THIS Book is stiled the Revelation of John the Di­vine, which hints to us both the Author and the Na­ture of the Book.

1. The Author, viz. The Apostle and Evange­list St. John, that beloved disciple of our Lord, who leaned on his bosome when he eat his last Supper, as we read, John 13.23. and he is stiled here [...], the Divine, [...], by way of special emphasis; because like an Eagle (the usual emblem that is given him) which soars higher than other Birds, and looks upon the rayes of the Sun with undazled eyes, (as the na­turalist observes) he soared aloft, and writ more sublimely of the Son of Righteousness, of the Divinity of Christ in this and in his other Books, than any other of the Evangelists did. Pareus tells us, that he finds no less than 48 Arguments for the divinity of Christ in this very Book; & therefore well might he be stiled the Divine, since he writ so divinely of his Lord and Master.

2. The Nature of the Book is shewed also by the Title, and so it is termed a Revelation; so called, because it reveals and makes known, as many hidden mysteries, so many future events, which should happen to, and befall the Churches of Christ in after Ages. The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto John, to shew unto his servants things that must shortly come to pass, as you have it in Chap. 1. Ver. 1. 'Tis true indeed, this Revelation is not without a mixture of much intricacy and obscurity: Tot habet Sacramenta, quot verba (saith St. Jerom); It hath almost as many Mysteries as words. The greatest part of it is Prophetical, a [Page 2] prophesy of future events of what should happen in after Ages, 'till the end of the world: And all prophesies are difficult and hard to be understood 'till they are fulfilled; till the time comes, when the things foretold or prophesied of, take effect. Hence the wisest and most learned of Divines have been very much puzled and gravel'd in their Explanations and Expositions of it: and after all their profoundest studies, and most serious Enquiries, have confessed; That there are many knots here, which they could never unty; many depths which they could never yet dive into; many mysteries which they could never unfold: But as the greatest Rivers, so the most mysterious Books of Scrip­ture run not in the same continued depth; though in some places they can scarce be sounded, yet in other places they shew their bottoms.

And thus, even thus it is with this mysterious book of the R [...]velations. In some places (as 'tis usually observed of it) an Elephant may swim, in others a Lamb may wade: some things are laid down so mystically in such dark prophesies and abstruse Visions, as that the judgment of the Wisest may be much tried and exercised therein; yea, often over-power'd and nonpluss'd: And some things are laid down so plainly and familiarly, as that the infirmities of the weakest may be much succoured and assisted. The one is done (as one observes) to prevent contempt, the o­ther to anticipate discouragement. Of the latter sort is my Text; in which we have Two things considerable.

1. A positive and plain assertion touching the happy estate of such as die in the Lord; Blessed are the dead that die in the Lord, henceforth.

2. A strong confirmation of this assertion in the remainder of the Text; I heard a Voice from Heaven, saying, Write; yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their Labours, and their Works f [...]llow them.

I shall take these in their order, and accordingly begin with the first of these generals, viz.

1. The Assertion here laid down touching the happy estate of such as die in the Lord: in these words of my Text, Blessed are the Dead that die in the Lord, henceforth. In which we have Two things further considerable.

1. The subjects of this Blessedness, and they are said to be The Dead that die in the Lord.

[Page 3]2. The time whence this Blessedness doth in a more espe­cial manner commence; Henceforth.

1. Then we have h [...]re the subjects of this Blessedness, and they are said to be The Dead that die in the Lord. 1. The Dead; to understand which, we must know, that there is a threefold Death; A corporal or natural death, which consisteth in the separation of the soul from the body for a time; A spiritual death, which consisteth in the separation of the soul from Gods gracious presence, from his love and favour in this world; An eternal death, which consisteth in the separation of the soul, and indeed of the whole man from Gods glorious presence for ever in the other world. The first of these is here understood, the Dead; that is such as are corporally dead, whose souls are separated from their bodies for a time; not that all such are blessed in the other world more by far of such (it's to be feared) are rather miserable there, than blessed: for straight is the gate and narrow is the way, that leads to everlasting life, and few there be that find it, as our Saviour tells us; few alas! in comparison of those that miss of it: but that such of those dead are happy or blessed, that die in the Lord: which is the second thing to be opened, viz. what it is to die in the Lord? And there is some variety amongst Expositors about the interpretation of this phrase: Some there are that tell us, that [...] is put here for [...]; that to die in the Lord in this place, is to die propter Dominum, or Domini causa, for the Lord, or in the Lords cause; in defence of his Truth against Antichrist, as the Holy Martyrs did; and they quote several parallel places of Scriptures (where the phrase [...], in the Lord, is to be so taken) to confirm what they say, as Rom. 16.12. and Ephes. 4.1. and do moreover alledge the context, and the occasion of these words for this sence of them. Others there are, that take these words in their proper sence, as not confined to the martyrs only, to such as die for the cause of Christ, and do seal his Truth with their Blood; but as belonging to all that die in the faith and fear of the Lord: and so to die in the Lord with them, is to die in his faith and fear; in his love and favour as all good men do: and they do quote also several places of Scripture to confirm this sence of theirs; where this phraze is so used; as Rom. 16.7. salute Andronicus and Junia which were in the Lord before me (saith St. Paul); that is, which were believers, which were in the faith before him: & 1 Thes. 4.14. If we believe that Jesus died and [Page 4] rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus, i. e. which die in Jesus, will God bring with him; and to mention no more places to this purpose, see Ver 16. of the same Chap. The Lord hims [...]lf (saith the Apostle) shall descend from Heaven with a shout wi [...]h the voice of the Arch-Angel, and with the Trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ shall rise first; the dead in Christ, i. e. those that die in the faith of Christ; as all true believers do; interested in him, in his love and favour.

The words in my Text, may be taken, I humbly conceive, in both these Senses; and though possibly, the first sense given of them may be primarily intended in it, yet the second is in no sort to be excluded: for though the Martyrs, and such as die for the truth and cause of Christ, may have the greatest share in this blessedness, as being most capacitated for it, and most deserving of it; yet such as die in the faith and fear of Christ, as all good men do; are blessed as well as they: and that [...], ab hoc tempore; henceforth, as we render the Original; which brings me to the second thing observable in my first general, viz.

2. The circumstance of time whence this blessedness doth in a more especial manner commence, comprized in this word henceforth; Blessed are the dead that die in the Lord, henceforth. Not, but that the dead that died in the Lord were blessed before this time; alwaies blessed, and that too from the very first moment of their dying, whatever the Papists talk to the contrary in defence of their Purgatory, and Limbus Patrum; but that they were so now in an especial manner, when this Book (I mean of the Revelations) was written; in that they would by this means, be as it were housed and secured from that severe storm of persecution; which then hung over the Church of Christ, and which was to be raised by the Beast and Anti­christ against the saints and servants of God; but so much shall suffice for the explication of the first thing observable in my Text; the Assertion here laid down touching the happy estate and condition of such as die in the Lord, in these words of it; blessed are the dead that die in the Lord, henceforth. I come now to the Second general, viz.

