a Nobleman bring an argument if thou canst but out of the Topicks of feee favour he that made thee a Nobleman might have made thee a Drudgeman he that made thee a Cedar might have made thee one of the under-trees which grow about thee why dost thou flourish in thy palace when others have not a cottage to hide their heads in why doth thy Rent-taille come to many thousands by the year when many have not mony enough to pay their house-rent O! God might have made those strong shoulders of thine to have born burthens and those lusty arms of thine to have wrought for thy living yea and with that diligence and strictness that If those hands of thine out of idleness had kept one day an Holy-day the next day might have been a Fasting-day Si manus câ—ssaret panis desiceret Cassiod There are a company of Egenoes in the land an host of needy people which wander up and down the Nation to beg necessary sustenance God might have listed thee into this tattered Regiment and made thee to have crouched for a piece of silver and to have sought thy bread out of desolate places but God hath so well provided for thee that thy Table is continually spread thy Coffers filled and thy Wardrobe furnished whatsoever the wants of others are for meat money rayment thou canst eat dainties according to thy appetite take out gold and silver by the handful put on changeable suits of apparel according to thy delight others cannot sleep enough in the night-time nor keep their houses in the day time nor chuse their work but do any thing whereby they may get a livelyhood but thou canst lie in bed as long as thou listest and rise when thou pleasest thou canst either sit at home at ease or ride abroad at pleasure and thou canst chuse thy work even chuse whether thou wilt work at all for what is thy labour to wash thy hands rather than to work with thy hands to stretch thy self in idleness rather than to stretch thy joynts in industry to sprinkle thy head with perfuming powders rather than to oyle thine hair with thine own sweat alas when others are enforced to look to herds and flocks tilling seeding reaping c. thou lookst onely to thy cuts and curles thy knots and fancies thy half-arms and half-wastes thy chapfallen boots and neckerchief knees O then hath God freed thee from the aking limbs the warded hands and surbaten feet of other men and hast not leisure enough to magnifie thy God yes God hath given thee all this liberty opulency and affluency meerly that thou mightst praise the name of him that hath done wonderously for thee If three should not be an oblation kindled in private cottages yet the Altar should flame with sacrifices in Noblemens families God hath pricked out such a song for thee that it might be called the Noblemans Magnificat yea every member about thee might be a Querister to sing in consort Glory be to God God hath separated that house of thine from all other imployment meerly to make it a chantry to himself what then wilt thou not yet say Awake Lute and Harp I my self will awake right early wilt thou not cause thy glory to awaken praise God with the best member thou hast praise him in the highest that he hath given thee cedar-height yes blazon Gods Coat of mercies better than thy progenitors Arms and sing in a louder tone for Gods rich blessings than thou wouldst if a triumphant chariot were prepared for thee such mercies deserve a song of degrees yea the song might be appointed to the chief singer on Neginothai or to him that excelled upon Hajjaleth Halshahar no ordinary Instrument is fit for this ditty but even that which David calleth the Hind of the morning If a poor man ought to praise God for a being how much more the Nobleman for a well-being if a poor man ought to praise God uppon a wel-tuned Cymbal the Nobleman ought to praise him upon a loud-sounding Cymbal if a poor man ought to bring a Turtle Dove and two young Pigeons a Nobleman ought to bring a whole burnt Offering an Hecatombe if the height of a Noblemans praises ought to be according to the height of his greatness then let him consider that God hath given him Cedar-height The Cedar 3. Thirdly a Nobleman is from hence exhorted to be the better man for as the Cedar is the excellent tree in the forrest so a Nobleman should be the excellent Professor in the Church The Star of the great Magnitude should yield the brighter light the better plant should bring forth the sweeter fruit God doth expect great duty from men of great dignity and high service from them upon whom he hath bestowed high honour Optimates optimi mens graces and places should carry a correspondency for these have a price in their hands and they are called fools to their faces if their hearts be not answerable to their abilities it is a sin against Gods favours if these should be the inferiour Saints howsoever if they should be the worst of sinners A great man to be a great Libertine or great Oppressor is no more honour then to be a