being in the blood of the mother then the flesh was consolidated Now under the Gospel God hath left Baptism to discretion of Parents and not tyed them strictly to the observance of a day but let not Parents create needless delays to baptize the Child Mr. Fuller in his Infants Advocat Ne quod differatur auferatur lest God in the interim take the Child from them In which case faith Mr. Fuller as I will not be Judg to condemn the Child so should I be one of the Jury I would not aquit the Father St. Austin was called durus Pater Infantum and sure he was an hard-hearted Father to Infants for his opinion was as I have read that children that dyed unbaptized were damned Indeed we read Gen. 17.14 The uncircumcised Man-Child whose flesh of his foreskin is not circumcised that soul shall be cut off from his people he hath broken my Covenant Certainly this place is not to be interpreted of the infant breaking the Covenant who can do nothing to the keeping of it vid. Musculum in loc pag. 407 408. They therefore are here threatned by whose default Curcumcision was omitted or it may be understood of those not circumcised in childhood if they should after come to years of discretion and refuse Circumcision they were to be cut off and looked upon as breakers of the Covenant But to come home to you 1. Consider It is in the want of Baptism as in the want of Circumcision The want of Circumcision except in case of contempt or wilful neglect was not so dangerous Jos 5.7 Circumcision as may be gathered from that text was omitted for forty years in the wilderness and as some observe not reproved in Scripture Indeed we say Contemptus damnat the contempt of the Ordinance is dangerous without repentance and deep humiliation for it for God was displeased with Moses because he neglected to circumcise his son Exod. 4.24 but not the want of it when it was against your will 2. Consider Davids child he lived not to recieve the seal of Circumcision set upon him for he dyed the seventh day 2 Sam. 12.18 And it came to pass on the seventh day the Child dyed Some understand the 7th day from the Child's sickness others in my conceit more rightly understand it the seventh day from the birth of it so that the Child dyed before it was circumcised yet v. 23. he had hopes of the Child 's eternal welfare and therefore wipes his eyes and rests contented Indeed Baptism under the Gospel requires not adjournment to the eighth day as Circumcision did under the Law But if your Child dyed suddenly unexpectedly before the Minister could be procured and your desire was that your Child should be Baptised surely you are herein excusable for God hears the very desire of the humble Psal 10.17 3. And lastly consider Though we be bound to observe Gods Ordinance yet God himself is not tyed to the Sacrament As a most learned and pious Bishop said That Spirit which worketh by means will not be tyed to means Bp. Hall 5th Decad Epistle 4th Cast your eyes upon that good thief good in his death though in his life abominable he was never washed in Jordan yet is received into Paradise his soul was foul with rapines and injustice yea bloudy with murders And yet being scoured only with the blood of his Saviour not with water of Baptism it is presented glorious to God Thus as St. Austin saith Non minus sine Sacramentis salvatus est latro quam cum Sacramentis condemnatus est Judas Thus God who usually works by the Ordinances can also work without them 2d Apology answered Another cryes out This Child that God hath taken away was my Darling the Child I most affected as Jacob did Joseph Gen. 37.3 I could have wished God had taken some other of my children so he had but spared this Answ Thou sayest that thou hast lost a Child that thou most affectedst above all the rest of thy children Yea and it is to be feared more then God too It is I concieve lawful to love one child above another though it be not prudence to express it too fondly for fear of exasperating the rest Gen. 37.3 4. Col. 3.21 thou mayest and oughtest to love that child most which is most like thy Maker Christ loved all his Disciples Joh. 13.1 but John eminently transcendently above the rest John 13.23 and 20.2 and 21.20 because according to his name he was most gracious We may then love our children dearly Salv. ad Eccles Cathol l. 1. p. 347 more then any other outward possessions Non Solum amandos dicimus filios sed precipue ac super omnia amandos nec quicquam his omnino anteponendum nisi Deum solum But we must love no Child more then God If we do God will if he bear special love to us take away that little idol we too much dote upon that he may be loved and admired the more and the creature the less God cannot away with Corrivals he calls for the Heart Prov. 23.26 and will have intensiveness of Affection Matth. 22.37 and therefore removes from you that Child which was as a skreen to keep off the heat of your love from him Hadst thou then loved thy Child less thou mightest have enjoyed him longer Parents may kill their Children by over-loving them aswel as by over-laying them Blame then thy self who too fondly lovedst thy Child but blame not God who took away thy Child for thy good lest thy soul should eternally miscarry And whereas thou sayest thou couldest have wished he had taken some other of thy children so he had but spared this Answ 1. Consider Such kind of speeches are very offensive to God It is not for silly man to prescribe but to submit to God Who art thou that replyest against God in his providential dispensations Rom. 9.20 As God makes all in wisdom Psa 104.24 So he orders all things in wisdom Eph. 1.11 Who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will He knows when he means to shoot what Arrow in his Quiver to chuse he sits at the Helm of this World guiding all things in Wisdom so that when things fall not out as we would have them yet as God would And as * Salv. lib. 1. De Gub. Dei pag. 23. Salvian speaks Summa justitia est voluntas Dei His Will is the Rule of Rectitude and therefore cannot do any thing unjustly Job 34.10 Therefore we should say under cross providences that befall us as 2 Sam. 15.26 Behold here am I let him do to me as seemeth good unto him We read 2 Sam. 3.36 Whatsoever the King did pleased all the people Surely what the Kings King the great Lord and Master of Heaven and Earth is pleased to do should please us For can poor mortals as we are be better disposed of then by Wisdom and Goodness it self Liberame Domine a meipso
thine own flesh thy Brethren and Kinsfolk bestow thine estate on these that they may bless thee and pray for thee and let thine own hands in thy life-time be thine Executors or else others may take possession of thine Estate who may be will not thank thee or may prodigally consume it See Eccles 2.18 19. and Eccles 4.8 And Salvian tells thee the naked truth Salvian ad Eccles Cath. l. 3. p. 459. Vides extortas lachrymas simulata suspiria fictam anxietatem non optantem ut convalescas sed expectantem quando moriaris Vide defixos in te et quasi accusantes tui obitus tarditatem omnium vultus O infaelicem te ac miserrimum cujus supremum exitum tantus desiderat ac precatur numerus propinquonū Such may be heirs to thine estate that will feign grief at thy sickness and think it long till thou be dead Salv. ad Eccles Cath. lib. 4. p. 474. Therefore as the same Author saith Cum Christum egere videas cur tu facultates tuas in quibuscunque non indigentibus derelinquis Why do you not relieve Christ in his members who are in real want I end this with that of Solomon Eccles 3.12 Let a man rejoyce and do good in his life For as a worthy Divine saith It is the life of a Gift to be given in the life of the Giver Mr. Fuller in his Hist of Cambr. far better than Funeral Legacies which like Benjamin are born by the loss of a Parent for it is not so kindly Charity for men to give when they can keep no longer Thou sayest Thou hast none to bear thy Name Answ Indeed this the world looks upon as sad Numb 27.3.4 So the Widow of Tekoah in a parable complains they would slay her only son that was left