which this Text offereth to our consideration is the reason of this wish of olde Simeon or what it is that maketh the death of the godlie to bee peaceable consequentlie so appetible to wit even the sight of the Lords Salvation for so calleth hee CHRIST and which word in the greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifieth as much as that hee is the author yea the verie treasurie and store-house where in all salvation is contayned as hee is lykewyse called so by the Prophet Isai. 52.10 and so clearlie distinguished from all others who in Scripture were styled by the name of Saviours Neyther is it that wee must thinke that a corporall sight heere is onelie meant for that was common but that with the eye of fayth also which is speciall and proper onelie to the elect hee sawe this blessed Babe to bee that salvation preordayned and appoynted by the LORD promised and now sent in the flesh for the redemption of mankynd Whence wee obserue In that it is formerlie sayde that this just and devote man Simeon wayted for the consolation of Israell had it revealed vnto him by the holy Ghost that before hee sawe death hee should see the LORD' 's Anoynted and now that his longing is satisfied and that promise which was made vnto him as hee confesseth is fulfilled wee see that as the Godlie hunger and thirst speciallie after spirituall things so they are ever heard in their Godlie desires and in such things that concerne their salvation therefore as in Davids words doubtlesse hee had sayde before O Lord I haue longed for thy salvation yea my soule faynteth for the same when wilt thou comfort mee and with the holie Patriarches as the Apostle showeth as hee had embraced the promise thereof spirituallie which was made vnto him there anent so now at last wee see hee getteth him who was promised to embrace in his armes corporallie and accordinglie acknowledgeth joyfullie that his eyes now did see the Lords salvation And so the Lords promise is performed his longing satisfied and his wayting accomplished Let vs then onelie with olde Simeon wayte patientlie and constantlie for his consolations rest assured that he is myndfull of vs and his owne promises and in his owne good fitte tyme will come vnto vs for our joye and will make no tarrying 2. Wee see the ground or cause of a peaceable and comfortable death to wit a preceeding sight of the Lords salvation which hee hath decreed to bee by the Sonne of his loue CHRIST IESUS and for whose sake and merit of his death hee hath admitted such of mankynd to lyfe as hee hath elected for the manifestation of the ritches and glorie of his grace This therefore is the right arte of dying well to get true fayth and to fix the eye thereof as the people in the wildernesse did vpon that true brasen Serpent CHRIST IESUS the Lord of lyfe Incorporate thy selfe in him then and there shal be no condemnation to them that are in CHRIST Wrap thy selfe in his righteousnesse and it shall bee lyke Elias mantle which devyded the waters of Iordan cleaue thereby to his crosse and it shall be lyke that tree that made the waters of Marah sweet or Moses rod which made a safe passage to Israell thorow the red sea Set the Arke of the Covenant in these waters and from the desert of this world thou shalt haue a patent and pleasant path to that heavenlie Canaan yea tho stones were flinging about thy eares to braine thee as was done to that protomartyr Steven yet looking vp with the eye of fayth getting a sight of IESUS CHRIST standing at the right hand of his Father readie to receaue thee thy departure shall bee most calme and comfortable and thy sinnes being silenced by him who is this salvation spoken of thou shalt heare nothing but the sweet voyce of that blood of sprinkling which speaketh better things nor the blood of Abell and dying as it were in the armes of thy Lord As Iacob sawe with joye of heart the chariots that Ioseph sent for him for his transportation so shalt thou see the glorious and blessed Angels sent for thee and thy good workes following thee the one to guyde thee and surrender their charge the other to gladden thee and receaue their reward 3. As wee see what is the ground of the peaceable death of the Godlie so on the contrarie wee may perceaue what is the cause of the terrour of death in the wicked and that the memorie thereof so much tormenteth them before the tyme that as Pharao did to Moses they bid it goe packing out of their sight even this is the cause thereof that being blinded by Satan all the dayes of their lyfe in committing sinne never once looking with a tearing eye of true repentance vpon them therefore in death they never get a sight of this salvation of the Lords nor haue they anie assurance that hee who is the Saviour of the world shall bee a Saviour to them but on the contrarie then they finde that hee who was their Tempter beginneth to bee their Tormenter then they begin to heare the clamours of their accusing conscience to see the vglie shape of their sinfull soules the dreadfull aspect of their haynous sinnes the wrathfull face of the angrie Iudge Heaven closed aboue to debarre them as Adam was from the tree of lyfe and hell opened beneath to swallow them as the earth was to swallow vp Korah then they beginne to feele the approaching flames of that infernall fyre paynfullie to scorch them the worme that never dieth drawing neare to guawe them the wrath of GOD that never shall bee appeased most furious to astonish them and the infernall fiendes who attende to terrifie and cruellie to torture them In which wofull estate to hyde themselues is impossible to avoyde these miseries inevitable and to endure them intollerable Hence the sting of death shall torment them the rememberance of judgement perplexe them the gulfe of despare without hope or helpe swallowe them and the apprehension of eternitie in easelesse endlesse payne confound them O! who can then expresse their sad sorrow for sinnes past their agonizing anguish for miserie present and their trembling terrours for the tormentes to come being justlie thus served as they haue deserved and finding at the dolefull parting of the sinfull soule from the wretched bodie whose meeting agayne and re-uniting to be a faggot in hell fire shall be much more dolefull and dolorous no comfort from Heaven nor earth the Creator nor the creature but matter of confusion The ground of all which deepe distresse beeing this Because the soule with olde Simeon here can get no sight of the LORDS Salvation 4. Wee see here a neare and cleare way howe to contemne all earthlie and worldlie thinges the bewitching loue whereof hath made manie to make ship-wracke of a good conscience and clogged their hearts so to the earth
that it hath debarred them for ever from the joyes of Heaven Eeven this is the way Labour to get a sight of the Lord's Salvation which if thou doe all other thinges will seeme but dung and losse and that which dazeleth the eyes of the wicked with the glorie of them wherewith Satan would haue tempted our SAVIOUR will appeare vnto thee but as they are to wit base dust vayne tryfâ—es and altogether worthlesse Then getting this comfortable and contenting sight thou wilt not care tho thy eyes bee closed from seeing anie other earthlie after-sight and wilt say rather with old Simeon Let thy servant depart in peace from seeing farther here in respect of that sweet sight of thy salvation which I haue gotten by grace and long to haue it more clearlie and fullie in glorie Surelie as when the three Disciples sawe this Salvation of the Lord in His transfiguration they despysed all sights beside and sayd Bonum est nobis esse hic so will they who get this spirituall sight of Him and assurance of salvation in Him despyse all worldlie thinges and say that to be dissolved from them and to be with Christ is the best of all whereas others alia non despiciunt quia non eum respiciunt and are so in loue with earth because they were never acquaynted with Heaven 5. If this was such joy to old Simeon to see Christ Iesus a poore Babe in the estate of humilitie that hee desired to depart in peace O what joye is it and shall be to His Sayncts to see Him as He now is in the estate of Glorie not as then vpon earth but nowe in Heaven not amongst sinfull men but glorious