  little  ivhile^  and  he  who  JJoall  come  will  come  ^  and 
 will  not  tarry.  He  will  certainly  come,  and 
 nothing  fhall  be  able  to  hinder  and  prevent  it, 
 as  he  will  not  delay  it  beyond  the  appointed 
 time.  Indeed  a  long  courfe  of  time  has  run 
 out  fince  the  promife  of  his  coming  was  given 
 to  the  world.  He  fometimes  feems  to  delay 
 his  coming,  and  to  make  long  tarrying,  to 
 good  men,  efpecially  under  great  afflicftions  and 
 fuffering  j  and  'tis  one  of  the  exercifes  of  their 
 patience  and  faith :  And  the  fcoffers  of  the  laft 
 2pet.iii.4.^^y  will  fay.  Where  is  the  promife  of  his  com- 
 ing F  for  fine  e  the  Fathers  fell  afeep,  all  thijjgs 
 continue  as  they  were  from  the  beginnijig  of  the 
 creation.  They  fee  no  appearance  of  his  com- 
 ing after  the  revolution  of  fo  many  ages,  no 
 change  or  alteration  in  the  ftate  of  things;  but 
 every  thing  goes  on  in  the  ordinary  courfe  of 
 nature,  and  therefore  they  conclude,  he  will 
 nevei-  appear,  and  there  never  will  be  any. 
 
 But 
 
the  Rev{,  Dr,  Joshua  Oldfield.       353 
 
 But  now  the  coming  of  Chrift  is  unquef^ 
 tionably  certain.     He  will  as  furely  appear  the 
 fecond  time,   as  he  did  the  lirfl,  though  that 
 was  not  till  many  ages  after  it  was  foretold. 
 This  depends  upon  the  truth  of  the  Chrifliari 
 revelation,  and  the  promife  arid  aflurance  given 
 of  it.     Sd  our    Lord    told  his    Difciples;  ijrjohnxlv, 
 I  go  and  prepare  a  place  for  you  ^  I  will  come  a- 
 gairiy  niid  receive  you  to  myjelf.     And  the  An- 
 gel told  them  at  his  afcenfion  :  This  fame  fefus^^^  i-  '^'' 
 who  is  now  taken  up  from  you  into  heaven^  Jhall 
 fo  come  in  like  manner,    as  you  have  feen  him 
 go  into  heaven.     The  Apoflles  every  where 
 Ipeak  of  it  as  a  thing  determined  and  expect- 
 ed.    Belides,    there  is  an  abfolute  neceffity  of 
 his  coming  again,  to  fini{h  what  he  has  begun, 
 and  carry  on  his  undertaking  to  its  final  per« 
 fedion.     So  the  Apoftle  Peter  told  the  Jews ; 
 Whom  the  heavens  mufi  receive  until  the  time-^^^^-  21 . 
 of  the  reftitution  of  all  things :    Till  they  are 
 brought  to  their  proper  perfection  and  confum- 
 mation.     So  the  Arabick  Verfion  reads  it,  and 
 the  word  here  aliroxacTol'^eaii  is  rendered  by  the 
 Greek  etymologiils  by  TgAflwo-/;, which  fignifies 
 perfection.     And  the  Apoftle  fpeaking  of  the 
 appearance  of  Chrift,  fays.  Which  in  his  time^  Tim.\U 
 he  floall  floew,  or  caufe  to  be  feen,    who  is  the^S- 
 blejfed    and  only  potentate,    the  King  of  kings, 
 and  IjOrd  of  lords :  Who  is  therefore  a  greater 
 objecft  of  fear  than  the  greateft  earthly  power, 
 and  able  to  fecure  this  important  event  againft 
 all  oppofition,    and  to  the  full  extent  o£  his 
 promife. 
 
 A  a  'Tj$ 
 
2^^  ^  Funeral  Ser?non  on 
 
 'Tis  true  the  precife  time  of  his  appearing 
 is  roferved  as  a  fecret  in  the  divine  breafl.  ^Tis 
 one  of  the  Arcana  imperii  of  the  divine  go- 
 vernment, locked  up  in  the  counfels  of  hea- 
 ven, and  wifely  kept  from  the  knowledge  of 
 men,  to  prevent  either  fecurity  or  dread  of 
 mind ;  and  to  promote  a  perpetual  readinefs 
 and  preparation.  The  knowledge  of  it  would 
 be  equally  unfuitable  and  injurious,  in  a  flate 
 Mat.xxiv.of  trial  J  and  therefore  of  that  day  and  hour 
 s/'^  .  hio%vcth  no  man-y  and  'tis  not  for  us  to  know 
 the  times  and  feafons  which  the  Father  hath  put 
 into  his  civn  hands.  But  tho'  'tis  unknown  to 
 us,  'tis  an  appointed  time,exadly  determined  in 
 — xvii3T.the  divine  mind  3  for  he  hath  appointed  a  day 
 in  which  he  will  judge  the  worlds  by  the  man 
 whom  he  hath  ordained. 
 
 2.  It  will  be  very  quick  2ir\6.fudden.     Tho* 
 there  will  be  great  fore-runners  and  prepara- 
 tions in  the  natural  and  moral  world,    many 
 tendencies  and  forebodings  of  its  yet  thro'  the 
 great  degeneracy  of  the  negligent  and  carelefs 
 world,  his  actual  appearance  will  be  a  great 
 furprize,    and  come  upon   them  before  they 
 are  aware.     So  'tis  often  reprefented  in  Scrip- 
 ture.    Our  Lord  caution'd  his  Difciples,  Leji 
 at  any  time  their  hearts  he  overcharged  with 
 furf citing  a7id  drimkennefsy  and  the  cares  of  this 
 life^    and  Jo    that  day   come  upon    them    una- 
 ..^  _.  wares  \  for  as  a  /hare  JJjall  it  come  upon  all  them 
 X  who  dwell  upo7i  the  face  of  the  whole  earth.     It 
 
 will  be  like  the  flood  upon  the  old  world  af- 
 ter all  the  preaching  and  preparation  of  Noah:, 
 As  in  the  days  c/' Noah  before  the  floods    they] 
 
 were 
 
the  Revd'  Dr.  Joshua  Oldfield.        355 
 
 nvere  eating  and  drinkhig^  and  marrying^  ^;/^'^'Iac  xxiv 
 giving  in  marriage^    till  the  day  that    Noah 
 entered  into  the  ark^  and  knew  not  till  the  flood 
 came^    and  took  them  all  away :  Jo  alfo  (hall  the 
 coming  of  the  Son  of  man  be.    'Twill  be  like  the 
 lightening  of  heaven^  or  a  ray  of  the  riling  of 
 .the  fun,    which  pierces  the  clouds,  and  darts 
 thro'  the  earth  in  an  inftant.     'Twill  be  like  a 
 man  taking  a  journey  i?ito  a  far  coiifitry^    and 
 commanding  his  fer-vants  to  watch :  becaule  they 
 knew  not  when  he  would  return ;    for  fo  it 
 follows;    Watch  ye  therefore^  for  ye  know  notU^vkx'nu 
 when  the  majier  of  the  houfe  comet  hy  at  e^jening"^"^' 
 or  at  midnight y  or  at  cock-crowing^  cr  in  the 
 mornings  left  cof?iing  fudde?ily  he  fiiid  you  feepiiig. 
 'Tis  represented  upon  this  account  as  a  thief 
 in  the  nighty    when  ail  men  are  afleep,  and  no 
 one  expe(5ts  him  :    If  the  good  man  of  the  houfe 
 had  know7i  in  what  watch  the  thief  would  come, 
 he  would  hi-^"^^  watchedy  and  notjiiffered  his  koife 
 to  he  broke  open,  therefore  be  ye  alfo  ready ,  for M&t.xxW^ 
 in  fie  h  an  hour  as  you  think  not^  the  Son  of  man  ^'^' 
 Cometh.     The  Apollle  ufes    this  figure ;    For  \  Thef.  v^. 
 yourjehes  know  perfe5ily  that  the  day  of  the  Lord^^^^  jU 
 Cometh  as  a  thief  in  the  flight.     Not  for  the  vio- 
 lence, but  for  the  fuddennef^  and  furprize  of  it. 
 'Tis  certain  it  will  be  unexped:ed,  and  a  great 
 furprize    upon    the  unprepared  world :    'twill 
 come  all  at  once,  and  find  the  moil;  unprovided 
 for  it. 
 
 3.  It  will  be  vnoH  glorious  and  magnificent. 
 This  is  the  conftant  chara(fter  of  the  fecond  ap- 
 pearance of  Chrifl,  and  by  which  'tis  eminent- 
 ly diftiHguiilied  from  the  firft.     So  'tis  repre- 
 A  a  2  fen  ted. 
 
2^6  A  Funeral  SeriHon  on 
 
 Mat.xxiv^.fented,  T'hen  Jhall  ye  fee  the  Son  of  man  come  iii 
 3""  the  clouds  of  heaven  with  power  and  great  glory , 
 
 Tit.li.  ir.  The  Apollle  calls  it  exprelly  the  glorious  ap- 
 pearance of  the  great  God,  and  our  Saviour  Je- 
 fus  Chrift.     This  may  be  confidered  diflinjtiy 
 with  refped;  to  the  glory  of  his  perfon^    and  of 
 his  attendants.     As  to  the  glory  of  his  perfan, 
 Luke  ix.    we  read  that  he  will  appear  in  the  glory  of  his 
 2^-      ...  Father,  and  in  his  own  glory.     The  Son  of  man 
 38.         '  fiallcome  in  the  glory  of  his  Father i    The  glory 
 of  the  Father,  as  it  ftands  here  diftinguiflied, 
 and  is  defigned  to  reprefent  fomething.  vilible 
 and  confpicuous ;    may  probably  refer  to  the 
 glorious  appearance,    or  vlfible  fymbol   of  the 
 divine  prefence  which  the  ^ews  call  Shecinah 
 or  habitation  of  God,  and  is  reprefented  in  the 
 Old  Teftament  by  the  /^r^,    xh^  prefence,  the 
 glory y   and  the  tnajcfly  of  God  ;  which  appear- 
 Aasvii.2  ed  to  the  patriarchs,    as  the  God  of  glory  ap~  \ 
 peared  to  Abraham ;  and  to  Mofes  at  the  giving 
 the  law  5    and  afterwards  dwelt  in  the  taber- 
 nacle and  temple  j  and  fometimes  was  feen  by 
 „.        the  Prophets,    fo  Micaiah  faw  the  Lord  fitting 
 xxii.  19.   ^^  his  throne,  and  all  the  hofl  of  A^igels  Jlanding 
 Ifa.  vi.  I.  before  him.     And  Ifaiah/^w  the  Lord  fit  tiitgiip^ 
 on  a  throne.,   high  and  lifted  up^    and  his  train 
 filed  the  temple  y  above  it  flood  the  Seraphim.  And 
 Hab.i  1.3.  Hahaccuk  fays,  His  glory  covers  the  heavens,  and 
 his  brightnejs  was  as  the  light. 
 
 He  will  appear  in  xhQ  form  of  God :  In  the 
 
 glory  and  majefty  of  God,   which  appeared  at 
 
 '     his  baptifm,    when  a  voice  came  immediately 
 
 from  heaven-,  and  at  his  transfiguration,  when 
 
 ^'^^^- ^'''^^- his  face  fjone  as  the  fun,  and  his  raiment  was 
 
 white 
 
the  Rev^.  Dr.  Joshua  Oldfield.       357 
 
 iDhite  as  the  Ughty    and  a  bright  cloud  overjha- 
 dowed  them.    At  this  time  the  Apoftle  fays,  he 
 received  from  God  the  Fat  her ,  glory  and  honour  z?^t.:ui-; 
 when  there  came  fuch  a  voice  from  the  excellent 
 glory ;  the  eminent  and  furpaffing  glory.     This 
 appeared  to  Stephen  j  when  he  looked  ft  edfajlly  to  ^^^  ^"• 
 heaven,  andfaw  the  Glory  of  God:  and  to  Paul 
 in  his  way  to  Damafcus,  when  he  /aw  a  light— ^^'^'^' 
 from  heaven y    above  the  bright nefs  of  the  Sun  at^^' 
 tnid-day ;  and  to  the  Apoftle  John,   when  his  R^^.  xlv. 
 eyes  appeared  as  flarning  fire,  and  his  countenance^ 
 as  the  fun  jhinijig  in  his  fl,rength  :  and  is  fup- 
 pofed  to  be  referred  to,  when  'tis  faid,  T'he  ta-  ^j<«'»'  '« 
 bernacle  of  God  is  with  men,    and  he  will  dwell® '^' 
 with  them ;  and  the  glory  of  God  did  enlighten 
 the  new  ferufalem,  and  the  la?nb  is  the  light 
 thereof.     He  will  not  then  appear  in  they^-  Rev.  xxi. 
 Jhion  of  a  mere  7nan,  or  in  thejorm  ofafervant',h  n- 
 in  an  humble  ftate,    and  in  circumftances  of 
 meannefs  and  contempt,  without  any  vifible 
 characflers  of  glory  to  diftinguifh  him,    and 
 raife  the  admiration  and  reverence  of  men ; 
 but  he  will  appear  in  the  glory  of  the  Deity. 
 The  Shecinah,  or  glory  of  God,  will  dignify 
 his  perfon,    and  adorn  the  triumph  of  his  fe- 
 cond  appearance :    a  glory  which  will  exceed 
 all  created  brightnefs,    and  draw  the  admira- 
 tion of  the  whole  creation;  which  will  give 
 him  an  inconceiveable  beauty,    and  refled;  an 
 unfpeakable  luftre,   and  render  the  appearance 
 illuflrious  beyond  all  refemblance  and  com- 
 parifon,    above  all  the  powers  of  exprefiion, 
 and  capacities  of  thought.     The  loftieffc  flights 
 and  figures  of  fpeech,  the  brightefl  images  and 
 
 A  a  3  fidions 
 
358  ^  Funeral  Sermon  on 
 
 fidlons  of  imagination,  fall  vaftly  fliort  of  the 
 real  glories  of  the  defcending  Saviour. 
 
 Besides,  there  will  be  his  own  glory  ^  as  well 
 as  the  glory  of  the  Father ;    the  glory  of  the 
 Mat.  XXV.  Mediator,     When  the  Son  of  man  jhall  come  in 
 3'*  his  glory,    then  fiall  he  fit  upon  the  throne  of  his 
 
 glory.    Not  only  his  natural  and  efTential  glory, 
 )^^-'^-'^^  the  glory  of  the  only  begotten  Son  of  God ,  who 
 ^  "^^  ^"  is  the  bright nefs  of  the  Father  s  glory ,  and  ex- 
 Joh.xvli.  p^^^s  image  of  his  perfon;  the  glory  which  he  had 
 ^'  with  the  Father  before  the  world  was  j   which 
 
 who  can  tell  how  great  it  is  ?  But  his  acqui- 
 red glory,  or  what  was  the  fruit  and  reward 
 of  his  obedience  and  fufferings.  He  will  ap- 
 pear in  the  full  glory,  of  his  humanity  as  well 
 T1t.ii.T3.  as  of  his  divinity:  'Twill  be  th^  glorious  ap- 
 pearance of  the  great  God,  and  our  Saviour  ye- 
 fus  Cbriji ;  which  perhaps  anfwers  to  the  ex- 
 prelTion,  of  the  Father  s  glory,  and  his  own 
 glory.  He  will  appear  in  the  clouds  of  heaven, 
 and  iitting  upon  a  throne  ofgloty,  invefted  with 
 fovereign  authority,  and  bearing  the  chara(5ter 
 of  univerfal  Judge.  He  will  appear  as  the  ex- 
 alted Prince  and  Saviour,  with  all  the  enligns 
 of  majefly,  and  marks  of  royalty  and  domi- 
 nion, as  the  Heir  of  the  worlds  and  the  Lord 
 of  all. 
 
 But  befides  aH  this  perfonal  glory,    there 
 Vv^ill  be  the  glory  of  his  attendants.     This  is 
 every  where  reprefented  as  a   diftind:   thing 
 Mat.  XXV.  from  both  the  former:    The  Son  of  man  jhall 
 3 '  •  come  in  his  glory,  and  all  his  holy  a?igels  with 
 
 Mirkvm.him  :   And  he  Jhall  come  in  the  glory  of  his  Fa- 
 5*^*         ther,  with  his  holy  angels.     The  Angels  are  the 
 
 fo?is 
 
the  Revi  Dr»  Joshua  Oldfield.      359 
 
 fim  of  the  mornings  the  firft-born  of  the  cre- 
 ation, the  highefl  and  mofl:  excellent  order  of 
 mere  creatures.     They  are  pure  intelligences, 
 bright  and  unperifhing  flames  i  the  courtiers  of 
 heaven,    who  (liine   in  holinefs  and  excel  in 
 ftrength.    He  will  co??ie  with  all  the  holy  angels ;  iThef.i.7. 
 and  be  revealed  from  heaven  with  his  mighty 
 angels^    in  flaming  fire :    The  whole  boil   of 
 angels,    all  the  feveral  orders  of  the  heavenly 
 hierarchy,  angels  and  archa?igels^  principalities, 
 powers^  and   dojnijiions.     He  will  appear  with 
 a  noble  retinue :  His  throne  of  glory  will  be  en- 
 compafled  round  with    fliining   circles  of  fla- 
 ming Seraphim,  and  crouds  of  attending  angels, 
 the  mefTengers  and  minifters  of  the  final  Judge, 
 paying  him  homage,  and  ready  to  execute  his 
 will.     They  will  all  unite  their  feveral  glo- 
 ries to  grace  the  triumphs  of  the  great  Re- 
 deemer,   and  render  it  more  magnificent  and 
 auguft.     And  he  will  be  attended  with  all  the 
 glorified  Saints :  All  the  fpirits  oljuft  ineji  made 
 perfeSl,    and  every  furviving  faint  upon  earth, 
 will  meet  together,  and  attend  the  appearance 
 of  the  Lord.     So  the  Apofl:le  tells  us,  he  will 
 come  to  be  glorified  in  his  faints^  and  <'?//w/- ^T},ef.  f. 
 red  in  them  who  believe :  And  then  the  Lord  bim~  '  ^-^ 
 felf  fl^all  defcejui  from   heaven,    with   a  fi:out,  \^,^  ^l^' 
 icith  the  voice  of  the  archangel,  and  the  trum- 
 pet of  God,  and  the  dead  in  Chrift  fl?all  rife  firfi  ; 
 then  we  who  are  alive   ajid  remain,    Jhall  be 
 caught  up  together  with  them,    in  the  clouds,  to 
 meet  the  Lord  i?2  the  air :  And  when  Cbrift  who  q^;^.^^^  -^^^ 
 is  our  life  Jhall  appear,  we  Jhall  appear  with  him  4. 
 in  glory.     How  vaft  will  be  the  train  and  re- 
 A  a  4  ti'in* 
 
 U<i 
 
360  A  Funeral  Sermon  on 
 
 tinue  of  glorified  faints,  when  all  who  ever 
 lived  in  every  age,  from  the  beginning  of  the 
 world  to  the  end  of  it  j  all  the  patriarchs  and 
 prophets  under  the  Old  Teftament ;  the  twelve 
 Apofiles fitting  upon  twelve  thrones;  they  who 
 followed  him  in  the  regeneration^  and  they  who 
 fufFered  martyrdom  for  his  fake ;  all  eminently 
 pious  and  ufeful  men,  who  exprefl:  mofl  of  the 
 life  of  Chrift^  and  were  the  great  ornaments 
 and  bleffings  of  the  age  in  which  they  lived ; 
 when  all  fliall  meet  together  in  one  general  af- 
 fembly,  and  be  diftinguifhed  by  marks  of  pe- 
 culiar honour  ?  The  prefence  of  every  glorified 
 faint  will  add  to  the  glory  of  his  appearance, 
 and  render  it  flill  more  illuftrious :  they  will 
 fhine  as  fo  many  glorious  j/?^/r^  round  about  the 
 fun  of  right eoufnefi.  And  what  a  glorious  fo- 
 lemnity  will  it  make  all  together,  and  when 
 fo  many  different  glories  will  all  meet  and  unite 
 in  one  ? 
 
 4.  It  will  be  publick  and  open.  He  will 
 not  appear  to  one  part  of  the  world  only,  as 
 he  did  before  j  as  he  will  not  appear  mean 
 and  obfcure.  The  glory  of  his  appearance 
 will  make  him  known  and  difcover  him  to 
 every  one.  It  will  be  like  the  fudden  breaks 
 ing  out  of  the  fun  thro'  a  thick  cloud,  vifible 
 to  every  eye,  and  it^n  all  at  once.  His  throne 
 of  glory  will  be  fixed  in  the  center  of  the  hea- 
 vens, and  become  confpicuous  to  all  the  world ; 
 it  will  be  placed  in  open  light  and  publick 
 view,  and  be  the  common  obje<ft  of  wonder 
 and  admiration  to  all  men.  All  will  appear 
 when  he  fhall  appear,  and  he  will  be  feen  of 
 
 all: 
 
the  Rev^,  Dr.  Joshua  Oldfield.       361 
 
 all :  Behold  he  cometh  with  the  clouds^  and  every  ^ev.  i.y* 
 eye  fi all  fee  him  ;  aud  all  the  kindreds  of  the 
 earth. 
 
 5.  It  will  be  awful  and  itnportant.  Wc 
 may  certainly  conclude  that  all  this  prepara- 
 tion and  attendance  will  not  be  for  nothing, 
 or  for  any  mean  and  common  purpofe.  There 
 is  certainly  fome  weighty  matter  depending, 
 and  to  be  tranfaded  at  that  time,  as  extraor- 
 dinary as  the  appearance  itfelf  will  be.  And 
 if  we  attend  to  the  Scripture-account,  we  fhall 
 find  that  he  will  come  for  thefe  great  purpoles, 
 to  raiie  the  dead,  and  judge  world.  So  he  tells 
 us.  The  hour  is  coming  when  all  who  are  in  their -^q^,^,  28. 
 graves  fiall  hear  his  voice,  andjhall  come  forth. 
 And  the  Apoftle  fays,  If  we  believe  that  Jefus 
 died,  and  rofe  again,  even  fo  they  alfo  who  Jleep 
 in  fefiis^wtll  God  bring  with  him  -,  and  at  the 
 voice  of  the  archangel  and  the  trumpet  of  God,  1  Theriv. 
 the  dead  in  Chrifi  Jhall  rife  frjl.  He  will  fum-H- 
 mon  all  the  dead  to  appear,  and  raife  them  out 
 of  their  graves  by  the  power  of  his  voice.  Then 
 the  graves  will  be  opened,  which  had  been  fo 
 long  fhut;  and  the  fea  Jl: all  give  tip  her  dead, 
 which  had  fwallowed  up  fo  many  ;  and  death  Kq^ 
 and  hell  deliver  tip  the  dead  which  were  in  them,  'S- 
 i.  e.  the  common  receptacle  of  the  dead. 
 
 And  they  are  raifed  in  order  to  judgment. 
 The  Apoftle  fays,  /  charge  thee  therefore  before  zy\ 
 God,  and  the  Lord  'Jefus  Chrifi^  who  jhall  judge  1 
 the  quick  and  the  dead  at  his  appearance  and 
 kingdom.  The  time  of  his  appearance  will  be 
 the  higheft  difplay  of  his  regal  power:  He 
 will  appear  moft  like  a  Kin^  when  he  come$  to 
 
 judge 
 
 2V.  XX. 
 
 im.  IV. 
 
362  A  Funeral  Sermon  on 
 
 judge  the  world.  There  will  be  an  unlverfal  coU 
 Ads  xxiv.  lc5iion  of  mankhid ;  for  there  will  be  a  refur- 
 !>•  region  of  the  dead^  both  of  the  jujl  and  iinjiiji -, 
 
 ^2L  .XX  .^^^^  before  him  will  be  gather  d  all  ?tations  -,  and 
 z  Cor.  V.  we  muji  all  appear  before  the  judgment-feat  of 
 '°*  Chrifl  :  All  mankind,  good  and  bad,  in  every 
 
 age,  from  the  beginning  of  the  world  to  the 
 end  of  it.  And  there  will  be  ^  feparation  and 
 Matt.xxv.  diflindlion  made ;  He  jloall  feparate  them  one 
 ^'"  from  a?20ther,  as  the  fhepherd  divides  the  ficcp 
 from  the  goats.  Here  the  righteous  and  the 
 wicked  mingle  together,  and  lie  undiftinguilh- 
 ed ;  the  tares  and  the  wheat  grow  together  in 
 the  common  field  of  the  church  :  But  that 
 will  be  a  day  of  great  diicrimination  ;  every 
 one  of  that  vafl  multitude  will  be  diftinguifh- 
 ed,  and  duly  for  ted  and  ranged  3  the  whole  world 
 will  be  divided  into  two  great  bodies,  and  pla- 
 ced on  each  fide  the  throne  of  the  Judge  5  the 
 righteous  on  the  right-hand,  and  the  wicked 
 on  the  left.  This  will  make  ftrange  difcove- 
 riesi  many  will  appear,  both  on  the  right  and 
 on  the  left-hand,  to  the  great  amazement  of 
 all  the  world  about  them,  and  quite  contrary 
 to  all  expecftation  concerning  them.  He  will 
 proceed  to  trial  and  fentence,  according  to  the 
 different  fcates  of  men,  by  the  gofpel-rule;  for 
 he  will  judge  the  world  m  right eoufnefs^  and  ac- 
 Jam  .:i.  1 2.  Cording  to  the  gojpel.  We  muft  be  judged  by  the 
 law  of  liberty,  Eveiy  plea  and  pretence  will  be 
 confidered  and  examined  ;  all  due  allowances 
 made  for  every  circumftance  of  the  cafe,  with- 
 out any  partial  refpedt  of  perfons,  any  error 
 and  miilake  of  judgment,  or  any  appeal  to  an 
 
 higher 
 
the  RevJ.  Dr.  Joshua  Oldfield,       363 
 
 higher  bar.     He  will  adt,  as  well  as  appear, 
 in  the  charader  of  a  judge,    and  pronounce 
 Avith  tremendous  majefty  and  authority  the 
 irreverfible  fentence,  Come  ye  diejfed  of  my  Fa- 
 ther ^  inherit  the  kingdom  prepared  for  you :  Goye  ^^/ 
 curfed  into  everlajiingfirey  prepared  for  the  devil 
 and  his  angels.     There  will  an  anfwerable  exe-         41- 
 cution  immediately  follow  ;    the  rewards  and 
 punifhments  of  the  righteous  and  the  wicked 
 according  to  trial  and  judgment  given :    He 
 will  render  to  every  man  according  to  his  works^ 
 and  we  mufl  receive  accordijig  to  the  deeds  done 
 in  the  body  :  They  who  have  done  good  will  rife 
 to  the  refurreBion  of  life^    they  who  have  doiie 
 evil  to  the  refurreulion  of  damnation :  ^ht  faith-  Mat.  xsv, 
 ful  fervant  will  enter  into  the  joy  of  his  Lord^  ^' 
 the  wicked  and  unprofitable  will  be  caji  into 
 outer  darkfiefs :  The  wicked  WiW.  go  into  ever-  28. 
 
 lafiing  punifhment ^  but  the  righteous  into  life  e-  •^^• 
 
 ternal.  He  will  be  revealed  to  take  vengeance 
 on  the  ignorant  and  difobedient,  and  will  come ^ 
 and  his  reward  is  with  him.  And  thefe  arc 
 the  greateft  and  higheft  purpofes  in  all  the 
 world. 
 
 6.  It  will  ht  final  and  conclufive.  T'he  ap- 
 pearance of  Chrifl  will  be  the  fliutting  up  of 
 the  whole  fccne  of  providence,  thro'  all  ages 
 of  the  world,  and  be  the  lafl  acfl  of  the  divine 
 drama:  It  will  finifli  the  plan  of  our  redemp- 
 tion, and  conclude  his  whole  undertaking  :  It 
 will  be  doing  that  which  was  never  done  be- 
 fore, and  never  will  be  done  over  again:  'Tis 
 once  for  all.  So  we  find  his  appearance  will 
 be   attended    witli    the   conflagration   of  the. 
 
 world, 
 
364  -^  Funeral  Sermon  on 
 
 world,  and  the  giving  up  the  kingdom  to  the 
 Father.  The  Apoflle  reprefents  this  amazing 
 fcene  in  the  moft  awful  and  affecting  manner ; 
 But  the  day  of  the  Lord^  i.  e.  of  his  appearance, 
 will  come  as  a  thief  in  the  nighty  in  which  the  hea- 
 vem  jhall  pafs  away  with  a  great  noife^  the  ele- 
 ments melt  ivith  fervent  heat\  the  earth  alfo^  and 
 a  Pet  iii  ^^^  works  thereof  Jhall  be  burnt  up:  and  the  hea- 
 10.  vens  being  on  fir e^  Jhall  be  diffolved.  The  whole 
 vifible  world  will  be  in  flames  at  once  j  this  great 
 fabrick  become  one  funeral  pilej  the  nobie 
 ftrudure,  and  every  thing  contained  in  it,  all  the 
 works  of  nature  and  art  will  be  confumed  and 
 refolved  to  afhes  ;  heaven  and  earth  mingle  to- 
 gether in  one  common  defolation ;  the  elements 
 of  things,  perhaps  the  planetary  worlds,  will 
 melt  and  dilTolve,  and  every  thing  fplit  and  fly 
 afunder,  by  the  great  fervour  and  fury  of  the 
 flames,  and  create  a  mighty  noife.  So  there 
 will  be  an  end  of  the  prefent  world,  and  all 
 the  things  of  time. 
 I  Cor.  XV.  Besides,  the  Apoflle  tells  us.  When  the  end 
 "4-  Cometh  he  will  deliver  up  the  kingdom  to  God, 
 
 'even  the  Father  ;  a?td  then  Jhall  the  Son  aljb  be 
 JiibjeB  to  him,  who. put  all  things  under  him,  that 
 God  may  be  all  in  all.  There  will  be  not  only 
 an  end  of  the  prefent  ftate  of  the  natural 
 world,  but  of  the  prefent  difpenfation  of  grace. 
 The  mediatorial  kingdom,  in  the  prefent  ad- 
 miniftration  at  learl,  as  it  is  a  kingdom  over  lofl 
 creatures  in  order  to  their  recovery,  will  be  at 
 an  end,  as  the  defign  of  it  will  be  fully  an- 
 fwered.  God  himfelf  will  be  the  center  and 
 fpring  of  the  final  hlefledncfs  for  ever.  Whe- 
 ther 
 
the  Revi  Dr.  Joshua  Oldfield.       365 
 
 ther  he  will  continue  a  Mediator  of  fruition, 
 or  the  great  medium  of  adlual  enjoyment  of 
 God,  the  infinite  and  glorious  Majefly,  as 
 well  as  of  our  recovery  to  him,  is  a  thing  of 
 more  uncertainty,  and  what  the  Scripture 
 gives  us  no  plain  account  of.  Thus  there  will 
 be  the  final  confummation  of  all  things, 
 and  an  end  of  the  prefent  ftate,  iii  every  re- 
 fpedt  and  confideration  of  it.  Having  dwelt 
 fo  long  on  this  branch  of  the  fubjeft,  I  fhall 
 be  obliged  to  be  fliort  in  all  the  reft.  I  am 
 next  to  confider, 
 
 *§.  2.  The  love  of  his  appearance.  We 
 have  feen  the  lovely  objeB,  or  what  our  love 
 refpeifls  j  we  are  now  to  confider  a  little  the 
 jiature  of  this  love,  or  the  temper  of  mind  'tis 
 defigned  to  defcribe.  ccyei7r^y.oa-i,  who  have 
 loved,  for  dyac^caaii  by  a  ufual  enallage : 
 Perhaps  to  fignify  the  fettled  l^ejit  and  habit  of 
 the  mind.  I  Ihall  briefly  reprefent  it  accord- 
 ing to  the  Scripture-account  of  the  matter. 
 
 I.  It  fuppofes  the  faith  of  it,  and  is  ground- 
 ed upon  it.  There  muft  be  a  firm  perfuafion, 
 or  ailent  of  mind,  upon  juft  grounds,  to  the 
 truth  of  this  propofition.  That  Chrift  will 
 appear;  for  'tis  a  wife  and  reafonable  love, 
 not  a  ra(h  and  unaccountable  thing.  They 
 don't  love  they  don't  know  what,  or  with- 
 out a  fufficient  reafon.  They  are  fully  fatis- 
 fied  from  the  promife  of  God,  and  the  rea- 
 fon of  the  thing,  beyond  any  reafonable  fcru- 
 ple,  or  real  diftruft  :  They  look  for  thefe  things  i  Pet.  iii. 
 according  to  his  promife.  They  have  a  firm'?- 
 perfuafion,  upon  this  ground,  of  the  certaintv 
 
 6f 
 
366 
 
 A  Funeral  Sermon  on 
 
 of  his  appearance,  as  they  believe  the  rifing 
 of  the  fun  after  its  fetting  in  a  cloud,  and' 
 the  abfence  of  the  night.  I  am  as  fure  he  will 
 appear  at  laft,  as  I  am  that  he  is,  and  that 
 he  is  true.  I  am  as  certain  as  the  promife  of 
 God,  and  all  the  reafon  and  congruity  of  the 
 thing  can  make  me,  that  he  will  come  again 
 at  the  appointed  time,  and  appear  in  all  the 
 circumftances  of  glory  and  importance,  which 
 have  been  reprefented. 
 
 2.  It  imports  earnell:  defire  of  it.     This  \^ 
 
 effentiai  to  the  love  of  any  thing.  Love  alv/ays 
 
 works  by  defire  towards  an  abfent  good,  and  io 
 
 'tis   conftantly    reprefented,    Lookifig  for   the 
 
 .   ,  bleffed  hope  and  glorious  appearance.     And  to 
 
 ^£vo/.       them  who    wo/:  jor  mm  Jkall  he  appear  the 
 
 A7r^)^<h-^-jecond  time :   The  word   fignifies  earneft  de- 
 
 "^'°'^'       fire,    looking    with    great    exped:ation.     So, 
 
 2  Pet.  iii.  looking  for  and  hafiening  to,  or  of,  the  day  of 
 
 lude  2\    ^^^  Lordy  and  looking  for  the  mercy  of  the  Lord 
 
 yefus  Chriji  unfa  etcrjial  life^  the  word  is  ftill 
 
 the  fame.     The  church  is  reprefented  making 
 
 Rev.xxn.  ^j^jg  return   to  Chrift,  Behold  I  come  quickly  : 
 
 Eijenjo  come  Lord  Jfus.     They  long  for  his 
 
 appearance,  and  earneflly  wifli  and  pray  for 
 
 it.     This  is  the    natural   breathing  of  their 
 
 defire,    and  exercife  of  their  love,  thy  ki?igdom 
 
 co?ney    and    come    Lord    Jefus.     They    often 
 
 think  it    long,  and  nre  ready  to  fay,  in  the 
 
 warmth  of  their  defire,  and  under  the  fenfe 
 
 of  prefent  burdens.    Oh  when  will  he  come ! 
 
 why  are  his  chariots  fo  long  a  coming  ? 
 
 But  then  'tis  not  a  rafli  and  impatient  de- 
 fire, or  an   impetuous  unruly  paffion  j  but  at- 
 z  tended 
 
the  Rev^,  Dr.  Joshua  Oldfield.       367 
 
 tended  with  patient  waiting  till  the  appointed 
 time.     Tho'  they  eaineftly  defire  it,  they  are 
 content  to  ftay  the   proper  feafon,    and   wait 
 with  patience  notwithftanding  the  longeft  de- 
 lay,  and    the   greatefl;  exercife  in  the  mean 
 time.     They  ftand  in  the  pofture  of  waiting 
 fervants^  and  bear   the  burden  of  prefent  ab- 
 fence,  and  all  the  burdens  of  life,  with  the 
 conftant  hope  and  expectation  of  it.     So  the 
 words  here  ufedalfo  fignify,  and  fo  theApoflle 
 qualifies  their  defire :  Thcearneji  expeBatioti  ofi^yt(jf,t- 
 the  creature   wait eth  for  the  manifejlation  of'^^%^' 
 the  fom  of  God.     And  they  \N\io  groan  with-'^j.  ^"^ 
 in  thejfifelves,  do  yet  wait  for  the  adoption,  to  R°"»-  "^'i'- 
 wit,  the  redemption  of  the  body.     The  Apoille'^' 
 tells  the  Corinthians ;  ye  come  behind  iti  fio  gift,  ~~;^3: 
 waiting  for  the  coming  of  fcfiis  Chrift  ;  and  he'    °'''^-7- 
 defcribes  the  converted  'fhefalonians,   by  their ,  TheiT.i. 
 waiting  for  the  Son  of  God  from  heaven.  10. 
 
 3.  Ther-e  is  pleafure  and  fatisfadlion  in  the 
 expectation  and  hope  of  it.  This  is  the  nature 
 of  love  too.  'Tis  defire  towards  an  abfent  ob- 
 jeift,  but  delight  in  it  when  prefent :  Befides 
 that  there  is  a  pleafure  in  the  defire.  Now 
 tho'  the  appearance  of  Chrifl  is  a  future  thing, 
 yet  the  thoughts  of  it,  and  the  hopes  of  it,  are 
 prefent  things.  Tisapleafant  thought  to  a  fin- 
 cere  Chrifi:ian,  that  their  Lord  will  come  at 
 lafi:,  and  that  he  will  appear  in  fuch  a  manner  j 
 that  the  Redeemer  of  the  world  will  appear  to 
 all  the  worjd,  in  fo  great  a  majen:y  and  gran- 
 deur. 'Tis  an  unfpeakable  fatisfad:ion  to  their 
 minds  in  the  frequent  forethoughts  of  it;  and 
 the  very  eirpedatign  is  attended  with  pleafure, 
 
 and 
 
368  A  Funeral  Sermon  on 
 
 and  gives  the  highefl  relifh  of  delight.  They 
 1  Their,  comfort  one  another  with  thefe  words,  that  the 
 Lord  kimfelf  will  defc  end  from  heaven  with  a 
 Rom.v.  i.Jhout ;  and  rejoice  in  hope  of  the  glory  of  God, 
 As  they  love  him  whom  they  have  not  feen,  fb 
 \^  ^'*  ^*  believing,  or  by  the  mediation  of  their  faith, 
 they  rejoice  with  joy  unfpeakable  and  full  of  glory. 
 They  often  revolve  the  glorious  folemnity  in 
 their  minds,  how  pleafant  and  joyful  a  day 
 will  that  be,  when  the  Lord  fhall  come  in  the 
 clouds  of  heaven,  with  all  the  marks  of  glory, 
 and  to  all  the  purpofes  of  his  mercy.  BleiTed 
 be  the  dawn  of  that  ever-memorable  day, 
 which  will  fhine  with  fuch  an  illuftrious 
 brightnefs,  and  produce  fueh  important  e- 
 vents. 
 
