span I'th'hollow of thy fâ—st the Ocean Or to describe his boundless hidden worth Nor tongue nor pen can set his praises forth This only I will adde he that would draw His Portraiture must use Apelles Law When to paint Lady Venus with a grace This beauty gave a hand that gave a face The third a colour gave the next a feature Al joyn'd together made that lovely creature In the same manner whosoe're would paint The beauty of this thrice illustrious Saint Must rifle all the world and look apart For that wch shines most in each noble heart One must Humility give another Zeal Another Prudence brethrens rents to heal Learning a fourth in its high'st elevation A fifth must give a spotless conversation His preaching one man cannot imitate Here we must have Beza's triumvirate And when we'ave travel'd all the world to find Or make a copy of this matchlesse minde When other mens perfections al do fail We must with that old Limner draw a vail Upon his peerlesse parts or for the rest Say here lies that which cannot be exprest Sic flevit Mat. Poole Minister of Michaels at the Quern in London An Epitaph HEre lies Saint Whitaker the rest Cannot need not be exprest Great sorrows noise not Give some years For the world to speak in tears First this age must vent its grief In sighs the next may finde relief And joyn their sorrows to compute Till grief returning strikes them mute And makes them silently confesse Their loss his worth was fathom'esse Another Epitaph UNder this stone intombed lies An heap of contrarieties One that 's dead yet doth remaine For person place and work the same His precious person was combin'd Of soul and body firmly joyn'd So still these parts though distant yet In Christ are to each other knit To earth his body was confin'd Alwayes heaven had and hath his minde His work was preaching so 't is still And preach his name for ever will Mat Poole To the memory of the learned that eminently Religious Minister of the Gospel his Reverend brother deceased Mr. Jeremiah Whitaker WHitaker sleeps spices you need not bring For 's body death it self 's embalm'd to him Ah blessed Saint his Sermons were not done When preach'd he liv'd the Application When sick his pangs were mercy for when e're A sigh was breath'd out God breath'd in a pray'r Lie gently on him dust this seed is sown To spring again at th' Resurrection Oh for a verse in black Reader prepare thus For every drop of ink to melt a tear Yet stay with grief there 's cause of joy then Joy shal shed tears for him and grief for us Benjamin Needler Minister of the Gospel at Margarce Moses Friday-street Lond. In obitum eximii tam Doctrinâ quam pietate Theologi Jeremiae Whitakeri funebre ' ΕΤΚΩΜΙΑ ' ΣΤΙΚΟΠDr. Gouge Dr. Walker Mr. Whitaker DEfleat occiduos aetas ingrata Prophetas Liquit Evangelicum collapsa synastria caelum Lugentem moesto Whitakerus funere mundum Deseruit lachrymis squallentem liquerit urbem Jam pereat mendax de florido opinio seclo Mortuus hic Vates nostrum sepelivit honorem Corruit Verax foecundi gloria rostri Patronum amisit Pauper populusque Lutherum Amisitque pium mutilata ecclesia gnatum Pastorem coetus Patrem amisere Ministri Gens mala praeconem immotam synodusque columnam J. Wells Old Jewry Lond. Pastor To the memory of his dear friend and Pastor Mr. Jeremiah Whitaker deceased BEhold the shadow whose admired worth Nor pen nor tongue is able to set forth He whose vast soul walk'd through the Isle of Man Is here confined in a shorter span Whose worth the world though 't were as big again Were much too short and narrow to contain Sweet were his life and death his well spent dayes Began with goodness and expir'd with praise His lamp was ever burning never hid And when his tongue preacht not his actions did And to his death he still fought faiths good fight And then his Lamp exchang'd his borrowed light For an immortal lustre and here lies Enshrin'd not dead for Vertue never dies R. B. Parishioner Upon the Life and Death of that precious Servant of God Mr. Jeremiah Whitaker whose name like that of his Lord and Master is an ointment poured forth JEREMIAH WHITAKER or Etymologie He shall exalt God His work Jer. 20. 13. God shall exalt him His wages Jer. 5. 10. White-aker A field white for Harvest John 4. 35. His fitnesse for Heaven BLest Saint how well thy name and worth agree In name and office thou art Jeremie A God-exalter and by God exalted A Priest a Prophet one that never halted Twixt God Baal twixt the truth error Nor couldst be made to start for hope or terrour Heroick Champion thou deaths venemous sting Hast conquer'd and with Christ now raign'st as King A wise and faithful Labourer for thy Lord To gather in his harvest by the word Thou hast approv'd thy self to Earth and Heaven Witnesse thy life and Doctrine purg'd from Leaven Both Labourer and Harvest were thy part The former living this thou dying art The Field being for Harvest Jer. White-aker Is reapt and of a better soile partaker Thy melting tears now cordial-water be Let me thy sorrows taste thy joys to see Roger Drake Pastor of Peters West-cheap A Funeral Elegy upon the reverend his deare deceased friend Master Jeremiah Whitaker O Let me weep and even like a spring Unto the sea of grief some tribute bring These cheeks of mine with tears bedew'd