THE first word of this Text invites us to look back to somewhat that went before, at the third Verse, the A­postle gives a propheticall caveat concerning a sort of scoffers that should come in the last daies, mockers at Religion, not onely bending all their wit and learning to dispute against it, but deciding those that spake of the comming of the Lord. Where is the promise of his comming, say they, ver. 4. 'twas [...] saies Aretius, a mocking, and scoffing question, which argued not onely the proud wickednesse, but the deep security of their hearts. Now against these Saint Peter bends his main forces, and in this Epistle stirres up his dispersed Countrymen the Jews, to stick close to that Doctrine which was delivered by the Prophets and Apostles. For assure your selves (saith he) that as this VVorld had a beginning and once perished, so hereafter it shall have an end, and whatsoever these scoffers think, be consumed with fire. Verses 6, and 7. Neither think yee this time long a comming, for though it seem so to us, it is otherwise with God. Deo nihil est aut prius aut posterius, say the Schoolmen, Gods actions are not measured by the rule of time, those things which are past and future are present to him, for one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day ver. 8. 'Tis the patience and long-suffering of the Lord which doth as it were set back the clock of time, that we might take the advantage of the means, and opportunities of grace, to repent and be provided a­gainst that day commeth: For come it shall, and that suddenly, as a thief in the night, ver. 9. and appear it shall, and that terribly, when the Heavens shall passe away with a great noise, and the Elements shall melt with fervent heat: verse 10 but howsoever this universall com­bustion shall ruine the frame of this world, and involve those desperate wretches in it, that rest their hearts upon it; yet to us who have ob­tained the pretious faith through the righteousnesse of Jesus Christ, it shall not occasion the least trouble; let the foundations of the Earth sink away under our feet, let our habitations totter about our ears, let the air fail our nostrills, or the Heavens to give us light. Neverthelesse we according to his promise look for new Heavens. & seq.

This Text in the generall purpose, and design of it, presents to us [Page] this observation. That a righteous man hath both helps and hopes to depend upon, when the whole world failes him. A Doctrine very pro­per and necessary to be discussed in these sad times, we see by sad and daily experiences, that the tenure of our Earthly poslessions is fickle and uncertain, those Tabernacles of our flesh wherein our soules dwell are continually decaying and mouldring away, and therefore the spirits of holy men had need to be supported with their future hopes, by the consideration of those glorious Mansions that are prepar­red in Heaven for them. And when I have discussed this generall obser­vation, I proceed to speak of these five particulars.

• First, that the Estate of a Christian in this life is an inheritance: 'tis not in possession but in reversion. Expectamus: wee look for.
• The second is, that this inheritance will certainly devolve and fall to him for his Evidence, for it is Gods promise: Wee according to his promise look for.
• The third is the substance of the inheritance. Heaven and Earth.
• The forth is the quality of the inheritance. New Heavens and a new Earth.
• The fift is the excellence of the inheritance, wherein dwelleth righte­ousnesse.

I shall guide your Christian attention through these particulars, and collect thence such notes of as may be proper to our selves, and sutable to this present occasion.

I begin with the generall observation. That a righteous man hath both helps and hopes to depend when the whole world failes him.

'Twas a blessed Metaphor which the Holy Ghost put into the mouth of St. Paul, Pondus gloriae: When he said that our afflictions are but light, because there is an exceeding and an eternall weight of glory attending on them, for were it not for that exceeding weight of glory, no other weight in the world were able to turn the scale, or weigh down those infinite weights of affliction which oppose us here; we read in the book of Exodus that God sent upon Pharaoh pestem valde gravem, a very heavy pestilence, 9. 3d. in the eighth chap. Mus [...]am valde gravem. God called in but the fly to vex the Egyptians, and even that flye was an heavy burthen to them. The distressed Church of the Jews complain'd Lament. 3. that God ag­gravasset compedes, had made their fetters and their chains heavy to them, and the workmen in the harvest. Math. 20. complain that they had born the heat & burthen of the day. David and Solomon both cryed out and said, that this work is vanity and lightnesse when wee see all is weight and burden, and heavinesse and oppression; what man that lives may not say, and that truly, trouble and heavinesse are [Page] fallen upon me, so that were there not a weight of future glory to coun­terpoise it, we should all sink into nothing.