 4.  'Tis  powerful  and  influential.  The  ex- 
 pectation and  hope  of  his  appearance,  upon 
 fuch  grounds,  will  not  only  give  a  pleafure^ 
 but  form  the  mind  fuitable  to  it,  and  diredt 
 the  condud;  of  the  hfe.  For  example,  it  will 
 engage  to  anfwerable  diUgence,  excite  to  faith- 
 fulnefs,  and  promote  a  conftant  readinefs  and 
 preparation  for  it.  Love  is  an  active  principle 
 wherever  it  reigns,  and  will  naturally  put  u^ 
 upon  endeavours  fuitable  to  the  nature  of  the 
 objed:,  and  anfwerable  to  the  degree  of  the 
 love.  And  without  this,  all  the  former  will  be  in- 
 iignificant,  and  inefFedual  to  their  end.  A- 
 greeably  to  this  we  read^  Let  your  loifis  he  girt 
 about,  and  your  lights  burning,  and  you  your- 
 felves  as  men  who  wait  for  the  Lord.  And  we 
 read  of  watching  and  being  ready  in  expedla- 
 tion  of  his  coming.    And  the  Apoftle  fpeaking 
 
 of 
 
the  Rev^,  Dr»  Joshua  Gldfield.       369 
 
 bf  the   coming  of  the  day  of  the  Lord,  ^nd 
 difTolution  of  the  world,  exhorts,  as  the  na- 
 tural confequenee  and  effed:  of  it ;  Be  diligent  2  Pet.  iil, 
 that  ye  may  be  foiind  of  him  in  peace  without  n- 
 fpot  and  blamelefs :  And,   Seei?tg  then  all  thef~^^' 
 things  jhall  be  diffolved,  what  manner  of  per- 
 fons  ought  ye  to  be,    in  all  holy  converfation  a  fid 
 godlinifsf    How    watchful    and    circumfpecft, 
 how  careful    and  diligent,    what  a  habit  of 
 fericufnefs,   and   an  heavenly   mind,    fhould 
 iijch  an  expectation  produce  !  How  effeclually 
 fliould  it  cure   the  vanity  of  our  minds,  and 
 neg!e(fts  of  Me  5  and  promote  a  daily  prepara- 
 tion, and  fariher  meetnefs,  for  the  coming  of 
 the  Lord.     Wherefore  gird  up  the  loins  of  your  ^'^  ^*- 
 7ninds,  be  foher  and  hope  to  the  end^  for  the  grace 
 which  is  to  be  brought  unto  you  at  the  revelation 
 ofjefus  Chriji,     hxvA  ye  beloved  keep  yourjehes 
 in  the  love  of  God,  looking  for  the  mercy  of  the]\x6.  tt{ 
 Lord  fefus  Chriji,  unto  eternal  life. 
 
 S  E  C  T.    II. 
 
 II.  I  fliall  confider  the  reaforts  of  it,  and 
 fhew  why  iincere  Chriftians  have  fuch  a  love 
 to  his  appearance.  And  to  make  it  appear 
 the  more  reafonable,  and  rightly  judged,  I  fhall 
 confider  it  briefly  under  a  double  view. 
 
 §.  I.  With  refpeft  to  Chriji,  who  is  to  ap- 
 pear. This  will  be  evident  if  you  confider 
 either  his  perfon,  or  his  appearance  itfelf.  He 
 is  the  great  objed:  of  their  love  now,  whom 
 they  love  more  than  all  the  creatures,  and  in 
 the  fincerity  of  their  hearts  :  Whom  having  not 
 feeny   they  lovefiom.  the  reprefentations  of  him 
 
 Bb  in 
 
2yo  A  Funeral  Sermon  on  | 
 
 in  the  Gofpel,  and  the  benefits  they  receive  from 
 him.     He  is  altogether  lovely ;  and  rnoft  nearly 
 related  to  them,  as  their  ma§€r  and  lord,  their 
 head  and  huiband :  and  mofl  tenderly  affec- 
 ted towards  them,  for  he  loved  them  and  died 
 forthem^  and  wajhed  them  from  their  Jim  in  his 
 own  blood.     And  how  can  they  but  love  his  ap- 
 pearance, whorn  they  fo  greatly  love  ?  They 
 cannot  but  defire   to  fee  one  whom  they  love 
 .^^"'   above  all  the  v^orld,  as  ^it^h^n  faw  the  heavens 
 opened^  and'J  ejiis  fianding  at  the  right  handof God, 
 And    his  appearance  will  be    mofl  highly 
 honourable  to  him;  for  he  will  appear  in  the 
 ftate  of  a  judge  and  the  majefty  of  a  king. 
 He  will  then  appear  as  he  really  is,  and  not  in 
 difguiie,  or  under  a   difadvantage.     He  will 
 vindicate  himfelf  to  all  the  world,  and  wipe 
 off  every  imputation  v/hich  ignorance,  or  pre- 
 judice, or  malice  had  ever  caft  upon  him ;  and 
 juflify  his  injured  rights,  and  flighted  autho- 
 rity, againfl  all  the  wicked,  and  infidel  world. 
 He  will  clear  up  all  the  difficulties  of  prefent 
 Providence    to  full  fatisfaiflion,  which   were 
 before  obfcure,  or  miftaken  ;  and  receive  uni- 
 verfal  homage  from   the  whole  creation,  for 
 he  will  be  attended  with  minijlring  angels^  be 
 glorified  in  his  faints^  and  take  vengeance  o?i  them 
 who   know  fiot  God,  and  obey  not  the  Gofpel, 
 And  hov^  reafonable  is  the  love  of   his  ap- 
 pearance in  this  view,  as  every  way  mofl  ho- 
 nourable to  him,  and  the  greatefl  difplay  of 
 his  glory  before  the  world  ? 
 
 §.  2.  With   refped;  to  them/elves.     It  will 
 be  every  way  to  their  advantage:    Tho'  tis 
 
 highly 
 
the  RevK  Dr.  Joshua  Oldfield.     371 
 
 highly  reafonable  from  the  nature  of  2.Jpinf, 
 and  many  pafTages  in  Scripture^  to  fuppofe  an 
 intermediate  ftate  of  happinefs  immediately 
 upon  our  difTolution;  fo  the  Lord  yefus  will 
 receive  our  departing j^/nV^  :  And  chriftians 
 have  a  fearlefs  courage  in  death  and  defire  of 
 happinefs,  upon  this  ground  ^  We  are  confi- 
 dent and  willing  rather  to  be  abj'ent  from  the 
 body,  a?2d prejhit  with  the  luord  :  Yet 'tis  mofl:2Cor.v.s; 
 certain  that  the  final  compieat  happinefs  will 
 not  commence  till  the  appearance  of  Chrifl^ 
 And  upon  this  account  we  find  fo  generally, 
 that  this  period  is  particularly  marked  out; 
 and  the  defires  and  expeftations  of  good  men 
 are  ultimately  pointed  and  determined  thither. 
 Our  Lord  fays,  TJrou  jhalt  be  recompenfed  at  the 
 refurredlion  of  the  juft  :  When  he  fhall  appear, 
 they  will  be  like  him,  and  receive  a  crown  o/'johnxiv; 
 life:  The  tried  faith  of  fincere  Chriftians  will  '4- 
 hz  found  to  honour  and  glory  at  the  appearance  of 
 yefus  Chrifi:  And  there  is  xh^ grace  which  is  to  be 
 brought  to  us  at  the  revelation  of  fefus  Chrifi, 
 And  Chriflians  waii  for  ^ihe  adoption,  to  wit, 
 the  redemption  of  the  body ;  and  earnefily  defire 
 to  be  cloathed  upon  with  their  houfe  which  is 
 from  heaven.  The  Apoftle's  great  aim  was,  If 
 by  any  ?jieans  I  may  attain  to  the  refurre^lion 
 of  the  dead.  They  look  and  wait  for  the  com- 
 ing, and  the  day  of  the  Lord :  And  u?ifo  them 
 who  look  for  him  fl: all  he  appear  the  Jecofid  time, 
 without  fin  unto  falvation ;  i.  e.  not  to  be  a 
 facrifice,  or  fin-oifering  again,  for  there  re- 
 maineth  no  more  facrifice  for  fin ;  but  -to  their 
 final  and  complete  falvation. 
 
 B  b  2  Thus 
 
372  A  Funeral  Sermon  oh 
 
 Thus  for  example,  They  will  be  perfedly 
 delivered,  not  only  from  prelent  burdens  and 
 imperfedion,  but  from  the  power  of  death, 
 and  the  corrupion  of  the  grave:  Death,  the 
 lafi  enemy y  will  be  dejiroyed^  and  will  have  no 
 Revj£xi4.  jyiQyg  dojninion  over  them.     AH  tears  Jhall  be 
 wiped  fro7n  their  eyes,  and  there  will  be  no  more 
 death,  nor  forrcw,  nor   crying,    nor  any  more 
 fain  :  And  the  creature  itfelf  will  be  delivered 
 frcjn  the  bondage  of  corruption,  into  the  glorious 
 libo'ty  of  the  children  of  God:  And  mortality  will 
 be  jw allowed  up  of  life.     They  themfelves  will 
 appear  in  glory,  and  to  the  greateft  advantage, 
 with  Jpirits  made  perfeSl,  and  glorified  bodies 
 like  to  his  glorious  body.     They  will  be  pub- 
 lickly  acquitted   and  approved    before  angels 
 and  men,  juftified  from  every  falfe  calumny,.  | 
 and  all  fufpicions  of  evil,  and  receive  the  com- 
 mendation of  their  Lord  and  Judge.     It  will 
 be  to  their  unfpeakable   comfort  and  joy  of 
 Afts  iii.    hesLVt,  for  it  will  be  the  time  of  refrejhing  from 
 19.         the  prefence  of  the  Lord :  And   when  his  glory 
 I  Pet.  IV.  j^^^  ^^  revealed,  they  will  be  glad  with  exceed- 
 1  John  ii.  ing  joy  -y  and  they  will  have  confidence  before  him 
 2^-  at  his  coming.     Then  they  will  adlually  enter 
 
 i?ito  the  joy  of  their  Lord;  and  have  admifjion 
 into  the  everlafting  kingdom:  They  who  are 
 ready  will  enter  in  with  the  heavenly  bride- 
 groom, and  be  for  ever  with  the  Lord.  And 
 how  reafonable  is  the  love  of  his  appearance 
 upon  their  own  account  ?  For  this  plainly  a-  \ 
 mounts  to  no  lefs  than  the  love  of  their  own 
 perfcdion,  and  of  the  complete  and  confum- 
 
 mate 
 
the  RevK  Dr»  Joshua  Oldfield.       373 
 
 mate  bleffednefs ;  the  higheft  and  mofl  natural 
 objed  of  a  reafonable  love. 
 
 If  it  be  faid  here,  But  do  not  many  fincere 
 Chriftians  fear  and  tremble  at  the  thoughts  of 
 his  appearance  ?  Do  they  not  often  labour  with 
 the  awful  thought,    and  feel  perplexity  and 
 diflrefs  of  mind  ?     I  anfwer,  perhaps  fo :   but 
 then  that  is  only  upon  the  mirlaken  fuppoli- 
 tion  that  they  are  not  fincere  Chriftians,  an4 
 not  upon  any  other  account.     Let  this  point 
 be  once  well  cleared  up,  and  all  their  fear  im- 
 mediately vanifhes,  and   they    find  a  fenfible 
 love.     'Tis  always  their  real  temper  wherever 
 there  is  a  fincere  love  of  Chrift,  and  any  com- 
 fortable fenfe  of  it ;  tho'  they  may  not  always 
 find  the  actual  direct  exercife  of  it,  thro'  the 
 weaknefs  of  their  love,  and  the  darknefs  and 
 uncertainty  of  their  minds  about  it.     I  mufl 
 fpeak  but  a  few  words  to  the  next  point. 
 
 III.  The  privilege  and  ^/^«g- annexed  to 
 this  charadler,  and  which   belongs  to  it ;  the 
 righteous  judge  will  give  them  a  crown  of  righ- 
 teoufnefs.     The  future  bleflednefs  is  reprefented 
 in  Scripture,  in  condefcenfion  to  our  weaknefs, 
 by  all  the  fenfible  images  of  grandeur  and  mag- 
 nificence ;  'tis  the  kingdom  of  heaven^  and  they 
 inherit^  and  enter  into  the  prepared  and  ever- 
 lajling  kingdom^  and  a  crown  is  proper  to  the 
 characfler  of  thofe  who  are  now  made  kings,  and 
 are  heirs  of  the   kingdom.     And  'tis  a  crown  of 
 right eoufnefs,   either   to  denote   the  proper  ftib- 
 jeSi  of  it,  and  to  whom  only  it  belongs ;  i.  e^ 
 
 righteous  perfons;  or  it   may  be  under- 
 
 i^ood  by  a  ufual  hebraifm,    adjedively,  and 
 B.  h  5  fignify, 
 
3^4-  A  Funeral  Sermon  on 
 
 fignify,  a  rigtheous  crown,  in  the  lame  ienfe 
 with  the  righteous  Judge  in  the  fame  fentence, 
 i.  e.  which  in  fome  fort  is  juftly  due,  and 
 which  'tis  a  righteous  thing  for  him  to  givej 
 as  a  cro'wn  of  life ,  and  crown  of  glory y  are  di- 
 ilinguiihing  properties, and  lignify  the  great  ex-, 
 cellency  and  duration  of  it.  This  crown  is  a 
 free  g  ft :  He  will  give  it  them -y  'tis  an  adl  of 
 grace  and  favour,  without  any  proper  merit 
 or  defert  in  us.  God  crowns  his  own  gifts, 
 and  fets  the  crown  upon  the  head  of  his  own 
 grace.  It  cannot  be  claimed  as  a  debt,  which 
 would  minifler  toprideandboafting  J  butmuft 
 be  received  as  a  favour  and  a  gift,  with  hum- 
 ble thankfulnefs,  and  the  higheil  fenfe  of 
 ^JJ^'^J;'^' mercy  :  The  reward  is  not  of  debt,  but  of  grace-, 
 and  the  gift  of  God  is  eternal  life  thro'  Jefus 
 Chrift  our  Lord.  And  yet  'tis  the  gift  of  a 
 righteous  'Judge -,  which  God  the  righteous 
 Judge  will  give :  'Tis  an  adt  of  righteoufnefs, 
 as  well  as  grace.  He  bellows  rewards  and 
 punilhments  according  to  the  appointed  rule 
 of  judgment,  and  agreeable  to  the  nature  of 
 things;  for  the  Judge  of  all  the  earth  will  do 
 right,  ^nd\N\\\  judge  the  world  in  righteouJhefs» 
 Bom.  111.  y{q  isjuf  in  jujlifying  a  believing finner,  as  well 
 z.Their.j.  as  in  condemning  an  unbeliever ;  'tis  a  righteous 
 ^-  thing  with  God  to  recompenfe  tribulation  to  the 
 
 one,  as  well  as  reji  to  the  other.  He  has  pro- 
 mifed  to  give  the  faithful  a  crown  of  life.  "  'Tis 
 "  ading  juftly  according  to  a  gracious  conftitu- 
 **  tion^"  which  reconciles  and  adjufts  thedifferent 
 ways  of  expreffion  about  it^  and  makes  a  more 
 ^rm  foundation  of -faith  and  confidence.     And 
 
 'tis 
 
I 
 
 "        the  Rev^,  Dr»  Joshua  Oldfield.       375 
 
 *tls  beftowed  upon  them  after  their  work  is 
 \\  done,   and  only  to  faithful  perfevering  believ- 
 ers,  and  lovers  of  Chrift :  Henceforth  is  laid  up 
 fir  me,  in  the  fame  fenfe  in  which  the  Apo- 
 file  John  iliys.  Henceforth  blejjed  are  the  dead.^^^-'"'^' 
 When   they    have  fought  the  good  fght,    and 
 ffiified  their  courfe,  and  kept  the  faith  ^  he  will 
 give  them   a  crown  of  righteoufnefs.     We  can- 
 not exped:  the  crcwn  'till  we  have  gained  the 
 conqueft,    and  mufl  run  the  race,  before  we 
 win   the  prize  \  and  be  faithful  to  the  deaths 
 and  then  receive  the  crown  of  life. 
 
 I  fliall  clofe  the  fubje(ft  with  a  few  brief  re- 
 marks in  a  practical  way. 
 
 I.  Let  us  often  contemplate  the  appearance 
 of  Chrift.     This    is   the     nobleft    fubjed:    of 
 thought,  and  of  the  greatefl   concern   to  us. 
 The  confideration  of  this  is  proper  to  raife  our 
 love  to  him,    and  reconcile  our  minds  to  his 
 difpenfations  towards  us.     Review  the  feveral 
 circumftances  of  his  appearance,  revolve  them 
 often  in  your  minds,  as  they  lie  in  the  goipel, 
 and  have  been  fet  before  you ;    to  excite  the 
 higheft  thoughts,  and  warmeft    devotion  to- 
 wards him ;  to  kindle  a  facred  flame  in  your 
 fouls,  and  keep  it  always  alive;  that  the  heaven- 
 \y  fire  may  burn  within,  while  you  are  mu/ing 
 on  it.     Turn  your  thoughts  from  his  humble 
 ftate  on  earth,  and  his  fufferings  on  the  crofs, 
 to   the  confideration    of  fe/us  fitting  at  the 
 right-hand  of  God,  and  appearing  upon  a  thro?ie 
 of  Glory  at   lafl.     If  he  will  certainly  appear, 
 in   fo  glorious  and   publick   a   manner,    and 
 to  fo  great  purpofcs  and  ends,  how  glorious 
 
 B  b  4  a^ouid 
 
37^  A  Funeral  Sermon  on  jj 
 
 fhould  he  appear  to  us,  how  amiable  and  a*"l 
 dorable  in  our  eyes? 
 
 And  this  is  proper  to  fatisfy  our  minds  with 
 prefent   Providence,   and  prevent  needlefs  dif^ 
 couragement,  or  rafh  cenfure  of  his  difpenla- 
 tions.  The  appearance  of  Chrift  will  enlighten 
 the  darkeft  fteps  of  Providence,    and  fatisfy 
 all  the  world  of  the  wifdom  and  equity  of  his 
 ways.     The  Apoftle  exhorts  the  Chriftians  up- 
 Jam.v.  7.  Qj^  this  ground,  Be  patient  therefore^  brethren^ 
 unto  the  coming  of  the  Lord.     The  reafon  is 
 the  fame,  whatfoever  coming  is  there  referred 
 to.     And,    'Judge  nothing  before  the  time,  until 
 the   Lord  come.     Sufpend  your  judgment  of 
 prefent  appearances  'till  the  final  account,  when 
 every  dark  thing  will   be  made    plain,    and 
 crooked  thing  fet  ftrait. 
 
 2.  The  great  difference  between  fincere 
 Chriftians  and  other  men.  This  is  the  pro- 
 per temper  of  a  real  Chriftian,  to  love  the  ap- 
 pearance  of  Chrifl: ;  and  they  have  all  the  rea- 
 fon in  the  world  to  do  fo :  But  'tis  diftinguifh- 
 ing  to  them,  and  quite  otherwife  with  other 
 men,  as  the  whole  reafon  of  the  cafe  is  other- 
 wife,  ^hey  love  to  think  of  his  appearance, 
 but  others  dread  it ;  they  wifli  and  long  for  it, 
 but  others  are  afraid  of  it,  and  wifh  he  would 
 never  come  at  all,  or  fay  in  fcorn.  Where  is 
 the  promife  of  his  coming  t  They  rejoice  at  the 
 forethoughts  and  foreruners  of  it,  knowing 
 that  their  fahation  draweth  nigh-,  but  others 
 will  be  fad  and  grieved,  and  all  the  kindreds 
 of  the  earth  will  mourn  becaufe  of  him.  They 
 will  have  courage  and  cojifidence  before  him  at 
 his  coming,  but  others   will   tremble   before 
 
 him  ; 
 
the  Revl  Dr.  Joshua  Gldfeild.      377 
 
 him  J  and  every  knee  fhall  bow  to  him  in  his 
 high  advancement,  as  Jofeph'^  brethren  bowed 
 before  him  in  Egypt,  wno  before  had  (lighted 
 and   fold  him.     It  will  be  a  day  of  vengeance 
 and  tribulation  to  other  men,  which  will  be  a 
 day  of  the  greateft  joy  and  triumph  to  them. 
 The  rich  men,   and  the  great  men,  the  chief 
 captains^  and  mighty  men,  of  the  greateft  for- 
 tunes,   and  higheft   fpirits,   will   crouch  and 
 cringe,    and  fly   to  mean  and  helplefs  fhifts ; 
 they  will  hide  them/elves  in  dens  and  caves,  and 
 fay  to  the  rocks  and  mountains,  fall  on  us,  and^^^-  vi. 
 hide  us  from  the  face  of  him  who  fitteth  upon  the^"^' 
 throne,  and  from  the  wrath  of  the  Lamb,     The 
 different  make  of  their  minds  toward  the  fame 
 objed:  will  neceflarily  caufe  quite  contrary  ef- 
 fects upon  them.     And  my  foul  trembles  at 
 the  thoughts  of  the  amazement  and  terror  of 
 all  the  wicked  and  unbelieving,  xh^fearfulnefs 
 which  will  fiirprize  the  fimier  and  the  hypocrite,  I<a.  xxxiii. 
 at  the  firft  fight,  and  the  laft  words  of  the  ap-*''"* 
 pearing  Redeemer  and  Judge,     They  had  need 
 be  very  fure,   who  are  content  to  run  fo  dan- 
 gerous a  riilc,  and  to  have  better  grounds  to 
 fupport  their  hopes  than  any  fchemes  of  infi- 
 delity, from  philofophical  fubtleties,  or  critical 
 cavils,  which  have  yet  appeared  in  the  world. 
 If  they  are  miftaken,  they  are  undone  5  Behold ^^^  ^"j- 
 ye  defpifers,  and  worider  andperifi.  .^^' 
 
 3 .  Can  we  make  out  this  charaBer  ?  Are 
 we  lovers  of  his  appearance  ?  Do  we  find  this 
 temper  and  difpofition  of  mind  ?  Perhaps  you 
 will  fay,    I  am  afraid  not,    or  I  am  in  great  • 
 doubt ;  How  Ihall  I  be  fatisf^ed  about  it  ?  I 
 
 anfwer. 
 
278  A  Funeral  Sermon  on 
 
 anfwer,  Is  it  the  powerful  motive  to  proper 
 duty,  and  all  fuitable  regard  to  him  ?  Do  the 
 thoughts  of  his  appearance  keep  you  from 
 flumber  and  lloth,  from  fecurity  and  neglect, 
 that  you  be  not  furprized  by  the  midnight  cry, 
 and  found  unready  at  lafl  ?  Do  they  make  you 
 watchful  and  diligent,  engage  all  the  powers 
 of  your  fouls,  and  enforce  the  obfervance  of 
 his  will  ?  The  Apoftle  often  ufes  this  confi- 
 deration  to  this  purpofe,  as  the  proper  ten- 
 dency and  natural  effed:  of  it ;  Let  your  mo^ 
 VKxW^r.^. deration  be  known  to  all  nien^  for  the  Lordis  at 
 hajid:  keep  the  commandment  without  fpot^  unre- 
 bukabky  until  the  appearance  of  yefus  Chriji. 
 1  Tim.  vi.  And  exhorts  to  diligence  to  be  found  in  peace, 
 2Pet.  iii.  ^^^  ^^  ^^^  ^^b  converfation  and  godlinefs.  Can 
 1 2.  this  fatisfy  and  fupport  your  minds  under  the 
 weight  of  prefent  afflid:ions,  and  prefent  in- 
 juries, that  Chrift  will  appear  at  laft,  and  re- 
 leaie  you  from  all  oppreffion  and  fuffering, 
 vindicate  your  injur'd  innocence,  and  publickly 
 own  and  approve  you  ?  If  our  love  has  its  pro- 
 per influence,  'tis  a  certain  evidence  of  the  re- 
 ahty  of  it. 
 
 4.  How  great  is  the  divine  mercy  in  beftow- 
 ing  fuch  a  bleffing  upon  lincere  Chriftians. 
 How  reaibnable  is  it  to  fght  the  good  fight, 
 2.ndfi?nJ}j  our  cotirfe,  and  keep  the  faith,  lince 
 tlie  righteous  fudge  will  give  them  a  crown  of 
 life  ?  How  well  are  they  rewarded  for  all  their 
 fervice  and  fufferings  for  his  fake  ?  How  in- 
 finitely fuperior  and  diiJDroportionate  is  fo  great 
 a  bleffednefs  to  our  bell  fervices,  and  higheft 
 
 pre- 
 
the  Rev^.  Dr.  Joshua  Oldfield.      37^ 
 
 pretenfionsof  defert?  And  what  reafon  is  there 
 of  humble  thankfulnefs,   and  higheft  joy  of 
 heart ;  to  adore  the  divine  goodnefs,  and  mag- 
 nify and  proclaim  his  mercy  to  the  children  of 
 men? 
 
 But  'tis  more  than  time  to  have  done  with 
 the  l^ext^  and  to  proceed  to  the  prefent  folemn 
 occafioHy  to  fpeak  of  our  deceas'd  friend  and 
 father  Dr.  Oldfield.  He  was  born  at  Carjing- 
 ton  in  Derbyjhire^  of  religious  and  excellent 
 parents.  His  father,  Mr.  John  Oldfieldy  was 
 an  ejected  minifter  of  great  eminence  for  his 
 learning  and  piety  * :  His  mother  was  fifter  of 
 Mr.  Porter,  another  ejetSled  minifter,  of  diftin- 
 guiflied  worth  in  Nottinghamfiire.  She  lived 
 to  a  great  age,  and  was  truly  a  mother  in  Ijrael. 
 He  Iprung  from  a  race  of  minifters,  of  the 
 greateft  note  in  their  time.  He  was  the  fe- 
 cond  fon  of  four,  who  were  all  minifters  -,  the 
 youngeft  of  which,  Mr.  Nathaniel  Oldfield, 
 was  fome  years  (alas,  how  few !)  the  paftor  of 
 this  congregation.  I  muft  be  indulg'd  to  fay 
 of  him  upon  this  occafion,  that  his  great  ca- 
 pacity, and  attainments  of  knowledge,  his  vaft 
 invention,  and  ready  utterance  upon  every  fub- 
 jedl,  and  all  occafions,  his  extraordinary  piety 
 and  fervour  of  fpirit,  the  acceptance  and  fuc- 
 cefs  of  his  miniftry,  which  was  greater  than  I 
 have  ever  had  the  opportunity  of  obferving, 
 
 *  His  Difcourfe  of  Prayer,  which  was  entituled  by  a  friend 
 at  London,  not  by  himfelf,  Tin  Generation  of  Seekers^  was  rec- 
 koned by  the  I^te  Bp.  LloyJ^  the  belt  book  he  had  feen  upon  the 
 ifubjeft. 
 
 will 
 
380  A  Funeral  Sermon  on 
 
 will  render  his  name  precious  among  ferious 
 Chriftians,  while  there  are  any  left  in  the  world 
 who  knew  him. 
 
 But  to  return}  Dr.  Oldfield hsid.  his  fchool- 
 learning  under  the  care  of  his  excellent  father ; 
 in  which  he  made  great  progrefs  very  early, 
 and  promifed  fomething  extraordinary.  He 
 ftudied  philofophy  under  Mr.  Rayner,  and 
 afterwards  refided  fome  time  in  C^r^-college 
 in  Cambridge,  in  the  later  years  of  thofe  truly 
 learned  and  excellent  perfons  Dr.  Henry  Moor, 
 and  Dr.  Cudwsrtb,  the  great  oracles  of  the  U- 
 niverlity  at  that  time,  and  of  whom  he  always 
 fpoke  with  the  greateft  reverence.  Here  he 
 was  greatly  valued  and  taken  notice  of,  for 
 his  exemplary  piety,  and  publick  exercifes  in 
 the  college.  He  continued  'till  he  came  to  take 
 his  degree,  and  then  chofe  to  leave  it,  not  be- 
 ing fatisiied  with  the  fubfcription  required. 
 
 He  was  iirft  chaplain  in  the  family  of  Sir 
 yohn  Gell,  where  he  liv'd  in  the  higheft  efteemj 
 and  with  the  greateft  influence,  and  was  hap- 
 pily inftrumental  in  promoting  religion,  and 
 keeping  up  its  juft  dignity  and  authority.  He 
 was  afterwards  tutor  to  the  fon  of  Mr.  Paul 
 Foley,  who  was  Speaker  to  the  Houfe  of  Com- 
 mons, in  the  reign  of  King  William.  While 
 he  continued  here,  a  U'ving  fell  of  above  two 
 hundred  pounds  a  year,  in  the  gift  of  Mr.  Foley, 
 From  the  great  refpedt  the  family  bore  himj 
 it  was  iirft  oifer'd  to  him,  if  he  was  fatisfied 
 to  conform.  A  publick  minifter  in  that  neigh- 
 bourhood earneltly  preft  him  to  accept  it,  and 
 ^hen  he  declin'd  it,  perfuad^d  him  to  fludy 
 
 the 
 
the  Rev^,  Dr.  Joshua  Oldfield.       381 
 
 the  controverfy  over  again.  He  went  upon 
 this  occafion  into  a  more  clofe  and  thorough 
 enquiry  into  the  terms  of  conformity ;  but  not 
 being  able  to  fatisfy  himfelf,  he  propofed  the 
 acceptance  of  the  living  to  the  minifler,  who 
 was  then  pofTelTed  of  a  benefice  much  inferior 
 to  this:  He  freely  ov/ned  to  him,  That  he 
 had  once  got  over  the  declaration  of  a[fe7Jt  and 
 confent^  I  fuppofe  when  he  had  not  the  like 
 fcruples,  but  that  he  was  not  fatisfied  to  repeat 
 it  again,  as  he  was  oblig'd  to  do  upon  inftitu- 
 tion  and  induction  into  a  new  living  j  tho*  he 
 thought  it  flill  his  duty  to  be  as  ferviceable  as 
 he  could  to  the  fouls  of  men,  in  his  prefent 
 ftation.  This,  we  may  be  fure,  he  us'd  to 
 obferve,  was  no  great  inducement  to  think  of 
 conforming  ever  after.  He  was  afterwards  chap- 
 lain to  the  Lady  Lorts,  the  fifter  of  the  late  ex- 
 cellent Lady  Clinton,  in  Wales ;  from  thence  he 
 ftepped  over  to  Ireland,  where  he  met  with 
 great  regard,  and  was  much  importuned  to  con- 
 tinue. In  his  return  to  England,  taking  his 
 paiTage  in  another  fhip,  he  lofh  all  his  juve- 
 nile writings,  which  he  much  regretted. 
 
 His  firfl  ftated  employment  as  a  preacher 
 was,  I  think,  at  Mr.  Tiiniers,  with  the  late 
 Mr.  Samuel  Doolittle.  Then  he  was  fettled  as 
 paftor  of  a  congregation  at  'Toot big  in  Surry ; 
 when  I  remember  to  have  heard  him  preach 
 before  Sir  John  Shorter,  then  Lord  Mayor  of 
 London,  at  Grocers-Hall,  with  great  approba- 
 tion of  the  bed  judges.  From  thence  he  was 
 removed  to  Oxford,  by  the  advice  of  the  Lon- 
 don minifters,  where  he  lived  feveral  years  with 
 
 great 
 
82  A  Funeral  Sermon  on 
 
 great  refpedls  from  many  of  the  Icholars,  and 
 fome  of  the  moft  learned  men  of  that  Uni- 
 verfity ;  particularly  the  famous  Dr.  Wallis,  and 
 Mr.  Dodwell^  with  whom  he  often  converfed, 
 and  who  exprefs'd  a  great  value  for  him  :  As 
 he  had  an  opportunity  fome  years  after,  in  a 
 country  retreat,  of  free  and  intimate  conver- 
 fation  with  the  great  Mr.  Locke ^  when  he  was 
 writing  upon  the  Epiftles,  to  their  great  mu- 
 tual fatisfadion  and  refpedls.  While  he  was 
 at  Oxford,  he  was  forc'd,  tho'  with  great  re- 
 ludlance,  by  an  unfeafonable  challenge,  to  a 
 publick  difputation  upon  the  fubje(ft  of  Infant- 
 Baptifm  ;  which  led  him  to  a  clofe  and  careful 
 ftudy  of  that  controverfy,  which  perhaps  no 
 man  better  underftood.  He  acquitted  himfelf 
 to  the  great  fatisfa6lion  of  a  numerous  audi- 
 ence, and  the  approbation  of  a  multitude  of 
 fcholars  who  were  prefent.  Some  of  them 
 have  been  known  to  fay.  They  believed  the 
 DifTenters  had  fearched  the  kingdom  for  him, 
 and  that  they  had  not  fuch  another  man  a- 
 mong  them. 
 
 From  Oxford  he  removed  to  Coventry,  and 
 was  joint  paftor  to  that  great  congregation, 
 with  the  late  ingenious  and  excellent  Mr.  Tiong. 
 Here  he  lirft  taught  academical  learning,  Mr. 
 T^ong  bearing  fome  part,  and  meeting  with  op- 
 pofition  feveral  times  from  the  fpiritual  courts, 
 he  removed  the  caufe  to  Weflminfler  Hall,  and 
 obtained  a  Noli  profeqiii.  Upon  the  death  of 
 Mr.  Thomas  Kentijh,  who  immediately  fuc- 
 ceeded  Mr.  Nathaniel  Oldfeld,  he  was  chofen 
 paflor  of  this  congregation,  tho'  his  removal 
 
 from 
 
the  Revd.  Dr.  Joshua  Oldfield.       3  %^ 
 
 from  Coventry  was  greatly  oppofed  by  his  wor- 
 thy collegue,  and  the  eminent  Major  Beak^ 
 a  gentleman  of  great  learning  and  underftand- 
 ing.  Here  he  continued  many  years  a  con- 
 ftant  preacher,  twice  a  day,  befides  the  part 
 he  bore  in  the  academy ;  except  the  very  ac- 
 ceptable help  for  fome  time,  of  the  Reverend 
 Mr.  Gravetiery  in  the  firfl  years  of  his  mini- 
 flry.  In  his  latter  years  he  had  the  afliftance 
 and  co-partnerfliip  of  my  dear  brother,  yourjjj.^  r 
 prefent  worthy  pallor,  who  comes  among  you 
 in  the  full  vigour  of  life,  and  I  hope  will  be 
 long  continued  for  eminent  fervice  :  I  heartily 
 pray  God  to  ftrengthen  his  hands,  and  profper 
 his  labours  among  you.  Upon  his  removal  to 
 hondon  he  kept  his  academy  fome  time  in  Souths 
 wark,  but  chiefly  at  Hoxton  -,  there  were  join- 
 ed with  him  the  late  extraordinarily  learned 
 and  pious  Mr.  William  Lorimore,  and  Mr.  yohn 
 Spademan  \  and  after  Mr.  Spademan  %  death,  Mr. 
 Capel,  who  had  been  profeflbr  of  Hebrew  in 
 the  Univerfity  of  Saiimur^  before  the  perfecu- 
 tion  in  France.  There  was  no  houfe  in  Eng^ 
 land  among  the  Diflenters  which  had  fo  great 
 advantages,  and  where  three  fuch  learned  per- 
 fons  were  joined  together,  fo  excellently  qua- 
 lified for  the  feveral  parts  allotted  them.  Here 
 many  were  educated  of  great  worth,  and  who 
 now  make  a  confiderable  figure  in  the  world, 
 in  the  miniftry,  and  in  other  learned  profef- 
 fions,  both  in  the  eflablilhment,  and  out  of 
 it.  It  was  here  he  received  his  degree  of  Doc^ 
 tor  of  Divinity  from  the  univerfity  of  Edi?i- 
 
 burghy 
 
3  84  -^  Puneral  Sermon  6n 
 
 burgh,  with  the  late  Dr.  Williams^   and  Dn 
 Calamy.     This  is  the  fhort  hijiory  of  what  wa§ 
 remarkable  in  his  life.     As  to  his  moral  and 
 learned  character,  I  fhall  give  you  this  brief 
 account. 
 
 Goi)  blefled  the  infl:ru(flions  and  example  of 
 his  pious  parents  to  make  early  impreffions  of 
 ferious  religion  upon  his  mind,  which  never 
 wore  off,  and  preferved  him  from  the  vanities 
 of  youth,  and  the  entanglements  of  riper  life. 
 He  was  all  his  life  a  man  of  ftriO:  piety^  and 
 great  integrity  of  heart,  who  had  an  habitual 
 reverence  and  conftant  regard  to  God,  in  all 
 his  ways.  He  was  naturally  very  thoughtful, 
 and  of  great  penetration.  He  had  a  firmnefs 
 and  ftrength  of  mind,  and  was  capable  of  clofe 
 and  intent  thought,  fometimes  to  the  negled: 
 of  his  neceflary  food,-  and  the  difregard  of  any 
 noife  about  him.  His  iirfl:  thoughts  were  very 
 fblid  and  judicious,  tho'  he  was  not  always  fo 
 happy  in  expreffion,  and  conveying  his  fenfe 
 to  others,  which  is  often  the  cafe  of  very 
 thoughtful  minds,  who  have  a  multitude  of 
 ideas  crouding  for  utterance  j  are  more  intent 
 upon  the  matter  before  them,  and  aware  of  the 
 difficulties  which  attend  it,  and  more  careful 
 to  guard  againfl:  miftakes,  and  to  convey  their 
 exad:  fenfe,  than  men  of  fhallower  minds,  and 
 more  fuperficial  knowledge  of  things. 
 
 He  was  a  man  oi  Jiaid  paj/ions,  and  great 
 meeknefs  and  calmnefs  of  temper;  not  eafily 
 ruffled  with  anger,  or  betrayed  to  rafhnefs.  He 
 had  great  humility  of  mind,  notwithftanding 
 great  worth,    and  great  eileem  from  many; 
 
 never 
 
the  Rev^.  Dr.  Joshua  Oldfield.       385 
 
 never  afluming  to  himfelf,  or  di(flating  and 
 overbearing  to  others.  He  was  of  no  party, 
 but  that  of  God  againfl  the  Devil,  and  of  all 
 ferious  Chriltians ;  and  had  great  charity  and 
 moderation  to  thofe  who  differed  from  him ; 
 and  was  of  a  mofl  inoffenfive  and  obliging  be- 
 haviour to  all  he  converfed  with.  He  was 
 hardly  ever  known,  thro'  the  courfe  of  a  long 
 life,  to  fpeak  an  unkind^  or  luihandfome  thing  of 
 any  body,  and  could  eaiily y^r^/i;^  any  unkind- 
 nefs,  as  he  was  never  over-folicitous  about  the 
 jufteft  refpedl  to  himfelf;  a  temper  which  tho* 
 it  does  not  always  meet  with  the  regard  it  de- 
 ferves,  and  perhaps  fometimes  the  contrary,  yet 
 certainly  is  worthy  a  particular  efteem.  I  ne- 
 ver knew  any  man  more  co?nmiinicative  to  o- 
 thers  of  what  he  knew,  or  aiovt  patient  of  con- 
 tradi(fl:ion :  He  was  ready  to  hear  the  utmofl  ' 
 which  could  be  objed:ed,  without  the  leafl  e- 
 motion,  and  with  an  evident  pleafure.  I  can 
 truly  fay,  I  have  learned  more  ufeful  hints  both 
 in  matters  of  learning,  and  religion,  in  conver- 
 fation  with  Dr.  Oldfield,  than  from  any  man 
 now  living ;  and  I  believe  I  am  not  the  only 
 perfon  who  can  iay  fo.  He  allowed  his  pupils 
 the  greatefl:  freedom  of  accefs  and  converfation, 
 and  yet  kept  up  a  jufl  authority  and  efteem  a- 
 mong  them:  He  always  encouraged /r^f  en- 
 quiries, and  was  ready  to  fatisfy  others,  or  re- 
 ceive fatisfadtion.  He  taught  them  by  his  dai- 
 ly exa?nple  as  well  as  inftrudtion ;  and  reproved 
 what  was  amifs  at  any  time,  with  calmnefs 
 and  wifdom,  without  pafTion  and  angry  refent- 
 nients,  as  one  who  finterely  loved  them,  and 
 C  c  defned 
 
386 
 
 A  Funeral  Sermon  on 
 defired  their  good ;  and  his  reproofs  were  of- 
 ten effeftual,  and  always  taken  well.  He  was 
 ivife  in  counfel,  and  very  confiderate,  who 
 would  look  thro'  a  matter,  and  round  about 
 it,  view  it  on  all  lides,  and  weigh  the  circum- 
 flances  and  confequences  of  it,  with  great  ex- 
 ad;nefs  and  caution.  His  judgment  and  opi- 
 nion in  affairs  of  moment  was  much  valued 
 and  depended  upon,  in  the  vigour  of  his  life. 
 He  had  great  generofity  in  principle  and  affec- 
 tion, and  a  mofl  dilinterelled  and  imfelJiJJ:)  re- 
 gard to  the  publick  good,  which  he  ferved  with 
 great  application,  for  many  years,  without  any 
 worldly  advantage  by  it,  and  to  his  worldly 
 difad  vantage. 
 