shall swell For this Seraphique St. who lately fel. To lose a Friend is sad but for our Nation To lose a Jeremy is Lamentation Could he from death some way released be His vertues surely might have set him free But 't was a debt and what enflam'd desire Had he to leave his mantle and flie higher How shal I praise his worth and not dispraise Say more and not say lesse darkning his rays Meeknesse humility in this Orbe shin'd In him the chaine of Graces was combin'd How was he fir'd with zeal even froÌ„ his youth And though he lost all would hold fast the truth With Jeremy he was a man of strife Yet not for Tyths but Souls this was his life A downright upright man he was a Star Whose sacred influence diffused far And that of these an end I may inclose His faith in Christ he solely did repose This made him when he felt the sharpest paine Upon the flinty rack not to complaine Nay when he at the point of death did lie Did as the milky Swan most gently die What did he die his soul as in a Câ—ll In heav'ns bright Paradise is gone to dwell Among the Cherubims where he doth ring With them that joyntly Hallelujahs sing Where he for tears in joy doth much encrease Pleasure doth him of former pain release He never shall of Stone or Ulcer heare He never need any more sicknesse feare Dear Saint I sooner had adorn'd thy hearse But grief first vents by weeping then by verse Thomas Watson Pastor of Stephens Walbrook London Vpon the Death of that reverend Divine Mr. Jeremiah Whiraker STay and lament all you that travel by 'T is sin to passe and not to cast an eye Upon this mournful spectacle the herse Of one whose name can dignifie a verse Loe here th' exuvium of that heavenly soul Who living did by ' s words works controul The pow'r of sin and Satan whose breath Redeem'd poor souls from darkness and from death And by his pious Doctrine did convince The sly Temptations of that airy Prince He whose whole life was a continued Tract Of practical Divinity each Act A Sermon and each word an explanation So that his Audionts might by imitation Of him and of his life to Heaven come Although they had been deaf or he bin dumb But that Almighty pow'r who from above Does all things order and in whom we move Wrapt all these treasures up in brittle Clay Death gav 't a crack and so took all away And now our griefs amount to such a sum That to expresse them best is to be Dumb. They that can count their wealth are counted poor And who can speak his griefs can suffer more 'T is diminution to his worth to weep With single tears we his whole flock of sheep Joyne in one Lamentation and let fall Our general tears at this sad Funeral Of our Dear Shepherd in whose fatal grave Both he and we one joint interment have From hence there 's no return for him to us But we must by degrees all follow thus He 's gone before to usher us now dead What all his life he wrought is perfected Living he shew'd the way to heaven whither Now dead he 's gone to clear our passage thither Parishioners of Bermonsey FINIS ERRATA Reader BEsides the oversights of the Printer in false spelling ill pointing and misquoting some Scripture proofs thou art intreated to correct these Errata's following p. 4. l. 8. for me r. was p. 6. l. 25. for hater r. hatred and l. 26. r. poysonous sting p. 8. l. 9. r. in the. p. 9. l. 4. r. friends and l. 13. for be r. by and l. 20. r. reviewing p. 10. l. 3. for First r. viz. and l. 17. r. relations and l. 23. r. discovereth and l. 24. r. lest p. 11. l. 7. for diligent r. affectionate and l. 9. r. dissatisfactions p. 13. l. 4. r. of my p. 16. l. 27. for beautiful r. bountiful p. 13. l. 33. for him r. himself l. 34. r. which did cost p. 20. l. 9. r. being also the fountaine p. 21. l. 23. for these r. the p. 24. l. 12 r. which I have p. 36. l. 22. for gods r. God p. 46. l. 26. r. this p. 47. l. 11. r. in his p. 53. l. 1. r. Sermons p. 58. l. 22. r. contemned
The doleful story of his ruin'd state And his three friends which acted Satans part He on his flesh and these upon his heart Who by disputing him unto a curse Would make his spirits tormeÌ„ts the far worse Were by Gods wise disposal sent to show The strength he on his Champion would bestow Thus Painters put dark grounds where they intend To overlay with finest gold lend By deeper shadows luster to that face On which they mean their choicest skill to place Thus workmen season much with sun wind Those greatest beams which must the building binde Whilst smaler peeces haply are put in When they come bleeding from the wood green Oft where is greatest grace God's pleas'd to send Great conflicts those great graces to coÌ„mend As the six finger'd Giants sword did bring The more renown to little Davids sling The vanquisht Lion and the conquered Bear Prepar'd that holy head a Crown to wear The Angel wrastled first and then did bless And made the greater servant to the lesse Pain was to great for thee Gods grace for pain And made the greater serve the lesse again Thy pains serv'd thee to glory and did sit The head on which a Crown of life must sit This is Gods method to fetch joy from grief To turn our sorrows unto our relief To save by killing and to bring to shore By the ships planks which was quite broke before And thus a barren womb first took the seed Which did six