and so not leave to her husband neither name nor remainder upon the earth 2 Sam. 14.6 7. And we find Absalom having no son to continue his memory erected a Pillar in the King's Dale and call'd it after his own name 2 Sam. 18.18 but it was Columna calumniae a Pillar of disgrace to mind the world there was once such a wicked man as Absalom was as Lot's wife's Pillar of Salt was a Monument of her shame But to answer the Plea 1. Consider To live in our Children is but a poor kind of survival for they may soon die and our memorial be buried in their graves But if they live long and be deboist they are monuments of shame to Parents The best way for men to immortalize their names and consecrate their memories to posterity is to erect a Pillar of virtuous deeds for Psal 112.6 The righteous shall he had in everlasting remembrance and v. 9. he hath dispersed he hath given to the poor his righteousness endureth for ever and then it follows his horn shall be exalted with honour So Isa 58.10 If thou draw out thy soul to the hungry and satisfy the afflicted soul then shall thy light rise in obscurity and thy darkness be as the noon-day Oh then if thy estate be great Exegi monumentum aere pereunius Hor. build an Hospital or repair Gods material Temple or relieve the living Temples of the holy Ghost by this means thou shalt get a good name and be remembred in future ages Thy worth shall be engraven in lasting characters 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Eurip. not to be razed out by the hand of time Good men will commend thee whilst living and when dead a good report like a sweet perfume Eccles 7.1 will accompany thee to the grave so that thou shalt be buried in the odour of a good name How will people be talking of thy good works as the Widows shewed Peter the Coats and Garments which Dorcas made whilst she was with them Act. 9.39 They 'l say such a man was a good Landlord a good housekeeper a very charitable person c. As Cornelius had a good report among all the nation of the Jews for he was a devout man and one that feared God and gave much alms to the people Act. 10.2 22. compared And as man so God himself will remember such as Cornelius his prayers and alms are said to come up for a memorial before God Act. 10.4 With such sacrifices God is well pleased Heb. 13.18 see Mat. 25.34 35 c. Come ye blessed of my Father inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world for I was an hungred and ye gave me meat c. Thus you see virtuous men are embalmed with Renown they need not Children to eternize them nor need they any Monument and Epitaph to enoble them who live in the remembrance both of God and man 2 Consider If you belong to God your names are written in the Book of Life you are registred by God and matriculated in Heaven Phil. 4.3 Rev. 3.5 There is often mention made of such a book And it is * Mr. Attersal on Num. 1.5 p. 20. a borrowed speech from such records as are kept in a City wherein the names of Freemen are written Now it is exceeding matter of joy to have our names written there Luk. 10.20 Rejoyce because your names are written in Heaven This new name in the Book of Life is a name better then of Sons and Daughters an everlasting Name that shall not be cut off as you may see Isa 56.5 6th Apology answered Another cryes out I have had several Children but lost them all I have not one left to comfort me Answ 1. Consider Thy case is not singular thy betters by far have been in as bad a condition or worse Naomi was left of her Husband and two Sons in a strange land Ruth 1.5 Job who counted it no small part of his outward happiness to have his Children round about him Job 29.5 was sore troubled at the news of their sudden death Job 1.18 19 20. yet he did not repine and murmur v. 21 22. his Wife was left indeed but to be a cross to him the Divel made use of this rib as a Bow to shoot the Arrows of temptation at Jobs heart Job 2.9 10. But it is otherwise with thee under loss of Children thou hast possibly a good Husband or a good Wife or some other good Friend at hand who may say to thee as Elkanah to Hannah 1 Sam. 1.8 Am not I better to thee then ten Sons 2 Consider Children are no special evidences of Gods distinguishing love and favour Remember me O Lord saith David Psal 106.4 with the favour that thou bearest unto thy people God hath special favours for his peculiar people Now if Children were distinguishing evidences of his signal favour thou hast great cause to be troubled at the loss of them but indeed they are not as you may see Eccles 9.1 2. Nay wicked men oft have them in abundance Haman that boasted of the multitude of his Children Esth 5.11 had ten Sons hanged up together Est 9.13 so
Father See his holy indignation against such as prophaned his Temple John 2.15 16 17. so John 4.34 He counted it his meat to do the Will of him that sent him and to finish his Work When his Mother and Brethren would have taken him off from Preaching he would not then own them for he said Who is my Mother or my Brethren Mark 3.33 Not that he did despise them but preferred the Service of God before them see Luke 2.48 49 50 51. so should we be zealous for God's Glory We should be fervent in Spirit serving the Lord or according to Orig. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 we should be seething hot in Spirit Rom. 12.11 We should have a zeal for God and the duty that we are to perform This God calls for Rev. 3.19 And Christ died to redeem unto himself a peculiar People zealous of good Works Tit. 2.14 Moses was zealous Exod. 32.19 so was Phineas Numb 25.11 so was David Psal 69.9 so St. Paul Acts 17.16 and so are all true Christians in some measure zealous St. Cyprian speaks of Christians in his time that were Tanquam Leones ignem spirantes Like Lyons breathing forth the Heavenly fire of Zeal 7. There was in Christ compassion to his Enemies When his Enemies came to take him one would have thought he should have call'd for fire from Heaven as Elijah did 2 Kings 1.10 and thereby have consumed his Adversaries But this was against the loving Nature of Christ as well as against the * Omne leve sursum tendit Nature of Fire that it should descend to destroy them Luke 9.54 55 56. Nay Christ would not onely not destroy them but he useth means to reclaim them from sinful courses that he may save them This good Samaritan would gladly have healed their spiritual Wounds How passionately doth he complain John 5.40 Ye will not come unto me that ye might have life And again Mat. 23.37 O Jerusalem Jerusalem thou that killest the Prophets and stonest them that are sent unto thee how oft would I have gathered thy Children together even as an Hen gathereth her Chickens under her Wings which would have been for your safety and yet ye would not When his Enemies hearts became like to Clay more hardned by the Sun-shine of those favours which should have melted them he then grieved for the hardness of their hearts Mark 3.5 and like a Judge passeth Sentence with tears in his eyes Luke 19.41 42. And when he was come near he beheld the City and wept over it saying If thou hadst known there he weeps even thou there he weeps again at least in this thy day he goes on still weeping the things that belong unto thy peace now he weeps a main and tears do so fast trickle down his cheeks that they hinder him from speaking and he breaks off abruptly as men do in a passion but now they are hid from thine eyes Our Saviour here shed tears for them who were about to shed his blood Yea we find him praying for his Enemies when they had given him the worst that malice could invent or cruelty impose Luke 23.34 Then said Jesus Father forgive them for they know not what they do Then said Jesus When said he this Why even then when he was suffering the painful shameful and accursed death upon the Cross Yea some think he prayed for his insulting Enemies before he provided for his weeping Mother John 19.26 27. Let us then pity and pray for our Enemies so did Stephen Acts 7.60 This Christ commands by Precept as well as commends by Pattern Matth. 