IT is not without deep Grief that I enter upon this Mournful Employment assign'd me by the Reverend Person whose Remains lie before us. Every thought of it is afflicting, and I am sure to find here many Partners in my Sorrows; which deplorable Conjunction of our Grief would make it too exorbitant; did we not consider, that it would be a Violating, rather than a Solemnizing of our Worthy Friend's Funerals, to be sorry as Men with­out Hope.

And indeed as 'twas never God's Will that good Men (at least since the Fall) should have their Hap­piness here: So we act but an unkind part, when we too much grudge and grieve, that they are ascended above Sin and Mortality. So that I shall hope, The Sorrow of this Mournful Solemnity may be much Extenuated, and in some measure Sanctified; by considering, That as the Death of the best is the usual course of that Providence which admits no Error, so it is none of the unkindest of God's Dispen­sations to his Servants, to put an end to the weary steps of their Pilgrimage. 'Tis well for the Prophets that they are not to live here for ever.

The Prophet indeed puts it to the Question in the Text; yet so as to imply that there was no Question to be made of it: since every body saw that the Prophets did not live for ever here. As 'tis said, ( John 8. 53.) Abraham is dead, and the Prophets John 8. 53. are dead They fall sick and die as other Mortals, though with better Hope, more chearful Hearts, and greater fitness for their Change than the Vain and Vicious part of the World.

That which ocasioned the Prophet Zechariah to make mention of the Mortality of his Brethren the Prophets, was to make it a motive to the Hearers of the Prophets, to Repent and Reform speedily accor­ding to their Doctrine. As though he had said, ‘You had best improve your selves now by the Ministry of the Prophets: They are as Mortal as your selves; and your incorrigibleness may make the Death of the Prophets a Judicial stroak upon your selves.’ Wherefore walk whilst you have the [Page 9] Light, the Night cometh when none can work. And when God draws his Noahs and Lots out of a place, Woe be to those that remain behind. The Judg­ments foretold by the Prophets usually attend their de­parture: as it follows ( verse 6.) But my Words and my Statutes which I Commanded my Servants the Pro­phets, did they not take hold of your Fathers? That is, was not the Sanction of my Holy Statutes veri­fied in the Execution of the Penalties Decreed to the breach of them? Did not the Desolation fore-told by the Prophets come upon your disbelieving Fore-Fathers? You canno but confess they did, and that the Prediction proceeded to its accomplishment, tho' the Oracle ceased.

Now the Duty and Office of a Prophet of old, bears a substantial Analogy with that of Evangeli­cal Ministers now: Both had a Divine Commission to instruct People in the Mind and Will of God. But with this difference; The Prophets of old, spake by immediate and extraordinary Revelation and Com­mission from God: Whereas God's Ministers now, have a Written and Established Rule by which they teach, even that perfect System of Doctrine in our Holy Bible, which fully contains the Faith once de­livered to the Saints: To which to presume to add, is Enthusiastick Delusion, as to diminish from it is Sacrilegious Violence. All deviation from it on the right hand or on the left, being Falshood and Folly. But the End and Aim of God's Ministers the Pro­phets of old, and his Ministers the Pastors now is the same, viz. to bring Men to the Saving Knowledge of God in Jesus Christ, and a filial Submission to his Sacred Will. Upon which account we find the Holy [Page 10] Ghost using the words Prophesying and Preaching as Synonymous Terms for the same thing. 1 Cor. 14. 3. and again verse 24. 1 Cor. 14. 3. and 24.

And as God then did not discover future Events to Men, only to gratifie their Childish Ears with Novels, but to affect their Hearts and transform their Lives. So, is not the Christian Religion given us to be the Object of a curious Speculation, but to be mat­ter of our careful and Conscientious Practice. So then, the Holy Office of a Prophet under the Law and a Pastor under the Gospel being the same in sub­stance; the words of the Text will naturally apply themselves to our present occasion, and shew us, that neither the Sacred Dignity of the Ministerial Office, nor the Faithfullest discharge of it, can be any Protection from Death.