 He  was  very  fkilful  in  mathematical  learn- 
 ing, to  which  his  genius  naturally  led  him  -,  and 
 had  proje<fled  feveral  things  for  publick  ufe, 
 fome  of  which  had  the  approbation  of  the  great 
 Sir  IJiiac  Newton :  But  he  could  hardly  ever 
 fatisfy  himfelf,  or  give  the  laft  hand  to  any 
 thing  J  and  fo  thofe  defigns  in  which  he  had 
 fpent  a  great  deal  of  labour  and  thought  are 
 like  to  mifcarry  and  be  lofl.  His  publiflied 
 E//ay  071  the  improvemejit  of  rea/hn  in  the  affair 
 of  learnings  and  condiiB  of  life,  has  feveral  parts 
 which  fliew  great  finenefs  and  extent  of  thought, 
 in  the  abflra(fl  way  of  reafoning ;  as  well  as 
 his  prudence  and  knowledge  of  human  nature. 
 His  judgment  in  the  controverfies  of  religion 
 was  temperate  and  moderate,  againft  running 
 into  extremes  on  either  fide,  or  laying  a  dif- 
 proportionate  weight  beyond  the  evidence  of 
 things.  His  (qyi^q  of  the  dodrine  of  the  Tri- 
 nity 
 
the  Rev^.  DiT'  Joshua  Oldfield.        387 
 
 nity  may  be  feen  in  a  brief  difcourfe  upon  that 
 fubjed,  writ  with  great  judgment  and  Ibbriety, 
 and  which  met  with  good  acceptance  in  the 
 world:  And  in  another  pubhlhed  by  his  bro- 
 ther ■*,  now  the  only  remaining  branch  of  the 
 family,  which  was  very  much  his  fenfe  of  the 
 matter.  There  was  hardly  any  thing  in  which 
 he  fhewed  a  greater  zeal,  or  in  which  his  judg- 
 ment was  more  ftrongly  fixed,  and  impreffed 
 with  a  i^ni^  of  importance,  than  the  caufe  of 
 civil  and  religious  liberty y  which  he  reckoned 
 eifential  to  the  prefent  happinefs  of  mankind, 
 and  to  the  very  being  of  religion  and  vertue  in 
 the  world.  He  was  alwavs  reckoned  excellent 
 in  prayer^  efpecially  upon  particular  occafions, 
 a  talent  in  which  all  the  brothers  excelled.  He 
 prayed  with  great  gravity  and  fervour,  with  or- 
 der and  connexion,  and  with  many  deep  and 
 uncommon  thoughts,  which  would  often  ftrike 
 and  furprize  the  audience.  He  was  much  in 
 the  exercifes  oi fecret  devotion,  and  often  fpent 
 a  confiderable  length  of  time ;  and  greatly  la- 
 mented the  apparent  negledt  both  offecret  and 
 family  prayer,  among  many  of  the  profeffors 
 of  religion  in  the  prefent  age.  He  was  remark- 
 ably patient  in  affliction,  not  uneafy  to  him- 
 felf,  or  complaining  of  others,  much  lefs  repi- 
 ning againft  God ;  of  which  he  gave  a  great  ex- 
 ample in  the  lofs  of  one  of  his  eyes,  by  a  fall 
 in  an  apopledtick  fit,  fome  years  ago.  He  had 
 a  great  tcnderncjs  for  his  nearefl  relations,  and 
 a  great  concern  for  their  welfare,  efpecially 
 C  c  2  their 
 
 *  Trje  Trinity  of  the  Bilky  by  Mr.  Sa?nue!  OJdfidd  of  Ramf- 
 txry  in  Wiltjhirf. 
 
388  A  Funeral  Sermon  on 
 
 their  fpiritual  welfare ;  and  that  they  might 
 never  leave  God,  or  provoke  him  to  leave 
 them  :  which  I  hope  will  never  be  the  cafe. 
 
 In  the  latter  years  of  life  he  met  with  fome 
 uncommon  trials^  and  exercifes,  which  fome- 
 times  touched  him  in  a  tender  part,  and  made 
 deep  impreffions  upon  his  mind  :   But  he  alfo 
 found  uncommon  kindnefi  and  friendfhip,    in 
 very  remarkable  and  extraordinary  inftances, 
 and  in  the  moft  rcfpedful  and  generous  man- 
 ner.    The  kind  Providence  of  God  provided 
 for  him,  and  made  the  laft  flage  of  life  eafy 
 and   honourable,    under  the   dilad vantage   of 
 his  outward  circumftances;  of  which  he  had 
 the  higheft  fenfe  of  gratitude,    both  to  God, 
 and  to  the  worthy  inflruments.     He  enjoyed 
 the  fmgular  felicity  of  a  found  and  hcathful 
 age^  without  any  bodily  infirmities,  or  the  leafl 
 abatement  of  the  natural  civility  and  good  hu- 
 mour with  which  he  had  always  converfed. 
 In  his  \2i^  fichiejs ^  which  was  but  fhort,   and 
 after  an  interval  which  feemed  to  promife  re- 
 covery, he  polTefs'd  the  fame  calmnefs  and  com- 
 pofure,  in  which  he  lived  j  his  end  was  peace, 
 as  his  hfe  had  been.     I  afked  him  the  day  be- 
 fore he  died,  whether  all  was  eafy  and  com- 
 fortable within  :    He  faid,    he  had  a  judicious 
 fatisfad:ion  and  peace  of  mind,    tho'  by  reafon 
 of  prefent  weaknefs  and  lownefs  of  fpirits,  he 
 was  dull  and  heavy.     He  was  fenfible  his  life 
 was  drawing  to  an  end,  and  continued  fenfible 
 to  the  lafi:  minute,    without  any  violent  fliock 
 of  dilTolving  nature,  and  with  an  undifturbed 
 tranquillity  of  mind.    He  faid,  "  That  nature 
 
 *'  muft 
 
the  RevK  Dr.  Joshua  Oldfield.        389 
 
 "  muft  fubmit,  and  he  had  learnt  to  fubmit;" 
 "  and  That  all  was  well,  and  all  was  eafy 
 "  within  :"  An  honourable  teftimony  to  re- 
 ligion, after  fo  long  a  trial,  and  from  fo  wife, 
 fedate  and  upright  a  perfon.  And  now  God 
 grant  that  we  may  every  one,  by  this,  and  all 
 the  inftances  of  others  exemplary  life  and  death, 
 be  awakened  to  a  timely  care  of  our  foul's  wel- 
 fare, and  future  bleffednefs,  and  be  excited  to 
 daily  preparation  and  readinefs,  for  our  own 
 death,  and  for  the  coming  of  our  Lord. 
 
 C  c  3  S  E  R- 
 
390 
 
 SERMON     VIIL 
 
 Of  Deliverance  by  Chrift^  from 
 ^<tfear  of  Death. 
 
 Hebrews  ii.   15. 
 
 And  to  deliver  them  who  through  fear 
 of  Death  were  all  their  life-time  Jub- 
 je&  to  bofidage. 
 
 ^\\. 
 
 9^   I   SHE  Apoflle  in  the  foregoing  verfes  is 
 I        fpeaking  concerning  the  great  ends  of 
 -^       the  death  of  Chrifl,  both  with  relation 
 to  himfelfj  and  with  relation  to  us.  With  rela- 
 tion to  the  former,  he  fays,  ver.  9.  That  for  the 
 fi{ffcring  of  death  he  was  crowned  'with  glory  a?id 
 honour :  and  ver.  10.  That  he  was  made  perfeB 
 thro  Jiiffering;  i.  e.  He  arrived  to  the  proper 
 dignity  of  his  perfon,  and  perfedlion  of  his  un- 
 dertaking :  which  he  illuftrates  by  feveral  quo- 
 tations in  the  three  following  verfes,  out  of  the 
 Old  Teftament.     With  relation  to  the  latter, 
 he  affigns  a  double  reafon  and  end  of  his  death ; 
 the  ono  is.    That  through  death  he   dejiroyed 
 
 him 
 
Deliverance  fh)7n  the  Fear  of  Death,     391 
 
 him  who  had  the  power  of  deaths  that  is^  the  de- 
 "oil:  He  defeated  the  devil's  defign  in  bringing 
 death  into  the  world,  and  the  ufe  he  afterward 
 made  of  it.  In  this  verfe,  he  afligns  another 
 reafbn  in  confequence  of  the  former,  and  as 
 the  effect  of  it,  to  deliver  them  who  thro  fear 
 of  death  were  all  their  life-time  fubjedt  to  bon- 
 dage. 
 
 In  fpeaking  to  thefc  words,  I  fhall  propofe 
 thefe  two  things,  anfwerably  to  the  two  parts 
 of  which  they  coniift. 
 
 I.  I  fhall  confider  the  fear  of  death  which 
 brings  men  into  fubjedlion  to  bondage. 
 
 II.  Our  deliverance  from  it  by  Chrift. 
 
 SECT.     I. 
 
 I.  I  fhall  confider  the^^^^r  of  deaths  which 
 is  mentioned  as  one  great  evil  from  which  we 
 are  delivered  by  Chrifl.  And  here  it  will  be  pro- 
 per to  confider,  i.What  is  thaty^-^r  of  death 
 from  which  Chrift  delivers  us.  2.  What  is  that 
 bondage  to  which  it  fubjed:s.  Under  the  former, 
 I  fliall  have  occafion  to  confider  the  caufes,  and 
 under  the  latter,  the  ef'eBs,  of  this  finful  fear, 
 which  together  will  reprefent  the  entire  evil  of 
 it. 
 
 §  I.  What  is  thaty^^r  of  death  from  which 
 Chrifl  delivers.  Fear  in  the  general  is,  ^flight 
 from  evily  or  the  averfion  of  the  mind  from 
 what  we  apprehend  hurtful :  'Tis  the  trouble- 
 fome  apprehenfion  of  an  impending  evil.  The 
 fear  ojf  death  may  be  diftinguiflied  into  two 
 C  c  4  forts. 
 
392  Deliver a7ice  hy  Christ, 
 
 forts,  according  to  the  different  confideration  of 
 death. 
 
 I.  There  is  a  Jiaturali^zx  of  death.  Death 
 is  an  enemy  to  nature,  as  'tis  the  difTolution  of 
 our  prefent  frame,  ih.Q  Jeparation  of  foul  and 
 body,  a  rending  afunder  the  two  parts  of  our 
 conftitution,  fo  clofely  united,  and  long  con- 
 tinued together.  We  quit  this  fenfible  world, 
 and  all  the  gratifications  of  our  prefent  nature: 
 we  leave  every  defirable  relation,  and  comfor- 
 table enjoyment,  all  our  pleafant  converfes  with 
 others,  and  fweet  retirements,  and  whatfoever 
 is  agreeable  and  entertaining  in  life.  Death  un- 
 der this  cpnfideration  of  it  is  a  natural  evil ^  and 
 a  proper  objed:  of  natural y^'^r,  or  the  averfion 
 and  flight  of  our  mind  -,  efpecially  where  there 
 are  flow  decays  of  nature,  and  long  ficknefs  and 
 pains,  which  is  commonly  the  cafe,  to  be  the 
 harbingers  and  attendants  of  it.  This  is  not 
 2ifinful  fear,  but  a  natural  paflion,  and  is  both 
 innocent  and  ufeful.  'Tis  planted  in  our  na- 
 ture by  the  God  of  nature,  and  is  the  neceflary 
 confequence  oijelf-love,  and  felf-prefervation , 
 which  is  the  firfl:  and  fundamental  principle  of 
 nature.  'Tis  the  riflng  of  nature  againfl:  its 
 mortal  enemy;  the  reiu6lance  of  fenfe  againft 
 what  would  hurt  and  defl:roy  it,  without  any 
 reafoning  or  confideration  about  it.  As  'tis 
 therefore  natural  to  mankind,  'tis  univerfal,  and 
 common  to  all  men :  'tis  fixed  in  human  na- 
 ture. Nature  ftarts  and  recoils  at  the  thoughts 
 and  profped:  of  dying.  Adam  in  innocence 
 was  fubjedt  to  this  fear,  or  elfe  the  threatning 
 of  death  would  have  had  no  force.  It  was  ex- 
 emplified 
 
from  the  Fear  of  Death.  2,9 Z 
 
 emplified  in  the  human  nature  of  the  Redeemer, 
 who  exprelTed  an  innocent  reluctance  to  death, 
 and  defired  this  cup  might-  pafs  from  him.  The 
 Apoftle  fays  of  himfelf,  and  other  chriftians. 
 Not  that  we  would  be  unclothed,  but  clothed ^Coi.v.^. 
 upon. 
 
 Yea,  this  is  a  very  ufeful,  as  well  as  innocent 
 paflion  i  for  'tis  the  great  guard  of  mens  lives, 
 and  gives  a  force  to  all  the  laws  of  God  and 
 man,  and  is  a  great  inftrument  of  the  good  or- 
 der and  government  of  the  world.  If  men  had 
 not  the  fear  of  death  implanted  in  their  nature, 
 they  would  be  often  tempted,  under  difappoint- 
 ments  and  vexation  of  mind,  to  make  away 
 their  own  lives,  or  make  bold  with  the  lives  of 
 others ;  and  all  the  fandtions  of  divine  and  hu- 
 man laws,  would  be  ineffedual  to  reflrain 
 them,  and  prefervc  the  order  and  peace  of  the 
 world. 
 
 From  this  fear  Chrifl:  does  not  deliver  us ; 
 for  that  would  be  to  diveft  us  of  our  fenfible 
 nature,  and  love  of  our  felves ;  tho'  there  is  a 
 great  difference  of  degrees  in  different  perfons, 
 very  much  according  to  their  natural  temper^ 
 as  fome  have  greater  natural  courage  and  lefs 
 mixture  of  fear  in  their  make,  and  others  are 
 more  tender  and  eafily  impreffed  :  Or  accord- 
 ing to  their  more  eminent  attainments  in  the 
 divine  life,  and  the  greater  meafure,  or  more 
 lively  exercife  of  their  faith,  which  very  much 
 weakens  their  natural  fear,  and  fometimes  car- 
 ries them  much  above  it. 
 
 2.  There   is  a  moral,  or  rational  fear  of 
 death.     Death  in  the  moral  confideration  of  it, 
 
 is 
 
394  Deliverance  by  Christ, 
 
 is  a  change  of  our  Jiate^  a  paflage  out  of  one 
 world  into  another.  'Tis  a  final  determination 
 of  our  main  ftate,  and  a  decijive  turn  for  e- 
 ternity.  In  this  confideration  of  it,  death  ap- 
 pears more  terrible,  and  is  apt  to  raife  a  greater 
 fear.  This  fear  of  death  is  not  a  meer  natural 
 paffion,  but  of  a  moral  confideration,  and  pro- 
 ceeds from  reafon  and  confideration  about  it, 
 and  is  proportionably  a  finful  fear  to  the  rea- 
 fons  upon  v/hich  'tis  grounded,  and  the  finful 
 cai(fes  from  whence  it  may  be  fuppofed  to 
 fpring.  For  example,  from  a  fenfe  oi  Jin^ 
 which  lies  heavy  and  prefixes  hard  upon  an 
 awakened  and  fenfible  mind.  Guilt  is  always 
 jealous^  and  naturally  breeds  fear.  Wherever 
 there  is  a  jufl  apprehenfion  of  the  evil  and  ag- 
 gravation of  fin,  and  of  the  divine  difpleafure 
 upon  the  account  of  it,  it  cannot  but  make  the 
 thoughts  of  death  more  terrible,  and  add  weight 
 to  the  natural  fear  of  it.  So  the  Apoflle  fays, 
 »  Cor.  xv.They?/;?g-  of'  death  is  Jin :  fin  not  only  gave  it  its 
 5^-  being,  but  all  its  terror  and  dread.     The  fenfe 
 
 of  unpardoned  fin  awakens  a  guilty  fear,  and 
 gives  bitternefs  to  the  thoughts  of  the  mind,  as 
 well  as  a  terrour  to  death.  'Tis  my  fin  makes 
 death  fo  terrible,  and  fills  my  foul  with  fear : 
 If  I  were  an  innocent  creature,  or  a  pardoned 
 finner,  I  Ihould  not  be  thus  afraid ;  but  if  I 
 die  in  this  fi:ate,  I  die  in  my  Jins^  and  fall  un- 
 der the  v/eight  of  abiding  wrath. 
 
 Besides,  There  is  the  love  of  this  world. 
 We  contradt  a  mighty  intimacy  with  this  fen- 
 fible world,  as  'tis  fuitable  to  our  fenfible  na- 
 ture,  and  by  advantage  of  an  early  and  long 
 
 \  acquaintance 
 
from  the  Fear  of  Death.  395 
 
 acquaintance  and  familiarity,  'tis  much  en- 
 deared to  us,  and  becomes  more  natural  and 
 agreeable.  And  efpecialiy  favourable  circum- 
 fiances,  and  a  profperous  condition  of  life, 
 many  comfortable  relations,  and  pleafant  en- 
 joyments, more  deeply  engage  the  heart,  and 
 difpofe  them  to  think,  'tis  good  for  them  to 
 be  here.  And  wherever  the  lo'^oe  of  the  'world 
 prevails  above  the  lo'ue  of  the  Father^  and  the 
 heart  cleaves  to  any  prefent  good^  wherever 
 there  is  an  inordinate  value  and  delire  of  life, 
 and  a  carnal  and  earthly  frame  and  habit  of 
 mind ;  there  the  thoughts  of  death  will  be  mofl 
 uneafy.  They  muft  needs  be  loth  to  leave  the 
 world  they  love  fo  well,  and  part  with  what 
 they  regard  fo  much.  It  cannot  but  give  them 
 a  painful  concern,  to  think  of  being  ftript  of 
 all  at  once,  and  removed  from  hence  for  ever ; 
 for  this  is  to  rend  from  them  the  idol  of  their 
 heart,  which  they  adore  and  truft,  and  have 
 chofen  and  embraced  as  their  portion  and  reft, 
 'Tis  turning  them  out  like  the  fallen  angeh^ 
 of  what  is  their  heaven,  or  driving  them,  like 
 Adam^  out  of  their  paradife. 
 
 Besides,  there  are  the  certain  confeqiiences 
 of  dying.  'Tis  not  fo  much  the  pains  and 
 trouble  of  dying,  though  they  arc  Ibmetimes 
 very  grievous  too,  but  the  awful  confequence 
 which  immediately  follows,  and  which  it  di- 
 redly  leads  to,  which  is  the  great  caufe  of  fear. 
 'Tis  appointed  to  men  once  to  die^  and  after  death  Heb.  ix. 
 the  judgment.  Death  tranfmits  them  to  the  ^^' 
 other  world,  and  configns  them  over  to  judg- 
 ment.    Every  man  nuift  be  tried  and  judged 
 
3  9  6  Deliverance  /?;;  C  h  r  i  s  t  , 
 
 at  the  righteous  and  impartial  tribunal,  and 
 their  eternal  ftate  be  decided  by  an  irreverfible 
 decree  -,  and  this  renders  death  the  mofl:  awful 
 and  important  thing  in  all  the  world,  and  raijes 
 the  fear  and  dread  of  it.  I  muft  appear  before 
 the  judge  of  all  the  earthy  and  ht  judged  in  righ- 
 teoujhefs  at  the  tribunal  of  Chrift,  and  receive 
 according  to  the  deeds  done  in  the  bodv,  whether 
 good  or  evil.  Of  what  confequence  is  it  X.oJland 
 in  judgmejit  f  Yiow  fearful  a  thing  to  fall  into 
 the  hands  of  the  living  Godf  This  makes  them 
 tremble  at  the  thoughts  of  death,  and  heigh- 
 tens their  fear  of  leaving  the  world. 
 
 Add  to  this,  the  uncertainty  of  their  minds 
 about  their  future  ftate.  They  are  often  doubt- 
 ful of  the  true  flate  of  their  cafe,  and  uncertain 
 of  the  final  event.  They  know  not  how  it 
 will  go  with  them  hereafter,  and  what  will  be- 
 come of  them  for  ever.  They  don't  know 
 where  death  will  land  them  in  the  other  world, 
 and  on  which  fide  of  the  fhoar  it  will  fet  them: 
 What  end  it  will  be  to  this  world,  or  what  be- 
 ginning of  the  next.  Perhaps  they  have  reafon 
 to  fear  the  worft,  that  they  fhall  not  Jland  in 
 judgment^  or  be  found  of  their  judge  in  peace ; 
 that  they  fhall  be  condemned  in  the  judgment 
 of  the  great  day,  and  be  miferable  for  ever  in 
 the  other  world.  They  know  they  mufl  fare 
 for  ever  hereafter,  according  to  the  flate  they 
 are  now  in,  and  their  prefent  temper  and  courfe 
 m  this  world;  T^hat  without  holinefs  no  man 
 Pjallfee  the  Lord^  and  that  nothing  enters  into 
 the  New  Jerufalem  which  is  unclean.  And  tho' 
 they  are  loth  to  go  to  hell,  and  dread  the  tor- 
 ments 
 
from  the  Fear  of  Death,  397 
 
 ments  of  the  damned,  yet  they  find  themfelves 
 unfit  for  heaven,  and  in  no  capacity  of  enjoy- 
 ing it.  There  is  a  manifeft  unfuitablenefs  of 
 mind  to  that  pure  and  glorious  ftate,  or  even 
 a  dillike  and  difaffed:ion  to  it.  In  proportion 
 to  fuch  apprehenfions  of  mind  of  their  future 
 itate,  their  fears  of  death  of  courfe  will  rife, 
 which  is  the  paflage  to  it,  and  entrance  upon 
 it;  efpecially  when  there  is  but  one  flep  be- 
 tween time  and  eternity,  and  as  they  fall  by 
 death,   they  rife  at  laft  and  remain  for  ever. 
 
 §  2.  What  is  that  bondage  to  which  the 
 fear  of  death  does  fubjedt.  The  Apoflle  does 
 not  fay,  that  they  were  aBually  under  it  all 
 their  lives,  as  if  they  were  never  at  any  time 
 free  from  the  fear  of  death,  and  it  was  always 
 adlual  in  their  minds ;  for  'tis  often  diverted 
 by  the  cares  and  pleafures  of  life;  but  only  that 
 they  were  fubjeB  to  it,  /.  e,  in  a  ftate  of  bon-  'l^,^^  ^^^ 
 dage,  and  liable  to  it  upon  all  occafions,  and 
 that  it  was  often  actually  flirred  up  by  afflic- 
 tions, and  ficknefs  and  ferious  thoughts.  And 
 this  was  all  their  life-time^  i.  e.  all  the  former 
 part  of  their  life,  before  their  deliverance  by 
 Chrift.  Perhaps  he  has  a  particular  refpevft  to 
 the  gentile  world,  in  a  ftate  of  ignorance,  i- 
 dolatry  and  wickednefs,  and  without  any  divine 
 revelation ;  or  to  the  former  difpenfation  of  the 
 law,  when  they  knew  fo  little  of  another 
 world,  and  death  was  more  terrible,  and  a 
 greater  objed  of  fear,  and  bound  upon  them  the 
 firaiter  by  the  law.  But  anfvverable  to  the  pre- 
 valence of  fear,  from  whatfoever  caufe,  will  be 
 the  bondage  of  mind  in  any  other ;  and  this  is 
 
 often 
 
398  Deliverance  /?)'  C  h  r  i  s  t, 
 
 often  found  in  experience.  Now  this  bondage, 
 which  is  the  confequence  of  the  fear  of  death, 
 and  to  which  it  fubjedts,  is  2i  fervile  fpirit,  or 
 the  temper  of  'Jijlave^  under  the  conftant  awes 
 of  difpleafure,  and  dread  of  puniflimenti  when 
 the  natural  fear  prevails,  and  the  rational  fear  is 
 heighten'd,  and  both  concur  in  all  their  circum- 
 flances,  to  give  a  dread  to  the  mind,  and  fix 
 it  in  a  flate  of  llavifh  bondage.  'Tis  a  torment 
 to  their  mind  whenever  they  think  of  it,  and 
 they  have  no  relief  but  in  7iot  thinking  of 
 it,  or  putting  the  evil  day  afar  off.  They  are  fo 
 far  under  the  power  of  it,  as  to  htjlaves  to  it, 
 and  'tis  fo  great,  as  to  be  able  to  govern  them. 
 
 Now  here  it  will  be  proper  to  confider  the 
 evil  of  this  temper  of  mind,  which  the  Apoftle 
 reprefents  by  bondage,  to  be  the  more  fenfible 
 of  our  deliverance  from  it  by  Chrift. 
 
 I.  'Tis  a  difparagement  to  the  gofpel-ftate, 
 and  unfuitable  to  the  genius  and  defign  of  it* 
 The  gofpel  is  a  ftate  o^  liberty  ^rnd  freedom,  in 
 diflindion  from  that  of  the  law.  Fear  was  the 
 proper  complexion  of  the  legal  difpenfation, 
 where  God  was  reprefented  under  more  aw- 
 ful charad:ers,  and  worfliipped  with  greater  di- 
 ilance ;  in  fo  much  that  they^'^r  of  God  was 
 commonly  ufed  to  fignify  the  ivorJJoip  of  God, 
 and  the  whole  of  religion,  under  the  old  tef- 
 tament.  'The  Apoftle  upon  this  account  calls 
 it  a  yoke  of  bondage,  and  reprefents  them  who 
 were  under  it,  not  only  as  children,  or  minors, 
 but  as  fervantSy  or  bondfmen,  who  were  in 
 Gal.  iii.    bondage  to  the  elements  of  this  world;  and  ex- 
 
 ]_ poftulates  v/ith  them  for  turning  again  to  the 
 
 weak 
 
from  the  Fear  of  Death.  399 
 
 weak  and  beggarly  elements ^  ^hereunto  they  defired 
 again  to  be  in  bondage,  Anfwerably  hereunto 
 he  fpeaks  of  th.Qfpirit  ofjear^  and  the  fpirit  of 
 bondage^  which  is  proper  to  fervants,  who  are 
 always  kept  under  the  awes  of  the  mafler's 
 authority,  and  the  dread  of  his  dlfpleafure. 
 
 But  now  tis  a  principal  glory  of  the  gofpel- 
 difpenfation  and  fuitable  to  the  peculiar  repre- 
 fentations  of  it,  to  raife  the  mind  above  a  fer- 
 vile  llavifh  fear,  and  to  form  a  more  noble  tem- 
 per, and  a  child-like  difpolition  of  mind.  So 
 Chriji  has  redeemed  us^  fays  the  Apoftle,  who  were 
 under  the  law^  that  we  might  receive  the  adoption 
 
 offons.     And  becaufiye  are  fons^  God  hath  (hit f- 
 
 forth  the  fpirit  of  his  Jon  into  your  hearts^  crying^ 
 Abba  Father,     Wherefore  thou  art  no  more  a 
 fervant^  but  afon.     And  again.  We  have  not  r^-Rom.  viii. 
 ceived  the  fpirit  of  bondage  again  to  fear  ^  but  the^'i- 
 fpirit  of  Adoption,    or  the  temper  of  children. 
 Once  more,  God  hath  not  given  us  the  fpirit  ^2  Tim.  i. 
 fear^  but  of  power  and  of  love^  and  of  a  found 
 mind:   of  vigour,  delight  and  fobriety. 
 
 This  fpirit  of  bondage,  or  llavery  of  fear,  is 
 wholly  imfuitable  to  the  gofpel-llate,  and  di- 
 redly  contrary  to  the  liberty  of  the  children  of 
 God.  'Tis  introducing  a  legal  fpirit  into  the 
 gofpel-difpenfation,  and  contradicts  its  gracious- 
 defign  in  one  principal  branch  of  it,  which  is  to 
 breed  a  fpirit  of  liberty  and  joy.  The  power 
 of  fear  in  the  minds  of  men,  gives  an  ill  idea 
 of  the  gofpel  of  Chrift,  as  if  it  were  not  fo 
 truly  excellent,  or  were  weak  and  vain  j  and 
 all  its  boafted  fuccours  and  fupports,  were  in- 
 efFedual  to  conquer  their  fears,    and  form  a 
 
 more 
 
400  Deliverance  hy  Christ, 
 
 more  noble  and  generous  temper  of  mind. 
 'Tis  indeed  a  great  mifreprefentation  of  the  mat- 
 ter, and  naturally  tends  to  leflen  and  difpa- 
 rage  the  grace  of  the  golpel,  and  weaken  the 
 reverence  and  regard  of  others  to  it. 
 
 2.  Tis  highly  injurious  and  hurtful  to  our 
 felves.  For  example  ;  If  deftroys  the  peace 
 I  Toh.  iv.  ^^^  comfort  of  our  minds.  Y  ox  fear  bath  tor- 
 \  8.  ment  in  it.  Where  the  fear  of  death  prevails, 
 it  renders  every  flate  and  circum fiance  of  life 
 uneafy.  It  gives  a  fling  to  all  the  miferies  of 
 life,  and  renders  them  doubly  grievous.  The 
 convidions  oi  fm  are  more  pungent  and  dif- 
 trefTing,  lie  with  a  heavier  weight  and  give  a 
 more  frightful  profpedl.  Tht  Jicbtefs  and  dis- 
 orders of  nature  are  more  burdenfome ;  it  gives 
 an  accent  to  every  groan,  and  quickens  the 
 fenfe  of  the  fharpefl  pain.  It  makes  the  hea7't 
 Jick,  under  all  the  ficknefs  of  the  body.  How 
 eafily  could  I  bear  the  burden  of  nature,  if  I 
 had  but  an  eafy  mind,  and  had  any  comfortable 
 hope  in  death.  And  it  embitters  all  the  C(?;«- 
 forts  of  life,  and  draws  a  gloom  over  the  bright- 
 efl  profpedl.  It  abates  the  relifh  of  the  befl  en- 
 joyments, and  damps  the  joy  of  the  mofl  pro- 
 fperous  flate,  and  makes  them  ready  to  fay, 
 What  good  do  thefe  things  do  me,  when  I  mufi 
 quickly  die  and  leave  them,  and  may  every 
 moment  be  fnatch'dfrom  the  dear  enjoyment? 
 and  there  is  no  enduring  fuhjiance^  or  continuing 
 city  in  this  world. 
 
 The  fear  of  death  diflurbs  the  mind  in  the 
 performance  of  holy  duties^  and  affed:s  every 
 fervice  of  life,  as  well  as  every  enjoyment  of 
 
 it. 
 
from  the  Fear  of  Death,  40 1 
 
 it.  A  flavifli  dread  of  mind  unfits  for  fpiritual 
 exercifes,  and  the  noblell  employments  of  the 
 chriftian  hfe,  and  hangs  hke  a  dead  weight 
 upon  the  afpiring  foul  when  it  would  afcend  to 
 God  and  heaven,  and  prevents  the  cheerful  fer- 
 vice  and  delightful  communion  with  God. 
 'Tis  an  enemy  to  ^/^(^/^f/i  of  hearty  and  flatly 
 inconfiftent  with  the  noble  exercifes  of  love, 
 and  joy  and  praile.  Wherever  it  prevails,  it 
 breeds  a  fadnefs  and  deiecftion  of  mind,  and 
 makes  us  go  on  heavily  in  the  v/ays  of  God, 
 and  all  our  fervice  a  drudgery  and  flavery,  like 
 the  principle  from  whence  it  iprings. 
 
 Besides,  It  brings  us  into  flavery  to  the 
 devil^  and  is  a  powerful  y/2j;v  of  lin.  It  gives 
 the  devil  a  great  advantage  over  us,  and  a 
 ftronger  hold  of  us ;  and  by  the  power  of  this 
 principle,  as  well  as  by  the  love  of  pleafure, 
 »he  leads  them  caUr^e  at  his  ivill^  and  carries 
 them  almoft  whither  he  pleafes.  So  to  fave 
 their  lives  he  draws  them  into  any  mean  fub- 
 miiiion  or  linful  compliance ;  and  rather  than 
 yield  to  die,  they  will  fubmit  to  the  groilefl 
 impofition,  or  renounce  their  chriftian  profef- 
 lion.  Thus  in  the  times  of  heathen  perfecu- 
 <ion,  many  were  brought,  by  the  power  of 
 this  principle,  to  ficrifice  to  idols,  and  many 
 in  the  ajitichr'ijiian  ftate  to  ilibmit  tamely  to 
 the  heavy  yoke  of  papal  tyranny  and  iiiperfii- 
 tion.  This  is  mentioned  as  the  root  of  apollacy 
 in  thofe  who  received  the  ^uuord  ivlth  joy^  but 
 when  perj'ecutwn  becaiife  of  the  ^,i>ord  arcfe^  by  aftd 
 by  they  were  offended.  'Tis  certain  no  man  w^ill 
 be  a  martyr  tor  C'hrifl,  or  love  him  more  than 
 
 D  d  his 
 
40  2  Deliverance  by  Christ, 
 
 his  own  life,  which  yet  the  gofpel  requires  of 
 every  difciple  of  Chrift,  who  is  under  the 
 bondage  and  fervltude  of  the  fear  of  death. 
 It  was  the  glory  of  the  primitive  martyrs,,  efpe- 
 cially  thofe  of  the  weaker  fcx,  who  are  moft 
 apt  to  be  impreft  with  the  power  of  fear,  that 
 Rev.  xii.  they  counted  not  their  Iroes  dear  to  thefn,  and 
 ^^-  loved  not  their  lives  unto  the  death.  On  the  con- 
 
 trary, men  are  eafily  drawn,  from  this  caufe, 
 to  any  finful  means  to  fave  their  hves,  and  the 
 fear  of  death,  hke  \\\^fear  of  man,  proves  a 
 dangerous /;Mr^. 
 
 To  conclude  with  one  inftance  more,  It 
 f^metimes  leads  to  defpair.  The  bondage  of 
 their  fpirit  dillrads  their  thoughts,  and  gives 
 a  reftlefs  concern  of  mind  :  It  fets  them  upon 
 the  rack,  and  throws  them  into  agonies.  As 
 it  jfirft  led  tliem  into  fin,  and  proved  a  fnare,. 
 it  rext  tormenls  them  with  the  fenfe  of  it, 
 and  makes  it  more  frightful  and  full  of  hor- 
 roui*.  Sometimes  this  rifes  fo  high  as  to  make 
 tliem  impatient  of  hfe,  and  weary  of  living,under 
 fo  great  a  dread  of  dying;  fo  that  the  fear  of 
 death  not  only  deftroys  the  comfort  of  living, 
 but  all  hope  of  relief,  and  by  a  fbrange  turn  of 
 things  brings  them  quite  round  again  ^  their 
 fear  gives  them  courage,  and  the  defpair  of  thei-r 
 minds  throws  them  into  the  arms  of  death,  to 
 deliver  them  from  the  fear  of  dying  1  So  fomx 
 have  ofTer'd  violence  to  their  own  lives,  to  get 
 rid  of  the  torment  of  their  fears  j  as  Judas  went 
 and  hanged  himjelf  under  the  agonies  of  foul 
 in  which  his  guilt  had  caft  him.  A  ftrange 
 contrail  this,  thatthoudi  thevare  afraid  to  die, 
 
 their 
 
fro77i  the  Fear  of  Death.  4^3 
 
 their  fear  makes  them  unwilling  to  live,  and 
 the  torment  of  fear  makes  them  unable  to  bear 
 the  burden  of  life. 
 
 SECT.  II. 
 .  I  am  now  to  confider  our  deliver a?ice  by 
 Chrifl  from  the  fear  of  death ;  How  far,  and 
 by  what  means,  we  arc  delivered  from  it.  To 
 imderftand  this  matter  aright,  and  prepare  the 
 way  for  what  is  to  follow,  we  vnwik.  diftinguifh 
 our  deliverance^  as  we  did  thQ  fear  of  death; 
 and  conhder  it  either  as  fundamental^  or  aSlual. 
 There  is  2ifunda?nental  deliverance,  when  the 
 foundation  of  it  is  laid,  and  thejufl:  ground  of 
 our  fear  is  removed,  and  the  caufes  of  it  are  taken 
 away;  fo  that  if  we  are  not  acftualiy  delivered, 
 yet  there  is  a  fufficient  foundation  laid  for  it  in 
 due  time,  and  in  a  proper  way.  Our  fear  of  death 
 is  not  like  the  defpair  of  the  damnedj  hopelefs 
 and  irretrievable.  If  v/e  are  not  delivered  from 
 it,  it  cannot  be  charged  upon  him,  or  any 
 defed;  in  the  provifion  he  has  nlade  for  it.  We 
 are  anfwerable  for  it,  and  not  he,  if  we  are 
 not  delivered. 
 
 And  our  aBual  deliverance  is  begun  in  this 
 world,  and  commences  vivCc^  our  faith,  or  hear- 
 ty fubjeclion  to  the  gofpel  of  Chriil.  The 
 dominion  of  fear  is  broken  at  the  fime  time 
 with  the  dominion  of  fin,  and  it's  no  longer  a 
 governing  principle  or  prevailing  temper.  This  • 
 is  the  cafe  of  every  lincere  chridian,  thouc^h 
 different  and  various  in  deforce,  accordincr  to 
 the  different  attainments  and  circumftances  of 
 particular  perfons.  And  it  will  be  compleatanci 
 perfed:,  from  all  the  fear  of  death,  and  every 
 
 D  d   2  dcpree 
 
404  Deliverance  by  Christ, 
 
 deQ;ree  of  it,  at  length.  This  is  fome times  feen 
 in  this  world,  in  fome  extraordinary  inftances. 
 Some  perfons  of  higher  attainments  in  the  fpi- 
 rijual  life,  have  feemed  to  gain  an  entire  con- 
 queft  of  their  fears,  and  a  perfed;  deliverance 
 from  them.  However  this  is  certainly  the  cafe  at 
 lailij  death  is  a  perfed"  deliverance,  and  an  effec- 
 tual cure  of  all  our  fears  to  every  true  believer. 
 
