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A37260
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A sermon preached at the funeral of Mr. John Bigg to which is added another sermon upon the same subject : also a narrative of Mr. Bigg's conversion, &c. / by R. Davis ...
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Davis, Richard, 1658-1714.
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1691
(1691)
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Wing D432; ESTC R8513
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40,311
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39
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says the Lord Isa 57.19 I create the Fruit of the Lips Peace I speak Peace to them that are a afar off viz. in a Natural State and to them that are nigh viz. them that are made Eph. 2.13 nigh to my Father by my Blood But over all such white washed painted Pharisees will insulting Death Glory thus Thou Pharisaical Fool thou refusedst Fire from God's Altar viz. the Lord Jesus Joh. 5.40 Thou wouldst not come to him that thou mightest have Life but thou hast kindled a Fire of thine own nay like Nadab and Abihu hast brought strange Fire Isa 50.11 Thou hast compassed thy self about with sparks Thou hast walked in the Light of thy Fire and of the Sparks that thou hast Kindled This thou shalt have now at God's Hand by my Dart to lye down in a Bed of Eternal Sorrows Thou wer 't for digging to thy self a Way to Heaven and hast refused the Heb. 10.2 New and living way that the God and Father of Christ had consecrated that is to say the Flesh of Jesus or his suffering raised glorified human nature and though Isa 57.10 Thou wast wearied in the greatness of thine own way and hast often tryed in vain with thine own Doings and Works of the Law and couldest not but in spight of thy Teeth the Fire of Hell that was in thy Conscience would be often blazng-out yet saidest thou not there is no hope but wouldst be still hoping for Life from the Dead unprofitable Works of the Law Thus thou didst sind the Life of thine hands therefore thou wast not then grieved but still didst stifle all thy convictions But now thou shalt grieve and eternally grieve without intermission now thou wilt not be able to stifle thy convictions but they will tend and tear thy Soul with unspeakable horrors for ever and ever NOW Psa 16.4 Thy Sorrous shall be multipled that didst hasten after other Gods and other Idol Righteousnesses Thou leftest no stone unturned no way of working unessaied to procure warmth and life to thy Soul Isa 57.5 Thou didst enflame thy self with Idols under every Green-Tree and didst let thy Heart run out for Holiness and Salvation upon every Branch of in it self beautiful morality Isa 57.6 Among the smooth Stones of the Stream was thy Portion they were thy lot even to them thou hast procured a Drink-Offering c. i. e. Thou hast set up thy Duties for Saviours hast trusted in them and so fallen down and Worshipped them Isa 57.7 Vpon a Lofty and High Mountain hast thou set thy Bed Even thither wentest thou up to offer Sacrifice i. e. Thou didst confide in thy splendid towring Profession and didst make a God and Saviour thereof The 10. v. of this Chapter is a Key to open the the rest of the Chapter by laying the whole stress of thy Soul upon thy outward Profession without Faith in Jesus Isa 57.8 Behind the Doors also and the Posts hast thou set thy rememberance i. e. And hast set up a Record within thy self for the Goodness of thy Estate from thy Family and Closet Prayers things good in themselves but become Idols of Indignation when advanced into the Room and Throne of the Mediator Isa 57.8 Thou hast discovered thy self to others then to Christ and art gone up but thou wouldst not come to Jesus that thou mightest have Life What are now become of thy Doings thy Works and thy Righteousness Isa 57.12 I will declare thy Righteousness and thy Works for now they shall not profit thee Cry now to thy Morality and Reformation lift up thy suppliant hands to thy Duties and Profession Cry aloud to thy Prayers and Tears thy convictions and thy terrors of Conscience Fall prostrate to thy wishings and to thy wouldings and thy desires to desire to have thy Sin inwardly mortified under the obstinate refusals of Christ and his righteousness And try these thy Idol Saviours whether they will now hear thee Isa 57.13 When thou cryest let thy companies of Saviours deliver thee but the wind now carries them all away and vanity takes them Hadst thou trusted in the Lord Jesus Christ thou shouldest now have Isa 57.13 possessed the Land and shouldest have inherited his holy Mountain even the everlasting Hills in the Highest Heavens But now thy Mountains of self righteousnesses which thou wentest up to to offer Sacrifice to set thy Bed and to build thy Nests upon and which thou thoughtest eternally strong I thrash them to dust and my breath blows them away like chass All thy Pharisaical Doings do now leave thee and nothing of them goes with thee to Hell but the unpleasant rememberance thereof to torment thee that thou wast such a Madman to set up these instead of Christ the only Saviour as if thy good Duties good Professions good Frames and good Priviledges had undertook for thee from