This is sad News to this dark World, That the Lights of it will so soon be put out. And this, alas! is the sad cause of the present Mourning and Grief of this place. Death hath closed those Compassionate Hands which so often Administred to your Wants, and ended that Fatherly Care which so peculiarly consulted the Interests of your particular Persons and Families. And what's the saddest of all, alas! That Mouth which so often and so servently treated of the Great Things of God's Law in your Ears, is now lock'd up in perfect silence till the Resurrection. The Prophets are Mortals, They do not live for ever. So that the observable point in which the words in­struct us, is,

That the greatest Eminency in the Church below, Prop. is no exemption from the Mortality common to Men. The Prophets are not Angels by Nature, though they are Angels by Office, as they are term'd ( Rev. 2. 1.) as being the Messengers of God to the Churches, and bringing them Tidings from Heaven. But their Breath is in their Nostrils, and is as soon blown out as other Mens: The Text suggests, That the Pro­phets do not live for ever.

Indeed, the Faithful shall in the best sense live for ever: For our Blessed Saviour ( The Truth and the Life) has promised that such as believe in him shall never John 11. 26. die, (John 11. 26.) They shall live for ever in his Presence and Kingdom. So that if the Atheist should put the Question in the Text as a Scoff or Taunt; The words are answerable in the affir­mative. The Prophets do and will live for ever in Beatifick Glory. They are not capable of Diseases or Revel. 21. 4. Death there, Rev. 21. 4. There is no more Death nor Sorrow, nor Crying; neither shall there be any more Pain. The Holy Prophets may be here excruciated with the grinding Pains of the Stone, and Gout and Cholick, and other acute Distempers. But when once they put off their Corruptible, all's well. All Humane Maladies are driven away by the Glorious Presence of God, as Shadows when there is nothing to interpose betwixt them and the Sun. So that it is very happy for the Faithful Servants of God, that they are so soon to remove from this State of Dark­ness and Discord, and Sin and Misery.

And indeed, Eminency of Grace is so far from being a Protection from Death, that it is often a [Page 12] Token of short Life. The higher we grow in Grace, the nearer we approach to Glory. Enoch walked a Heavenly pace, and God took him speedily to that place for which he was fit. The Church here is but as an under-School to fit us for the Church above; and when the Master sees Men such Proficients in Grace as to be fit for Glory, he removes them; and then they throw by their Mortal Flesh, as graduates Shift the Habits of their Minor-State. This is that Perio­dical Change which all the Prophets (except Enoch and Elijah) and all the Evangelists and Apostles underwent. For though some thought that St. John was exempted from Death, and some vain People would yet perswade us, That he is even to this day walking about yet we find he did not think so himself: Nor did our Saviour ever say, he should not die: as John 21. 23. we read ( John 21. 23.)

The extravagant pretence of the Wandering Jew not many years since, was something like this, who confidently affirm'd that he kept the door of the Hall where our Blessed Saviour was condemned at the time of his Trial before Pilate: And that Christ for some roughness of carriage towards him, destin'd him to live till his coming to Judgment: and that he had been a Pilgrim in all parts of the World ever since, and been an Eye-witness to the Destruction of Jerusalem, and the greatest Transactions of the World ever since. This I say, was too palpable an Impostor (or rather Madness) to deceive any but such as were as Brain-sick as himself.

Let me speak freely (says St. Peter) of the Patri­arch David, That he is both dead and buried; and his [Page 13] Sepulcre is with us unto this day, Acts 2. 29. So Great a Progenitor and so Eminent a Type of the Messiah, was compelled to yield to the necessary De­cays and Decease of Natural Life. His Lamp burnt long indeed, and in a leisurely manner consum'd the Vital Moisture and Warmth (those Stamina Vitae) but it was at last extinguish'd, or rather went out of it self.

And thus you see the scope of the Doctrine in the Text illustrated. That the greatest Eminency in God's Church here, is no exemption from the com­mon Mortality. Which great Truth I shall endea­vour to improve and apply these two ways.

1. Shewing how the Goodness and Wisdom of God's Providence, appears in the Deaths of good Men, particularly of Ministers.