 Now  I  fhall  fliow  diftindly  how  he  deli- 
 vers from  the  fear  of  death  in  both  thefe 
 fenfes. 
 
 §  I.  He  lays  the  foundation  oi  owx  deliver- 
 ance in  his  cTjn  pe?Jbn,  and  by  what  he  has 
 done  himfelf  for  us  j  and  that  is  partly  by  the 
 power  of  his  dcntl\  and  partly  by  the  revelation 
 of  the  gofpel  which  was  confirmed  and  made 
 effedual  by  it.  I  fhallconfider  them  both  di^ 
 flindly. 
 
 i»  By  his  dciith.  This  is  diredly  referred 
 to  in  the  context;  A?2d  by  death  dicjlroyed  him 
 who  had  the  power  oj  death ^  and  dcli'^ered  them 
 liho  through  fear  of  death  were  all  their  lif-fi??is 
 ftihjeB  to  bondage.  Fie  deflroyed  the  devil,  and 
 delivered  from  the  fear  of  death,  at  the  fame 
 time,  and  in  the  fame  way;  i.e.  by  his  death. 
 The  influence  of  the  death  of  Chrifl  to  this 
 purpoi'e,  is  varioully  reprefented  in  the  fcrip- 
 ture.  For  example,  By  his  death  he  mad^ 
 attonement  for  fin,  and  procured  the  forgive- 
 nefs  of  it.  This  v/as  prophefied  of  him  in  the  old 
 
 Ilai.  liii 
 ic,    1  I 
 
 te  filament,  IV  hen  thou  fait  make  his  foul  an  of- 
 
 1  I'oh.'ii.  f  ring  for  fin:  And,  he  Jlmll  bear  our  iniquity, 
 
 2  ..      \\\  the   nev/  teflam.ent,    He  is   a   propitiation 
 n     "    J^^'  A^^  '^'^*^^  ^^^'^  ;//<?^/t'  reconciliation  for  fhe  /Ins 
 
fro7n  the  Fear  of  Death,  405 
 
 vf  the  people  ;  declared  God  propitious  and  re- 
 concilable.    And  in  this  fenlc  he  was  made  fm 
 
 for  us,  ^wd  for  fin  condemn  d fin  in  the  flejh  :  By  Rom  viii. 
 a   facrifice   for  lin,  dedroyed   iis  condemning 3. 
 power,  and  adjudged  it  to  deftrudiion.     And 
 fo  the  death  of  Chrifl  throughout  the  newtefta- 
 ment  ftands  related  to  lin,  and  is  connected 
 with   the  forsiivencrs    of  it.     The  cafe  here 
 ftands  thus  :  The  lav/,  of  which  it  was  a  tranf- 
 greilioD,   was  the  ftrength  of  fin,  or  gave  it  its 
 condemning  power ;    and  lin   was   the  fting 
 of  death,  which  gave  it  its  being,  and  render'd 
 it  formidable  ;  and  furniihed  all  its  poifonous 
 arrows*by  which  it  wounds  and  kills,  and  makes 
 the  frnart  and  rage :  But  thanks  he  to  God  who 
 greet  h  lis  the  "viofory  thro'  our  Lord  ye  fas  Chrifi\ »  -o^*  xv. 
 over  the  (Irensth  of  iin,  and  the  ftine  of  death.  5'^'  ^''" 
 So  he  redeems  us  from  the  curfe  of  the  law  which 
 threatned  death,  l?ei?2g  made  a  curfe  for  us,  ov^f"  *^*" 
 fuffering  an  accurfed  death.     Chrift  by  dying   ^" 
 for  lin  has  fecured  the  honour  of  the  divine 
 laijo,  the  great  inflrument  of    liis  moral  go- 
 vernment, and  delfroyed  the  flrength  of  fin,  or 
 its  power  to  condemn  and  torment     So  God  is 
 in  Chrifi  reconciling  the  linful  world  to  himfdf, 
 ?iot  imputing  their  trefpafi'cs  to  them ;  and  is  ready 
 to  forgive  their  fin,  upon  the  gracious  terms  of 
 
 ^the  new  covenant.  They  who  were  cjicniies 
 by  wicked  works,  are  reconciled  to  God  by  the 
 death  of  his  fon.  So  the  fting  is  plucked  out, 
 and  death  dilarmed  of  its  ftrength  and  terrour, 
 to  all  true  believers  in  him.  This  ftrikes  at  the 
 root  of  the  evil,  and  goes  to  the  bottom  of  it. 
 It  anfwers  the  ftrongeftplea  of  a  linner'smind, 
 D"S  3  and 
 
40 6  Deliverance  fy  Christ, 
 
 and  removes   the  juil:   caufe  of  his  greateft 
 dread. 
 
 Be s IDES,  by  his  death  he  deftroyed  the  denjily 
 who  had  the  power  of  death.     When  God  the  i 
 fupreme  judge  is  fatisfied  and  reconciled,  the  | 
 devil  lofes  bais  power  to  hurt  them.     This  is  ' 
 the  immediate  reference  of  the  textj    And  by 
 death  deflrcyed  him  who  had  the  power  of  deaths 
 that  is^  the  devil:  Not  his  beings  for  he  is  an  im- 
 mortal  fpirit ;    and  is  referved  as  a   ftanding 
 monument  of  righteous  vengeance  to  all  eterni- 
 ty, and  prefer  ved  in  flames  which  neither  purify 
 nor   deilroy.     But  'tis  his  power  over  death: 
 Not  authority  or  right,  as  if  he  had  thedifpofal 
 and  dired:ion  of  it  as  he  pleafed ;  or  were  the  lord 
 and  fovereign  of  death;  for  that  is  proper  to 
 
 •'^;^^.:nl; '^Chrift,  who  has  the  keys  of  hell^  and  of  death. 
 
 I^VTA.  The  word  here  ufed  fignifies  fimple  power  and 
 ftrength  ;  not  right  and  authority.  But  it  re- 
 fers  either  to  his  introducing  death  into  the 
 
 I  Cor.xi.  world  by  the  firft  fin,   when  the  old  ferpent  by 
 
 fch  viii.  his  fubtilty  beguiled  Eve  y  and  was  a  murderer 
 
 A\'  from  the  beginnings  and  fo  it  may  ftand  oppofed 
 to  the  character  of  Chrill:  as  the  captain  and 
 author  of  fdhnticni  Or  to  his  co?n?7iiJjio7ied 
 power  to  inflid  death,  and  execute  the  fen- 
 tence  of  the  law,  by  bringing  difliempers  and 
 calamities,  which  prove  fatal,  and  ilTue  in  death. 
 
 jobii.  7.  So  Satan  fnote  Job  with  Jbre  boylsr,  and  by  a 
 great  njoind  fmote  the  four  corners  of  the  hoife^ 
 
 ^ i.  ,,  and  it  fell  upon  hischildren^  and  they  were  dead. 
 
 •  God  cafi  upon  the  Egyptians  thefiercenefs  of  his^ 
 anger ^  by  fending  evil  angels.     And  he  bound  a 
 
 \mV.  T^^vi- daughter  of  Abrahai^  who  had  a  fpirit  of  in- 
 
 ^  firmityi 
 
frofn  the  Fear  of  Death.  407 
 
 firmity  for  eighteen  years.     The    murmuring 
 ]f^^were  dcjiroyed  of  the  deftroycr :  i.  e.  thepf.ixxvili, 
 deftroying  angel.      So   the  Jews  call  the  devil  49; 
 the   angel  of  death,    and  the  Apoftle  apoUyofif^f'^-'^- 
 and  ahaddon,   wliich  lignifies  a  deftroyer.  Rev. 
 
 Besides  that  he  has  the  power  to  terrify 
 the  confciences  of  men  with  the  thoughts  of 
 death  ;  for  his  nature  is  a  mixture  of  guile  and 
 cruelty,  who  firft  draws  men  into  fm  which 
 deferves  death,  and  then  affrights  and  torments 
 them  with  the  fear  of  it. 
 
 But  now  Chrid  by   dying  has  dcflroyed  theK^Tvp- 
 devil's  power.     The  word  fignihes  to  rw/;//tv--'^^''' 
 ^ivork  and  defeat,   to  enervate  and  fruilrate  any 
 defign,   to  make  a  thing  ceafe  as  to  its  prefent 
 condition,  and  to  take  off  the  force  and  power 
 of  it.     So  the  Apoftle  fays,  Do  ive   ??iake  void^om.  ill. 
 the  hiw?  And  fpeaks  oi bringing  to  nought  the'^^^ 
 things.that  are.  So  he  defeats  and  diiappoints  the  28. 
 devil's  defign  in  biinging  death  into  the  world, 
 of  entailing   it  upon  the   whole  human  race, 
 .and  keeping  them  always  in   fubjediion  to  it. 
 ,  He  has  turned  the  devil  out  of  his  office,   and 
 '  wrefled  the  power  he  pofTefTed  out  of  his  hands. 
 He  has  no  longer  any  pov>^er  to  inflid:  death, 
 or  terrify  the  minds  of  men  for  whom  Chrifl 
 died.     He  is   to  be  confidered  as    a  conquered 
 enemy y  or  a  rebel  held  faft  in  chains,  and  wholly 
 under  the   power  of  Chrifl.     He  cannot  ex- 
 ecute any  defign,  or  do  any  mifcliief  with- 
 out  his  perm  i  if  ion,  as  he  could  not  enter  in- 
 to the  herd  of  fvvine  without  his  leave.     And 
 fo   by    his    crofs   he  f polled   principalities   and'^^^^-  "* 
 powers  J    and  made  a  Jhew  of  them  openly^  tri- 
 15  d  4  umphing 
 
40  8  Deliverance  hy  Christ, 
 
 iimphwg  o'-oer  them  in  it.     'Tis  an  allufion  ta 
 
 the  Roman  triumph  :    He  drags   them  about 
 
 in  triumph,  hke  captive  Haves,  at  his  chariot- 
 
 joh.  xii.   wheels.     So  the  prince  of  this  world  is  cafi  ouf^ 
 
 3'-  or  dirpoiTciTed  of  the  dominion  he  had  long  ex- 
 
 ercifed  in  the  world.     And   in  this  fenfe  he 
 
 i]o\^\n.'^.deftroys  the  Tjorks  of  the  devil.     This  is  a  con- 
 
 fidcrable  Hep  towards  the  conqueft  of  the  fears 
 
 of  death,  that  we  doii't  lie  at  the  devil's  mercy, 
 
 and  that  he  has  no  longer  power  over  it. 
 
 Again,  he  has  conquer'd  ^r<^/i6  it  felf,  -and 
 deflroyed  the  power  of  it.     'Tis  true,  death  is 
 ftiil  in  being  as  well  as  the  devil,  who  had  the 
 power  of  it.     As  death  entered  into  the  world 
 by  lin,  fo  it  will  continue  in  the  world  as  long 
 as  fm  continues:  Theeffcd:  will  remain  as  long 
 as  the  caufe  of  it.  But  though  death  has  a  being, 
 it  has  lofi:  its  power  too.     'Tis  no  longer  to  be 
 confidered    as  a  victorious   conqueror,  which 
 lays  wafle  all  about  it,  and  defies  all  controul; 
 sTlm.  i.  'tis  a  conquered  enemy,   though  'tis  an  enemy 
 '°-^  _     ftill.     So  the  Apoft le'  fays,    He  has  abolijhed 
 y{>^.j.     death.    'Tis  the  fame  word  as  before.     He  has 
 tO".        vacated  and  difannullcd  it,  as  a  cancelled  bond, 
 or   an  antiquated  rite,    a  thing   out   of  date. 
 He  tryed  the  fhength  of  it,  and  overcame  it.  He 
 encountered  death  in  all  itsterrours,  and  in  its 
 full  Rrength :    He  was  under  the  power  of 
 death   for  a  time,  and  laid  in   the  grave  the 
 prifon  of  death ;  but  he  broke  loofe  from  the 
 grave,  the  feat  and  empire  of  death,  and  con- 
 quered death   in  its  own  dominions.     Death 
 feized  him,  and  confined  him,  but  could  not 
 
 detain 
 
from  the  Fear  of  Dmth.  409 
 
 detain  him  :  He  loof^.d  the  pains  *  of  death,  he- 
 caujc  it  was  not  poffiblc  hcjJooiild  be  holden  of  thejn. 
 He  conquered  death  by  dying,  and  beat  him  at 
 his  own  v/eapons.  When  he  roie  from  thcAa.  ii.24. 
 dead,  he  vifibly  triumphed  over  all  tlie  power 
 of  death,  and  gave  a  fenfible  evidence  of  the 
 acceptance  of  his  performance,  and  his  com- 
 pleat  victory  over  ail  his  enemies. 
 
 And  as  he  conquered  it  in  his  own  perfon,  fo 
 h.e  will  utterly  deflroy  it  at  laft,  for  the  laft  ene- 
 my which  fhall  be  defiroyed  is  death.  The  whole 
 empire  of  death  will  ceafe,  and  there  will  be  720 
 more  any  death.  So  that  death  is  conquer'd  and 
 dilarm'd  :  'tis  rendered  powerlefs  by  the  death  of 
 Chrift  ;  like  a  conquer'd  enemy  Gripped  of  all 
 its  terrour.  And  it  may  well  ceafe  to  be  fright- 
 ful, which  has  no  power  left  to  hurt  us,  and 
 is  not  able  to  detain  us  under  its  power. 
 
 Add  to  all  this,  That  he  has  changed  the 
 nature  of  it,  and  made  it  quite  another  thing. 
 So  the  fcripture  reprefents  the  matter  :  He  has 
 not  only  taken  out  the  fting,  and  removed  the 
 curfeofit,  but  clothed  it  with  a  bleffing.  It 
 was  originally  the  threatned  curfe  for  the  fiii 
 of  man,  but  'tis  now  a  covenant  bleffing.  It 
 was  the  execution  of  the  divine  vengeance  upon 
 guilty  rebels,  but  'tis  now  a  meilcnger  of  peace, 
 and  forerunner  of  the  greateif  good.  It  was 
 a  gloomy  vale,  which  led  dcv/n  to  the  black- 
 nefs  of  darknefs  j  but  'tis  now  a  pafTage  to 
 glory.     It   was   once  an   enemy,    but  now  a 
 
 friend. 
 
 *  Or  tbc(^^«rf'j  of  Death,  which  better  f  lits  with  Ay^ttf  and 
 V-pS/hSscli,  and  is  agreeable  to  die  ambigjity  of  the  Hebrcvj 
 word  in  the  old  teltameiit,  to  vvhich   ihc  Apollle  here  refers. 
 
1  Cor.  iii 
 
 21. 
 
 4 1 D  Deliverance  ^Christ, 
 
 friend.  Hence  we  find  that  death  is  made 
 over  in  covenant  to  true  behevers,  and  rec- 
 koned in  the  inventory  of  their  bleffings  :  All 
 things  are  yotirs^  whether  Paul  or  Apollos^  whe- 
 ther life  or  death',  allis  yours,  ^nA  ye  are  Chrijl's, 
 and  Chriji  is  God's.  And  the  Apoflle  fays:  To 
 Philip.  1.  jjj^  ^Q  ^ig  1^  g^ij^  .    jj.  ^^g  g^ij^  jQ  himfelf  as 
 
 well  as  to  the  chriflian  church  -,  and  what  he 
 
 23.    reckoned y^r  better.     There  can  be  no  reafon 
 
 to  fear  that  which  not  only  means  us  no  harm, 
 but  is  the  inltrument  and  occafion  of  the  great- 
 efc  good  J  which  is  really  friendly  in  its  defign, 
 and  will  turn  to  our  greatefl  advantage.  Thus 
 far  he  lays  the  fouiidation  by  his  death. 
 
 2/)',  He  lays  the  foundation  of  our  delive- 
 rance by  the  gofpel-re-velatlcn,  which  was  con- 
 firmed by  his  death.  This  is  one  of  the  pecu- 
 liar glories  of  the  gofpel  dod:rine :  We  m.ay 
 f  onfider  it  in  the  two  great  inilances  of  it. 
 
 I.  It   reveals  the  glorious  r6y'ii;r;Tt5?/o;2  of  the 
 
 body  at  laft.     This  was   altogether  unknown 
 
 to  natural  light,  and  the  heathen  world ,  and 
 
 not   fully   revealed  under  the  old  teftament. 
 
 The  lively  reprefentation  in  the  noble  tefiimony 
 
 |ob  xix.    of  holy  'joh^  was  very  general,  That  he  fliould 
 
 ^5-  live  again,  2.vAm  his  fiejh  JJjouldJee  God.     The 
 
 prophet  is  more  expiicite  ;  Many  of  them  who 
 
 fept  in  the  diijl  of  the  earth  fall  awake,  fometo 
 
 'Dd.n.xW.z.  eijerlafing  life,  and  fome  to  fame  and  everlaf- 
 
 ing   contempt.     But   the  gofpel  of  Chrifl  has 
 
 made  an  exprefsand  particular  revelation  of  the 
 
 refurred:ion,  and  all  the  glorious  circumflances 
 
 of  it.     That  we  Ihall  be  raifed  from  the  dead 
 
 by  the  power  of  Chrilf,  to    whom  all  power 
 
 and 
 
frG7n  the  Fear  of  Death*  41 1 
 
 zn6.judg??ie7it  is  committed  of  tloe  father  5  and  in 
 the  virtue  of  his  refurrecSlion.     So  he  fays,   /joh.  vL 
 lolll  raife  him  up  at  the  laji  day.    And,  the  dead¥>- 
 f:aU  hear  the  "joice  of  the  fan  of  God^  and  they 
 who  hear  f jail  live.    The  refurredlion  of  Chrift— v.  25. 
 is  fpoken  of  not  only  as  an  argument  that  the 
 dead  (hall  rife,  but  the  pri?2ciple  by  which  they 
 will  be  raifed.     So  our  Lord  fays,  hecaife  I  live 
 ye  f mil  live  alfo.     The  Apoflle  fays.    But  now\  Cor.  xv. 
 is  Chrifl  rifenfrofn  the  dead^  and  become  thefrji^^- 
 fruits  of  them  ivho  Jleep.     And  he  is  the  fifji-  Coloff.  i. 
 boriifrom  the  dead^  that  in  all  thi?2gs  he  might  1 8. 
 have  the  preheminence.     And  again.    If  we  be-  i  Thef. 
 lieve   that  yefus  died  and  rofe  again ^  even  fo'^"^- ^\' 
 them  alfo  who  feep  in  fefus  will  God  bring  with 
 him. 
 
 The  bodies  of  the  faints  at  the  refurred:ion 
 will  be  incorruptible,  glorious^  powerful  andfpi-  ^  q^^  ^^^^ 
 7'itual.  They  will  be  refined  from  all  the  prin-42. 
 ciples  of  corruption  and  decay,  and  become 
 immortal ;  they  will  appear  in  full  beauty  and 
 perfe6lion,  and  fhine  in  the  brightefl  luflre  and 
 glory ;  they  will  be  delivered  from  prefent 
 \veaknefs  and  imperfe6lion,  and  preferved  in 
 the  full  vigour  of  all  their  powers,  and  the 
 greatefl  agility  and  fitnefs  for  action ;  and  they 
 will  be  purified  from  the  groffaefs  of  flefli  and 
 blood,  and  the  need  of  fenfible  refrediments, 
 and  recruits  of  their  prefent  animal  ftate,  and 
 made  fit  companions  and  inflruments  of  the 
 glorified  foul,  and  capable  of  the  heavenly  hap- 
 pinefs.  Yea  the  vile  body,  which  now  labours 
 under  many  infirmities,  and  is  liable  to  the  rot- 
 tennefs  and  corruption  of  the  grave,  w///^^  changed 
 
 and 
 
412  Deliverance  /5;^  C  h  r  i  s  t, 
 
 and  faJJmned  like  to  the  glorious  body  of  Chijl^ 
 Philip,  iii.  according  to  the  working  whereby  he   is  able  to 
 21-         jubdiie  all  things   to  himfelf.     They  who  have 
 Jong  kin  in  the  dufl:  of  the  earth  will  awake 
 from  the  dead,    and  arife  v2SSXj  changed,   and 
 '  to  infinite  advantage,  free  from  ail  natural  de- 
 fects, and  finful  frailties  j  from  all  the  diforder 
 •of  diflempers,  and  unruly  appetites. 
 
 So  that  a  dying  believer  may  fay,  Though  I 
 pay  the  lafi:  tribute  to  nature,  and  yield  to  the 
 ftroke  of  death,  according  to  the  appointment 
 of  God,  yet  I  fliall  not  lie  under  the  power  of 
 it.  Though  my  body  rots  in  the  grave,  and 
 fees  corruption^  yet  it  fliall  be  but  for  a  while ; 
 it  Ihall  rife  out  of  thofe  ruins,  and  be  reilored 
 to  a  more  glorious  flate  for  ever :  then  will  the 
 lajl  enemy  be  deftroyed,  and  then  will  be  brought 
 to  pafs  the  frying  which  is  written,  that  grand 
 I  Cor.  XV.  and  auguft  faying,  death  is  fvallowed  np  in  vic- 
 -Ep  iv  A  ^^''y  ''  ^^^  mortality  fwallowcdup  of  life.  If  we 
 ^re  tender  of  the  prefent  fiefli,  and  fhrink  at 
 the  thoughts  of  the  grave,  let  us  relieve  our 
 minds  with  the  certain  profpe6ts  of  a  glorious 
 refurredlion  ;  of  bodies  of  a  nobler  make  and 
 firmer  conliftence,  which  will  fliine  with  a 
 greater  glory,  and  never  fuffer  any  diforder  or 
 decay,   or  ever  die  any  more. 
 
 2.  T-KE  gofpel  reveals  the  immortal  life  of 
 Tim.  i.  the  other  world.  Chrifl  has  not  only  abolifed 
 death,  but  brought  life  and  immortality  to  light 
 by  the  gofpel.  He  has  made  a  clearer  revelation 
 of  a  future  ftate  of  bleffednefsj  brought  it  out 
 of  the  darknefs  and  obfcurity  in  which  it  lay, 
 and  let  it  in  a  clear  and  open  light.     The  light 
 
 of 
 
 lO 
 
from  the  Fear  of  Death,  413 
 
 of  reafon  only,  made  uncertain  gueffes,  and  the 
 moft  improved  enquirers  into  nature  fometimes 
 exprefs  themfelves  with  doubtfulnefs  about  it. 
 It  was  more  imperfeftly  revealed  under  the  for- 
 mer difpenfations,  and  but  very  fparingly,  and 
 in  more  general  terms.  But  the  gofpel  has 
 more  diftindlly  reprefented  the  excellence  and 
 certainty  of  the  future  flate ;  of  the  immortal 
 nature  and  feparate  exiftence  of  the  foul,  that 
 death  only  kills  the  body,  but  cannot  kill  tbe/kil\^^^^^-^' 
 that  when  the  earthly  houfe  oi  this  tabernacle''^' 
 is  diffohed,  ive  have  a  biiildi?ig  of  God-,  and  when 
 abfent  from  the  body^  are  prcj'ent  with  the  Lord.    2  Cor.  v. 
 
 It  defcribes  the  excellence  of  the  final  blef-'*^" 
 fednefs,  as  a  ftate  of  immediate  enjoyment  of 
 God,  of  his  glorious  prefence  and  everlafling 
 love  3    of  bei?7g  with  Chrijl^  and  beholding  his 
 glory;  in  the  fociety  of  holy  angels,  and  glori- 
 fied faints;  and  in  a  glorious  place  reprelented 
 by  all  the  amiable  images,    and  engaging  cir-, 
 cumftances,  which  are  proper  to  raife  our  love, 
 or  our  admiration:  'tis  a  ipacious  and  glorious 
 kingdom  ;  a  beautiful  and  regular  city ;  a  j>ara- 
 dife  of  pleafure,    a  church  for  worthip  and  de- 
 votion ;  an  inheritance  for  (lability  and  fifety. 
 We  have  the  mofl  diredl  and  ftrong  afiurance 
 of  its  continuance  and  perpetuity.    So  our  Lord 
 promifes  to  his  difciples,  I  will  give  them  ^/<;v-|oh.  x. 
 nal  life,    and  they  jhall  not  perijhy    neither  Jhalh^- 
 any  pluck  fhe?n  out  of  my  hands.     And  the  A- 
 poille  fpeaks  of  it  as  the  great  prornife  of  the 
 new  covenant,  This  is  the  prornife  which  he  hatbx  ]oh.  ii. 
 projnijed us ^  even  eternal  life,    A^nd  xh^y  who  are-^-,  . 
 called  receive  the  promije  of  the  eternal  7nheri-\^, 
 
 tance. 
 
414  Deliverance  hy  C  ft  r  i  s  r, 
 
 tance.  So  'tis  every  where  reprefented  as  an 
 cverlajimg  kingdom^  an  incorruptible  inherita?ice^ 
 a  crown  of  life  which  fadeth  not  away. 
 
 It  has  mark'd  out  the  way  to  the  future  blef- 
 fednefs,  and  dire(5ts  to  the  llire  method  of  ob- 
 taining it.  Our  Lord  tells  the  difciples,  V/hi- 
 ther  I  go  ye  know^  and  the  way  ye  hiow.  And 
 I  am  the  way,  the  truth^  and  the  life,  or  the  true 
 way  to  life;  that  is,  by  the  revelation  of  the 
 gofpel ;  by  following  the  example  he  has  fet 
 us,  and  by  doing  his  will.  And  the  Apoflle 
 fays.  He  is  the  author  of  eternal  falvation  to  alt 
 them  who  obey  him.  So  then  a  good  man  may 
 fay,  *'  Though  I  die  and  my  body  perifh,  yet 
 *'  my  foul  is  an  immortal  principle,  and  will 
 Heb.  v.g. "  never  die:  the  difl  rctiwneth  to  the  duji,  but 
 "  thefpirit  returneth  to  God  who  gave  it.  I  com- 
 "  mend  my  departing  fpirit  into  the  hands  of 
 "  my  heavenly  Father,  and  faithful  Redeemer. 
 "  When  my  body  drops  into  the  grave,  my 
 "  foul  will  afcend  to  the  regions  of  light  j  tho' 
 *'  my  body  lies  for  a  time  rotting  in  the 
 "  grave,  and  becomes  a  lifelefs  and  loath- 
 "  fome  carcafs,  my  foul  will  mount  up  into 
 "  purer  regions,  and  run  into  the  embraces  of 
 "  xht  father  of  jpirits.  Death  cannot  kill  the 
 ^'  foul,  or  fo  much  as  hurt  or  touch  it,  it  only 
 *'  releafes  it  from  the  prifon  of  the  body,  and 
 "  fets  it  at  liberty  from  its  prefent  burden  and 
 "  confinement.  I  have  the  hope  of  eternal  life 
 *'  which  God  who  camiot  lye  hath  pro7nifed\  and 
 *'  am  looking  for  the  mercy  of  the  Ijord  fefus 
 *'  Chrijl,  unto  ete?'?ial  life."  And  why  lliould 
 we  be  tormented  with  tlie  fear  of  death  when 
 
 we 
 
from  the  Fear  of  Death,  cj.i  15 
 
 we  have  fo  great  afTurance  of  the  rerurre<5lIon 
 of  the  body  from  the  power  of  death,  and  of 
 a  glorious  Hfe  beyond  the  grave;  of  an  im- 
 mortal happinefs  of  foul  and  body  in  the  other 
 world. 
 
 Thus  fiir  Chrifi:  has  laid  \\'\t  foundation  of 
 our  deliverance,  and  removed  the  grounds  of 
 our  fear. 
 
 SECT.     III. 
 
 §  2.  He  aBuaUy  delivers  from  the  fear  of 
 death  by  the  influence  of  his  grace^  or  the  af- 
 fiftance  and  reliefs  of  the  gofpel-difpenfation. 
 That  is,  when  we  are  actually  brought  to  be- 
 lieve in  Chrift,  and  receive  the  chriftian  doc- 
 trine, and  have  an  adual  intereft  and  partici- 
 pation in  the  benefits  of  his  death,  and  the 
 promifes  of  the  new  covenant.  He  has  laid  the 
 foundation  upon  which  our  deliverance  is  fecu- 
 red  by  his  death ;  but  he  does  not  aBually  de- 
 liver from  the  fear  of  death  till  we  aSlually  be- 
 Ireve  in  him,  and  become  the  members  of  Chrift, 
 the  head  of  the  redeemed  feed,  and  fubjeds  of 
 Chrift  the  glorious />r/;zr(?  of  life.  So  they  who 
 are  delivered  from  the  fear  of  death  are  repre- 
 fented  in  this  context  asy3;w,  iwid  fa?2Bzfed^  asver.  ir, 
 his  brethren  and  children.  Thus  for  example,  12,  13. 
 it  is  by  breaking  the  dominion  of  lin,  and  de- 
 ilroying  the  reigning  power  of  it.  'Tis  the 
 power  of  hn  in  the  louls  of  men,  as  well  as  the 
 confcious  {tw^Q  of  pafl  offences,  which  makes 
 death  frightful,  and  arms  it  with  fo  much  ter- 
 ^rour  J  and  we  cannot  be  free  from  t\\^  tormen- 
 ting fear  of  death  till  tlie  reigning  power  of 
 
 ill 
 
lA 
 
 —  12,  1' 
 
 416  Deliverance  hy  Christ, 
 
 fill  is  deftroyed.  The  Apoftle  reprefents  this 
 Rom.  VI.  ^3  ^Q.  great  advantage  of  the  gofpel-fcate,  ^in 
 fiall  not  have  dojninion  over  you ^  for  you  are  not 
 under  the  laWy  but  under  grace  j  which  is  de- 
 fcribed  h^  Jin  reigning  in  the  mortal  badv  j  and 
 bei.ig  fervants  of  f.n.  And  the  Apoille  fays, 
 — viii.13.//^^  thro  the  fpirit  mortify  the  deeds,  of  the  body 
 that  we  may  live.  The  bent  of  the  heart  muft 
 be  altered,  and  turned  from  the  love  and  fervice 
 of  fin  to  God  j  and  when  the  power  of  fin  is 
 conquered,  the  feeds  of  fear,  and  the  fpring  of 
 the  trouble,  is  removed.  When  we  are  fanc- 
 tified  by  his  Ipirit,  we  2^^  jujlified  by  his  blood, 
 and  there  is  no  condemnation  to  them  who  are  in 
 Chrif  fefus.  If  we  are  reconciled  to  God,  and 
 in  a  flate  of  favour,  we  are  delivered  from  the 
 curfe  of  the  law,  and  have  nothing  to  fear  from 
 the  power  of  death. 
 
 Besides,  'tis  by  fubduing  the  inordinate  love 
 of  life,  and  of  all  prefcnt  and  fenfible  good. 
 The  heart  muft  be  taken  off  from  the  predo- 
 minant love  of  the  prelent  world,  which  is  in- 
 con  fiftent  with  the  love  of  the  father^  and  is  en- 
 Gal.  vi.  mity  with  God,  So  wc  are  crucified  to  the  world 
 H-  by  the  crofs  of  Chrift,    and  the  world  is  crucified 
 
 unto  us.  It  lofes  the  charms  and  influence  it  had 
 before ;  and  no  more  affects  us  than  two  dead 
 bodies  lying  together,  afifed:  one  another.  They 
 overcome  the  world  by  the  power  of  their 
 I  Joh,  V.  faith ;  for  this  is  the  victory  which  overcomeih 
 ^'  the  worlds  even  our  faith.     The  crucifixion  of 
 
 Chrift  gives  an  afFediing  reprefentation  of  the 
 vanity  and  emptinefs  of  fenfible  good,  and  its 
 mfufHciency  to  be  our  portion ;    and  the  lively 
 
 views 
 
from  the  Fear  df  Death.  4^7 
 
 views  of  another  world,  eafily  difparage  all  the 
 glory  of  this,  and  naturally  tend  to  wean  the 
 heart  from  it,  and  fet  it  above  it;  to  ftt  their Co\oK.\i\. 
 ajj'c^fions  on  things  above ^  and  not  on  things  on  the'^' 
 earth.  'Tis  the  inordinate  love  of  the  vv^orld 
 makes  the  thoughts  of  leaving  it  fo  terrible. 
 When  men  arc  immerfed  in  the  cares  of  the 
 world,  or  bevvitched  v/ith  the  pieafares  of  life, 
 'tis  difficult  to  think  of  parting  with  them,  and 
 is  like  rending  a  limb  from  the  body,  or  tear- 
 ing from  their  embraces  the  idol  they  adored. 
 But  when  the  heart  fits  loofe  to  this  world,  and 
 is  difchargcd  from  its  cares  and  delights;  when 
 men  have  only  regular  and  temperate  regards 
 to  prefent  good,  they  v/ili  not  think  a  removal 
 from  them  fo  great  an  evil,  and  will  part  v/ith 
 them  without  relud:ance  and  dread.  They  fi?! 
 like  ripe  fruit,  and  yield  themfelves  up  with 
 free  choice,  and  ready  refignation  to  the  divine 
 will ;  if  not  With  earnefl:  deiires  of  a  better 
 ftate. 
 
 Further,  'Tis  by  working  fuitable  difpofi' 
 tions  of  mind  to  the  heavenly  ftate ;  or  making 
 them  fpiritually  and  heavenly  minded.  When 
 their  fpirits  are  formed  to  a  ftate  of  blcffcdneis, 
 and  mi'\t  congenial  -Si^^  agreeable  to  it.  Tlius 
 when  they  are  fanciified  and  made  holy,  a  c 
 wrought  fir  the  felf-fame  tiding,  and  ?nade  meet 
 to  he  partakers  of  the  inherit atice,  and  ready  for 
 the  coming  of  the  Lord;  when  there  is  a  folemii 
 choice  of  God  as  our  only  portion,  and  a  fin- 
 cere  love  of  him  above  all  the  world;  and  we 
 fo-ve  the  Lord  J  ejus  Chrijl  in  fmcerit)\  ■Sind  more 
 than  any  creature,  and  have  an  higher  value 
 
 E  e  and 
 
41  8  Deliver  mice  by  Christ, 
 
 and  regard  to  his  favour  and  prefence  than  any 
 prefent  good  ;  this  is  a  proper  preparation  for 
 heaven,  and  a  powerful  prefervative  again  ft  the 
 fear  of  death.  A  prevailing  love  to  God  and 
 heaven  will  expel  the  torinent  of  fear ;  for  per- 
 feB  love  cajleth  out  fear^  and  fo  in  a  propor- 
 tionable degree  to  the  meafure  of  our  love.  The 
 love  of  Chrift  will  make  them  willing  to  die 
 that  they  may  be  with  him,  and  infpire  a  no- 
 ble courage  and  confidence  of  mind  under  the 
 greateft  dangers  and  terrours  of  death:  We  are 
 cc-nfident,  I  fay^  and  n.mlling  rather  to  be  ahjent 
 from  the  body  and  prefent  with  Lord-,  and  the 
 Apoftle  difiredj  upon  this  ground,  to  depart 
 .  and  to  be  with  Chriji^  which  is  far  better. 
 
 To  conclude  this  matter;  'Tis  by  clearer  pro- 
 fpcBs,  and  ^x(ti<tx\X.  foretafes  of  the  future  blef- 
 fednefs.  They  have  fometimes  a  ftrong  fliith 
 of  un feen  things,  and  more  ofFeding  profped:s 
 cf  the  promifed  reft,  as  Mofes  had  of  the  land 
 of  Canaan,  which  warms  their  hearts,  and 
 kindles  earneft  deiires.  They  fee  him,  by  faith, 
 idho  is  invifible,  and  have  a  dired  rcfpedl  to 
 the  recGvipence  of  reward.  They  know  in  whom 
 they  have  believed \  and  that  when  the  earthly 
 houfe  of  their  tabernacle  is  diff'ovled,  they  have 
 a  buildivg  of  Gody  an  houfe  not  made  with  haiids, 
 eternal  in  the  heaveiis.  And  they  have  fome- 
 times the  mt(tY\tforetaJ}e  of  the  future  glory,  in 
 the  unjpe.ikabje  joy  and  confolation  cf  their 
 fouls.  The  fpirit  not  only  bears  witnef  with 
 their  fpir  its,  that  they  are  the  children  of  God,  by 
 the  evident  impreffion  of  the  divine  image  upon 
 tlieir  fouls,  and  fo  they  have  a  title  to  the  inhe- 
 ritance 
 
frofn  the  Fear  of  Death,  419 
 
 ritance  of  fons;  but  he  is  the  earnejl  of  the  /;z-Eph.i.i4: 
 heritance^   and  \}ciQ  fcal  unto  the  day  of  rede  mp-'" 
 tion.     They  have  a  full  fatisfadtion  of  mind, 
 and  a  lively  2ind  joyful  hope  oi  t\\Q  glory  of  God^ 
 and  the  incorruptible  inhcritaiice. 
 
 And  this,  wherever  it  is,  not  only  conquers 
 the  fear  of  death,  but  makes  them  triumph  over 
 it  as  a  vanquiihed  enemy ^  or  rather  embrace  it 
 as  a  friend.  They  are  ready  to  fay  with  old 
 Simeon^  Now^  Lord,  lettejl  thou  thy  (ej'vant  de- 
 part in  peace .^  for  ray  eyes  havefee?i  thy  falva- 
 tionx  and  with  their  dvins;  Lord,  Father  into 
 thy  hands  I  comnrend  my  fpirit  ^  and  with  the 
 manyr  Stephen,  Lord  Je/us,  receive  my  firit -, 
 or  with  the  Apoflle,  O  death,  zvhere  is  thy  fling ; 
 O  grave  where  is  thy  vicfory  F — Thanks  be  to  God 
 who  gtveth  us  the  viSlory, 
 
 If  any  fliould  fay  here,  how  is  this  recon- 
 cilable withy^/^/  and  experience  ?  Are  not  many 
 good  men  fubjecfl  to  the  fear  of  death,  and 
 fomctimes  in  great  uncertainty  and  doubt ;  in 
 great  difquiet  and  uneafinefs,  or  even  anxiety 
 and  diftrefs  of  mind,  upon  a  dying  bed?  I  an- 
 fwer  cut  of  the  principles  already  laid  down ; 
 tliat  ihe.  foundation  of  their  fear  is  removed  by 
 Chriil,  and  the  juft  ground  of  it  taken  away  : 
 Th^y  fear  where  no  far  is,  and  there  is  no  jull: 
 caufe  of  their  fear  left.  And  they  are  aftually 
 delivered  from  the  fear  of  death  in  a  gi^eat  mea- 
 fure,  that  is,  the  prevaili'dg  fear  of  it.  Every 
 fincere  believer  has  a  greater  love  to  Clirifl,  than 
 fear  of  death,  in  the  fettled  habit  ot  his  m.ind, 
 and  had  rather  die  than  not  come  to  heaven. 
 Put  it  to  them  under  their  greatefl:  fear,  v/he- 
 
 E  e  \  2  tiicr 
 
4  2  o  Deliverance  by  Christ, 
 
 ther  they  would  aluays  live  in  this  world', 
 and  be  content  with  the  prefent  ftate ;  and 
 chufe  never  to  enjoy  God  and  Chrifi  here- 
 after, upon  condition  they  were  never  to  die  3 
 and  they  would  certainly  anfwer,  No.  'Ti^^ 
 not  therefore  the  prevailing  habit,  and  prin- 
 ciple of  their  minds,  though  it  may  be  to  fuch 
 a  degree,  as  to  be  very  troublefome  and  uneafy 
 to  them. 
 