great Swine or a great Tiger The fall of that house saith our Saviour is great so the fall of that noble person is great then Jeconiah is but Coniah and no more in effect but a broken Idol Who honour Nimrod the great hunter or Haman the great persecutor or Achitophel the great traytor 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Menâ—n Nobile malum Sen. Gâ—nus dâ—â—icitur Arist 2. Rher 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Menaud one Abraham which was the Father of the faithfull one Job which was so righteous that there was not the like unto him upon earth one Obadiah which feared the Lord greatly is to be preferred before a thousand of these Monsters and Miscreants Noblemen if they be wicked are but the greater Stains for there is no Nobility in impiety there is nothing noble there but a noble villany The stock is there decayed such an one hath lost his Arms though he were born of a better Father then ever was Jupiter saith Menander It was an heavy thing when Ieremy went unto the great men thinking that they had known the way of the Lord and the judgements of their God but these altogether had broken the yoke and burst the bonds in sunder Jer. 5.5 How is God offended when he had planted a noble Vine and it turned into a degenerate plant As God is served in Heaven by the best Spirits so he would be served upon Earth by the best men Bring unto the Lord O ye Sons of the Mighty whosoever do hold back do ye bring these to be good precedents to others should have sanctity seen in every thing that belongs to them they should have written upon their very horse-bridles Holinesse to the Lord Zack 14.20 Why should they promote Gods honour most yes he hath
A CEDARS SAD and SOLEMN FALL Delivered in a SERMON at the Parish-Church of Waltham Abbey in Essex By THOMAS REEVE D. D. Preacher of Gods Word there At the Funeral of JAMES late Earl of Carlisle 4 JAMES 14. What is our life it is but a vapour which appeared for a little season and afterwards it vanisheth away 2 SAM 14.14 We must all needs die and are as water spilt upon the ground which cannot be gathered up again neither doth God respect any Person LONDON Printed for William Grantham at the black Bear in St. Pauls Church-yard near the little North-door 1661. To the Right Honourable Margaret Countess-Dowager of Carlisle my very noble Patroness c. Length of dayes Dayes of gladness the holy Calling the holy Annointing Light in the Lord the Light of Gods countenance the Spirit of the fear of the Lord the Spirit of comfort the height of Honour and eternity of Bliss Right Honorable and graciously-accomplish'd Lady MArriage is an image of heaven for the celestial state is compared to espousals This mystery is great Ephes 5.32 because union of hearts in wedlock doth much resemble the glorious union Then you have had in this kind the heaven upon earth as much as Marriage can afford it you for the dear and entire mutual and reciprocal love which passed between you and your noble Bridegroom was so eminent that it seemed not onely to be affection but passion it was expressed to admiration and it might be presented to the world for imitation But all earthly comforts have their stints and limits They that rejoyce must be as if they rejoyced not 1 Cor. 7.30 There is nothing here so transcendent but it is transitory the sweetest fruit doth corrupt the brightest gemms do lose their lustre that which doth most delight us doth leave us with an heart-gripe we must turn away our eyes from our most enamouring objects with a storm of tears So hath it happened to Your Honour He which lay nearest to Your heart it taken out of Your bosom and the want of him hath caused You to be a true mourner Thus heavenly providence doth order all things concerning our temporary comforts he will have nothing here permanent that we might rely upon him which is unchangeable it is not the wedding-ring that can endow any with lasting felicity constant joy is not to be found in the Bride-bed they are not our embraces that can keep fast our desired delights nor our eager eyes that can fix a face long for us to look upon No death doth pluck many a dear pledge out of our hands and extinguish many a lamp when it is shining before us with the greatest brightness This moth doth fret in pieces our costliest robes this thunderbolt doth cleave asunder our most admired monuments there is no armour of proof against this dart when this blow is given adamantine chains break when death doth give the knock there is no keeping within doors when death doth come with the ground-spade who must not be buried under ground we had need not to fancy any thing too much for the best is but a perishing delight we had need to provide something that is immortal for every thing that we do here enjoy is mortall The wisest head at last will be but a deaths-skull and the kindest husband we may at last take him up in an handful of dust or go lye by him in a