sorrow and mingling his teares with his drink then to utter divine Proverbs with wise Salomon and what our Saviour spoke of watching the same doe I speake of repentance I say unto you all repent if you are in the field remember Abel if you are a feasting remember Iobs children when you goe to bed that you might holily compose your selves to rest that you may commit the keyes of your doores much more your lives into the hands of GOD remember the first-borne of Egypt which were slaine at midnight by the Angell of the LORD let Adulterers remember Zimri and Cozbi and drunkards King Ela slaine by another Zimri if you walk in the streets remember those on whom the tower of Silo fell if your hearts begin to turne to the love of the world remember Lots wife that which befell them may befall us it will be then our wisdome by GODS grace to prevent sin and if we fall into sin our next wisdome will be to repent of the sin we have fallen into Another duty which naturally doth arise from this Doctrine is to lose no time in doing and in receiving all the good we can this is the day appointed to worke and how short this day is the LORD alone doth know but this we know the night commeth wherin none can work Shall the Sun stand still for thee as it did for Ioshua or go back as it did five houres for Hezekiah doe we thinke we can doe good in another world when we do no good to speake of in this be not deceived with this dangerous errour and hurtfull pretention of doing good hereafter whatsoever thy hand findeth to do do it with all thy might and the reason is good for there is no device nor work nor knowledge nor wisdome in the grave whither thou goest Vaine hope of future performances hath undone many sow thy seed whiles the seed time lasteth if thou looke to have a crop and harvest We may learne this from the birds of the ayre the Turtle the Storke the Crane and Swallow know their appointed times the waifaring man he travels whiles it is light then he knowes he is under the protection of the Lawes the sea-faring man he observes the wind the Smith he strikes whiles his iron is hot nay we may learne this wisdome from the divell himself he rageth and doth all the mischief he can because his time is but short Thus of doing good and so likewise must we let no opportunity slip of receiving good lay hold of every season which may be an advantage to get heaven to strengthen and increase spirituall graces be glad if thou canst heare the Word preached on a working day Saint Basil he preached on a working day and tels his Auditors their thoughts desires that he would be short that they might go about their labour If such thoughts possesse our hearts at this or any other time let us repell them and remember what the holy Father there speaketh the time spent in GODS service is not lost for GOD to recompence them removes troublesome businesse gives promptitude of minde or strength of body sends customers to buy their wares and if he doth none of these yet are they no loosers by their paines for he gives them a rich treasure in heaven Lastly this point may teach GODS children patience in all distresses and afford them sound comfort in all estates they are nearer heaven now salvation now is nearer to them then when they began to believe sin and Satan do now disquiet them but they shall not do so for ever Many a one can be content to endure hardship a few yeares nay to be a galley slave under the Turke seven yeares if he had assurance of a great Lordship after that time was expired and choose rather to be a bondman upon those termes then to be a free man without them exercise long-suffering good Christian there may be but a day or moneth or yeare but a little time betwixt thee and the joyes of heaven Who would not admire the state of such a beggar who every houre was in possibility of a Kingdome but behold a greater reward by GODS promise is due to all his children then this earth can afford more glorious things shall be theirs then ever eye hath seene or eare hath heard or the heart of man can conceive which without all doubt by comparison at least are true of the joyes of heaven Why then shouldest thou O Christian soule be cast downe or why shouldest thou be in vaine disquieted surely if thou wouldest seriously consider that thy heavinesse shall be suddenly turned into unspeakeable joy that all thy teares shall be for ever wiped from thy eyes and that these momentany afflictions do proportionably work unto thee an exceeding weight of glory thou hast no reason to be much dejected for them Thus much of the first Doctrine the second followeth but that we may build upon a good foundation we must first declare the meaning of those words on which we must ground our ensuing Observation I desire to depart and to be with CHRIST To be with CHRIST Why was not Saint Paul with CHRIST was not his conversation now in heaven and was not the streame of his affection