of a smoaky Cottage that it may be built a stately Palace as the Southsayers said upon the burning of the Capitol by lightning the Gods did suffer it to be that it might be built better and more gloriously Now these are the actings of faith required in him who would dye to the Lord. Now a Person may dye in the Lord and be blessed who yet doth not thus dye to the Lord for these actings may be suspended either 1. Through our inadvertency not considering what duty is incumbent upon us to glorifie God in dying 2. Through violence of diseases depriving or at least dulling and stupifying the memory understanding reason which are necessarily required to these actings 3. By some fit of desertion whereby we come to doubt of our evidences which alone can make us cheerfully to submit Lord now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace now and not till now because now mine eyes have seen thy Salvation And thus I have done with the first thing which needed to be explained who they be that are said to dye in the Lord. II. I shall now speak to the second what that blessedness is which they who dye in the Lord shall have This is an hard thing if not impossible to do the Scripture speaks of it as that which is inexpressible unutterable See 2 Cor. 12.4 Paul rapt up into heaven heard words unspeakable 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which it is not possible for a man to utter yea which is more unconceivable 1 Cor. 2.9 it hath not entred into the heart of man 'T is in vain to expect that it should be spoken with the Tongue which cannot be conceived by the heart As soon may the Earth and Sea be put into a Pot as the bliss of glorified Saints into the understanding as soon may you hold the whole earth in the hollow of the hand as comprehend heaven in the heart Much hath been spoken and written concerning it doubtless to the great chearing of the hearts of Saints insomuch that some have been ravished with the newes of it that they have in a kind of impatiency been weary of life and longed for death saying come Lord Jesus come quickly yet I believe that when a Saint comes to heaven he will say in the words of the Queen of Sheba 1 King 10 6 7. It was a true report that I heard upon earth of heavens glory but behold the half was not told me The Apostle in the place before describes it Negatively Eye hath not seen c. The eye hath seen much the ear hath heard more than ever the eye saw and the heart of man can conceive more than ever the eye saw or ear heard yet the heart cannot conceive this Surely the full and perfect knowledge of this blessedness is only to those Saints who are comprehenders of it The blind man may say much of light but nothing comparably to him who beholds the light much may be said of the sweetness of honey by what is reported of it but it is nothing to what may be said from the tasting and eating of it See 1 Joh. 3.2 it doth not yet appear what we shall be or what glory we shall have till we come to see this light and eat of this honey I might therefore shut up this part in silence wishing you to wait till this glory shall be fully revealed but because something may be expected upon the method before laid down it being one of the three things promised to be explained and besides much is said of it in the Scripture to the unspeakable consolation of believers making them bear up and be of good chear under present evils whereof this life is full whiles they have an eye to the recompence of reward I shall therefore as the Lord shall enable me give you a brief collection of what is held forth in Scripture concerning this blessedness I cannot go round about Sion and tell all the Towers may I at least but point out some The Israelites rejoyced but to see some clusters from Canaan and it may refresh our hearts whilest we behold some parts or pieces of this glory laid down before us They waited for Gods time to take possession of that earthly Canaan and so must we 't is but tarry till death comes Death will put us in possession of the heavenly Canaan then it shall be said to Saints as to Abraham Genesis 13.17 Arise walk through the Land in the length and breadth of it Beleevers shall be blessed when they die but wherein doth this blessednesse consists I Answer to the making up of blessednesse it is required 1. That it be full 2. That it be lasting Fulnesse implies 1. The absence of all evil 2. The presence of all good 1. Then Saints dying are out of the reach and danger of evill Prastat non esse quà m miserum esse of what may be called evil even the very appearance of evil Though there were no good in Heaven yet it is very considerable that there is no evil Now evil is two fold 1. Of sin 2. of punishment but neither is in Heaven 1. There is no sin there this is the grand evil a poysonous weed that growes every where but in Heaven 'T is said that no venemous thing will live in Ireland I am sure it is true of heaven This weed took rooting in paradise but it was the earthly Paradise and not the heavenly whereof Christ speaks Luke 23.43 and whereof St. Paul speaks 2 Cor. 12.4 The best of Saints carry sin about with them one need not tell them so they know it to the great grief of their heart it being that which often fetcheth water from their eyes and blood from their Souls Hearken but to their Closet doors and you shall hear sad complaints against it and mourning over it This is that stone tyed to the birds legg Anselm as one well resembles it upon seeing boys play which pulleth it down when it attempts to fly aloft This is that Pharaoh which keeps Gods Israel in bondage and hinders from serving God as they should and as they would There is indeed a principle of grace in beleevers and there is also a body of sin and in this respect they are like to the tribe of Manasse half in the Land of Canaan half on the other side Jordan But death will convey them into the heavenly Canaan Col. 3.5 and the Jordan of sin shall be quite dryed up may not this be one reason why the Apostle calls sins our members which are upon earth members because of the dear love we are apt to bear to them they are as dear as the members of our body as an eye and hand and earthly because they shall not be in Heaven These sins by the power of grace are mortified in Saints whiles they are upon earth but in Heaven they shall be nullified there shall not be an hoof left behind Here they are cast down there
A VOYCE FROM HEAVEN SPEAKING Good words and Comfortable words concerning Saints departed Which words are opened in a SERMON PREACHED At SOUTH-WEAL In ESSEX 6. September 1658. At the Funeral of that Worthy and Eminent Minister of the Gospel Mr. Thomas Goodwin Late Pastor there Hereunto is annexed a relation of many things observable in his Life and Death By G. B. Preacher of the word at Shenfield in Essex 1 Cor. 15.55 O Death where is thy Sting Luk. 14.15 Blessed is he that shall eat Bread in the Kingdom of God LONDON Printed by S. Griffin for J. Kirton at the Kings-Arms in Pauls Church-yard 1659. TO The Right Worshipful Sir Henry Wright Knight and Baronet And to the Worshipful Mr. John Leech Esquire Justice of Peace And to the Good Gentleman Mr. Richard Sherbrook Together with the rest of the Inhabitants of Southweal Honoured and much Respected I Do here present you with a Sermon Preached at the Funeral of your Pastor Loth I was to Preach it not grudging the Service but wishing the work had fallen into better hands More loth I was to Print it well knowing that there is nothing in this or any thing of mine worth Publishing to the world It sufficeth me if by private Preaching I may serve God in the place where my lot is cast I dwell among mine own people But the urgent importunings both of Ministers and other Christians have wearyed me and being not able to withstand the many Sollicitations I have forced myself to send abroad this Sermon which I Dedicate to your selves to whom of right it doth belong The occasion of it was the Death of him who was your Pastor your Minister and whose Flock and People yee sometime were It comes to