2. What use both Ministers and People ought to make of this Dispensation.

I begin to shew that the Goodness and Wisdom of God is seen in a peculiar manner in the Death of Faithful Ministers: which may turn our Com­plaints of the severity of God's Providences into Ad­miration and Praise of the infinite Wisdom and Good­ness which directed and dispensed them. For,

1. The Graciousness of God's Providence appears in the Death of Faithful Ministers, in that God hereby gives them rest from their Labours. The Laborious and Stedfast Servants of God are encou­rag'd by a Voice from Heaven to go on cheerfully in [Page 14] their present Labours in hope of the rest to come. Rev. 14. 13. Blessed are the Dead which die in the Revel. 14. 13. Lord, from henceforth; yea, saith the Spirit, That they may rest from their Labours. Now, a Faithful Minister is not only a Labourer, but a Labourer in Harvest ( Matth. 9. 38.) a time in which every one Matth, 9. 38. puts out his strength to the utmost. We are gathering up the Wheat in Christ's Field; and there are many Adversaries interrupting and retarding our Work. The envious Legions of Darkness are deluding and destroying of multitudes; and what is worse, too many love to have it so. We see their pernicious ways and who leads them on in them, yet all our Calls and Cries in their Ears will not make them consider and amend; they love the works of Darkness, and seem to value Temptations to Destruction. This is that which makes our Labours very Afflictive; as it was at once the Grief and Anger of our Supreme Pastor in the days of his Flesh ( Mark 3. 5.) He look'd round Mark 3. 5. about on them with Anger, being griev'd for the hardness of their Hearts. Alas, too great a part of our usual Audience are no more affected with the great Promises and Threatnings of God's Book, than if we spake to the Graves of those who have been long dead. However, 'tis our Great Master's Will that we Labour in Season and out of Season. And the Laborious Minister who spends and is spent in God's Service, shall have his Quietus very speedily. The Watch-man shall not stand Centinel long, some Disease or some other means will call him off his Watch; and then every Act of his careful Industry and Zeal for God, shall be infinitely Rewarded.

Of many a Faithful Pastor it may be said, as Jacob express'd himself concerning the restless Fatigue he underwent in securing Laban's Flock. Gen. 31. 40. Gen. 31. 40. Thus I was, in the day the Drought consumed me and the Frost by night, and my sleep departed from mine Eyes. The difficulty of our Work will give us ma­ny laborious days; and our too little success may well bring upon us many restless nights. And in­deed, the utmost Application and Earnestness of our Head and Heart day and night is little enough, in order to finish our course with Joy. For when we consider the Immortality of the Souls under our care; and that Christ purchased them with his own Blood; And that we are plac'd by the Great God as Overseers of them; And finally, That the guilt of so deplorable a Ruine as the infinite Misery of an everlasting Soul will be imputable to us, if through our negligence it miscarries: I say, when we are du­ly sensible of these tremendous things, we cannot think any pains too great to save a Soul from Ex­quisite, Eternal Torment: nor to spend a few drops of sweat in labouring to pull Men out of the Claws of the Devil, when for this very thing our Blessed Lord shed Showers of his Blood. These Thoughts will make every tender Pastor put himself out to the utmost. And the less rest we take here, the sweeter will be our everlasting repose above. The cool Even­ing of Death draws on when the Limbs of the weary shall be at rest, and shall never be disturb'd more. The same propitious Hand which wipes away the Tears from the Eyes of the disconsolate Christian, will wipe away the Sweat from the Brows of the Painful. And then there's a full end of their Labours [Page 16] and Sorrows. No more hard Hearts to grieve their tender Bowels; no more filthy Conversations to vex their Righteous Souls. But undisturbed Joys abound even to exultation for evermore.

This then is an Expression of God's infinite Good­ness and Compassion to his Faithful Ministers, in that the infliction of Death is a dismission from their Labours. Which will surther appear,

2. In that by Death they are secured from the Malice of their Enemies. For 'tis no new thing that the most inoffensive life should meet with Enmity from the World. We must not think to fare better than our Master, who was thus Treated all his life long; and being brought to his Death by the same malicious Enmity of wicked Men, he told his Fol­lowers what they must expect from this evil World. John 15. 21. The Dispositions, and Interests, and John 15. 21. Ways of good and bad Men are diametrically op­posite; and when there's such a Constitutional diffe­rence of Inclinations, and thwarting of Roads, there are like to be many differences; and then 'tis easie to say who will be greatest sufferers, either the few harmless Pilgrims that are so far from doing an Inju­ry, that they would not return one to gain the whole World: Or a numerous Company of Passionate, Proud, Envious, and Violent Men who take plea­sure in unrighteousness. From some of these, every one that will live Godly in Christ Jesus, must expect at some time or other to suffer Tribulation in some measure; as both our Saviour and his Apostles have fore-told, and as their own Sufferings fore-shew'd.