5.44 c. Let us bless them that curse us Rom. 12.14 Nay we should mourn for them in affliction as David did Psal 35.13 14. In a word if thine Enemy hunger feed him if he thirst give him drink Be not overcome of evil but overcome evil with good Rom. 12.20 21. 8. There was in Christ love to the godly He loved them with a love of complacency and delight John 13.1 He bare a constant love towards them They were like golden Letters engraven indelibly upon his heart His love to them appeared by his accompanying with them by counselling reproving comforting clearing their innocency c. Matth. 9.14 Mat. 12.3 4. rejoycing in their welfare Luk. 10.21 taking what is done to them as done to himself be it good or bad Mat. 25.40 45. Acts 9.4 praying for them Luke 22.31 John 17.9 11 17 20 21. But his dying for them was above all an eminent instance of his love Gal. 2.20 He thought nothing too dear to part with for their sakes He shed his precious Blood in great plenty for them 1 Pet. 1.18 19. Acts 20.28 When our Saviour shed but a few tears for Lazarus the Jews collected thence his love towards him John 11.35 36. Surely Christ's shedding his precious Blood in great plenty for the Elect is a manifest token of extraordinary love towards them Let us imitate Christ in love to the godly Let us delight in them and accompany with them as David did Psal 16.3 119.63 Let us sympathize with them Rom. 12.15 Let us pray for them so did St. Paul for the Colossians Col. 1.9 10 11. and for the Thessalonians 1 Thes 5.23 In a word We should be ready to lay down our lives for them if need require 1 John 3.16 Hereby we perceive the love of God because he laid down his life for us and we ought to lay down our lives for the Brethren And this unfeigned love to the godly is as sure a note to know whether a man be in the way to Heaven as pronouncing the word * Judg. 12.6 Shibboleth was to know an Ephramite from a Gileadite Here what St. John the beloved Disciple saith 1 John 3.14 We know that we have passed from Death to Life because we love the Brethren Be ye therefore as St. Paul saith Ephes 5.1 2. followers of God as dear Children and walk in love as Christ also hath loved us and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet smelling savour 9. There was in Christ thanksgiving When Christ are Victuals he lift up his eyes and gave thanks John 6.11 23. He was thankful for Spiritual Blessings Mat. 11.25 At that time Jesus answered and said I thank thee O Father Lord of Heaven and Earth because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent and hast revealed them unto Babes This is spoken by Christ after the seventy had returned and told him what good success they had as may be gathered from Luk. 10.17 21. He did thankfully acknowledge God's mercy in revealing Gospel-Mysteries to poor simple Creatures that knew no more in Gospel-Mysteries then Babes knew in Worldly-Businesses And John 11.41 Jesus lift up his eyes and said Father I thank thee that thou hast heard me Indeed Christ's whole life was a glorifying of God John 17.4 I have glorified thee on Earth Let us imitate Christ in thankfulness Let
not sown It is love and kindness indeed to follow God in a Wilderness of temptations and tryals to love him even when we groan under sad Distempers and can feel nothing as it were but signs of his displeasure The World is apt to think that Believers love God only for what they gain by his service as though their love to God was purely mercinary as the Devil said Doth Job fear God for nought c. Job 1.9 10 11. so Job 2.4 5. The Devil said Skin for Skin yea all that a man hath will he give for his life but put forth thine hand now and touch his bone and his flesh and he will curse thee to thy face God as you read afterwards suffered the Devil sorely to afflict Job vers 6 7 8. Yea Job's Wife took the Devils part as you see vers 9. The Devil handed over a temptation to him by his Wife hoping thereby to prevail with Job as he did by the Wife prevail with Adam Gen. 3.6 But the Devil could not nor Job's Wife that crooked Rib that cross piece to help him cause that good Man to curse his God See how sharply he rebukes her for her folly vers 10. Thou speakest as one of the foolish Women speaketh What shall we receive good at the hand of God and shall we not receive evil In all this or hitherto did not Job sin with his lips And though we read afterwards of his cursing the day of his birth Chap. 3. and of other rash speeches proceeding from him Chap. 6. and elsewhere Yet his resolution was Not to let go his integrity so long as he lived Job 27.5 6. Here was a full proof of the sincerity of his love to God and strength of his Christian courage For if thou faint in the day of adversity thy strength is small Prov. 24.10 4. And lastly Prayer Sickness sets Prayer awork like trouble Psal 18.4 5 6. Psal 88. per totum Psal 116.3 4. so Isa 26.16 Lord saith the Prophet in trouble have they visited thee they poured out a prayer when thy chastening was upon them When God visits his People with sickness or some such like affliction then especially they visit him with prayers Prayers which before did but as it were drop out now and then a prayer are in time of trouble frequently and fervently put up unto God Christ in his agony prayed more earnestly Luk. 22.44 Thus when the outward man is ready to perish or decay through sickness or some such like affliction then the inward Man is renewed i. e. gathereth strength Isa 40.31 by daily pressures 2 Cor. 4.16 As the * Depressa resurgit Ps 92.12 Palm-tree the more it is drepressed the more it flourisheth As Jacob said to Laban Gen. 30.30 It was but little which thou hadst before I came but it is now encreased to a multitude And the Lord hath blessed thee since my coming So may sickness say to many a child of God It was but little in comparison which thou hadst before my coming but little Faith Patience Love to God Devotion c. but now it is much encreased Divine Graces like Torches in a dark night shine brightest ' midst manifold afflictions Let us now come to Use and Application which through Gods blessing may be most profitable Vse 1 1. This consideration should be a Cordial to comfort us in sickness It should make thee and me patient under sickness when God is pleased to send it Nothing befals us but what befals God's dearest Servants David Job Hezekiah Paul Epaphroditus and others as you have heard even the bravest-spirited the wisest the holiest have been sorely visited with sickness There is no temptation i. e. affliction hath taken you but what is humane so the word is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or as it is rendred common to Man 1 Cor. 10.13 Yea to the best of men and being thus ordinary it may be the better endured Solamen miseris socios habuisse doloris So then as the Author to the Hebrews speaks Seeing we are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses I add with so many examples of good men in sickness Let us run with patience Heb. 12.1 As Phocion said to one that was condemned to the same death with him Art thou not glad to fare as Phocion doth So shall not we be glad or at least be content and patient under sickness seeing we fare no worse than God's dearest Servants do Nay let us cast our eyes abroad and we shall find many our betters by far in Grace far more afflicted than our selves be with sickness Our sickness being neither so violent nor so permanent as theirs Now shall not we be content to sip of that bitter Cup which they drink so deeply of Epaphroditus's sickness besides the violence thereof was cloathed with this sad circumstance that he was * Muscul in loc Procul à suis remotus He was far from home in a strange place But we at home amongst friends and acquaintance who are at hand to give friendly visits and to minister to our necessities Vse 2 2. This consideration should strike terrour into the hearts of impatient wretches If sickness and pain be the condition of Gods dear Servants here what will be the portion of the wicked hereafter in the day of their visitation If they who shall be Heirs of