eternity had obeyed the Law for thee with a God-like Obedience and suffered the cursed death of the Cross for thee were raised up again and by the Fathers right hand were exalted to be Princes and Saviours to give repentance and remission of sins and were now ever living at the Fathers right hand to make intercession for thee Why callest thou these good Saviours There is none good in that sense but he that is God Thus I say will Death then insult in the dying moment and glory over and tread under foot like Dogs-meat all the ragged Righteousnesses of Men and Women THEN consider it seriously thou that with the Pharisee in the Gospel gloryest before the Lord that thou art not as other Men an Extortioner Vnjust an Adulterer or even as the Publicans and Sinners and layest hold on this for eternal Life Thy Conscience is not purged but choked and bribed with false Counters of outward Reformation The unclean Spirit of Debauchery may be has been cast out and thou thinkest that enough but the Spirit of the Lord the Gospel-sanctifier has not been there at work for he walked through dry places The Rest and Peace of Conscience thou hast obtained are not right for 't is written he sought for rest and found none The House i. e. Thy Person has been swept by Reformation and garnished with a fine Profession But 't is but the strong-hold of wicked Spirits still 'T is empty of the Spirit of the Lord. The Holy Ghost has had no in-dwelling there at all therefore the unclean debauch'd Spirit transformed into an Angel of Light with seven other Spirits more wicked than himself not more unclean than himself but more wicked a compleat Number of evil Spirits i. e. the Devil of unbelief and spiritual Pride two great Legions have returned and entered into thee and if the Lord does not pity thee and discover the rotteness of thine Estate to thee Thy last state will be worse than the first Ah! deluded Soul Thou wouldst heal thy Conscience with thine own Medicines thou wouldst cover thy self with thine own Righteousness thou wouldst lay thy self down on thine
as another What a wonderful Word is that A Man may die with that Word in his Mouth The free Gift is of many Offences unto Justification Then added And though my Flesh and my Heart faileth God is the Strength of my Heart and my Portion for ever Another time being somewhat clouded and speaking of the Grace of God I cannot demand it nor have I deserved it But being asked if he would not accept of it Yes reply'd he very thankfully Towards Night he grew more distressed for several Friends being gathered about him he looked upon them dolefully and said Oh I tremble being asked at what he answered at the possibility of Perishing One then sitting by that knew how it was with him told him it was impossible he being helped through Grace to commit his Soul into such Hands It was said further None can pull you out of his Hands He speaks a little after Poor Hearts you are willing to hope the best I wish you are not mistaken You know said he to his Wife Dear oppressed Nature will cry out for Relief but being answered that oppressed Nature could not rest on Christ for Salvation or to this Effect he was silent Next Morning he was much complaining that he was to die and do Christ no Service in the World He cryed out Oh that I might live but one Year but may be if I should I would be wicked But yet said he I think verily if I know my Heart I am willing to imbrace Christ on his own Terms I think verily if I was to live the strictest Life as ever Saint lived yet I think I could embrace none but Christ A little after being full of Complaints as to his Soul it was told him Yesterday you could say though my Heart and my Flesh faileth c. He answered But I cannot say so to day Some time after his Faith began to mount up and being melted under the Sence 〈◊〉 God's Grace to him he said If I had strength I would soon make my Confession Town-Talk I need not tell the Town what my Life hath been they know that very well But I would have them know the difference between them that have Grace and them that have none Monday about Noon Mr. Bear came to visit him and asked him What art thee going now to Christ He answered Better now than ever But he was so weak and laboured with such Difficulty of Breathing that he could scarce speak which he expressed himself saying That if it were to save his Life he could not speak yet desired Mr. Bear that he would wrestle and strive with God in Prayer for him that he might be helped sincerely to close with Christ A little after finding his Weakness increase upon him he spake thus I am brought to the Dust of Death That Night which was the Night before he departed about nine a Clock he grew weaker and weaker and fetch'd his Breath shorter and shorter Being a little lifted up on his Pillow he lifted up his Hands and bad all farewell After which he drew his Breath as one just departing being as 't was thought past speaking was spoke to by a Friend thus putting him in mind of his own Expression Blessed be God for Jesus Christ whereat he was heard to say softly Amen Then his dear Relation added Christ the Fore-runner is for thee entred Then he with a pleasant Countenance nodded his Head being not able to speak And now Death indeed was in his Face in all its Symptoms and