 And  there  are  manv  caufes  mav  be  affigned 
 of  the  remtiining  fear  of  death  in  good  men  : 
 'Tis  never  owing  to  any  defed:   in    their    de- 
 liverance by  Chrift,    but  always  to  themfelves. 
 It  fometnnes  proceeds  from  the  great  remain- 
 ders ofy/>z,  which   cloud   their  evidences,  and 
 create  trouble  of  foul;  for  guilt  has  always  fear 
 accompanying  it,  as  infeparably  as  the  fliadow 
 to  the  body :  Or  from   the  wcaknefs  of  their 
 Jaith  ;  for  a  v/eak  faith  will  neceflarily  be  at- 
 tended with  a  great  deal   of  doubt.   Wherefore 
 did  ft  thou  doubly  O  thou  of  little  faith  f    They 
 tremble  and  are  afraid,  becaufe  they  are  uncer- 
 tain of  their  ftate  towards  God,  and  diflruflful 
 ot  the  final  event  :  Or  it  may  proceed  from  na- 
 tural temper  and  conliitution  j  a  black  and  m.e- 
 lancholly  vapour  may  fiy  \\^  wXo  their  heads, 
 and  fpiead  a  gloom  through  their  fouls.    They 
 are  naturally  timorous,    and  cafily  receive  dil- 
 couraging  impreiTions,  and  ready  to  flart  at  any 
 found  of  terror,  or  fliadow  of  danger :  Or  even 
 the  lowuefs    of  the    miimal   fpirits,    and    the 
 weaknefs  and  diforders  of  nature,   may  breed 
 dejcdion  of  mind.     However,  he  will  perfectly 
 deliver  them  at  laft  from  every  remainder  of 
 
 fear. 
 
from  the  Fear  of  Death,  42  x 
 
 fear.  Death  will  be  an  antidote  againll  it- 
 felf,  and  efi'edually  cure  all  the  fear  of  it. 
 They  will  be  fet  above  the  reach  of  all  its 
 darts,  and  the  leafl  apprehenfion  of  fear.  There 
 ■loillbc  no  more  death ^  in  the  regions  of  immorta- 
 lity, and  thev  v/iil  never  fear  that  which  is  not. 
 
 III.  I  (liall  only  add  two  praBical  remarks 
 upon  what  has  been  fiid. 
 
 I.  How  unreajonable  ^XQ  the  fears  of  good 
 men.  'Tis  true,  wicked  men  have  a  great  deal 
 of  reafon  to  fear  death  ;  for  that  is  the  de  - 
 rtruction  of  all  their  happincfs,  and  the  begin- 
 ning of  the  greatefl  forrows.  And  Chrifl  has 
 not  delivered  them  from  the  fear  of  it,  but  left 
 them  under  the  fall  force  of  it.  'Tis  armed 
 with  a  Ifing,  and  full  of  terrour.  It  ftands 
 ready,  like  the  divine  executioner,  to  gripe  and 
 feize  them,  to  drag  them  to  the  tribunal  of  juf- 
 .tice,  and  the  priion  of  hell.  'Tis  a  wonder 
 the  fear  of  death  don't  follow  them  wherever 
 they  go,  haunt  them  like  a  ghoft,  and  almofl 
 fright  them  out  of  their  wits.  'Tis  owing  to 
 great  flupidity  and  inconfideration,  to  the  con- 
 ilant  engagements  and  diverlion  of  other  things, 
 and  to  many  flattering  and  deceitful  views,  that 
 wicked  men  can  be  fecure  in  lin,  who  certain- 
 ly know  that  they  mull:  quickly  die.  And  O 
 the  fright  and  terrour,  the  agony  and  diilrefs 
 of  dying  hnners,  when  their  minds  arc  av/ake- 
 ned,  and  their  views  enlarged,  when  they 
 £land  upon  the  brink  of  the  grave,  and  the  edge 
 of  another  world  3  when  their  lin  is  brought  to 
 remembrance  J  and  Jet  iji  order  before  them-,  and 
 E  e  3  they 
 
42  2  Deliver a?2ce  /?;/  Christ,  J 
 
 they  have  no  view  before   them  but  of  an 
 
 TT ,         angry  judge,    and    a  flaming  hell,    or  a  ce?'- 
 
 26.     *    taijt  fearful  looking   for  of  judgment,    and   of 
 
 fiery  indignation^  ivbich  fjall  confiime  the  ad- 
 
 verfary  ! 
 
 But  as  to  good  men,  why  fhould  they  be 
 afraid  of  death  ?  Art  thou  afraid  of  the  dljfohi- 
 tion  of  nature?  But  that  is  an  irreverfible  de- 
 cree, upon  a  juft  ground :  'Tis  the  execution 
 of  the  original  threatning  againft  the  fm  of 
 man ;  and  'tis  appointed  to  man  once  to  die.  It 
 argues  great  weaknefs  and  impotence  of  mind, 
 and  involves  great  abfurdity  in  it,  to  fear  that 
 which  we  know  before-hand  cannot  be  avoid- 
 ed, which  is  the  condition  of  our  nature,  and 
 fettled  by  a  divine  decree.  Can  we  expert  the 
 decrees  of  heaven  fiiould  be  rcverfed,  and  the 
 conftitution  of  things  fet  aiide,  for  our  iakes  ?  1 
 Jobxvjii.  ^Jj all  the  earth  be  forfakcn  for  thee^  and  the  rock 
 **■  he  removed  out  of  its  place'':    It  muft  be  flrange 
 
 fondnefsand  partiality  to  ourfelvcs,  to  exped:  to 
 be  exempt  from  the  common  law  of  mortality, 
 to  which  all  the  world  befides  is  fubjed:.  'Tis 
 our  wifdom  and  intereil;  to  fubmit  and  yield 
 to  the  righteous  will  and  wife  conftitution  of 
 heaven.  And  efpecially  when  we  have  fo  much 
 reafon  to  exped:  the  refurredion  of  the  body 
 at  lafl,  tofuch  great  advantage,  and  the  eternal 
 life  of  the  other  world.  That  is  only  like  pul- 
 ling down  an  old  decayed  houfe,  to  raife  a  no- 
 bier  building  in  its  room.  Or  art  thou  afraid 
 of  changing  worlds,  of  leaving  this  world,  and 
 going  into '  another,  a  ftrange  and  unknown 
 world }   But  why,  if  it  be  to  a  better  world, 
 
 and 
 
from  the  Fear  of  Death.  423 
 
 and  to  a  ftate  of  blefTednefs,  fhould  we  fear 
 a  change  to  fo  great  advantage  r  or  leaving  a 
 ftate  of  guilt  and  imperfed;ion,  for  a  iiate  of 
 purity  and  perfedion  j  and  the  confinement  and 
 miferies  of  the  prefent  life,  for  the  liberty  and 
 reft,  the  joys  and  glory  of  the  other  ?  This  is 
 a  needlefs  and  caufelefs  fear  to  every  fincerely 
 good  man ;  yea,  they  have  reafon  for  hope  in 
 their  deaths  and  to  rejoice  in  hope  of  the  glory  of 
 God. 
 
 2.  How  great  are  our  obligations  to  Chrift! 
 How  admirable  was  the  love  of  our  Redeemer 
 to  partake  of  our  flep  and  bloody  and  fubmit  to 
 die  for  us,  that  he  might  deliver  us  from  the 
 fear  of  death  ?  He  endured  a  cruel  and  curfed 
 death,  in  all  the  pains  and  terrours  of  it,  to  de- 
 liver us  from  the  bondage  of  fear.  How  great 
 is  the  privilege  and  bleffing  of  true  believers  in 
 him,  above  the  Heathen  -3^x16.  Jewifi  world? 
 What  poor  relief  and  confolation  again  ft  the 
 fear  of  death,  were  drawn  from  the  wifdom 
 of  philofophy,  and  the  fuccours  of  improved 
 reafon  ?  And  what  advantages  have  we  above 
 the  former  difpenfation  in  the  clearer  light,  and 
 greater  provilion,  by  Chrift  and  the  gofpel-re- 
 velation  ?  How  fliould  this  endear  him  to  us, 
 and  recommend  the  gofpel  to  our  value  and  e- 
 fleem  ?  How  readily  {liould  we  embrace  his 
 doctrine;  how  cheerfully  fliould  wQfer've  him^ 
 being  delivered  out  of  the  hands  of  our  greatefl: 
 enemies^  in  righteoufnefs  and  holinefs,  njcithoiit 
 fear^  all  our  days  ?  How  comfortably  may  we 
 wait  for  our  final  deliverance,  and  perfect  blef- 
 fednefs  j  for  ih.Q'^captain  of  our  fahation^  made 
 E  c  4  per- 
 
424  Deliverance  /^Christ,  .* 
 
 Hcb.  ii.   pcrfeB  hy  fufer'ing^  wps  not  only  crowned  iiith  ■"' 
 
 *°'  honour  and  glory\  but  will  bring  the  many  fons 
 
 to  glory ^  at  lafl.     He  will  ghc  them  all  eternal 
 
 life,  and  they  Jhall  not  perijh,  and  none Jhall pluck 
 
 xi^^    ■-•them  out  of  his  hands  \   and  neither  death  nor 
 
 jN.orn.  viw.  J 
 
 38.  life  jl J  all  be  able  to  fep  arete  them  from  the  love  cf 
 
 God  in  Jefiis  Chrtji  our  Lord.  \ 
 
 1  fliaii  conclude  this  lon«;  difcoiirie  with  a 
 fliort  account  ot  pur  decealed  friend,  whofe 
 death  and  dfre  gave  the  occaiion  of  it.  She 
 was  religious  betimes,  and  besian  the  pra6tice  of 
 fecret  prayer  from  between  fix  and  leven  years 
 of  age,  which  ihe  continued  ail  her  life.  She 
 has  been  known  to  lay,  "  That  fhe  did  not 
 *'  know  the  time  in  which  fhe  was  not  con- 
 "  verted."  She  entered  early  into  the  married 
 flate,  and  was  happy  in  that  relation  for  forty 
 years.  She  lived  with  tender  aifetftion,  and  full 
 confidence  J  with  a  wife  care,  and  faithful  dili- 
 gence. Her  behaviour  m  htv family,  and  parti- 
 cularly her  care  of  her  children,  was  very  exem-  1 
 plary^  infcructing,  encouraging,  warning  and 
 reproving  them  upon  alioccafions^  and  to  mcfl 
 of  them  with  happy  fuccefs.  She  well  anfwered 
 the  charader  the  Apoille  requires  in  fuch 
 KTirn.iii.3.  relation:  She  \nz^  granje,  fiber,  faithful  in  all 
 *  V  .'.  things ;  in  behaviour  as  becometh  holinefs,  a 
 .    •"•  3-  teacher  of  good  things. 
 
 In  any  of  the  greater  troubles  and  afflidions 
 of  life,  file  would  fpend  many  hours,  and  fome- 
 times  whole  days,  infolemn  retirement  and  fe- 
 cret devotion ;  and  was  often  a  great  fupport 
 and  relief  to  her  h&\ovtd  yoke  fellow,  in  the  tryals 
 and  adyerfities  which  befel  him.     §he  was  r^- 
 
 •  ■       ■       ■    2uiar 
 
from  the  Fear  of  Death,  425 
 
 gular  and  unblamable  in  her  whole  courle,  and 
 uleful  in  every  relation  of  life.  She  was  indeed 
 an  ornament  to  her  profefTion,  and  adorned  the 
 doBriue  of  God  our  Saviour^  hi  all  things.  She 
 greatly  delighted  in  reading,  and  made  a  wile 
 and  judicious  choice.  She  often  read  v/ith  un- 
 derftanding  and  affediion,  befides  the  daily  i;fe 
 of  the  fcriptures,  the  works  of  Dr.  Prejion,  a- 
 mong  our  old  divines  ; and  Mr.  Baxters  prac- 
 tical writings,  Mr.  How's^  and  Mr.  Showers^ 
 among  the  moderns  j  and  had  a  particular  re- 
 lilli  of  fome  among  the  living.  She  deeply 
 lamented  the  differences  and  animohties  a- 
 mong  chriftians  as  a  fcandal  to  the  world, 
 and  an  enemy  to  brotherly  love,  and  practical 
 religion, 
 
 Her  end  was  peace,  as  her  life  was  upright. 
 She  was  fenfibly  touched  in  her  lafl:  iicknefs 
 with  the  tender  affedion  of  her  dt^v  yoke-fello%v^ 
 and  could  not  bear  the  concern  he  fometimes 
 expreft  about  her.  "  She  delired,  what  fl:is 
 "  laid,  flie  never  did  before,  that  unlefs  he 
 "  could  reflrain  his  pallion,  not  to  fee  him :" 
 But  affured  him,  flie  was  ilitisfied  of  her  flate, 
 and  of  the  grounds  of  her  hope  j  and  was  fo 
 far  from  being  afraid  to  die,  that  ihe  defired  to 
 depart^  and  he  with  Chri/i ;  and  that  flie  knew 
 through  grace,  that  when  this  earthly  hoiije  of 
 her  tabernacle  was  diljohed,  Jhe  had  a  building 
 of  God,  an  houfe  not  made  with  hands,  eternal 
 in  the  he  aliens. 
 
 Let  the  confideration  of  fuch  an  example 
 as  this  alTwage  the  grief  of  bereaved  and  defo- 
 late  relations  J  confirm  our  faith  of  the  chri- 
 
 flian 
 
^26    Deliverance  from  theF ear  of  Death, 
 
 ftian  doctrine,  and  encourage  the  faith  and 
 diligence  of  every  iincere  chriftian :  And  God 
 grant,  that  we  may  not  be  fonnd.  Jlothful^  but 
 followers  of  them  who  thro  faith  and  patience  in- 
 herit the  premife. 
 
 SER- 
 
427 
 
 S  E  R  M  O  N     IX.      • 
 
 Of  Chriftians  Defire  to  depart^ 
 or  WiUin(y?iefs  to  die. 
 
 Philip,  i.   22,23,  24. 
 'Yet  what  I  Jhall  chiife^   1  wot  720 1. 
 
 For  I  a7?t  in  a  Jlrait  betwixt  two^ 
 having  a  defire  to  departs  and  to  be 
 with  Chriji  \  which  is  far  better, 
 JSJeverthelefs  to  abide  in  the  fiefij  is 
 more  iieedful  for  yoit* 
 
 ^  I  A  H  E  Apoftle  in  the  beginning  of  the 
 i  chapter  having  expreft  his  great  affec- 
 -■-  tion  and  concern  for  the  chriflian  Fhi- 
 lippians^  and  encouraged  them  by  the  fuccefs 
 of  his  fufferings,  which  had  occafioned  the 
 fpreading  the  knowledge  of  the  gofpel,  and 
 animated  others  to  greater  courage  in  the  pro- 
 feffion  of  it  3  comes  in  the  20th  ver.  to  Ipeak  of 
 his  earnejl  expeBation  and  hope^  that  Chrfji  fiould 
 be  magnified  in  his  body^   whether  by  life,  or  by 
 
 death: 
 
428  Christians  Defire  to  depart^ 
 
 death:  That  his  honour  and  mtereft  in  the., 
 world  flioiild  be  promoted,  by  his  preaching  of 
 the  gofpel,  and  the  fervices  of  his  Hfe  j  or  by 
 his  fufferings  and  death  :  and  lie  feems  to  fpeak 
 of  it  as  a  matter  of  indifference  to  himfelf, 
 which  it  was,  and  to  leave  it  entirely  to  the  plea- 
 •  fii re  of  God.  He  explains  himfelf  more  particu- 
 larly in  the  2 1  ft  ver.  For  to  mc  to  live  is  Chrifl. 
 The  work  and  buiinefs  of  life  is  to  ferve  him, 
 or  the  great  motive  to  live,  and  what  renders 
 it  valuable  and  defirable.  And  to  die  is  gain: 
 If  I  die  a  martyr  for  his  fake,  my  faithfuinefs 
 and  coni^ancy  to  the  death,  no  lefs  than  the 
 labours  of  my  life,  will  be  a  means  of  advanc- 
 ing his  honour,  as  well  as  of  promoting  my 
 perfonal  interell  and  welfare.  So  it  follows  in 
 ver.  22.  For  if  1  live  inthe  flejl\  this  is  the  fruit 
 of  7m  labour:  What  all  m.y  labour  will  be  di- 
 redled  to;  and  this  will  make  it  worth  the 
 while  to  live,  whatever  difficulties,  or  fuifer- 
 «>c  a«'.f  ings  I  meet  with.  'Tis  xccpTroi  €f>yyy  oper^e  pre- 
 !^'-  ,  tium.  Andyetwhat  tochufe  Iivotmt :  I  am  not 
 preiently  determmed  what  to  do.  1  nnd  it  no 
 eafy  fiiatter  to  know  which  to  prefer,  if  I  were 
 left  to  my  felf,  and  it  were  referred  to  my  own 
 choice :  For  I  am  in  ajirait  betwixt  two^  &c. 
 I  iliall  propofe  to  confider  thefe  words  in  a 
 double  view. 
 
 I.  As  they  relate  to  the  Apoflle,  and  exprefs 
 the  temper  of  his  mind  in  his  prefent  circum- 
 ftances. 
 
 II.  As  they  are  applicable  to  other  christians, 
 and  mny  ferve  to  direQ  and  regulate  ours.    And 
 
 then 
 
or  WilUngmfs  to  die,  429 
 
 then  make    fome  pradlical    refections  in   the 
 clofe. 
 
 SECT.     T. 
 
 I.  I  /hall  confider  the  words  as  they  relate 
 to  the  ApoftJe,  and  exprefs  the  tefnper  of  liis 
 mind  in  his  prefent  circumftances.  Here  it 
 will  be  neceflary  to  confider  two  things ;  i.The 
 ftraitto  which  he  was  reduced.  2.  The  deter- 
 mination he  came  to  at  laft.  This  will  lead 
 me  to  open  the  main  drift  of  the  Apoflle's  dif- 
 courfe  in  this  chapter. 
 
 §  T.  Ty^^y.  jlrait  to  which  he  was  here  re- 
 duced: lam  in  a  jircit  betwixt  fwo : awi-^oiJij.ii 
 I  am  ftraitcned,  and  held  in  on  either  iide: 
 There  was  a  difficulty  on  both  hands,  and  he 
 was  preji  in  fpirjt  each  way.  The  Apoflle  is 
 thought  to  allude  to  the  exprelhon  of  David 
 to  Gad;  I  am  in  a  great  flr  ait,  whether  to  fall  z  Sam. 
 i?ito  the  hands  of  the  Lord,  or  the  hands  of  ?nan.'^^''''''  ^^' 
 1  fliall  briefly  reprcfent  the  cafe  on  both  iides. 
 
 I.  On  the  one  fide  there  was  his  de/Jre  to  de- 
 part and  be  with  Chrifi.  The  force  of  this  con- 
 fideration  will  bcft  appear  by  fettling  the  fenfe 
 of  the  feveral  terms.     Thus  for  example,    it 
 was  to  depart^  avaXvcrcci.  The  word  fignitics  to 
 refolve  and  unbind  3  and  plainly  refers  to  the 
 dijjohiiion  of  his  nature,    or  the   feparation   of 
 foul  and  body;  for  'tis  oppofed  to   abiding  in 
 the  flefh,  in  the  next  vcrfc.     So  he  fpeaks  of 
 himfelf,    /  am  ready  to  he  offered,  and  the  time  ■:.  Tim  ir. 
 cf  my  departure  is  at  hand;  a.\aiX\JO£i^i,   ofmy^' 
 departure  out  of  the  body.     The  ApolllePc^^^r 
 calls  \X.,  putting  off  this  his  tabernacle.    'Tis  ufed  z  Pet  i. 
 of  a  man'c  rcturr.tmg  to  his  own  home  01  coun-  '4- 
 
 try, 
 
430         Christians  Dejtre  to  depart j 
 aMXvori.1.  try,  after  a  long  abfence ;  Ajid  ye  your  fehes 
 l^'  ^""  like  a  mmi  ivho  waits  for  the  Lor  d^  isohen  he  fiall 
 return  from  the  ivedding. 
 
 And  upon  his  departure  he  was  to  be  ivith 
 Chriji.     This  was  to  be  the  immediate  confe- 
 quence  to  him,  and  what  ftood  in  the  clofefl 
 connexion  with  it.    This  our  Lord  reprefents 
 Luk  xxiii.  by  bei?jg  with  him  i?i  paradije :  In  a  ilate  of  reft 
 43-  and  pleafure^    and  being  i/i  Abraham's  bofom 
 
 in  the  fame  fenfe.  The  Apoflle  reprefents  it 
 sCor.  V.  by  being  abfent  from  the  hody^  ^ndi  prefoit  with 
 ^-  the  Lord  J  free  from  all  the  inconveniences   of 
 
 the  bodily  flate,  and  all  the  labour,  and  weak- 
 •  uefs,  and  forrow  of  the  prefent  life;  and  hap- 
 
 py in  the  prefence  of  Chrill,  and  in  commu- 
 nion and  enjoyment  of  him ;  in  the  light  of 
 his  glory,  and  the  fenfe  of  his  favour.  And 
 though  the  final  and  comtleat  happinefs  of  good 
 men  will  not  commence  till  the  appearance  of 
 Chriil,  and  the  rejiirredlion  cf  tlie  body  at  laif  ; 
 and  which  becaufe  'tis  the  great  peculiarity  of 
 the  chriitian  dcd:rine,  and  was  npt  underftood 
 by  the  world  before  -,  as  v/ell  as  is  of  the  grea- 
 tefc  confequence  in  it  (t\?y  is,  I  fuppofc,  the 
 reafon,  why  we  find  it  (o  often  referred  to  tiiis 
 period,  throughout  the  new  teftamcnt.  A?ui 
 thou  fiak  be  rcccmpenced  at  the  rcfurre5iion  of 
 the  juf.  'Tis  at  the  day  of  retribution,  they 
 f:all  enter  into  the  joy  cf  the  Lord.  The  Apo^ 
 ille  fpeaks  of  the  glory  to  be  revealed  at  the  ap- 
 pearance oj  "Jcfus  Chrifi.  And  Vv  t;  ihall  be  e'^oer 
 with  the  Lord,  when  the  Lord  bimfelffiall  de- 
 I  ThcfT.  fiend  from  heaven  with  a  font,  ivnd  the  dead  in 
 \y.i^,i^^-Chriffiall  rife  frf.  But  then  nothing  hin- 
 ders 
 
or  Wtllingnefs  to  die,  431 
 
 ders  their  being  hnmediately  happy,  though  in 
 a  lower  degree  and  left  perfedl  ftate.  This  was 
 plainly  the  Apoftle's  view  in  the  prefent  cafe, 
 that  upon  his  departure,  he  was  to  be,  in  fome 
 fenfe,  njoith  Chrifl,  and  prefent  with  the  Lord. 
 
 And  this  he  efteemedy^r  better.  There  is 
 a  ftrange  emphafis  in  the  expreffion  ^m'^c^  ydp 
 fxoiKXov  xpeiojovy  there  is  a  double  compara- 
 tive :  'tis  not  only  fimply  better ^  or  preferable, 
 but  much  better ;  and  not  only  much  better, 
 but  ^ery  much  better.  It  was  not  only  fo  in 
 it  felf,  and  abfolutely  confidered  j  but  in  the 
 relative  conlideration  of  it  too :  it  was  more 
 for  his  perfonal  advantage  and  benefit,    than  * 
 
 his  prefent  ftate,  as  it  was  a  ftate  of  entire  free- 
 dom from  prefent  labour  and  fuffering,  the 
 hope  of  which  made  them  eafy  to  him  \  and  of 
 more  perfect  fervice  and  enjoyment  of  Chrifl, 
 v^liich  was  the  height  of  all  his  defires.  It  was 
 undoubtedly  preferable  to  every;  thing  in  this 
 life,  and  whatfoever  he  enjoyed  in  it,  or  was 
 capable  of  doing.  There  was  no  comparifon 
 between  the  one  and  the  other ;  for  though  he 
 was  capable  of  doing  much  fervice  for  Chrift 
 in  this  world,  and  had  great  enjoyment  of  him 
 tooi  yet  it  was  v/ith  great  weaknefs  and  imper- 
 fed;;on,  and  with  a  f^rcat  deal  of  trouble  and 
 luffcring.  He  ferved  the  Lord  with  much  weak-  i  Cor.  ii. 
 nefs  a?2dfear,  and  with  many  tears  and  temp-Z- 
 tations.  It  was  not  to  be  compared  with  the 
 future  ftate  of  perfed;  freedom,  and  pcrfe6t  fer- 
 vice and  enjoyment  of  Chriii.  It  made  the 
 t^vo  ftates  vaflly  dijparate  and  unlike,  and  the 
 
 one 
 
4-3^         Christians  Defire  to  depart^ 
 
 one  of  them,  beyond  all  comparifon,  more  de- 
 firable  than  the  other. 
 
 He  had  hereupon  a  great  defire  of  it :  hav- 
 ing a  defire  to  depart^  and  be  ivith  Chriji.  It 
 being  fo  much  better,  and  more  excellent,  he 
 could  not  but  defire  it.  And  though  no  good 
 man  defires  death,  or  diffolution,  fimply  for  it 
 felf,  and  for  its  own  fake,  for  'tis  a  natural  e- 
 vil,  and  the  great  terrour  and  dread  of  nature, 
 as  'tis  the  fruit  of  lin,  and  the  deftruftion  of 
 our  prefent  being;  yet  for  the  fake  of  fome- 
 thing  elfe,  and  as  it  ftands  conncBed  with  a 
 greater  good,  it  may  be  defirable ;  that  is,  ra- 
 ther than  not  go  to  God,  and  be  with  Chrift^ 
 and  in  order  to  our  doing  fo,  and  as  the  ne- 
 cefTary  and  appointed  means  of  it.  So  the  A- 
 :?, Cor.  V.  pollle  reprefents  it;  For  ive  who  are  in  this  ta~ 
 '4-  bernacJe  groan,  being  bur dejicd,    Jiot  for  that  we 
 
 would  be  unclothed,  but  clothed  upon,  that  mor- 
 tality might  be  fwallowedup  of  life :  Not  fimply 
 to  be  unclothed,  or  lliript  of  the  body,  but  for 
 the  fake  of  the  heave?2ly  clothing,  and  the  im- 
 mortal life  which  is  connecfled  with  it. 
 
 And  it  was  an  earnefi:  and  fervent  defire. 
 — ver.  2o.He  fpeaks  of  his  earnefi  expeBatio?t  and  hope. 
 His  defire  of  it  was  anfwerable  to  the  excel- 
 lent nature  of  the  thing,  and  the  great  expec- 
 tation of  his  mind.  He  had  a  warm  and  ve- 
 licment  defire,  as  well  as  a  regular  and  well- 
 grounded  one.  He  defired  it  as  a  moll  excel- 
 lent ftate,  and  more  perfedl  and  preferable  to 
 the  be  ft  (late  of  this  world.  He  could  not  but 
 greatly  defire  what  appeared  to  him  fo  truly 
 excellent  and  defirable,  and  what  he  mufi:  be 
 
 fuppofed 
 
cr  Willtngnefs  to  die,  433 
 
 fuppofed  to  have  had  fo  clear  a  fatisfadion  in 
 his  mind  about.  So  he  often  expreffes  him- 
 felf :  Being  cofijident,  Ifiy^  ^^^  willing  7' ether 
 to  be  abjent  from  the  body,  and  prejent  with  the 
 Lord.  And,  While  we  are  in  this  body  we 
 groan^  earnejily  defiring  to  be  clothed  upon. 
 
 So  that  here  he  was  preft  with  the  weight 
 of  his  own  defire^  and  ftrongly  urged,  on  this 
 fide,  by  a  regard  to  his  own  eafe  and  hap- 
 pinefs,  which  is  the  flrongeft  propenfity  of  the 
 reafonable  nature  ;  /.  e.  of  deliverance  from 
 prefent  labour  and  fuffering,  and  a  more  per- 
 Jed:  ftate  of  fervice  and  enjoyment.  This  con- 
 tributed to  his  prefent  difficulty,  and  was  one 
 of  the  two  things  which  reduced  him  to  fo 
 great  a  flrait. 
 
 2.  On  the  other  lide,  there  was  his  further 
 ufefiilnejl  to  the  church,  and  their  need  of  his 
 fervice.  This  is  mentioned  ver.  24.  Neverthe- 
 lefs  to  abide  in  the  Jlefiy  is  more  needful  for  you. 
 q.  d.  It  Vv'ould  be  better  for  me  to  depart,  and 
 be  with  Chrifl,  this  would  turn  mof  to  my 
 account,  and  be  moil  for  my  advantage  and 
 fatisfadtion,  beyond  all  comparifon.  If  I  were 
 only  to  confult  my  felf,  and  my  own  perfonal 
 good,  I  fliould  perfently  be  at  a  point,  and  de- 
 termine the  matter  this  way :  I  fhould  chule 
 to  depart,  and  get  out  of  the  ftrait  at  once : 
 my  earned  deiire  of  future  happinefs  would 
 flrongly  inchne  me  this  way.  But  then,  when 
 I  confider  on  the  other  hand,  how  I  Hand  cir- 
 cumftanced  with  relation  to  you,  and  of  what 
 importance  my  continuance  in  life  may  be  to 
 the  church  of  Chrift  j  how  much  you  neei  my 
 F  f  further 
 
434-         Christians  Deftre  to  depart^ 
 
 further  help,  and  what  difadvantage  you  may 
 fuffer  by  my  abfence ;  then  I  find  myfelf  great- 
 ly preft  on  the  other  hand,  and  am  at  a  ftand 
 again  j  and  iiohat  Ifiall  chufe  I  wot  not.  A 
 
 If  any  fay  here.  But  was  this  a  Sufficient  ba-^ 
 larxe  to  his  being  with  Chriji,  and  able  to  keep 
 the  fcale  in  an  equilibrium  ;  fhoqld  not  that 
 confideration  have  greatly  weighed  down,  and 
 '  eafily  have  turned  the  fcale  ?  I  anfwer,  fo  it 
 might  eafily  appear  to  a  narrow  and  fellifh 
 mind,  and  upon  a  hafty  and  tranfient  view  of 
 the  cafe :  but  upon  a  clofer  and  more  attentive 
 confideration  of  the  circumilances  of  things,  it 
 will  appear  to  have  a  great  deal  of  reafon,  and 
 to  carry  great  weight  in  it.  'Tis  certain  this 
 church  was  firfl  planted  by  him  5  for  he  was 
 directed  by  a  vilion  to  go  into  Macedonia^  and 
 
 Aa.  xvi.  he  came  to  Philippi,  which  is  the  chief  city  of 
 Macedonia  ;  and  o?i  the  fabbath-day  went  out 
 of  the  city^  where  prayer  was  wont  to  be  made,  to 
 the  Profeucha,  and  fpake  to  the  women  who  re- 
 forted  thither.  And  here  he  converted  Lydia ; 
 6.  and  difpoffeffed  a  damfel  oi  the  fpirit  of  divi- 
 nation-y  and  converted  ih^jaylor  of  the  prifon 
 into  which  he  was  caft.  He  firft  laid  the  foun- 
 dation of  a  chriftian  church  among  them,  and 
 was  their  fpiritual  father,  who  had  begotten 
 them  again  by  the  goipel. 
 
 There  was  great  mutual  endearment  between 
 them.    -They  fliewed  a  dutiful  and  affectionate 
 
 Chap.  Iv.  regard  to  him  in  his  bonds  at  'Rome,  and  their 
 
 '°-  care  of  him  flourified  again.     Fie  fpeaks  it  to 
 
 their  honour,    though  to  the  reproach  of  others, 
 T^hat  no  church  communicated  with  him  as  con- 
 cerning 
 
 IZ. 
 
 —14 
 
 —25 
 
 ^15 
 
or  Willingnefs  to  die*  435 
 
 cerning giv'uig and receroing^   but  they  only  -,  and        ' 5 • 
 that  h.Q  received  of  Epaphroditus,  who  was  their 
 mejfenger^  and  probably  their  minijier^  the  things 
 which  were  fint  from  them,   an  odour  of  a  fweet  —  ^ ig, 
 
 fmell^  or:  facrifice  acceptable  and  well-pie afitg  to 
 God.  And  they  were  exceeding  dear  to  him  3  He 
 exprefTes  the  tendereft  regards  to  them ;  for  he  Chap.  i.  2, 
 thajih  God  upon  every  remembrance  of  them  -,    al-  ^' 
 ways  in  every  prayer  making  requeji  for  them. 
 He  had  thejn  in  his  heart,  and  £iys  with  great 
 folemnity,  God  is  my  record,  how  greatly  I  long         ^* 
 after  you  all  in  the  bowels  of  Chriji  Jefus ;  i.  e. 
 with  the  tendereft  affed;ion.     And  again,    My  Chap.  iv. 
 dearly  beloved^  and   longed  for,  my  joy  a?jd  my  '  * 
 crown. 
 
 Besides,  He  was  apprehenfive  left  they 
 fhould  be  difcoiiragedhy  his  fufferings  for  preach- 
 ing the  gofpel,  or  dtfeartned  by  their  own 
 fufferings  in  the  profeffion  of  it.  He  tells  them, 
 to  this  purpofe,  "That  his  bonds  had  fallen  out 
 rather  for  the  furtherance  of  the  gofpel;  and  per- 
 fwades  them,  not  to  be  terrified  by  their  adver-  ^^^P'  ^' 
 faries,  wliich  was  to  them  an  evident  token  of 
 perdition,  but,  fays  he,  to  you  of  falvation,  and 
 that  of  God.  And  to  fortify  them  againft  the 
 impreffions  of  fear  upon  that  account,  he  tells 
 them,  For  unto  you  it  is  given  in  behalf  of  Chrifi  —28, 29. 
 
 •  7iot  only  to  believe,  but  to  fuffWfor  his  name :  It 
 was  vouchlafed  to  them  as  a  favour  and  ho- 
 nour. 
 
 It  appears  too  that  there  were  falfe  and  con- 
 tentious tea'chers  crept  in  among  them,  in  his 
 abfence,  who  preached  Chrifi  out  of  envy  aiid 
 firife.     They  envied  the  Apoftle's  reputation 
 F  f  2  among 
 
12. 
 
 43  6  Christians  Deftre  to  depart^ 
 
 among  them,  and  preached  in  a  contentious 
 oppofition  to  him,  bred  differences  and  animo- 
 fities  among  them,  and  endeavoured  to  weaken 
 his  credit  and  authority,  and  corrupt  the  doc- 
 trine he  had  taught  them.  This  led  him  to  fay. 
 Chap. 111.  c^o  write  the  fame  things^  to  me  is  7iot  grievous^ 
 hut  for  you  it  is  Jafe :  beware  of  dogs^  beware 
 of  evil  workers :  beware  of  the  concifion :  that 
 is,  the  Judaizing  teachers,  who  preached  up  the 
 neceffity  of  circumciiion,  and  being  jufliiied  by 
 the  law  oi  Mofes, 
 
 Now  the  Apoftle's  prefence  and  preaching 
 was  greatly  needful  to  a  church  he  had  newly 
 planted,  not  only  upon  the  fcore  of  mutual  af- 
 fection and  endearment  between  them,  but  to 
 encourage  them  to  fledfaftnefs  in  the  chriftian 
 faith,  under  fafferings,  and  to  fecure  and  pre- 
 ferve  them  in  the  dod:rine  of  the  gofpel  againft 
 feducers  among  themfelves,  and  to  rtrengthen 
 their  union  and  affed:ion,  to  himfelf,  and  to 
 one  another.  It  was  plainly  highly  neceflary, 
 in  their  circumiiances,  for  the  greateft  purpofes 
 of  good  :  and  their  eflabli/hment  and  improve- 
 ment in  the  chriftian  flate,  very  much  depend- 
 ed upon  it.  So  he  prays  for  them,  ^hat  their 
 love  might  abou7id  more  and  more  in  knowledge 
 and  in  all  judgtnent.  That  it  might  be  wife 
 and  judicious  j  and  that  they  might  approve 
 the  things  which  are  mofe  excellent^  or  be  able 
 to  diftinguifh  between  truth  and  falfliood ;  and 
 that  they  might  be  fmcere  to  the  end^  and  be 
 filled  with  all  the  fruits  of  right  eoufnefs.  He  tells 
 them  that  his  continuance  among  them  was 
 neceffary  for  \k\€v[  furtherance  and  joy  of  faith  ^ 
 
 or 
 
 —9,10. 
 
or  Willtngnefs  to  die.  437 
 
 or  the  increafe  of  their  joy  of  faith  -,  for  fo  it 
 follows  in  the  next  verfe.  And  that  your  joy*'^^^- 
 might  be  more  abundant^  whatfoever  their  tryals    ' 
 and  fiifferings  might  be. 
 
 And  this  prefs'd  him  hard  on  the  other  hand, 
 and  made  the  difficulty  great  on  that  fide. 
 His  ufefulnefs  to  the  church,  and  the  need- 
 fulncfs  of  his  prefence  among  them,  in  their 
 prefent  circumftances^  that  his  young  converts 
 might  not  be  difcouraged  by  fufferings,  either 
 his,  or  their  own,  or  be  corrupted  by  feducers: 
 that  they  might  be  flrengthened  and  confirm- 
 ed, before  he  left  the  world,  and  his  labours 
 and  preaching  among  them  might  not  be  in 
 vain^  but  have  their  proper  effed.  Thefe 
 were  very  tender  and  important  points,  and 
 could  not  but  lie  with  weight  upon  his 
 mind. 
 
 §  2.  The  determination  he  came  to  in  the 
 iilue,  and  upon  a  mature  weighing  and  con- 
 fidering  the  whole  matter.  This  is  mentioned 
 V,  25.  And  having  this  confidence^  I  know  that 
 I JJmU  abide  and  continue  'with  you,  q.  d.  Tho' 
 I  am  prefl  indeed>on  both  fides,  and  greatly 
 flraitned  between  thefe  two  different  confi- 
 derations  of  the  prefent  cafe,  yet  upon  the 
 whole,  and  all  things  confidered,  I  am  con- 
 tent to  live  longer  for  your  fakes,  and  to  ad- 
 journ my  own  happinefs  and  being  with  Chrift, 
 for  your  greater  improvement  and  efiablifh- 
 ment  of  heart.  I  am  willing  to  be  a  little 
 longer  out  of  paradife,  to  fee  you  in  a  greater 
 difpofition  for  it,  and  more  likely  to  follow^ 
 me  thither. 
 