you by way of Dedication be pleased to own it with your Christian Acceptation It is indeed very plain without any flourishings and therefore can scarce expect a welcome for its own sake but it tends to keep up the memory of him whom you sometime loved and delighted in you may welcome it for his sake and moreover it contains heavenly comforts Counsels which being the Truths of God you must welcome it for Gods sake and for the sake of your own souls It comes out somewhat long after the Preaching and no marvel if it come late I had much a do to perswade with my self to let it come at all Though indeed the hand of the Lord upon me in a sore sickness made it much longer than otherwise it would have been It is enlarged beyond what it was when I Preached it because the straits of time we being benighted and many persons far from their home would not suffer me to deliver scarce one half of what was then intended I then only delivered the heads now you have the enlargements upon those heads And Now Honoured and Worthy Friends give me leave a little to vent the sorrows of my heart for this great loss The blow indeed lights upon you mainly but not upon you only but upon the Neighbour-hood also yea the whole Church of God I have had many sad Letters since his Death bewailing the loss If others at a great distance be so affected how should you your selves much more lay to heart you may justly call your selves Ichabod Glory is departed The Ark is for the present taken from you God can Glory over you and set up the Ark again among you Amen the Lord grant it but yet remember you had a Goodwin among you some of you I am perswaded being the Seal of his Ministry will remember him as long as you have a day to live Your Town of Brentwood is famous for its situation upon an Hill but its eminency of late years was much from Mr. Goodwins Ministry in that place Your Hill seemed to be the Candlestick whereon this burning and shining light was set He was a Tower a Beacon on this Hill His monethly Lectures which the Neighbours round about did partake of made it as the Hill of Hermon and Mount Sion distilling dewes upon the Valleys round about He is now gone and is as water spilt upon the ground which cannot be gathered up again Though his Person be dead let his doctrines live yea because he is gone let them the rather remain He shall Preach to you no more unless it be by his former labours and holy life by both which he being dead yet speaketh Mr. Goodwin still lives in Weal if ye his people stand fast in the Lord which that you may do as also be blessed with one to succeed who may call home the uncalled and perfect what is lacking in the faith of others is and shall be the Prayer of him who is Your Servant in Christ Jesus GEORGE BOWND REVELAT 14. v. 13. And I heard a voyce from heaven saying unto me Write Blessed are the dead which dye in the Lord from henceforth THe words which I have read unto you are part of a Sermon Preached by an Angel the third Angel mentioned in this Chapter That they depend upon the foregoing words Ad superiora hac refero Aret. in loc and that the voyce from heaven in the Text was uttered by the same Angel is the Judgement of a good expositor This Sermon as it may fitly be called begins from verse the 9th and we may observe three things concerning it 1. The Preacher 2. The Matter 3. The Method First the Preacher viz. God by an Angel from Heaven Preaching and Prophesying to Iohn what things should come to pass in the latter dayes In what age these things were fulfilled whether in the time of Martin Luther as some or later Preachers as others I shall not spend time to enquire The Preacher is an Angel from Heaven and though the Lord ordinarily Preach to his Church by men upon earth yet in some extraordinary cases he preaches by Angels from heaven Ministers indeed are called Angels Rev. 1.20 and it is no small honour which ariseth to that office from the name which the Persons bear yet though called Angels 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Pares Angelis they are inferiour to them which are in heaven when they come to Heaven they with other Saints shall be Angels fellows Luc. 20.36 Secondly The matter of the Sermon is destruction to the wicked both here and hereafter but Salvation to the Godly if not in this life yet certainly hereafter in the life to come That which this Angel Preached is such as to which the Scripture in the whole tenour of it consenteth and is agreeable to the Analogy of Faith Angels from heaven will Preach can preach no other that of Gal. 1.8 Is the supposition of an impossible case say Expositors There be indeed Angels that Preach other Doctrines the Devil and his Angels from Hell in their Instruments false Teachers upon Earth There be many Errors among the School-men though they be called Angelical Doctors This Angel in the Text is from heaven and accordingly his doctrines Scriptural as all
they shall be cast out The Lord Jesus will say to sin that foul Spirit as Mark 9.25 Come out and enter no more Well then admit this there shall be no corruption within I may add farther no fear of any temptation from without whether of the Devil or from the World What can Satan do The Devil without us could not harm us were it not for the Devil within us he could do nothing upon Christ John 14.30 Because he was without sin he found nothing in him to fasten his temptations to If he do strike 't is as nothing so long as there is no tinder to catch But besides I believe though he goeth to and fro in the earth that Heaven is none of his walk none of his circuit it is not in his commission or rather permission Add what can the World do to them who are gon out of the World Before they were not of the World now they are not in the World The World here as the Ivy twisting about the tree sucks the heart out It flatters as Jael did Sisera Butter and Milk in a Lordly dish and so nails the temples of the Soul to the ground but after death there shall be no alluring World The World and the things of the World as to them Angeli non habent jumenta shall be no more There is no device in the grave no trading no tilling no shops no farms or cattel we shall be as the Angels who are not combred with these things There as Rev. 12.1 The Moon shall be under our Feet we shall have as little esteem of these sublinary things as the dust under our Feet Thus we have the first branch of the negative part Saints shall be blessed at death because they shall not be infected with the evil of sin 2. After death there shall be as no sinning so no suffering this necessarily follows for take away the cause and the effect will cease there shall be no complaining in those streets and therefore blessed for I may apply the words of the Psalmist Psalm 144.14 15. Happy are the people that are in such a case hereupon earth is nothing but Alass wo is me wo worth the day Not only Hell is full of complaining but the earth also our dayes here are ful of trouble Our life is like the Prophets book Ezek. 2.10 Written within and without lamentations mournings and wo within are Fightings without are Fears We are at no time exempted from complaining because of sin and it is but seldom but that we are mourning because of trouble which sorrowful condition of ours upon earth is elegantly set forth in that place Job 5.7 Man is born to trouble as the sparks fly upward Indeed in Hell is nothing but evil from one end to the other It is a sea of evils without bank or bottom On earth are some fair days though many be stormy and tempestuous a rad 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 elatus fuit Isa 33.24 Isa 35.10 but in Heaven whether Saints go when they die is no fear of any of these things This is that Tower whether the righteous shall run and be safe or set aloft out of the reach of danger Prov. 18.10 There the inhabitants shall not say I am sick sorrow and sighing shall fly away All evil shall be banished many thousand thousand miles from the lines of Saints communication I shall shut up this part with that comfortable Scripture 