Angels and spirites of the just and not subject to passion and injuries but now in exaltation and inhabiting prayses Old Iaakob was so ravished with joye when hee saw Ioseph in Aegypt that almost with the verie lyke words he cryed out with olde Simeon Now let me die since I haue seene thy face The people of Israell also they shouted for joy when the Arke of God came into the hoste the earth it selfe lykewyse rang for joy when the people saw Salomon anoynted and crowned their king and the Baptist also in his mothers wombe leaped for joy at the approach of our Saviour newlie conceaved O then howe shall the elect soule departing out of this earthlie bodie be ravished with joye when it shall see Christ Iesus glorious in the Heavens when it shall beholde that true Arke of God and heare the Heavens ring with joyfull prayses of that true SALOMON the King of kinges and Lord of lordes who sitteth vpon the Throne And if Moses face did shyne when hee was but a few daies with the Lord on Horeb and saw but His back-parts O how shall they shyne then who in all aeternitie shall see Him face to face vpon that heavenlie Mountayne Or if those servantes of Salomons were pronounced blessed who stood before him and heard his wisdome how much more blessed shall His servantes and sonnes bee who is greater than Salomon who in those Coelestiall Mansions stall stand before Him heare Him see Him and for ever liue with Him Whom to see is felicitie to heare is heavenlie melodie and to liue with Him a most blessed societie 6. Last of all these words of olde Simeon decanted neare his death are called The Song of Simeon beeing heerein lyke the Swan who is sayde to sing sweetlie about that tyme when death approacheth vnto her Wherein wee see what way to make our death joyfull and comfortable vnto vs wherein we may not begin to sorrow but to sing to wit with Simeon who is sayd to be a just and devote man to leade a holie lyfe and embrace offered salvation and so we shall die a happie death and eschow damnation Sow then in tears betyme if thou wouldest reape in joy and let thy tears here prevent thy terrours hereafter a holie lyfe a hellish death and true sanctification aeternall condemnation Having thus expounded this Text I made choyse thereof in this Funerall Commemoration of the laâ—e Right Reverend Praelate our most worthiâ— Diocesane and Ordinarie for these respects 1. Two days before his happie departure having an earnest desire to participate of the blessed Communion with vs his Clergie Ministers of Aberdenâ— and ordinarie Assessors when most devotelie hee with vs had receaved that blessed Pledge of his Salvation there was read vnto him thereafter this portion of holie Scripture vnto which wordes of olde Simeon Lord now let thy servant depart in peace c. with his eyes lifted vp hee gaue an heartie AMEN This being then the portion of Scripture which was read whereof he so tooke holde before his death I haue now made choyse of at this tyme after his death to expound Next with this Text and him who vttered these words to wit olde Simeon this Reverende late Praelate most fitly in these things is found to symbolize 1. Simeon was an old man and so the Lord honoured him in whose Funerall Commemoration these words are handled with many years and a full age which is a Crowne of Glorie being found in the way of Righteousnesse 2. Simeon was a devote and just man and so was this Religious Praelate adorned both with Pietie and Equitie devote towardes God in his worship of Him and just towardes men in his dealinges with them 3. Simeon was of good report amongst his people and so was this worthie Praelate as Paull willeth a Bishop to bee of good report even amongst those that were without and of a singular both great respect and good report amongst them that were within both in Church and Policie 4. Simeon was a Priest in the Iewish Church so this Venerable Honourable MaÌ„ was a Praelate in the Christian Church advanced to that top of Eminencie for his lyfe and learning worth wisdome godlinesse and gravitie 5. Simeon now stricken in age having gotten a sight of the LORD'S Salvation desired to depart in peace Even so this Reverend and Glorified Praelate beeing also stricken in age having not onelie gotten himselfe a sight of the LORD'S Salvation but also having given by his manie years preaching a sight thereof to others at last having finished his course with joye hee desired lykewyse to depart in peace and be with his LORD Of whose blamelesse lyfe sound literature vigilant care sober conversation good behaviour hospitall heart all relucent Vertues requisite in a Bishop besides his kyndnesse and cowrage prudence and patience worth and other Vertues rare partes and just prayses seeing my Reverend Colleagues which went before haue more amplie discoursed ne ligna in sylvas feram and that my Speach seeme not to wrong by a ruder rehearsall and needlesse tautologie what so truelie worthilie hath beene alreadie spoken I can not but abruptlie ende deploring the losse which both Church and Common-wealth sustayneth in him who as yee all knowe was borne honourablie lived amongst vs
and my selfe both with the debating and discussing of these quaestions which are too curiouslie agitated and too boldlie determined by manie Divines anent it I shall onlie show you what is and hath bene holden as certaine and vndoubtedlie true by the greatest part of Christians and what is called in quaestion by judicious and orthodoxe Divines concerning the estate of the Godlie after this lyfe First then it is certaine that these who die in the Lord shal in the day of resurrection and judgement attaine to perfect and consummate happinesse of soule and bodie for in that day the Lord the righteous Iudge shall giue the crowne of righteousnesse vnto all these who loue his appearing Secondlie the greatest part of Christians haue ever believed that the blessednesse which we shall then attaine vnto consisteth in the vision and fruition of the glorious essence of GOD which the Schoole-men call visionem DEI per essentiam This is evidentlie revealed vnto vs in diverse places of Scripture For our Saviour promiseth this as a reward to the pure in heart that they shall see God And Paul telleth vs that this vision of God shall be a cleare immediate and intuitiue sight of his essence For he sayeth that we who now see God through a glasse darklie shall then see him face to face And Sainct Iohn lykewyse sayeth that when he shall appeare we shall see him as he is This also hath bene constantlie believed by the Fathers of the Ancient Church for none of them ever denyed this except some fewe Greeke Fathers following Chrysostome who in diverse places of his workes affirmeth that God his infinite essence can not be seene by anie created or finite vnderstanding Thirdlie as for the estate of the souls of men during that tyme which interveaneth betwixt death and judgement although some haue most fondlie and absurdlie believed that the soule perisheth with the bodie and that both soule and bodie shall be raised vp together at the day of judgement others no lesse foolishlie haue imagined that the soule after it is separated from the bodie hath no operation nor knowledge of its owne estate but lyeth as it were in a dead sleepâ— vntill the day of judgement for the which cause they are called Psychopannychitae neverthelesse the Spirit of God in the holie Scripture telleth vs that these who kill the bodie can not kill the soule and consequentlie that the soule liveth when the bodie is killed that in the heavenlie Hierusalem there are not onlie Angels but also the spirits of just men made perfect that the Godlie when they are dissolved are with Christ and in Paradyse Lykewyse that they are not there sleeping but haue vse of their vnderstaÌ„ding we may clearlie see by the parable of Dives Lazarus by the Storie of Christs transfiguration in the which we reade that Moses and Eliah talked with Christ and by that which we reade concerning the soules of Martyres crying vnder the Altar for acceleration of the punishment of their persecutions Herefore the Fathers constantlie taught that the souls of men when they are separated from their bodies doe remember of the things which they did vpon earth and that those of them who are glorified in