 Ff3  Hi3 
 
43  S         Christians  Dejire  to  depart^ 
 
 His  love  to  the  church  prevailed  and  turned 
 the  fcale,  though  the  weight  of  his  own  in- 
 clinations, and  a  regard  to  his   own  welfare, 
 k,y  in  the  other.     He  was  defirous  to  fee  them 
 f\fe  and  fecure  in  the  faith  and  profeffion  of 
 the  gofpel,   under  their  prefent  weaknefs  and 
 temptation  to  the  contrary.  And  when  he  fays, 
 Having  this  confidence^  I  know  that  Ifiall  abide 
 and  continue  with  you ;  'tis  very  probable  that 
 he  had  fom.e  intimation  o-iven  him  of  the  will 
 of  Chrlfl  about  it,  and  that  he  was  perfiiaded 
 and  fatisfied  in  his  mind,  that  it  was  beil:  for 
 his  fervice  and  interefl  in  the  prefent  circum- 
 flance  of  things,  that  he  fliould  continue  longer 
 in  life,  and  not  be'immediately  difmiffed,  and 
 received  to  his  prefence. 
 
 This  was  certainly  a  wife  and  brave  refolu- 
 tion,  and  argued  a  noble  greatnefs  of  mind, 
 to  prefer  the  welfare  of  the  church  of  God  to 
 his  own ;  and  the  good  of  many  others,  whom 
 he  greatly  loved,  to  the  prefent  enjoyment  of 
 blellednefs.  He  was  content  his  own  happi- 
 nefs  fhould  be  deferred,  that  others  might  be 
 fecured,  and  be  kept  from  it  a  while  that  they 
 might  be  brought  to  it  at  laft.  This  was  act- 
 ing upon  the  nobleft  principles  o{  friendJJnp 
 and  benevolence,  and  the  moft  difmterefled 
 and  unfelfifli  good-will ;  and  was  the  greateft 
 inflance  of  felf-denial,  for  the  honour  of  Chrift, 
 and  the  good  of  others.  This  is  the  flate  of 
 the  whole  q^{^  as  it  refers  to  the  Apoflle.  I 
 proceed  now, 
 
 SECT. 
 
or  Willijtgnefs  to  die*  439 
 
 SECT.    II. 
 
 II.  To  confider  the  words  as  applicable  to 
 other  Chriftians,  and  may  ferve  to  diredl  and 
 regulate  our  delires.  I  fliall  conlider  it  to  this 
 purpofe  in  a  double  view.  i.  How  far,  and  in 
 what  cafes  a  chriilian  may  fitly  defire  to  die. 
 2.  In  what  cafes  a  chriilian  may  be  willing  to 
 live  notwithftandinsj. 
 
 §  I.  How  far  and  in  what  cafes,  achriftian 
 may  fitly  dejire  to  die.  I  fliall  reprefent  this 
 in  a  different  light. 
 
 I.  Not  when  it  proceeds  i^om  faulty  caufes, 
 and  a  difordered  temper  of  mind.  This  indeed 
 was  not  the  cafe  of  the  Apoftle.  He  was  not 
 difcouraged  by  the  difficulties  of  duty,  or  the 
 afflictions  and  fuiferings  of  life.  None  of  thofe 
 things  jnovcd  him.  He  maintained  an  un- 
 fliaken  fortitude  and  confiancy  of  mind  under 
 all  his  tryals,  and  was  not  only  Jledfaf  and  im- 
 moveable, but  rejoiced,  and  gloried  in  his  fuf- 
 ferings  and  infirmities.  But  this  is  often  the 
 cafe  with  us.  There  is  impatience  under  pre- 
 fent  evils,  a  wearinefs  of  the  work  of  life,  or 
 difiatisfacflion  with  our  prefent  ftate.  We  are 
 preft  with  the  weight  of  fome  prefent  mifery, 
 or  tired  with  the  labours  and  conflid:s  of  the 
 chriilian  flate,  or  uneafy  in  our  prefent  circum- 
 flance  and  fituatioii.  'Tis  not  with  us,  in  fe- 
 veral  refpe(fts,  as  we  would  have  it;  or  'tis 
 otherwife  with  us  than  we  defire.  This  fome- 
 times  raifes  uneafy  impatience  of  mind,  and 
 runs  into  rafli  defires  and  unguarded  exprcfiions. 
 So  David  under  a  paflionate  grief  for  the  un- 
 
 F  f  4  timely 
 
44^         Christians  Defire  to  depart^ 
 
 timely   death   of  his  beloved  Abfolom^  breaks 
 2  Sam.      out  into  this  rafli  exclamatibn,  Would  to  God  I 
 '  had  died  for  thee^  O  Ahjolom^  my  /d?!,  7ny  fon. 
 yob  in  the  prefent  impatience  of  his  fpirit  under 
 a  great  concurrence  of  affli6lions,   curfed  the 
 Chap.  iii.  day  of  his  birth ;  Let  the  day  perijJd  nsoherein  I 
 3"  was  bom,  and  the  night  in  which  it  was  faid^ 
 
 there  is  a  child  conceived.  And  he  haftily 
 wilhes  for  death  ^  My  foul  chufeth  Jlrangling 
 and  deathy  rather  than  jtiy  life.  I  loath  it  $  / 
 would  not  live  always.  Let  me  alone,  for  my 
 days  are  vainty.  The  prophet  fonah  under  an 
 unnatural  difappointment  at  the  repentance  of 
 the  Ninivites,  and  for  fear  of  the  reproach  of 
 Chap.  iv.  being  thought  a  falfe  prophet,  fays,  Now 
 ^'  therefore,  O  Lord,  take,  I  befeech  thee,  my  life 
 
 from  me,  for   it  is  better  for  me  to  die  than  to 
 live.     And  upon  the  lofs  of  his  gourd,  tells  the 
 
 9-     Almighty  with  peevifh  perverfenefs,  /  do  well 
 
 to  be  angry  even  unto  death. 
 
 So  a  chriflian  fometimes  through  impatience 
 and  difcouragement  under  great  tryals  and  af- 
 fii(flions,  is  ready  to  fay,  "  I  am  quite  weary 
 "  of  life,  I  wifh  I  were  out  of  the  world:  I 
 *'  would  be  glad  to  die,  to  get  rid  of  the  grie- 
 "  vance  under  which  I  labour :  Why  am  I  con- 
 **  tinned  only  to  fuffer  ?  I  befeech  thee  take 
 *'  away  my  life."  But  now  this  argues  great 
 weaknefs  and  impotence  of  mind  ;  the  unre- 
 ftrained  violence  of  unruly  paffioOj  againfl  all 
 the  di(5tates  of  reafon,  and  fuccours  of  religion. 
 And  befides,  is  greatly  diJJjonourable  to  God, 
 and  a  refledion  upon  his  governing  wifdom,  and 
 
or  Wtllingnefs  to  die.  441 
 
 fovereign   authority,   who  is  the  proper  judge 
 of  what  is  fit,  and  the  only  fovereign  of  hfe . 
 
 2.  The  only  true  reafon  of  a  chriftian's  de- 
 fire  to  die,  is,  when  he  has  reafon  to  appre- 
 hend his  uj'efulnefi  is   at  an  end,  and  that   he 
 can  render  no  further  fervice  to  God  and  his 
 church  in  this  world  j  or  be  of  any  further  ufe 
 to   others,    in  any  refped,  it  may  be  only  a 
 burden  and  trouble  to  them.     For  as  this  was 
 the  reafon  of  the  Apoftle's  determination  in  the 
 prefent  ftrait,  for  further  continuance   in  life, 
 that  he  might  be  further  ufeful  to  the  church 
 of  God  J  fo  the  reafon  will  hold  for  a  deter- 
 mination the  other  way,  in  another  circum- 
 ftance  of  things:  As  when  we  are  quite  difabled 
 for- fervice,  and  have  outlived  our  capacities  of 
 ufefulnefs,    and  any  fervice,    and  fignificance 
 in  life,  whether  by  the  prevalence  of  diflemper, 
 the  decays  of  age,    or  want  of  opportunity. 
 Why  fhould  a  good  man  defire  to  live,  when 
 he  can  be  of  no  further  ufe  to  the  world  about 
 him  ?  What  fliould  hinder  his  defire  to  depart 
 and  be  with  Chrift  ?    There   is  no   room,  in 
 fuch  a  cafe,  for  any  flrait  or  fufpence  of  mind : 
 The  choice   and  determination  is  natural  and 
 eafy  the  other  way. 
 
 And  efpecially  if  it  is  attended  with  lively 
 views  of  the  future  bleffednefs,  and  he  has  the 
 full  afjurance  of  hope,  and  the  joy  of  faith  ;  is 
 well  fatisfied  of  his  intereft  in  God,  and  his 
 title  to  bleffednefs,  upon  the  terms  of  the  gof- 
 pel  covenant ,  and  can  fay,  in  Ibme  meafure, 
 with  the  Apoflle,  We  know  that  when  the 
 earthly  hoiije  of  this  tabernacle  is  difohed,  we  2  Corj 
 have  a  building  of  God,  an  houfe  not  made  with 
 
 hands^ 
 
442         Christians  Dejire  to  depart^ 
 
 handsy  eternal  in  the  heavens.     No  wonder  if 
 
 Rom.  viu.  jj^gy  ^}^Q  2SQ  new  creatures^  and  have  thtjirji- 
 
 fruifs  of  the  Jpirit^   groan  within  the?njehes, 
 
 waiting  for  the  adoption  ;  and  that  they  groan 
 
 aCor.v.  /;eing  burdejted,  earnejily  defiring  to  be  clothed 
 upon  with  their  houfe  which  is  from  heaven. 
 Nature  burdened,  groans  and  defires,  longs  to 
 be  reheved  of  its  prefent  burden,  and  to  be  eafy 
 and  happy.  So  Jacob  fitting  upon  his  dying 
 bed,  and  in  the  midft  of  his  bleflings   to  his 
 
 ^^"•.        fons,    fuddenly  cries  out,  I  have  waited  for 
 
 '  thy  falvation,  O  Lord.  And  aged  Simeon  at  the 
 
 fignt  of  the  child  fefiis,    in  the  temple,  fays, 
 
 ^u<.  u.  2Vow,  Lordy  letteft  thou  thy  fervant  depart  in 
 peace ^  according  to  thy  word,  for  i7iine  eyes  have 
 feen  thy  falvation.  Provided  always  however, 
 that  it  be  accompanied  with  due  fubmifjion  to 
 the  divine  will,  and  be  not  abfolute  and  peremp- 
 tory, with  a  becoming  deference  to  the  direction 
 of  infinite  wifdom,  and  thefovereign  authority  of 
 God.  For  He  befl  knows  the  fitteil:  feafon  and 
 circumflances  of  our  departure,  as  he  has  the 
 highefl:  right  to  prefcribe ;  and  it  always  be- 
 comes depending  creatures  to  fubmit  to  the 
 appointments  of  his  will,  and  acquiefce  in  his 
 di^Jofal,  whatfoever  it  is.  In  fuch  circumilances 
 a  chriftian  may  lawfully  defire  to  depart,  and 
 juftly  account  \\.far  better. 
 
 §.  2.  In  what  cafes  a  chriillan  may  be  wil- 
 ling to  live  notwithflanding.  I  fliall  inftance 
 only  in  thefe  two. 
 
 I.  When 'tis  needful  for  further  preparation 
 for  a  ftate  of  blelTednefs,  and  a  clearer  fenfe 
 of  their  title  to  it.     This  was  not  the  cafe  of 
 
 the 
 
or  Willtngnefs  to  die.  443 
 
 the  Apoftle  neither,  it  was  far  otherwife  with 
 him,  who    had   a  full  fatisfadlion  of  mind, 
 and  was  ripe  for  glory.     He  had  no  defire  to 
 continue   in  life  upon   that  account :  but  'tis 
 very  often  the  cafe  with  other  chriftians.    Thus 
 when  a  chriftian  has  reafon  to  apprehend  that 
 what  through  the  weaknefs  and  imperfedlion 
 of  nature,  the  many  fnares  of  fin  in  his  circum- 
 flance  of  life,  and  the  hurry  and  engagements  of 
 bufinefs  in  the  world,  he  has  been  often  betrayed 
 into  great  neglects,    and  entangled  in  many 
 temptations ;  is  much  indifpofed  for  a  flate  of 
 bleitednefs,  and  dark  and  doubtful  in  his  mind 
 about  it  J  he  may  reafonably  delire,   ifitbethe 
 will  of  God,  to  be  continued  longer  in  life,  to 
 recover  a  better  flate  and  habit  of  mind,  to 
 gain    a  greater  vid:ory  over  the  powers  of  fin, 
 the  love  of  the  world,  and  the  fears  of  death ; 
 and  a  greater  fitnefs  for  a  ftate  of  bleffednefs, 
 and  a  fuller  fatisfaftion  of  mind  about  it  j  that 
 he  may  be  able  to  leave  the  world  without  re- 
 lud:ance,    to  meet  death  with  compofure  and 
 fortitude,  and  refign  his  foul  to  God  with  peace 
 and  joy.     This,  I  think,  makes  it  reafonable 
 and  wife,  where  providence  favours  men  with 
 a  fit  opportunity,  after  long  engagement  in  the 
 bufinefs  of  life,  to  retire  from  the  hurry  of  the 
 world,  and  devote  fome  time  for  a  more  feri- 
 ous  review  of  paft  life,  the  more  folemn  con- 
 templation of  death,    and  preparation  for  an- 
 other world. 
 
 To  this  purpofe  we  find  the  Pfalmifl  pray- 
 ing,   0  /pare  me  that  I  may  recover  Jlrengfh  be-^''-^^^^^- 
 fore  I  go  hence  y  and  be  no  more.     'Tis  plain  from  '  ^' 
 
 the 
 
444         Christians  Dejire  to  depart^ 
 
 — r4;  the  context  that  he  had  death  in  view  j  Lord^ 
 '"  make  me  to  know  my  end,  and  the  meafure  of  mv 
 days  what  it  is,  that  I  7nay  know  how  frail  I 
 — 12.  am.  And,  Btboid  thou  haft  made  my  days  as  a?i 
 ban^J.  Ireddth,  and  jny  age  is  as  ?iothi?2g  before 
 thee.  lam  a  fir  anger  with  thee  J  and  a  fojourner, 
 as  all  my  fathers  were.  And  then  he  adds,  O 
 fpare  me^  that  I  may  recover  my  ftrength.  It  may 
 relate  to  the  hody.^  and  fignify  the  repaii-ing  the 
 decays  of  natural  ftrength,  and  a  capacity  of 
 further  fervice  before  he  died ;  or,  as  a  learned 
 man  conjectures  -f-,  it  may  relate  to  the  foul^ 
 and  fignify  the  courage  of  his  heart,  and 
 the  vigour  of  faith,  that  he  might  be  better 
 prepared  to  die,  and  go  out  of  the  v^orld  with 
 greater  compollire,  and  without  fainting  and 
 difcouragement. 
 
 So  a  chriftian  may  be  fuppofed  to  fay. 
 Let  me  be  fpared  and  continued  in  life  to  be 
 "  more  throughly  formed  into  the  divine  life, 
 ''  and  renewed  after  the  linage  of  God -,  to  be 
 *'  more  fit  for  the  future  bleifednefs,  and  prepa- 
 "  red  for  my  eternal  ftate  j  that  I  may  be  de- 
 "  livered  from  the  prefent  doubts  and  uncer- 
 "  tainty  which  often  perplex  and  diftrefs  my 
 "  mind,  and  attain  to  a  fuller  perfuafion  and 
 ''  fatisfa6lion  of  mind  ;  and  be  begotten  again 
 '■'^  to  a  lively  hope,  and  be  able  to  rejoice  in  hope 
 "  of  the  glory  of  God." 
 
 2.  When  their  greater  ifefulnefs  to  others 
 require  it,  and  the  ftate  of  the  church  makes 
 their  continuance  needful.  This  was  direSlly 
 the  cafe  of  the  Apoftle  here  :  His  greater  ufe- 
 iulnefs    determined    his    choice,    and    fo    it 
 
 -{-  LightfooC-j  Remains,  p.   137.  muIt 
 
or  WilUngnefs  to  die*  44.5 
 
 muft  ours.  If  we  are  capable  in  any  degree 
 of  ferving  the  intereft  of  God  in  the  world, 
 and  the  ftate  of  the  church  makes  our  further 
 fervice  needful,  we  fhould  be  willing  to  live 
 under  any  difadvantage  and  trouble  to  our- 
 felves.  For  though  God  can  never  want  inftru- 
 ments  to  fupport  his  intereft  and  carry  on  his 
 work  in  the  world  \  and  can  eafily  raife  up  o- 
 thers  in  our  room,  and  qualify  and  fpirit  them 
 for  it,  and  that  in  an  higher  degree  too,  as 
 Elijha  had  a  double  portion  of  Elijah's  fpirit  when 
 he  left  the  world  j  yet  God  ordinarily  a6ts,  in 
 the  works  ol providence  and  grace ^  not  in  an 
 immediate,  but  tnediate  way,  and  according 
 to  the  aptitude  and  fitnefs  of  means  to  their 
 refpedive  ends.  Men  are  gradually  fitted  for 
 extenfive  ufefulnefs,  and  not  all  at  once  3  and 
 don't  prefently  rife  up  with  all  the  advantage 
 which  further  time  and  experience  will  give 
 them.  If  therefore  by  longer  ffcanding,  and 
 greater  opportunity,  we  have  any  advantages 
 for  fervice  above  others,  it  may  be  our  duty  to 
 deny  ourfelves,  and  be  content  to  live,  though 
 we  meet  with  trouble,  and  fuffering  in  the 
 mean  time,  and  our  own  happinefs  is  further 
 delayed  by  it. 
 
 If  we  are  in  fuch  a  circumfcance  and  fitua- 
 tion  of  things,  that  our  lives  may  be  needful 
 for  the  good  of  the  church,  and  we  may  be 
 capable  of  ferving  it  with  any  peculiar  advan- 
 tage, we  muft  keep  our  poll:  as  long  as  we  are 
 capable  in  any  meafure  of  filling  it  up,  and 
 till  we  are  fairly  dif  barged  from  that  warfare 
 in  which  we  are  engaged,  by  the  great  lord 
 
 and 
 
44^        Christians  Dejire  to  depart^ 
 
 and  fovereign  of  life.     We  mw^  fight  the  good 
 
 fight y  2inAfinifi  our  courfe^ in  the  view  of  the 
 
 crow?!  of  right eoiifnefs  at  laft,  and  not  defert  our 
 flation  through  wearinefs  of  labour,  or  fear  of 
 danger,  and  without  the  leave  of  him  whoplac'd 
 us  there. 
 
 SECT.    III. 
 I  fhall  conclude  with  fome  praBical  reflec^ 
 t'lons  upon  what  has  been  faid. 
 
 I.  The />r^£^;2r^  of  Chrift  is  the  proper  chri- 
 fiian  happinefs,  and  preferable  to  any  ftate  in 
 this  world.     Their  prefent  happinefs  in  this 
 world   lies   in  the   fervice  and  enjoyment  of 
 Chrift,  and  therefore  the  Apoftle  fays.  To  me  to 
 Ihe  is  Chrifi  j  the  great  bufinefs  and  comfort  of 
 life^  and  his  earnefi  expeBation  and  hope  \\2^s 
 that  Chrift  might  be  magnified  in  his  body^  whe- 
 ther by  life   or  by  death.     And  their  happinefs 
 hereafter,  will  lie  in  being  with  him  too,  both 
 their  immediate  happinefs  after  death,  and  their 
 final  happinefs  too.     For  though  the  proper 
 happinefs  of  a  reafonable  creature,    coniidered 
 as  fuch  and   in  the  final  and  ultimate  view  of 
 it,  lies  in  the  prefence  and  favour  of  God,  the 
 chief  good ;  in  the  immediate  fight  of  his  glory, 
 and  perfed:   likenefs  to  him,    and  delightful 
 communion  with  him  ;  and  fo  we  fhall  behold 
 his  face  in  right  eoufnej's  and  be  fatisfied  when  we 
 awake  with  his  likenefs ;  and  we  Jhall  be  like 
 him  J  for  we  fiall  Jee  him  as  he  is:     We  come 
 unto  God  the  Judge  of  all.     The  whole    de- 
 licb.  xii.  fign  of    the  death   and   mediation  of   Chrifi 
 ^^  was  to  bri?ig  us  to  God,  for  Chrifi  once  fufi'ered 
 
 forfm^  thejuji  for  the  unjufi^  that  he  might  bring 
 
 us 
 
or  WllUngmfs  to  die,  447 
 
 us  to  God',  and  he  is  gone  before,   to  prepare  ]oh.\W.2. 
 manfwns  in  his  father  s  honfe:  Yet  what  ispecu- 
 har  to  the  chriftian  happinefs,  and  the  nearer, 
 and  more   fenfible  confideration  of  it,  is,  that 
 we  fliall  he  with  Chriji,  and  come  unto  Jefus 
 the  mediator  of  the  new  covenant.     We  fliall 
 be  prefent  with  him  whom  we  have  loved  and 
 ferved,  and  who  is  our  Saviour  and  Lord.     So 
 he  reprefents  it  to  his  difciples;  If  any  manMm.xH. 
 ferve  me,  let  him  follow  me  j  and  where  I  am,  ^  ' 
 there  Jhall  alfo  my  fervant  be.     And  he  prays 
 to  the  Father  for  them ;  Father^  I  will,  that  is, 
 I   deiire,  that  thofe   who?n  thou  haft  given  me  ]oh.%\n. 
 may  be  with  me  where  I  am,  and  may  behold  ^+- 
 my  glory.     And  the  final  bleffednefs  at  the  re- 
 furrediion  is  fummed  up  zVz  being  for  ever  with  z  ThefT. 
 the  Lord.     They  will  be  in  the  fame  place  *^-  "^'^• 
 where  he  is,  and  behold  the  glory  he  polTelTes, 
 and  be  formed  into  his  likenefs,  and  be  infinitely 
 delighted  in  his  prefence. 
 
 An  d  there  is  no  comparlfon  between  the  pre-^ 
 fent  and  future  fl:ate.  Here  we  groan  under  the 
 burden  of  a  mo'rtal  body,  and  the  miferies  of  the 
 prefent  hfej  under  the  great  imperfedlion  of 
 goodnefs,  and  the  frequent  prevalence  of  fin ;  we 
 often  mourn  and  complain  under  the  fenfe  of  our 
 prefent  diftance  from  him,andof  hisdifpleafure. 
 But  there  will  be  a  full  relief  of  all  our  prelTures 
 nnd  burdens ;  of  all  our  weaknefs  and  imperfec- 
 tion ;  of  all  the  fnarcs  and  temptations  to  fin,  and 
 all  the  fufferings  and  afilid:ions  of  life.  That 
 will  be  a  fiiate  of  felicity  and  joy  ;  of  the  plea- 
 fures  of  paradife  and  xh^  joy  of  the  Lord.  We 
 (hall  hear  and  fee  unjpeakable  things, vjMich.  it  is  ^  ^^^  ^^^ 
 
 not  4. 
 
44^         Christians  Defire  to  departj 
 
 not  pojjible  for  a  man  to  utter  j  which  we  can 
 now  form  no  idea  of,  and  have  no  words  fuf- 
 Rev.  ii.  y.ficient  to  exprefs.  We  Jhall  eat  of  the  tree  of 
 life,  'which  is  in  the  midfi  of  the  paradife  of  God, 
 And  who  can  doubt  whether  that  is  not  in- 
 finitely preferable  and  to  be  t^tQniQ,^  far  better  ? 
 2.  THATchriftians  upon  their  departure  out 
 of  this  world  are  im?nediately  with  Chrift.  This 
 is  the  direcft  confequence  of  it  to  good  men, 
 without  any  thing  intervening,  or  any  third  flate 
 of  things  diftin(fl  from  thefe  two.  When  they 
 depart  out  of  thisworld,  they  are  in  fome  fenfe 
 with  Chrift,  though  not  in  fo  full  and  immedi- 
 ate a  manner,  as  they  will  be  hereafter.  Having 
 a  defire  to  depart,  and  to  be  ivith  Chrift :  His 
 defn-e  was  not  merely  to  depart,  but  chiefly  to  be 
 nnjith  Chrift;  and  the  one,  only  in  order  to  the 
 other.  It  would  not  otherwife  have  been  a  rea- 
 fonable  defire  in  the  Apoftle,  if  he  were  not  to 
 have  been  immediately  with  Chrift,  or  were 
 to  have  continued  in  an  inad;ive  infenfible  ftate 
 till  the  refurredlion.  Nor  was  there  any  need 
 of  his  being  in  aftrait,  upon  that  fuppoiition. 
 It  would  have  admitted  an  eafy  determination, 
 and  he  might  prefently '  have  come  to  a  point 
 with  himfelf.  There  could  be  no  pretence  for 
 any  doubt,  or  uncertainty  about  it.  It  was 
 certainly  much  better  for  him,  beyond  any  rea- 
 fonable  doubt,  to  have  continued  in  a  ftate  of 
 fervice,  who  was  capable  of  fo  great  fervice, 
 and  when  the  church  fo  much  needed  it  too ; 
 and  to  have  the  prefent  enjoyment  of  Chrift, 
 which  to  be  fure  was  to  a  great  degree  j  than 
 to  lie  filent  in  the  duft,  and  be  utterly  unca- 
 
 pable 
 
or  Willin'g7iefs  to  die.  449 
 
 liable  of  any  fervice  and  enjoyment  of  him, 
 for  fo  long  a  time  together.  Surely  I  would 
 rather  choofe  to  live  as  long  as  I  could  in  a  flate 
 of  fervice  and  enjoyment  in  this  world,  under 
 all  the  prefent  diladvantages  of  it,  than  lofe  f) 
 much  of  my  exiftencej  ^and  llumber  aw^ay  fo 
 many  years  of  time  in  a  flate  of  ufelefs  and  in- 
 acftive  lilence.  It  would  alter  the  whole  flate 
 of  the  cafe,  as  here  put  by  the  Apollle,  and 
 make  the  on^far  better^  which  He  lays  of  the 
 other. 
 
 And  lefl  any  fbould  think  that  this  was  any 
 thing  peculiar  to  the  Apoftle,  and  proper  to 
 him,  who  was  advanced  to  an  higher  office,  aiid 
 had  reached  to  greater  attainments,  than  other 
 chriftians ;  we  find  him  fpcaking  to  the  fime 
 purpofc.  not  only  in  his  own  name,  as  he  does 
 here,  but  in  the  name  of  other  chriflians  and  as  a 
 common  cafe  ;  For  we  knoiv  that  if  this  earthh;    ^ 
 
 ,    .  ''2  V,  or, 
 
 houjeoj  our  tabernacle  lucre  difjohoed^  the  tent  or  v.  1.  ' 
 tabernacle  in  which  we  now  refide,  ^i^e  have  a 
 building  of  God^  an  houfe  not  made  ivith  hands ^ 
 eternal  in  the  heavens.  \^o^inthis  ive groan ^  un- 
 der the  prefent  burdens  and  fiiiierings,  earjiefily 
 defiring  to  be  clothed  upon  witHour  houfe  'which  is 
 from  heaven.  It  was  not  the  mere  diirolution 
 of  the  prefent  tahcynacle^  but  i.he  building  of 
 God,  and  the  hoMje  from  heaven,  which  was  their 
 comfort  and  fupport  under  their  prefent  bur- 
 dens ;  and  they  not  only  groar^cd,  but  defired 
 to  be  chathed  upon,  or  to  be  in  a  ihice  of  future 
 happinefs.  And  that  he  apprehend  the  one  of 
 thefe  was  in  fom.e  meafure  immediately  to  fol- 
 low upon  the  otherj  appears  from  the  6/Z'  and 
 
 Gg  8/,6 
 
450         Christians  Dejtre  to  depart^ 
 
 %th  verfes :  T'herefore  we  are  confident^  or 
 couraglous,  knowing  that  while  we  are  at  home 
 in  the  body  \  or  prej'ent  in  the  body,  for  we  are 
 not  here  at  home  j  we  are  ahfent  from  the  Lord: 
 i.e.  While  we  are  in  this  bodily  ftate,  and  with  the 
 hPiuj.^.-  people  of  this  world,  we  are  in  a  flate  of  abfence 
 75f-  and  diftance  from  the  Lord,  and  the  blefled 
 fociety  of  the  other  world,  which  is  our  pro- 
 per home.  He  takes  it  up  again,  and  repeats 
 their  common  fenfe,  JVe  are  confident^  Ifiy, 
 and  willing  rather  to  be  abjent  from  the  body^ 
 and prefent  with  the  Lor d»  Thefe  are  the  two 
 terms,  abfent  from  the  body,  and  prefent  with 
 the  Lord,  without  any  intimation  of  an  inter- 
 vening ftate,  and  plainly  exclulive  of  it.  He 
 concludes  in  the  9.  ver.  Therefore  we  labour^  or 
 are  ambitious,  that  whether  prefent,  or  abfhit,  we 
 may  be  accepted  of  hi?n,  or  acceptable  and  plea- 
 fing  to  him,  and  poflelTed  of  his  favour  -,  and 
 that  when  abfent  from  the  body,  as  well  as 
 when  prefent  in  it.  Nor  could  thefe  expreffions 
 be  well  underflood  otherwife,  by  thofe  to 
 wdiom  they  were  written,  when  a  liate  of  im- 
 mediate happinefs  after  death,  was  the  general 
 fcnfe  both  of  the  jcwifl:,  andge?2tile  world,  at 
 that  time  -f-. 
 
 Tills 
 
 f  That  it  was  the  belief  of  the  Jevvifli  church,  before  our 
 Saviour's  time  appears  by  the  Chaldee  Paraphrafe  on  Cant.  iv.  i  2. 
 which  rpeaics  ot  the  Joith  of  the  jiijl  carried  into  paradife  by  the 
 hands  rf  angels :  and  the  folcnin  wilh  of  the  Jews  concerning  their 
 dead  friends,  according  to  the  Talmudills  ;  Let  bis  foul  be  ga- 
 thered to  the  garden  of  Eden  :  Let  hi  711  ha-ve  his  portion  in  paradife, 
 a;ni  alfo  in  the  'v^orld to  C07ne.  Grct.  in  Zz^^.  xxiii.  43.  Cicero  fays, 
 O  prfcclarutn  diem,  cum  ad  illud  di-uinufn  animoruyn  concilium  ccr- 
 tumqtie  profifcifcar,  cnn  ex  hac  turha  et  colhcvione  difcedam.  De 
 Senedt.  The  firft  V/riters  of  the  Chriilian  church  fay,  %iv<ifnv 
 ^pcf.v  kvTiCuv,  they  pnffs  the  region  of  the  juil.  See  their 
 teiUmonies  coilet^cd  at  large  by  Bp  Bully    Vol.  1.  Scr.  3. 
 
or  WilUng7iefs  to  die,  451 
 
 This  is  agreeable  to  many  other  reprefenta- 
 tions  of  the  matter  quite  thro'  the  fcriptiires. 
 ^Tis   the    obfervation  of  the  wife  man,   That  Eccl'-'f. 
 thee////?  retiirneth  to  the  earthy  and  the  fpirit  re-^^^-i- 
 turneih  to  God  who  gave  it.     And  he  diftin- 
 guiflies  between  the  jpirit  of  a  man  ijohich  go-  ^'^=^P-  •^^^* 
 eth  upward  J    and   the  /pint  of  a  beafl  which'" 
 goeth  downward.     Our  Lord  Iiimfelf  fays.  Fa- 
 ther^ into  thy  hand  I  commend  my  jpirit.     The 
 martyr  Stephen  m  imitation  of  his  dying  Lord, 
 clofes  his  hfe  with  faying,    Lord  'Jejhs  receive 
 my  /pirit,  or  take  me  to  thy  felf.     God  is  faid 
 to  be  the  God  <?/*  Abraham,  liaac  ^W  Jacob, 
 long  after  their  death  ;    and  he  is  not  the  Gcd i^,y^^  ^.x. 
 of  the  dead  J    but  oj  the  living,   for  all  live  toi^- 
 him.    Our  Lord  faid  to  the  penii:ent  thief,   This 
 day  Jhalt  thou  be  with  me  in  paradif,  when  he 
 only  ailced,  to  remember  him  when  he  came  into 
 his  kingdom.     Laftarus  was  carried  by  Angels 
 into  Abraham'^  bofom^  a  place  of  reil  and  joy, 
 and  was  comforted  there.     We  read  of  the^/-Heb.xii. 
 rits  of  juft  men  now  made  per feB,  or  who  have  23- 
 linidied  their  courfe  j    and  of  the  fjuls  under  Rev  vi.  9. 
 the  altar  who  were  Jlain  for  the  word  of  God  j 
 and  cried  to  judge  and  avenge  their  blood. 
 
 The  cafe  is  the  fame  as  to  v/icked  men;  fo 
 the  rich  man  is  reprefented,  tormciited  in  fames  .^ 
 or  in  a  flatc  of  mifcry.  yudas  went  to  his  own  ^^.^  i.  25. 
 place  J  the  proper  and  appointed  place  for  fo 
 wicked  a  man.  We  read  of  the  fpirits  inpri- 
 fon,  in  the  days  of  Noah ;  which,  whatever  it 
 refers  to,  fuppofcs  their  continued  exiilence, 
 and  being  in  u  ilate  of  confinement  and  mi- 
 fcry. 
 
 G  'T  2  Add 
 
452  CviViis>Tih-^^  Deftre  ib  depart^ 
 
 Add  to  all  this,  the  argument  ixovn  7iatiirm 
 reafon  ;  and  the  fpiritual  and  immortal  nature 
 of  the  foul,  as  a  principle  difllnd;  from  the  body, 
 and  eiTentially  conlcious  and  adive  3  which  has 
 been  the  general  opinion  of  the  chrifl^^ian  philo- 
 fophers,  as  well  as  the  heathen,  both  antient 
 and  modern  \  and  is  capable  of  being  carried 
 to  a  confiderable  degree  of  evidence :  But  I  reft 
 in  the  fcripture-revelation,  which  is  the  moft 
 certain  meafure  of  our  apprehenfions  about 
 it. 
 
 3.  'Tis  an  excellent  attainment  to  defire  to 
 depart,  or  be  willing  to  die.  This  was  the 
 temper  of  the  bleffed  Apoflle  here,  and  proper 
 for  our  imitation.  And  though  every  chriftiaii 
 does  not  attain  to  fuch  a  pitch  of  excellence,  or 
 his  affurance  of  future  bleffednefs;  yet  'tis  cer- 
 tainly an  excellent  fpirit  wherever  it  is,  and 
 what  we  (hould  aim  at  and  endeavour  after,  to 
 fit  loofe  to  all  the  enjoyments  of  life,  fo  apt 
 to  engage  and  engrofs  our  minds :  to  have  thofe 
 lively  views  of  the  future  glory,  and  that  fatif- 
 fa6lion  of  mind  about  it,  as  to  feel  warm  defircs 
 of  foul  riling  up,  and  earnefl  expectations  of 
 it ;  to.  be  able  to  lay,  "  I  could  be  willing  to 
 "  die  this  moment,  if  it  were  the  will  of  God, 
 "  that  I  might  be  with  him:"  or  as  an  excel- 
 
 Mr.  ;/siv.  lent  perfon  once  faid,  in  the  near  views  of  his 
 diffolution,  not  weary  of  the  ivork  of  lif^  nor 
 dcjlitute  of  the  co?) forts  of  it^  "  I  would  not  be 
 *'  four  and  twenty  hours  longer  from  the  pre- 
 ''  fence  of  Chriil:  for  all  the  world." 
 
 Though  this  is  not  indeed  eliential  X.o  the 
 chriflian  ftate,  yet  'tis  an  excellent  attainment 
 
 in 
 
or  Willing77efs  to  die,  453 
 
 in  it  felf,  and  what  the  chriftian  difpenfatlon 
 is  admirably  fitted  to  promote,  by  the  clearer 
 reprefentations,  and  exprefs  promiks  of  eternal 
 life.  Every  fincere  chriftian  always  dc fires  to 
 be  with  Chrifi^  fimply  confidered,  and  values 
 his  favour  and  prefence  above  the  greatefl:  good 
 of  this  world :  He  would  not  always  live  in 
 fuch  a  ftate  as  thisj  or  elfe  he  cannot  be  a 
 lincere  chriftian ;  but  every  chriflian  cannot 
 prefently  dejire  to  depart^  or  be  willing  always 
 to  die.  No ;  if  they  could  be  immediately 
 tranjlated  as  Enoch  was,  and  Jjot  fee  death ;  or 
 be  carried  2Xi\^  to  heaven  in  2i  fiery  chariot^  as 
 Elijah  was  j  or  be  lorapt  up  into  paradife  with 
 the  Apoltle  Paul;  or  be  caught  up  in  the  clouds 
 to  meet  the  Lord  in  the  air,  as  the  furviving 
 chrillians  will  be  at  the  laft  dayj  they  would 
 be  content  to  depart  immediately.  But  they 
 have  the  dread  of  death,  or  uncertainty  of  hap- 
 pinefs,  which  damps  their  hopes,  and  breeds 
 uneafy  doubts,  and  diftrefs  of  mind.  But  when 
 a  chriftian  is  delivered  by  the  death  of  Chrift 
 from  the  bondage  of  the  fear  of  death ,  and  has 
 a  regular  and  well-grounded  hope  of  eternal 
 life  upon  the  foundation  of  the  gofpel-promife; 
 he  may  well  defirc  both  to  depart,  and  be  ivith 
 Chrift.  And  how  honourable  is  this  to  the 
 chrillian  dodrine,  and  how  worthy  and  be- 
 coming the  chriilian  hopes ! 
 
 4.  Usefulness  to  Chrift  and  his  intereft,  is 
 the  great  aim  and  endeavour  of  fnicere  chri- 
 ftians.  This  is  what  ought  to  weigh  down  all 
 other  confiderations,  and  dired:,  and  determine 
 our  choice  and  defire.  Neverthelefs  to  abide  in 
 G  g  3  the 
 
454         Christians  Deftre  to  depart^ 
 
 the  flcjh  is  inore  needful  for  you.  He  was  in  a 
 ereat  flrait  in  his  mind  between  his  defire  of 
 happinefs,  and  his  ufefulnefs  to  the  church ; 
 but  the  latter  prevailed.  He  was  wilHng  to  Hve 
 ill  this  world  in  a  ftate  of  fervice  and  fuffering, 
 though  he  was  as  fure  to  be  happy  as  he  was 
 to  die;  and  was  content,  for  their  fakes,  to 
 adjourn  his  own  happinefs,  and  be  kept  longer 
 from  Chrift.  He  was  willing  to  fpend  a?id  be 
 J'pent^  and  to  be  offered  upon  the  fervice  and 
 fa  orifice  of  their  faith. 
 
 This  is  an  excellent /^//rr;^  for  us  too,  and 
 carries  this  inftrudlion  in  it,  that  we  fhould 
 prefer  a  ufeful  life  to  every  other  confideration 
 whatfoever.  And  though  every  man  muft 
 judge  of  the  particular  inftanceSy  and  way  of  his 
 fervice,  by  his  own  capacities  and  opportimities, 
 and  confidering  all  the  circumfbances  of  the 
 cafe  i  yet  we  mufl  not  confult  withfleJJj  and 
 bloody  or  confider  only  what  will  be  for  our 
 own  eafe  and  benefit,  or  how  we  may  moft 
 promote  our  own  private  and  perfonal  welfare; 
 but  how  u'e  may  do  moft  good  in  the  world, 
 and  be  moft  ufeful  to  the  church,  and  be  of 
 greateft  confequence,  and  figniiicance  in  the 
 places  where  we  ftand. 
 