And that which multiplies the sadnesse of this consideration, is, that still the best men have the most heavy afflictions laid upon them. No sooner do we hear God say of Job that he had found a just man, one that fear'd God and eschewed evill, but immediately God grants a Commission to Satan to bring in the Sabeans and Chaldeans upon his servants and cattle, fire and tempest upon his children, and loath­som diseases upon his body. Although God gave that testimony of ho­ly David, hat he was a man according to his own heart; yet we may read several crosses that befel him in the miscarriages & disobediences of his Children. Yea, our blessed Saviour himself, of whom God testi­fied at his baptism, This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased. Yet we find that beloved Son led up by the spirit to be tempted in the Wildernesse. Math. 4. Afterward you may hear God ratifying the same testimony at his transfiguration. This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased, and yet find that Son forsaken of his Father, and given over to Scribes and Pharisees, and Publicans and Herodians, and Priests and Souldiers, and People and Judges, and Witnesses, and Ex­ecutioners, and he that was called the beloved Son of God, and made partaker of the glory of Heaven in this world, in his transfiguration, was made the sink of all corruption, the receptacle of the pollution of all the sins of the world, as if he were no Son of God, but meer man; as if he were no man but a contemptible worm: such is the mise­rable condition of mankind: As though the greatest weaknesse in the world were man, and the greatest fault in man were to be good. Man is more miserable then any other Creature, and good men more miserable then any other men.

Solomon speaks of a sore evill that was under the Sun, and this was it, that all things come alike to all, that there is but one event to the righteous and to the wicked; in times of common and publique ca­lamitity when God plats an overflowing scourge for a Nation, tis of­tentimes seen that some stripes doe light upon the backs of the righteous: Good King Josiah slain in the warrs, aswell as wicked Ahab; and this is an evill of vexation, because sometimes weak Christians are offended that it is so, and the glory of God seems to be obscured, when it is so; but yet God, who best knowes how to re­pair his own honour, suffers and appoints it so, that the just and the unjust are wrapped up in the same judgment together. The Corn you know is as much beaten in the thrashing as the chaffe, or the straw is: and the just are as much chastned in this world as the unjust; of which proceedings of God, Aquinas gives this account, All things, saith he, [Page] happen alike to all, quantum ad substantiam bonorum & malorum, sed non quantum ad finem: In regard of the substance of good and evill, so all things happen alike; but not in respect of their end; because righteous men by these visitations are humbled, and brought into the way of blessednesse, whereas by them wicked men are hardned, and go on more stubbornly in the waies of their iniquitie. Gods pur­pose in sending out these messengers of wrath, is, but to declare his indignation against sinne; and when his children perceive that sin is so odious and contrary to his nature, they grow by degrees into the same hatred and detestation of it: and then it is that the Lord takes them into his especiall protection, and will be their help and comfort when the whole world failes them.

And this was that priviledge which the Prophet David sang so triumphantly, Psalm 91. Who so dwelleth under the defence of the most high, shall abide under the shadow of the Almightie. The Argument of that Psalm, saies Musculus, is the confidence and affiance of a righ­teous soul upon God; the particulars of every confidence, holy Da­vid describes from the first to the fourteenth verse; under these meta­phoricall tearms, of a secret place and a shadow, are set forth the care and providence of God: as if David had said, 'tis true, that troubles will befall the people of God, but God hath a secret place to secure them; the fire of tribulation may be kindled round about them, but God hath a shadow to refresh them, be the judgment of what na­ture soever, God hath suitable deliverances for his people: are they in poverty or nakednesse? the Lord will cover them with his feathers; are they sick and sore at heart? he hath healing under his wings; are they pursued with the sword? the Lord will be their buckler; are they affraid of the pestilence? that [...], as the LXX read it, that evill Angell, that destroyes evening, and morning, and at noon day, yet it shall not come nigh his dwelling; thousands shall fall upon his right hand, and ten thousand upon his left, but the Lord shall give his Angels charge over him, to keep him in all his waies. And all these deliverances David found in himself, and de­clares, that God fashion'd him in his Mothers womb, and took him thence, and was both his hope and his help afterward, he did often break the snare of the hunter, defeating the malice of Saul and the rebellion of Absalom, and carried him through divers tribulations, and at length laid him in his grave, full of daies, riches, and honour. The holy Scripture abounds with examples of this kind, that God hath been a shield and buckler to his people, and hath satisfied them with long life and salvation, that have put their trust in him.