Heaven are sure of their owne happinesse and sollicite or carefull for the weale of the Church militant and in particular are myndfull of their parentes children brethren and other friends whom they haue left behind them on earth longing to see them in that place of glorie where they themselues are Yea even these of the Fathers who believed that the departed souls of godlie men are not fully glorified as yet and that they shal not attaine to the perfection of that happinesse whereof they are capable before the day of Iudgement thought not that they are sleeping and senselesse during the tyme of their separation from their bodies but on the contrarie thought that they are in Abrahams bosome in a state of refreshment and joye Fourthlie although some few of the Ancients taught that the souls of the Saincts departed are not as yet rewarded but keeped in one place and in one estate and condition with the wicked not being as yet so much as assured of that glorie which shall be revealed in them yet the common opinion of the Church of God in all ages hath bene that they are in an happie and blessed estate and with vnspeakable joye doe exspect the accomplishment of their happinesse yea manie of them affirme that they are with Christ that they reygne with him and that they in some sort see Gods face This is also clearly revealed in Scripture for Paul wisheth to be dissolved and to be with Christ and telleth vs that when wee are absent from the bodie we are present with the Lord. Christ also sayde to the poenitent Thiefe To day shalt thou bee with mee in Paradyse and here a voyce from Heaven proclaymeth the happinesse of the dead who die in the LORD This trueth so manifâ—stlie revealed in the Scripture although as I haue sayde it hath bene constantlie professed in the Church yet it hath bene vitiated or corrupted by the admixtion of two erroneous doctrines For first although none before holie Augustine did talke of such a Purgatorie-fyre as our Adversaries doe mayntayne yet some Fathers who lived in the third and fourth age of the Church to wit Origen Lactantius Hilarie Ambrose Ruffinus and Ierome believed that there shall be a generall Purgatione of all souls by fyre at the day of Iudgement and that none shall bee free of it except Christ who is the Righteousnesse of GOD no not the blessed and glorious Virgine Marie This opinion is not nowe mantayned by anie at least it doeth not trouble the peace of the Church and therefore I will not meddle with it Secondlie since the 400 yeare of our Lord about which tyme Augustine flowrished some Fathers haue mentioned expressed in their workes a sort of purgation by fyre verie farre different from the former For they thought that all the Elect doe not vndergoe this Purgation by fyre but onlie they who die in some kynde of guiltinesse and that these begin to be purged immediatelie after their departure Saynct Augustine spake doubtfullie of this sort of Purgation Gregorie the Great did holde it as a thing certayne but hee knew no matter or cause of this Purgation except the guiltinesse of these smaller sinnes which are called veniall for hee dreamed not of that imperfect remission of mortall sinnes committed after Baptisme which Papists doe now holde as a mayne ground of their doctrine concerning Purgatorie But I haue alreadie confuted this fond conceat and haue showne that poenitentiall remission of sinnes committed after Baptisme is no lesse perfect and absolute than baptismal remission It is true indeed these who after Baptisme or after their first justification doe fall backe into grievous sinnes haue
thousandes saying with a loude voyce Worthie is the Lambe that was slayne to receaue power and riches and wisdome and strength and honour and glorie c. And as th'Apostle witnesseth 2. Cor. v. 8 being absent from the bodie they are present with the LORD And Phil. j. 23 his desire was to depart and to bee with CHRIST And expresslie Augustine sayeth Lib. 13. de Civitate Dei Cap. 8. In requie enim sunt animae piorum à corpore separatae impiorum autem poenas luunt donec istarum ad aeternam vitam illarum ad aeternam mortem quae secunda dicitur corpora reviviscant The soules of the Godlie sayeth hee being separated from the bodie are at rest and the souls of the wicked are punished vntill that tyme the bodies of the one bee awakened to aeternall lyfe and the bodies of the other to aeternall death which is called The second death The bodies then onlie of the Godlie doe sleepe in the dust of the earth The souls of men may haue and haue their owne actions without commerce with the bodies For in that the death of man is called a sleepe it evidentlie signifieth That the soules of men are not as the souls of other creatures who lose beeing with their bodies their death being no other than a destruction of both But as when the bodie sleepeth the soule will bee then thinking meditating and discoursing so when the bodie is lying asleepe in the graue the soule then is exercysing its owne heavenlie and spirituall functions That nowe then wee may knowe the nature of the death of the Godlie we haue to learne wherefore speciallie it is resembled to sleepe This appellation it getteth in Scripture is to testifie what good what happinesse the Godlie gayne by Death And to omit manie other resemblances betwixt them I will show it in this Even as a man all the day long wearied with toyle and travell when the night commeth laying aside all traffique of the world hee vncloatheth himselfe goeth to bed willingly yeelding to Nature where the senses beeing tyed vp by sleepe hee resteth from all his travels and sense of evill by which rest hee is more enabled agaynst his awakening for better exercyses as the Poët sayth of it Pectora duris Fessa ministeriis mulces reparasque labori So the Godlie when the night of death commeth or when death approacheth they lay aside all worldlie thinges and prepare themselues for it with Ezekiah they set their house in order knowing that they must die they yeeld to the God of Nature saying vnto them Returne yee children of men Psal. xc 3 They vncloathe their souls and put off their earthlie tabernacle Then their bodies are layde downe in the dust as in a sweete sleeping bed and as Iob sayeth as the waters fayle frrom the sea and the flood decayeth and dryeth vp So man lyeth downe and ryseth not till the Heavens bee no more they shall not awake nor bee raysed out of their sleepe Iob xiv 11.12 Where they are delivered from all cares all toyle and sense of evill wherevnto before they were subject and therin they are fitted and prepared for all Happinesse By this resemblance we may perceaue first that the death of the Godlie putteth an ende to all miseries For by it wee are delivered both à malo culpae and à malo poenae from sinne it selfe and from the punishment of sinne After death the Godlie doe not sinne anie more Howe great Happinesse this is may bee easilie vnderstood by that groaning petition vttered by the Apostle Rom. vij 24 O wretched man that I am who shall deliver mee from the bodie of this death By death they are delivered from it for he that is dead is fred froÌ„ sin Rom. 6.7 delivered froÌ„ the bondage of corruption into the glorious libertie of the sonnes of GOD Rom. viij â—1 Yea from all occasions and temptations to sinne Desiit peccare desiit jactari desiit miser esse He ceasseth to sinne or to bee tossed with anie winde of temptation to sinne In a word Hee ceasseth to bee miserable and therefore I sayde also that hee is fred à malo poenae In this lyfe man that is borne of a woman is of few dayes and full of trouble Iob xiv 1 And Salomon acknowledgeth That there is nothing vnder the sunne but trouble and vexation of spirit The bodie of man is morborum seminarium a seed-plot of all diseases No sooner yea before wee begin to bee borne wee begin to bee sicke Quis ille qui non aegrotat in hac vita Quis non longum languorem trahit nasci hic in corpore mortali incipere aegrotare est Aug. in Psal. cij ante med Who is hee sayeth hee that is not sicke in this lyfe Who is hee that languisheth not To begin to bee borne in this mortall bodie is to bee sicke The mynde and soule of man is subject vnto griefe and anguish which is an intollerable miserie David compareth it to arrowes Psal. xxxviij 