Yet one would indeed have thought, that the Al­mighty God had sufficiently secured his Prophets from Violence; when he had given such a pe­culiar Charge that they should do his Prophets no harm, Psal. 105. 15. And when Jeroboam's Passion Psal. 105. 15. had transported him so far beyond the measures of Equity, as to stretch forth his hand against a Prophet of the Lord, his injurious Arm was instantly wi­ther'd, so that he could not pull it in to him again, 1 Kings 13. 4. So that God reprov'd even Kings for 1 Kings 13. 4. their sakes. And on the other side, who could have thought but that every Body would have been kind and obliging to the Prophets, when God had promis'd, That so small a kindness as a Cup of cold water given to a Prophet in the name of a Prophet, should not be unrewarded, Matth. 10. 42. Consider­ing Matth. 10. 42. withall, That this was a promise made by that infinite Remunerator, who gives whole Cities for the improvement of some petty Pounds ( Luke 19. Luke 19. 17. 17.) Yet, alas! notwithstanding the Great God had both promis'd and threatned so highly in the be­half of his Prophets; through what Vollies of Re­proaches, and Defiles of Injuries did they usually run their Course? And through what painful and bloody Deaths did the most of them make their entrance into Glory? Isaiah is said to be sawn asunder; Jeremiah to be stoned to Death; Ezechiel is reported to be slain by the Captain of the Jews at Babylon; Amos his Brains beaten out by Amasias the Idolatrous Priest of Bethel. Micah's Neck broken by Joram the Son of Ahab. And (to name no more) Zecha­riah, the Pen-man of the words of the Text, is suppos'd [Page 18] to be the Prophet of whom our Blessed Saviour says, He was slain betwixt the Porch and the Altar, (Matth. 23. 35.) There being no other Zecharias the Son of Matth. 23. 35. Barachias mentioned in the Scriptures, save this Prophet whose Genealogy is thus Recorded, Zech. 1. 1. In the Eighth Month came the Word of the Lord to Zechariah the Son of Barachiah, &c.

Many more Instances of this Nature are Collected by Epiphanius, in his Account of the Lives of the Pro­phets. And if we look into that Sacred Book which ought to be in our Hands every day, we shall there find that the Holy Apostle sped no better. And the Histories of those times assure us, That hardly any one of them died otherwise than by a violent Death; some were Crucify'd, some Ston'd, some slain with the Sword, others had their Brains beat out with Clubs. In so much, that one of them Writes, 1 Cor. 1 Cor. 4. 9. 4. 9. God seems to have sent out us the Apostles last, as Men appointed to be slain. A sort of for­lorn Squadrons who made the first Effort against the Powerful Patrons of Sin, and Attact Wickedness seated in high places, who soon shew'd their Power­ful Wrath against such as durst disturb their haughty Lusts. John Baptist's Faithful Reproof of Herod's Adultery, cost him his Head: the Jewish Sanhedrim being reproov'd by St. Stephen for their blood-guilti­ness, they gnash upon him with their Teeth as if they'd worry him; as indeed they soon did, Acts 7. 54. Acts 7. 54. And some of St. Paul's Hearers became his Enemies, because he told them the Truth, (Gal. 4. 16.) Gal. 4. 16.

But the Messengers of God find wellcome above when they meet with none on Earth. God calls them away as an affronted Prince calls away his Ambassador from a Foreign Court, not in Dis­pleasure to his Servant, but in Anger to the place he leaves.

3. The great wisdom and awful Righteousness of God's Providence appears in the Death of Faithful Ministers, in that this is a means of bringing them to render an Account of their Ambassy at the Court of Heaven. They watch for your Souls (says St. Paul) as they that must give an Account, Heb. 13. 17. We Heb. 13. 17. must at last declare before the Judge of the World; How faithfully we have promulged the Will of God? How impartially we have reproved Sin? How in­dustriously we have watch'd over Souls? And with what serious earnestness we have further'd their Sal­vation: God grant that this may be to our Comfort and not Confusion. We are God's Leiger-Ambassadors in our several Parishes; and must expect to be call'd home ere long to make Report, how we have ne­gotiated the grand Interests of our Master's King­dom? And then (says the Prophet) Such as have turn'd many to Righteousness shall shine as the Stars for ever and ever, Dan. 12. 3.