And for the great comfort and encouragement of his people, the [Page] Lord hath told them, that he will be a father unto them, see Psalm 103. Like as a father pittieth his children, so will the Lord pittie them that fear him. See Malach. 3. 16. They shall be mine, saith the Lord, in that day when I make up my jewells. In that day, That is, in the day of trouble and desolation, when the Lord shall put a difference between the righteous and the wicked, in that day they shall be mine, and that love and favour which a tender Father sheweth to an obedient son, so will spare them. Why? they are my Jewels, saith God, my pretious Treasure, & though like Jewells, they may have flawes & faults in them, and yield not that brightnesse and lustre they should do, yet I will cut them, and polish them, and lay them up in the Cabinet of the grave, and bring them out on the glorious day of resnrrection: but because of the two parents, for the most part, the love of the Mo­ther is most tender; therefore it hath pleased God to ascertain his peo­ple of his tender care over them, even in that notion, Isa. 49. 15, 16. Can a Mother forget her sucking child, and not have compassion on the son of her womb? If she could, yet I will not forget thee. But what is there provided to keep them in Gods remembrance; I have graven thee upon the Palmes of my Hands, saies the Lord there: That phrase, saies Alvarez, imports perpetuam recordationem, a constant remembrance, never to be blotted out; as we use to say of a thing that is nigh, and neer to us, pro manibus est, it is at hard: But there is more in that phrase then so; there are some Divines conceive, that our Saviour now in the state of glory, retaines the scares and wounds which he recei­ved in his bodie here on earth for the redemption of mankind. 'Twas the saying of Saint Cyprian, The Lord Christ, saith he, doth st [...]ll re­tain the print of the nails in his hands and feet, that the offering up of his bodie for a sacr fice, might every day be as powerfull in the sight of God, to appease his wrath towards mankind, as it was on the day of his passion. Ostendit filius patri vulnera, saies Aquinas, Christ shews his wounds to his father, and they are as so many wounds pleading and ma­king intercession for penitent sinners. So that these words, that God will remember his people more tenderly, then a mother can her child, that the names of his Elect are written in the palmes of his hands in such bloody characters, that no time can deface: how strong an argu­ment may this be to every Christian, that Christ will be a friend, and stick to him when the whole world shall fail him?

Saint Ambrose observing those many names and relations, by which the Lord is pleased to own his people, breaks forth into this me­ditation, Omnia Christus est nobis, Christ is all in all to us. Is thy conscience wounded, Christ is a Physician; are thy sins many and grievous? Christ is righteousnesse; dost thou walk in darknesser [Page] Christ is light; wouldst thou go to heaven? he is the way; dost thou fear death? Christ is the life. Vide quot titulorum generibus tui gratia Christus insignitur, saies that father: See how many names and titles Christ takes upon him for thy sake, who in his own Essence is but one God, that in all the changes and chances that may befall us in this life, we may have some name and notion of God to lay hold upon, and to sustain us in the day of adversity.

But some carnal heart perchance may say, if the Lord be the help & the hope of his people, how is it that they are oftentimes brought into such straits, that they know not which way to turn themselvs; we might satisfie this and the like objections, if we would but consider of these things: First, it is very meet that every child should honour his Fa­ther, that every servant should glorifie his Master: In the afflictions of his holy ones, the Lord lets the wicked see, how much they will suf­fer for his sake, and not forsake him, that they will not leave their integritie, though they lose all the world beside. Dost thou still retain thine integritie, saies Jobs wife to him? Dost thou fear such a God as hath stripped thee of all thy earthly comforts? Oh, saies Job, shall we receive good from the hand of the Lord, and shall we not receive evil? The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away, blessed be the name of the Lord. Again, it is not meet that children and servants should receive correction from their Parents and Masters to remember them of, and to obtain them in their duty. Secundi successus abducunt a Deo & sanctimonia, saies Hyperius; prosperitie and happinesse do estrange or hearts from Godlinesse, and slacken us in all duties of devotion. this corruption, David acknowledged in his own nature, Man being honour, hath no understanding: And further, Before I was afflicted I went wrong, but now I will keep thy testimonies: The Vine will grow empty and wild except it be pruned, and so will the best man except the Lord somtime shake his rod over him. Irascitur Divina Be­nitas in hoc soeculo ne irascatur in altero. Almighty God will be angry with us in this world, that he may favour us in the next, and in mercy corrects us here, that he may not consume us in vengeance hereafter.