hundred thousand people breed That seed too must from knife and alter rise And be before a fire a sacrifice Great Preacher of thine heavenly Fathers will Thy tongue did many years with Manna fill Thy life out-preacht thy tongue O blessed strife Thy sicknesse the best Sermon of thy life Before each Doctrine must be prov'd anew Thine end was one great proof that all was true Before thou preacht by weeks but now by houres Each minute taught thy mourning Auditors Each patient groan and each beleeving eye Was a new Sermon in Brachygraphy When nature roars without repining words Grace in the mouth wheÌ„ in the bowels swords In midst of torments to triumph o're hell To feel Gods Arrows yet his praises tell Through thickest clouds to see the brightest light In blackest darkness to have clearest sight And with our Lord to cry my God my God Upon a Crosse under the sharpest rod. This is indeed to preach this is to show Faiths triumph over natures greatest wo. Then welcome fiery SerpeÌ„ts scortching sting Which did thee thus to th' brazen Serpent bring Then welcom Whale which though it first devour Renders at last the Prophet to the shore Well might'st thou bear the stone which death did throw Who hadst the white stone the new name to show Wel mightst thou be with such an ulcer calm Whose soul was heal'd before with heavens balm When spirits wounds are cur'd though nature groan An heart of flesh can heal a back of stone Let conscience have her feast and let flesh roare This pain shal make the others joy the more As many times those flowers most fragrant smell Which nearest to soÌ„e noisom weeds do dwel Thus have you seen the forge most clearly glow On which the Smith doth drops of water throw Keen frosts make fire the hotter deep night Causeth coelestial lamps to shine more bright And by a dear Antiperistasis The childs distress sweetens the father kiss A wounded body yields to a sound soul The joys of this do th' others paines controle As in the day that the Sun beams appear All other lesser stars do disappear When heaven shines and divine love doth raign The soul is not at leasure to complain Internal joyes his heart so well composes That they have judg'd their flames a bed of Roses Mr. Gataker Mr. Whitaker But what shall England do from whence are lopt Two of her richest acres to heaven dropt By losse of these two acres shee 's more poor Then if she'had lost a hundred Lordships more 'T were a good purchase to gain these agen By giving to the sea all Lincoln-fen Two little mines of gold do far surpasse Huge Mannors where th' whole vesture is but grasse Learn we by them what al men wil once say One Pearch of heaven 's worth the whole globe of clay Ed. Reynolds D. D. To the memory of Mr. Jeremy Whitaker powerful in Prayer and Preaching pious in life patient in sicknesse c. NAy now forbear for pity sake give o're You that would make the Clergy none or poor We are made miserable enough this year That we have lost our Reverend Whitaker Losâ—e above Deans and Chapters had but he Liv'd stil preacht Ziba take all for me Nay I beleeve had Sacrilegious hands Finger'd our poor Remains of Tyths Lands Whilst he surviv'd they had but sin'd in vain Whitaker would have pray'd them back again As Luther did a young mans soul repeal Giv'n to the Devil under hand and Seal A Chariot and an Horsman we have lost In whose each single pray'r incamptan Host How have I heard him on some solemn day When doubtful War could make all London pray Mount up to heav'n with armed crys tears And rout as far as York the Cavileers Have you not seen an early-rising Lark Spring from her turf making the Sunne her mark Shooting her self aloft yet higheâ— higher Till she had sung her self into heav'ns Quire Thus would he rise in pray'r and in a trice His soul become a Bird of Paradise And if our faint devotions prayers be What can we call his lesse then Extasie On his Preaching If with th' Almighty he prevailed so Wonder not that he wonders wrought below The son of consolation and of thunder Met both in him in â—thers are asunder He was like Luke Physitian of both kindes Wrought cures upon mens bodies and their mindes The falling sicknesse of Apostasie Dropsie of drunkennesse prides trimpany The Megrim of opinions new or old Palsy of unbelief Charities Cold Lusts burning Feaver Anger 's Calenture The Collick in the conscience he could cure Set the souls broken boneâ— by holy Art He hath dissolv'd the stone in many a heart Harder then that he dy'd of O come in Yee multitudes whom he hath heal'd of sin And thereby made his debtors pay him now Some of those tears which he laid out for you Interest-tears I mean for should you all Weep over him both use and principal 'T would wash away the stone which covers him And make his Coffin like an Ark to swim Now wipe thine eyes my Muse and stop thy verse Thy ink can only serve to black his herse Yet stay I 'le drop one tear sigh one sigh more 'T is this Although my Poetry be poor O what a mighty Prophet should â— be Had this Elija's mantle falne to me Oh might I live his life I 'de be content His sore diseases too should me torment And if his Patience could mine become I would not be afraid