Salvation Heb. 1.14 be in such a sick condition that they know not what to do which way to turn them for ease how easeless and painful will their condition one day be who are Vessels of wrath fitted to destruction Rom. 9.22 see 1 Pet. 4.17 For the time is come it may be rendred 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 according to the Original that it is the season that judgment begin at the House of God and if it first begin at us what shall be the end of them that obey not the Gospel of God Now in this life judgments i. e. chastisements Psal 7.11 befall God's dear Servants for their sinful infirmities who are here called the House of God for they are the Temples of the Holy-Ghost 1 Cor. 3.16 and if judgment begin at us first what shall the end of them be that obey not the Gospel However for the present they live become old yea are mighty in power as Job speaks Job 21.7 And their Houses are safe from fear neither is the Rod of God upon them vers 9. Yet their end will be sad vers 30. The wicked is reserved to the day of destruction They shall be brought forth to the day of wrath So the Psalmist whether Asaph or David it is uncertain stumbled at the prosperity of the wicked Psal 73.2 3. He saw they lived merrily here and when they died they died without much pain in their sickness for saith he vers 4. There are no bonds that is See Dr. Hammond in Psalm 73.4 no pangs in their death q. d. Their death is not caused by those violent and painful
Imprimatur Robert Grove R. P. D no. Humfr. Episc Lond. a sac Dom. Decemb. 22. 1670. A Funeral Handkerchief In Two Parts I. Part Containing Arguments to comfort us at death of Friends II. Part Containing several Uses which we ought to make of such losses To which is added Three Sermons Preached at Coventry in December last 1670. By THOMAS ALLESTREE M. A. Rector of Ashow in the County of Warwick While the Child was yet alive I fasted and wept But now he is dead wherefore should I fast Can I bring him back again I shall go to him but he shall not return to me 2 Sam. 12.22 23. Parcamus Lachrymis nihil proficientibus facilius illi nos dolor iste adjiciet quà m illum nobis reducet Sen. Consolat ad Polyb. c. 23. LONDON Printed for the Author Anno Dom. 1671. To the Right Honourable Thomas Lord Leigh Baron of Stoneleigh his singular good Lord and Patron The Author wisheth continuance of Health encrease of Honour and in the World to come Life Eternal Right Honourable SOme * Aret. in Luk. 1.3 Marlorat in Luk. 1. Chemnit Harm Evan. Stella in Luk. 1.3 are of Opinion that St. Luke dedicated his Gospel and the Acts of the Apostles those two pieces of Divine Writ to Theophilus a Man of Eminencie in the Church Stella saith he was Praesul Antiochenus septimus And the Epithet given him shews he was some great man for that Evangelist calls him 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 most Excellent * As Acts 23.26 Act. 24.3 Act. 26.25 which is a Title of Honour Nomen honoris et dignitatis Yet some †Doctor Hammond his Annot. in Luke 1.3 Salv. in Epist ded before his Books ad Eccles Cathol learned Men are of another Opinion viz. That Theophilus was not the proper name of a particular Man but a feigned Title to signifie every Christian who is or ought to be a lover of God to whom St. Luke addresseth his Discourse Sure I am of this that St. Paul as he prayed for Onesiphorus who so oft refreshed him in his Bonds so he made honourable mention of him in his Writings 2 Tim. 1.16 17 18. My Lord I think I should be guilty of that crying sin of * Ingratum si dixeris omnia Ingratitude a sin which amongst others makes the times so perillous 2 Tim. 3.1 2. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 if I should not as I have often prayed for you so upon occasion make honourable mention of you who have so oft refreshed me in my wants Since I first saw your smiling Countenance I have oft thought of that Speech of Ruth to Boaz Ruth 2.10 Why have I found grace in thine eyes that thou shouldest take knowledge of me seeing I am a Stranger I was a stranger to your Lordship yet you were pleased freely to bestow a small Parsonage upon me I call it a small one for so it is of it self but it hath happily received amongst other Churches for several years an Augmentation of twenty pounds and upwards paid duly without trouble for the Lady Alicia Duddely that sweet Flower whom God gathered early to himself for she was ripe betimes Daughter of that Pattern of Piety and good Works the Lady Dutches * See the Narrative of her life death by Dr. Boreman Duddely lately deceased This Daughter I say to whom I may apply that of the Wise Man Prov. 31.29 Many Daughters have done vertuously but thou excellest them all left by her last Will an Estate of the yearly value of an 120 pounds to be disposed for ever to such poor Vicaridges and Parsonages as the said Lady Mother should appoint And accordingly it was performed by her Grace the Lady Dutchess Duddeley whose good Works like Maries Oyntment cast a sweet perfume Mine is one of the * Manceter Stoneleigh Ashow Leekwotton Kenelworth Monkskirby six Churches that partaketh of this bountie I know my Lord you will pardon this digression for you love to make honourable mention of your dear Aunt this incomparable Dutchess upon all occasions I now return to your Lordship who have not onely been my Patron but in other respects a constant Benefactor for you were pleased to receive me for your Chaplain and accept my poor pains for which to your Noble Generosity not to my desert be it spoken you gave me besides other Favours a considerable allowance Meet then it is that you should have the first Fruits of my Labours in this kind as a token of my real love and testimony of a grateful heart and I hope your Lordship will so interpret it Another Reason why I presume to prefix your Lordships Name to the following Discourse is this that it being shrouded under your Honourable Protection may pass the more currant We live in a carping Age but if these Papers find acceptance with you I know you to be so judicious and well-devoted I do not much value the exceptions of others This Paper-Present I call A Funeral Handkerchief Containing Arguments to comfort us at death of Friends and the several Uses we ought to make of such losses Noble Sir you have out-lived many Friends you have buried many dear Children and lately parted with a Religious Lady who drew with you in the Yoke of Marriage above 59 years I am not afraid to call her Religious Her daily respect to the Word and Prayer in private Her love to the Publick Ordinances Her strict observation of the Lord's Day and her pious care that others should do so Her fastings and soul-afflictings upon occasion together with her constant circumspect walking are to me undoubted signs of her Religious Disposition These afflictions and many others which God Almighty hath pleased to exercise your Lordship with you have patiently undergone overcome through the Auxiliaries of Reason and Divine Assistance But my Lord have you learnt to make a right use of death of Friends and Relations This is an hard lesson which few take forth let me intreat you to cast your eye especially upon the second Part of this following Treatise where you shall find several Uses set down Copy them out in your daily practice that so when the Sun of your life doth set which declines apace you may go to your Dormitorie in peace Though these Papers do not inform you of what you know not yet they may serve to mind you of what you know King Philip knew that he was a mortal Man yet he would have his Monitor every morning to tell him that he was so uttering these words with a loud voice 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 I think it meet my Lord as St. Peter speaks 2 Pet. 1.13 to stir you up by putting you in remembrance And I hope your Lordship will suffer me to be your Remembrancer from the Press as I was for * I had the honour to be Chaplain seven years several years from the Pulpit which was no small encouragement to me in my Ministerial Pains But fearing