2. For thyne arrowes sticke fast in mee and thy hand presseth me sore Consonant wherevnto is that of Iob Chap. xvj 13 His archers compasse me round about hee cleaveth my reynes asunder and doeth not spare And A wounded spirit sayd Salomon who can beare The sense of it made CHRIST Himselfe say My Soule is exceeding sorrowfull even vnto death Matth. xxvj 38 The estate of man is subject to Povertie and Want a grievous punishment for ridiculos homines facit the poore are the object of mockerie Salomon sayeth Prov. xiv 20 The poore is hated even of his owne neyghbour And Prov. xix 7 All the brethren of the poore doe hate him howe much more doe his friendes goe farre from him Hee persueth them with wordes yet they are wanting to him The name of man is subject to shame and contempt which even evill men abhorre more than death Saul did rather choose to fall on his owne sworde than to bee matter of sporte to his enemies The wicked at the day of Iudgement ere they endured the indignitie of this evill would rather that hills and mountayns should fall vpon them Yea besides to howe manie miseries daylie is man lyable to hunger thirst heate colde inaccommodation in dwelling much travell vaine hopes c. howe manie are his private crosses his publicke calamities and evils which wee bring vppon our selues injuries done to vs by others Yet when Death commeth it freeth vs of all these By Death wee lye still and are quyet wee sleepe and are at rest Iob iij. 13 And Blessed are the dead that die in the LORD they rest from their laboures Rev. xiv 13 Before Death come there can bee no perfect freedome from these evils for as Bernard speaketh Liberatio plena atque perfecta ante diem sepulturae esse non poterit quod maneat jugum gravè super filios Adam à die exitiuâ— de ventre matris ipsorum vsque in diem sepulturae in matrem omnium In
free from his master Mors sceptra ligonibus aequat The third thing wherein men are sayd to die is in their sinnes This befalleth all the vnbelievers who die in vnbeliefe according to that saying of our Saviour I sayde therefore vnto yom that yee shall die in your sinnes For if yee belieue not that I am HEE yee shall die in your sinnes Where is not meaned that they shall cease to bee in their sinnes or in the stayne and guiltinesse therof as those who dying in worldlie wealth or povertie cease to bee in them anie more but hee that dieth in his sinnes his bones are full of the sinne of his youth which shall lye downe with him in the dust Now as Salomon sayth if the tree fall toward the south or toward the north in the place where the tree falleth there it shall be That is as Saynct Hierome expounds the place in what estate a man dieth eyther in sinne or in righteousnesse hee shall for ever remayne in that same estate The miserie of such a man is descrybed in the Evangell of Saynct IOHN with the felicitie of those who liue and die in the true fayth of the Sonne of GOD briefelie in these wordes Hee that believeth on the Sonne hath everlasting Lyfe and hee that believeth not the Sonne shall not see Lyfe but the wrath of GOD abydeth on him Therefore this Proposition Blessed are they that die in the LORD is reciprocall They die in the LORD who are blessed meaning of mortall men who die this bodilie death of whom none are blessed but onlie they that die in the LORD Neyther is there salvation in anie other for there is none other name vnder Heaven given amongst men whereby wee must bee saved To die in the LORD signifieth not that the LORD is the cause of our death as Adam to them that die in Adam but it signifieth that happie estate of a dying man that hee is in the LORD and consequentlie of the number of those of whom the Apostle sayeth There is no condemnation to those which are in CHRIST IESVS Neyther doeth dying in the LORD import ceasing from beeing in the LORD as they who die in worldlie wealth or povertie doe cease to bee in that estate anie more but to die in the LORD signifieth to die beeing and remayning in the LORD before death in death and after death The LORD is our lyfe even aeternall Lyfe He then that dieth in the LORD remayneth in Lyfe according to that saying of our Saviour Verilie verilie I say vnto you he that heareth My word and believeth on Him that sent Mee hath everlasting Lyfe and shall not come into condemnation but is passed from death vnto lyfe Death may separate our soule from our bodie but it can not breake that Union which wee haue with IESUS CHRIST whose wee are whether wee liue or die I come nowe to a more particular consideration of this Union which wee haue with CHRIST in lyfe and death and in respect whereof wee are sayde heere to die in the LORD This Union is so strange and wonderfull that it can not bee sufficientlie expressed by anie one kynde of vnion and therefore the Spirit of GOD in the Scripture expresseth it by manie and those most diverse sortes of vnion or conjunction to wit by the vnion of conformitie telling vs that wee are praedestinated to bee conformed to the Image of the Son of God by the vnion of affectiō yea of most entire affection or friendship telling vs that wee are His Friendes Brethren and Spouse by the vnion of influence or reall operation telling vs that Hee is the Vine and wee are the Branches that Hee is the Head and we are His Members vvhereby is signified That as the roote of the Vine by reall influence doeth communicate lyfe nowrishment and growth vnto the branches and as the head by reall influence or operation doeth communicate sense and motion vnto the inferiour members and doeth direct them in their actions So CHRIST by the seret and most powerfull influence of His Spirit doeth communicate Spirituall lyfe sense motion and growth vnto the members of His mysticall bodie as also directeth them in their actions making them to walke circumspectlie and to worke out their salvation with feare and trembling And because thinges are vnited or joyned together two wayes by the vnion of influence to wit eyther so that they concurre together to make vp one totall or composed substance as for example The head and the members make vp one totall substance and so doe the roote and the branches vvhich sort of vnion is called a Formall Substantiall and Physicall vnion or else so that no totall or composed thing is made vp of them so the Load-stone and the yron which it draweth to it selfe are vnited together vvhich sort of vnion is called vnio effectiva an vnion of meere influence or efficiencie Therefore our conjunction with CHRIST is expressed in Scripture sometymes by a Formall and Physicall vnion as when Hee is called the Vine and we the Branches or when Hee is called the Head and wee the members of His bodie and sometymes by the vnion of meere inftuence as when Hee sayeth If I bee lifted vp from the earth I will drawe all men vnto Mee and Loe I am with you alwayes even vnto the ende of the worlde Nowe to apply all this to the present purpose The Godlie haue all these kyndes or sorts of vnion with CHRIST in death as well as in lyfe and therefore they are most justlie sayde to die in the LORD And first as for the Vnion of Conformitie although the Learned speaking of that conformitie vvith CHRIST vnto which wee are praedestinated doe onlie mention our Conformitie with Him in Grace and Glorie yet betwixt these two wee may verie well take in another part or degree of our conformitie with CHRIST to wit our Conformitie with Him in our death vvhich is the passage from Grace to Glorie For as wee resemble Him by an holie lyfe so also by an happie and victorious death This degree of conformitie which the Godlie haue with CHRIST is grounded chiefelie vpon three respectes For first as CHRIST died voluntarilie and by way of obedience to GOD His Fathers Commandement so the Godlie die humblie submitting themselues and all their desires vnto GOD'S will For although when that bitter Cuppe of deadlie sicknesse is presented to a Godlie man he sometymes say with CHRIST Father if it bee possible let this Cup passe from mee yet He ever doeth subjoyne this Neverthelesse not as I will but as Thou wilt Secondliie As CHRIST died to destroy the works of the Devil that is to take away our sinnes so the Godlie desire to die that they may bee fred from their sinnes and not offende GOD anie more saying with SAMPSON Let mee die with these my enemies Thirdlie as CHRIST died to