as examples of faith and holinesse he addeth these words All these died Reasons The reasons are not only 1. Because of Adams sin transmitted Sin entereth into the world and death by sin Rom. 5. 12. 2. And by reason of Gods determination with reference to his own glory many wayes to be manifested in the consequence of death It is appointed unto men once to die and after this the judgement For upon these Heb. 9 27. accounts the wicked who are Christs enemies do die also But there are peculiar Reasons wherefore Christs and the Churches friends do die I will not here speak unto that which was extraordinary in this death of Lazarus viz. for the glory of God Verse 15. that the Son of God might be glorified thereby and for the sakes of them who should beleeve upon the observation Ver. 4. of Christs power in a miraculous raising him from the dead I will only instance in those ends which God intends in a way more ordinary with respect unto his people themselves 1. Sometimes that they may be secured from common calamities coming upon the world As men do house their cattel before the storme falleth Thus God takes away Isa 57. 1. the righteous from the evil to come wherof the case of Josiah is a famous instance 2 Chro. 34. 28. 2. That they may rest from their labours both of service Rev. 14. 13. and suffering when their task and exercises are over when their work is done and the Lord hath sufficiently proved and purged them by variety of providences both crosse and comfortable in this world then he calleth them off this stage and causeth their departure hence 3. That they might enjoy immediate communion with Christ in heaven which is farre better then the best condition Phil. 1. 23. Heb. 12. 23. attainable in this life and that their spirits might be made perfect in glory before the day of the general Resurrection when their souls and bodies shall be reunited There are many profitable Uses to be made of this Doctrine Application which I shall only point at Vse 1. Therefore natural death is not the greatest evil neither are those comforts whereof death doth deprive the best good because it is absurd to imagine that the most godly shold undergo the heaviest evils and be stript of the chiefest comforts This inference is obvious and might be usefully enlarged But I must forbear Vse 2. Therefore death is not alwayes to be looked upon as a demonstration of Gods anger against them who die neither is any sicknesse bringing death to be judged a signe of divine wrath and severity Lazarus Verse 3. Christs friend died and it was said before He whom thou lovest is sick This is alledged as the reason of the death of Jeroboams childe because there was some goodnesse in him 1 Kings 14. 13. Hezekiah was sick unto death and it 's conjectured that his disease was the Plague both because of the swelling mentioned and the medicine advised Let them take Isa 38. 21. a lump of figs and lay it for a plaster upon the boile And how sad Jobs condition was I need not to relate who yet according to Gods own testimony was a man of incomparable piety Satan smote Job with sore boiles from Job 1. 8. 2. 3. Job 2. 7 8. the sole of the foot unto his crown And he took him a potsheard to scrape himselfe withall and he late down among the ashes This I do rather note 1. Because people are subject to censure severely those who undergo unusual afflictions When the Barbarians saw the venomous beast Acts 8. 4. hang on Pauls hand they said among themselves No doubt this man is a murtherer vengeance suffereth not him to live 2. Because by this uncharitable censoriousnesse men do expose themselves unto Gods displeasure Hence it was that the Lord thus spake unto Eliphaz the Temanite My wrath is Job 42. 7. kindled against thee and against thy two friends for you have not spoken of me the thing that is right Vse 3. Therefore Gods people should the rather hold up with hope comfort and patience under all sorts of their sufferings here because their death which is certain will put a period an end unto all Though the Sea Nubecula est citò transibit be stormy yet the voyage is short we shall ere long come safe to shoare For this cause we faint not though the outward man perish suppose rotting and unsavoury 2 Cor. 4. 16 17. c. for this light affliction is but for a moment Do you not remember how the holy Martyr comforted his fellow-sufferer viz. that death would cure the one of his blindnesse and the other of his lameness And doubtlesse in this sense it may be said safely that death unto the godly is the best Physician curing them perfectly of all diseases whatsoever Therefore chear up ye Saints of God under all your grievances upon the thought of death Say to your selves as the good Martyr did But one stile or two more and then I am at my journeys end Vse 4. Therefore Gods servants should be the more industrious in doing all the good which possibly they can with speed because they must die and death will take them off their work This is Solomons inference Whatsoever thine hand findeth to do do it with thy might for there Eccles 9. 10. is no work nor device nor knowledge nor wisdome in the grave whither thou goest How did our Saviour bestirre himself when he knew that his houre was come What a great deal Joh. 13. 1. of good work did he then dispatch in a short time And it seemeth to be the reason why Paul at Troas preached till midnight because he was ready to depart on the morrow The Acts 20. 