her Son was dead to call your sins to remembrance 1 King 17.18 May be your sin might be foolish Indulgence or too much Fondness you loved your Relation too much and therefore God took him or her away that you might not commit spiritual adultery which you do when you bestow that love and delight upon the Creature that is due to the Creator Psal 73.27 God there threatens such as go a whoring from him He will not suffer such behaviour in those whom he hath marryed to himself Hos 2.19 God is a Jealous God Exod. 20.5 And as a discreet Wife if she perceives her Husband to be in love with her Maidservant will presently put her away that she may be chief in her Husbands affection So if God loves us he will take that away which steals our affections from him Privat bonis aut liberis nimium amatis ut desiderium bonorum praestantiorum atque coelestium magis in eis excitat He deprives us saith Paraeus Paraeus in Gen. 37. chap. of Children or some such outward good things which we love too much that he may thereby excite us to love better things more Or your sin might be worldly-mindedness you were it may be over-worldly in providing portions for such or such a Child Salvian ad Ecles Cathol lib. 2 pag. 380. Quae insania est ô miserrimi ut haeredes alios quoscunque faciatis vos ipsos vero exhaeredetis God saw thee well nigh lost in a croud of worldly cares and therefore took away thy Child that thou mightest sit loose to the world and mind heavenly things God is a gracious Father as one saith wisely tempering the Cup for his Children lest they should surfeit on worldly enjoyments which they might easily do if they were not mixed with occasions of sorrow Or it may be thou didst not think sufficiently on thy latter end as God requires Deut. 32.29 We are ready to say with Peter It is good for us to be â—ere Mark 9.5 God therefore took away a near Relation which speaks as Dalilah to Sampson The Philistines be upon thee Sampson Judg. 16.9 So thy dead friend speaks to thee thou hast a mortal Body Death is at the door By this means God teacheth thee to number thy dayes and apply thy heart to wisdom as Moses prayed Ps 90.12 Or lastly God it may be took away thy Friend to humble thee and prove thee to try thy Obedience to exercise thy Faith and Patience as in Jobs case James 5.11 Thus as the Author to the Hebrews Heb. 12.11 No chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous but grievous nevertheless afterwards it yeeldeth the peaceable fruit of Righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby So that this crossing of us is to do us more good at our latter end Deut. 8.16 Moses with his Rod wrought wonders Exod. 4.17 And God teacheth us many admirable and excellent Lessons with a Fescu made of a Rod Job 6.8 9 10. Mic. 6.9 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Nocumenta documenta Well then as a Patient refuseth not from his Physitian a bitter Potion or from the Chyrurgeon a corrhoding Plaister because it makes way for healing it is in order to a Cure So loss of Friends though of all outward losses most bitter yet should be taken patiently because it is a Medicine to heal spiritual Maladies See Isa 27.9 Me-thinks this consideration should make us not only submit but rejoyce under such losses Consid 5 Fifthly consider God is still with thee Psal 46.1 God is our refuge and strength a very present help in trouble So Psal 90.2 From everlasting to everlasting thou art God Though Friends forsake us through unavoidable mortality yet an Eternal God is still where he was he keeps his standing He can supply the place of Father Mother Husband Wife Son or Daughter for he is an All-sufficient God So it is in the Original Gen. 17.1 In him there is all excellency beauty comfort and good of the creature in a most superlative and glorious manner sufficiently eminently transcendently so that every loss is made up in him as Philip said Shew us the Father and it sufficeth us John 14.8 and St. Paul saith Phil. 4.19 My God shall supply all your need There is sweetness enough in God to sweeten all outward bitterness so that though the Conduit Pipes through which mercies were conveyed unto us be taken away yet the Fountain runs still entire in God Hagar we read had a Fountain by but her blubbering eyes kept her from seeing it Gen. 21.17 18 19. God the fountain of happiness is still with thee and thou maist have daily recourse to him and therefore wipe thine eyes and â—â—â—t contented God saith to his People what the King of Israel did to the King of Syria I am thine and all that I have 1 Kings 20.4 Let us then under loss of Friends comfort our selves in the Lord our God and say with David Psal 18.46 The Lord liveth and blessed be my Rock and praised be the God of my Salvation When Creture-crutches fail we have the Rock of Ages to rely upon Therefore Rejoyce in the Lord and again I say rejoyce Phil. 4.4 Consid 6 Sixthly consider Thou deservest greater losses and crosses than those thou meetest with Thy sins are far heavier than thy sufferings The shower of misery and trouble that befalls us through loss of Friends was raised by the ascending vapour of our sin Nehem. 9.33 So Psal 39.10 God corrects man for his iniquity and therefore Wherefore doth a living man complain a man for the punishment of his sin Lam. 3.39 Why doth vain man fret as though his sins cast not one mite into the treasury of his sufferings Whereas indeed his sufferings are less than his sins As Ezra said Thou our God hast punished us less than our iniquities deserve Ezr. 9.13 And as Zophar told Job Job 11.6 Know that God exacts of thee less than thine iniquity deserveth So David Psal 103.10 He hath not dealt with us after our sins nor rewarded us according to our iniquities Quamvis aspera adversa patiamur minora patiamur quà m meremur Quid querimur Salv. lib. 4 de gub Dei pag. 114. quod dure agat nobiscum Deus multò nos cum Deo duriùs agimus Exacerbamus quippe Deum impuritatibus nostris ad puniendum nos trahimus invitum The fire of Gods wrath is not proportionable to the fuel of our sins whilst we live in this world Let us then bear the indignation of the Lord because we have sinned against him Thus the Church resolves Mich. 7.9 Let us not murmur that it is so bad but rather admire at Gods goodness that it is not worse with us Consid 7 Seventhly consider The many undeserved favours which God confers upon thee He might have taken away all thy Relations whereas he hath left several to chear thee And therefore as Jonadab said to David Let not my Lord suppose that they have slain all
Apostle makes mention of Love to all the Saints Ephes 1.15 Col. 1.4 Phil. 5. A true Believer loves a Saint in Rags as well as a Saint in Robes He loves God's Image as one saith though hung up in never so poor a frame To be partial in affection and to have the Faith of God in respect of persons is at large forbidden James 2.2 3 4. c. Well then consider though wicked men slight thee yet God the blessed Angels and Saints have thee in great esteem 6. And lastly Consider If you belong to God you shall shortly be invested with Heavenly glory Sometimes God's dear Children after great disrespect meet with much honour in this world as Joseph David Daniel and others did but if they miss of it here they shall be sure to have a Crown of Glory hereafter Rom. 2.6 7. God will render to every man according to his deeds to them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for Glory and Honour and Immortality Eternal life So v. 10. Glory Honour and Peace to every one that worketh good They shall be as the Angels of God in Heaven Mat. 22.30 they shall shine forth as the Sun in the Kingdom of their Father Mat. 13.43 What made St. Paul so patient under all indignities he met with but the thoughts of his future Glory for saith he Rom. 8.18 I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that shall be revealed in us therefore as it is Rom. 5.2 Rejoyce in hope of the glory of God You say You have many Children to provide for Answ Indeed it is a sad condition to have Children and little left to maintain them with It