1. Thou: Thou that art great, and Daniel-like greatly beloved; thou that art blest, as if thou wert the darling and delight of Heaven; thou whom Wisdom seems to court with both hands full, Length of days in her right hand, Prov. 3.16. and in her left hand riches and honor: Thou that art honored before the Elders, and mag­nified in the gates of thy City, Lam. 4.20. Chap. 5.16. The breath of their nostrils, the joy of their hearts, the Crown of their head, the glory of Ephratah, the hopes and expectation of Beth-lehem, do thou worthily.

1 Thou: For te decet, it becomes thee; there is no such incongruity as ill placed honor, as dignitas in indigno (so Salvian) a worthless person in a place of worth: As Snow in Summer, Prov. 26.1. and Rain in Harvest, so honor is not seemly for a fool. What a ridiculous monster is worthless great­ness? Psa. 12.8. [Page 31]when the vilest men are exalted, Quisquiliae popelli, the sweepings of the raffle, the abjects, the lowest of the people (like Jeroboams usurping Priests) got into high places. Giants in honor, and Dwarffs in deserts, are more mon­strous then those the Philosopher calls [...] the sins and by­blows of nature.

But to see Goodness and Greatness walk hand in hand, outward excellencies inlaid with Grace and Holiness, this is ele­gancy and beauty far above all the ac­complishments of flesh and blood. Job 41.12. I will not conceal his parts, nor his power, nor his comely proportion. Laudate Dominum in excelsis: To see God praised in the heights; to see Mountains of Holiness, those that are eminent in place, to be so in piety too, Isa. 35.2. the glory of Lebanon is gi­ven unto them, the excellency of Carmel and Sharon: Do thou worthily; for te decet, it becomes thee.

2 Thou: for te oportet, it behoves thee; necessity is laid upon thee: Thy engage­ments are notable and numerous; God hath tied thee with cords of love; Luke 1.49. He that is mighty hath done to thee great things, and holy is his name: He hath laid his [Page 32]obligations thick upon thee, and unre­turned mercies carry a weight with them, are as heavy as judgments, will press to death. It is base Earth which requites the bounty of Heavens sun and showers with nothing but thorns and briers; Heb. 6.8. it is rejected and nigh unto cursing, whose end is to be burned.

It was the charge aginst Saul, that he answered neither the expences, nor ex­pectations of God: 1 Sam. 15.11. It repenteth me that I have made Saul King. Such preferment might justly expect some performance; but unthankful wretch that he is, I see he cares not to inrich himself with the spoils of Heaven, and to raise his own name, though, if possible, with the ruines of mine: It repents me that I have made him King.

Men and Brethren, let not our unwor­thiness give God cause to repent of any mercy that he hath bestowed on us; and where he hath sown his favors thickest, let him reap the greatest crop of thank­fulness. Remember your engagements recount your obligations, break not the Lords bonds in sunder, Psal. 2.3. cast not away his cords from you: Do what you are bound to do; where much is forgiven, love [Page 33]much, and where much is given, do much: Do thou worthily; for, te oportet, it behoves thee.

To close this: Greatness you see is a tye to goodness. My Lords and Gentle­men, you that are greater, be better then others; let your Holiness go in as good a place as your Honors; let your riches of grace outvie your revenues: Let your goodness top as many as your great­ness; make it appear though those two do not often meet, yet it is not impossi­ble they should come in conjunction. Let not your heights make you barren, as if you were under the curse of the Moun­tains of Gilboa, 2 Sam. 1.21. that there should be neither dew nor rain upon you. Oh let dew be upon Hermon, and let it descend upon the Moun­tains of Zion; Ps. 133.3. for there the Lord com­mands the blessing, even life for ever­more.

That for the first Motive to do wor­thily, Thou, Boaz; a great Man, a Noble Person; do thou worthily.

2.

The second is the place where such a person is resident: Ephratah. Do thou worthily in Ephratah.