2. To the Confirmation of this Assertion in the remainder of my Text, and we have it confirmed to us Three wayes.

• [Page 5]1. By a voice from Heaven; I heard a voice from Heaven, saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the Dead, &c.
• 2. By the Testimony of the Holy Spirit upon the earth, Yea, saith the Spirit.
• 3. By the reason of the thing, or the ends that are given here why good men die; That they may rest from their Labours, and that their Works may follow them.

1. Then we have this assertion here confirmed by a voice from Heaven; I heard a voice from Heaven saying unto me, write, Blessed are the dead that die in the Lord, henceforth. We read in the Scriptures, of several Voices that have been heard from Heaven to confirm us in the Principles of our Religion, and in the Articles of our Creed.

The voice heard from Heaven by St. John in my Text, was to Confirm him and us, in the last Article of our Creed, touching the Happiness of the dead, and the glorious estate of the triumphant Church in the life to come: and what greater confirmation can we desire to establish us in any truth, than a voice from Heaven? since a voice from Heaven tells us, that the dead that die in the Lord are blessed; we have no reason in the world to doubt of it. For who can know, who are in Heaven, and what is the estate and condition of those that are there, better than those that are in Heaven, or have come from thence, as this voice did? we have no better way to know what is done in China, or in the East-indies; or how happy the In­habitants of those Countreys are; Than by talking with one that hath been in those parts, or is come from thence: we have no better way to know what is done in Heaven, and how happy they are that are got thither; than by talking with, and hearing of those that live there, or have come from thence: and therfore I say, since the blessedness of those that die in the Lord hath been confirmed to us by a voice from Heaven, we have all the reason in the world to believe it. But then,

2. We have this truth confirmed to us, as by a voice from heaven; so also by the testimony of the holy spirit upon earth: I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, blessed are the dead that dye in the Lord, henceforth; [...]; yea, saith the Spirit, viz. the Divine Spirit, or the Holy Ghost (as the word Spirit doth often import in this Book, and in other Books of the sacred Scriptures): as if the voice, or he that uttered the voice, had said [Page 6] to St. John; 'tis not only I, who am, but possibly an Angel, a fellow-creature of thine, a bare messenger sent from Heaven to tell thee, this; that say so: but the divine Spirit, the Holy Ghost himself, who is equal with God the Father, saith so; and that not only in multitudes of places in the Scriptures, but in the hearts and consciences of all good men, of all true believers: This Holy Spirit saith yea; to what I have said, gives his [...], his Amen, or v [...]ly to [...]t, and hath commanded me to tell thee as much; and ther [...]fore thou hast reason to believe it: For what he saith and declares, is, as he saith it is, and as he declares it to be; and whatever he promiseth or threatneth shall accor­dingly in time he performed and made good. He is, (as we are told) a Spirit of Truth, a faithful Witness, one that cannot lye, as the Apostle expresly tells us, Tit. 1, 2. his word shall be made good to a tittle. Heaven and earth shall pass away but not one Iota, not the least tittle of what he hath said shall go unfulfilled; as our Saviour assureth us, Mat. 5.18. He is not a man, that he sh [...]uld lye, neither the Son of man, that he should repent: hath he said it, and shall it not be made good? said Balaam, Numb. 23.19. the sons of men indeed are often lyars; men of low de [...]ree (saith the Psal­mist) are vanity, and men of high degree are a lye, Psa. 62.9. they will say and unsay many times with the same breath: we have no sure hold of their word, no sure ground to build upon their assertions; but it is not so with the Spirit of God: we may safely build upon his word: 'tis imp [...]ssible that he should lye or deceive any, as the Apostle tells us, Heb. 6.18. Truth is of his very nature and essence, and he may as soon cease to be, as cease to be true: but that is the second ground given in my Text, why we should believe, that such as die in the Lord are Blessed, because the Holy Spirit hath affirmed it, and gives his yea to it; Blessed are the dead that die in the Lord, yea, saith the Spirit. But then,

3. As the Spirit saith so, as it is evident and clear from what the Spirit tells us in the Holy Scriptures and in the hearts and consciences of all good men; so the Ratio rei, the reason of the thing speaks as much; or it is evident that it must be so from reason it self: I might name many, but I shall content my self at present with what we have in my Text: and we have Two here given for it: The dead that die in the Lord must needs be Blessed. For

• [Page 7]1. They rest then from their labours. And
• 2. Their works will follow them.

1. Then, if we consult Reason, Good Men, such as die in the Lord, will be blessed after death: For then they will rest from their labours; they will then be at their rest; there the wicked ceas [...] from trouble and the weary be at rest saith Job, speaking of the grave or the other world, Jo [...] 14.13. There remaines a rest for t [...]e p [...]o [...]l [...] o [...] God, saith the Apostle Heb. 4 9. And such as die in the Lord are said to rest or sleep in Jesus, 1 Thes. 4.14. Th [...]y shall [...] ter [...]to peace, th [...]y shall rest in their beds, saith the Prophet, speak­ing of righteous men that are taken away from the evil to come, Isa. 57.1. Look what a bed of rest or sl [...]ep is to the weary labourer; such is Death to good men; their dying day is their resting day, they shall then rest from their labours. Not neither; (for I would not be mistaking here) that the souls of good men after death, are without all motion or operation, till the Resur­rection of their bodies: not that they turn sleepers till then (as some have im [...]gined) not that they dose away all their time, or indeed any of it, from the last breath or gasp that the body takes, to the blowing of the last trumpet, as some do fondly dream. For the soul is of such a nature, as that it can no more be and not act, than the wind can be and not blow, than the fire can be and not burn, than the sun can be and not shine: its very nature and essence consisteth in alwayes thinking, in constant cogitation, as some both of the old and new Philosophers tell us. They rest not day and night, saying, holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty; which was, which is, and which is to come, saith St. Jo n of the four and twenty elders, and so of the souls of just men made perfect; Revel. 4.8. The resting of the soul then is not a cealing or a rest from all kind of motion or operation; But a rest, [...]; as 'tis phrazed in my Text: that is, a rest from all those toilsome labours and troublesome pains wh [...]h they are forced to undergoe, whilst here in the body [...]oth in the pursuit of their particular callings as men, and in the pursuit of their general callings as Christians. They rest from all toilsome labour, with reference to both of these, and that too, both with reference to all sinning and suffering in either of them: To mention no more,