all concluded him just a dying when all of a suddain his Blood returned into his Face Vigor and liveliness into his opened Eyes and with a Voice exceeding loud as if he had rose from the Dead on purpose to give in his dying Testimony for free Grace he thus spake triumphantly I know that my Redeemer liveth and that with these Eyes I shall see him and not anothers Come Lord Jesus come quickly Come Lord Jesus come quickly Come Lord Jesus come quickly These Words he spake with such Vehemence that he made the whole House to eccho when afore he could scarce be heard if one laid his Ear to his Mouth and then continued thus with no less Accent and Affection I am no more afraid to die than I am to shut my Eyes I am no more afraid to die than I am to go to sleep God loves me dearly and I love God dearly I am sure he will do me no hurt Lord strike the Blow and the Work is done I long to be gone I long to see Jesus Christ O that all the Town might ring of God's free Grace to me What at the last Hour too Who would have thought of this a few Weeks ago Nothing less than Eternity is sufficient to admire free Grace This is blessed Work indeed This is Dying indeed Thy Father said he turning to his Wife will wonder to see me in Heaven He little thinks I am so near him His Wife asked him if he thought she should ever come where he was a going He answered I do not question it thou nor the poor Children neither Through God's Grace his dying Prophesie is in a likely way to be accomplished in all of them You will not be long after me Come one Bosom will hold us all He that hath begun the good Work in them meaning his Children will carry it on till the Day of Jesus Christ A Friend hearing him speak so heartily said Sir I hope you may live still He replied Oh do not tell me so I do not love to hear of that Ear I would not come back again for thousands of Gold and Silver but what the Lord will I am wholly swallowed up in Gods Soveraign will After he was spent with speaking he said I can speak no more I hope you are all satisfied Fare you well expecting as it seems he should have gone immediately to Heaven But it pleased the Lord to order it otherwise and to continue him till the next Night though under some Regret for he presently added Oh! I thought I had been going so sweetly but I am here still and next Morning hearing some Friends discoursing about the Distress he had been in he said to them but the Lord has now fully satisfied me Yet by reason his Dissolution was delayed it occasioned further Temptation and a black Cloud arose upon his Soul after all this glorious Sun-shine He burst out into such bitter Expressions as these God has forsaken me and I am afraid 't is a sore Judgment of God upon me that I lye in such a Condition I am afraid least I have deceived my self with false Hopes Some time after the beginning of his Distress there appeared on him Convulsive Fits whereupon he said to his Wife I have Fits She answered I am afraid you have He added I am almost frighted out of my Wits Being asked at what He replied At the Awfulness of Death This Conflict lasted for some time but the Lord was pleased to return again as was perceived for his Soul was composed and still His Fits ceased though his Strength was gone that he could speak but litttle However this for Satisfaction was had from him a little before he departed He said would I was up His Wife answered That would be a pleasant Sight indeed to see thee up again to tell us what thou hast seen on this sick Bed He answered I have seen that here which hath made my Heart and the Hearts of many more glad It was then told him you may see now what Satan's Temptations are when God permits him he will rob a Child of God of his Comforts but that is all he can do And it is a great All too said he it was that which made my Life a Burthen to me Being asked if he did not believe he should have Comfort again He answered Yes but did not know when But it was not long before he had it to the full for now he fell into a sweet Sleep the best he had for many Days in which Sleep he quietly slept in Jesus Thus I have given you an Account of some of his Death bed Experiences in whom though now dead he yet speaketh to you the Living and invites you all to partake of the same Grace with him that you may enter into the same Glory â—e now is in Have a care as I cautioned you afore to suck Poison to the Ruine of your own Souls out of this Instance of God's Free Rich and Glorious Grace but make this Improvement of it to stir you up now to accept of and venture on the boundless Grace of God in Christ Jesus Consider what has been said and the Lord give you Vnderstanding in all things His EPITAPH Here lies interred The Body of Mr. John Bigg Who departed this Mortal Life When he had seen his thirty seventh Year On the twenty eighth Day of January Anno Domini 1689. Cropt in his full blown Age if we by Grace His time compute he liv'd but five Weeks space Dead whilst alive in dying Life begins Short Race of Life But what a Crown he wins In Sin him Death attacks but Grace steps in And makes him Triumph over Death and Sin Thus by Christ's Death in death he 's made to cry Death where 's thy Sting Grave where 's thy Victory Now to the only wise God be Glory and Dominion World without end Amen FINIS