was one of the greatest outward curses David could ban the enemies of God withal Psal 109.9 10. Let his Children be Eatherless and his Wife a Widow let his Children be continually vagabonds and beg Let them seek their bread also out of their desolate places But consider for your comfort 1. Consider God feeds other creatures and their young God provides for all creatures they live upon his bounty Psal 104.27 28. All wait upon thee that thou maist give them their meat in due season that thou givest them they gather thou openest thy hand they are filled with good So Psal 145.15 16. Psal 147.9 he giveth to the beast his food and to the young Ravens which cry Job also takes notice of God's providing for the Ravens young ones Job 38.41 Some say that the Raven Mr Gore in his Serm. on Ps 37.25 when the young ones are new hatched flyes away and leaves them destitute of Food and there they lie in the nest croaking and crying ready to starve for want of sustenance but God takes pity upon them and creates a Worm out of their excrements which crawleth into their mouths and so feeds them and keeps them alive How true this is I know not I rather think otherwise that the old Ravens go abroad to seek food for their young who in the mean time cry for hunger in their nests and God gives food to the old ones to carry it to their young And when the old ones will no longer feed them being able to fly themselves they wander for lack of meat and God gives it to them It is one of our Saviour's Arguments to beat down distracting care for worldly things Mat. 6.26 Behold the Fowls of the Air he saith not those about the house that are fed by the hand at or about the barn-door but those of the Air which fly about and no man provides for they sow not neither do they reap nor gather into barns yet your Heavenly Father feedeth them Are ye not much better then they God feeds the Sparrows then fear not ye are of more value then many Sparrows Luke 12.7 Nay ye are better then Sheep Mat. 12.12 better then Oxen whom God takes care for 1 Cor. 9.9 10. Now if God take care of more contemptible creatures and their young surely he will provide for rational creatures and their Children whom he hath made but little lower then the Angels and put all other creatures under their feet Psal 8.5 6 7 8. We have an usual saying he that sends mouths will send meat Lect 30. on Jonah p. 629. Surely as Dr. Abbot saith God never made a belly but he made meat for that belly he never framed a back but he made cloaths to cover it 2. Consider God is said in Scripture to be an helper of the Fatherless poor and friendless God indeed is called the preserver of men Job 7.20 and he preserveth all men but for the comfort of the poor he is said to be their helper Psal 10.14 The poor committeth himself unto thee thou art the helper of the fatherless So Psal 107.9 he satisfieth the longing soul and filleth the hungry soul with goodness So Luke 1.53 he filleth the hungry with good things So Psal 146.9 The Lord preserveth the Stranger he relieveth the Fatherless and Widow So Hos 14.3 In thee the Fatherless findeth mercy 3. Consider God hath promised to help such Psal 132.15 I will satisfie her poor with bread saith God So Isa 41.17 18. When the poor and needy seek water and there is none and their tongue faileth for thirst I the Lord will hear them I the God of Israel will not forsake them I will open Rivers in high places and Fountains in the midst of the Valleyes I will make the Wilderness a Pool of water and the dry-land Springs of water So Isa 49.15 66.13 so Jer. 49.11 Leave thy Fatherless Children I will preserve them alive and let thy Widows trust in me God in these and the like places engageth as it were under hand and seal for their necessary provision God hath as it were entered into bond for the better security of the poor And therefore the poor that belong to God should conclude with David Psal 27.10 When my Father and my Mother forsake me either through unnatural cruelty or unavoidable mortality then the Lord will take me up He 'l be my Guardian and take care of me for Tit. 1.2 he that cannot lye hath promised so to do 4. Consider God oft times raiseth up for his Children unexpected help God put it into the mind of Pharaohs Daughter to pitty poor drowning Moses and nurse him at her own charges as you read Exod. 2.5 6. c. Distressed Naomi met with a friendly Daughter-in-law whose name was Ruth Ruth 1.16 17. She loved her and was better to her then seven Sons Ruth 4.15 And Ruth met with Boaz whose kindness was great towards her When Esters Father and Mother were dead Mordecai bred her up as his own Daughter Ester 2.7 And in process of time she became a Queen God hath in his hand the hearts of all even the greatest and can turn them whithersoever he will Psal 106.46 Prov. 21.1 he can raise thee up friends to relieve thee
not long thrive by it See Job 15.20 21 29 compared And Job 20.15 to the end of that Chapter An heathen observed De malè quaesitis vix gaudet tertius haeres 6. Idleness Prov. 6.9 10 11. How long wilt thou sleep O sluggard When wilt thou arise out of thy sleep Yet a little sleep a little slumber saith the sluggard a little folding of the hands to sleep so shall thy poverty saith the wise man come as one that travelleth i. e. It shall come suddenly certainly and painfully and thy want as an armed man so as it cannot be resisted See likewise Prov. 13.4 and 18.9 and 20.4 and 24.30 31 32 33 34. 7. Keeping wicked company Prov. 28.19 He that tilleth his land shall have plenty of bread but he that followeth after vain persons and so neglects his business which he must needs do shall have poverty enough 8. Talkativeness as lying slandering railing talking of other folks business which concerns us not c. Prov. 14.23 The talk of the lips tend only to penury 9. Pride Prov. 29.23 A mans pride shall bring him low Pride is a costly sin a consumer of a considerable estate in a short time See 1 Tim. 2.9 and 1 Pet. 3.3 Besides God resisteth the proud person Jam. 4.6 how then should he prosper 10. And lastly Sensuality and love of pleasures as Hawking Hunting Gaming Gluttony Drunkenness Whoring c. Prov. 21.17 He that loveth pleasure shall be a poor man He that loveth Wine and Oyl shall not be rich Prov. 23.20 21. Be not amongst Wine-bibbers amongst riotous eaters of flesh for the Drunkard and the Glutton shall come to poverty and drousiness shall cloath a man with rags Prov. 6.26 By means of a whorish woman a man is brought to a piece of bread So Prov. 29.3 He that keepeth company with Harlots spends his substance So did the Prodigal Luk. 15.30 13v compared Well then take heed of all sin especially avoid these which I have mentioned that are as so many Rocks to split an Estate If you be rich these sins lived in will bring you low and if you be low in estate they will keep you from thriving in the world Eliphaz tells Job he must return to the Almighty and put iniquity far from his tabernacles if he would have plenty of Gold and Silver as you may see Job 22.23 24 25. 6. And last Direction is this Follow holiness As you must avoid what God forbids so you must observe to do what he commands God provides for such as these places shew 2 Chron. 17.4 5. Job 8.6 7. Psal 23.1 5. Psal 34.9 37.25 111.5 Prov. 10.3 God hath promised plenty upon condition of obedience as these places shew Exod. 23.25 26. Levit. 26.3 4 5 6. Deut. 7.12 13 14 15. Deut. 28. from v. 1 to 14. Job 36.11 Psal 37.3 4. 81. 13 15 16. 