like lambs they die without any hope like senselesse and reasonlesse creatures that know little more then the beasts and so have scarce any more either hope or fear in what happens to them but as they fear not hell or vengeance so they hope not in God for heaven or blessednesse perhaps they say they hope well because they are senselesse of any thing they should fear and so hope they say they shall meet with no evill being sensuall like bruit beasts they see none to be feared or avoided by them from both these the righteous differ in their death they have hope in it But that we might the better understand and make use of what the holy Ghost here propounds to us I shall proceed in this order to speak to it I shall 1. Explain the terms 2. Confirm the truth of the Proposition and 3. Apply it 1. In the explication two things would be spoken to viz. 1. What or who is this righteous man and 2. What is the hope he hath in his death 1. Who is the righteous man here spoken of Quest and what is that which will put a man into the righteous estate here mentioned that is accompanied with hope in death A man is denominated righteous from righteousnesse Answ of which the Scripture mentions divers kindes as 1. A morall righteousnesse which stands in a just dealing between man and man so Abimelech asks if God will destroy a righteous nation Gen. 20.4 he meant a people that had done no wrong to Abraham wittingly but as God after answers him vers 6. walked in that matter in integrity doing but what in conscience they thought might be done c. and so David appeals to God to judge him according to his righteousnesse that is his blamelesse carriage towards Saul Psal 7.8 and so many Gentiles have been righteous that is just in their carriages towards men in what they judged to be their duty but this is not the righteousnesse nor these the righteous men here spoken of because this may be consistent with ignorance and enmity against God it being but a meer humane righteousnesse 2. A legall righteousnesse or a righteousnesse according to the law of God and that the Scripture mentions two waies viz. 1. Either that that is so indeed which stands in a full and perfect personall conformity to the law at all times and in all things never no not so much as in lust transgressing it for such righteousnesse the law requires in that it curseth every man that continueth not in all things that are contained in the book of the law to do them Gal. 3.10 and in this sense it is that the Scripture saith Rom. 3.10 11. Eccles 7.20 there is none righteous none that doth good and sinneth not c. 2. Or that that is judged and deemed of men to be such whenas they do but endeavour after the law and in many things transgresse it yea sin against the very end of it in that they go about to make themselves righteous in and by that which was given them to convince of them sin and let them see their need of righteousnesse freely given them of God in the promised seed This is that Paul cals a righteousnesse of a mans own which while men seek to maintain they submit not to the righteousnesse of God which is in Christ Rom. 10.3 and which he himself would not be found in Phil. 3.8 9. but in that which is of the faith of Christ a righteousnesse of works in which men from their zeal blamelessenesse endeavours after and performance of duties do trust in themselves that they are and judge themselves to be righteous as the Pharisee in Luk. 18.10 11. that trusted in himself that he was righteous because he did not as the looser sort was no Publicane no extortioner c. and because he was strickt for paying tiths and keeping fasting daies c. he saies not that he trusted to make himself righteous by so doing but that he was already righteous else he should not have so done this is a seeming righteousnesse and many that have but this are pure in their own eyes although they were never washed in and by the appearance of of the grace and and love of God Rev. 1.5 from their sinfullnesse never brought into Christ and justified through faith in his bloud and yet these I confesse may have hope and walk on confidently expecting happinesse and thinking this their righteousnesse advangious all their life time yea to their death but yet in death in the very pinch it will fail them and it will fare with them as with those that they speak of Job 8.13 14. 