1. The Souls of good men which die in the Lord, rest from all their labours, with respect to sinning; their death puts a pe­riod, and an end to all their sinning, in both; the issue of sin shall [Page 8] then be quite dryed up, shall run no longer. Here the heart of a Christian is like Rebekahs womb; it hath, as it were, twins strug­ling in it; the old man and the new, flesh and spirit; the law in the members warring against the law of the mind: The flesh lust­ing against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary one to the other, as the Apostle tells us, Gal. 5.17. and by means of this contrariety, there is a great conflict many times, much strugling and striving; much labour and trouble in the heart of a Christian: So that the good which he would do, he doth not; and the evil which he w [...]uld not do, that many times doth he, as the Apostle phrazeth it in his own person, Rom. 7.22. his very life, by means of this, is like a Book fraught full of Errata's; who knows the Errours of this Life (saith David) there is not a just Man upon earth, that doth good at all times, and sinneth not (saith Solomon) Eccles. 7.20. If any man saith he hath no sin, he deceiveth himself, and the truth is not in him, saith St. John, 1 Jo. 1.8. And in many things we offend all, saith St. James, Jam. 2.3. Our very righteousness is but as filthy rags, as the Prophet tells us, Isa. 6.4. Our best graces (saith one) are not without their defects. Lord I believe, help mine unbelief, cryes he in the Gospel, Mark 9.24. Our best duties not without their defaults; When I would do good, evil is present with me, saith the Apostle, Rom. 7.21. The purest fire we know hath some smoak, the richest wines some dregs. Sin, in short, will have a being and dwelling in the best of Gods people here; but when once the Souls of good men are dislodged, and have taken their flight from their Bodies, this incroaching inmate (as one terms sin) shall be turned out of doors, shall never have so much as any being or existence any longer in them; shall never more give them any further labour or trouble: The death of a Believers body shall perfectly deliver him from this body of Death, as the Apostle calls sin, Rom. 7.23. Christ will present unto himself in the other world, a glorious Church, not having spot or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it shall be holy and without blemish, as the Apostle assureth us, Ephess. 5.27. And hence the souls of just men, when once got thither, are said to be perfect, Heb. 12.23. and death is call'd by one, Peccato­rum sepultura, the burial or grave of sin; and that is one thing that speaks out the happiness of those that dye in the Lord; they shall then be at rest from the labour of sinning; which is of all labours and troubles the worst and greatest, the most afflictive to a good man; whence the Grecians in their Language, [Page 9] term a wicked man, [...], from a word which signifieth with them labour and pains: To denote, as the la­bour and pains that wicked men are at many times to accom­plish their wicked designs; for they rest not except they have done mischief, and their sleep is taken from them unless they cause some to fall, as Solomon tells us, Prov. 4.16. so possibly to de­note that labour and trouble which sin and the remainders of it, give to good men in this life. Well, from this labour, from this trouble they shall be perfectly freed and delivered in the other life; they shall be at rest then from the labour and sorrow of sinning any more: Yea, I may add here as a supplement to this Head, the dead that dye in the Lord, are not only at rest from sinning, but from all suggestions and temptations to it; there will be an end put then to all Satans temptations, as well as to our sinning: He is very busie here in suggesting of bad things to the minds of good men; he is dayly dogging them and di­sturbing them in every thing they go about; he buffetted St. Paul, we read, he desired to winnow St. Peter, he stirr'd up David to number the People, and whiles Joshua was ministring unto the Lord, he was at his right hand to resist him, as we are told, Zach. 13.1. and it's no small unhappiness to us, that we are thus continually followed and haunted with such an ill Ghost; yea, but now Death will deliver such as dye in the Lord, from this trouble also: It will set them [...], out of the reach of his batteries and gun-shot; though his darts be all fiery darts, and so its likely he is able to fling them high, (as one saith) yet not high enough to reach the Saints in glory. The Saints on earth indeed are in a Militant Condition, part of Gods Mi­litant Church, dayly sighting with him, and he with them; but the Saints in Heaven are in a Triumphant Condition, Members of the Triumphant Church, wholly above him, and more than Conquerours over him, and over all their other enemies thro' Christ that loved them, as the Apostle assures us, Rom. 8.37. His walk is indeed to go to and fro on the earth, as he told God himself, Job. 1.7. but he can't enter the Confines of Heaven. When he fell from his integrity, he was turned out of that place of felicity, and shall never be restored to it again; This great Accuser of the Brethren is cast down, neither shall his place be found any more in Heaven, as we are assur'd, Rev. 12.8. this spiritual Pharoth (as one terms him) may pursue good men to the hour of their death; and it may be, may then most fierce­ly [Page 10] too assault them, may muster up all his forces in Battle-array against them; but at death it may be confidently said unto them in respect of Satan, what Moses said once to the Children of Isra [...]l in respect of the [...]gyptians, Exod. 14.13. (with which I shall conclude this particular) F [...]ar ye not, o [...]ly stand still and see the salvation of the Lord, whi [...]h he will work for you to d [...]y; for the Aegyptians which ye have seen to d [...]y, ye shall see them no mor [...] forever.

2. Such as dye in the Lord shall be at rest, as from the la­bour of sinning, and of all temptations to it, so also from their labours in respect of suffering; their death will put an end to all those sorrows and sufferings, to which, by reason of sin they are here exposed. God will then wipe all tears from his peoples eyes, and t [...]ere shall be no more sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain, f [...]r the f [...]rmer things are passed away, Re­vel. 21.4. and this indeed followeth upon the former; for, sublata causâ tollitur eff ctus, remove the cause and the [...]ff cts will ce [...]se; dry up the fountain and the streams will not run: Sin, the cause of sorrow and suffering being removed, as you have heard, then it will be; sorrow and suffering the effects of sin, must needs then cease Now if need be, (saith the Apostle) ye are in heaviness, 1 Pe [...]. 1.6. now men have strong corrup­tions, and therefore need strong corrections: Now there is Chaff mingled with our Wheat, and therefore there is need of Gods Fan to separate it; Dross with our Gold, and there­fore need of his Fire to refine it: Now his Rod and Ch [...]sti [...]e­ments are very necessary to teach us out of Gods Law, a [...] the Psalmist tells us, Psal. 89.32. but at De [...]th [...] th [...] Scholar in Christs School will have perfectly learn'd his Lesson▪ and here­fore there will be no further need of corre [...]tion. Thus De th will set good men at rest from the labour of suffering, as well as of sinning; yea, and that both with reference to their bodies, and with reference to their souls, that I may en [...]arge a little here.