115.13 14. so Isa 1.19 1 Cor. 3.21 22 23. Now if we look God should perform his promise we must look to perform the condition When we obey him we are in a fair way to have a supply from him Mat. 6.33 Seek ye first saith Christ the Kingdom of God and his Righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you the Greek word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifies shall be cast in as overplus A good Master provides for his Servants though never so many Luke 15.17 Surely then God will provide for his Servants Rom. 8.32 He that spared not his Son but delivered him up for us all how shall he not with him saith the Apostle freely give us all things He that hath given his Servants Christ the Pearl of price surely will not deny them pebbles for worldly things are no better in comparison if he see them good for them Thus the Lord God is a Sun and a Sheild the Lord will give Grace and Glory no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly Psal 84.11 No good thing saith the Psalmist will he withhold Therefore if they want any thing this very want they may conclude to be for their good God is so careful a Father that he will not give his Children a knife to cut their own Fingers with and this is for the better still Well then if we serve the Lord he will either supply or which is better sanctifie our wants Lastly whereas you say If God had spared him or her longer it had been better for you now you are utterly undone Answ 1. You should look upon your present condition whatever it be to be best for you Dr. Hammond Dr. Fell in Life of Doctor Hamond that eminent Divine was wont to give this mandate to himself and his friends Quod sis esse velis nihilque malis in his English to Rather nothing not only to be content or acquiesce but be resolved the present state to be the very best that could be wished or phansied And in the midst of most dismal appearance of event he made this constant motto 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 even this for good God knows what is best for thee and if thou belongest to him he is more tender over thee then a Mother over her sucking Child Isa 49.15 and what thou thinkest a means of thy undoing saveth thee God by taking away such a friend if he bring you into poverty doth it for the purging out of sin and for the exercise of Grace 1. Consider God doth it for the purging out of some sins which prosperity breeds God casts this rub in thy way to keep thee from going on in a full career after-sin It can be said of few as of good Jehosaphat 2 Chron. 17.5 6. He had Riches and Honour in abundance and his heart was lift up in the wayes of God Usually it is with us as it was with Uzziah 2 Chr. 26.16 who when he was strong and prospered his heart was lifted up to his destruction Riches though good things in themselves yet through the corruption of our natures we oft-times make an ill use of them Salv. ad Eccles Cath l. 2. p 406. Salvian speaking of riches saith Impedimenta sunt non adjumenta onera non subsidia possessione enim usu opum non suffulcitur Religio sed evertitur And a little after saith he Bona putantur appellantur ac per hoc fallunt homines nomine praesentium bonorum cum sint causae malorum aeternorum Riches are called thick clay by the Prophet Hab. 2.6 They are as St. Austine calleth them Viscus pennarum Spiritualium As Bird-lime to the wings of the Soul hindring it from soaring above Our Saviour compares them to Thorns Mat. 13.22 they hinder us in our spiritual race How hardly shall a rich man enter into the Kingdom of Heaven Mat. 19.23 24. so 2 Tim. 6.9 They that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare and into many foolish and hurtful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition Crescit cum prosperitate vitiositas
breaking no more doth righteousness the rich workmanship of God's blessed Spirit Ephes 2.10 preserve any man from mouldring to dust Moses Joshua David Job Daniel c. are dead and gone Dorcas that woman full of God works and almsdeeds which she did fell sick and died Acts 9.36 37. Holiness is no armour of proof to keep off the dart of Death The shield of faith and brest-plate of righteousness which are able to resist the fiery darts of Satan Ephes 6.16 yet are not able to defend a man from the dart of Death The best persons are not persons priviledged from the arrest of Death that surly Sergeant 2. Consid God can raise up other good men in their stead A Phoenix may arise out of the ashes There may hopeful branches come in their stead Uno avulso non deficit alter Aureus simili frondescit virgâ—metallo Virgil. See 2 Epist of John 1st 4th verses compared That Elect Lady that worthy Matron honoured for her wealth and liberality to the poor had Children constantly professing the true Religion and living according to it who might succeed her in works of charity and piety Buxtorf floril Heb. p. 204. The Jews have a saying Quandò occidit Sol vir illustris utilis oritur Sol viz. alius similis ipsi That never doth there die any illustrious man but there is another born as bright on the same day To which they accommodate that place See Mr. Patricks Serm. on Psa 90.12 Eccles 1.5 Nay they observe further that he makes some Star or other arise before the Sun be set as Joshua began to shine before Moses his light was darkned And before Joshua went to bed Othniel the Son of Kenaz was risen up to judge Eli was not gathered to his fathers before Samuel appeared to be a most hopeful youth and among the other sex they also note that Sarah was not taken away till Rebeccah was ready to come in her stead Furthermore we find in Scripture how Elisha succeeded Elijah Eleazer Aaron Haggai and Zechary supplyed the loss of Daniel and Christ arose in John Baptists stead And hopeful Timothy in the room of Paul the aged Consider then that others as good and useful in their generations may succeed in their stead 3. Lastly consid The happiness that a good man is estated in at death The righteous like Stars though they set in one place yet they rise in another These trees of righteousness are translated into the Coelestial Paradise so that though they be not with us yet they are with God If we truly love them we cannot but congratulate their feasts of joy their rivers of pleasures their palms of victory Dr. Stuarts Cathol Divin pag. 158. Aug. Manuals c. 7 de gaudio their robes of majesty their crown of glory O vita vitalis vita sempiterna sempiternè beata ubi gaudium sine moerore requies sine labore sanitas sine languore opes sine amissione perpetuitas sine corruptione In heaven there is life indeed an eternal blessed life where there is joy without sorrow rest without labour health without sickness riches without loss everlastingness without corruption Even Balaam saw the happy condition of such as dye in the Lord which made him cry out Let me dye the death of the Righteous and let my last end be like his Numb 23.10 Let us not then weep immoderately for those from whose eyes God hath wiped away all tears Let us rejoyce in their joy as we are commanded Rom. 12.15 and not weep as though we envied their happiness Indeed we have great loss when good men are taken away but let us not look altogether upon our loss but likewise on their gain and let the one at least counterballance the other 14. And last Apology answered Another cryes out 14th Apology answerd This Friend or Relation of mine lived an openly profane wretch and he died without any shew of penitential sorrow As he lived sottishly so for ought I could see he died securely I fear he is a damned creature and this troubles me Answ This complaint usually Parents take up over their wicked Children And if Parents have the least spark of grace or true love to their Children they cannot chuse but grieve to see their Children cut off in their wicked courses Sad it is to consider that their Children should be companions with Divels that their own flesh and blood should be fuel for the fire of Hell Indeed this is just matter of humility but not of discontented sullenness mourn under it you may but you must not mourn immoderately or murmur through discontent To this end let Parents consider 1. Consid Many of Gods dear Servants have had wicked Children Our first Parents Adam and Eve as Divines generally observe had laid hold on that promise Gen. 3.15 and were renewed by faith and repentance yet they had a very wicked Son their first-born Cain was an hypocrite and a murderer Gen. 4. So Noah a just man and upright in his generation and one that walked with God Gen. 6.9 had a cursed Cham. Gen. 9.22 Abraham whom God boasts of Gen. 18.19 had a persecuting Ishmael Gen. 16.12 Gal. 4.19 Isaac a good man had Esau a prophane wretch Heb. 12.16 Jacob who wrestled with God in prayer and prevailed Gen. 32.28 had Simeon and Levi as well as Joseph and Benjamin Samuel one devoted to the Lord when he was old made his sons Judges over Israel but they walked not in his wayes but turned aside after lucre 1 Sam. 8.3 David a man after Gods own heart had not only Salomon that was beloved of God but likewise incestuous Amnon ambitious Absalom and treacherous Adonijah 1 King 1.5 Josiah that good King left wicked sons behind him Jehoahaz 2 King 23.30 31 32 and Jehoiakim vers 34 36 37. so Jer. 22.18 Many more examples might be brought out of Scripture to prove this but in a point so clear and known to be too true by daily experience let these suffice Be content then thy case is not singular Solamen miseris socios habuisse doloris 2. Consid Gods servants have been patient when God hath before their eyes cut off their children in their wickedness When Nadab and Abihu offered strange fire before the Lord by fire from the Lord as with lightning they were destroyed Livit. 