11.20 their hope will perish and be like the giving up of the Ghost it will die with them and so deceive them when it should stand them in greatest stead because it was not well bottomed nor sprung from living lasting principles their righteousnesse from which it sprung and on which they leaned was but a conceit of righteousnesse an appearing and not a reall righteousnesse approved of by God and therefore the hope grounded thereupon will shrink with it when God comes to touch it we may say of this righteousnesse and of them that are righteous in it Rom 2.28 as the Apostle of the circumcision and Jew that are but such in the outside that is not righteousnesse that is outward in the appearance nor he a righteous man that is one outwardly therefore we must go yet a little further to a righteousnesse exceeding this as much as Christ would have his disciples to exceed the Scribes and Pharisees or else no admission into heaven for them a righteousnesse indeed which hath Gods acceptance of which we come to take view in the next place viz. 3. A righteousnesse of faith which is called Gods righteousnesse an evangelicall righteousnesse which the Gospel sets forth and declares and God freely gives of which the Apostle Paul speaks very frequently as in Rom. 3.21 22. But now the righteousnesse of God without the law is manifested being witnessed both by the Law and Prophets even the righteousnesse of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all that beleeve and so in Rom. 1.17 In the Gospel the righteousnesse of God is revealed from faith to faith as it is written the just shall live by faith or the just by faith shall live 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 But what is the righteousness of God that he gives us Quest It 's Jesus Christ himself the Son of God Answ in whom God gives us justification and a righteous estate Rom. 10.4 Jer. 25.5 He is the end of the law for righteousnesse to every one that beleeves Hence the Prophets called him The Lord our righteousnesse and the Apostle Paul tels the beleevers that as of God they were in Christ Jesus so of God Christ was made to them wisdom righteousnesse c. Every one that hath him
while alive Eph. 4.18 and 2.1 to be dead in an evill sense void of the life of God dead in sins and trespasses but of this this place cannot be understood neither they that are so dead are not righteous men but as yet unrighteous and ungodly But 3. Death is sometime taken in a good sense for a spirituall death not in sin but to a mans self and sin as when the Apostle saies Gal. 2.20 I am crucified with Christ yet I live c. Rom. 6.4 We are planted with him into the similitude of his death And 7.9 When the law came sin revived and I died That is When a man formerly alive to his wisdome parts priviledges righteousnesse after the Law c. comes to be taken off from all life in them confidence springing from them expectation of favour from God because of them findes no support comfort or encouragement from them sees them all to be nothing in the account of God and so looses and departs with them all in that regard to enjoy the full grace of God in Christ Unrighteous men oft times finde life in their own hands power and works endeavours parts c. but the man that doth righteousnesse dies to all that he may live to God and Christ may be his life And so he dies also to the world riches gloâ—â— pleasures treasures of it and whatsoever is therein so as not to love cleave to and have his life therein or suck his soul sweetnesse and satisfaction there-from It is crucified to him and he to it as Gal. 6.14 He is condemned and cast out by it and he again condemns and reproves it and findes no goodnesse or life in the customs approbation or excellencies of it So Paul saies of himself he died daily 1 Cor. 15. and saies to the Colossians chap. 3.3 Ye are dead and your life is hid with Christ in God And this death in these severall particulars the righteous man dieth to and in these dyings also he hath hope so that this acceptation of the word death we may understand to he included in this expression in the Text. 4. The word death signifies also dangers of death to the body heavy afflictions and distresses such as bring into eminent dangers of the dissolution of the body and soul each from other as when Paul said that God delivered him from so great a death 2 Cor. 8.9 and that he was in deaths often 2 Cor. 11.23 Fifthly and lastly It is used most ordinarily to signifie the death of the body the separation made between it and the soul the laying down of this earthly tabernacle so Christ was put to death in the flesh and Abraham and the Prophets died c. And in this and the next foregoing sense joined with it shall I here especially eye and speak to it It being a clear truth that the righteous come into many tribulations and deaths or dangers and at last also lay down their earthly tabernacles and die in the flesh 2 Cor. 5.1 and 4.12 Let us now view some reason of this why they are subjected to or how they come to yeeld up to such deaths The question is Quest. Why and whence it is that the righteous come into dangers and into death The answer is Answ That though they are in their conditions and spirits above death yet their bodies are subject thereto from sundry causes as If we look upon secundary causes It is because 1. They have the same