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A60981
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Of remembrance and imitation of deceased holy rulers a sermon preach'd at Rotterdam, March the 15th 1695, new style, the day of Her Majesty's funeral / by John Spademan ...
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Spademan, John, d. 1708.
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1695
(1695)
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Wing S4783; ESTC R33848
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14,703
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31
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yea to lament this forlorn Earth which hath lost so excellent an Inhabitant and rare Example of Christian Piety We may justly suspect that because she was so little imitated while she liv'd therefore God hath remov'd her from this World in which 't is to be fear'd the Darkness will now encrease when so great a Luminary is Eclips'd And the darkness of Impiety and Prophaness will draw after it a black Tempest of Calamity and Desolation The untimely Death of a Religious Ruler hath often been a Presage and Fore-runner of National Judgments Thus it fell out to the Kingdom of Judah after the death of Josiah 2 Chron. last Chap. compared with the latter end of the preceding And our Nation had the same sad Experience after the death of the Pious young King Edward the VI. on which immediately followed the bloody and dismal Days of Q. Mary To prevent such Calamities no better Direction can be given than that laid down in the Text viz. To Follow the Faith and Imitate the Holiness of the Deceased QUEEN Could we and those who were related to Her be persuaded to walk in the steps of her Faith and Piety We should reap more Advantage after Her Death than We did in her Life 'T is a memorable Wonder that is related 2 King 12.21 how when a dead Man was cast into the Sepulchre of Elisha as soon as he touch'd the Bones of Elisha he revived and stood up on his feet We may hope That if the Holy Example of the deceased Queen might touch our dead Souls they would be reviv'd and gain spiritual Life yea our Nation would live and be made a Praise in the Earth We are willing to express our Esteem and Respect to Her many have been at some Expence to wear the Tokens of Sorrow which can bring no real Advantage either to Her or our own Souls Why should we refuse to Imitate her good Example which will bring the greatest and most lasting Benefits I question not but many will endeavour to procure and keep some Memorial or Relique of the deceased Queen a Jewel or Picture or Garment or perhaps some of her Hair which are all useless and insignificant things Whereas would we be at the pains to get and preserve the Likeness of her Piety this would make us Happy indeed For this end I shall add some Arguments and Motives which may persuade us unto this Imitation And 1. First None can with any reason judge this Imitation to be a Disparagement to them What shall any count it below them to study the Scriptures to sanctifie the Day of God to serve God in secret to love all good Men to relieve the Distressed when they see how this glorious Queen did place her highest Honour in such a Practice Can any disdain to bear the Yoke of Christ which She did so chearfully submit to Is there any colour or pretence to object That strict Religion doth not agree with the Character of the Great and Honourable when she did esteem it her principal Ornament and Excellence Oh amazing Folly That the Vices of Rulers should soon grow into fashion but their Vertues should be slighted and undervalued 2. Secondly The Lowest and Meanest are capable of Imitating her Christian Piety as to the Substance of it A resembling of Her Power and Regal Dignity is impossible Her Stature Beauty and Faculties of Mind are not the Objects of our Imitation But surely the Poorest and most Despicable may walk in the steps of Her Faith and Holiness There is but one common Path to Heaven both for Princes and Peasants 3. Thirdly We shall be Self-condemn'd if we refuse to Imitate One whom we our selves Praise and Commend A Life that is not worthy to be Imitated can't deserve Commendation What shall we answer to our Judge when this perplexing Question is put to us If you did Commend why did you not Imitate Her And If you would not Imitate why did you Commend Her I persuade my self that few Princes have found more to Commend 'em than the Lamented QUEEN both in her Life and after her Death And yet I fear few will heartily endeavour to follow Her Example But let us consider That to be condemned out of our own Mouths is the saddest Case in the World Luk. 19.22 How can we escape when we are condemned by our selves 4. Fourthly We All have the same Essential Helps and Assistance which the deceased Queen had Indeed Her High Station gave Her some accidental Advantage but We have the same Bible the same Sabbaths the same Ordinances the same Spirit to assist us which She enjoy'd Christ the Sun of Righteousness shines alike to the lowest Shrub and the tallest Cedar Nay 5. Fifthly We have much fewer Hinderances in the Practice of Religion The Snares and Temptations of a Crown and a Court are most dangerous Obstacles in the Way to Happiness The Passage to Heaven is much easier from a Cottage than from a Palace 6. In the last place We shall All desire to have the Happy End that She hath had to Die with such Hope and Joy as She found when She was leaving this World Balaam's Wish That he might Numb 23.10 die the death of the Righteous is as vain as 't is common to those who will not work Righteousness The end of a Journey must have some resemblance unto the quality of it We must never expect to have the latter End of the Religious and to overcome the last Enemy if We refuse to Imitate them who have fought the good sight of Faith and have flnish'd their Course with joy As this Pious Queen did whom her Imitators shall see shining with a far brighter Glory than any Throne can bestow Till then Farewell Great and Excellent QVEEN Farewell Happy and Glorious SAINT May Thy Memory always live in our Breasts and Thy Example be efficacious in our Lives THE END