tossing the mynde cares torturing the heart paines pinching the bodie pensiuenesse possessing the soule feares fretting crosses consuming and death at last consummating And wherein there is not any houre wherein we are not eyther in the remembrance of calamities by-past or the sense of some present or vnder the feare and foresight of some that are to come So that it is most true which Iob sayeth of man in this lyfe Man that is borne of woman is of short continuance and full of trouble Curasque subiisse molestas Sors homini connataetulit velut edita prunis Scintilla ignitis tenues vaga scandit in aâ—ras O then as sayeth Moses That men were wyse aâ—d would consider their latter ende and would thinke on the worlds vanitie to despyse it lyfes frayltie to contemne it deaths certayntie to expect iâ— judgements severitie to prevent it hells miserie to avoyde it and heavens felicitie to attayne it Seeing the death of the Godlie is a parting not a perishing a delyverie and not a destruction an annalysing not an annihilating In qua potius miseria Christiani quam ipse Christianus moritur Therefore the same is not to be feared by them who die nor yet excessiuelie deplored by vs who surviue praemitâ—untur enim non amittuntur oriuntur potius quam moriuntur eorumque funera sunt iis maximâ— foenera So that death vnto them is rather premiall nor penall lyfe nor losse and the day thereof lyke a birth-day to bee celebrated in respect of them rather with mirth nor mourning Therefore they rather desire nor dread the same saying with David My soule thirsteth for God even for the living God when shall I come and appeare before God Or with S. Paull I desire to bee dissolved and to bee with Christ. Or with Simeon here Lord now let thy servant depart in peace Or with the Sayncts saying How long O Lord which art holie and true Come Lord Iesu come quicklie And good reason they haue for doing so because three things concurre to them which are matter of great joye to vs in this lyfe a glad marriage a glorious triumph and a solemne coronation the marriage with Christ the triumph over all their enemies the coronation with a crowne of righteousnesse If poore Esther then and all her kinred were glad when shee was assumed by king Assuerâ—s to bee his Queene If David rejoyced when hee came backe triumphing after the slaughter of Goliah and if the earth it selfe rang for joye with the acclamations of the coronation of Salomon O how joyefull a day is that wherein the poore soule of a Christian is married gloriouslie with Him who is King of kings and Lord of lords and at the sight of that blessed Brydegroome as at Elizabeth's hearing of the blessed virgines salutation the Baptist did how doeth that soule spring and leape for joye O with what joyefull acclamations also doe these glorious spirits welcome the triumphant soule that is victorious over the enemies of Gods glorie and man's good and who so rejoyce at the conversion of a sinner much more shall they not at the coronation of a Saynct assumed vp to heaven associate to the Patriarches made equall with the Angels and conformed to Christ The fourth thing which this Text offereth to our consideration is the difference betweene the death of the Godlie and the death of the wicked the one is in peace the other not therefore sayeth the Prophet There is no peace to the wicked sayeth my GOD. But on the contrary Marke the Godlie and the vpright man sayeth the Psalmist For the ende of that man is peace for according to his soules estate as sayth Isaias hee entereth into peace and according to his bodie he resteth in the graue as a sweet sleeping bed so that hee may say with David I will lay mee downe in peace and sleepe And when I awake I shall be satisfied with thy lykenesse The cause of which death in peace is the lyfe of grace and because they lived the lyfe of the righteous therefore they die the death of the righteous But as for the wicked they depart not in peace because their life was destitute of grace both which the Apostls joyne as inseparable in their salutations grace and peace therefore sayth the Prophet of them The way of peace they haue not knowne and there was no vprightnesse in their goings but they made them crooked pathes wherein whosoever goeth hee shall not know peace wherefore they shall be in death as Balthassar was in his agonie seeing nothing but their guiltie conscience wryting bitter things against them sorrowing for their sinnes bygone being in anguish for their present miserie and in terrour for torments to come Satan now accusing them the conscience convicting them the lawe condemning them the Gospell forsaking them the Heavens debarring them and lyke Ionas whale hell gaping to swallowe them O dreadfull perplexitie when feare is so on everie syde a wrathfull judge aboue vnquenchable flames beneath a gnawing worme within a dreadfull dittie before fearfull fiends about and a dolefull doome at hand Whereas on the contraire the death of the Godlie hath peace for perplexitie solace for sorrow and for dreadour desire of dissolution their sinnes are silent their conscience calme the Law absolveth them the Gospell comforteth them their Saviour attendeth them Heaven is open to them the Angels accompanie them their good workes doe follow them O comfortable is the clayme that the soule maketh in that houre to God as a reconciled Father to Christ as her bryde-groome and Saviour to his blood as her ransome to his sufferings as her satisfaction to his promises as the covenant to Heaven as his purchase for her and to the societie of the Sayncts and Angels as fellow-citizens in eternall glorie with her 1. Seeing then that this is onlie the priviledge of Gods servantes to depart in peace let not Satan's slaues in their senselesse securitie clayme or expect the same For such a Pearle is not for swyne nor this Bread of God's Children is not to be given to doggs Therefore it may be sayde to them as Iehâ— sayd to Ioram What hast thou to doe with peace so long as thy impieties are so manie and thy impenitencie so great Or as the Lord sayth to the wicked What hast thou to doe to take my Covenant of peace in thy mouth that thou shouldest expect to die the death of the righteous who wilt not liue the lyfe of the righteous Seeing that Qui in vita moritur per vitiâ— certò in morte transire oportet ad aeterna supplicia 2. Seeing the departure of the Godlie is in peace that as the Prophet sayeth in that houre they enter into peace or into a joyfull and peaceabe estate resting from their labours it followeth then that they depart not with the terrifying expectation of a fyrie purgatorie wherein
engraven in it HOLINESSE TO THE LORD This is the chiefe and the lyfe of all the rest and this in him was not wanting yea so distinctly engraven that thou mightest runne and reade All these Perfections hee made to serue both publicklie and privatelie to the glorie of GOD who gaue them Though it would haue seemed that he would haue passed his lyfe as a Lay-man yet GOD had sanctified him for Himselfe His WORD and SPIRIT within him was a FYRE which would needes burst out Therefore called to the holie Ministerie hee obeyed and followed and did holilie acquyte himselfe therein Beeing yet higher advanced to a more sublime Charge all his endevour was to halowe the Holie and Reverende NAME of GOD. So he did by his holie and devout Preaching whyle health served so did hee by his holie care of the estate of this CHVRCH for which both for the present tyme and for the tyme to come hee excellentlie provyded No sooner had hee vnder-taken this Charge but hee began with the Seminaries of Learning from which the weale of the CHVRCH in all ages moste dependeth This hee did seriouslie remembering it was layde vpon him particularlie As hee would answere to GOD in the GREAT DAY And so happie was his care in this that what hee found lateritia and almost ruinated hee left marmorea repared in the Aedifices restored in the Bibliotheke revived in the Professions of DIVINITIE PHYSICK CANON LAW wherevnto hee procured the adding of another Profession of DIVINITIE to the great benefit of the CHVRCH in all following tymes restoring also the decayed Honoures due to Learning To what purpose had