frail natures and infirm constitutions as other men have they have and carry about them the seeds and principles of mortality righteousnesse leads to peace in them and to hopes under them but doth not keep death from them Yea 2. They have more cause then other men inasmuch as they have more enemies Satan stirring up instruments against them yea and if God permit working upon the principles of mortality in them more forceably and violently as in Job if by any means he might destroy them he stirs up the world to hate reproach and persecute them so that considering the worlds hating of them and plots against them it 's a greater wonder and more to be admired that they die no sooner then that they die at all that they meet not with many more deaths then that they meet with so many If we look upon the first and higher causes then we finde 1. Sinne in them as well as in others and that exposeth to death the body being corrupted with sin must die that it may be made new and incorrupt and that springs from an higher cause yet 2. The appointment of God It 's an ordinance of his making that mankinde should be subject to death It 's appointed to men once to die Heb. 9.27 And this ordinance includes and reaches to beleevers as well as others they being men also and God would have it so for divers good ends and purposes as to instance 1. That they might have something to humble them and keep them low in themselves while they are minded of their sin and sinfulnesse that let in death and experiment themselves in mortality frailty and weaknesse like other men and so are led also to see that they as well as any other have daily need of help from above that they need a Saviour out of death 2. That they seeing their own nothingnesse and need of a Saviour might be more earnestly stirred up to accept thankfully and diligently seek after and have recourse unto and exercise faith in the Saviour that God hath freely given to remedy and help them Deut. 32.29 Psal 9â— 11. for the consideration of their later end and the right numbering of their daies is a means to make them apply their hearts more heedfully to wisdom in minding the grace of God and comforting themselves therein against their straits and sufferings and breathing after the experiments of the power of God in supporting and bearing them up in deaths and in due season delivering them out of them Were we not subjected to death and misery in ourselves we should never so much prize and look out after salvation and help given us in another 3. That God in Christ might be the more abundantly glorified in supporting and carrying them through deaths and sufferings and raising them out of them for his strength is perfected in weaknesse and his power in infirmities 2 Cor. 12. as thereby it is most eminently put forth so therethrough also it 's most fully and clearly seen and known and being seen is most acknowledged as Christ said of Lazarus his death Joh. 1â— so we may say of the death of all his people it is that the son of man might be glorified for it 's greater glory to uphold in deaths and raise dry bones out of death then to preserve from it As the resurrection of the dead when mens bodies are wasted consumed and the reliques thereof scattered and dispersed doth more appose reason and seems more absurd to mans conception
THE RIGHTEOVS MANS HOPE IN HIS DEATH IN A SERMON AT THE Funerall of Mr WILLIAM CONYE of Walpoole Justice of Peace and Captain over the Trained Band in Marshland PREACHED By JOHN HORNE Minister of the Gospel of Jesus Christ at Soushlyn in Norfolke 2 do May 1648. 2 SAMUEL 14.14 For we must needs die and are as water spilt on the ground which cannot be gathered up again neither doth God respect any person yet doth he devise means that his banished be not expelled from him ISAIAH 57.1 2. The righteous is taken away from the evil to come He shall enter into peace they shall rest in their beds each one walking in his uprightnesse Cum constet deresurrectione mortuorum vacat dolor mortis vacat impatientia doloris Tertul. de Patientia Quinto major fides tanto morsest imbecillior Luth. LONDON Printed for Tho. Vnderhill 1649. To the Author of the Sermon IN Achor's vale Thou op'st a Door of Hope The Heart enlarg'd may well behold Thy scope The strong Devourer is by Thee made sweet We see the Eater is become mans meat The Faithfull die their fear of death is past In hope they live These dead thou lead'st to rest J.A. On the death of William Conye Esq Justice of the Peace and Captain at Wars Who being dead yet speaketh Heb. 11.4 OH living man would'st by death gain Learn Christ who did thy death sustain That so when Death Thy Life shall end Thou maist in Life with Christ Ascend Thy losse of friends becomes thy gain When God thy friend thou do'st obtain Then Pattern-like Be taught of me Let Christ thy life yet living be By sin came