1. Death will set good Men at rest from all Sufferings with re­spect to their Bodies: Many and G [...]eat are the Su [...]f [...]rings which good Men meet with here, by reason of their crazy & in [...]irm Bo­dies, by reason of the gre [...]t variety of Disea es that are inc dent in this Life to them; (to mention now none of those other suffe­rings which some have been forced to undergo, by reason of the [Page 11] Racks and Wheels of Persecutors) Jo had, we know, his Botches, Hezekiah his Boyl, David his Sores, the poor Widow of the Gospel her Issue of Blood. One Man wasteth away with a Con­sumption till all his Moisture is Exhausted, another is Burnt up with a Feaver, a third is as it were Drowned with a Dropsy: In one, the k [...]eepers [...]f the House (that I may Allude to that Elegant Allegory of Solomon, Ecl [...]s. 12.) Tremble; in another the sound of the Grinders is brought low; in a third, those that look out at the Windows are darkned; in a fourth, the D [...]ughters [...]f Musick are brought down. Phys [...]cians tell us of hundreds of diseases at leas [...], that are thus Incident to Mans Body; and by reason of these, he spends his Days many times in Pain, and his Nights in Sorrow. But here is the comfort of good Men, death will be a remedy a­gainst them all: It will deliver them, or set them at rest from them all; there shall be saith St. Jo [...]n, Speaking of the New Jeru­salem, no more Death, nor any more Pain, R [...]vel. 21.4. As the Blind Martyr told the Lame, when they met at the Stake; y [...] may throw away your Crutches now, if you please, D [...]th will [...]u [...]e us both; you of your Lameness, and me of my Blindness. The great Physician of Souls, the Lord Jesus Christ, will by Death, cure all the Diseases, and remove all pains from good Mens Bodies; And consequentially, they shall then be at rest from all sufferings with respect to the Body.

2. They shall be at rest too then from all sufferings, with re­spect to the Soul. Many and Sore are the sorrows and troubles of a Christian in this Life, in this respect also: Sometimes the Afflictions of the good set him on weeping; By the Rivers of Baby­lon we sate down and Wept; when we remembred Zion, Ps. 137.1. viz. The Afflictions and Desolations of Zion and of Gods People, that had once lived there: Sometimes the Transgressions of the wicked fetch tears from his Eyes. Rivers of Waters run down my Cheeks (Saith David) because wicked Men keep not thy Laws. Ps. 119.136. Sometimes the Sense of his own corruptions stabs him, as it were, at the very Heart. When they heard this; they were pricked in their Heart: And said unto Peter, and to the rest of the Apostles; Men and Br [...]th [...]ren, what shall we do? Acts 2.37. And, O Wr [...]tched Man that I am, cries St. Paul, who shall deliver me from the Body of this Death? Rom. 7.24. Some­times God hides his Face and he is troubled; thou hidest thy face and I am troubled. Ps. 30.7. And Tears have been my Meat [Page 12] Day and Night; whiles they continually say unto me, where is thy God? saith he, Ps. 42.3. Thus the Christians whole Life, here many times is as it were a field of Sorrows; but now Death will set him at rest from them all: It will be the Funeral of all his sor­rows, and the resurrection of all his joys. The Day of Death is the good Man's Marriage-day, and at that Marriage day of his, Christ will turn again, (as one Expresseth it) all his Water into Wine, all his Sighing into Singing, all his Mourning into Mirth. Then indeed shall the ransomed of the Lord return and come to the Heavenly Zion, with Songs and Everlasting Joy upon their Heads: They shall obtain Joy, and Gladness, and all Sorrow and Sighing-shall flee away, that I may Allude to, and Conclude this particular in the Prophets words, Isa. 35.6. But that is the first reason that is given in my Text, why the dead that dye in the Lord are Blessed? Because they dye, that they may rest from their Labours. And that both in respect of all further sinning, and all further suffering: I come now to the second, that is here given us why they are Blessed: and that is,

2. Because their works shall follow them; their works, i. e. the good fruits and good e [...]fects of their works, or rather the re­ward of them: the great reward, that God will then give them, though not for, yet according to their good works, and this is and will be indeed very great; so great as that no mortal can de­clare the greatness of it: for Eye hath n [...]t seen nor ear heard, neither did it ever yet enter into the heart of man to conceive, what great thin [...]s God hath prepared for them that love him, As the Apostle tells us, 1 Cor. 2.9. The Eye of man hath seen wonderful things in nature, and the Ear possi [...]ly hath heard of more, and as for the heart or mind of man, what almost can't that conceive? And yet it can no way conceive the greatness of the glory which God hath prepared and laid up in the other world, for those that love and fear him in this; and yet that hath been and will be still done by all that have love, & shall die in the Lord, & therefore all that die in him are and shall be blessed. 'Tis true indeed, this blessedness (that I may prevent all mistakes) will not, 1. Be given out to all a­like; as there are different degrees of grace upon Earth; so there will be different degrees of glory in Heaven. There is o [...]e glory of the Sun, another glory of the M [...]on, another glory of the Stars; for one Star differs from anot [...]er in [...]l [...]ry, i. e. shines more gloriously than another, so also shall it be (saith he) in the resurrection of the [Page 13] dead, 1 Cor. 15.41, 42. And they that be wise saith Daniel, (spea­king of the same thing) shall shine as the fi [...]mament, and they that turn many unto righte [...]usn [...]ss as the Stars for ever and ev r, Dan. 1 [...].3. Now there are we know different degrees betwixt the light of the firmament and the light of the St [...]rs, and so there will be be­twixt the glory of one Saint and the glory of another in the fu­ture life? 'Tis true indeed, all good Men when once got to Hea­ven, shall have glory enough. He that hath the least glory there, shall have enough to make him unspeakably and unconceivably happy; every Vessel of glory shall be full, but some shall have more of it, th [...]n others; as being more capacitated to receive it. God will then and there reward every m [...]n accord [...]ng to his w [...]rks, as the Scriptures do abundantly, assure us. Now look as there are diversities of gifts and graces amongst Gods people here upon Earth, so there are of works; some do and suffer more for God, others less, and therefore some shall have more glory, others less; because every mans glory shall be proportion [...]ted according to his works; since mens labours are different in this world, their reward and glory will be different also in the world to come. This hap­piness therefore (I say) will not be given out for degrees alike to all.

2. Nor secondly, will it be consummated or compleated to any till the last day; till the general day of Judgment, when their bodies shall rise again & be reunited to their Souls, though good men such as die in the Lord are immediately admitted to happiness after their death: yet not to all that happiness, that God intends, & hath designed for them in the other world; this is indeed reserved for that great and general day of Judgment so often menti [...]ned in the Holy Scriptures, when Christ to whom the Judgment of the world is committed shall come in the glory of his Father with his Holy Angels to render to every man fully according to his works, as you have it, Mat. 16 27. But in the interim, and as soon as they die▪ they shall rest from their labours and their works shall follow them; & therefore they are and must needs be thenceforth blessed. Yea, that I may descend to, and instance in a few particulars here, such as die in the Lord must needs be truly, though not compleatly, blessed and happy immediately after death; for they shall then be blessed with perfection in resp [...]ct of their S uls; with the comforta [...]le soci [...]ty of the blessed Angels and Souls of just men made perfect; and [Page 14] which is more still than all these; with a clearer, more immediate and never more to be interrupted enjoyment of God and Christ.