1 Thes 1.10 Jesus delivers from the wrath to come If saved from wrath then from those evils which are the effects of wrath and where there is no sin to stir up wrath there can be no evil which is the consequence of wrath and thus we have the Saints blessednesse negatively but now 2. Positively and affirmitively to make up blessednesse there must be the presence of all good which brancheth it self into two parts 1. The perfection of grace and holiness 2. The fulness of bliss and happiness 1. After death when the Children of God come to Heaven they shall be made perfectly holy Heaven is that Holy Land whether they are going on Pilgrimage See 2 Peter 3.13 There the Apostle saith dwelleth righteousnesse there is its Mansion-house and in comparison thereof here upon earth it is but as in an Inn or a sojourner 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Heaven is the lot or place alloted to holy ones Col. 1.12 There is no possibility for a sinner to get in thither heaven gate is strongly guardded by holy Angels should they neglect their trust yet God is of purer clearer eyes then that a sinner should escape him Yea were it possible a sinner could steal into Heaven yet he should soon be thrown out as the Apostatizing Angels were and as Adam was driven out of Paradise and the corrupt Nations beaten out of Canaan and the Man without his wedding garment cast out of the mariage chamber Yea further suppose a sinner might be let alone yet he would soon void the place of himself it being not a proper element for him to live in As soon may a fish live on dry land as sinners who drink in iniquitie as the fish drinketh in Water live in that Holy Land But further there the people of God shall be made perfect in holiness Heb. 12.23 The Souls of just Men shall be made perfect They are holy in this life but not perfectly holy Yea here they have a perfect imperfection Grace is glory begun and glory is grace perfected Grace shall not be lessoned but heightned and increased in glory Grace shall be swallowed up of Glory as the rude draught is when the Picture is finished and as the Morning light is by the noon-day See 1 John 3.2 shall be like God this is in the perfecting of holiness which is called our being made like God God at first made Man after his own Image that is in holiness as the Apostle shews Eph 4.24 Now in Heaven there shall be a perfect restoring of this image The expression is full 1 Cor. 15.49 We shall bear the image of the heavenly but it may be Queried when shall this be the answer is in the following verse it shall be in the Kingdom of God While we remain in this flesh we cannot bear this image and yet it is true again that Beleevers even in this life do bear this Image the difficulty is easily resolved here we have the truth there the perfection of holinesse 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Scripture speaks of true holiness or the holiness of truth Eph. 4.24 There is that which is such in truth though not in perfecton And surely so great will this change be when a Beleever shall be made perfect that he will seem to be changed into another Man as was said of Saul he would even wonder at himself to see how he differs from himself what he now is being a comprehender and what he was whiles a Traveler below Great and wonderful is the change in
Paul thence presseth they should be contented to suffer because they should be glorified Ridlie the Martyr cheered up his fellow saying Rom. 8.17 though we have a bitter break-fast yet we shall have a sweet Supper meaning in glory From these passages I may infer to your comfort who are Christians indeed that be your present burthens never so heavy yet glory yea I may say one half hour in glorie will make amends for all Some persecutors have been very witty to invent most exquisite torments yet the hope of blessedness hath made them to be as nothing The Martyrs in their undaunted courage made no more of them then Sampson of the Philistins wit hs or like the Leviathan in Job Iron is but as straw and Brass as rotten wood Job 41.27 All their troubles and sufferings are but light they are heavy in themselves but the weight of glory makes afflictions light See 2 Cor. 4.17 18. Oh Christians do but make experiment when you are apt to droop and find your Spirit is overwhelmed run to this as to your Aqua Vitae bottle take but a sip of it and it will refresh you you shall be blessed Write blessed are c. Yea saith the Spirit Oh then lift up the Hands which hang down and the feeble Knees There is no Cup so bitter but this will sweeten it no Fire so hot but this will slack and quench it I say again do but make experiment God hath provided many supports for his drooping people but I may say as David of Goliahs sword None like to this no support like the remembrance of glory One leaf of the tree of life is better then clusters of worldly comforts Be thy burthen what it will how heavy soever yet the calling to mind future blessedness will make it light and easie Gen. 21.19 But alass Saints droop and with Hagar are ready to faint when there is a Well of water by them but they see it not at least have not skill to draw The Lord open your eyes as he did hers But you will say when shall we have this blessednesse and glory I Answer at Death you shall have it not now but afterwards See John 13.36 Christ said to Peter whither I go thou canst not follow me now but thou shalt follow me afterwards Christ went to Heaven thither Peter should come at length when he dyed Death is in a sort a cause of this happinesse that is without which it will not be And indeed see how graciously God hath ordered it Death came as a curse Mal. 2.22 but it is turned into a blessing God threatneth to the wicked to curse their blessings and promiseth to the godly to bless their curses Death with one hand holds forth a Sword even over Believers to slay their Body it smites one and other hip and thigh But observe its other hand with that death opens a door of glory Who would think that Death should do this 'T is as in Sampsons riddle Edulium ex edente out of the eater came meat it is a riddle indeed but a very truth And whereas Death is dismal and dreadful the King of fears it becomes now an Anchor of hope the valley of Berachah or blessing So that the Saints can welcome it and say as David of Ahimaas He is a good Man 2 Sam. 18.27 and bringeth good tidings They can wait for it Job 14.14 He was an expectant all his dayes yea wish for it thus Paul I desire to be dissolved Phil. 1.23 They can stand as Abraham in the door of the Tabernacle to speak to the Angel or with Elijah in the mouth of the cave to meet the Lord coming to them by death Now how comes this to pass even because they know they must be as it were beholding to Death to do them this favour and kindness to bring them to their blessedness This sure affords strong Consolation to the Children of God I shall carry on this use of Consolation a little further to the particular case of any who may be excercised in the loss of godly Friends they die in the Lord and therefore are blessed But you will say this was matter of comfort concerning those who dyed under that persecution to which this relates But mark the voice from Heaven said Write intimating it is of use in all ages for what is written is for the Churches Learning and comfort to the end of the World Blessed are the dead that die now in the Lord. The Apostle in 1 Thess 3.4 Holds forth this blessedness which Saints shall have after this life is done makes it a main argument of comfort to those that survive having lost their godly friends verse 18. Wherefore comfort one another with these words and chiefly with the words immediately preceding that they are dead in Christ and so shall ever be with the Lord. This is comfort indeed and it is but sorry comfort where this hope is not fixed sure this foundation and no other will bear up the building of comfort Heathens indeed who knew nothing of the blessedness of such as die in Christ had their consolatory addresses to their afflicted Friends