carried to CHRIST was not he with him in the spirit as with the Colossians rejoycing and beholding his happinesse doubtlesse he was But this being with CHRIST was not that presence which he desired it was a neerer presence to be where he was in the highest heavens and to behold the glory which GOD the Father had given him desire is the daughter of indigence and want some way and himselfe doth plainely tell us whilest we are in the body as now Saint Paul was we are absent from the LORD you may be pleased to observe a difference betwixt these phrases of CHRIST his being with us and our being with CHRIST it is one thing for CHRIST to be with us this benefit is enjoyed in this life he promised to be with the Apostles and his Successors and so by Analogy he is with all his mysticall members to the worlds end but it is another thing for us to be with CHRIST this honour is reserved for the world to come and it is a state of blessednesse as he spoke to the theefe on the Crosse this day shalt thou be with me in Paradise Whence I doe observe that The faithfull soule when it departeth out of this life is immediatly after death with CHRIST If the soule of Paul why not the soule of other faithfull ones Saint Paul I know whilest hee lived was a man indued with singular zeale for CHRIST and holinesse of life and exercised with more then ordinary miseries and persecutions himselfe reciteth a Catalogue of many of them but as it is not the degree of faith but faith that justifies nor the measure of graces but
A LEARNED AND GODLY SERMON Preached on the XIX day of December Anno Dom. MDCXXXI at the Funerall of Mr. ROBERT BOLTON Batchelour in Divinity and Minister of Broughton in Northampton-Shire By Mr. NICOLAS ESTVVICK Batchelour in Divinity and sometimes fellow of Christs Colledge in Cambridge and now Minister of Warkton in Northampton-Shire LONDON Printed by GEORGE MILLER dwelling in Black-Friers 1639. flock of sheep without a particular shepheard and if thou hadst leave to name his successour thou mightest seeke from one end of the land to another in thy choice and yet not find in all points a man matchable to him he was a bright and a shining lamp if any of thy inhabitants doe sit in darknesse their ignorance is altogether inexcusable hee lifted up his voice in this place many yeares together like a trumpet if any of thy inhabitants are not awakened out of the sleepe of sinne they may now goe on more securely in this dead sleep but wo to them it will be easier for Sodome and Gomorrah at the day of judgement than for them I pitie your case good friends and bewaile your losse but why do J name your losse It is my losse and a common losse we are all of us sharers though not all alike in this judgement LORD that thou shouldest suffer such a wretched sinner and an unprofitable servant of thine as I am yet to live and deprive the visible Church of so worthy an instrument of thy glorie as M. Bolton Holy Father we may think had it stood it with thy holy pleasure that it had been good for thy Church if his life had been spared with the losse of many of ours he was a deep channell in whose justly deserved commendations the streames of eloquence which in former ages flowed from those great and godly Orators the two Gregories both of Nazianzum and Nyssa from great Basil and golden-mouth'd Chrysostome from S. Ambrose and S. Austin might have emptied themselves and yet not over-flowed the banks and what do I then come hither with my distracted thoughts and trembling heart which if ever I had any gift in encomiasticall and laudative Orations have many years since willingly neglected it and so lost it As Gregory Nazianzen spoke of his Basil I have for my part as great reason to speake of our sometimes deare and now blessed M. Bolton J admired him while he lived and honoured him in my heart to speak of his excellencies wherwith the LORD had plentifully inriched him is a burden too heavy for my shoulders and a very hard task for those who doe nothing els but study Oratory all that I can speak in the praises of this godly man falls short by many degrees of his worth whose memory is precious and shall be kept greene and flourishing as the rod of Aaron laid up in the Tabernacle THE TEXT PHIL. 1. 