4. The Wisdom and Goodness of God appears in the Deaths of Faithful Ministers, in that their Peo­ple are likely to be much awaken'd by, and confirm'd in, the Truths of God attested and apply'd by their dying Lips. 'Tis the Argument of Tertullian in his [Page 20] Apology for the Christians; ‘That of all the Thou­sands of them that were put to Death, yet none of them died without a Zealous Confession of the Truth of the Christian Religion, affirming with their last Breath, That it was the Wisdom and Power of God to Salvation: So that usually very numerous Conversions were made by the constancy of their Dying Confessions.’ At Death, even the vainest of Men are usually serious: With how much greater weight then, will every Sentence of good Men drop from their dying Lips? Their Faith is almost Vision. So that they may be said to stand on the brink of the other World, and seeing the great things there, they turn about to acquaint the standers-by, what a Righteous Judge there is in the Neighbour­ing World! What an All-sufficient Saviour! What a Beatifick Paradise, where infinite Vollies of Halle­lujahs, and Triumphant Joys abound for evermore! And finally, what a tremendous Tophet is prepared, where the Worm never dies, and the Fire is never quenched. Thus, methinks, the dying Servants of God may (like Sampson) slay more of God's Ene­mies at their Death, than in their whole Life.

And in these last Efforts of Devout Men against Impiety: I dare assure the People of this place, That their Deceased Pastor would have been very earnest and very copious: Had it not pleased God, that he should so suddenly, and at such a distance be deprived of his precious Life. But the Will of God is ever Adorable. That thought must stifle all the Complaints which our wounded Affections are apt to make in such Trials: And we must ever own [Page 21] God's Sovereign Providence not only with submis­sive Silence, but entire Satisfaction.

5. And lastly, The Wisdom and Goodness of God's Providence appears in the Deaths of Faithful Pastors; in that hereby opportunity is administred to others of God's Witnesses to come and confirm the same Truths.

God sends Prophet after Prophet, Minister after Minister, rising early and sending them, (Jer. 44. 4.) Jer. 44. 4. As it were Storming a sturdy Heart by fresh assaults, that so being encompassed with so great an Army of Champions Valiant for the Truth, the most obstinate sinner might think of Surrender: especially consi­dering that all these will be Witnesses for us or a­gainst us at the last day.

Thus we see what excellent ends an All-Wise and All-Good Providence brings about even in those Dis­pensations which we think the most fore and severe: and therefore we have reason to say, when the good Hand of God takes away, as well as when it gives, Blessed be the Name of the Lord.

Les us now apply all, as it was proposed, First, to Ministers themselves. And, Secondly, to their Peo­ple. First, to Ministers themselves. If no Eminen­cy in God's Church can secure us from Death and Judgment, (for the Prophets cannot live for ever here) Let us then, as we shall answer it to the Great God, discharge the Duties of our Sacred Office with all possible diligence and exactness. We have but a lit­tle [Page 22] time to do a great deal of difficult work. We have the dark minds of Men (under God) to en­lighten: Hearts of Stone to soften and warm: many a stray Sheep to reduce: and many a Prey to snatch out of the Devil's Teeth, and to bring into Christ's Fold. Ah! What a difficult Task has that Shepherd, who has a numerous Flock to over-look, and sees Wolves breaking in on every side, and carrying away a great part of his Flock: (the rest also being apt to straggle and run into Snares) and perhaps he finds little assistance from others, but much discou­ragement. This alas! is our very Case; and except we put out our utmost Diligence and Courage, we may probably lose many a Soul that might other­wise have been saved. For, the Devil is the more diligent in deceiving and destroying, as knowing, He has but a short time (Revel. 12. 12.) And Revel. 12. 12. except we are moved by the same consideration, what Ravage will the Destroyer make? and 'twill be very said, if through our sloath or sin any Soul be lost for which Christ died. Let us then labour to strengthen the weak Christian, and to establish the wavering, and to restore the lapsed: and even the best will need a share in our Conduct, but none more than the Tempted, the Doubtful, and the Dying. Oh! what work is here for a frail Mortal Man in the due discharge of his Ministerial Vows! We may well say, Who is sufficient for these mighty things?