They would tell them Death was that which none could avoid therefore in vain it was to grieve Mors ultima linea rerum They told them it was the common lot of all things Not onely Men but famous Cities flourishing Kingdoms had their periods Anaxagoras comforted himself at the death of his Children saying he begat them but mortal ones Heri vidi fragilem ftangi hodiè mortalem mori Epictetus seeing a Woman weeping for her pitcher which she had broken and next day for her Son being dead stayed her mourning telling her it was all one her Son was but as an earthen pitcher Little better are those comforts wherewith carnal Christians labour to relieve themselves and their Friends in these cases as thus Death is the way of all the earth the house appointed for all living Josh 23.14 Job 30.23 Psalm 119.109 Jam. 4.14 Isa 40.6 we carry our lives in our hand Our life is as a vapour which appeareth for a little time and then vanisheth away All flesh is grass and the goodlinesse thereof as the flower of the field the grass withereth the flower fadeth These are Scripture-truths indeed and not taken out of Heathen Philosophers or Poets They are such as rightly used and applyed may be comfortable to relieve under the losse of Friends and dear relations But their intendment is not so much for Consolation as for Instruction to us that hearing of the frailty of this life we may prepare for eternity Nor indeed in themselves absolutely can they afford any solid comfort because they speak onely to the condition and state of the Body But when the state of the Soul after Death comes to be weighed 2 Cor. 5.10 Rev. 20.12 John 3.3 Rev. 20 10 Psal 9.17 as that all must appear before the
follow through divine Justice Having thus opened the words I might draw from them many useful observations but because the time will not allow the handling of them I shall not so much as name them there is one point only which I intend to speak to and it is that wherein the marrow and sweetness of the consolation lies I shall lay it down almost in the very words of the Text viz. Doct. They who dye in the Lord shall certainly be blessed when they dye The Point is so clearly held forth in the Text that I need not look out for other Scriptures to confirm it but I shall gain the time in sparing what may bespared That which I intend is first to speak to it by way of Explication and secondly by way of Application There be three things needful to be explained 1. Who may be said to die in the Lord 2. What the blessednesse is which they who die in the Lord shall have 3. The time when they shall have it I. For the explaining of the first who may be said to die in the Lord I shall take notice of two opinions about it and then lay down a third which I conceive holds forth the true meaning of this phrase to die in the Lord. First therefore some widen the Phrase too much as if it did comprehend and take in all those who having lived professors of the true God and true Religion die holding this profession These make every formal profession though abstracted from the power of godliness enough to carry a person to Heaven making the Gate wide which Christ saith Matthew 7. is narrow Let Men professe the true Religion that is be Christians not Jews Turks at least be Protestants not Papists let them be Orthodox in Judgement and not grosly sinful in life let them but keep their Church hear pray receive and walk in a round of duties these shall be saved when they die This is the opinion of some This hath proved a spreading leaven and it is no wonder to see the Assertors of such Doctrine draw many Disciples after them it is so pleasing and who almost would not trade for Heaven if it may be purchased at so easie a rate 'T is a Matchiavilian axiome that to seem religious is profitable but to be religious is troublesom Now if that be enough to make one religious which was laid down before I pray what great trouble is it hear a few Sermons mumble over a few prayers they may do this and yet live at ease in Syon 'T is usually said to the reproach of zealous professors that some make more a do than they need Master favour thy self be not righteous over-much lesse will serve thy turn But now if the Kingdom of God consist not in word but in power If many may strive to enter into Heaven and yet not be able 1 Cor. 4.20 Lu. 13.23 Mat. 11.12 If Heaven must be stormed and taken by violence then surely every formal slight serving of God will not serve the turn nor suffice to arrive to that blessednesse promised in the Text to such as die in the Lord. Carnal Gospellers may seem to live in the Lord Rev 3.1 Have a name to live and so they may seem and but seem to themselves and some others to die in the Lord but the hoped-for blessednesse where where will it be Secondly Some on the other extreme Apellabo Martyrem praedicabo satis narrow the sense of this Phrase too much limiting and restraining it to those onely who die Martyrs sealing the truth with their blood Martyrdom indeed is a piece of service tending greatly to the honour of God and hath alwayes been honourably remembred by the Saints and will be gloriously rewarded from the Lord These indeed are meant in the Text yea chiefly and eminently but not excluding others who die in the Lord though they die not Martyrs Many Expositors might be quoted who understand it of all the godly those who die in their beds as well as those who die at the stake Peter was crucified and dying in the Lord was blessed Beatus est Petrus dum crucifigitur sed non minùs est beatus Johannes dum in lecto moricur uterque enim c. Aret. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Vbi geminum 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 auget vocem John dyed in his bed but yet dying in the Lord was blessed We read Psalm 116.15 That the death of the Saints is precious in the sight of the Lord not this or that death for kind but in general whatsoever death they die and the Original is emphatical intimating that the Prophet doth not assign it and limit it to any one kind of death but to whatsoever kind of death And thus some Translations render it And though Beza doth translate it as if it pertained onely to Martyrs yet the phrase doth not necessarily import so much as Doct. Fulke sheweth in his confutation of the Rhemish Translation were it meant only of Martyrs the verse would rather run thus Blessed are the dead which are killed or slain for the Lord or for the Lords cause Now many die in the Lord who do not thus die for the Lord as possibly some may seem to die for the Lord who do not yet so much as die in the Lord. The Apostle in 1 Cor. 13. Speaks of some 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 who give their body to be burned and yet have not charity viz. any work of saving grace by a Synecdoche The first Martyrs were Innocents and such should all Martyrs be but that all be not so the Apostle himself intimates and if this be the meaning of dying in the Lord then they are all blessed which the Apostle will not affirm but rather deny But to conclude this we may say in some sense all that dye in the Lord die for the Lord viz. as the Psalmist For thy sake are we killed all the day long that is we are lyable to troubles and persecutions more or less all Saints meet with them even they who have the peaceablest lives and most quiet deaths But this is not the restrained sense before which relates only to such as shall be violently killed and murthered in the cause of Christ therefore Thirdly If we would know who they be which are said to die in the Lord we must mark the phrase and manner of expression which is very frequent and obvious in Scripture viz. Some persons are said to be in the Lord in Christ when others are said again not to be in Christ now such as are thus in Christ shall be blessed when they die The Scripture I say speaks often that some are in Christ who is the Christians Lord according to those expressions the Lords day the Lords table See Rom. 16.7 They were in Christ before me and Verse 11. Them of the Houshold of Narcissus which are in the Lord or in the Lord Christ Thus 1 Thes 1.1 Paul writes to the Church