23 24. I desire to be dissolved THe Apostle S. Paul was in a strait or divided betwixt two affections carried to different objects and they were in a sort contrary one way he was drawne with a desire to be with CHRIST farre from the Philippians even as farre as Heaven is from earth another way he was drawne with a desire to continue with his beloved brethren warring on earth and to bee for a time farre remooved from CHRIST the necessity of his brethren did move him to desire the latter his great love to CHRIST did incite him to long for the former betwixt these two affections the Apostle had a conflict and he was so perplexed that he knew not whither to turne him he knew not what to chuse He was as iron betwixt two load-stones drawne this way first and then that way We read that David was on a time in a great strait but apparent were the differences betwixt the present perplexity of this our Apostle and that of David Davids was in regard of evills proposed this was for the enjoying of good his necessity was touching evill which could not be avoided but the Apostles was free and voluntary his perplexity somwhat concerned himself the shunning of his own evill but the Apostles was for the good of others which was joyned with his own hurt Behold here as in a perspective a heart truly Apostolicall wherein he shewed at once both great love to CHRIST desiring to be with him and withall great love to his brethren desiring to abide with them for their profit I begin with the first of these Pauls desire in respect of himselfe wherein are observable three particulars 1. The desire it selfe and that was to depart or die 2. A reason implied of this his desire for then hee should be with CHRIST 3. His censure or judgement of that estate to bee with CHRIST it 's best of all Let us open the words first and then raise Observations out of them for our edification 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 it is word for word having a desire and this is somewhat more than simply to desire for it noteth a vehement earnest and continued desire a desire which is in action and working till wee have our desire accomplished wheras to desire simply may be a sudden motion or momentany passion 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Some translate the word passively Tertullian renders it recipi l. de patientia pa. 8. others to be dissolved or loosed and it is done when things mixt and compounded are resolved into their parts and principles now because the soule is as it were included in the body and cannot enjoy CHRIST fully till that composition by the body be resolved by death therfore doth S. Paul earnestly desire this resolution 2. Or it may signifie to return as the word is taken elsewhere the LORD will returne from the wedding which sense is not dissonant from the scope of this place for the spirit being freed from the body returneth to GOD that gave it and what els doth the Apostle now desire but to returne unto CHRIST by whom he was sent to preach the Gospell 3. It signifieth to loose anchor or as Chrysostome renders it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to flit or to change our place and so it 's a metaphor from marriners importing a flitting or sailing from the state of this present life by the ship of death to another port to saile as it were from one bank to another It is not much materiall which reading we follow they all of them doe agree in the maine point and substance and doe affoord an observation which might be enlarged and set foorth with variety of colours and strengthened with long discourses but as they which have a long journey to goe and but a short time allowed them must make but a short stay in any one place and as Painters many times use only to draw out the heads and superiour parts of men leaving all the other parts lineaments to be proportionably supplied by the wise beholders even so must J at this time propound
affection to die and assurance of being with CHRIST when thou art dead then dost thou labour for the true sense and feeling of thy reconciliation with GOD and dost make thy peace with thy brother whom thou hast wronged by word or deed if thou lookest to see the face of CHRIST the righteous Judge with comfort thou wilt abandon foolish shame and fond selfe-love thou wilt make restitution and returne goods in thy hands to the right owner thou wilt not suffer sin to lie upon thy soule nor let thy furrowes in thy field to cry out against thee nor by proportion the stone and timber of thy house to complaine of thee Zach 5. 4. for this would bring a curse to consume them thou wilt often make thy reckning even with thy GOD for this makes friendship durable if CHRIST be gone as he seemes to be at some time from his children thou wilt seek for him sorrowing as Mary his mother did and thou shalt in GODS good time find him in the Temple as she did I mean in the use of his holy ordinances Thirdly alwaies be vigilant and watchfull this spirituall watch is nothing but the carefullnesse of the soule to keep spirituall graces in their vigour and activity and though GOD hath appointed watchmen over us yet hath he not appointed watchmen for us their watching is not in our stead to give us leave to sleepe but it is to keepe us waking what I say to you I say to all Watch. And very good reason You know not saith our Saviour what houre your LORD will come and our drousie disposition will be soone rocked a sleepe by Satan who besprinkles the temples of our head with his spirituall opium of wicked motions and suggestions if we do not