1. Such as die in the Lord will be immediately after death blessed with perfection in respect of their own Souls; their Souls shall be then no longer clog'd down with their bodies. But shall be elevated and exalted to their just [...], to the highest pitch of perfection, that they are in their separated Estate capable of, and that in all the powers and faculties of them; as to instance, and but to instance in them,

1. Their understandings shall be then extraordinarily enlarged and enlightned to see into those mysteries of nature and divinity, which are now hid from them. Now I see saith the Apostle through a glass darkly, but then face to face; now I know but in part, but then I shall know even as also I am known, 1 Cor. 13.12. The good mans understanding shall then be nevermore deceived or mistaken; shall never more be troubled with misconceivings or misappre­hensions, all those mists of ignorance and errour, which do now so much cloud his mind, shal [...] then be scattered and blown over: all those groundless fears and scruples which by reason of the weak­ness of our understandings, and the imperfection of our know­ledge, do now so rack and gravel tender hearts, shall then be laid aside, & for ever abandoned; all those laborious studies, contro­verted problems and polemical disputes, which do now steal a­way so much of our time, & all to so litle purpose, shall then have their final decision and full determination; and the meanest un­derstanding of them that are dead in the Lord, shall then proba­bly be able to confute the now ignorant sentiments of the lear­nedest Scholars. And as their understandings, so,

2. Their wills shall be then Perfected with a perfect and indefective Holiness; with an exact conformity to the divine will, and with a perfect freedom from all servitude to sin; they shall then be no more troubled with doubtful choise, but with a perfect freedom, shall steadily embrace the chiefest good, and shall find it too as easie to do good, as to will and desire it, as one expresseth it. And as their wills, so

3. Their affections too shall be then all composed and placed aright, and that too by an unalterable regularity; in which too they shall receive the greatest content and satisfaction. All those furious waves, which do now many times rage in Mens hearts, by [Page 15] reason of the turbulency of their passions and affections: and do make them too too often, like the Seas, to foam forth their own shame; shall then be reduced to an Everlasting calm. Ye, all those peevish passions and brutish affections, which do now so of­ten dethrone Judgment & Conscience in Mens hearts, and set the whole world as it were on a sire; shall then be for ever cashiered and abandoned. And we shall love, fear, desire, delight and rejoyce in nothing, but what is good. And as their affections, so,

4. Their memories also shall not then be idle or useless, but they shall perfectly remember the miseries that they were in; the rock, and shelves, the dangers that they have escaped; as like­wise the mercies and good things which they met with here on Earth, and all to inhance and heighten the worth of their Happi­ness and present enjoyments in Heaven. Thus,

1. Such as die in the Lord are immediately after Death blessed: for they shall then be blessed with all that perfection, which the nature of the Soul will admit of in its separate Estate.

2. They are Blessed, for they shall then be blessed too with the happy Society of the blessed Angels, and of the Souls of just Men made perfect; ye are come, saith the Apostle, Heb. 12.22, 23. (speaking indeed of the members of his militant Church in the dayes of the Gospel upon Earth, and therefore its much truer of the members of his Triumphant Church in Heaven) unto Mount Sion, and unto the City of the living God, the Hea­venly Jerusalem, a [...]d to an innumerable company of Angels; to the general Assembly and Church of the first-born which are written in Heaven; and to God the Judge of all, and to the Spirits of just Men made perfect; and to Jesus the Mediator of the n [...]w Covenant.

1. Then such as die in the Lord shall after their death be im­mediately blessed with the Society of the blessed Angels; ye are come to an innumerable company of Angels, and how sweet and comfortable, how pleasing and taking their Society is; the Saints in Heaven can only tell us; but doubtless, it is very love­ly and amiable: they being all creatures of such a noble Ex­tract, and of such an Heavenly make as they are.

2. They shall then be blessed, as with the Society of the Blessed Angels; so with the Society of the Spirits of just Men made perfect, as the Apostle tells us in the place fore-quoted; & this tends not a little to the making up of their Happiness. The [Page 16] of God are Excellent persons even whiles they are here upon Earth. The righteous saith Solomon is more Excellent than his Neighbour, Prov. 12.26. And my delight saith David is in the Saints, those Excellent ones upon Earth, Ps. 16.3. Their company even in this life is very taking and pleasing; notwithstanding, that by reason of that Body of Death, which they carry about with them here; they are even loaded with many imperfections, which may and do breed sometimes real grounds of distaste to those that converse with them. But O how excellent are they in Heaven! How pleasant and taking will their company be there when they shall be disburdened of all these; when they shall be made perfect, as then they will be! And shall all joyn together with one heart and with one voice, to Offer up Everlast­ing Halelujahs to God, and to the Lamb that hath re [...]emed them; as we are told, they sha [...]l and will, Revel. 19.1, 2, 3, 4. But then,

3. And lastly (which is still more than all this) the Dead that die in the Lord are immediately after their death, though not com­pleatly, yet truly blessed, because they then shall be blessed with the blisful fruition of God and Christ; they shall come then as to th [...] Spirits of just Men made perfect, so to God t [...]e judge of all, and to J [...]sus the Mediator of the new Covenant, as the Apostle assureth us, in that place so often mentioned, Heb. 12.22, 23, 24. Ac­cording also to that of our Saviour, to the penitent Thief, Luke 23.43. This day shalt thou be with me in Paradise. And that of the Apostle (to mention now no more in the fifth Chapter of the second Epistle to the Corinthians from the first to the tenth ver. Yea, they shall be blessed then, with a clearer, more immediate and never-more to be interrupted enjoyment of them.

1. They shall then be blessed with a clearer and more imme­diate enjoyment of them; here they see God at best [...], as the Apostle phrazeth it, 1 Cor. 13.12. Through a Glass, as it were in a riddle, (as the Original primarily imports,) darkly as our Translators have rendred it; but then we shall see him, [...] face to face. Now they know him but in part, but then they shall know him even as they are known. They shall see him [...], as he is; as St. John phrazeth it, 1 Joh. 3, 2. Here the Saints enjoy God indeed, but 'tis darkly and mediately, through the conduits and cisterns of his Ordinances. They are in [Page 17] a state of imperfection, and so do need the assistance of his Ordi­nances to help them to a sight of God. But when that which is perfect is come, as it will be in good measure (as you have heard) to them that die in the Lord; then that which is thus in part shall be done away, as the Apostle tells us; 1 Cor. 13.10. The Sun shall no more be our light then by day, nor the Moon our light by night, but the Lord God hims [...]lf shall be our Everlasting light and our glory, as the Prophet prazeth it, Isa. 60.19. And as they shall then be blessed with a clearer and more immediate enjoyment of God and Christ. So,