the Worthie and Heroicke Founders of that UNIVERSITIE left it if it had fallen And fallen appearantlie it should haue if by him not vnder-propped This duelie considered that UNIVERSITIE may bee justlie called ANASTASIA as was that Temple of Nazianzen in Constantinople for hee hath raysed vp in it good Letters almost fallen to the ground Was not this HOLINESSE The lyke care had hee to plant good and worthie Pastors for the present tyme and such was the successe of his care that never anie of the Worthie Prelates that went before him had such a Learned Clergie Yea whyle this Diocesse enjoyed him and that other Worthie Prelate of blessed memorie for singular Pietie and excellent Learning Incomparable I meane the late Bishop of Edinburgh not long since your Worthie Pastor it needed not to haue envyed anie parte of this KINGDOME None had more sagacitie to discerne good spirites or care to promoue them They might haue sayde whyle hee lived with the Poet of him Sub teste benigno Vivitur egregios invitant praemia mores Hinc priscae redeunt artes felicibus inde Ingeniis aperitur iter despectaque Musae Colla levant In all this publicke Administration such was his integritie that to him belonged that as Plinie calleth it Nobilis suspiratio Ciceronis of Cato O te felicem à quo nemo rem improbam petere audet None durst attempt to corrupt him All which beeing duelie weyghed I am not afrayde to say Hee might haue beene a States-man in the best State of EVROPE and a Prelate in the best tymes of the CHVRCH That which Plinie saieth of Cato That hee was thought to haue conjoyned in himselfe the three greatest thinges Optimus Orator Optimus Senator Optimus Imperator might bee not vnfitlie applyed vnto him if yee will put a Prelate for a Commander In his private lyfe and conversation hee was Holie none more familiar with GOD. The sweete Fruites whereof as he felt al his lyfe in manie sharpe Conflictes and Crosses which hee encountered with so especiallie before his death For GOD continued with him contrarie to the nature of his disease his Iudgement and Prudence which was the Crowne of his Gray Hayres and his Tongue which was his Glorie and which was most of all his Holinesse So that his Disease though heavie was but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the proofe of his Vertue hee beeing more blessed in this than others were in health It abated nothing of his care of the Glorie of GOD and well-fare of His CHVRCH hee traveled no lesse paynfullie nowe than before by his Prayers sound Advyce frequent wyse and powerfull Letters Amongst others yee had a singular proofe of his Religious Care a little before his death when your sute was to haue for your Pastor his Worthie Devout and Learned Sonne ye knowe howe willinglie hee condescended to his Transplantation notwithstanding hee was the Manager of his estate at that tyme and vnder GOD the Stay of his olde age and the Solace of his solitarinesse and sicknesse vvhence he professed that for his stay hee would haue tripled what was to bee obtayned by his remouall if it had beene lawfull to looke in that matter to wordlie respectes A great argument this was that hee disesteemed both Estate Health and private Contentment in respect of GODS GLORIE your Weale vvhich knowing himselfe readie now to departe hee thought hee could no better promoue than by leaving you in stead of himselfe the best Expression hee had of himselfe that yee beholding his Vertues in him as in a cleare and bright glasse might in effect haue him even after his departure as Nazianzen speaketh of Nyssen in reference to his brother S. Basil-God also gaue him as an earnest desire to bee dissolved so an vndaunted cowrage agaynst the feare of Death Some few dayes before his departure having most devoutlie taken the holie SACRAMENT vvith vs his Presbyters and having most affectioÌ„atelie blessed vs he said most devoutly teares bursting out for joy with SIMEON LORD now lettest Thou Thy servant depart in peace c. And setling himselfe in his former calmnesse tranquillitie did expect joyfullie his LORD teaching men â—ow to die as he had taught them how to liue dying as one of the Patriarches as Moses Iosua or David in a good age having the Crowne of Gray Hayrs in the way of righteousnesse 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as Nazianzen sayeth of Athanasius Orat. 23. Therefore I make no doubt but that gracious GOD who gaue him the Crowne of so manie excellent Graces and the Crowne of Priesthood wherin His owne finger did engraue Holinesse hath nowe given him the Crowne of Glorie Let therefore his memorie bee blessed vpon earth as his Soule is blessed in Heaven and yee who were his people and whose Pastor hee was remember to followe him as hee did CHRIST This was and is his most earnest desire So shall yee your selues bee crowned with him and shall bee his Crowne in that Great Day 1. Thess. ij 19 For what is our hope or joye or crowne of rejoycing Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord IESVS CHRIST at His comming There shall Pastors and people meet there saynct Peter shall appeare and at his backe Iudea converted by him and saynct Paul leading almost the whole worlde by
him converted There Andrew shall present before the Iudge Achaia Iohn Asia Thomas India converted as Gregorie speaketh O that yee may bee with him in lyke manner with joye at the right Hand of the Iudge in that Day The LORD grant it for CHRIST'S sake To whome with the FATHER and Blessed SPIRIT bee all Prayse and Glorie for ever and ever AMEN A CONSOLATORIE SERMON Preached vpon the death of the R. R. Father in GOD PATRICKE FORBES Late BISHOP of ABERDENE By ALEXANDER ROSSE Doctor of DIVINITIE and MINISTER of the EVANGELL in ABERDENE in Saynct NICOLAS Church there Anno 1635. the xv of Aprill DAN xij 2 And manie of them that sleepe in the dust of the earth shall awake some to ever-lasting lyfe and some to shame and ever-lasting contempt IT may perhaps seeme strange that the noyse of my mourning for the death of our late Worthie Prelate was not these dayes by-past with the rest of my Reverend Colleagues heard in publicke This duetie had beene performed ere nowe were not Death fearing that my vnappeased griefe through sense of my great losse should haue made mee to burst out into bitter and Tâ—agicke Invectiues agaynst her and so haue brought you all in hatred with her as with that vvhich the Philosopher saieth is omnium terribilium terribilissimum Of all thinges that are terrible the most terrible did arrest mee by her mightie Herauld Sicknesse to the end that by neare communing with her I might knowe and impart the same vnto you also that shee is not so indeede as her grieslie lookes doe praetende not an enemie to the Godlie as nowe in our mourning shee is holden to be but a friende and herefore in your mourning you should bee comforted For by the death of CHRIST her nature is changed Through death Hee hath destroyed him that had the power of death that is the Devill and delivered them who through the feare of death were all their lyfe tyme subject vnto bondage Hebr. ij 14.15 Death is no more death I am sayeth our Saviour the Resurrection and the Lyfe hee that believeth in Me though hee were dead yee shall hee liue And whosoever liveth and believeth in Mee shall never die IOHN xj 25.26 By her the Godlie are bound in the bundle of Lyfe Shee is but the way that all flesh doeth goe to put an ende to their miseries Shee looseth them out of Prison gathereth them to their Fathers maketh them lay downe their tabernacle and putteth them into a sound sleepe from whence they shall bee awakened to ever-lasting Lyfe But because it were endlesse to showe you all the good we nowe obtayn by Death I haue bounded my selfe within the limites of this Text wherin we haue a sweete Cordiall for the reliefe of the heart of Man from two great evils to wit The ignorance of the nature of Death it selfe and the ectate of men after death Feare not to taste therof for it is praescrybed by the Greatest DOCTOR in Heaven or in earth GOD Himselfe the Soveraygne and onlie Physician both of Soule and bodie The Apothecarie by whose hand it was delivered was an Angell who gaue it for a strong Consolation vnto Daniel and hee who hath left it vnto vs for that same vse was this