 Let  us  imitate  this  excellent  fpirit  of  the 
 bleffed  Apoftle,  and  readily  fubmit  to  any  pri- 
 vate and  perfonal  inconvenience  and  difadvan- 
 tage  for  the  fake  of  a  publick  good,  and  be 
 content  to  deny  our  felves,  for  the  benefit  of 
 others.  We  may  be  ufeful  in  one  kind,  when 
 we  cannot  befo  in  another;  or  in  fome  degree, 
 if  not  in  an  higher  degree.     Perhaps  we  may 
 
 be 
 
or  TVtlli?ig7iefs  to  die,  ^5^ 
 
 be  ufeful  in  fome  refpeds,  in  which  others  can- 
 not be  fo  ufeful.  Men  of  wifdom  and  expe- 
 rience may  be  fitted  with  greater  advantage, 
 for  fome  iervices,  as  men  of  zeal  and  acftivity 
 may  be  fitter  for  fome  other.  To  conclude. 
 Let  us  improve  the  prefent  opportunity  and  ad- 
 vantage for  the  fervice  and  enjoyment  of  Chrift, 
 and  be  directed  and  governed  by  it  in  all  our 
 motions  and  views.  Let  this  give  us  meafures 
 and  motives  in  all  our  fervice,  and  animate  all 
 our  endeavours.  The  greater  fervice  we  do 
 him  in  this  world,  and  the  greater  enjoyment 
 we  have  of  him,  we  fhall  be  the  more  fit  to  be 
 with  him,  and  iliall  have  a  larger  fiiare  of  glory 
 hereafter.  Our  labour  in  the  Lord  jlmll  not  be 
 in  vain ;  and  we  fiall  not  loj'e  our  reward. 
 
 I  fhall  fay  nothing  of  our  deceafed  friend  but 
 what  I  thmk  may  be  ufeful  to  the  livings  and 
 fhall  fpeak  of  her  with  the  modejiy  and^w- 
 plicity  with  which  flie  lived.  She  defcended 
 from  pious  and  worthy  parents^  and  had  the 
 great  advantage  of  a  good  example,  and  reli- 
 gious education.  This  made  early  impreflions 
 upon  her  mind,  which  fluck  fafi,  and  never 
 wore  offl  By  this  means  fhe  was  happily  pre- 
 ferved  from  the  vanities  of  youth,  and  the 
 fnares  of  younger  life.  She  was  early /^r/Wj-, 
 and  in  good  earneft  in  religion ;  and  was 
 brought  betimes  to  make  a  folemn  furrender  of 
 her  felf  to  God,  She  made  great  confcience  of 
 ferious  retirement,fand  conflant  attendance  up- 
 on the  publick  worfhip,  all  her  lifej  and  was 
 often  ufed  to  exprefs  her  value  and  delight  in 
 the  many  opportunities  of  that  kind,  whicli 
 
 G  g  4  this 
 
456  Christians  De/ire  to  depart^ 
 
 this  city  affords,  and  which  many  others  neg- 
 led: ;  and  kept  up  a  fteady  courfe  of  regular 
 unafred:ed/j/V/)',  and  unblamable  behaviour^  thro' 
 her  whole  life.  Her  religion  was  fincere  and 
 filent,  without  noife  and  fhew :  It  was  a  prifi- 
 ciple  of  life  and  action,  which  formed  her  fpi- 
 rit,  and  governed  her  courfe,  and  appeared  in 
 a  conflant  habitual  regard  to  God,  and  an  ul- 
 timate view  to  him,  in  all  her  ways. 
 
 She  was  remarkably  cautious  a'nd  inoffenfiue 
 in  her  deportment  to  others ;  and  many  ways 
 very  ufeful  to  thofe  about  her,  in  the  feveral 
 places  in  w^hich  fhe  lived :  ftie  greatly  delighted 
 in  doing  good.  She  was  exemplary  in  her  re- 
 lathe  character,  and  in  every  capacity  in  which 
 file  ftood ',  and  ad:ed  with  great  prudence,  dl 
 ligence,  and  faithfulnefs,  in  the  conduit  of  all 
 her  -affairs. 
 
 She  bore  her  languifliing  and  ficknefs, which 
 continued  a  conliderable  time,  with  an  excel- 
 lent compofure  of  mind,  and  cheerful  fubmif- 
 fion  to  the  divine  will ;  without  impatient  un- 
 ealinefs,  or  unbecoming  complaint.  She  pof- 
 feffed  great  peace  of  fpirit,  without  any  diflref- 
 iing  doubts  3  and  was  well  fatisiied  as  to  her 
 future  ftate.  Her  greateft  concern  v/as,  that 
 faith  and  patience  might  hold  out  to  the  end : 
 And  it  proved  accordingly.  In  the  diflrefs  of 
 her  lafl  hours,  when  all  profped:  of  future  uie- 
 fulnefs  was  at  an  end,  flie  dejired  to  depart  and 
 he  with  Chriji',  and  ear neflly  prayed.  Come  Lord 
 yejhs; ."  When  will  he  come  ?"  "  O  where  is 
 *'  he  ?"  and  faid  at  lafl  a  little  before  her  de- 
 parture, "  He  is  come,  he  is  come," 
 
 And, 
 
 » 1 
 
or  Willmgnefs  to  die. 
 
 And,  O!  may  the  many  in  fiances  of  morta- 
 lity among  our  friends  about  us,  enliven  our 
 diligence  in  the  fervice  of  Chrift,  and  promote 
 our  preparation  for  being  with  him  j  that  we 
 may  comfort  one  another  with  thefe  words,  un- 
 der all  our  forrows  for  their  departure,  that  /3 
 we  and  they  fhall  hereafter  be  for  ever  with  the 
 Lord. 
 
 +57 
 
 SER- 
 
458 
 
 S  E  R  M  O  N     X. 
 
 The  Clofe  of  the  Chriftian  life  : 
 ox  J  St.  Stephen'' 's>  dying  prayer. 
 
 Acts  vii.    57. 
 Lord  yefus  receive  my  fpirit, 
 
 WHEN  Stephen  flood  before  the  coun- 
 cil, under  a  charge  of  blafphemy,  be- 
 — »t.. ...  caufe  he  faid,  that  J e fits  ^Nazareth 
 
 *  ^'  would  deftroy  this  place,  and  chmige  the  cujfoms 
 which  Mofes  delivered-,  he  made  a  noble  de- 
 fence of  himfelf,  the  fubdance  of  which  is: 
 — vii.  That  it  appeared  from  the  fcriptures  of  the  old 
 teftament,  in  the  feveral  great  periods  of  time, 
 and  revolutions  of  affairs,  he  inflances  from 
 Abraham  to  Mofes,  and  from  Mofes  to  the 
 building  of  the  temple,  that  God  never  in- 
 tended to  confine  his  worfhip  and  prefence  to 
 the  land  of  Canaan,  and  the  temple  of  'Jem- 
 falem,  though  he  had  (hewed  fpecial  favours 
 to  that  people  all  along  -,  and  that  the  ceremo- 
 nial law  was  not  defigned  to  be  of  necefTary 
 and  perpetual  obligation,  but  only  to  the  com- 
 
 3  i"S 
 
St.  Stephen'^  dying  Prayer,  459 
 
 ing  of  the  Mcffiah,  the  great  prophet  Hke  to 
 Mojh  i  That  the  frequent  judgments  of  God  up- 
 on their  fore -fathers  for  their  fins,  and  their 
 fevcral  captivities,  made  it  reafonable  to  expedl 
 the  deilrudlion  of  their  temple  and  nation  for 
 their  greater  wickednefs :  their  fathers  perie- 
 cutcd  the  prophets,  and  they  had  betrayed  and 
 murdered  Chrift.  And  then  he  declared  be- 
 fore them,  that  he  faw  heave?!  opened,  and  'Je- 
 fus  Jianding  at  the  right  hand  of  God,  moft  pro- 
 bably, by  a  vifionary  reprefentation  of  the  di- 
 vine glory,  like  the  vifions  in  Ezekiel,  and  the 
 Revelatioiis.  Upon  this  they  were  enraged  and 
 provoked  beyond  all  meafure,  and  all  patience; 
 they  were  cut  to  the  heart,  and  gnafed  on  him 
 with  their  teeth,  the  higheil:  marks  of  indig- 
 nation and  rage,  they  flopped  their  ears  and-,^,\ 
 cried  ivith  a  loud  voice,  that  they  might  not 
 hear  his  cries,  and  to  animate  one  another; 
 and  ran  on  him  with  one  accord,  and  cafl  him  — 57, 
 out  of  the  city,  andfloned  him. 
 
 In  the  following  verfes  we  have  an  account 
 of  Stephens  temper  and  behaviour,  under  this 
 cruel  and  violent  ufage,  fuitable  to  the  dodtrine 
 and  example  of  Chrift  :  He  committed  himfelf 
 to  the  Lord,  and  prayed  for  his  enemies.  Lord 
 yefus  receive  my  fpirit,  and  Lord  hiy  not  this 
 fin  to  their  charge.  'Tis  only  the  former  of 
 thcfe  I  propofe  to  confider  at  this  time:  He 
 called  upon  God,  or  fimply,  invocated,  frying,  syj;/^^^;^ 
 L'yrd  yefus  receive  my  jpirit.  Thefe  are  fome /^-s"'''''- 
 of  the  laft  words  of  the  fir  ft  martyr  of  the  chri- 
 ftian  church,  and  exprefs  the  proper  temoer  of 
 a  dying  chriftian,  and  are  a  fit  example  to  us. 
 
 The 
 
460        7he  Clofe  of  the  Chrijiian  Life  ; 
 
 The  words  may  be  refolved  into  four  propofi- 
 tions,  which  I  lliall  briefly  confider  and  then 
 apply. 
 
 I.  That  there  is  a  fpirit  in  man  diftinft 
 from  the  body.     We  are  compounded  beings, 
 and  confift  of  a  body  and  foul.     The  foul  \s 
 the  principal  part  of  the  man,    and  the  proper 
 agent,  the  animating  and  acflive  principle.  The 
 body  is  the  habitation  of  the  foul,  and  only 
 the  inftrument  by  which  it  ad:§  and  execute?. 
 This  ip  the  fr.^me  of  human  nature,  and  agree- 
 able to  the  original   account  of  its  formation. 
 We  iind  it  rcprefented  by  Mojes  as  a  principle 
 Gen.  ii.  7.  oi  life  ',  The  Lord  God  formed  tnan  out  of  the  diifi 
 of  the  earthy  and  breathed  into  his  jiojirils  the 
 hreath,  of  life^  and  man  became  a  living  foul. 
 The  duft  of  the  earth  was  animated  by  a  living 
 foul.     The  dilTolution  of  our  conilitution   is 
 deicribed  by  the  wife   man,   agreeably   to  this" 
 Eccl.xii./. account;  Thenfiall  the  duft  return  to  the  eartl:?^ 
 and  the  fpirit  ft  all  return  to  God  who  gave  it : 
 They  are  of  a  different  kind,  and  go  different 
 ways.     'Tis  a  principle  of  thought  and  reafon, 
 of  underflanding  and  choice.     So  'tis  repre- 
 chap.  XX.  fented  in  the  book  of  Job ;    Therefore  do  tny 
 ^'3-        thoughts  caufe  me  to  anfioer^  a?id  the  fpirit  out 
 ^xcxii  8  ^f^^y  underftanding  caifeth  7ne  to  anfiver.     But 
 there  is  a  fpirit  in  jnan^  and  the  infpiration  of 
 the  Almighty  giveth  them  under  ft  ajiding.     'Tis 
 reprefented  as  a  principle  of  aBion,  both  of  na- 
 joh.iv.24.tural  and  religious  action :    we  not  only  live 
 and  move^  but  worfiip  God  in  ih.t  fpirit.     The 
 
 Apoilk 
 
cr^  aS/.  S  T  E  p  H  E  n'^  dying  Prayer*      461 
 Apoftle  fays,    Whom  I  fcrve  with  my  fpirif  /;zRom.i.  g. 
 the  gofpel  of  his  Jo?!. 
 
 'Tis  reprefented  as  a  'di/ii7i5f  thing  from  the 
 body,  and  of  another  kind.     If  there  were  any 
 room  to  doubt  it,  upon  natural  principles,  I 
 think  the  words  of  our  Lord  are  decifive  in  the  ' 
 cafe ;  Fear  not  them  who  kill  the  body^  but  are  Matt.  x. 
 ?iot  able  to  kill  the  foul  \  but  ?'nt  her  fear  him  who'^^' 
 is  able  to  dejiroy  both  foul  and  body  in  hell.    The 
 body  and  foul  plainly  fl:and  in  oppofition  to 
 one  another,  and  the  fame  thing  is  affirmed 
 of  the  one,  which  is  denied  of  the  other.     The 
 one  may  be  killed^  while  the    other  is  alive. 
 When  our  Lord  appeared  to  his  difciples,  after 
 his  refurredlion,    and  they  were  terrified  and 
 affrighted^  and  thought  they  hadfeen  a  jpirit ; 
 he  tells  them,  Behold  my  hands  and  my  feet, 
 where  remained  the  print  qf^  the  nails  by  which 
 he  was  faftened  to  the  crofs;  handle  me  and  fee,      xxiv, 
 for  a  fpirit  hath  7iof  feflj  and  bd?ies  as  ye  fee  ?ne'^9- 
 have.     A  fpirit  therefore  is  uiilindt  from  a  body, 
 and  not  capable  of  behig  haniied  and  fecn,  and 
 don't  fall  under  any  of  rhe  LoJily  fences. 
 
 Agreeably  cothis  account  the  ApofUe  re- 
 prcfents  the  matter^  For  this  caufe  ive  faint  not,  ^  ^o'"-  i^- 
 hut  though  the  outns)ard  man  perilh^   the  i?r:vard^^  '-^   . 
 man  is  rene^ved  day  by  day  ;  though  the  body  ^ra-i^r. 
 fuiTer  and  decay  by  g;reat  afflictions  and  p?rfe- 
 cutions,   yet  the   foul  gathers  ftrength  under 
 them  all,  and  is  fupplied  with  frefh  vigour  of 
 fiith,  and  hope,  and  patience,  and  courage:  the 
 one   was  perifnng,    and    the   other    renewed, 
 \vhich  fliews  they  are  diftincl  things,    or  elfa 
 tliey  mad  perifli  together,  or  be  renewed  to- 
 gether. 
 
46  2        ^he  Clofe  of  the  Chrijlian  Life  ; 
 
 gether.     The  Apoftle  reprefents  the  chriflians 
 chap.  V.    as  groaning  in  this  tabernacle^  being  burdened^  and 
 2>  8.        earnefily  dejiring  to  be  clothed  upon  with  their 
 houje  which  is  from  heaven ;  and  as  wiilijtg  to 
 be   abfent  from  the  body^  and  prefent  with  the 
 Lord.     And  he  fpeaks  of  himfelf  to  the  fame 
 Philip,  i.  fenfe,  /  am  in  a  f  rait  betwixt  twoy  having  a 
 23-         deftre  to  depart^  and  be  with  Chriji^    which  is 
 far  better.  He  reckoned  upon  being  with  Chri/i, 
 2ivA prefent  with  him,  when  he  was  abfent  from 
 the  body  and  departed  out  of  the  world,  which 
 he  could  not  be  if  he  had  only  a  body,  or  it 
 were  to  be  only  at  the  refurrecflion.     He  could 
 not  be  abfent  from  the  one,   and  prefent  with 
 the  other,   at  the  fame  time,  but  with  refped: 
 to  fomething  diftind;  from  both;  nor  was  there 
 otherwife  any  reafon  for  being  in  a  flrait  in 
 his  mind,    or  having  any  difficulty,    about  it. 
 When  he  had  vifions  and  revelations^    and  was 
 zQox.^n.caught  up  into  paradife,  he  fays.  Whether  in 
 r'    ,    „  the  body,  or  out  of  the  body^  I  cannot  tell:  whe- 
 ll'fS'^Si'  ther  my  foul  remained  in  the  body,  or  was  for 
 (mi^-A&thit  time  feparated  from  it,  I  cannot  deter- 
 mine, which  neceflarily  fuppofes  a  real  dillinc- 
 tion  between  them,  or  there  could  be  no  room 
 for  any  doubt  or  uncertainty  about  it.    So  the 
 I  Ther.  V.  Apoftle's  dillindion  of  body,  foul  and  jpirit,  can- 
 ^^'  not  mean  only  the  body,    whatever  is  the  dif- 
 
 ference between  foul  and  ffirit,  whether  the 
 one  is  defigned  to  lignify  the  animal  life,  and 
 the  other  the  r^^^^/c/M/ faculty  j  or  they  are  only 
 different  charad:ers  and  powers  of  the  fime 
 mind.  In  another  place  he  fpeaks  of  God  as 
 t\\c  father  qf^  our JpiritSy  in  diflindion  from  our 
 
 earthly 
 
or^  St»  Stephen'^  dying  Prayer,        463 
 
 earthly  parents,  who  are  x\\q father  5  of  our  fiefh  M^^-  xii 
 The  Ipirit  is  of  a  different  original,  as  well  as^' 
 of  another  kind.     And  he  reprefents  it  as  one 
 inftance  of  the  bleffednefs  of  the  future  flate, 
 that  we  are  come  to — thefpirits  of  jiifi  men ^_^^^ 
 made  perfeSi :  i.  e.  We  now  ftand  related  un- 
 der the  gofpel-difpenfation  to  that  general  af- 
 fembly  and  feat  of  the  bleffed,  where  are  the 
 fpirits  oi  jufi  7nen^    who  have  finiihed  their 
 courfe,  as  well  as  an  innumerable  company  of 
 angels. 
 
 The  clear  and  plain  declarations  of  the  fcrip- 
 ture-revelation  may  reafonable  be  fet  againfh 
 any  real  difficulties  in  the  matter,  or  the  doubt- 
 ful reafonings  of  our  own  minds.  And  though 
 we  don't  know  the  precife  nature  of  a  fpirit,  or 
 the  manner  of  its  union  with  the  body,  which 
 is  a  great  myftery  in  nature  ;  as  neither  do  we 
 the  fubflratum  or  abftra(5l  effence  oi  matter  \  yet 
 we  do  know  the  effential  and  diftinguilliing 
 properties  of  them.  The  foul  is  a  thinking 
 confcious  principle,  an  intelligent  agent,  a 
 principle  of  life  and  acftion,  which  bears  a  near 
 refemblance  of  God  the  infinite  fpirit,  and  of 
 angels,  who  are  pure  unbodied  fpirits.  Thefe 
 are  powers  wholly  diilindt  from  matter,  and 
 incompatible  \vith  it,  which  is  only  extended 
 fubftance  capable  of  being  divided  into  parts, 
 and  being  differently  figured  and  moved,  and 
 of  being  diffolved  ^  that  has  no  principle  of 
 thought,  or  power  of  felf-motion :  and  no 
 compofition,  or  dilpofition  of  the  parts  of  mat- 
 ter, can  produce  fuch  an  eficd:,  or  render  it 
 capable  of  a<^on  which  is  inconfiflent  with  the 
 
 nature, 
 
464         ^^  ^^^fi  ^f  ^^^  Chrijiian  Life ; 
 
 nature,  and  all  the  known  properties  of  it, 
 and  which  belongs  to  none  of  them  afun- 
 der  *. 
 
 I 
 
 *  If  matter  can  think,  it  muft  be  either  as  'tis  an  ejjfeniial'pfc- 
 perty  of  matter,  and  what  naturally  belongs  to  it;  and  then  all 
 matter  muft  think  \  for  what  naturally  belongs  to  it,  mull  be 
 common, to  the  whole,  and  to  every  part  of  it,  but  that  is  n. 
 contradidlion  to  our  fenfes  as  well  as  to  our  reafon.  Or^lfc  ic  is 
 proper  to  matter  under  fome  ^^^dvA  7nodiJication  o{  m,  and  only 
 belongs  to  matter  fo  and  fo  modified,  or  framed  and  difpofed  in 
 fuch  a  particular  manner,  as  fuppofe  in  a  hu?nan  body  :  But  the 
 meer  modification  of  matter  can  neither ^/w  nor  alter  any  efTen- 
 tial  property  of  it.  What  is  proper  to  matter  will  always  belong 
 to  it,  under  any  modification  of  it ;  and  no  modification  of  matter 
 %vill  add  any  effential  property  to  it.  'Tis  nothing  but  matter  flilJ, 
 under  any  whatfoever  diftej;ent  modification  :  'tis  only  folid  or 
 extended  fubftance,  in  any  (iiape  or  form.  Or  elfe  a  po-cver  of 
 thinking  muft  be  added  to  fome  certain  y)y?f;;z;  of  matter,  or  mat- 
 ter under  fuch  particular  modifications  of  it ;  and  this  is  the  moll 
 plaufible  and  likely  pretence.  But  then  the  power  of  thinking 
 muft  be  the  power  of  fome  being  or  fubftance ;  it  muft  be  the 
 power  offometbing  ;  for  a  meer  ahjlrail  power  which  belongs  to 
 no  fubjeft,  is  utterly  inconceivable.  Now  that  muft  be  either 
 fome  jnaterial  fubftance,  and  then  it  will  be  repugnant  to  the 
 nature  of  matter,  and  fuppofe  a  power  incompatible  with  itfelf  : 
 Or  it  muft  be  the  power  of  fomething  different  from  matter;  and 
 then  it  muft  htfpirit:  for  there  is  nothing  but  matter  and  fpirit 
 in  the  univerfe;  and  then  it  grants  the  thing  in  difpute,  and  yields 
 up  the  fubjeft  of  the  debate. 
 
 Befides,  If  it  is  added  to  a  fyftem  of  matter,  it  muft  be  either 
 infeparably  added  to  it;  and  as  an  effential  property  of  it ;  and  then 
 it  will  have  an  eflential  property  quite  different  from  it  fcif,  and 
 wholly  foreign  to  its  nature,  and  which  would  alter  the  whole 
 kind,  and  make  it  quite  another  thing:  Or  it  muft  be_/^/'<.7;-/?>^A', 
 and  only  accidental  to  it;  and  then  the  thinking  matter  may  be- 
 come unthinking  again,  and  the  thinking  power  be  removed  from 
 it;  andib  we  lliould  be  thinking  beings  not  by  nature,  but  only 
 by  an  accident,  and  the  nobleft  power  of  nature  be  or.iy  an  ac- 
 cident of  the  vaftly  inferiour  and  leis  noble  part.  And  not  to 
 difjjutc  the  limits  of  divine  power,  I  would  only  afk.  Whether 
 'tis  not  a  more  reafonable  fuppofition,  and  more  eafiiy  conceiva- 
 ble for  the  power  of  God  to  make  a  Jpiritual  fuhjiance  capa- 
 ble 0:  thinking  agreeable  to  the  nature  of  the  fubjeft ;  or  to  fup- 
 pofe him  to  add  a  pon.ver  of  thir.king  to  any  material  iyftem,  Vv'hith 
 is  heterogeneous  and  difagrccable  to  it. 
 
or^  S^.Stepuen^s  dying  Prayer,         465 
 
 I  conclude  this  head  with  this  obfervation, 
 Tliat  this  was  the  general  fenfe  of  the  wifefl 
 and  beft  of  the  Jieathen  Philofophers  and  Mo- 
 rahfts,  and  appeared  moft  agreeable  to  the  light 
 of  nature,  and  the  evident  reafon  of  things,  as 
 'tis  more  clear  and  certain  throughout  the  Scrip- 
 ture-revelation.* 
 
 II.  That  at  death  the  fpirit  will  be  fcparated 
 from  the  body,  and  exilt  apart  from  it.  If  'tis 
 diflind:  from  the  body,  and  of  another  nature, 
 it  may  be  feparated  from  it,  and  exift  without 
 ■it.  As  the  body  exifled,  and  was  formed  out 
 of  the  duft  of  the  earth,  before  the  living  foul 
 was  infufed  into  it,  fo  the  foul  may  fublifl: 
 when  'tis  feparated  from  it.  Though  they  are 
 clofely  united  to  one  another,  in  the  prefent 
 Itate,  yet  the  bonds  of  union  are  not  indilTo- 
 luble,  and  will  be  broken  afunder.  There  is 
 no  natural  and  neceflary  conned:ion  between 
 them,  but  only  an  ordained  one,  or  by  the  ap- 
 pointment and  pleafure  of  God. 
 
 But  then  as'tis  a  w/<^/ principle,  and  all  life 
 and  action  proceeds  from  the  union  of  foul  and 
 
 ilippoc.  in  Aphor. 
 
 Cicero  reprefents  it  as  a  prime  opinion  among  the  Philofophers, 
 Sunt  ejiim  qui  difcejfuvi  animi  a  corpore,  pitcnt  ijfc  mortem.  Tiif- 
 cul.  1.  I,  c.  9.  and  Pojfe  animos  cum  e  corporihus  excejferinty  in 
 caelum,  quaji  in  domiciliu7n  fuuni  pernjenire,  c.  1 1.  Auitorihus  qui- 
 aem  ad  ijlam  ftutentiam,  quatnvisohtineri,  uti  optimis  pojji/nus,  quod 
 in  otnnibus  caujis  et  debet  et  folet,  njalerc  phirinutm :  ct  frlmum 
 quidem  omni  aiitiquitatCy  qua:  quo  proprius  aherat  ah  ortu,  iy  divi/ia 
 progenic,  hoc  melius  ea  fortajj'e,  qure  crant  •vera,  cernehat.  c  IZ. 
 Sed  lit  deos  ejje  natura  opinamur,  quale fque  fmt  ratione  cogmjcimus  : 
 fie  perma7iere  animos  arbitramur  confenfu  vati^nun  omnium.  ^J*ei 
 in  fede  maneant,  quahjque  fnity  rationc  difcendum  eji.  c.    i6. 
 
 H  h  bodyi 
 
466        7he  Clofe  of  the  Chrijlian  Life  ; 
 
 body  ;  fo  the  feparation  of  the  foul  from  the 
 body  is  the  death  and  dilTolution  of  it.  'Tis 
 deftroying  our  prefent  being  and  way  of  ex- 
 ifling :  the  body  dies  and  returns  to  the  duft, 
 when  deferted  of  the  hving  foul.  This  is  plain- 
 ly implied  here,  when  StepJoen  prays,  Lord 
 yefus  7\xeive  my  fpirit  j  not  only  that  he  had  a 
 Ipirit  diflincft  from  the  body,  but  that  the  fpirit 
 was  now  dif.odging^  and  ready  to  depart  fi-om 
 the  body  5  that  the  time  of  its  feparation  was 
 near,  in  which  it  muft  no  longer  continue  in 
 the  body  and  in  this  bodily  ftate.     It  was  to 
 
 2  Cor  V.  ^^  ^^^^  ^^^^  rf  ^^^  ^^^'  ^°  ^^^  Apoflle  fays, 
 1,4.  We  k7io%v  that  this  earthly  hoiife  of  our  tabernacle 
 Ktf.7MAu-  j]^^ii  jy^  diffblvedy  and  fpeaks  of  beiiig  unclothed. 
 "'  The  tabernacle  in  which  we  dwell  muft  be 
 ^.  .  taken  down,  and  the  prefent  clothing  be  put 
 6.  oif.     He  fays  of  himfelf,  The  tijne  of  my  de- 
 
 AviXvn-  parture  is  at  hand.  To  the  fame  purpofe  the 
 '^^■'^  ^  Apoftle  P^/^-rfays,  Knowing  that  Jhortly  I mufl 
 3Pet.i.'  put  off  this  my  tabernacle ,  and  he  fpeaks  of  his 
 14,  1 5.  Deceafe,  or  Exodus,  his  going  out  of  the  body, 
 *'°  ^'      and  out  of  this  world. 
 
 The  feparation  of  foul  and  body  is  properly 
 the  death  of  our  prefent  nature.  This  came  in- 
 to the  world  by  fin,  and  is  the  proper  fruit  of 
 it.  'Tis  the  fentence  of  the  law  executed 
 upon  the  breach  of  it.  The  threatning  lay  thus, 
 Gtn.w.i-j.ht  the  day  thou  eatefi  thereof  thou  jhalt  fur ely 
 die:  The    execution  was,  Dull  thou  art.  and 
 
 ■■—111.    IQ,  ^ 
 
 '  unto  duf  tkou  fialt  return-,  what  was  dufr,  was 
 to  return  to  duft ;  or,  as  the  wife  man  more 
 diftindily  reprefents  it,  ^he  duft  returneth  to  the 
 earthy  and  the  fpirit  returneth  to  God  who  gave 
 
 it. 
 
 1 
 
^r,  /5V.  StephenV  dying  Prayer,         467 
 
 if,  or  breathed  it  into  man  at  iiril.  If  man 
 had  continued  innocent,  and  never  Unned,  he 
 had  never  died,  and  there  had  been  no  repara- 
 tion of  foul  and  body.  This  account  the  A- 
 poftle  gives  of  it,  By  one  m mi  fin  ente^-ed  into  ^^^ 
 the  Ivor  Id,  and  death  by  Jin  ,  and  fo  death  pajjed 
 upon  all  men,  for  that  all  ha"oe  fnned.  It  was 
 the  efFe(ft  of  the  firfl  fin.  hwA  'tis  now  ap- 
 pointed unto  men  once  to  die  t  'Tis  fettled  by  ^^x-'^-^i^ 
 law  and  conftitution.  This  is  the  common 
 ftate  of  fallen  nature.  We  are  not  immortal 
 in  this  world,  that  is  proper  to  the  other  world. 
 Our  death  is  appointed  by  the  divine  will, 
 though  we  know  not  the  day  of  our  death.  Na- 
 ture tends  to  a  diffolution,  and  gradually  de- 
 cays and  wears  out,  though  no  evil  befall  it ; 
 and  'tis  liable  to  many  diftempers,  and  many 
 accidents,  which  often  prove  fatal,  and  haflen 
 a  leparation.  Men  fometimes  die  a  natural 
 death ;  the  force  of  nature  is  quite  fpent,  and 
 it  expires  by  gentle  decays,  like  a  lamp  when 
 the  oil  is  confumed :  and  fometimes  they  die 
 2i  violent  death,  by  the  hands  of  juftice,  or  the 
 hands  of  wickednefs^  fometimes  in  one  age  and 
 period  of  life,  and  foinetimes  in  another.  There 
 is  a  time  to  every  one  when  the  foul  and  body 
 muft  part  afunder  after  the  clofefl  union,  and 
 longell  continuance,  and  notwithftanding  the 
 greatefl  intimacy  and  endearm.entj  and  the 
 greatefl  unv/iUingnefs  and  reludance.  There 
 is  no  poflible  way  to  prevent  and  avoid  it,  ac- 
 cording to  the  obfervation  of  the  wife  man, 
 ^here  is  no  man  who  hath  power  over  the  fpirit,  "^-^^^  ^iii- 
 to  retain  the  fpirit,  neither  hath  he  power  in  the'^' 
 H  h  2  day 
 
468         The  Clofe  of  the  Chrijiiaii  Life ; 
 
 ^ay  ofuoratb,  and  there  is  no  difcharge  in  that 
 ivar,  neither  JJjall  wicked?2ej's  deliver  the?n  who 
 are  given  to  it. 
 
 III.  The  Lord  yefus  will  receive  the  depart- 
 ing fpirits  of  good  men.  This  was  the  mat- 
 ter of  Stephens  prayer.  He  knew  not  only 
 that  his  fpirit  was  to  depart  from  the  body, 
 but  that  he  was  to  receive  his  departing  fpirit, 
 and  that  it  properly  belonged  to  him  as  his 
 work  and  office.  He  therefore  invocatcs^  and 
 puts  up  this  prayer  to  him,  as  a  proper  obje6l 
 of  prayer,  and  as  a  proper  requeft  to  him; 
 Lord  yefus^  receive  my  Spirit.  And  we  can- 
 not fuppofe  that  he  would  have  prayed  in 
 this  manner,  who  was  full  of  faith  and  of 
 the  Holy  Ghofi^  if  the  cafe  had  been  otherwife  ; 
 if  it  did  not  belong  to  him  to  receive  it,  or  he 
 was  not  difpofed  to  do  it. 
 
 This  is  a  more  diftindt  and  particular  ac- 
 count of  the  matter,  and  proper  to  the  chrif- 
 tian  revelation.  In  the  old  Teftament  we  are 
 only  told,  That  the  fpirit  returns  to  God  who 
 gave  it,  and  who  is  the  Father  of  fpirits ;  but 
 here  we  are  told,  that  the  Lord  Jcfus  receives 
 our  departing /i'/r/Vx.  'Tis  through  the  Medi- 
 atorj  and  by  his  immediate  agency,  that  the 
 whole  kingdom  of  providence  and  grace,  is  now 
 adminilbed,  in  all  the  difpofals  of  life,  and 
 the  iffues  of  death.  He  appoints  the  ordinan- 
 ces of  worfliip,  and  the  duties  of  life,  and  is 
 prefent  in  the  article  of  death,  and  has  the 
 difpofal  of  our  departing  fpirits ;  as  we  are  to 
 live  to  the  Lord,  and  to  die  to  him.  We  muft 
 commit  our  departing  fpirits  to  God  by  Chrifl. 
 
 They 
 
or^  aSV.  Stephen^  dying  Prayer.         469 
 
 They  muft  be  immediately  committed  to  him, 
 to  be  conveyed  and  prefented  to  God.  We 
 learn  thus  much  by  this  inftance,  and  'tis  cer- 
 tainly exemplary  and  infl:ru<fting  to  us.  But 
 what  is  the  import  of  his  receiijing  the  departed 
 fpirits  of  good  men  ?  What  does  it  contain  in  it, 
 and  how  are  we  to  conceive  of  it  ?  We  fliould 
 be  careful  in  matters  of  pure  revelation  to  fpeak. 
 with  the  fcriptures,  and  to  meafure  and  limit 
 all  our  conceptions  by  it.  As  we  know  no 
 more  of  the  unbodied  flate  of  the  other  world 
 than  the  revelation  has  told  us,  fo  we  muft  not 
 indulge  to  rafh  prefumption,  or  vain  curiolity 
 about  it  J  but  be  content  to  be  ignorant  where 
 that  is  filent.  I  conceive  the  expreflion  was 
 defigned  to  convey  thefe  two  ideas : 
 
 I.  The  taking  them  under  his  prote(5lion  and 
 care.  And  fo.  Lord  Jefiis  receive  my  J  pi  r  it  ^  is 
 as  much  as  if  he  had  faid,  "  Take  my  diflodg- 
 *'  ing  foul  under  thy  fpecial  and  immediate 
 "  guardianlhip,  when  it  quits  the  body  and 
 "  leaves  the  world.  When  it  is  going  into  the 
 "  invifible  ftate,  and  world  of  fpirits,  let  it  be 
 "  under  thy  powerful  protection  and  merciful 
 ''^  care.  When  I  tread  an  untrodden  path,  and 
 "  go  into  a  world  where  I  have  never  been  be- 
 *'  fore,  and  where  I  am  altogether  a  ftranger, 
 '■'■  be  thou  my  patron  and  protestor,  do  thou 
 '•■ '  condud:  and  defend  me." 
 
 He  receives  the  departing  fpirits  of  good  men 
 under  his  prote<5lion,  and  is  anfwerable  for  the 
 care  of  them.  He  is  their  refuge  and  guide, 
 to  whom  they  fly,  and  whom  they  follow, 
 when  thev  go  into  a  new  and  unknown  ftate. 
 H  h  3  And 
 
470       T^he  Clofe  of  the  ChriJIian  Life  ; 
 
 Heb.i.i2.  And  as  the  Angels  are  now  }nifiijlri?ig  fpir its ^ 
 fe?2t forth  to  nunlfter  to  the  heirs  of  jalvation  -,  and 
 
 ^Sv.i\.  he  WAX  fend  forth  his  angels,  at  the  great  day,  to 
 (gather  his  eleB  from  the  four  winds :  fo  we  have 
 *reafon  to  ap,prehend,  that  he  will  imploy  the 
 miniftry  of  angels,  to  take  care  of  departing 
 fpirits,  and  keep  them  from  the  infults  of  evil 
 fpirits,  in  their  pafTage  through  the  regions  of  the 
 air,  the  feat  and  empire  of  evil  fpirits  j  for  the 
 Devil  is  not  only  reprefented  as  the  God  of  this 
 
 Eph  ii.2.'^'°^^^5  ^^^  ^^  ^^  prince  of  the  power  of  the 
 air*  He  preferves  the  naked  trembling  fpirit 
 by  a  guard  of  holy  angels,  from  afFrightment 
 and  amazement,  from  theterrour  and  power  of 
 envious  f]3irits,  who  would  gladly  feize  it  as  a 
 prey,  and  diftrefs  and  terrify  it,  as  the  Devil 
 I  Pet.v.o.  ,^^^^  ^^^^^  ^^p  ^fi^^^Qi^fif^Jijj^g  whom  he  may  devour. 
 
 This  feems  plainly  intimated  in  the  in  fiance 
 of  Lazarus;  And  it  came  to  pafs  the  beg- 
 gar died  J  and  was  carried  by  angels  into  Abra- 
 hanis  hofom.  So  an  excellent  perfon  once  faid 
 in  the  article  of  death :  Ajigels,  do  your  ofice. 
 Thus  he  takes  care  of  the  precious  depofitum^ 
 which  is  committed  to  him,  and  keeps  it  fafe, 
 from  all  evil,  and  every  danger  in  the  way. 
 
 2.  He  conveys  them  to  God,  and  to  a  ftate 
 of  blefedncfs.  What  the  intermediate  flate  of 
 bleifednefs  will  be  to  good  men,  we  can  have 
 no  more  clear  and  particular  conceptions  than 
 the  fcripture-revelation  gives  us,  and  what  a- 
 rifes  from  the  natural  notions  of  a  fpirit,  and 
 the  ellential  diiTcrence  between  good  and  evil 5 
 ?".  e.  That  they  are  in  a  ilate  of  aBivity,  and 
 in  a  flate  of  refl  and  happinefsj  and  vaftly  dif- 
 ferent 
 
or,  &.  Stephen^  dying  Prayer*        471 
 
 ferent  fi-om  that  of  wicked  fpirits.  Thus  when 
 the  diijl  retiirJieth  to  the  earthy  thefpirit  return- 
 eth  to  God  ivho  gave  it-,  to  be  difpofed  of  by  him 
 according  to  its  flate  and  condition,  and  what 
 was  its  true  temper  and  charad:er  in  this  world. 
 He  receives  the  departing  fpirits  of  good  men, 
 to  convey  them  fafe  to  their  proper  abode,  to  a 
 Hate  of  reft  from  labour^  or  fi-eedom  from  ail 
 iineafinefs,  and  to  be  "with  him  in  paradij^  in  a 
 Hate  of  happinefs  and  joy,  to  wait  the  time 
 of  his  final  appearance,  and  their  compleat 
 blelTednefs.  In  this  icn^Q  they  are  to  be  with 
 Chrift^  and  prefent  with  the  Lord,  when  abfent 
 from  the  body  j  which  fure  can  never  mean  lefs, 
 than  that  they  are  in  a  ftate  of  prefent  happinels, 
 and  the  expedttation  of  what  is  final.  So  La- 
 zarus was  carried  by  ajigeh  iiito  Abrahom's  bo- 
 fom,  /.  e.  immediately  upon  his  death  ;  as  foon 
 as  he  died,  he  was  carried  to  Abraham'^  bofom. 
 This  reprefentation  is  agreeable  to  the  language 
 and  tradition  of  the  yeivs^  who  fpeak  of  A- 
 braharas,  bofom^  as  a  place  of  dignity  and  ho-  ^rZ 
 nour,  and  of  refl  and  delight.  They  will  be^^^^?/' 
 where  Abraham  is,  and  with  Abrahajn^  Jfaac  Works\ 
 and  Jacob,  in  the  region  of  the  Patriarchs,  and 
 the  ft  ate  and  place  of  happy  fouls  departed  out 
 of  this  world.  This  was  not  an  incident,  or 
 circumftance,  but  an  effential  part  of  the  para- 
 ble, which  was  defigned  to  reprefent  the  different 
 ftates  of  good  and  bad  men  immediately  upon 
 their  dying,  or  going  out  of  this  world ;  and 
 to  be  fure  was  intended  not  to  miflead,  but  to 
 diredl  our  conceptions  of  the  future  ftate, 
 
 H  h  4  So 
 
472         7he  Clofe  of  the  Chrijiian  Life  I 
 
 ^o  the  fenfe  is,  "  Receive  my  departing 
 "  fpirit  to  thy  felf;  Convey  it  fafe  to  God: 
 "  Carry  my  diflodging  foul  to  the  regions  of 
 "  the  bleffed,  to  the  proper  place  and  abode 
 ^'  appointed  for  me  :  Place  me  in  fuch  a  ftate 
 "  and  degree  of  happinefs  among  the  bleffed 
 *'  dead  which  belongs  to  me,  and  for  which  by 
 "  thy  grace  I  am  made  fit." 
 