2. With an uninterrupted Enjoyment of them, Whilst we are present in the body (saith the Apostle) we are a [...]sent from the L [...]rd. We are so be sure many times; we enjoy him but by sits and starts, we meet with many Interruptions in our Enjoy­ments of him. Now we have him, and anon we lose him; sometimes we meet with him at an Ordinance, and at another time we are forced to go away without him; suavis hora bre­vis mora, (as one of the Fathers saith,) a sweet Hour indeed it is, but 'tis usually, but a short one; but then we shall enjoy him without any Interruption or Cessation at all. We shall ever be with the Lord, (as the Apostle tells us) 1 Thes. 4.17. His tabernacle shall then be indeed placed amongst his people, and he will remove it no more. According to his Promise, Rev. 21.7. They shall be before the throne of God and serve him day and night in his temple, and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell amongst them; they shall hun­ger no more, neither thirst any more, neither shall the Sun light on them, nor any heat, for the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters; as St. John assureth us, Rev. 7.15, 16, 17. Now, Si mediata & momentanea Dei visio tantum potuit apportare laetitiae cumulum, quantum potuit immediata & aeterna, saith one: If those Beams of Comfort which are reflected upon good Men here, by getting now and then a glimpse of God's Countenance in this vale of Tears, do so refresh and revive their Hearts, as they do, What will their Joy be, when the Lord himself shall be their constant Sun and everlasting Light? If it be so good to draw nigh unto God upon Earth, as the Psalmist tells us, it is, Psal. 73. &c. if they are so blessed, that watch at Wisdom's Gates, and wait at the Posts of her Doors; as Solomon tells us they are; How [Page 18] good will it be then to draw near unto God in Heaven? And how blessed are they that wait not at the Door, but dwell in that House, and that for ever? And yet so shall all such as die in the Lord do, and therefore they must needs be very blessed: But so much shall serve for the Explication and Confirmation of of what is asserted in my Text. I come now to apply it, or to inserr from it. And so,

1. Are the dead that die in the Lord thenceforth blessed; then certainly there is another Life besides this; and the Souls of Men do not die with their Bodies, whatever the Atheist phansieth to the contrary; for, N [...]n entis nulla sunt praedicata, nullae sunt af­fectiones; nothing can be predicated or said of that which is not: But the Souls of the dead that die in the Lord are said to be thenceforth blessed, and therefore they must have a Being still, and there must be another Life besides this, where they are so blessed.

2. Then this too lets us see the great Difference betwixt the Righteous and the Wicked, betwixt good Men and bad in this other Life; for the one are not so happy, but the other then will be as miserable. 'Tis true, indeed, in this Life many times (which is too by the way a good Argument of a future Estate.) All things come alike to all men; there is one event to the righteous and to the wicked; to the clean and to the unclean; to him that sacrificeth, and to him that sacrificeth not, as Solomon tells us, Eccles. 9.2. Yea, so are the Affairs of this Life ordered many times, though they all lie under the dispose of a Divine Provi­dence; as that it often happens better to the Wicked than to the Righteous here, at least in outward Respects; there is saith Solomon, A just man that perish th in his righteousness, and there is a wicked man that prolongeth his days in his wickedn [...]ss, Eccles. 7.15. Just Abel is slain whilst unrighteous Cain lives and builds Cities; profane Esau stays at home and takes his Pleasure, whilst pious Jacob is forced to seek his Fortune, and to endure much hardship in a Foreign Land; N [...]bal, a Man of B [...]lial, Feasts it like a King, whilst David a Man after God's own Heart is in great wants and straits. D [...]ves, the rich Fool, riots it and fairs deliciously every Day, whilst poor L [...]z [...]rus, the beloved of our Lord, would have been glad of the Crumbs that fell from his Table. Yea, our Saviour himself, that Holy and Just one, who did no sin, neither was there any guile sound at any [Page 19] time in his mouth, is accused, condemned and crucified, whilst Burrabbas, a notorious Murderer, is spared, released and set at Liberty: In short, so are the Affairs of this Life ordered many times, as that the Unrighteous and Wicked seem here often­times so happy (as one observes) as if they were rewarded for their Impiety; and the Righteous and Religious often so miserable, as if they were punished for their Innocency; but it will be much otherwise in the Life to come; then, indeed, shall men return and discern betwixt the righteous and the wicked, be­twixt them that have served God, and them that have served him not, as the Prophet tells us, Mal. 3.18. Son remember, saith A­braham to Dives, that thou receiv [...]st thy good things in thy life-time, and Lazarus evil things; but now thou art tormented, and he is comforted, Luke 16.25. Look (in short, as to this use) what Difference there is betwixt Bliss and Misery, betwixt Heaven and Hell, betwixt being Eternally Blessed in the one, and Eter­nally Miserable in the other; that Difference there will be be­twixt the Wicked and the Righteous in the other Life. For the wicked shall go away into everlasting punishment, and the righ­teous into life eternal, as our Saviour assureth us, Mat. 25.46. Great therefore will be the Difference betwixt them.

3. Are the dead that die in the Lord so blessed, then who would not with Balaam die the Death of the Righteous? Yea, Who would not live their Life, that they might die their Death? Who would not live to Christ now, that they might die in Christ hereafter? Bear his Cross in this World, that they might wear his Crown in the other? Suffer him by his Spirit and Grace to reign in their Hearts and Lives here, that they might reign with him in Glory for ever hereafter? Methinks, if there were nothing else in a Godly Life, but the great Happiness which (you have heard) will attend those that live it after their Death; though there is much, very much besides. Yet, I say, if there were nothing else but this, every one that hath but the Face of a Man, the least Spark of humane Reason left in him, should be in Love with it, should heartily and solemnly devote himself to it, and that presently too without any further delays or put-offs, as not knowing how suddenly Death may arrest us, nor how soon it may be our turn to die, and we can never [Page 20] die in the Lord and so be happy after Death, unless we first live in him and to his Glory. Look, saith Cornelius A Lapide, upon my Text, as he can't be said to die at Rome that never lived at Rome, so he can't be said to die in the Lord that never lived in or to the Lord; and therefore if thou designest or de­sirest to die in the Lord, and so to be happy after Death (as thou must do, if thou beest but still a Man, and wilt give thy self leave to consider,) I say if thou designest or desirest this, be persuaded immediately without any further delays to become a good Man, to devote thy self heartily to the Service of Christ, and to live to his Honour and Praise.