And thirdly, It is not meet that every one should wear the badge and cognizance of his profession. Luther was wont to say, Qui non est crucianus, non est Christianus: He that is not crucified to the world, & the world to him, is no Christian and some stories tell us, that the pri­mitive Christians had an Hieroglyphick, Crucem coronatam, a Cross with a Crown upon it, & it had this inscription. Tolle crucem [...] [...] ­bere coronam, you must bear the Cross if ye would wear the Crown [...] if we be the members of Christ, we must conform to our head, & partake with our fellow members, wee must not expect that God should strew [Page] carpets for our nice feet to walk into Heaven, and make that way smooth for us, which all the Patriarchs and Prophets, and Apostles, and Martyrs, yea and Christ himselfe found so rugged and bloody; the gate of Heaven is streight, and we must strive to enter into it, we must be disposed and prepa­red in mind, cherfully to part with any thing we enjoy, when it shall please the Lord to call for it; This is the race we must run, this is the course we must finish, and yet we may not say within our selves, this is an hard saying; are these the helpes and hopes that a righteous man hath to depend upon whent he world failes him; surely wee mistake our selves if we look for any other, for the estate of a Christian is an inheritance, his happinesse is not in possession but in reversion, which is the first of those particulars I propounnded to consider when I had handled the generall observation.

Expectamus saies the Apostle, there are some better things we look for then we possesse here. I am perswaded a great part of that trouble that be­falls the children of God in this life ariseth from a mistake, because our Saviour saies, that the meek shall inherit the Earth: therefore when meek and holy persons are driven from their house and home, when their earth­ly possessions are taken from them by violence, hereupon they are cast down and troubled, as if they were at once oppressed by men and forsaken of God: but this I say is a mistake. Righteous men look upon the world as if it were their own, when they have a good title to it, yet they have the least share in it: the wealth of a Christian is not in possession: 'tis true what Solomon saies, Wisdom is good with an inheritance; that man that is Dives and Lazarus too: He to whom God hath given both riches and religion, wealth and grace to manage it, goodly and fair is that mans lot God hath done so to some, but hee doth not promise to do so to all, when the Sons of Zebedee were presented by their mother to our Saviours fa­vour to sit one on his right hand, the other on his left in his Kingdom, they received no other answer but this, can ye drink of my Cup, that is, can ye suffer with me? can ye powre out your blood for the profession of my Gospel: The Crown of of Martyrdom was all the honour which our Saviour offe­red to those ambitious Disciples. Our Saviour told Pilate that his Kingdom was not of this world, our estates then lie not on this old earth, but in those new Heavens that we look for Neither do we find in Scripture that the Saints held by any other tenure: Saint Paul saies of Abraham, that he did but so [...]ourn in Canaan as in a strange Country: he and his Children dwelling in Tents, for he looked for a City that had foundations, whose builder and maker was God: So Jacob describes his own life, and calls it but a Pilgri­mage. So David confesses that he was but a stranger and sojourner as all his Fathers were: from whence proceeded these humble acknowledgements of these holy men but from this consideration, that their estates were an i [...] heritance, which as yet they were not in possession of, but [...] assure themselves of the reversion; and this note may [...] things.

[Page] First, if the Lord have given us wealth or other accomodations, or con­tentments in present possession, it should move us to thankfulnesse How much are those men bound to God, to whom he hath given the Earth in possession, and Heaven in reversion? how should they endeavour to honour the Lord with their substance, who hath obliged them by so many mercies? And secondly, patience and contentednesse are vertues that are required of those that are poor in this world; that man is too covetous that will not be satisfied unlesse he have Earth and Heaven too. Let us consider our selves, that while we are in this world we are heirs indeed, but in our nonage, we have a title to any good thing this world hath or the next but God who is our Guardian hath it in his hands, and allowes onely something for our present maintenance, but when the few and evill daies of our pilgrimage be expired, then we shall possesse a City that hath foundations, which is pur­chased and prepared for us, and which shall extreamly be estated on us, for the evidence wee have to shew for it is Gods promise, which is the second particular we are to consider. We according to his promise look for new Heavens and a new Earth.