In Ephratah: Where's that? Enquire of a neighbor-word, and it will tell us, [Page 34] Ephratah is a disjointed name, there is half of it behinde, Beth-lehem belonging to it, Beth-lehem and Ephratah are both one. The Spirit of God using the like elegancy of expressing one place by two words elswhere; Psa. 76.2. At Salem is his Taber­nacle, and his dwelling place in Zion: Both which speak but one Jerusalem. Josh. 19.15. Judg. 12.8. There was another Beth-lehem in Zebulon, the birth-place of Judge Ibzan; from which that it might be distinguished, this of the Text is called sometimes Beth-lehem Judah, sometimes Beth-lehem Ephratah.

This is that Beth-lehem of Judea, Marth. 2.1. so called by St. Matthew, where some time after, the Wise men sought the Sun by Star-light, and found him, without whom the world was lost. Nor did the blood of Innocents here shed by Herod, stain, but illustrate the place, it being the field, Aetas rec dum ha­bilis ad pugnam idonea ca­titit ad coronam. Hier. where those little Champions who could not fight, conquered and are crowned, and by the charity, and upon the credit of the Primitive Church are acknowledged to lead in the Van of the Noble Army of Martyrs which have been since Shiloh came.

It is observed to be situate on the very Umbilical point of the Earth; from [Page 35]whence as from a Center, Psa. 19.4. the Lines of comfort might go out through all the Earth, and the Word here made flesh, to the ends of the World.

Sometimes you have both these names in one. Mic. 5.2. And thou Beth-lehem E­phratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah.

Sometimes one for both, Gen. 35.19. Rachel died and was buried in the way to Ephratah, which is Beth-lehem.

Sometimes both for one, as here, Do thou worthily in Ephratah, and be famous in Beth-lehem.

Ephratah was so called from Ephrath the wife of Caleb, say some; others, 1 Chron. 2.19. and St. Hierome among the rest, [...]p. ad Eust. 27. A fertili­tate, quâ locus ille aliis praestabat; from that great and notable fruitfulness in which it excelled other places; and so it is well coupled with Beth-lehem the house of Bread; a fruitful Land makes Houses of Bread: And most deservedly was this place called [...], fruitful, especi­ally if we look at that fruit which sprang here from the Root of Jesse, David, Isa 11.1. and Jesus the Son of David, the best fruit that ever the Earth bore. John 7.42. Hath not the Scripture said, That Christ cometh of [Page 36]the seed of David, and out of the Town of Beth-lehem where David was? It shall be said of Beth-lehem Ephratah, that this and that man were born in her, Ps. 87.5. and the Highest himself came out of her; excellent things are spoken of thee, O City of God!

I cannot speak much of it now; only thus: Deut 12.5. It was a near neighbor to Jerusa­lem, the place which God chose out of all the tribes to put his name there, having that advantage which S. Paul speaks of, that to them above many and among few others, Ro. 3 2. Ro. 9.4, 5. were committed the oracles of God; to them pertained the a­doption, and the glory, and the Covenants, and the giving of the Law, and the service of God and the promises; of whom as con­cerning the flesh Christ came, who is over all, God blessed for ever, Amen. It was a City in whose palaces God was known for a refuge: It was a City of Judah, and in Judah is God known, his name is great in Israel. Here must Boaz do worthily, here especially, here if any where; such a Theatre is only for worthy actions. Do thou worthily in Ephratah.

Men and brethren! We live in E­phratah, a fruitful land, and our houses [Page 37]are like Beth-lehem, houses of bread; The lines are fallen to us in pleasant places, and we have a goodly heritage: The fountain of Jacob is upon a land of corn, and milk, and honey, Deut. 33.28. also our heavens drop down dew: God crowns our years successively with his goodness, and his clouds drop fatness. And which is beyond all these, Ps. 65.11. how are we warmed with the glorious and desireable days of the Son of man! Does not man eat An­gels food, and are we not dieted with the bread of heaven? What a rich con­fluence of evangelical enjoyments have we lived under? Ps. 147.20. He hath not dealt so with every nation: He hath fed us with the finest of all the wheat, Ps. 81.16. and satisfied us with the very honey out of the rock of goodness.