 I  fliall  only  further  obferve,  That  'tis  no 
 wonder  that  no  more  is  fpoken  of  the  imme- 
 diate flate  of  departed  fpir  its  in  the  fcripture, 
 becaufe  that  was  generally  apprehended  and  be- 
 lieved in  the  'Jewijlo  and  Heathen  world,  and 
 was  of  lefs  confequence  in  it  felf,  than  the  Re- 
 furredtion  of  the  body,  and  the  final  happinefs 
 of  heaven,  the  peculiar  glory  of  the  Golpel- 
 revelation. 
 
 IV.  That  chriftians  fliould  commend  their 
 departing  fpirits  to  Chrifl  by  prayer.  This 
 was  dired:ly  the  cafe  here,  and  is  the  form  of 
 the  expreilion,  hord  yejks  receive  my  fpirit. 
 This  prayer  was  direded  to  Chrift  in  his  exalted 
 flate,  fianding  at  the  right  hand  ofGod^  and  in 
 the  quality  of  a  Mediator^  who  ever  lives  to 
 make  intercejjion  for  its.  It  was  a  folemn  re- 
 figningof  his  fpiiit  to  Chrifl,  and  commending 
 of  it  to  his  care ;  and  was  expreflive  of  his 
 trufl  and  confidence  in  him,  as  well  as  of  his 
 defire.  It  was  the  prayer  of  faith  ^  and  with 
 affurance  and  fatisfaclion  of  a  gracious  regard 
 from  him.  The  fenfe  is, "  I  commit  my  depart- 
 *'  ing  fpirit  to  thy  powerful  proteftion,  and 
 *'  trufl  thee  with  the  whole  care  of  it.  I  put  it 
 *'  under  thy  condud;,  and  depend  upon  thy 
 
 "  faith- 
 
or^  St,  Stephen^  dying  Prayer.       473 
 
 *'  faithful  mercy :    I  have  full  confidence  of 
 *'  thy  prefervation  and  difpofal,  and  reft  fecure 
 "  of  fafety  and  happinefs."  So  our  Lord  him- 
 felf  did  in  the  laft  moment  of  life.  Father  in- 
 to thy  hands  I  commend  my  fpirit^  a?id  having  ^  '  ^'"* 
 faid  this  he  gave  up  the  ghoft..     He  committed  -me^^m- 
 it  to  him  as  a  truil  and  treafure.     The  words  f^'- 
 are  borrowed  from  the  Pfahniji :  hitothy  hafids^^'^^^^-'^' 
 I  commit  my  fpirit,  thou  ha/i  redeemed  7ne^  Lord 
 God  oj  truth ;  only  with  this  difference,  That     ~ 
 he  directed  his  prayer  immediately  to  God^  and 
 we  are  inftrudied  in  the  chriftian  revelation  to 
 diredl  this  prayer  immediately  to  Chriji,  and 
 to   ajk  the  Father  in  his  name.     This  is  our 
 pattern  and  example,  and  propoled  in  the  Gof- 
 pel  fbr  our  imitation.     We  muft  commit  our 
 departing  fpirits  into  the  hands  of  Chrift.  This 
 is  the  proper  prayer  of  a  dying  chriflian,  and 
 the  fit  clofe  of  his  life.     But  upon  what  grounds 
 may  a  dying  chriflian  offer  up  fuch  a  prayer  to 
 Chrift  ?  With  what  warrant  and  hope  of  fuc- 
 cefs  ?  I  anfwer,  upon  good  grounds  and  fuf- 
 ficient  fecurity. 
 
 I.  His  great  love  to  the  ipirits  of  men.     He 
 is  the  great  lover  of  fouls,  and  gave  the  dear- 
 eft  and  moft  coftly  proof  of  his  love;  Wepar-  Mat.  xx. 
 took  of  our  jiejld  and  blood  \  and  caj7ie  not  to  be  mi-  ^S- 
 niftred  to,  but  to  ininijier,  and  to  give  his  life 
 a  ranfom  for  many  :    He  made  his  foul  an  of- 
 fering for  fin,    and  gave   himfelf  an  off'eri?ig 
 and  afacrifice  to  God.     He  died  for  us,  and  for  i?  |,  ^  2. 
 our  fins,  to  redeem  and  ranfom  our  forfeited 
 lives,  and   procure  forgivenefs  and  the  favour 
 of  God.     This  is  every  where  afcribed  to  his 
 
 love. 
 
474        ^^  ^^^fi  ^f  ^^^  Chrijiian  Life  ; 
 
 love,  and  made  the  great  expreffion  and  fruit 
 of  it  :  So  He  loved  the  church,  and  gave  himfelf 
 for  it-y  and  loved  us,  andwajhed  us  from  our  fins  ^ 
 in  his  own  blood.  He  had  a  true  philanthropy , 
 or  love  to  men.  The  v^hole  defign  of  his  death 
 and  undertaking,  Vv^as,  to  fave  us  from  our  fin^ 
 and  reconcile  us  to  God,  to  be  the  author  of  eternal 
 falvatio7iy  and  obtain  eternal  rede?nption  for  us. 
 He  is  a  merciful  oJid  faithful  high  priejl^  vi^ho 
 can  be  touched  with  the  feeling  of  our  infirmities  y 
 and  knows  how  to  fuccour  and  have  compaffoUy 
 as  he  knew  the  miferies  of  Hfe,  and  all  the  fears 
 and  terrours  of  death,  in  all  the  circum fiances 
 of  aggravation.  He  has  a  tender  love  to  his 
 iincere  followers,  as  he  loved  Lazarus,  and 
 ivept  at  his  death. 
 
 And  what  may  we  not  expedl  from  fo  great 
 a  love  ?  What  will  he  not  do  for  us,  after  he 
 has  died  for  us?  Will  he  deny  us  anything, 
 when  he  freely  gave  his  life  for  us  ?  Will  he 
 not  take  care  of  the  fouls  whom  he  has  re- 
 deemed, or  fuffer  them  to  perifh  for  whom  he 
 died  ?  Will  he  forfake  them  at  lafl,  and  leave 
 them  expofed  in  an  unknovv^n  ftate,  whom  he 
 has  preferved  all  their  lives,  and  wherever  they 
 have  been  in  this?  How  reafonable  a  ground 
 of  fuch  a  requefl:  is  this  ?  How  freely  may  we 
 refign  our  fpirits  to  one  who  has  fo  great  a 
 love  to  us  ',  how  fafely  may  we  truft  our  beil 
 friend  ? 
 
 2.  His  relation  to  them.  He  is  their  Lord 
 and  Saviour,  their  Head  and  Huiband;  they 
 are  his  fubjeds  and  fervants,  his  members  and 
 friends,  to  whom  he  ilands  in  a  ipecial  relation, 
 
 \  and 
 
or^  St,  Stephen'^  dying  Prayer,        475' 
 
 and  who  is  endeared  to  them  by  fpecial  marks 
 of  favour.  And  he  is  concerned  in  the  protec- 
 tion and  care  of  his  faithful  fervants,  as  a  prince 
 is  concerned  to  fecure  his  fub)ed;s.  He  is 
 intercfted  in  the  fafety  and  welfare  of  all  his 
 members,  and  efteems  every  injury  and  negled: 
 of  any  of  them,  a^  done  to  htmfelf',  as  the  mean- 
 eft  and  remoteft  member  cannot  fuffer,  but 
 the  whole  body  feels  the  pain,  and  the  head  is 
 prefently  afleded  by  it. 
 
 All  the  fandlified  and  renewed,  are  the  ;;?^;;2- 
 bers  of  his  body  ;  interefted  in  his  love,  and 
 entitled  to  his  care :  They  are  Chriji's^  as 
 Chrift  is  God's.'  And  he  retains  his  relation  to 
 them,  living  and  dying  ;  and  in  all  circum- 
 ftances  of  things,  is  the  fame  fall  and  un- 
 alterable friend :  having  loved  bis  own,  be  loved 
 thetn  unto  tbe  end.  As  he  faid  of  his  difciples, 
 ^hofe  whom  thou  haji  given  me  I  have  kept,  and 
 none  of  the?7i  is  loft  5  fo  he  will  not  fuffer  any  of 
 them  to  be  lofl^  who  are  given  to  him  of  the 
 Father^  and  have  been  brought  to  give  up 
 themfelves  to  him,  and  commit  themfelves  to 
 his  care.  They  fhall  not  perifli  for  want  of 
 his  care,  who  belong  to  him,  and  whom  he 
 owns  under  fuch  endearing  charadlers,  and  in 
 fuch  peculiar  relations.  Surely  we  may  de- 
 pend upon  one  fo  gracioully  difpofed,  and  near- 
 ly allied  to  us ;  who  is  concerned  for  our  wel- 
 fare, and  interefted  in  our  happinefs.  The 
 fafety  and  falvation  of  true  believers  is  the  glory  p^ov. 
 of  Chrift,  as  the  multitude  of  the  people  is  the  king's  28. 
 honour.  If  any  of  them  fliould  piifcarry,  he 
 would  fuftain  a  lofs  5  for  he  would  lofe  a  fub- 
 
 jed: 
 
 XIV. 
 
476        The  Clofe  of  the  Chrijlian  Life\ 
 jed:  of  his  kingdom,    and  a  member  of  his 
 body. 
 
 3.  His  ability  and  fonjoer  to  take  care  of 
 them.  'Tis  requifite  there  be  power  in  the 
 objed:  of  prayer,  and  to  thepurpofe  for  which 
 we  pray.  He  muft  be  able  to  do  what  we 
 defire,  otherwife  all  his  affedtion  and  concern 
 will  be  ineffedtual.  Now  he  is  unqueflionably 
 jieb.  vii.  qualified  for  this  great  truft,  for  he  is  of  power 
 27-  to  fave  ;  and  is  able  tofave  to  the  uttermofl  all 
 
 ^'^  ^'  "^  ^^^'^^  ^^^^^  ^^^  ^y  ^^^''^ '  '^^^  expreffion 
 fignifies  not  only  fully  and  compleatly,    but 
 
 -perpetually  and  for  ever ;  and  may  refer  not 
 
 only  to  the  falvation  by  Chrift^    but   to   his 
 
 power  to  fave.     He  has  ability  to  the  utmoft, 
 
 ^'  3-^  2i%\i<tabideth a priefl  continually^  and  continueth 
 ever  and  hath  an  unchangeable  priefihood.  He 
 is  able  to  fave  in  life  and  death ;  all  the  while 
 we  are  in  this  world,  and  when  we  are  going 
 out  of  it  too.     So  he  is  able  to  keep  iisfromfall- 
 
 Jud.  ult.  ifig^  and  prefent  us  fault lefs  before  the  prefence 
 of  his  glory  with  exceeding  joy. 
 
 He  has  all  power  in  heaven  and  earth  given 
 to  hi?n ;  univerfal  authority  and  dominion.  He 
 is  Lord  of  angels,  as  well  as  men.  He  could 
 command  twelve  legions  of  angels  in  his  humble 
 flate  on  earth  to  fave  his  own  life,  and  is  now  the 
 head  of  all  principalities  and  powers,  and  they 
 are  rs\2.^^  JubjeB  to  him.  And  to  be  fure  he 
 will  not  fuffer  them  to  be  injured  and  evil  treat- 
 ed, when  they  are  leaving  the  world,  who  can 
 fo  eafily  take  them  under  his  care,  and  is  able 
 to  defend  them  from  all  aifaults,  to  fecure 
 them  from  violence  and  fear,  and  condud;  them 
 
 fafe 
 
or,  aSV.  Stephen^  dying  Prayer,        477 
 
 fafe  to  their  proper  abode.  And  how  fafely 
 may  we  commit  our  departing  fpirits  to  the 
 care  of  him  who  is  every  way  fufficient,  and 
 fo  able  to  pro  ted:  and  fecure  them  ?  Add  to 
 this, 
 
 4.  His  engagements  and  undertaking.  Chrift 
 as  mediator  is  not  only  related  to  his  people, 
 and  qualified  to  preferve  them  by  his  love  and 
 power,  but  ftands  under  engagements  proper 
 to  his  mediatorial  charad:er.  Thus  he  is  engaged 
 to  God  in  the  covenant  of  redemption,  to 
 do  the  work  of  a  mediator,  and  jinifi  the 
 ivo?'k  which  was  given  him  to  do,  i.  e.  to 
 perfed  and  compleat  it.  And  he  was  not 
 only  to  die  afacrificeforfin,  but  to  bring  them 
 fafe  to  glory ;  to  keep  them  from  fallings  and 
 prefent  them  faultlefs.  He  who  by  the  grace  of 
 God  tafted  death  for  every  man^  was  to  bring  ^^^j^  j. 
 the  many  fom  unto  glory.  And  he  would  fail  9,10. 
 in  his  truft,  if  any  of  them  mifcarried,  and 
 came  floor t  of  the  glory  of  God. 
 
 Besides,  he  is  engaged  by  his /ro;;;//^  and 
 faithfulnefs  to  preferve  and  fecure  them.  No 
 fincere  chriftian  lliall  finally  perifli,  for  he  has 
 promifed  to  all  his  faithful  followers,  /  willjohn  x. 
 give  them  eternal  life,  and  they  Jljall  not  perifi^  28. 
 and  none  flmll  pluck  them  out  of  my  hands.  No 
 power  of  earth  or  hell;  of  evil  men  or  evil  an- 
 gels. And  he  is  a  merciful  and  faithful  high 
 pricfl.  He  is  not  only  faithful  to  God,  and  to 
 him  who  hath  appointed  him,  in  the  difcharge 
 of  his  work ;  but  he  is  faithful  to  them  to  whom 
 he  is  merciful,  and  to  whom  he  is  an  high 
 priefl.    So  he  is  ih.Q  faithful  witnefs,  orrevealer 
 
 of 
 
47  8         The  Clofe  of  the  Chrijiian  Life ; 
 
 of  the  will  of  God  to  men,  and  all  the  pronnfes 
 of  God  are  yea  and  amen  in  him^  or  will  cer- 
 tainly be  accomplifhed.     Upon  thefe  grounds 
 Rom.  viii.  the  Apoftle  exprelTes  a  firm  afiurance,  For  I 
 ^^'  am  perfuaded  that  neither  death  nor  life^   nor 
 
 angels  J  nor  principalities^  nor  powers^  nor  things 
 prej'enty  nor  things  to  come,  nor  height,  nor  depth, 
 nor  any  other  creature,  fiall  be  able  tojeparate 
 MS  from  the  love  of  God  i?i  Chri/i  yefiis  our  Lord, 
 And  how  fecurely  may  we  offer  up  fuch  a  prayer 
 as  this  upon  fuch  an  encouragement  and  war- 
 rant ;  and  depend  upon  it  that  he  will  preferve 
 us  through  all  the  tryals  of  life,  and  not  for- 
 fake  us  in  the  greateft  exremitv,  in  an  hour  of 
 death,  and  at  our  departure  out  of  this  world  ? 
 If  any  {hould  think  that  this  might  poffibly 
 be  proper  to  Stephen,  the  firfl:  martyr  for  chri- 
 flianity,  and  the  extraordinary  privilege  of  one 
 full  of  faith  ajid  the  Holy  Ghcft ;  I  anfwer.  That 
 this  was  no  more  proper  to  Stephen,  than  it  was 
 to  him  to  have  a  fpirit,  and  to  have  that  fe- 
 parated  from  the  body :  and  as  that  is  the  com- 
 mon cafe  of  all  others,  no  reafon  can  be  af- 
 ligned  why  other  good  men  fhould  not  ex- 
 pe6l  the  fame  favour,  in  like  circumftances^ 
 and  upon  the  fame  common  grounds.  Be- 
 fides  that  we  find  the  Apoflle  Ipeaks  to  the 
 fame  purpofe,  not  only  of  himfeif,  but  in  the 
 name  of  other  chriftians  too* 
 
 IL  To  apply  it  briefly  in  the  following  in-" 
 ferences : 
 
 I.  That  the  foul  does  not  die  with  thd 
 body,  orjleep  in  the  grave.     There  is  a  fpirit 
 
 in 
 
or^  St,  Stephen^  dying  Prayer*        479 
 
 in  man  diftind  from  the  body,  and  which  fur- 
 vives  it,  and  exifts  feparately  from  it.  'Tis 
 only  the  body  which  properly  dies,  the  adive 
 confcious  principle  lives  when  the  body  drops 
 into  the  grave,  and  refolves  into  its  native  duU. 
 To  fuppofe  it  to  die  with  the  body,  or  lleep 
 in  the  grave,  is  inconliftent  with  the  nature  of 
 a  fpirit,  which  is  effentially  vital  and  active. 
 
 Either  there  is  nothing  but  bod)\  and  or- 
 ganized matter,  which  is  dilTolved  at  death, 
 and  rendered  uncapable  of  adion,  as  a  clock 
 when  the  weights  are  taken  off,  or  the  wheels 
 are  out  of  order;  and  then  we  are  only  reafoji- 
 i?ig  machines^  or  a  finer  and  more  curious  piece 
 of  clock-work.  This  would  deftroy  the  di- 
 il:in(5tion  between  the  duji  and  the  fpirit,  the 
 body  and  Joul,  the  inward  and  outward  mafj, 
 which  the  fcripture  exprelly  afferts.  And  then  ^^ 
 ^fhere  would  be ^^1^ difference  between  the^/'-Ecd.  iii. 
 rit  of  a  man  wmch  goetb  upwards,  and  the  21. 
 fpirit  of  a  beafl  which  goeth  downwards,  if  both 
 perifh  together  ?  Or  elie  there  is  2ijpirit  di- 
 ftind;  from  body,  and  then  we  conclude  from 
 the  nature  of  a  fpirit  that  it  cannot  naturally 
 die,  or  ceafe  to  ad;  in  one  kind  or  other,  for 
 that  would  deftroy  its  very  nature ;  an  unaSiive 
 fpirit,  would  be  a  contradidion,  as  much  as 
 laiext ended  matter,  if  we  have  any  juft  concep- 
 tions of  either. 
 
 Besides,  it  is  contrary  to  the  reprefenta- 
 tions  of  the  fcripture,  and  the  defires  and  hopes 
 of  good  men.  The  Apoftle's  image  of  diffbh- 
 ing  and  putting  off  the  taberjiacle,  and  being 
 zmckthedj  implies  as  much,  as  a  man  continues 
 
 to 
 
480        ^he  Clofe  of  the  Chrtfitan  Life  ; 
 
 to  live,  though  his  habitation  is  pulled  down ; 
 and  the  body,  when  'tis  unclothed.  Demo- 
 lifhing  the  houfe  don't  deflroy  the  inhabitant, 
 and  we  are  not  killed,  when  we  are  undrelTed. 
 It  would  infer  the  lofs  of  fo  much  of  our  ex- 
 iftence  and  being,  and  of  all  acftion  and  enjoy- 
 ment, fometimes  for  thoufands  of  years  toge- 
 ther ;  and  introduce  a  dark  and  uncomfortable 
 ftate  of  things,  which  only  tends  to  damp  the 
 joy  and  comfort  of  good  men,  weaken  their 
 fupports  under  prefent  troubles,  and  the  mo- 
 tives of  their  diligence  and  defire. 
 
 2.  We  fhould  be  often  thinking,  and/r^- 
 paring  for  a  time  and  ftate  of  feparation.  The 
 Ipirit  which  now  animates  the  body,  and  is 
 the  principle  of  all  its  adings,  will  be  .  fepara- 
 ted  from  the  body,  and  depart  out  of  the  world. 
 
 ,  .^  The  body  will  rot  in  the  grave,  but  the  de-^ 
 parted  fpirit  will  live  in  the.unbodied  ftate,  an^ 
 be  happy  or  miferable,  in  the  world  of  fpirits. 
 And  what  a  folemn  time  will  that  be  ?  How 
 much  depends  upon  this  iingle  circumftance, 
 the  critical  moment  of  entering  upon  an  im- 
 mediate flate  of  happinefs  or  mifery,  and  of 
 waiting  for  the  final  confummation  of  it  ? 
 
 Should  we  not  often  thiiik  of  the  awful 
 lime,  and  daily  prepare  for  it?  I  muft  quick- 
 ly leave  this  body,  of  which  I  am  now  fo  fond 
 and  fo  careful ;  and  leave  this  world  in  which 
 I  have  dwelt  fo  long,  and  am  fo  well  acquain- 
 ted. The  defer  ted  body  will  become  a  life- 
 lefs-  carcafs,  a  lump  of  clay,  mere  duft  and 
 allies ;  but  my  fpirit  will  go  to  God,  and  to  the 
 world  of  fpirits,  into  a  new  and  unknown  ftate. 
 
 Where 
 
or,  St.  Stephen'^  dying  Prayer,         481 
 
 Where  will  death  lodge  my  departing  fpirit  ? 
 What  will  be  my  ftation  and  abode  in  the  o- 
 ther  world  ?  How  fhall  I  be  difpofed  of  there  ? 
 Of  what  infinite  importance  is  this  to  every 
 man  ?    How  unreafonable  is  the  negledl  and 
 forgetfulnefs  of  it  ?    It  mufl:  be  very  blamable 
 and  full  of  hazard,  in  a  time  oi youth  and  healthy 
 never  to  think,  of  it,  or  provide  for  it,  when 
 we  muft  be  quickly  there,  and  be  there  for 
 ever.     We  live  at  great  uncertainty  in  the  pre- 
 fent  ftate,  and  as  to  all  our  prefent  enjoyments, 
 and  cannot  be  fure  of  any  long  continuance  in 
 the  moft  fecure  and  flourifhing  flate,  and  have 
 reafon  to  expe^fl  it  may  be  otherwile  -,    and 
 fliould  we  not  be  often  thinking  of  our  depar- 
 ture, and  always  providing  for  a  better  flate  ? 
 Should  we  not  be  greatly  concerned,  and  above 
 all  things,  that  we  may  be  reconciled  to  God 
 the  Father  of  fpirit  s^  and  accepted  of  him  in 
 Chrift,  and  in  the  way  the  goipel  prefcribesj 
 and  lay  up  our  treafure  in  heaven^   and  lay  up 
 in  for  e  a  good  foundation  again/i  the  time  to  come^ 
 that  ive  may  lay  hold  of  eter}ial  life?  The  ferious 
 contemplation  of  death  would  be  of  admirable 
 ufe  to  corredt  the  vanity  of  our  minds,  and  re- 
 gulate our  whole  conduct,    amidft  all  the  gai- 
 ety and  fnares  of  life.     But  this  is  efpecially 
 reafonable  after  a  long  continuance  in  life,  and 
 under  growing  nveahiefs  and  vifible  decays  of 
 nature.     Methinks  when  we  have  lived  fifty 
 or  fixty  years  in  this  world,    and  iiuve  gone 
 thro'  the  feveral  flages  and  conditions  of  life, 
 *tis  high  time  to  be  thinking  of  anotb.er  world, 
 a,nd  of  leaving  this.     Surely  we  fhould  think 
 
 li  oi 
 
482        "The  Clofe  of  the  Chrlftian  Life  ; 
 
 of  it  every  day  we  live,  and  render  the  thought 
 familiar  to  us,  that  we  may  not  be  terrified 
 with  the  fear  of  it,  or  furprized,  unprepared. 
 And  yet  how  fad  is  the  thought,  that  though 
 the  living  know  that  they  muji  die^  and  have  fo 
 frequent  examples  of  it  before  them,  the  ge- 
 nerality of  men  are  as  fecure  and  forgetful  of 
 it,  through  the  vanity  of  their  minds,  and 
 multiplicity  of  other  cares,  as  if  they  were  to 
 live  as  long  as  the  antient  Patriarchs,  or  were 
 never  to  die  at  all. 
 
 3.  The  ^tc\x\mv  happi7iefs  of  good  men,  and 
 the  great  difference  between  them  and  others. 
 ^  The  merciful  Redeemer  will  receive  their  de- 
 parting fpirits.  And  how  fafe  will  they  be  in 
 his  hands  ?  How  fecurely  may  they  truft  him  ? 
 How  cheerfully  may  they  commit  their  ipirits 
 to  his  care  ?  How  unfpeakable  is  the  fupport 
 and  confolation,  from  this  confideration,  un- 
 der the  neareft  profpec^s  of  death,  and  in  the 
 very  agonies  of  it  ? 
 
 On  the  other  fide.  How  fad  is  the  cafe  of  a 
 dyin^  Jimier?  what  will  become  of  his  depart- 
 ing fpirit,  who  lived  a  ftranger,  and  an  enemy 
 to  Chrifc :  who  ftands  in  no  gracious  relation 
 to  him,  and  has  no  fecurity  from  him  :  who 
 has  flighted  his  authority,  and  defpifed  his 
 love,  negledted  his  fervice,  and  provoked  his 
 anger  ?  They  cannot  expeft  the  fame  favour  from 
 him,  or  that  he  fliould  receive  their  fouls  at 
 laft,  and  charge  himfelf  with  the  care  of  them, 
 who  never  fliewed  any  regard  to  him,  and 
 have  no  claim,  or  pretence  to  favour  from  him. 
 No,   their  dillodging  fouls  will  fit  trembling 
 
 upon 
 
27. 
 
 or^  St,  Stephen^  dying  P?'ayer.        483 
 
 upon  their  dying  lips,  and  fhiver  and  fliriek  at 
 the  dark  and  difmal  profped:  before  them  j  they 
 will  be  feized  as  a  prey  by  evil  fpirits,  be  drag- 
 ged to  execution,  and  fall  into  the  hands  cf  the 
 living  God.     They  will  be  hurried  away  into 
 a  flate  of  mifery,  as  the  rich  man  in  hell  lift  Luk.  xvi. 
 up  his  eyes,  being  in  torments.     And  there  will  ^3- 
 remain  no  other  expectation,  h\it2ifea7ful  look-Ueh.x. 
 ifigfor  of  judgment,  and  fiery  indig?iation,  which 
 Jhall  confiime  the  adverfary.     What  confufion 
 and  terrour,  what  agony  and  defpair,  will  feize 
 the  finner's  fpirit,  when  he  finds  himfelf  for- 
 faken  of  his  only  friend,  and  in  the  hands  of  his 
 worfl  enemy,    in  the  greateft  extremity  and 
 diltrefs? 
 
 4.  We  learn  what  is  the  proper  clofe  of  a 
 chriftian's  life.  When  we  have  finimed  our 
 courfe  of  fervice,  and  done  the  work  of  life, 
 what  remains  but  prayer  to  God,  or  lifting  up 
 our  fouls  to  him,  and  commending  them  into 
 his  hands?  So  did  the  holy  Pfalmift,  Into  thy 
 hands  I  comjnit  7?iy  Jpirit.  So  did  old  Simeon 
 at  the  fight  of  the  infant  Saviour,  Now  Lord 
 lettefi  thou  thy  Jervant  depart  in  peace,  for  mine 
 eyes  have  feen  thy  fahation:  So  did  our  blefi^ed 
 Lord  himfelf,  at  the  clofe  of  life,  and  when 
 he  had  finiflied  his  work,  Father  into  thy  hands 
 I  commend  my  Jpirit :  and  fo  did  dying  Stephen 
 in  the  proper  chriflian  form.  Lord  fefus  re-' 
 ceive  my  Jpirit. 
 
 Let  us  endeavour  to  put  our  felves  in  this 
 pofiiure  in  a  dying  hour,  and  imitate  thefe 
 great  examples.  Let  this  be  the  laft  work  of 
 life,  and  the  laft  exercife  of  our  fouls,  if  we 
 
 li  2  fhall 
 
484         2^^  Clofe  of  the  Chriflian  Lifey^ 
 
 fhall  be  then  capable  of  it,  to  commend  our  de- 
 parting Ipirits  to  our  heavenly  Father,  and  com- 
 i7iit  them  to  the  care  of  Chriji.     As  prayer  has 
 been  the  great  inflrument  and  means  of  our 
 daily  prefervation,  it  will  be  the  fit  clofe  of 
 the  chriflian  life.     I  would  chufe  to  end  my 
 days,  and  leave  the  world  with  fuch  a  prayer 
 as  this ;  * '  Lord,  thou  haft  been  the  guide  of  my 
 ^^ youth,    and  my  conftant  fuccour  and  help; 
 "  thou  haft  directed  every  difpofal  of  life,  and 
 *'  treated  me  with   diftinguifhing  favour.      I 
 "  have  early  given  up  my  felf  to  thy  conduft, 
 "  and  always  depended  upon  thee  for  accep- 
 *'  tance  with  God.  I  truft  I  have  been  faithfully 
 **  devoted  to  thy  fervice,  in  my  fixed  purpofe, 
 "  and  main  defign  of  life ;  and  now,  O  Lord, 
 "  forfike  me  not  when  I  am  grown  old,    or 
 *'  in  the  clofe  of  life ;  receive  my  departing 
 **  fpirit  under  thy  care,    and   convey  it  fafe  to 
 **  a  ftate  of  bleftednefs :   Guide  me  by  thy  coun- 
 *'y?/,  and  afterwards  receive  me  to  thy  glory. 
 "  And  when  the  earthly  houfe  of  this  tabernacle  is 
 **  dijfolvedy  let  me  kiww  that  I  have  a  building 
 "  of  God,   an  houfe  not  made  with  hands ,  eternal 
 **  in  the  heavens.'^ 
 
 It  remains  now  to  fpeak  of  our  deceafed 
 friend,  of  whom  I  have  received  the  following 
 account,  not  for  the  praife  of  the  dead,  which, 
 how  little  can  that  fignify;  but  for  the  benefit 
 of  the  living,  efpecially  of  the  younger  part  of 
 the  audience,  in  a  place  where  ftie  Ipent  the 
 greater  part  of  her  life,  and  was  fo  generally 
 known  and  beloved :  and  in  this  reiped:  'tis  to 
 be  hoped  it  may  fignify  much. 
 
 Mrs. 
 
cry  Sf*  Stephen'/  c/ylng  Prayer.        485 
 
 Mrs.  Daniel  was  born  in  London,  in  the  year 
 17 1 1,  and  came  with  her  father  to  Hackney 
 1714.    She  continued  here  till  flie  entered  into 
 the  twentieth  year  of  her  age,   when  fhe  chang- 
 ed her  condition,  with  her  father's  approbation 
 and  confent,  to  whom  (he  always  bore  the  moll 
 tender  affection  and  dutiful  regard.     She  was 
 a  perfon  of  a  good  underflanding,  took  delight 
 in  reading,   and  was  agreeable  in  converfation. 
 Her  natural  temper  was  briik  and  lively;  but  her 
 conftitution,  weak  and  tender.     About  a  year 
 after  her  marriage  (he  fell  into  an  indifpoiition, 
 which  was  feared  would  be  a  confumption ; 
 and  it  proved  fo  in  the  end.      The  care  of 
 friends,  and  advice  of  phyficians,    only  ferved 
 to  preferve  life  about  two  years  from  the  firft 
 feizure;  in  which  fpace  however,  fhe  had  the 
 happy  opportunity  of  more  retired  and  dole 
 refle<ftion,    and   thought  more    ferioully  than 
 ever  of  God  and  religion,  of  her  foul  and  eter- 
 nity.    And  now  her  pious  education,    htv  fa- 
 ther ?>  counlels  and  advice,  and  the  converfation 
 and  prayers  of  other  Minijiers,    were  of  great 
 ufe  to  her.     She  became  fully  perfuaded  that 
 they  only  are  truly  happy,    who  are  forgiven 
 and  accepted  of  God  j  and  after  a  deep  fenfe 
 of  the  evil  and  danger  of  lin,  and  of  the  free- 
 dom and  riches  of  the  grace  of  God  in  Chrift, 
 fhe  determined  folemnly  to  give  up  her  felf  to 
 him ;  and  foon  after  followed  this  perjbnal  fur- 
 render  to  God,  with  facramejital  dedication. 
 Her  illnefs  was  long,  and  fometimes  painful, 
 but  it  yielded  the  peaceable  fruits  of  righteoif- 
 nefs,  for  Ihe  was  patient  and  fubmiffive,   un- 
 der 
 
486       The  Clofe  of  the  Chriflian  Life  ; 
 
 der  the  hand  of  God,  fenfible  fhe  was  punifh- 
 ed  lefs  than  her  fin  deferved  j  and  was  led  by 
 this  rebuke  to  lament  over  the  vanities  of  youth  ^ 
 and  all  the  errors  of  life,  and  fervently  to  im- 
 plore the  pardoning  mercy  of  God,  and  to  de- 
 precate his  diipleafure. 
 
 Her  diftemper  fometimes  flattered  her  with 
 the  hopes  of  recovery,  but  oftner  threatned  a 
 removal.  At  length,  on  theLord's-day,  Auguji 
 the  nineteenth,  ilie  found  a  change  in  her  felf, 
 which  led  her  to  conclude  her  end  was  draw- 
 ing near.  This  awakened  a  frefh  and  lively 
 concern,  and  put  her  upon  more  folemn  pre- 
 paration. She  gave  up  her  felf  again  and  a- 
 gain  to  God,  exprefs'd  great  faith  in  the  Re- 
 deemer, great  hope  of  mercy  for  his  fake,  great 
 delires  of  prayer,  and  great  courage  in  her  con- 
 flidl  with  the  lafl  enemy.  She  lived  to  Tuefday 
 following,  and  continued  all  the  while  in  a 
 devout  and  comfortable  frame.  That  evening 
 perceiving  her  breath  to  fhorten,  and  unufual 
 fweats,  fhe  afked,  if  they  were  not  death-fweatsj 
 and  when  it  was  anfwered,  that  they  were,  fhe 
 faid,  "  Then  the  Lord  haflen  my  departure." 
 After  this  fhe  took  a  folemn  leave  of  all  her  re- 
 lations, feverally,  and  then  defired  them  to 
 leave  the  room  j  and  foon  after  expired,  with- 
 out a  groan.  She  was  perfedly  fenfible  to  the 
 laft  moment,  and  died  without  exprefling  any 
 uneafy  fear.  Her  lafl  words  were,  "  Lord  have 
 ''  mercy  upon  me  j"  and,  *'Lord  Jefus  receive 
 "  my  fpirit." 
 
 And,  O!  may  this  example  be  moftitory 
 and  awakening,  and  be  improved  for  caution, 
 
 dirediion 
 
(?r,  St»  Stephen'^  dying  Prayer* 
 
 diredion  and  encouragement  to  every  younger 
 and  elder  perfon;  and  may  every  inftance  of 
 early  piety,  and  comfortable  death,  warm 
 every  breaft  vfiih  a  generous  zeal,  and  provoke 
 us  to  emulation,  that  wt  may  adt  a  proper  part 
 in  life,  and  obtain  the  fame  mercy  at  lafl:. 
 
 487 
 
 FINIS, 
 
 ERRATA. 
 
 Pag.  95.  1.  27.  r.  in  the  luay  of  the  New  Covenant. 
 
 P.  215.  J.  5.  d.  a. 
 
 P.  342.  1. 29.  r.  diligence. 
 
 P.  347.  1.21.  r.  county. 
 
 P.  479.  I.  ig.  for  the  X.  no. 
 
BOOKS  Printed  for  J.  Noon. 
 
 I.  T  ESUS  the  Mediator  between  God  and  Men ; 
 J    an  Advocate  for  us  with  the  Father  ;    and 
 a  Propitiation  Lr  the  Sins  of  the  World.    Price  2  s. 
 
 2.  Divine  Benevolence  :  Or,  an  Attempt  to  prove 
 that  the  principal  End  of  the  Divine  Providence 
 and  Government  is  the  Happinefs  of  his  Creatures  : 
 Being  an  Anfwer  to  a  Pamphlet  entitled,  Divine 
 Re^litude  -,  6r,  An  Inquiry  concerning  the  Moral 
 Perfe5fions  of  the  Deity.  With  a  Refutation  of  the 
 Notions  therein  advanced  concerning  Beauty  and 
 Order,  the  Reafon  of  Puni(hment,  and  the  Necef- 
 fity  of  a  State  of  Trial  antecedent  to  perfed  Hap- 
 pinefs.    Price  1  s. 
 
 3.  An  Effay  in  Vindication  of  the  Ufe  and  Advan- 
 tage of  Prayer :  Wherein  Objedlions  raifed  from 
 the  Attributes  and  Decrees  of  God,  and  the  fettled 
 Courfe  and  Order  of  Things,  are  confidered  and 
 anfwered.     By  John  Archer.     Pr.  6  d. 
 
 BOOKS  Printed  for  R.  Ford. 
 
 I-  \  D^'fence  of  the  Religion  of  Nature,  and  the 
 £\^  Chriftian  Revelation,  againft  the  Defeftive 
 -Account  of  the  one,  and  the  Exceptions  againft  the 
 Other,  in  a  Book  entitled,  Chrijiianity  as  old  as  the 
 Creation.     By  Simon  Brown. 
 
 2.  Lukewarmnefs  in  Religion  reprcfented  and  re- 
 proved, in  two  Sermons,  preached  at  the  Merchants 
 J-.e6ture  at  Sailers-Hall:  To  which  is  added,  a 
 Difcourfe  concerning  FalfcZeal. 
 
 3.  The  Reafonablenefs  of  Believing  in  Chrift,  and 
 the  Unreafonablenefs  of  Infidelity.  In  two  Sermons, 
 preached  at  the  Merchants  Le^ure  at  SaUers-HalL 
 With  an  Appendix  containing  brief  Remarks  upon 
 the  Cafe  of  Lazarus^  relating  to  Mr.  H^oolJlon*s  Fifth 
 Difcourfe  of  Miracles,  Second  Edition.  Thefe  twa 
 by  ir.  Hirr'is,  D.  D. 
 
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