Man hath divers waies and meanes of apprehending things, that which we apprehend by sense we call our knowledge, that which we know by argu­ment we call our reason, that which we know by tryal is our experience, but that which we receive for the authority of him that delivers it is, called faith. God hath promised eternall life to all them that are in Christ Jesus, of this the authority of the word of God informs me, and my faith pitches upon it and there it rests. It was well said by Theophylact. Orationis fun­damentum & basis est Fides. Fidei vero Dei promissio. The foundation of prayer is faith, for without faith prayer is ineffectuall: but the foundation of our faith are the promises of God in Christ Jesus, and God was pleased to take that way of assurance for the comfort and support of his people. So St. Paul expresses it, God being willing to shew to the he [...]rs of his promise the immutability of his counsell, confirm'd it with an Oath. Onely for this reason that we might have strong consolation, such a consolation as will be a Tower and Fortresse of defence: such a support as will hold up our heads amidst the raging floods, either of worldly afflictions or Satans tem­tations; For all the promises of God are Yea and Amen in Christ Iesus, whatsoever the Lord promises shall certainly come to passe; Heaven and Earth shall passe away, but his word shall not passe away. And therefore if we would advise soundly for the good of our soules, we should endeavour to be familiarly and intimately acquainted with the promises of God. 'Tis reported of one of the Rabbins Saadiah, that he could tell how often every letter in the Hebrew Alphabet was used in the whole Bible, and such know­ledge argued great study and meditation in the Scripture. The troubles of a Christian heart are very many, both for number, variety, and bitternesse, and there is onely one ingredient that can sweeten them all, and that is the [Page] promises of God. Can we remember what the Lord promises, that the seed of the righteous shall be blessed: that the Lord in his holy habitation will be a Father to the Fatherlesse, and a Judge of the Widow: to set those that are solitarie in families, as it is, Psal. 68. 5. There is marrow in that pro­mise, sufficient to strengthen every Christian heart, that doth disgest it by faith: can we remember it, and not be comforted? or who that considers those words of Saint Paul to the Ephesians, That the Lord is able to doe exceeding abundantly above all that we can ask or think. Eph. 3. 20. Heres a large patent for comfort, when trouble and anguish comes upon us, when all our affairs for this life are in a desperate and forlorn condition, when matters go so ill with us, that we know not which way to turn our selves: if then the Lord should put us to our choice, and bid us bethink our selves, and ask for those things which we conceived would be most comfortable to us; yet the Lord is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we can ask or think: the Lord is not only better able to provide, but he knowes what is better for us then we our selves, and willl in due time administer it abundantly to all those, that cast their care, and rely upon him. He is the Lord faithfull and true, that keepeth covenant and mercy with the righteous, and their seed, and that never turnes his face from them whose eyes are towards him. Forasmuch then as the Lord hath passed his promise for all things, both of this life, and that which is to come, let us treasure up in our memories a plenteous store of these preti­ous promises, that in all the troubles and disquiet of our hearts, we may have a cordiall ready to revive our fainting spirits: What though we be harrowed with oppressions, and rack'd with persecutions? What though our estates be taken from us; nay, suppose the fire were kindled that must dissolve the world, or death ready to dissolve us, yet what can discourage us if we believe this promise, that a new heaven, and a new earth are pro­vided for us, and shall everlastingly abide with us, which is the next par­ticular, and calls for your Christian attention.