May the Thoughts of these Difficulties then add an edge to our Industry; and since we have but a little time here, let us advance our Master's Work and Interest with all our might. This is the princi­pal [Page 23] thing we have to mind, and ought to be upper­most in our Mind and Heart day and night. It was a moving consideration to our Blessed Saviour him­self to think that he had but a little time to be in this World; ( John 9. 4.) I must work the works of John 9. 4. him that sent me, whilst it's day, the night cometh when no Man can work. And with what Zeal did St. Peter exhort and stir up the Affections of his People? Knowing (says he) that I must shortly put off this Ta­bernacle, 2 Pet. 1. 14. And Oh! That this weighty 2 Pet. 1. 14. Thought filled our Heart every time we either spake to the Great God, or to Men in his Name. What Fervour would it give to our Prayers, and what Life to our Sermons?

And in these things, I do not question but the Life of this our Reverend Brother Deceased, afforded many Instances in which he deserved to be our Pat­tern. But his Modesty seems to design that a Veil should be drawn over him at his Funeral; in his De­puting me to this Office, who have been too lately of his Acquaintance. In this indeed he gives a Just Reproof to a Vanity too common with Men, who desire a Panegyrick at their Funeral rather than a Ser­mon, which is rather to Instruct the Living than Applaud the Dead.

But the greatest Piety and Prudence values not the admiring Eyes and Tongues of the World, content to have their Hearts and Ways approved of an Om­niscient God. Yet even this Affectation of Con­cealment usually draws Men to a more careful In­spection. And therefore I cannot but again lament [Page 24] the shortness of my Acquaintance with so Valuable and Desirable a Friend. 'Tis not much above two years, since I had the opportunity (though on a sad occasion) of the first Discourse I ever had with him: which was seconded by one of the most condescen­ding and kind Acts of Friendship on his part, that I ever met with. And so was he pleased to continue a sort of Friendly Correspondence, which seem'd to be made up of the Kindness of a Father temper'd with the Familiarity of a Brother; though our di­stance of Habitation too much interrupted the Exer­cise of our Acquaintance. So that I here lament the Death of a most Affectionate and Generous Friend; Acting rather like a near Relation, than a new Acquaintance, and am now never more to en­joy the benefits of his endearing and edifying Society upon Earth.

In this particular of his obliging Amity, I know such as had the Happiness to be Related to him, will even passionately concurr with me in their Laments for so sensible a loss. Indeed this lower World has nothing in it so valuable as an entire Friend, the sweet multiplier of our Joys, and divider of our Sorrows. But whilst we are admiring our Happiness, and think of building Tabernacles for our desired Companions; a Cloud over-shadows the beloved Object, and we are left in Sorrow and Darkness. In which Case our Wisdom lies in labouring to ascer­tain the Regions of Bliss above, where Love never ceases, nor is so much as pall'd by Death or Ab­sence.

This will also be the best use that we who are Re­lated to him by Office, can make of his Decease, viz. To see in him our Neighbourhood to the Grave: And to endeavour that all the Piety, Charity, and Sobriety, and whatever else was Praise-worthy and of good Report, that was conspicuous in him, may not be laid in the Grave with him but survive in us. And since he was longer known to many of you than me: I must request, That your own Observation may be the Monitor of your imitation of all things worthy of it. Wherefore,

First, Whatever Pious and Prudent Zeal for God appeared in his Prayers, Sermons, Catechising, and familiar Discourses: Let us Transcribe and Copy it. For except we are lively in our Affections our selves, we are not like to raise the Affections of others.

Secondly, Whatever industry in particular and private Instruction and Conversion of Souls has been observed in our Reverend Brother, let us also follow the good Precedent. For not only the Apostolick Practice, but the Nature of our important work, should prompt us to act the part of those careful Physicians, who make particular Visits to the Houses and Beds of their Patients. For, the same Prescrip­tions will not be proper to all: and a particular Ex­postulation is ever the most close and powerful, which is of constant use to our People in their Health, but is chiefly necessary when they are visited with Sickness, they being then warn'd of God to prepare for another World.

Thirdly, In whatever Acts of Bounty and Chari­ty this Reverend Person has given us a good Example, let us industriously follow it. For by the Dole of a small Alms we may perhaps open the Heart of some poor Person to receive our Doctrine, and so may con­duce to their Immortal Happiness as well as their present Subsistence. 'Tis true we cannot (many of us in our low Sphere) adequate the Bounty of this tender Father of the Poor, either in the beneficent Distributions he made in his Life, or the Annual Pen­sions and Rents which he bequeathed at his Death. Nor may we have such Noble Almoners of our Chari­ty, as from the Mouth of an Honourable. Lady I am assured, he had: Yet let us freely give of the Abili­ty which God vouchsafes us.