lawfully strive against them take heed least thine owne corrupt heart the greatest enemy thou hast beguileth thee not be prudently vigilant to descry dangers before they come to prevent all occasions whereby thy happy estate might be lost the dumbe beasts as Oxe and Mule that are without understanding will not come neare the place where they have escaped danger and shouldest thou adventure to the hazard of thy soule in knowledge be not like the horse and mule in avoiding dangers be like them Consider the Divels policy he is a theefe a beggar may safely passe by him his aime is to rob the wealthy passenger rub thine eyes often frequently ransacke thy heart keep GODS feare fresh in thy soule Iacob could not sleepe when he heard of Esau his comming against him and Sampson had little list to sleepe in Dalilaes lap when he heard the Philistins were comming on him delight in the society of the Saints good company keepes us waking all these are soveraigne helps to keepe us spiritually watching Fourthly often meditate on death die as it were daily in the disposition of thy soule and preparation to death forgetfullnesse of death makes life to be sinfull and death to be terrible as a destroying Lyon whereas the sight of savage beasts is not terrible to those that converse with them looke on death as on the Sun in an opticke glasse though it be far off yet it seemes neere at hand and so in truth it may be neere us being as a pit covered with snow into which wee may suddenly fall that which many carrie in their rings carrie thou in thy heart memento mori be like to those that in their life time had their scpulchers in their gardens and places of pleasure and that they might be mindfull hereof some had dead mens skuls before their eyes in their most delicious banquets by so doing we should prevent a great deale of sin it would be as a bitter pill to purge out many noisome humours and prove that we are truly wise alwaies ready for death it s an excellent thing when death approacheth to have nothing else to do but to die Fifthly it is a comfortable signe if thou dost heartily pray to GOD for this very end as the Saints of GOD have done prayer is our best guard when we are at home and when we are abroad GOD will not denie our suits made in CHRIST his name because this was one benefit which CHRIST merited for us Alas what else should we do when we are every day for ought we know going to judgement should we not intreat the Judge to pardon us should we not with sighes and sobs cry continually unto him to be mercifull unto us Hier. reports in the life of Paul a Disciple of Anthony the first Monke and that not simply for devotion but to avoid persecution that this religious man was found dead kneeling upon his knees holding up his hands lifting up his eyes the soule was so devout that the very dead corps seemed to pray unto GOD now this humble seeking to GOD by prayer that he would make us alwaies ready for death argues a soule sensible of its owne weakenesse and of GODS goodnesse Sixthly if thou art sincere and sound at the heart and walkest with GOD in the uprightnesse of thy soule and makest this the crowne and garland of thy life which will never wither and decay that thou hatest all knowne sins not the outward onely whereof men may be witnesses but all inward corruptions as hardnesse of heart wanton revengefull thoughts and such like whereof the world can take no notice if thou magnifiest GODS graces and gracious persons and canst be content out of thy love to CHRIST to suffer any thing for CHRIST this is sincerity I say not legall sincerity that is a perfection too high for us to attaine unto nor onely naturall and morall integrity whereby an unregenerate man is guided by the light which is in him without hypocrisie this may the very heathens have but Evangelicall integrity whereby the person being accepted for CHRIST the heart though failing in some particular actions yet manifests habituall grace by a constant course in the generall of a holy conversation Lastly to name no more if we are truly thankfull unto GOD for making away for us to goe by death to heaven by the death of his Son whose portion by due desert was hell how Iudith and Ester were magnified for procuring deliverance to their countrymen from outward enemies the Bible sheweth how the Grecians honoured Flaminius the Romane for prevailing against Philip of Macedon and proclaiming their liberty is registred in heathen stories with what applauses and acclamations of all the Romans men women and children Constantine was received into that Queene of Cities Eusebius the Historian doth relate for vanquishing the Tyrant Maxentius calling him their deliverer their conserver their bountifull Patron a common good thing c. here was love and thankfulnesse we see most earnest GOD knowes and our owne consciences testifie unto us this day how far we exceed those Grecians and Romans