And now, O man, what doth the Lord thy God require of thee, but to do worthily? worthy of God, his Gospel, his goodness, the Ephratah, the Beth­lehem thou livest in: Isa. 26.1 [...] Let not all this favor be shewed thee, and yet thou not learn righteousness: Let it not be charg'd upon thee, that in the land of uprightness thou still dealest unjustly, and wilt not behold the majesty of the Lord. The [Page 38]cities wherein most of the mighty works were done, Mat. 11.20, 21. were upbraided, and no less then a woe will serve Chorazin and Beth­saida, because Tyre and Sidon, under such manifestations and visits from heaven, would have repented long before in sack­cloth and ashes. It was that which ren­dred the rape of the Gibcathites more odious, Judg. 20.10. because it was folly in Israel; they did evil in a good land. And it was the emphatical goodness of Jeroboam's son, 1 King. 14.13. that in him was found some good thing toward the Lord God of Israel, in the house of Jeroboam; he was good in an ill house. Considering where we live, should make us consult what we do. Places do nota­bly circumstantiate actions; remember Ephratah, and do worthily: Do thou wor­thily in Ephratah.

That for the second motive to doing worthily, the place where this great per­son was resident, Ephratah: Do worthily in Ephratah.

3.

The third is taken from the name that is attendant on such a great person, in so eminent a place, doing thus worthily; and that is here termed famous: And be famous in Beth-lehem. Fac praedicetur no­men, make that thy name may be preach­ed [Page 39]and cryed up, as Tremellius renders it: Proclaim thy name, as the Margin gives it from the Hebrew: Habeas nomen ce­lebre, so the Vulgar Latine; Have a great, a renowned, a famous name. All speak one and the same thing; Be famous in Beth-lehem.

A good name is a great blessing, and the guerdon of worthy actions: As the works, so the worth of blessed men and women follow them. Mary Magdalen for her Box of precious Ointment, Eccles. 7.1. hath a good name given her, which Solomon says is the better of the two; Mat. 26.13. and where­ever the Gospel is preached, that which she did is told for a memorial of her. What an honor have the Romans got in one line of S. Paul's Epistle to them, far above all that Histories write of them and their Ancestors prowess; That their faith is spoken of throughout the whole world. Ro. 1.8. Those Worthies whose heads are now crowned in heaven, have their names cried up on earth; for, by faith they have obtained a good report, as it is said of them, where they are fairly listed, Heb. 11. Memoria justi in benedicti­one; The memory of the just is blessed, Pro. 10.7. but the name of the wicked shall rot.

It is observed that God shews himself much in the disposal and ordering of mens names: He deals with their names, as he affects their persons; so that his love or his anger, blessing or punishment, are legible in names. Is God angry? he'll cut and curtail them, he'll take them off by the halfs: Jeconiah shall be but Coniah, and enough for him too, without he were better; Jer. 22.24. Though Coniah the son of Jehoiakim king of Judah were the signet upon my right hand, yet would I pluck him thence. Is God pleased? sometimes he'll add and enlarge: Gen. 17.5. Thy name shall no more be called Abram, but Abraham. Some­times he'll alter and change: Thy name shall no more be called Jacob, Gen. 32.28. but Israel; for as a Prince hast thou power with God and with man, and hast prevailed. Hath God a mind to punish? Deut. 9.14. he'll expunge and erase: Let me alone that I may destroy them and blot out their name from under heaven. Isa. 56.5. Does he intend to bless? Then, I will give them a name better then of sons and of daughters; I will give them an everlasting name, which shall not be cut off.

God is ever ready to honor them that have honored him, 1 Sam. 2 30 Ps. 91.14 to set them on high that have known his name: As their [Page 41]lives and deaths, so their names and me­mories are precious in his sight; they shall not be forgotten, nor out of the mind of God, when they are dead men and out of the sight of the world. It was a very passionate expression, and spake abundance of love, that of Ruth to Na­omi: Where thou diest will I die, ch. 1.17. and there will I be buried. But the love or God is wonderful, passing the love of women: 2 Sam. 1.26. He says, Where thou diest, my care shall not die, and there will I not bury my loving kindness; mine eyes shall be upon thee in the chambers of darkness, my faith­fulness shall be seen in the grave; I'll value thy very dust, and set a price upon thy scatter'd atoms; I'll embalm thy name for after-ages, and send it down to posterity with a relish; Eccl. 49.1. it shall be sweet as honey in all mouths, and as musick at a banquet of wine.