bed of clay Death doth but smile when we do call any thing here our own and deride us that we laugh in that face which with a stroke can be made pale and grisly Your Honour therefore hath done well to furnish Your self with that which might comfort You beyond Nature and give You engagements when all the privileges of Nature do fail and indeed Godliness is profitable to all things and hath the promises of this life and of that which is to come 1 Tim. 4.8 these are the great and precious promises 2 Pet. 1.4 How would You have done if You had had nothing above this world to strengthen You against this trial You did but a little if You remember leave Your self to Your self and Your footsteps were well nigh gone You did but conceive Your Husband to be dead when he was not dead and yielding to Natures sad apprehensions what a sad fit did it bring upon You Your own life was in danger but You no sooner left consulting with flesh and bloud and began to take up Religion to be Your director but You were able with more patience and prudence moderation and Christian submission to undergo what God in his high and over-ruling wisdom should appoint and determine You could then speak to the honour of God and conform to the will of God saying Why should You try masteries with God when You knew that A sparrow doth not fall to the ground but by Gods appointment So that noble Lady there is no light like to a beam of Gods Spirit nor no counsellor like to a sanctified heart all the Preachers upon earth all the Angels of heaven can hardly so well informe us as our own regenerate consciences They which fear not God fear all things they which have learned God are taught against all exigents therefore the fear of the Lord is the treasure Es 33.6 I know that it shall be well with them that fear the Lord and do reverence before him Eccles 8.13 Natural perfections are a scant and fickle livelyhood therefore the Saints fee-simple is free-grace then have we something to rejoyce in and rely upon when he in heaven according to his godly power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness 2 Pet. 1.3 This is the stock that is to be preferred before Rubies yea of greater value than all the treasures of Aegypt The Carbuncle of high birth is nothing like to the jewel of new-birth all Academical Arts are nothing like to the eye-salve of the Spirit There is a spirit in man but the inspiration of the Almighty giveth understanding Job 32.8 Here is the mind which hath understanding Rev. 17.9 The most solid judgment is that where there is a quick understanding in the fear of the Lord Es 11.3 Through Christ I can do all things saith the Apostle but without Christ we can do nothing or very little The heart of the wicked is little worth There is not such a faint-heart as an unregenerate person he doth flee when none doth pursue the least trial doth cause in him astonishment of heart yea the sound of a shaken leaf doth chase him Lev. 26.37 he is like a silly Dove without heart Hos 7.11 We see it in Haman who wanted nothing for outward pomp and potency and yet the least check of neglect doth make all that he was worth a burthen yea a very loathing to him for What doth all this availe me And the like is to be seen in Achitophel who had greatness enough and pusillanimity dastardlinesse enough for being
crossed he is quite confounded his Counsel being but despised he doth defie himself and in an impatient humour doth ease his troubled heart with an halter So that a meer worldling doth sink under all trials But is a Saint no more magnanimous yes such an one can bear more weight then the shoulders of Sampson the puissant There is the invincible Spirit and the invulnerable brest There is not such an Heroe upon Earth as a gracious Creature My grace is sufficient for thee 2 Cor. 12.9 sufficient it is against all the pressures of nature and buffets of Satan Such neither fret nor faint at the saddest events It is the Lord let him do what seemeth him good 1 Sam. 3.18 I became dumb and opened not my mouth because thou didst it Psal 39.9 Tribulation doth bring forth patience Rom. 5.3 I take pleasure in infirmities reproches necessities 2 Cor. 12.10 O rare creatures that can make Miseries Medicins Afflictions Affections Exigents Exercises Ruthes Recreations Distresses Delights How can this thing be by Gods power being made perfect through weakness 2 Cor. 12.9 As the Apostle saith of himself when I am weak then am I strong v. 10. no Chymist can draw out such an Elixar no it is the secret of regeneration or the miracle of grace And is it not noble Lady grace that hath perfected and preserved you in your trial yes nature made you look downward and grace made you look upward nature made you to stagger and grace did stablish you nature set you on weeping and grace dried the tears on your cheeks nature made you look mournfully on your dying and dead Lord and grace made you patiently resign him up to