this life when of a sinner one is made a Saint where yet a sinful unregenerate part remains but oh how most admirable when shall be made a perfect Saint in whom is nothing that is called sin no appearance of evil no defect no blemish as is said of Absalon from the sole of the foot to the crown of the head This change will be in mind will and affections 1. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 In the Mind shall be light without any darknesse there shall be no mistakes no doubtings here though it be given to the godly to know the mysteries of the Kingdom of God yet they need pray a prayer for the healing of their ignorances Truths indeed which are necessarily required to be known in order to salvation are plain so that he who runs may read the wayfaring Men though Fools shall not err therein Isa 35.8 Yet other truths are dark making darkness their pavilion Of these the Apostle speaks 2 Pet. 3.16 Saying in the Scriptures are some things hard to be understood Thus the Scriptures are compared to a River where a Lamb may wade yet again so deep in other places that an Elephant may be drowned Such mysteriousness is there in many truths that the most knowing Saints may be called a generation of seekers seeking more and more to find out the meaning of thē which shews that there is much darkness remaining in their minds There is Ignorance as well as Knowledge in the best yea more Ignorance then Knowledge in the best as in the best garden are more weeds then flowers In this sense we must allow new lights not as some who call old errors new lights but new discoveries of what before we knew not whiles the knowledge of these heavenly truths is dropt into us Son of Man drop thy word by which expression is meant that our knowledge comes to us by little and little Dies posterior prioris Discipulus Thus the Word of God is precept upon precept line upon line now a little and then a little But when Saints shall come to Heaven the dark side of the cloud shall be taken away they shall be of the same Intellectual complexion and stature as the Angels are There all doubts shall be solved Vbi Lutherus cum Zuinglio optimè convenit in vit Geyn truths cleared consciences satisfied controversies ended As Satan carried Christ upon a Mountain and in a moment shewed him all the glory of the world So Christ at death takes the Soul and carries it to the heavenly Syon and in a moment will shew it all the glory and excellent mystery of divine truths 'T is in this case as with a dull yet diligent Scholar he is continually poring upon his Book conning his Lesson and fain would he but cannot beat it into his head then comes the Master who by his skill makes it facile to him and brings him quickly to understand it so that even he now wonders at his own dulnesse And certainly when a child of God comes to Heaven he will much wonder at his own dulnesse to understand slowness to beleeve This is the first in Heaven the Mind shall be fully and clearly enlightned Now a word of the other two 2. The Will shall be bowed to a perfect conformity to Gods Will without any Rebellion in Heaven the Children of God shall be enabled perfecty to keep the Commandements of God No meer Man since the fall is able perfectly in this life to keep them but shall be able in another life because the Will shall be brought into perfect conformity to Gods Will the Authentick and original Copy here Grace is mixed some Faith much Unbeleef some conformity Necessitas immutabilitatis non coactionis libertas a coactione est essentiaalis voluntatis proprietas secus enim voluntas esset noluntas much Rebellion We wear a linsy welsey Garment as to our spiritual condition but then the Will shall be made a Mountain of holiness an habitation of righteousness The Will shall be swallowed up of Gods Will so that we shall not be able to sin yet no force which is inconsistent with the Will but then shall the day of Gods power shine forth to make the Soul perfectly willing to that which is good and to that onely then we shall be confirmed in goodness and holiness 3. And lastly the Affections shall be throughly sanctified and freed from all disorder The exorbitancy and disobedience of these Affections make sad work here in the most gracious Souls that oft though we know to do good Jam. 4.17 Rom. 1.18 yet we do it not which becomes sin even out of measure sinful that though we know the truth yet we with hold it in unrighteousness whereby our actions becomes unrighteous in the highest degree Now in Heaven they shall quietly comply with and give obedience to right reason they shall be as obedient as the Centurions Servant who went and came at his Masters beck The Affections are the Souls Officers but here they oft become proud exactors but there as Isa 60.17 The Lord will make these Officers peace and these exactors righteousnesse The Affections are the Souls feet the Souls wings to help the Soul with expedition to do the Will of God but alas whether do they often carry and hurry the Soul even to commit sin with greediness to rush into sin as the Horse rusheth into the battail They are fiery metl'd Horses 't is hard to sit them they often cast their Rider Hagar like they contend against their Mistress but in Heaven the bond Woman shall be cast out there shall be no Remora of a fleshly part The Mountain of the house of the Lord shall be set on the top of all our mountaines Grace perfected in glory shall arise against the house of evil doers and against the help of them that work iniquity at our very entring the Heavenly Canaan this Jordan or stream of vile Affections shall be dryed up Thus have I done with one part which shewes wherein the blisse of glorified Saints consists they shall have the perfection of grace and holinesse Now 2. They shall have the fulness of blisse and happiness What one said of England is very true of Heaven Verè hortus deliciarum verè puteus inexhaustus it is a garden of delights a fountain of good things which cannot be emptied It was the saying of one of the Popes who yet went near to have drawn it dry but it may without question be fitly applyed to Heaven Surely the children of God shall live an happy life in Heaven Thus we read of eating and drinking and feasting it shall be with them as with that rich Man they shall fare delicately every day We read 1 King 4.22 What daily provision was made for Solomon 30. Measures of fine Flower 60. Measures of Meal 30. Oxen 100. Sheep c. Yet a glorified Saint shall infinitly surpass Solomon when he shall come to sit down with
a Soul in Heaven before it was quite gon from the earth The summe of all is this that Believers shall have perfect bliss and happiness They shall live in Heaven where shall be pleasures mirth singing and rejoycing above what we are able to express or to conceive This shall suffice for the first branch of the second part by way of Explication They who dye in the Lord are blessed Blessedness must be full that is there must be no evil and there must be all good the perfection of grace and holiness with the fulness of bliss and happiness But now 2. As it must be full so it must be lasting and enduring and so indeed the bessednesse of Saints shall be not onely for a long time but for ever It shall be Eternal such as is the Eternity of our Souls which had a beginning but shall have no ending called Eviternity to distinguish from the Eternity of God A parte post non a parte ante who alone is the first and last without beginning without ending This bliss hath a beginning henceforth saith the Text but shall have no ending it is Eternal Eternity at the very naming of it is enough to amaze our thoughts in studying to know what it is It is the continuance of any good thing which makes it a full good Soul take thine ease thou hast goods laid up for many years said the rich Man in the gospel He glories not so much in the abundance of his goods as in the hope of their continuance How do Men rejoyce in the purchase of an estate because they have that not by lease for term of years but the Deeds run to them and their Heirs for ever Though indeed it is not for ever but far short of that For besides what may happen in the interim at the great day all the Evidences shall be undoubtedly burnt and it is more than probable from divers Scriptures the Land also Heb. 1.11 Isa 51.6 Matth. 