Fourthly, In what Instances so ever he shewed him­self a Worthy Pattern of Christian Moderation, and of general Love to all good Men, let us tread in the steps of his Christian Catholicism. For why should not we shew favour to such as God favours? Or how can we be shy of the Company of such, as God will vouchsafe to receive into his Kingdom? Difference in immaterial Opinions should not divide the Hearts of such as agree in the same Faith and Gospel. And 'tis certain, the Flames of our Love may probably melt such as the Flames of Wrath will very probably harden. 'Tis indeed a sore Grief that there's no Healing: And I do not see, how on the one hand such as do not condescend as far as they can: or on the other hand, how such as do not comply as far as they can in order to a Blessed Union, (so conducive [Page 27] to our Happiness in both Worlds) will answer their affected stiffness before the Prince of Peace, before whom we must all are long appear in Judgment.

Lastly, Whatever Instances of a Pious Conversa­tion our Reverend Friend has left us, let us be his Followers as far as he was a Follower of Christ: For when all is done, a Holy Life is the Life of all we do. And without this, a Minister is a sad mixture of Contradictions. A very strange Builder, who really pulls down what he pretends to build up.

And so I turn me from such as are Brethren to this Reverend Person by Office, to such as were the Hear­ers of his Doctrine and the Objects of his Care.

And here I know, you can better tell me than I you, what a serious Reprover of sin and servent Ad­vocate for Piety, is now taken away from you. But let me intreat you to do this Honour to his Memo­ry, viz. To make the World see the Power of your Preachers Sermons in the unblamableness of your Conversations. Without this, your Praising of him with your Lips will appear a fullsome piece of Vani­ty, or rather a downright Detraction; For the Com­mendation of wicked Men is Defamatory. And Oh! With what confusion of Face will you meet your Pastor before the Judgment Seat of Christ, if you then appear in the guilt of those sins, which he had been so long and so affectionately pressing you to forsake?

Let me then here speak to such as are young, that they seriously mind those instructions which they have learnt from the Mouth of their Grave Cate­chist. May his Sage Counsels abide by you even to old age; which will be much Adorned and Com­forted by your early Piety. Wherefore see that ye convince a dissolute Age, that Youth is as capable of Serious Religion as the Hoary Head; by which you will answer the end of your Worthy Pastors Erecting and endowing a School for your Instruction.

And as for such of his Parishioners as are Aged: who have lived, some Thirty, some Forty years under so Beneficial a Ministry. Oh! Think, what vast Accounts you have to make to God, who will soon require at your hands the improvement of your many Talents. What Proficiency then and Profit have you made by the many awakening Sermons and Expostulations you have heard? Has your Fruit been answerable to your Tillage? Can you not re­member the time when your Hearts have been sensi­bly touch'd and warm'd by his Doctrine, and re­solved for the ways of God? Be ye then stedfast and resolute in all Christian Duty, and Conscientious in the discharge of your Vows. God lays it to the Charge of the incorrigible Jews, that they remained rough and unpolisht notwithstanding he had hewen them by his Servants the Prophets, (Hos. 6. 5.) It seems they were so hardened, that all the stroaks of their Ministers level'd at their Lusts, could not sepa­rate them from 'em. May no share of this fault ever be laid to your Charge.

If you have been such ill Husbands for your Souls, as not to Record his edifying Sermons, yet his Care has left a standing warning to you and to the World. Not to deferr your Repentance, and to hasten your Peace with God: which essential part of Wisdom, I pray God encline us all to pursue and practise.

I must now conclude my Mournful Subject, in which my Affection would carry me on, and my weighty Subject would bear me out: But I should be injurious to such, whose Affection to their De­ceased Friend has brought them far from their Habita­tions.

Let us therefore Pray, That as God calls home some of his Faithful Servants, so he would be pleased to raise up others in their room: particularly to the supply of this place, which has now sustain'd such a Loss. May the great Shepherd of the Sheep, con­tinue Faithful Pastors to such as enjoy so great a Bles­sing: And vouchsafe such to all places that want 'em. That the whole Church of God may flourish (particularly in these Nations) not only in our days, but till the Consummation of all things.

Which God of his infinite Mercy grant, through Jesus Christ our Blessed Lord and Saviour.

Amen.