7. nearer unto the center the swifter is the motion Famous Doctor Sibbs would say Could we suppose sorrow in heaven this would be our sorrow there that we did no more work for God before we came thither to receive so great wages Vse 5. Therefore we all should be perswaded to improve our Christian friends both Ministers and others in all their gifts graces and experiences so much as may be and that with speed because they must die Upon this ground the Prophet Zachary quickeneth obedience Thus saith the Lord of hosts Turne ye now Zach. 1. 4 5. from your evil wayes Your fathers where are they And the Prophets do they live for ever Our Saviour is often in this exhortation having foretold his own departure Yet a little while is the light with you walk while John 12. 35. Eph. 5. 8. Mat. 5. 16. John 5. 35. you have the light As all godly ones are called light So Ministers are the lights of the world John was a burning and a shining light Beloved death will blow out these your candles and your Torches therefore while they live while they
give out their shine and their light make a profitable use of them to Gods honour and your own souls welfare Vse 6. Therefore I hence exhort all the friends of Christ to prepare themselves for death and to maintaine upon their Spirits a prepared posture for natures dissolution Although I know that they being united unto Christ and reconciled to God through him they Rev. 14. 13. shall undoubtedly whensoever they die be translated from earth to heaven yet there is something more to Luke 16. 22. be minded by Christians that they may be ready to die How much might be comprized in Jobs expression All Job 14. 14. the dayes of mine appointed time will I wait until my change shall come I shall not undertake to discover but I desire to leave these foure words of advice in the bosomes of Christians in tendency unto their preparation for death 1. Seek well grounded assurance of your interest in Christ and of undoubted title unto heaven through him This foundation being laid Paul could triumph over death Oh death where is thy sting thanks be to 1 Cor. 15 55. God who hath given us victory through Jesus Christ And Simeon could sing when ready to die Now lettest thou thy Luk. 2. 19 30. servant depart in peace For mine eyes have seen thy salvation Whereas there are sad shiverings upon some gracious hearts when death looketh in at the windows because they question their admission into heaven upon natures dissolution 2. Take heed of all scandalous sinnes sinnes against conscience the commission whereof may blemish Religion and lie as blocks of offence in the wayes of others It is conceived by some Divines that in this regard Saint Paul died with the more confidence because after his conversion he was no way scandalous I have fought the 2 Tim. 4. 7. 8. good fight and I have kept the faith and henceforth is laid up for me a Crown of righteousnesse Whereas Peter having dishonoured Christ disgraced his profession wounded his own conscience and prejudiced others how farre we know not by his fearful threefold denial was so full of perplexity that Christ saw cause before Joh. 21. 15 19 the foretelling of his death to confirme his heart in helping on the discovery of his sincere love notwithstanding that sad offensive Apostacy Broken bones though knit will ake towards change of weather And the remembrance of scandalous miscariages may occasion anguish in the bosomes of dying Saints 3. Settle your outward estate and concernments according to divine prudence and holy principles remembring that you must be accountable unto the Lord whose stewards you are how you dispose of the things of this life Luke 16. 2. with which he hath entrusted you This was Gods own advice unto Hezekiah Thus saith the Lord set thine house i◠Esay 38. 1. order for thou shalt die Many good people deare unto God upon this neglect are lesse comfortable to themselves and lesse serviceabl◠unto others upon their death-beds because they suspe◠the many sad consequences of their not endeavouring t◠prevent sinne and trouble by an orderly setling of all the◠earthly enjoyments 4. Leave with gracious gravity and seriousnesse charges Appropinquante morte multò es divinior and convictions upon the consciences of your nearest relations that Christ heaven and their immortal soules may be principally cared for Warne your friends to beware of the sinnes of the times and of their own inclinations Communicate your experiences for future profit prudently Here I might expatiate upon the examples of Jacob blessing Gen. 49. Deut. 31. 2. 32. 33. Josh 23. 1 2. 24. 1. Joh. 13. 1. 14. 15. 16. 17. his sonnes when on his death-bed of Moses and of Joshua their plaine dealing with Israel when ready to die yea and of Christ himself But I am necessitated to abbreviate these things with this hearty request that my friendly faithfull counsell in these things may not be forgotten And do not I pray you do not deferre these things for death may steale upon you suddenly unexpectedly as a man falls asleep sometimes when he thought not of it This lets in the next point Doct. 2. That Christs friends by death do fall asleep The Protomartyr Stephen his death is thus expressed He Act. 7 60. 1 Co◠15. 