same Daniel Vir desideriorum A man greatlie beloved of GOD A Pen-man of holie Scripture who spake and writ as hee was inspired by the holie Ghost And it is of an immortall and never-fading Vertue flowing from the immortall and all-sufficient Worth and Merit of the death and Resurrection of IESVS CHRIST That Death by the ignorance of the true nature thereof doe not dismay you learne to knowe That it is but a sleepe That the estate after death doe not dishearten you learne that it is but a wakening and such a one as is to Lyfe and such a lyfe as shall haue no death an ever-lasting Lyfe a sweete Cordiall indeede but the comfort contayned in it doeth not indifferentlie concerne all All indeede shall sleepe all shall awake but not all to ever-lasting Lyfe The awakening of some shall bee to shame and contempt for Qualis vita finis ita Lyke lyfe lyke ende lyke awakening Who liveth in the LORD shall die in the LORD rest from their laboures and awake to ever-lasting Lyfe And who liveth in sinne their ende is destruction and their awakening is to shame For this Text hath its own both Extent Restraynt Extent all indeede shall sleepe all shall awake Restraynt Some to ever-lasting Lyfe some to shame and contempt There bee some I knowe doe not allow to it this just Extent in regard it is sayde onlie manie that sleepe in the dust For they thinke that all men shall not suffer death which by sleepe is meant heere Grounding themselues vpon the wordes of the Apostle 1. COR. xv 51 Beholde I showe you a mysterie Wee shall not all sleepe but wee shall all bee changed Hee distinguisheth all men vnto those who shall bee alyue and remayne vnto the comming of the LORD and those that shal be asleepe Which distinction importeth That those who then shall bee alyue shall not die but shall immediatelie or without anie death intenveaning bee caught vp with the rest of the Elect to meete the LORD in the ayre Tyme will not serue mee to speake of this mysterie as Paull calleth it at such length as I would onlie yee shall know that the ancient Fathers of the Church haue bene much divided in their judgemeÌ„ts concerning those whom the LORD at His comming to Iudgement shall finde alyue Chrysostome wryting vpon that place and diverse Greek Fathers following him haue thought that they shall not die but that they shall bee changed from the estate of Mortalitie vnto the estate of Aeternitie Of this opinion also were some of the Latine Fathers in speciall Tertullian and Ierome and diverse moderne Wryters both Papistes as Cajetane and some others led by his authoritie as also Protestantes as Calvine and some others following him But manie haue beene and are yet of another opinion that is they haue believed or at least thought it more probable That even those who shall bee alyue at the LORD His second comming shall truelie and reallie die that they may vndergoe the common punishment of Man-kynde and shall immediatelie thereafter bee raysed vp or quickened that they may compeare with the rest vnto Iudgement Of this opinion were diverse both of the Greeke Fathers as Dydimus one of the Doctors of Alexandria and Acacius Bishop of Caesarea as we may perceaue by Ierome his Epistle to Minerius and Alexander EPIST. 152. vvhere the judgement of them both in this particular is related and Oecumenius in his Commentaries expounding this place and also of the Latine Fathers as the Author of the Commentaries vpon Paul's Epistles attributed to Ambrose in Thes. Cap. 4. Augustine in some places of his workes as Lib. 20. De Civitate DEI Cap. 20. although in other places hee seeme to encline to
hac ergo die eripiam eum nempè justum inquit quando nihil jam vltra vel quod corpori vel quod animae faciat mundus habebit Ber◠Serm. 16. in Psal. xc A full and a perfect freedome before the day of our buriall there can not bee for there is a heavie yoake layde vpon the sonnes of Adam even from the tyme they come out of their mothers womb vntill the day of their buriall when they are receaved into the bowels of their common mother Then sayeth the LORD in that day I will deliver the just man when the world hath nothing more to doe eyther with his bodie or with his soule Wherevnto consonant are the wordes of Isidorus cited by Bernard O mors quam dulcis es miseris quam suavis es amarè viventibus quam jucunda es tristibus atque lugentibus O Death how sweet art thou to them that are in miserie how pleasant to those who liue in bitternesse how delectable to the sad and mournfull For truelie of Death wee may say Pon it finem omnibus malis in hac vita dat terminum malis in hoc saeculo adimit omnem calamitatem Mors prebet terminum hominibus in tribulationibus in hoc mundo It putteth sayeth hee an ende to all evils in this lyfe a period to all miseries that fall out in this tyme it taketh away all calamitie and maketh an ende to all troubles which befall men in this lyfe Hee doeth therefore heerevpon conclude Sed heu exspectata mors tardè venit But alace sayeth hee long looked for and much desired Death commeth slowlie No marvell a Christian sayde so since Cicero an Ethnicke Lib. 1. Tusc. quaest could say Pro dii immortales quam illud verè jucundum hominibus esse debet quo confecto nulla reliqua cura nulla solicitudo futura sit That is O you immortall gods how sweet and pleasant should that bee to men which once being brought to passe there shall bee no more care nor anxietie The next Happinesse included in this that it is called a sleepe is That heereby wee are fitted and prepared for heavenlie Happinesse By Death there is a preparation made for our change to the enjoying of aeternall Felicitie whence it is called by BERNARD Ianua vitae initium refrigerii sancti montis scala ingressus in locum tabernaculi admirabilis quod fixit Dominus non homo Bern. Serm. on the 19 verse of the 5 chapter of IOB The doore of lyfe the beginning of our refreshing the ladder whereby wee goe vp to the holie mountayne an entrie vnto the place of that admirable Tabernacle which the LORD Himselfe made and not man What sleepe then is lyke to this Sleepe and what Sleepe more to bee desired than IT were not the Bed wherein IT is enjoyed seemeth to lessen all the former happinesse For it is sayde by the Angell They sleepe in the dust of the earth The rememberance indeede of this Bed wherein man must take his last sleepe deoth teach man Humilitie and Sobrietie since as he was made of the dust to dust he must returne againe The Graue must be his House he must make his bed in darknesse Hee must say to corruption Thou art my father to the worme Thou art my mother and my sister IOB xvij 13.14 Yet it doeth nothing derogate from the happinesse of Death For first albeit it seeme base to lye in the dust of the earth yet it is the common onlie recept appoynted by GOD to receaue our bodies in our passage to Heaven Neyther is there anie other place for our bodilie rest alotted vntill our finall awakening Dust sayeth the LORD thou art and to dust thou shalt returne GEN. iij. 19 And therefore Quis quaeri potest se in ea conditione esse in qua nemo non est SEN. Epist. 