4. Are the dead that die in the Lord so Blessed? Do they thenceforth rest from their Labours? And will their Works fol­low them? Then this may be for Comfort to all good Men. And that,

1. Under and against all their present Trials and Troubles, their present labours and sufferings; death will e're long come, and when it comes, it will put a period to them all You shall rest shortly from all your labours and sorrows; and your works, i. e. the reward of your good works, will follow: You have but a step or two more to take, A stile or two more [...], as the Martyr said, and you will be in Heaven at y [...]ur [...] [...]r [...] ­sently; and therefore you have great reason to bear [...] our present labours and troubles with great patience and [...] er [...]ul­ness. For how great and how sharp soever they may be [...]ey will be but short: The longest life we live here (you know) is but short; Man that is born of a w [...]man is but [...] fe [...] d [...]ys, as Job tells us, Job 14.1. And few a [...]d e [...]l have bee [...] the d [...]ys of the pilgrimage of my life, said Jacob, Gen. 47.9. though he had lived then many more days than any liv [...] now; [...], the Life f Man is but a po [...]t, saith P [...]arch, yea, [...] [...]ctu [...] est quod vivimus & adhuc puncto minus, saith Se [...]; [...]s l [...]ss than a p [...]i [...]t, if any thing can be so; at least in respect of that Eternity, which is to ensue. Our labours and troubles therefore will not, cannot, last long; for this l [...]e will not last long: and 'tis only whiles we live here, that we shall be exposed to them; Death will set us at rest, free us for ever from them: and besides, all those troubles of ours [Page 21] (if we be good men) which are but thus for a moment, as the Apo­stle phrazeth it, 2 Cor. 4.16. (For no more in deed if compared with Eternity) will not only in the end, work together in the general for our good, according to that of the Apostle, Rom. 8.28. We know that all things shall work together for good to them that love God: But if born aright by us, they will work for us, as he tells us, 2 Cor. 4.17. read [...], where the Apostle makes use of such Rheto­rick as is scarce to be parallell'd, as is scarce to be met with in any human Authors; an Hyperbole upon Hyperbole, an exceed­ing, an exceeding eternal weight of Glory; whiles we look not (saith he) at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, (and so be sure will the good mans troubles only be) but the things which are not seen are eternal: So will his reward be, if he bears them as he ought to do; ver. 18. For we know, saith he, in the first Verse of the following Chapter, that if our earthly House of this Tabernacle were dissolved, as it will be when death comes, and that will come, as you have heard, shortly, we have a building of God, an House not made with hands, eternal in the Heavens: And this amongst other Considera­tions supported them, and kept them from fainting (as well it might) under all their troubles and afflictions, as he tells us, 2 Cor. 4.16. But then,

2. This may comfort good men too, as against all the trou­bles of this life, so against the fears of death: Why should you be afraid of that which will make you happy, which will bring you to your rest, and to the end of all your labours and sorrows, as you have heard your dying will do? 'Tis true indeed, I grant, that death to nature is terrible, and to wicked men; to such as are still in their natural condition, it is, as the Philosopher stiles it, [...], the ter­riblest of terribles, even the king of terrors, as Job terms it, Job 18.14. that which will bereave them of all their good things, and expose them to all evil; the very porta Gehenna, as one stiles it, that which ushers in into Hell: The Devils surly Sergeant (as another calls death with reference to the wicked) sent forth on purpose to drag them thither. Hell followeth im­mediately, [Page 22] as we read Revel. 16.8. the pale Horse on which death rides, with reference to wicked men; and therefore such have reason, great reason, to fear it: But to good men it is the introitus Regni, their entrance into the Kingdom of Hea­ven; an out-let to all their misery, an in-let to all bliss, the very harbinger and fore-runner of their glory, a boat sent on purpose to fetch them off, from the troublesome sea of this world, and to land them safe at the pleasant harbour of eter­nal rest; their Fathers Messenger sent to fetch them home to their Fathers House: And should not such an Harbinger, such a Boat, such a Messenger be welcome when he comes? Their dying day is their great resting day, the day wherein they shall rest from all their labours, (as you have heard) and was ever any wearied labourer unwilling to go to his rest? 'Tis their great pay-day, the day wherein they shall receive their full wages, their reward for all that they have done and suf­fered here in the flesh; And what Servant is there that is not well-pleased when the pay-day comes? The Servant earnestly desires the shadow, as Job tells us, and the Hireling longs for the wages of his work, Job 7.2. good men have no reason to be troubled, but indeed to rejoyce when the day of their death comes; for then they will find, that they shall not only rest from their labours, but that their works will follow them; that they shall then receive their wages; wages infinitely beyond all their work, beyond all that they can think or conceive; For eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither ever yet did it enter into the heart of man, to conceive what great things God hath prepared for them that love him; as the Apostle assures us in that place so often quoted, 1 Cor. 2▪ 9.

3. And Lastly, It may comfort us as against our own death, if we be good men; so against the death of our godly friends: They are blessed, they do rest from their labours, and their works do follow them. Their death is their great gain; and if it be so much their gain, why should it be so much our grief? I know indeed, and we read in th [...] Scriptures, that great mournings, sore lamentations have been made at the in­terment of many deceased Saints: And if ever any People had reason to make them, we of this place have so now; and yet we must not over-do here neither, as we soon may; [Page 23] we must be careful that we do not sorrow as th [...]e that h [...]e no hopes, as the Apostle adviseth us in this Case, 1 Thes. 4.13. weep we may, that will speak us to be men, but yet it must be with moderation, and that will speak us to be Christians. Our pious Friends have only left us for a little time, we have not lost them, but shall receive them again, or rather be received to them at the last: They are the Gainers, though we are the Losers; their death is but a departure to a better life, and therefore it would be rather a piece of Envy in us, than of real Piety, excessively or over-much to bewail it, especially since we are so well assured to meet them again in a better World, where we shall never part more, but shall be toge­ther with them, forever with the Lord, as the Apostle doth assure us we shall, 1 Thes. 4.17. And therefore we that sur­vive may as well comfort one another with those Words, as he in this Case also adviseth us there to do.

These things might have been (some of them at least) more enlarged upon, but I have trespassed (I fear) too much already upon your patience; and yet I must borrow a little time more from it, if it be only to tell you in a few words, what kind of Person he was, which we have brought here now to be interred. And now I have mentioned this worthy Gentleman, I have star­ted as it were another. Text, and might well give you another Sermon upon it, if I had time and ability for it. I never indeed took any great delight in making long Panegyricks or large En­comiums of the dead: For not to mention the frequent abuse of them, I have ever thought that silent tears are the best Oratours at Funerals; and that the good works which the deceased have done whiles they were living, and the good names which they have left behind them, when dead, are their best embalmings; and do speak out their praises more effectually than the tongue of the Preacher could do: And in this respect I should not have needed to have said any thing now; for this worthy Gentleman hath obtained a good repent amongst us: And his own works will praise him more in the [...]te [...], than any of my words can do; yet least I should seem to be injurious both to him and to you at once▪ to Him, in denying him his due and deserved praise; and to You, in concealing so Excellent a Pattern for you [...] [...]ation; I [...]st say something of him, and the Brief Character which I [Page 24] shall give of him; shall be chiefly in such things, as mine own knowledge [...]d the great Honour that I do and shall ever bare to his Name; do both warrant and prompt me to give: And so,

1 To begin with such things as relate to Gods Service and Worship (a due regard to which doth be sure as much commend us, as any thing we can shew regard unto) he was a great lover of his Church, of Gods House and publick Wor­ship; Did constantly attend when at home, unless when he was hindred by great Sickness, and that both Morning and Eve­ning, upon the Prayers and other Ordinances here dispensed: And seemed always most a [...]tentive to, reverent and devout in all. Yea, such was his zeal always to attend here upon Gods publick Worship, as that he came very often to it, when in the Judgment of others, it had been fitter for him by reason of his great illness and weakness to have been at home in his Bed. He seemed always to be greatly offended and angry with his Friends; when they knowing his weakness did at any time but desire him to stay at home. Neither was he only thus diligent to come himself, but careful to bring his Family and Servants also along with him; as resolving with good Joshua, that what ever others did, that he and his Houshould would serve the Lord.