16 18 20 51. fell asleep And the Apostle Paul doth often in the fifteenth Chapter of his first Epistle to the Corinthians attest this truth This sleep is not to be applied unto the soule after its Eccles 12. 7. Luke 23. 43. Phil. 1. 23. Heb. 12. 23. departure from the body as some fondly dreame for it goeth to God immediately forth-with enjoyeth fellowship with Christ and becometh perfect But it belongs to the dead body laid in the grave which in this regard 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Mr. Calamy his Sermon upon Acts 7. 60. is called a sleeping place I shall not dilate upon the resemblance betwixt death and sleep which is fully done by others But I will only touch upon two things which are here intended 1. Death is a sleep unto the godly because thereby they are laid to rest There is a Verse 13. taking of rest by sleep They shall rest in their beds saith the Prophet speaking of the death of righteous ones And Isa 57. 2. they rest from their labours so saith the Spirit who die in the Lord. 2. Because their bodies shall be raised as Rev. 14. 15. men are awakened out of sleep This is expressed in the words which immediately follow the Text Our friend Lazarus sleepeth but I go that I may awake him out of sleep And the Apostle Paul is much upon this Metaphor Cor. 15. in that place where he undertaketh to prove the Resurrection Vse 1. Therefore true beleevers real Saints should not be afraid to die I grant that death unto nature is the King of feares and it hath its poisonous sting with which it will wound the wicked whom it doth usher into hell This with many other useful truths relating unto death is admirably Dr. Tuckney his Sermons upon 1. Cor. 15. 55. laid open of late by a worthy servant of Christ and it would be a digression if I should undertake that discovery But I only move Gods people to arme themselves against the sinking feare of death because unto them it is no worse then falling asleep And indeed there is great need of this counsel among Gods own servants every where who like foolish children are afraid to put off their cloathes and go to bed in a dark chamber As Baxter in his Saints everlasting rest Herein the forementioned Authour and others have administred much good help in which regard I may be silent Vse 2. Neither let us mourne immoderately because of the death of our Christian friends seeing they are only fallen asleep When our Saviour had spoken the Verse 12. words of the
Text Then said his Disciples If he sleep he shall do well And by the argument the Apostle seeks to prevaile with the Thessalonians that they might not mourne excessively upon such occasion For those who sleep in Jesus will God bring with him Then he addeth 1 Thes 4. 13 14 17 18. We shall be ever with the Lord wherefore comfort one another with these words Love moveth joy when our weak weary pained diseased friends are fallen into a sound sweet sleep This consideration therefore should cheere our drooping spirits in reference unto godly friends who died in the Lord. Let us minde this the rather because God who propoundeth this ground of comfort observeth both when we have need of this cordial and also what improvement we make thereof as it followeth in the next and last Doctrine which remaines to be handled Doct. 3. The Lord knoweth when his own and his Churches friends do fall asleep by death As Christ though now at a bodily distance from Bethany the place of Lazarus his abode yet told his Disciples of his death Our friend Lazarus sleepeth As God spake this to Joshuah My Josh 1. 2. servant Moses is dead This truth may be concluded strongly by these arguments Reas 1. Because Christ hath the keys of death Rev. 1. 18. in keeping the soule cannot be let out of the body without his leave And he knoweth all his own grants Reas 2. Because he also hath power in heaven keeping as it were the gate hereof into which none can enter without his allowance This is manifest by his promise to the penitent thief This day thou shalt be with me in Paradise Therefore he exactly observeth when any persons or person Luke 23. 43. hath admission thither Vse 1. Hence the deity of Christ may be proved undeniably for though there be thousands dying hourely in the several places of the world yet Christ knows particularly 1. Both their qualification whether his friends and his Churches friends or no. 2. And the time when every one of them giveth up the ghost As the instance under discourse doth evince 1. He understood infallibly that Lazarus was a faithful friend both unto himselfe and his servants Our friend Lazarus 2. And though he was not corporeally present with Lazarus in the place where he died yet he knew without any creature-intelligence that now he was fallen asleep by death Vse 2. This truth speaketh manifold comforts unto Gods children For 1. This hints his respect to them Precious in Psal 116. 15. â— the sight of the Lord is the death of his Saints He will not suffer any of them to lose life without his special observation thereof together with causes and concomitants therein considerable 2. It suggests his care of every soule when it removeth out of the body the place of its habitation it shall not miscary or be lost through Christs regardlessenesse Though thousands of devils may watch to intercept the soule yet Christ who observeth when it leaveth the body will undoubtedly according to his charge and promise secure its Passages to glory This is a Cordial to the poorest Christian for there is no respect of persons with the Lord. It came to passe that the beggar died and was carried by the Angels into Luk. 16. 