24.35 2 Peter 36.10 12. Rev. 21.1 To be sure the propriety in these pronouns Mine and Thine shall cease Yet the hope Men have of its continuance for some long time doth much content them David took it as a great favour that God would bestow a Kingdom upon him to raise him from following the sheep to be King over Israel 2 Sam. 7.18 Yet Verse 19. He saith This was but a small thing that which made the mercy great was that God had spoken of continuing it for a great while to come he adds and is this the manner of Man O Lord God he seems to be much transported in admiring the continuance of his Mercy though it were not so much to him in person but to his posterity Let a thing in it self be never so excellent yet the fear of losing it darkens all the excellency of it Earthly treasures are therefore less to be accounted of because Thieves may break thorough and steal them What true content could the rich Man take in his abundance when once he heard This night all should be gone Corneliam nescie an faeliciorem talem virū habuisse an miseriorem amisisse Et invito processit vesper Olympo 'T is spoken to the humbling of the great ones upon earth that though they live like Gods yet should die like Men Though the good thing be great yet if not lasting t is not ful yea the greatness of it greatens the misery upon the losing When a Scholar hath been reading a good Book it troubles him to see Finis When the people of God have been keeping a day of Prayer in Communion with God it saddens them much that they should break off because the day is done But now the blessedness of Saints is not onely a great good as hath been shewed but a lasting good it shall have no end 1 Thess 4.17 They shall be for ever with the Lord Rev. 3.12 He that goeth in shall go out no more some interpret it of a Beleever in this life Notat gloriae stabilitatem Pisc in loc Isa 33.20 to prove no falling from grace some again interpret it of the state of glory The life of glory is such a life to which immortality is essential 2 Tim. 1.10 We read of life and immortality that is to say immortal life Heaven is a Tabernacle that shall not be taken down not one of the stakes thereof shall ever be removed neither shall any of the cords thereof be broken The blessednesse of Beleevers shall be eternal but what is Eternity I shall shew you how a learned and holy Divine illustrates it to the meanest capicity Suppose saith he the whole World were a Sea Mr. Perkins on the Creed and that every thousand years expired a bird must carry away or drink up one onely drop of it in processe of time it will come to passe that this Sea though very huge shall be dryed up but yet many thousand millions of years must be passed before this can be done Now if a Man should enjoy happinesse in Heaven onely for the space of time in which this Sea is drying up he would think his case most happy and blessed but behold the Elect shall enjoy the Kingdom of Heaven not onely for that time but when it is ended they shall enjoy it as long again and when all is done they shall be as far from ending of this their joy as they were at the beginning And now by what hath been said we may in some measure understand what is that blessedness which the Saints and Children of God shall have it is great and full it is also lasting yea everlasting which cannot be said of any thing here below The best of the worlds excellencies are fading and quickly blasted No day so pleasant but ends in a darknight No Summer so fruitful but ends in a barren Winter No Body so fair but will be changed by death from Beauty to Deformity In the dayes of Noah they were eating and drinking but the flood comes and sweeps them all away Great mirth was among the Philistins but their banquetting-house becomes their burying-place The Monarch of Babel whose head was of Gold had the feet of clay Sic transit gloria mundi All the pomp of the world is like Jonahs gourd now flourishing and anon fading there is that worm in the root of all worldly comforts as will blast them But the mercies and joyes and comforts of Heaven are not such they are eternity mercies eternity joyes eternity comforts take away the lastingness or rather everlastingness and we blow up Saints happinesse Thus much for the explication of the second thing viz. What that blessedness is which they who dye in Lord shall have Now a word of the third thing and so I will come to the Application Therefore 3. Having shewed who they be who dye in Lord and what the bessedness is that they shall have it remains to shew in the third place when they shall be made partakers
and be put in possession of it and that is immediately upon their death for so saith the Text Henceforth they are blessed 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The Apostle Paul reckons upon his being with Christ immediately upon his departure Phil. 1.23 Now Christ as he now is so he then was in Heaven in glory The coÌ„verted Thief is promised he should be received into Paradise as soon as he was dead Luke 23.43 This Paradise must be the heavenly one for of the earthly one we may say as they of Moses his Body no Man knowes where it is to this day Again in 2 Cor. 5.8 We may see that the Apostles expectation was to be present with the Lord as soon as he should be once absent from the body Stephens prayer Acts 7.59 Lord Jesus receive my Spirit was in vain or could have no comfortable return if the Soul doth not at death presently goe to blessedness He doth not pray nor expect that his body should be received to the Lord but his Soul or Spirit he knew his body should go to the grave and he knew also his Soul should go to God according to what Christ promised John 14.3 That where he is there his members should be also If the Children of God do not enter into glory presently at death they are most lamentably deceived and sadly frustrated in what they conceive strong hopes and go forth in full assurance of Doctor Preston used to say it is but wink and be with God the closing of the eyes by death would bring the Soul to the light of life When Basil that couragious Christian was threatned with death by the Tyrant he prayed to God the Tyrant might not change his intentions lest he should lose his expectation he expected to change misery for glory Taylor the constant Martyr coming within two fields of the place where he was to be burned Mr. Fox Act and Mon. comforted himself that he was within two stiles of his Fathers House which was in his meaning Heaven Another Martyr embracing the stake said This day shall I be maried to Iesus Christ One of the Antients reproved the immoderate mourning at the death of godly people thus Cypr. saying why should we put on black cloaths when our Friends put on white That is the Robes of glory calledin the Revelations the fine linnen of Saints I might heap up instances of this kind the constant expectation of them that dyed in faith is at death to enter into their Masters joy And though they do not say as I have read of a blasphemous Monk give me eternal life which thou owest me yet in hope of present possession of eternal life which God that cannot lie hath graciously promised they can say with Hilarian Go forth my Soul go forth why tremblest thou thou hast served Christ thus many years and dost thou now fear death I shall add further the earnest desires longings after death in some of the Children of God surely they promised themselves present blessednesse Saint Paul was not onely willing to die but did desire it yea vehemently See 2 Cor. 5.2 We groan earnestly Some Saints having their hopes raised up to the fruition of this glory have been almost impatient Come Lord Iesus come quickly and why are the Chariot wheeles so long a comming they even longed to be as we may say fingring of it so as never did a rich Heir long more to be in the possession of his Lands They have thought every day ten every year twenty saying in the words of the Psamist Make haste Lord make haste So then I may say and so conclude this poynt if the people of God do not immediately at death enjoy blessednesse they are the most miserably deluded people of any in the world Away therefore with that wretched doctrine of the Souls sleeping in death being altogether Anti-Scriptural Oh that it might for ever lie dormant and awake no more It tends much 1. To the imboldening of sinners in a way of sin See Matth. 