First then, for that eminent Person whose Obits we this day solemnise: He was Boaz, of antient and very honorable descent; it would lead us up to the fur­ther end of our English antiquities, to follow his Name to the rise of it. And no small happiness it is for a people to have such in place; if King Solomon's vast knowledge and full grown experi­ence had taught him what happiness is: Happy art thou, Eccl. 10.17. O Land, when thy King is the Son of Nobles. Such Progenitors be­ing often, not always, blessed in suitable productions:

Then for the Place, you may read it in his Escucheons; if you look at them, you may find there both Ephratah and Beth-lehem. Behold the Garbs, Guil. Dis. of Heral. p. 151. the Sheaves, and they signifie plenty or a­bundance, that their first Bearer did de­serve well for his hospitality; there you have Ephratah, Fruitfulness. Idem p. 77. Look at the Cheveron, and there the Heralds shew us the representation of a House in the roof or rafters of it; there's Beth-lehem, a house of bread, a plentiful house; and such was his, I need not go out of the Congregation for witnesses of it. So that he which looks on his Escucheons, may see another interpretation of Josephs dream: Gen. 37.7. Lo his sheaf arose and stood upright, and behold the sheaves that stood round about it did obeisance to his sheaf.

And if you say, these are to be reckon­ed among the — Quae non fecimus ipsi, those Honors which came to him, rather then he to them: Let us go on to the parts of the Text, and come to the A­gendum, the something to be done; and there you shall find him nobly active and doing his part. He was much for action; his hand ever kept pace with, and for the most part outwent his tongue.

He was not practised in false Court­ship, and perfectly hated that foolish ostentation which our Saviour chargeth upon the Pharisees, Mat. 23.3. They say and do not. He would do as much, as others think enough to say; And it was his grave and sober manner, rather to do a favor then profess it. He shewed his faith by his works; Jam. 2.18. 1 Joh. 3.18. Joh. 13.17. and loved not in word, nor in tongue, but in deed and in truth: Reckon­ing of that only as happiness, to know the things of God and to do them.

Next for the rule of doing, it was that of the Text; He did worthily; take the word in what signification you please.

First he did decently, things like him­self. We may say of his actions, as Zeba and Zalmunna of the brethren of Gideon; Judg. 8.18. As he was, so were they, each one resembled the children of a Prince. You might see what he was, by what he did; every action spake it self the child of honor: He hated any thing that looked like un­worthiness; And though he was very humble, yet he knew how to be a man and no worm, as well as when to be a worm and no man: He knew when to lay his Honor in the dust, and when to [Page 47]no dust lie upon his Honor: He could tell when it was not seasonable nor hand­som for his Honor to stoop; of which some instance might be given, but the time will not bear it.

Next, He did deservingly, meriting much and many ways: And though we cannot say of him as of the Centurion, He loved our Nation and hath built us a Synagogue; Lu. 7 5. yet he loved this part of our Nation, and to witness it, declared, not long before his death, his intentions to repair and keep against the assaults of time, our Synagogue, I mean that ele­gant structure of the Cathedral at Lin­coln, (as sometime his Grandfather, when Lord President of the North, interceded for the Conventual Church of Rippon.) And this I may say was done, because purposed by him: For so God tells David upon his design for building the Temple; 1 King. 8.18. Whereas it was in thine heart to build an house unto my name, thou didst well that it was in thine heart. This is a choise piece of desert, I wish it may have some followers, that such a pur­pose may not die and go to the dust with him.