22. Abrahams bosome And 3. It may relieve the sad hearts of godly ones mourning for their losse in the death of their dear Christian friends for their God and Saviour is quickly and fully acquainted with this their affliction he saw when our beloved relations breathed out their last gasp Questionlesse it cheered Hagar when she understood that God took notice when the bottle was empty and heard the cry of Ishmael because he wanted water And you may be Gen. 21. 16 17. confident that Christ who understands when your Parents your Pastors your yoakfellows your friends die he doth also consider what counsel what comfort what supports what supplies what encouragements you be deprived of by meanes of their death Is not this a choice Cordial to Gods children that their heavenly Father knoweth they need such things Mat. 6. 32. Vse 3. Lastly this Doctrine yields matter of seasonable and needful admonition Therefore upon the death of Gods servants we should seek after such dispositions as may be pleasing unto his Majesty who observeth together with such providences how we are affected therewith Here then I would advise two particulars wherein I intreat the Lord to make us serious 1. To be rightly affected with such like dispensations laying to heart the publick losse sustained when the friends of Christ and his servants are taken away by death The Lord observeth and complaineth when people do not herein answer his expectation The righteous perisheth and no man layeth it to heart And our love unto Esay 57. 1. the publick together with the consideration of the great use of such persons would help forward our humiliation in such cases You heard before that they are friends to Christ and much befriended by Christ yea that they are lovers of the cause and people of God Now is not the death of such to be bewailed When Elijah went up by a whirlewinde to heaven Elisha 2 King 1. 11 12 saw it and he cryed My father my father the Charet of Israel and the horsemen thereof And when Elisha was 2 Kin. 13. 11 14 sick Joash though not a good man wept over him and said Oh my father my father the Charet of Israel and the horsemen thereof Because they beleeved that the publick safety depended much upon the interest of godly men in God therefore their death was thus lamented And truly such friends of God are the chief stakes in the hedge and maine pillars in the building both of Church and Common-wealth Therefore in such cases it may well become us to imitate the devout men who Acts 8. 2. carryed Stephen to his grave and made great lamentation for him 2. To imitate the deceased Saints in their graces and holy conversation we should lay their lives as so many faire copies before our eyes and labour to write after them by consciencious imitation The Apostle having given in a catalogue of Old-Testament-beleevers who in their several places and ages did worthily he earnestly perswadeth Christians to be followers of them And Heb. 11. compared with Heb. 12. 1. seeing God hath given us to behold the beauty of holinesse and the power of godlinesse in their courses it will much aggravate our sinne if we labour not to be like them This leadeth me to that which you all look for viz to spread before you the exemplary life of Master Jeremiah Whitaker the late Pastor of this place whose Funeral hath occasioned this great Assembly and my Sermon in reference unto whom that I may speak unto your edification I will with the change of one word only undertake my Text again Our friend Whitaker sleepeth And truly I am very confident
a friend lies sleeping in the dust The blessed Saint dear Jeremy is gone And who shall write his lamentation Had we his eyes which always showry were Such is our loss each word should have a tear Another Whitaker in a Coffin plac'd The first the Chair this the Pulpit grac'd Reader would'st know his worth then cast thy eye Upon the Narrative there 's his excellency Rings hold not Histories who can rehearse His vast perfection in a narrow Verse Take Vertues Graces Gifts and all you can All are concentred in this holy man A brighter star in all our orb there 's none None do exceed few equal him that 's gone Ah pious soul What mortal man can speak out Thy rare humility Who ere meanly thought Of thee besides thy self What mov'd thy passions But Eulogies and Commendations 'T is well th' art gone from us shouldst thou but look Into and read thy praises in this book I 'm sure by this thou would'st be somewhat moved And Simeon himself should be reproved He speaks thy worth so much yet but little 'T is scarce enough but true to every tittle Thy personal endowments who would commend Should neither know where to begin nor end Thy Minister'al accomplishments were rare Thy constant pains thy diligence thy care For souls in holy things who can expresse Thou might'st have longer liv'd had'st thou liv'd lesse O melting Suppliant who e're did know Thy prayers to heaven without some tears