He was likewise a most diligent and devout receiver of the Lords Supper (an Ordinate God knows is too much slighted. and neglected by too too many:) I do not remember that for the space of [...]0 years and more in which I have had the Happiness to be acquainted with him, that ever he missed when at home above 2▪ or 3. Sacraments, and them sore against his will, being forced to it by reason of great Sickness or Weakness.

Neither was be only thus careful to Worship God, thus publickly every week here in his House; But likewise took care to have him: Worshipped dayly in his own, by keeping up a constant course of Family-Duties there, ever since I knew him; which is a thing I am afraid too too much neglected by too too many, not only of the Vulgar, bu [...] of Men of his rank and quality.

Neither did he rest in this; but it was his usual course (as I have been well informed) to retire Morning and Evening (not­withstanding that croud of business which he had Generally upon his Hands) to his Closet or Study, for his private Devotions: as firmly believing, what our Saviour saith, that such as Pray in secret shall be rewarded openly. And as he was thus careful and diligent in the first place to serve God, in a Religious way; So was he also,

2. To serve his King and Country in a Civil way. He was indeed a Gentleman that hated Idleness, and loved Business; and seemed to delight in nothing more, than how he might be useful and serviceable to God in his Generation. Look as God had well fitted him for publick imployment, so he delighted in it; And would Ordinarily Balk no pains nor charges to promote the publick good, and to serve his Countrey. Wit­ness the great Expences, the many tedious and dangerous Journeys, which he made for many Years together to that end; those especially which he made to Braintree, to quiet the peo­ple and to provide for the Poor there; When that Town was so sorely visited with the Sickness, and when few or no other Justices durst venture themselves amongst them.

He was a Gentleman, that it may be, hath been as useful and as serviceable to this Hundred, yea, indeed to the whole County, ever since he was Justice of the Peace; Which is nigh now 30. Years ago; as most in it, and poss [...]bly may be as much missed: This Parish I am sure, and the Neighbouring Pa­rishes; Yea, the whole Division, who always had free and easie access to him for Justice, & for advise in all dubious cases, will much miss him; As also will the Poor round about us, for his daily Dole and Charity. He was a sound Protestant, and had more than an Ordinary Zeal against Popery, and for the refor­med Religion, and did much pitty those that suffered for it. Witness his Charity to, and most kind reception of worthy Mr. Schamiere, one of the French persecuted Ministers, into his House: Who I am confident too might have been with him to this very day, had not God by Death took him to a better place; He was a Gentleman that did much and often bewail the many dif­ferences and divisions that are amongst us, especially in the [Page 26] Church, and though he were himselfe a true Church-Man; Yet he had a great deal of Candour and Christian Charity for all that differed from him; so be they did but live well, and carried them­selves Honestly and Peaceably.

He was one too, that had a great sense of the Worth of Learning, and of the great necessity of the good Education of Youth; and therefore was resolved (as he told me often this Summer, if God spared his life) to repair our School, and had lately purchased Lands to the value of 16 l. per Annum, (to which I believe he would have added more too if he had lived) to endow it with, for the incouragement of a Master; which I hope his Worthy Executors, and Relations will see performed: And though the Poor not only of this place, but of all places round about us, did continually partake of his great Bounty and Charity whiles he lived, yet was he not unmindful of them when he dyed; but gave in his Will, not only Legacies to the Poor of this Parish, but also to the Poor of two other of the Neighbouring Parishes; besides that con­siderable Dole which was given by his Executors to all the Poor that came to his Funeral.

In short, he was, I am very confident, a very good Man as to the main; a great Hater of all Vice and Immorality, a true Lover of all Vertue and Goodness, an Understanding Magistrate, a Faithful Counsellor, a Loyal Subject, a True Friend, a Loving Husband, a Kind Master, a Merciful Land­lord; and in a word, all I hope, a very Sound and Serious Christian.

It pleased God indeed for these two years last past, to vi­sit him with much sickness and weakness; but he gave him withal, much Patience and Submissiveness of Spirit: I never heard that there fell any word from his lips, that did bewray the least discontent or impatience, but his mouth was full of submissive and Heavenly Expressions, under his greatest Pains and Agonies; yea, when his Pains and Weaknesses were very great, (as they were lateward, and his Strength small) yet he seemed to bear all with such Patience and Courage, with such Calmness and Evenness of Spirit, as if he had not much wished to be in any other Condition than what he was in. His usual Expression, when his Pains or Sickness were greater [Page 27] than ordinary, (as sometimes they were) That this was but one Chop more to the Tree that must down, and that he never expected to be well again in this World, but that he hoped he should be so in the next. 'Tis true indeed, when he went off, he went off suddenly; but it was no more, than what we in reason, considering his great and long Weakness, might well expect; and what he, I hope, was for a long time, as to the main, well prepared for. The only Thing which I shall further Remark upon, and which I think is worthy our Ob­servance, is this, That it pleased God to take him to him­self, and so to his rest, upon the Sabbath or Lords-day, which you know is a Type of our Rest in HEAVEN, and ought to be a Day of Rest from all Worldly Labours to us here, and this too God did, I think, within less than two hours, after he had been publickly serving and worshipping God here in his House, which was too the place and work he always seemed to take greatest Delight in, and where we shall be sure much to miss him: For we shall never, Sirs, have the happiness to keep another Sabbath, or to worship God with him any more here on Earth; I pray God we may in Hea­ven, where I trust he is now gone to keep an everlasting Sabbath with God, with his Saviour, with the Holy Angels, and with the Souls of all Just Men made perfect, and where he will be at rest from all those painful Labours, which he did with us, and for us, whilst on Earth, and find his Works, that is the good Fruits and blessed Reward of them, eter­nally following him in Heaven. The good Lord grant, that we may be all so instructed by his Death, as timely to lay to heart our own, and seriously to prepare our selves for it; that so when we come to dye, (as God only knows how soon and how sudden it may be) we may dye in the Lord, as I trust he did, and rest from our Labours, and be blessed and happy after we are dead, as I believe he is; For blessed are the dead, that dye in the Lord, henceforth; yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their Labours and their Works follow them.