death yet liveth he Who conquer'd death to succour thee J.A. Or Thus. The Bush on fire is still preserv'd Mans life in death is yet conserv'd The Angels food Mans bread Christ is This Captain slew our death by his His bonds makes free his death brings life Our shame through Christ works glory rife Christ's Grace gains Faith Man hopes glory Sure 's God 's word myst'ry and stlory Vain man I Why fearest death in vain Christ is risen Beleeve and reign J.A. The CONTENTS Doctrines 1. That Righteous men die 1. The leverall kindes of death 1. Eternall which is a perishing from the presence of the Lord The second death 2. Spirituall Dead in sins strangers from the life of God Taken in an ill sease Dead to the Law to a mans self Thus taken in a good sense 3. Temporall see sin Inchoate In deaths often The shadow of death Censummate An utter sepatation of the soul from the body 2. The reasons of the Righteous mans dying 1 From the frail and mortall nature about them 2 From Satan and this world haters of them 3. From sin that cleaves so fall to them 4. From the Ordinance of God upon them That all men must die 5. For right ends to them 1. To humble the righteous by death 2. To make them seek salvation out of death through Christ 3. That the glory of Christ in raising them out of death may appear 4. That death may put an end to all their evils 5. That dying the righteous may enter into life and glory 2. That the Righteous hath hope in his death And therein consider 1. The difference of the Righteous mans hope from other mens hopelesse of life or senselesse of death 2. Who is the Righteous man 3. Divers sorts of Righteousnesse 1. Of a mans own and of works Morall Legall 2. Of God Of saith 4. Gods goodnesse done for man and his truth said to man cals for mans trust and hope towards God 5. What is this hope of a Righteous man 1. The severall objects of his hope Christ And other things through Christ 2. The grounds of his hope 1. Christs sufferings for man the ground of mans righteousnesse with God 2. Christs resurrection out of death the ground of mans hope of life 3. The efficacy of his hope the Righteous mans hope dies not It lives in his death 6. The blessed memory of this deceased Righteous man and of his hope in his death Application 1. The Righteousnesse of God is to be taken notice of and not to be slighted 2. All men ought to fellow this righteousnesse of God and not faint for sufferings 3. These followers are to go on in the way of righteousnesse The righteous not to die in their affections for death it self but to have hope in their death THE RIGHTEOVS MANS HOPE IN HIS DEATH The Text. PROV 14.32 The Righteous hath hope in his death NOt to spend time in unnecessary prefacing because we shall finde matter enough in the words to take up all this little time allotted us There are two Propositions couched in the Text to which I shall desire as briefly and yet as clearly as I may to speak viz. 1. That even Righteous men also are liable to death 2. That the Righteous have hope in their death The truth of the former of these is not only a matter of faith but is evident to sense also as the Scriptures tell us Heb 9.17 It 's appointed to man once to die So we see the wise and the foolish the righteous and the wicked both are subject thereto and in that regard all things come alike to all The most famous for righteousnesse have yielded unto death Abraham is â—â—nd and the Prophets are dead yea Christ himself yielded up the Ghost and died so that we shall not spend time about the proof of that point only I shall desire to unfold the severall acceptions of the word death and see in which of them this is found true that the righteous comes unto death and so see the latitude in which this Text may be taken and then shew whence and upon what grounds it comes to passe that the righteous also die and so proceed to the next particular The word death is diversly used in Scripture As We reade of a second death Rev. 20 6. 〈◊〉 Thes 17.8 9 Mâ—â—â— 25 4â— a perishing from the presence of the Lord and the glory of his power a being thrown into everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his Angels But of this death the text is not to be understood for this is none of the righteous mans death it 's not appointed for him nor he for it nor shall he come into it nor is it a death in which any hope may be had this is indeed the righteous mans hope that he shall not see this death but be preserved and kept from it as it is said Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection for on such the second death shall have no power Rev. 20.6 And of this that saying of our Saviour is to be understood that he that beleeves in him shall not taste death Joh 8 52. 2. Death is sometimes taken for a more spirituall death or a death in the spirit of a man only not in the body as when men are said