30. Who can complayne of that estate wherein all men are alyke with him Next Of all Beds a man can lye downe into it is the most kyndlie Bed For the earth is mater omnium nostrum And when wee are layde downe in IT wee are but in the bosome of our common mother who will bring vs foorth agayne into another vvorlde in regarde whereof the Resurrection is called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Regeneration MATTH xix 28 Thirdlie IT is of all Beds the onlie Bed of Rest wherein man most securelie sleepeth Of all other Beds everie man in some sort may complayne with IOS When I say My bed shall comfort mee my couch shall ease my complaynt then Thou scarrest mee with dreames and terrifiest mee through visions IOB vij 13.14 For great travell is created for everie man and an heavie yoake is vpon the sonnes of Adam from the day that they goe out of their mothers wombe till the day that they returne to the mother of all thinges ECCL xl 1 No quyet anie where in the interveaning tyme but then they shall enter into their peace they shall rest in their Beds ISAI lvij 2 Fourthlie IT is a Bed perfumed with the most costlie Perfume in the worlde Wee reade PROV vij 17 that the harlot had perfumed her bed with myrrhe aloës and cynamom but it was a bed of whoredome and wickednesse This Bed is a Bed of Holinesse sanctified by the buriall of CHRIST IESVS For as Hee died on the Crosse for vs so lykewyse Hee would bee buried that by the touch of his most holie Flesh our buriall might bee sanctified Fiftlie IT is of all sortes of Beds most honourable herefore it is written of Cyrus in Zenophon that hee sayd to his sonnes When I am dead lay not my bodie in golde nor silver or anie thing else but with all haste lay it down in the earth For what is more blessed than to bee mixt there-with which not onlie breedeth all good and pleasant thinges but also nowrisheth and cherisheth the same And lastlie The second Comfort in this Text suddenlie ensuing taketh away all matter of disheartening For they shall not lye in the dust for ever For as one sayeth well Est somnus quidem diuturnior solito non diutius tamen quam ad CHRISTI novissimum adventum duraturus that is It is a sleepe longer than other ordinarie sleepes yet not to last longer than the second comming of CHRIST IESVS For they shall bee awakened to enjoye an happie estate even Ever-lasting Lyfe The knowledge of this estate after death and long sleepe wherein the bodies doe lye it bringeth without all mixture of sorrow vnexpressable comfort First that man shall be awakened out of this long sleepe heere is a singular comfort but to bee awakened to everlasting lyfe it is the hight of all Comfortes Shall awake to everlasting lyfe this is all one with this their bodies shall be raysed againe out of their graues and after they are vnited with their soules shall obtayne everlasting Lyfe This doctrine of the resurrectione of bodies is onlie revealed in the word of GOD. It is to all
hath bene in part alreadie and shal yet more fullie when occasion shall offer by the grace of GOD be discharged by me A great Prelate is falleÌ„ in our Israell The hole wherein that Cedar stood argueth his greatnes will not be easilie filled The Lord in His mercy provide In calling these things to mynde I may be readilie thought a miserable comforter but having to do with a man of vnderstanding I am confident to obtayne leaue to fixe my tabernacle here a little and communicate with you what haue bene the thoughts of my heart concerning him who was your Father mine the man on earth I must acknowledge whose counsell availed me most in the manifold distresses which were commoÌ„ to vs both I had a reverend estimation of him while he was living know well how steadable he was both in Church and Common-wealth but now being dead I knowe howe it is that my affection is more bended than when he was living Dulciora videÌ„tur omnia careÌ„tibus said Nicolas de ClamaÌ„gis vpon the death of his deare friend They who haue bene in their lyfe profitable to others and by whose lyfe much more good may be expected no marvell if they be still lamented But he is gone Abiit noÌ„ obiit we haue somewhat of him that remaines after death the bodie gone to the earth there to rest vnder the hope of that blessed Resurrection Illo mane the spirit returned to Him who gaue it his good name better than a good oyntment remayneth with vs and what he was and hath done shall be spoken of throughout the worlde for a rememberance of him both for his commendation and incitation of others who shall heare of him His memorie is blessed Those who truely feare GOD speak of your most Reverend Father with all respect they speake of him to the great joy of my heart what hath bene observeable in him from his verie first beginning A Chyld of God One who earlie sought Him a Man of God who being planted in the House of God and flowrishing in His Courts hath continued to bring foorth fruit even in his old age Ye will excuse mee if falling on this subject I enlarge my selfe a little and make faythfull relation to you of that which I haue receaved froÌ„ the mouthes of those of best Note in the kingdome and whereto I my selfe in the most part haue bene privie That blessed Apostle S. Paul served God from his Elders from them he tooke his being from them his pietie Religion Timothie the first Bishop of Ephesus had the lyke from his grand-mother Lois and his mother Eunice And was not this a great mercie of God towardes your most Reverend Father that hee was the sonne of your Grand-father whose name is great in the Church for his zeale towards God his Religion his coÌ„versation being answerable thereto His care in the education of his children of whom God hath given good store was not the least or last part of his coÌ„mendation Herefrae it came that your Rev. Father who as his first-borne had right to the double portion spent not the most greatest part of his younger years in trivialibus juvenilibus which being the case of that great Basile was frequentlie deplored lamented by him But I remember when I was yet of verie tender yeares to haue seene him at Saint-Andrews folowing the studie of Divinitie with great approbation Then was he laying a good foundatioÌ„ for the time to come God Almighty had shapeÌ„ him for another course of life than he intended who loved alwayes to be exercised in reading writing informing instructing others by declining all publik charge That could not be The Church had need of him therfore he could not be hid HerefroÌ„ came his emploiments publick first at the Church of Keith to the which hee was in a manner forced by the earnest entreaties yea obtestations of those of the Ministry of most respect in the Diocesse of Murray where that Church lieth and Aberdene who had no smal eyther losse or gain by the plantation therof His labor there in the Lord was not in vain Res ipsa loquitur and the posterity shal retain the monumeÌ„ts But there might he not stay howbeit as vnwilling to leaue as hee was first to vndergo that charge He persued not Honour but Honour persued him as Nazianz. said of S. Basil or as Cyprian of Cornelius Bishop of Rome Episcopaâ—uÌ„ ipsum nec postulavit nec voluit nec vt caeteri quos arrogantiae superbiae suae tumor inflat invasit sed quietus et modestus quales esse consueverunt qui ad hunc locum divinitus eliguÌ„tur And a little after Ipse vim passus est vt Episcopatum coactus acciperet The lyke is recorded of S. Cyprian himselfe others who haue done most good in the Church of God I think in his translation to Aberdene I see the worthie Emp. Theodos. taking Nazianz. from the strayt and little Church wherein he taught and putting him in a more large and famous with these wordes Pater tibi sudoribus tuis DEVS per nos Ecclesiam tribuit What joye was to all honest minded men in his promotion who thought no lesse of him than the great Constantine was accustomed to speake of Eusebius Bishop of Caesarea Foelicem Eusebium qui non vnius vrbis sed orbis propè totius Episcopatu dignus esset In him was the viue vpset of the Ancient Renowned Bishops Ambrose Augustine c. No dumbe dogg but endewed with the tongue of the Learned He could speak a word in season And it was seene in him what S. August observed of S. Ambr. In populo verbuÌ„ veritatis rectè tractanteÌ„ omni die Dominico Wherin your most Rev. father was so instaÌ„t that notwithstaÌ„ding of his great age multitude of effairs for which scarcely any one man was sufficient yet could he not hearkeÌ„ to them who pittying him wisht him to forbear preaching piâ—ie himself Preaching was not all he preached viva voce that is vita et voce The course of his life all his coÌ„versatioÌ„ was such as the devil himself speaking aganst him shall be quickly detected With what wisdome care authority he governed that Sea there is none who knoweth not Bonis amabilis improbis formidabilis vtrisque admirabilis It must be truelie sayd of him as of that worthie Iehojada He hath done good in Israel towards God and His House As there was no vertue requisite in an accomplished Prelate which was not in an eminent degree to bee found in him So was there no state or person within his reach which did not partake of his good That Bishopricke which by injurie of tyme wickenesse of some and negligence of of his Praedecessours was almost brought to the last cast had him a Restorer Your worthie and famous Vniversitie founded by Bishop Elphinstone and Hospitall by Bishop Dumbar may vaunt of him as of a second