But I foresee neither the time nor your patience will admit to consider these particular branches of the Text apart, we are yet to speak of the sub­stance, and the qualitie, and the excellencie of the inheritance of righte­ous men, but of these, much need not, neither indeed can be said: I know that some interpreters have made this text the foundation of that question, whether after the generall dissolution of these heavens and elements by fire, there shall result new heavens and a new earth out of the ashes of the old world: there are great Authors on both sides, and 'tis not for me to put in my head among the wise, as the proverb is, being mindfull of what Peter Martyr speaks in this question, In re [...]m dub [...]a nil pertin [...]ter est asse­re [...]dum: In such a doubtfull case, we must not determine ra [...]ly: It may be sufficient for us to know, that in these new heavens and earth there is that [Page] joy and blisse, which no tongue can expresse, nor heart imagine, 'tis the businesse only of our faith to believe that great goodness of the Lord that we shall see in the land of the living. Saint Peter tells us 1 Pet. 1. 4. That our inheritance in heaven is incorruptible, & undefiled, and such an one as [...] not fade away. Pareus gives us a criticisme upon the place: that terme in the originall [...], which we read incorruptible, he conceives should be [...], indiminishable which tearme would much advance our heaven­ly inheritance; we observe of earthly inheritances, how great soever they be, they do not wholly descend upon the heir; the more children their are in a familie, into the more portions must the inheritance be divided, and every division is a diminution: But this inheritance which Christ hath purchased for us, is given whole and entire to every son of God. Tanta est singulis, quanta est omnibus, saies Saint Augustine, every bles­sed soul enjoyes the whole heaven, and all the comforts of it, which are the rather enlarged, by the multitude of those that partake of them. And again, it is such an inheritance, wherein dwelleth righteousnesse. 'Tis a nice, but a profitable note, that both Beza and S [...]rrarius make, conceiving the originall [...], to referre rather to the persons then the place, they render it thus: We in whom dwelleth the righteousnesse of faith, look for new heavens and a new earth: And admitting of this translation, it may rouse our souls and consciences to consider, whether true and saving righ­teousnesse dwell in us or no, for 'tis that only that must give us title to that inheritance. Saint John in the Revelation tells us, that there shall in no wise enter into the new Jerusalem, anything that defileth, or worketh abhomination, or marketh alie. Holy persons we must be, as we hope to ascend into the holy hill of the Lord. Or consider the words as we read them, that righteousnesse referres to the place, and even that will exast the excellencie of it: Here in this world, righteousnesse doth but sojurne, there it dwells; here it hath but a Tabernacle, there a Mansion; here it is mixed with manifold infirmities, there it is perfect, and in the greatest eminency; here but in some, there in all; here but for a time, but there for ever: The unrighteonsnesse of this present evill world, makes all those that be­long to heaven to desire to be dissolved: These are those daies in which we may take up that crie of David, H [...]lp Lord, for the godly man ceaseth, and the faithfull fail from among the Children of men; they speak with vain tongues, and slattering lipps, and double hearts, and are full of all unrigh­teousnesse: So that we may say, Blessed are the dead that die in the Lord, they do not only rest from their labours, but are secured from all violence and unrighteousnesse, they neither know nor feel the evills that are done upon earth. Into which blessed state, our confidence is, the soul of our Bro­ther here disceased is translated, in the honour of whose memory I must yet begg a few minutes, to shew you in how many respects he was an example [Page] of the Text, and both in life and death, a very eminent practiser of it.