24.48 The evil Servant that reckoned of his Masters delaying his comming thereupon grew very bold in more and more sin 2. To the sadning of the hearts of Gods people Prov. 13.12 Hope deferred makes the heart sick This shall suffice to be spoken to the third and last thing and also to the whole by way of Explication the Application follows In the Application of this poynt I shall speak to four uses 1. Of Information 2. Instruction 3. Consolation And 4. Exhortation 1. By way of Information according to the rule of contraries Oppositorum eadem est Scientia if they who are in Christ when they die are blessed then those who are not in Christ when they die are cursed upon different accounts Death hath a different complexion it is like the Red-sea which to the Israelites was a passage to Canaan Aliis vehiculum aliis Sepulchrum but to the Egyptians a place of drowning to their utter desturction To such as are in Christ the day of their death is better then the day of their birth being their encrance into everlasting joy but to others it will be the saddest day that ever came being the beginning of their sorrowes 'T is appointed for all to die in that respect all are alike but it is not appointed for all to die in the Lord in that respect there is a great difference of persons Some die in their sins John 8.24 Some are taken away in their iniquity Ezek 33.6 These are cursed when they die Psalm 9.7 The wicked shall be turned into Hell which place seemes to be commented upon and explained Psalm 11.6 Vpon the wicked he shall rain snares fire and brimstone and an horrible tempest this shall be the portion of their cup. I might here inlarâ—e upon the state of the damned after death in the same Method as before of the state of the glorified Before the bright side of the Cloud now the dark side A little briefly When Saints die they are freed from all evil but when sinners die they lanch into a Sea of evils 1. They will find the absence of all good A godly Mans miseries terminate with this life so do a sinners comforts I have read of the old Arcadians that they would weep bitterly when the Sun did set fearing it would never rise more sure I am sinners dying have cause to bemoan themselves sadly for when the Sun of their life is once set it will be perpetual night of darkness and misery They may weep as those did at Pauls parting Acts 20. shall see the Face of comforts no more they have their portion in this life and when once they die they shall be alarmed with that memento Luke 16.15 Remember thou hast had thy good things implying they shall have them no more 2. There will be to them not onely no good but all evil as 1. The evil of sin there is sinning in Hell in Heaven there is none on
such as are of a meek Col. 1.12 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 qui idoneos nos fecit Trem. Beza gentle and loving Spirit 'T is the inheritance of Saints for which persons must be made meet or fitted The Spirit of God finds persons sinful but it new moulds them and changeth them into holy ones before it brings them to Heaven 'T is said of one of the Roman Emperours when he came to the Empire he found the City built of Brick but before he dyed their buildings were of Marble I may apply it to the change which the Holy Ghost makes in the Soul Invenit lateritiam reliquit marmoream Suet. in vit August he makes a sinful Soul holy which is more then to pull down buildings of Brick and to erect buildings of marble The result of all is this that Holines is the way to blessedness they who would take Christ for a Saviour must take him for a Sampler they who would have the benefit of his death must take the example of his life The Exhortation therefore is labour to be holy as ever you desire to be happy Be divorced from your lusts cast away your idols subdue the strength of sin bid no welcome to the Friends of sin watch against the wiles and fetches of sin make you a clean heart get a regenerate heart the image of God renewed upon your Souls Qui vult finem vult media ad finem cease not till you be partaker of the Divine Nature In a word be godly in Christ Jesus you must use the means in order to the desired end Must go to the School of Grace before you can come to the Vniversity of Glory I shall now lay down 4. things by way of caution and then a few closing Counsels and so I will have done For the cautions 1. Do not think that all shall be blessed for onely they shall be blessed who are in the Lord when they die To be in Christ and to be godly is all one Now the Scripture saith not onely that all are not godly but that the number of godly ones compared with the ungodly is but small absolutely considered they are many Matthew 8.11 Many shall come and sit down with Abraham c. Revel 7.4 An hundred and forty and four thousand were sealed But comparatively they are but few Matth. 7.14 Narrow is the way that leadeth unto life and few there be that find it Luke 12.32 Fear not little flock or as the Original will bear little 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 little flock 2. Do not think that Christ and grace and a right to blessedness may be had when thou wilt to be at thy beck come and it comes There is this presumptuous conceipt in many which makes them not so much as look after getting into Christ till they come to die when they have extreme need of being in Christ and not to have Christ then to get Luke 19.42 Let Sinners hear and fear that word and wish of Christ Oh that thou hadst known in this thy day the things that concern thy peace yea but they might say we will know them t is yet all in good time He answers they had lost their day and season and now they were hidden from their eys Will not some bemoan themselves when it is too late in the words of the Prophet Jer. 8.20 The Summer is past the Harvest is ended and we art not saved The time of grace ends with the time of life to all Manna must be gathered on the six dayes of thy life there is no gathering on the seventh resembling thy rest in death there is no devise nor knowledge in the grave But yet the day of grace may end with some before they come to the end of the days of their life And though we know not the expiration of it nor can say of any particular person nor any particular person say of himself that the day of grace is past unless it were known that he had sinned the sin against the Holy Ghost Yet Scripture expressions hold forth the truth of the thing that it is so And therefore let all presumptuous delayers look well about them and O Sinner to day on this thy day hear the voice of Christ believe and repent How knowest thou but this may be the day this the Sermon which if thou rejectest Mercy and Peace may be for ever hidden from thine eyes Blessedness is not to be had when thou wilt 3. Do not think though thou livest in sin and goest on in thy wickednesse yet thou mayest come to Heaven at last for all that Consider and seriously weigh but these Scriptures Deut. 29.19 Gal. 6.7 1 Cor. 6.9 And if this have been thy thought thy inward thought for none will say so whatever they think they may well make thee be of another mind 4. And lastly by way of caution think not that every remiss way of serving of God will serve the turn to bring thee to blessedness Lukewarmness is the sin of our age and the bane of our Souls Many Christians by profession are in their spiritual condition 1 King 2.1 like David in his old age as to