Then, He did exemplarily: His whole [Page 48]life was a Copy of Vertue fairly written over with few, very few blots. He was one of those whom Tully calls loquentes leges, speaking Laws, unprinted Statutes, in whom men might read their duties, as well as hear them from him. He knew what great evils evil great ones are; that they have many followers, go they whi­ther they will, and seldom go to hell alone: — Tutum est peccare authoribus illis. And therefore he was a practical Com­ment upon that [...] of the Apostle, Eph. 5.15. See that you walk circum­spectly, or exactly. Examples should be exact, and so was he. But more of this by and by.

He did excellently too: His actions were [...] right by the rule, his dealings eaven and square: Great was his integrity, appearing in all parts both of commutative and distributive justice. Those who dealt with him, know his commutative; and those who had been ill dealt with but for him, may be thank­ful witnesses of his distributive justice. I could benight my Auditory with a discourse of this subject; but, I must contract. He was a Worthy, I will not assign him his place, let impartial po­sterity [Page 49]decide it, whether among thirty, or among three.

And now for that Exemplarity, in which I shall engage all my following discourse; not as if I were such a slave to the curse of the Council of Trent, that I dare not but prefer the Vulgar Latine (though but a translation) before the Ori­ginal, but making now for my purpose, I shall readily follow it, and speak of some of those many vertues wherein the decea­sed Lord was very exemplary. Of some, I say; for I do not, I dare not undertake to give you in a perfect List of his nu­merous excellencies: As well might the Spies who went to search the land, Num. 13. en­gage to bring all the land upon their shoulders, and lay it down before them that sent them: It will be enough; and as much as the declining day will allow, v. 23. to let you see some Pomegranates, some Bunches of grapes, and some of the Figs; they'll give you a taste, and make you some discoveries; by their fruits you shall know them: Mat. 7.16. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? You may ghess at the gardens of the Hesperides, when you see some of the golden apples which there grew.

And here I might speak of him in his several capacities, Lord, Landlord, Hus­band, Father, Friend: In which he has not miscarriages to bewail like him that cried out, Omnia fui, nihil profui; I was every thing, and did nothing! For he made every station an advantage to do good by; All his Relations were as so many cuts and channels for his goodness to run and flow in. But this would lay more load upon them that groan under the burden of their loss, and give them more gashes whose wounds are deep e­nough already; it may suffice to have named it.

We shall go on; beginning first as he began every day, with his Devotions. God was next his heart, he gave him his morning-thoughts, yea and his evening too: Ps. 55.17. Evening, morning, and at noon did he pray; four times a day, twice in his family, and twice in his closet, was his course, to which he was faithfully constant, say they that were near him. God was first and last in his mind and meditations: ‘Te veniente die, te decedente canebam.’ [Page 51]He entred, and ended every day with him: His honor neither made him so high, but he could bow down, nor so stiff but he would worship and kneel before the Lord his Maker. Ps. 95.6. Nothing on Earth could make him neglect sending to Heaven; a sign and evidence that he had great concerns, where he held such daily intelligence: No question but he had a Bank of Glory going on, which made him send and seek so often, so earnestly after it; his treasure was in Heaven, and his heart was there also.

Another excellencie which will come in as a good second to this, was his Constancie to the truths of Religion; the more commendable, because in such bogling and starting times: So that it may be said of him as of Trajan, He was Melior pejori aevo, Good, and the better for being so in a worse age. He was fixed in flitting times; in lubrica aetate, that's S. Hierom's word. And he stood his ground in a time of universal apostacie and revolts: He was no miscellaneous Samaritan, no temporising Any thing, Every thing, No thing: He was not No­bilis & Mobilis, like the Courtiers of [Page 52]the Heathen Tyrants at the first entry of Christianity into this Nation, who measured out their Profession by the Sword, liking the longest always best, and being Christian or Pagan, according to the humor of the Conqueror. Naaman is for the God of Israel, but he must have a toleration for the house of Rimmon. Great ones commonly move as (they say) the Planets do, they will have their Epicycles. 'Tis Constancie commends the deceased Lord: It's choise fruit that keeps sound at the core in a rotten age. And I might tell you, as he was stayed in himself, so he was a stay to others: I dare not say as of Athanasius, that the Church leaned on him in her persecution; but I may say, that he was a refuge from the storm; Isa. 25.4. Bless God for this Lord, O house of Aaron! let the house of Levi say that he was good! And I'll say no more of this.