10.1 2. And how doth their Father take it See vers 3. Aaron held his peace either because his grief was so great as that he could not vent himself in answerable expressions Curae leves loquuntur ingentes stupent or rather he held his peace being convinced of the justice of divine vengeance for Moses had said to Aaron This is that the Lord spake saying I will be sanctified in them that come nigh me and before all the People I will be glorified So old Eli's sons were sons of Belial they knew not the Lord 1 Sam. 2.12 though indeed being educated by their godly Father they
healed of it but afterwards he felt many bad motions and sinful lusts stirring in him then he earnestly desired God to return to him the Head-ach again rather than suffer the peace of his Soul to be disquieted with those lusts So that you see bodily Pains and Diseases are sent by God to prevent or purge out sin But more particularly God sends sickness to prevent or purge out these following sins to name a few 1. Pride See 2 Cor. 12.7 Some by the Thorn in the flesh understand some extream pain as the Head-ach so Theophilact Some refer it to the Iliaca Passio or Wind in the small Guts See Mr. Leigh's Annot. on 2 Cor. 12.7 so Aquinas Some to the Gout or pain in the Stomach as Nazianzene and Basil are said to interpret it These or the like bodily Distempers may be well compared to a Thorn in the flesh because they are as painful to the body as if a Thorn or Splinter was thrust into the flesh This Thorn was sent o let out the wind of Pride Lest saith the Apostle I should be exalted above measure Job under his sores and sickness and other afflictions that God exercised him with confessed his vileness and abhord himself in Dust and Ashes Job 40.4 42.6 2. Worldly-mindedness God sends sickness to withdraw their heart and affections from things here below and to cause them to mount up and aspire more unto Heaven The best are apt to fall in love with this wretched world as Peter said Luke 9.33 Master it is good for us to be here God in sickness makes his servants willing to remove They see Riches and Friends cannot ease them of their pains and therefore they desire to be gone Phil. 1.23 and to be translated into the new Jerusalem where no Inhabitant shall say he is sick Isa 33.24 3. Security In health and prosperity the best are apt to forget God As David said Psal 30.6 7. In his prosperity I shall never be moved Lord by thy favour thou hast made my Mountain to stand strong but when God did hide his face and left him to the dangerous assaults of his Enemies or fury of some sickness then he was troubled and cryed to the Lord and pleaded with him in prayer as you may read in the following verses 8 9 10 11. When he casts his people on their backs in a sick-bed then especially they look upward 4. Insensibleness of others sufferings under sickness Most men are insensible of the sufferings of others like those voluptuous Epicures as if unconcerned in others miseries they are not affected with their Brethrens calamities Amos 6.3 4 5 6. Even the best are too too stoical herein whilst in Health not sufficiently sensible of the miseries that others lie under by reason of sickness But when God hath visited us with sickness then we pity those that lie under the same or the like sufferings The Poet Virgil brings in Dido speaking thus Non ignara mali miseris succurrere disco She being in misery did pitty those that were in misery David whom God had much exercised with sickness had learnt to pity others as you may see Psal 35.13 14. 5. Unthankfulness We do not whilst we are healthful and strong rightly prize health nor are we duly thankful for so great a mercy Carendo magis quà m fruendo We know the worth of things best by the want of them As God threatned to take away Corn and Wine and Oyl from Judah because she did not know i. e. thankfully acknowledge them to be Gods good Gifts Hos 2.8 9. So God many times deprives his People of health that they may learn to prize it the more and to improve it more to his glory when he sends it again 6. The sixth and last sin that sickness sent by God is a means to purge out or prevent is Forgetfulness of Death Jerusalem in prosperity remembred not her last end Lam. 1.9 The best of us in times of health too too seldom think of Death which made Moses cry out Deut. 32.29 O that they were wise that they understood this that they would consider their latter end God therefore sends sickness which is Ante-ambulo Mortis the fore-runner of Death to mind them that the King of Terrors is not far off they at such a time expect Death and look upon it as that which will certainly come Abel Redivivus in his life Bishop Andrews said oft in his sickness It must come once and why not here David in sickness saw the vanity of Man in his best state Psalm 39.5 Surely every man at his best state is altogether vanity Selah And vers 11. he warbles it over again on his doleful Harp Surely every man is vanity Selah So Moses under God's afflicting hand Psalm 90.7 saw the frailty of Man's life and therefore prayed vers 12. So teach us to number our dayes that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom Thus you see God sends sickness for the purging out or preventing of several sins in his People 2. The other end that God hath in such passages of his providence towards his Servants is for the tryal and exercise of their Graces Affliction is sent to try us Psal 66.10 11. Jer. 9.7 1 Pet. 4.12 It is both the Touchstone and Whet-stone of Grace A Feaver or some such like Distemper is as a fiery Tryal to try the truth of God's Graces in us and to set them awork in so much as the Apostle saith 2 Cor. 12.10 I take pleasure in infirmities for when I am weak then am I strong When he was weak in Body he was strong in Grace But more particularly God sends sickness to try and exercise these following Graces 1. Faith and Hope I put them both together for they are nigh of kin The Apostle speaks of God's suffering his People to be in heaviness through manifold temptations that is afflictions for the tryal of their Faith as you may see 1 Pet. 1.6 7. Job's Faith was seen and set awork under his sufferings Job 13.15 Though he slay me yet will I trust in him It is Faith indeed to trust in that God that seems to frown So hope is seen and set awork in a tempest It is compared to an Anchor Heb. 6.19 whose use is best seen in a storm 2. Patience In times of affliction there is matter for patience as well as faith to be exercised about Rev. 13.10 so 2 Thess 1.4 The Apostle saith Tribulation worketh Patience Rom. 5.3 He means It occasions the exercise of Patience James 5.11 Ye have heard of the Patience of Job saith Saint James Ye had not heard so much of his Patience had it not been for his sickness and such like afflictions which God exercised him with Sickness is the School of Patience 3. Love to God Jer. 2.2 I remember thee saith the Lord the kindness of thy youth the love of thine espousals when thou wentest after me in the Wilderness in a Land that was