his bodily condition so cold that though they covered him with cloathes yet he gat no heat All the Ordinances under which they lie will not warm them into any Zeal but they continue either very cold and frozen or at most but lukewarm Like the Climat wherein they live which is neither extreme cold nor violently hot but temperate they have a profession but no power they keep in a round of duties without being quickned in any love to God or zeal for God but alass this will not bring to Blessedness as was shewed before in the opening of the Text. These are the cautions Now to draw to a Conclusion I have from the Scripture before us held forth the bliss and happiness of Saints and thereby an offer hath been made of the same blessedness unto Sinners It offers it self to you Oh that you would offer your selves to it In this Sermon you may say Salvation came to your House it came to your Doors Heaven goes a begging that it may be accepted But it fares in this case as we commonly observe in other cases proffer'd things find little acceptance because proffered And indeed if we consider the multitude of Sermons that are preached and how in every Sermon Christ and Heaven and Blessedness are offered yet by very few accepted We must needs think and judge the frequent tenders do through the corruption of our hearts occasion the horrible sleighting of them Silver in the days of Solomon being common was of no account The Lord grant this sin bring not upon us the scarcity of the Word that it should be with us as in the dayes of Samuel 1 Sam. 3.1 The Word of the Lord was precious in those dayes there was no open vision The time may come when we would give a world
to see one of the dayes of the Son of Man and shall not see it To hear one Sermon of Heaven and glory but shall not hear it I have shewed Saints the blessedness which they shall have and also to Sinners the way how they may share in this Blessednesse I do again counsel Sinners to look after it yea in the Name of the Lord I charge you to close with it Now to provoke you to it I shall lay down five closing Conclusions very briefly and so leave them upon your hearts and thoughts 1. This Counsel is such as never any repented that took it It worketh repentance not to be repented of If any repent of Christ it is because he never truly knew Christ They who say it is in vain to serve God Malachi 3.4 Are such as never truly served him 2. 'T is such Counsel as if it be refused you will certainly repent of the refusal yea and that when it is too late Oh that I had known the things of my peace will be the doleful lamentation in the scorching flames of Hell 3. 'T is such Counsel as in your own Consciences when you are serious you think you ought to take Yea Sinners think to do it whereby they shew that they know they ought to do it Fertur equi Auriga The reason why it is not done is not because we do not know it ought to be done but we are hurried with our strong lusts and corruptions We are cumbred with our Farmes and our Trades we loose Heaven in the crowd of earthly businesses 4. 'T is such Counsel as if followed carries its reward with it though there were no Blessedness to ensue no glory afterwards holiness is happiness Gods work is wages 5. And lastly the contempt of it will not onely leave you short of Blessednesse but conclude you under inevitable misery and cursednesse it will bring an heavy shock of wrath and ruine upon Soul and Body Hear the Conclusion of the whole matter Get into Christ for this will free you from being cursed and also make you everlastingly Blessed FINIS CHRISTIAN READER THis Sermon presented to your view was preached at the Funeral of Mr. Thomas Goodwyn an eminent light and pillar of the Church in the place where he lived who after he had served his generation by the Will of God fell on sleep Sept. 4. 1658. He sleeps in Jesus he gave evident proof that he was one in Christ and therefore we may conclude from what hath been spoken he is now Blessed for blessed are the dead that die in the Lord or that are in the Lord when they die He was a good yea a precious Man Let him have the memorial of the righteous which is and shall be blessed He was well known to be a Minister of great worth every way qualified for the work of the Ministery It was his desire from a Youth to be a Minister as himself hath sometimes told me according to his hearts desire the Lord in due time disposed of him and drew him out to that service fitting him for it and blessing him in it How he was fitted for it the Brethen in the whole County and many others to whom he was known in more remote places will give ample Testimony How he was blessed in it the many weeping eyes at his Funeral with the sad complaints still under this great loss do speak these declare him to have been under God an instrument of much good Though success do not constitute a good Ministery for a good Man may fish all night and catch nothing yet it doth declare and evidence it These I remember were his own words long since in the time of his health at the Lecture in Brentwood and this evidence he abundantly had He was learned and godly Doctior an Sanctior which is a most blessed conjunction where ever they meet it is hard to say which of the two did bear the preeminence in him they seemed to keep pace and that no slow pace He was eminent in both He had much profited in humane Learning but especially in the studies of Divinity and in particular had gotten great acquaintance with the Scriptures He was like Ezra A ready Scribe in the Law of God he was an Ezr. 7.6 Acts 18.24 Apollos mighty in the Scriptures He was but young yet his attainments were very great God gave of his Spirit abundantly to him In Praying he was a sweet Soul full of the breathings of the Holy Ghost In Preaching he was very powerful speaking to his Hearers as if he had been within them In his walking he was an Exemplary Christian an Exemplary Minister he might say to his people as Gideon to his Souldiers Look on me and do likewise Jud. 7.17 His Preaching was such that the godly learned did admire him and yet the meanest capacities they of the Belfry as is Mr. Latimer's expression did understand him he had such a winning way that his Sermons were not tedious but his Hearers seemed to be chained to his lips He was a great Pains-taker in preaching so often and yet carried on with delight I am perswaded he might have said in the words of that holy Bishop My witness is in Heaven Cowper that the love of Christ and peoples Souls made frequent Preaching my recreation and pleasure His Words seemed to come from his very heart one that did eat the roll as the Prophet is bid Ezek. 3.1 before he gave it to his Hearers to digest An Argument that they came from the heart was his earnest driving on that they might go to the hearts of his people He thought he had done nothing till his Hearers hearts were more renewed and their Lives more reformed Till to use his own words he could read the Sabbath-dayes work in their Week-dayes conversation His Life was a looking-glass wherein the people might see to dresse and attire their Conversation I may say in the words of the Apostle 1 Thess 2.10 His people were Witnesses Ille solus praedicat vivâ voce qui praedicat vitâ voce and God also how holily and justly and unblamably he behaved himself among them being as a Minister of Christ ought to be a lover of good Men sober just holy temperate Tit. 1.8 He was very zealous in the work of Reformation The zeal of Gods House did even eat him up and in the cause of God he shewed undaunted Courage vigorously pursuing what might make for the glory of God in despite of all opposition one might stand upon his grave and say as a great person said over the grave of Mr. Knox Here lies one who never feared the Face of any Man I knew him well yet could I never perceive that he was sinfully and proudly puffed up though his large endowments might have tempted him thereunto but in his whole Conversation as far I could judge did behave himself holily humbly He lived free from worldly Encombrances