I know not where to be next, I have such choice. His Wisdom; let us look at that a while. To this he had a good title, whether we look at it as Science, or Pru­dence. It was great in him, but not loud: Deep streams slide away in silence, whereas shallow rills babble in their [Page 53]passage, and cannot roll down their chan­nels without a noise. He was very re­served, and no wonder if so much trea­sure was under a lock, of which he kept the key himself; and when he did open it, it was to good purpose, so that when the ear heard him, it blessed him. Job 29.11. By this wisdom of his I do not mean a crafty cunning, which prostrates and lays down honor, and honesty, and conscience, and religion and all to tread on, and climbs up to greatness by any steps; But that gracious gift which is [...] from above, Ja. 3.17. and is pure and peaceable, and gentle, and easie to be intreated, full of mercy and good works, without partiality, without hypocrisie. For which he hath a place among those the Son of Sirach speaks of, The people will tell of their wisdom, Ecclus. 44.15. and the congregation will shew forth their praise.

As a branch of this Prudence, I may speak of his Providence, not for this life only (which was discreet and commend­able) but chiefly for that which is to come; knowing he could not be happy on this side glory: Job 14.14. 2 Tim. 4.6. Therefore did he wait for his change, and the time of his departure, which he looked on as at hand, [Page 54]and foresaw at some distance, and laid in for it. Parum viae, multum viatici: When he had but a little way to go, he made great provision for it. And though he did build, Ps. 49.11. it was not with those in­ward thoughts that his house should con­tinue for ever, and his dwelling-place to all generations. He was well acquainted with that observation, That great Build­ers are seldom long Possessors: And there­fore carried on a Building for Heaven and Earth both together; and did so little rely on this foundation in the dust, as that he was still careful to lay up in store for himself a good foundation against the time to come, 1 Tim. 6.19. that he might lay hold on eternal life.

Another grace, and another evidence of his wisdom, was his Meekness: So runs the Apostles rule; Ja. 3.13. Who is a wise man, and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversa­tion his works with meekness of wisdom. He shewed it, shewed it notably, shewed it always. That which would have raised a storm in some breasts, would not stir in his; Seneca. Inferiora fulminant. He was calm and clear like the upper region of the air, whilst all tempests and blustrings are [Page 55]below. I am perswaded he had out­learn'd most that lived since our Saviour gave out that lesson, Learn of me, Mat. 11.29. for I am meek and lowly in heart; And now takes part in the annexed promise, You shall find rest unto your souls.

We must not overlook that low, but high-prized grace of Humility: He was eminent in it; this was his schola & scala coeli, a school to teach, a scale to reach heaven. He was an high Star, and ap­peared little; yet it was not in the eyes of others, but in his own, which made him great in God's: Isa. 57.15. I dwell with him that is of an humble spirit. This lying low made him a rich soil for graces to grow in, fruitful in every good work. Col. 1.10. The vallies stand so thick with corn, Psal. 65.14. they laugh and sing: So have you seen a fruitful Tree with its laden boughs stooping to the earth, when some proud aspiring Plants have run up all into branches, and exalted their fruit­less tops.

Nor may we pass his remarkable Temperance and Sobriety, which he both loved in himself, and looked after in his family. Nor did this proceed from any weakness of body, but goodness of [Page 56]mind; It was not the choice of an infirm constitution, but of a vertuous inclination. And the more commend­able it is, because in these days, where­in luxury and riot have so far obtained, that Entertainments are never thought well enough, except they be wet enough; and Drunkenness is deem'd the most fashionable and familiar treatment. And the greater the vertue still, because in a Great person; Drink being become a Flood, which like the great Deluge too often tops the Mountains: Gen. 9.21. 1 Sa. 25.11, & 36. So easie it is even for Noah to plant a Vineyard and be drunk; and rich Nabal, that wretched Churl, who could not afford David a little water, to overcharge himself with wine. A rare thing it is, to swim in Plenty, and not swallow down too much of it.