your God Grace is our revenew remedy and refuge in all extremities preserve your grace and you are fitted for all future casualties and that I trust shall never fail you for as I know few of your Sex which do excell you in wisdom so do I know none Superiour to you in grace Gracious Lady wait upon your gracious God and he doth offer yet more grace James 4.6 Yea he is able to make all grace to abound towards you that you having all-sufficiency in all things may abound to every good work 2 Cor. 9.8 for there is the unsearchable riches of his grace Eph. 2.7 Well be wanting in no grace that you may count it your spiritual subsistence and say with the blessed Apostle by the grace of God I am what I am not I but the grace of God which is with me 1 Cor. 15.10 seems to be created to the praise of the glory of his grace that you may be accepted in the beloved Eph. 1.6 value this life no further then to have the grace of life 1 Pet. 3.7 have grace whereby you may serve God acceptably with Reverence and Godly fear 12 Heb. 28. Let grace reign in your heart by righteousnesse unto eternall life Rom. 5.21 The richest Jewel is the white stone the most gorgeous habiliment is the wedding garment to be the Elect Lady is better then with Queen Cleopatra to be able to drink a bowl-full of dissolved pearls the Paragon of the Earth is she that hath the amiableness of vertue Favour is deceitful and beauty is vanity but a woman that feareth the Lord she shall be praised Prov. 31.30 Dear and Illustrious Lady I honour your Person reverence your Perfections rejoyce in your Affections admire your Graces prize your Exercises magnifie your Fruits for you do not onely profess Christ but endeavour that the life of Christ might be made manifest in this mortal flesh therefore I wish that that Christ which is the Consolation of Israel may be your Consolation and that he which hath shed his blood for you may shed his spirit into you to comfort you in the midst of your sorrows and to strengthen you under all trials I confess this is a very sad affliction especially to quench so much love in a brest when the heart was in a burning flame and were it not for Gods irresistible will and your own Chistian obedience to his divine pleasure I should not know how to settle your spirit but you see from what hand the chastisement came therefore hear the rod and who hath appointed it Mich. 6.9 you know whom you have believed fix your heart upon that God humbly yielding to the stroke and in that God of recompences you may find this losse repaired and perhaps a double blessing for this present sad accident He is Shaddai God all-sufficient That God of patience and all consolation strengthen and support you and give you an ample supply of all necessary satisfactions you can be no loser in your dependence upon God for he can give you a firmer right then the nuptial interest even an union and communion with himself the band of the spirit is better then the bands of wedlock and the joy of Gods chosen doth exceed the joyes of marriage To comfort you throughly I should carry you up to heaven and shew you that there is variety of comforts and blessings to counterpoise this loss but I know your translated spirit that you are ready there without a conduct and indeed you are fitter to be a leader then to make use of a guide That heaven then where your conversation vows hopes tears prayers faith fruits contemplations are satisfie you that measure pressed down shaken together and running over will be poured into your bosom for humbling your self under the mighty hand of God So long as you are upon earth I can comfort you up no otherwise then by telling you and assuring you that your noble Consort is still upon earth though not in Person yet in Memory and for that end have I provided this impress His living Image you much delighted in my desire is that you might still have a sight of him in this dead picture For want of time it was but half drawn in the Pulpit I now present it to you as I had pensilled it out by my self stretch out your honourable hand to accept of the piece and bear with the mean Artist Thus with thanks for your first choice and your firm affection and all Terrestrial and Celestial Benedictions wished to your Honour submissively I take leave and rest Madam Your Honours Chaplain the humble Observer of your person and the high admirer of your graces Waltham Abbey THOMAS REEVE II ZACH. 2. Howle Fine-tree for the Cedar is fallen ARma Virumque cano My Discourse must be this day of a man at Arms Virgil. an ancient Colonel the Commander of the Tower of Lebanon Well what need Lebanon with such a Tower and such a Commander fear Yes very much for pateant Carthaginis arces Open thy doors O Lebanon Virgil. that is thy Castle-gates for the Commander in chief is to be fetched out What is he what is he Quis facta Drovini nescit Claudius who know not the noble Governour an eminent man he was for he hath his