to go The secret ravishings which poor souls have found When from thy mouth the Word of life did sound Our very Pulpits wonder where thou art In which thou didst such spiritual gifts impart But 't is enough we 'l weep the rest we can Launch out no farther in this Ocean Could prayers and teares have kept thee here thy stay It had been longer in this house of clay Pray'r barr'd thee in some time till death would throw Open the door by force to let thee go At last thy soul did finde the way to blisse And now is steep'd in heavens happinesse O blessed change for thee the painful bed Is now a Throne where not a tear is shed No dismal groaÌ„ings now from thee do come But everlasting Triumphs in their room Farewel blest Saint farewel and since 't is thus We 'l hast to thee thou wilt not come to us THO. JACOMB of M. Ludg. Vpon the death of the reverend Learned and Faithful Servant of Jesus Christ Mr. Jeremiah Whitaker late Minister of Magdalene Bermonsey in Southwark WHat speaks this sudden storm of brinish teares What means this doleful volley in mine ears Is the Sun darkned Do the Lamps above Resolve their fiery station to remove And shine no more on earth Doth the Creation Intend to melt it self with Lamentation The holy Whitaker is stept away Late Angel of the Church of Bermonsey A Pillar in Gods house a sweet Musitian That gladded drooping hearts A soul-Physician A Sun whose beams did consolation shine A faithful skilful guide a rare Divine He was a Watchman could not wel be blamed A workman needed not to be ashamed No Proteus that could change to every shape No servile spirited Preacher that could scrape And cringe to please the lusts of wanton men He could not say and then unsay agen Learned yet very humble prudent dear To God to men meek holy wise sincere He lov'd the Truth he hated Heresie A strong opposer of all Blasphemy His heart was toward a holy Reformation But set against a godlesse toleration Of lewd Opinions Great was his care To keep the holy Covenant which he sware The marrow of Gods O acles was iâ— him No Scripture Mystery was hidden from him Cases of Conscience he could well unty Scruples and Doubts from Scripture satisfie His holy Function was his consolation His Pulpit work to him was recreation His pray'rs were zealous heavenly steep'd in teare His Doctrine Orthodox convincing clear Ful of the spirit of life and Power his words Did pierce like nailes did cut like sharpned swords He durst tell Ahab of his great oppression What! dost thou kill and after take possession He durst tell Herod though it cost his life 'T is wickednesse to take thy brothers wife Had strangers heard him Preach they would have sed Sure John the Baptist's risen from the dead His carriage holy harmlesse free from strife His Sermons were imprinted in his life His body was infirm diseased weary His soul still vigorous active strong and cheary The more the Cabinet did waste and wear The brighter did the Jewel stil appear Goodness of nature made the world admire him The brightness of his grace made Saints desire him The Church on earth hath lost a precious plant The Church in heaven hath gain'd a glorious Saint Ra. Robinson Minister of Mary Wolnoth Lumbard street London Jeremiah Whitaker ANAGRAM I have hit everi Mark THou didst not shoot at rovers in the dark Thy polisht shaft could hit the smallest mark Gods glory was thy scope his Word thy guide His stable Spirit did teach thee to divide The word of truth aright A signal Teacher An useful pious fruitful powerful Preacher God made thee to his Chuâ—th None better knew Then Whitaker to carve to each his due The mark of saving grace was first obtain'd And now the mark of glory thou hast gain'd Enjoy it and let other Archers see Thy happy pattern and take aim by thee Ra. Robinson Minister of Mary Wolnoth Lombardstreet London Vpon the death of his most dear friend that eminent servant and Minister of Jesus Christ Mr. Jeremiah Whitaker Pastor of Mary Magdalen Bermonsey in Southwark THus Cedars fall thus Stars do disappear Prophets though Angels yet but mortals are Our Prophet Jeremy's dead and now there 's none That 's fit to make his Lamentation Plato once wisht that vertue could appear To mortal eyes his wish was granted here If any Breviator would comprize All vertues in a word then let his eyes Be fixed here keep Whitaker in minde And there you have the vertues all defin'd Or would you know what all the graces are In short hand writing they make Whitaker Would any have the Bible in a word And what the vastest comments can afford Read Whitakers Works peruse his conversation And there 's the Bible and th' Interpretation That Book was in his brest so well ingrost He could restore it if it had been lost He that by thee blest Saint shall calculate Will finde that Miracles are not out of dare Who e're was so far blest to hear him teaching Was prone to think a Seraphim was preaching 'T was Austin's wish i'th'Pulpit Paul to hear He had been satisfied hadst thou been there Me thought when thy sweet soul was poured out In fervent prayer I began to doubt Whether Elias was come down again And mounting heaven-ward with his fiery train In this thou didst excel he scal'd the sort Alone but thou thy hearers didst transport But whither goes my doleful Muse to