I remember what Plinie said of Antoninus, Pictores pulchram absoli­tamg, faciem raro nisi [...] pe [...]us effingunt: An exact and comely face is sel­d [...]me drawn, but with some dissadvantage. Persons of great parts and gifts cannot with sufficient right and justice be represented by one of mea­ner abilities: I may say of him, what Nacianzen said of Saint Basil, [...], here wants his own tongue, to speak his own stor [...]; that elegant and pious tongne, which you have so often heard resounding the praises of God in this place. Yet since David tells us, that there is an ho­nour due to all the Saints of God, to such as live and die in his holy faith; and since Providence put me upon the work (for I sought it not) as I loved and honoured him living, it is some addition to my sorrow for his death, that I cannot discharge this funerall rite in a measure answe­rable to his just desert: In that great varietie of graces which shined emi­nently in him, I cannot tell which to select and present first. It was the Fate of this reverend person to live in such times, wherein this Prophecie of Saint Peter in this Chapter, was over-abundantly fulfilled: He fore­told, that there should be scoffers and jesters in divine things, in matters appertaining to God and religion: For now in these daies, excellency of wit, lies in prophannesse, and he is reputed a good spirit that dares abuse God and holy things; that person is esteemed good company, who by his scurrile wit, makes his company the worse, or keeps them from good­nesse: This being the air and complexion of the wit of these times, I have been both an eye and ear witnesse, that prophane wit hath oftentimes been a matter of vexation to him, but never of mirth that I could per­ceive. It pleased God to carry him through various fortunes, and yet to support him with cheerfulnesse, and a true Christian constancie in all. It was an inverterate disease, no calamitie of these times, that occasion'd his death: He hath given many testimonies of his firm faith in the Doctrine of our Text, that a righteous man hath both helps & hopes to depend upon, when the world failes him; He saw, and had experience of many failings in the world, and worldly things: His estate failed him, which in the beginning of these troubles was full and plentifull: His friends failed him, and proved unfaithfull: His health and strength failed him, and let his bodie fall into his grave like ripe fruit from a tree: and in all these defi­ciencies and faultrings of the world, he bore up a true Christian head, glorifying God in great patienee and integritie, submitting to his holy will, aswell in his losses as in his gaines, blessing God, both when he gave, and when he took away: He made the only right use of all his afflictions, by considering that they were sent to teach him holy obedience, to fear God and to eschew evill, in which important lessons, he was so good a proficient, that like a dutifull servant, he had learnt to carry the Crosse [Page] of his Master Christ Jesus after him. Those staunch and reserved affections which he had to earthly things, did abundantly testifie that he placed his wealth and treasure in his reversions in heaven, not in any thing that he did, or could possesse here on earth, he accounted himselfe but a stran­ger and a pilgrim in this world, and therefore was content, though his Tabernacle were pitched and removed in divers places: He was assured, that God in his good time, would provide an hiding place for him, either on the earth or in the grave, supporting himselfe with Luthers holy reso­lution: [...] Calo, aut sub Calo, that he should either be under the pro­tection of heaven, or in the possession of heaven: His hope and beliefe in the watchfull providence of God was alwaies strong, being rooted on that immovable foundation, the promises of God, of which he treasured up such store in his memorie, that he could at any time look a danger, or death in the face. No doubt the contemplation of his Celestiall inheri­tance, those new heavens, and new earth whereof he is now possessed, did ravish his soul with an holy thirst and longing after them: for the joy that was set before him, he could endure the crosse, and despise the shame, and suffer the contradiction of sinners, in high charitie commending them to the mercy of God, in that prayer, Father forgive them, for they know not what they doe. And lastly, as if he had been of Beza's judgment, in the reading of this Text, that none but new creatures should be admited into these new heavens, his heart was set upon righteousnesse, endeavouring al­waies to keep a conscience void of offence towards God and also towards man. Pietie, and learning, and modestie to meet in one man was hard and rare, and these met in him; his piety appeared in his care for Gods true worship, and in a discreet zeal for his house; he had a desire to bring all men into that way, which in his conscience he thought would lead to heaven. Nazianzen complained of some that did [...], Fit their faith to the times, and so make it as Saint Hilary censures it, Fides temporum, non Evangeliorum: a Faith moulded to the humor of the times, not according to the Doctrine of the Gospell. He was none of those his care was to please Christ, and to preach him; so that to the last gasp' he was constant to the worship of God, and faithfull in it▪ For his lear­ning, I must professe my selfe an incompetent censor of it; so farre as I was able to judge, he deserved the name of Tri- [...]or, aswell as Quintus Ennius, he understood those three languages, Greek and Latin, and Hebrew, in a good measure. In answer to Aarons Urim and Thummim, there were written and combined in his breast, Sci [...]ntia, and Conscientia, Learning, and integritie; he was able both by his learning and his life to confound the adversaries of the truth of Christ: These were the evidences of his righteousnesse towards God; and for his righteousnesse towards man, I am confident he might have gasp'd out the Prophet Samuel's challenge, [Page] Whose Ox, or whose Asse have I taken? Yea, and added that of Saiu Paul, I have wronged no man, I have corrupted no man, I have defrauded no man, I have coveted no mans silver nor gold, nor apparell; he was con­tented with such things as he had, remembring that promise of the Lord Let your conversation be without covetousnesse: for I will never leave you, nor for sake you: It pleased the Lord to raise him friends and supplies even in his lowest state, whose charitie and compassion no doubt the Lord will both remember and reward, when they shall have most need of it. And in great testimony of his love and care over him, the Lord was his shield and buckler when both the Sword and the Sicknesse raged round about him, and hath brought him to his grave in peace, in a good old age, where we are now to disposse the remains of him, till the consummation of all things, when it shall please God to say, Come again ye children of men; and col­lect the bones and dust of deer and divided friends, and unite them toge­ther in a blessed and glorious resurrection.