His Charity would speak for it self, should I hold my tongue: Not that the Hypocrites trumpet gave notice of it, Mat. 6.2. (For I have reason to think, much of it ran invisible, like the Mola & Anas. Cam. Br. p. 296. Rivers our Antiquary tells us of, which spend their streams in part under ground;) but because he left such tokens of it in all places where he came, pouring it out [Page 57]rather then giving it; He was God's Almoner with his own estate. He had [...], Col. 3.12. that word which hath, and yet will have no singular num­ber, bowels of mercies. Isa. 58. 10 He would draw out his own soul to the hungry, and satisfie the afflicted soul. Let me borrow an ex­pression or two from Job, they'll fit us as well as if they had been made on purpose. Job 31.17. He would not eat his morsels alone, the stranger and fatherless must eat thereof: v. 19. He would not see any perish for want of clothing, or the poor without co­vering: v. 20. Many loins blessed him and were warmed with the fleece of his sheep: He was eyes to the blind, and feet to the lame, ch. 29.15. and a father to the poor: The blessing of him that was ready to perish came upon him, v. 13. and he caused the widows heart to sing for joy. I'll say no more of this, many mouths are full of it, this place is a standing Monument of his Cha­rity: He hath dispersed, Ps. 112.9. he hath given to the poor, his righteousness endureth for ever, his horn shall be exalted with honor.

I fear to have spent your Patience, before I speak of his: But a word of it therefore. This grace was in him (like [Page 58]the rest, which makes them thus con­catenated) in gradu heroico, in an high and invincible measure, not to be broken, nor baffled by any assaults. As he was not Tumidus agendo, so neither was he Timidus patiendo; He did nothing proudly, Heb. 10.32. he suffered no­thing poorly. Many a great fight of affliction (as the Apostle phraseth it) did he endure, endure without shrink­ing, or recoiling; one whereof had been charge enough for ordinary pieces of Mortality. Indeed, his whole life was a continued act of Patience, under a succession of several Sicknesses and Infirmities; having (as it is said of overworne Students) Bonam Consci­entiam, & malam Valetudinem, a clear Conscience, and a crazie Carkass. He had need of patience, v. 36. and he had patience for his need; so much, that you have seldom heard of the like; it being observed (as I am credibly informed) he was rarely, or never heard to groan under whole loads of pressures that lay upon him. God had laid in much of this grace, where he intended it should be much laid out; He had given him a stock of it suit­able [Page 59]to those great expences he pur­posed to put him to, and his stock held out like the Israelites clothes, Deut. 29.5. it wore not out, it waxed not old on this side Canaan. No more of his patience, lest I trouble yours.

Perseverance shall close all: That's the last, but not the least grace; more then a grace, a complication of many, the complement and perfection of all grace. It is this that lays hands on the [...]: Other graces run in the ce­lestial course, but this seiseth the prise, and sets the crown on the Conqueror's head. Perseverance is grace scrued up to the highest pin; grace at stretch, and holding out to the last. Such was his, enduring to the end, Mat. 24.13. free from all suspi­tion of despondencie, notwithstanding those many batteries and breaches made upon his walls of earth. All this was but Tundere vasculum Anaxarchi, non Anaxarchum: This knocked but at the case, the casket, the carkass; the jewel was safe, his soul prospered and did well: He possessed his soul in patience, Luk. 21.19. till his soul was dispossessed of his body, and taken up into the prepared mansions, Joh. 14.2. there to rest within the embraces of the [Page 60] Everlasting arms: Deut. 33.27. Rev. 2.10. He was faithful to the death, and hath now changed his Coronet for a Crown of life.

It remains then that we contribute our dues to his fame. Let us decently commit to the Earth, what Heaven hath left of him: Eccle. 44.14. Let his Body rest in peace, and let his Name live for evermore! Let his Vertues survive in his Son, his Memory in the hearts and mouths of his Country! And when we can neither keep it nor our selves up any longer, let us make it over to succession, and leave it for the children which shall be born, that the Generations to come may know how good, how great he was! He hath done worthily in Ephratah, let him be for ever famous in Beth-lehem!