The Decrease of Lazarus, Text

The Decrease of Lazarus · Text

p. 1THE DECEASE OF LAZARVS CHRISTS Friend.

John, Chap. 11. Vers. 11.

Our Friend Lazarus sleepeth.

THey are the words of our Saviour Christ, more covertly intimating that to his Disciples, which presently after hee telleth them in plaine tearmes; to wit,Summe. Lazarus his decease. And they need no curious Analysis; for the sentence is but short; nor large explication; for there is nothing in them ambiguous, but what our Saviour himselfe in the words following explaineth.

In them we may consider;Branches 2.

1. The person spoken of:1. and

p. 22.2. His present estate and condition.

Branch 1.The person spoken of is described;

Person. his 1. Name.1. By his name; Lazarus, or aaIta Tertullian de idolatr. c. 13. & Prudent. hymn… de exeq. Vide Rigalt. ad Ter….Eleazer. For bbDrus. ad voc. Hebr. N.T…all is one: and it …ignifieth one whose aide God is.

2 Relation.2. By his relation to Christ, and his Disciples. Our Friend.

Branch 2. Condition.His present estate and condition is expressed in a Metaphore. He sleepeth. That is, as our Saviour himselfe by and by after expoundeth it, ccVerse 14.He is deceased, he is dead.

Points 5.From the words thus opened, these Points of instruction offer themselves unto us.

1.1. That every faithfull one is one of Christs friends.

2.2. That every friend of Christ, is a friend of those also that are Christs.

3.3. That Christs friends dye as well as others.

4.4. That death, to such especially, is but as a s…epe.

5.5. That this their friendship never faileth: it surceas…th not in death, but surviveth their decease.

Point 1.And of these in order, as God shall enable, and the streights of time permit.

First then,

**foreign. Cl…m. pro…rep…. I…ter b… …s viros & Deum amiciti… est. S…nec. de provid. cap. 1. q…nqam negare h…c videatur Arist. Eth. magn. l. 2. c. 11Every faithfull soule is a friend of Christ.

Every true Christian is one of Christs Favourites. It is the usuall style of Abraham, dd…om. ….11.the Father of the faithfull; Gods friend. ee2 Chron. …0.7.To Abraham thy friend: saith Iehoshaphat to God. And, ffEs…y 41….ye p. 3seed of Abraham my friend; saith God to his people. And, ggIames 2.23.Jas 2:23Abraham, saith S. Iames, believed God; and he was called Gods friend. So here, of Lazarus, a Sonne of Abraham, Christs friend. Our friend Lazarus, saith our Saviour. And to his Disciples elsewhere in generall, hhLuc. 12.4.Luke 12:4I tell you, my friends. And, iiIohn 15.14.John 15:14ye are my friends. kkIohn 15.15. foreign. Clem. S…rom. l. 2. foreign. Ib. l. 7. Potest ergo & servus esse & amicus, qi servu… est bonus. Aug. in Ioan. 85. Qos amat, amicos habet, nonservos, amicus fit de magistro, neque enim amicos discipulos diceret, si non essent. Bern in Cant. 59.John 15:15No more servants, but friends.

This will more cleerely appeare unto us,Reason 1. if we shall consider, what the common nature of friendship or amity is.

Friendship is defined, llforeign. Arist. Ethic. Nicom. l. 8. c. 2. & l. 9 c. 5. Amor, sive benevolentia mutua, non la…ens.A mutuall love manifested: or, more largely, A mutuall love and affection betweene party and party, manifested by some means from either to other. And such is there betweene Christ and the faithfull.

1.Branch. 1. There is mmforeign. Aristot. Rhetor. l. 2. c. 4. Amicitia est voluntas erga aliquem rerum bonarum illius, ipsius causâ qem diligit, cum ipsius pari volun…ate. Cicer. de Invent. l 2.a mutuall love and affection required unto friendship. And such there is betweene Christ and the faithfull. For nnforeign.Christ loveth them; and they love him.

He loveth them. ooEphes. 5.28.Eph 5:28Christ loved his Church; saith the Apostle S. Paul. And ppApoc. 1.5.Rev 1:5to him that loved us; saith S. Iohn: and they love him. qqIohn 16.27.John 16:27My Father, saith he, loveth you, because you love me: and, rr1 Iohn 4.19.1 John 4:19we love him, saith S. Iohn, because he hath loved us. And againe, ssProv. 8.17.Prov 8:17I love them, saith he, that love me: and, p. 4ttIohn 14.21.John 14:21if any man love me, the Father will love him, and I will love him too. So that uuBenè igitur ratio accepti a…que expen…i inter nos conven…. Tu me amas, ego te amo: meritò id fieri ut…rq…e existimat. Plaut. Mostel. 1.3.there is no love lost betweene Christ and his. xxEj…s amor nostrum & praeparat & remun…rat. Bern. de dilig. Deo. cap. 3. Et nostrum libenter, qem praecessit subseqitur. Idem. Epistol. 107.He loveth them first: and they love him, because he loveth them: and againe, he loveth them the rather, because they love him. Sweetly therefore Bernard; yyNemo se di…idat ama…i, qi j…m amat. Q…modo enim redamare pigebit, …qi amavit necdum ama…tes? Bernard. Epist. 107.Let no man, whose heart can truly testifie for him, that he loveth Christ, make any doubt but that Christ loveth him. For how can he choose but love thee, when thou lovest him, zz1 Iohn 4.10.1 John 4:10who loved thee then, when thou loved'st not him?

Branch 2.2. Unto friendship is required, that this mutuall love and affection betweene party and party be manifested from either to other. And so is it also betweene Christ and the faithfull: the love and affection they beare either to other is by them mutually made manifest from either to other. aaIohn 10.14.John 10:14I know mine, saith our Saviour, and am knowne of mine … I know them, and they know me. I know their love to me. bbIohn 21.15.John 21:15Lord, saith Saint Peter to our Saviour, thou knowest that I love thee. And cc1 Iohn 4.16.1 John 4:16they know my love to them. dd… Gal. 2.20.Gal 2:20He loved me, saith the Apostle: and, we know, saith Saint Iohn, the love that God beareth to us. And, eeE…hes. 3.18, 19.that with all the Saints, ye may know the love of Christ, saith S. Paul againe. Yea, he hath manifested his ffIohn 15.13. Rom. 6.8.John 15:13Rom 6:8matchlesse love to them, by what he hath done and endured for them: by p. 5giving himselfe for them, ggGa…. 2.20.He loved me, saith the Apostle, and gave himselfe …or me. And, hhEph. 5.25.Eph 5:25Christ loved his Church, and gave himselfe for it: and making a bath of his own heart-blood, to bath their soules in, for the curing and healing of them. iiAp…c. 1.5.He loved us, saith S. Iohn, and washed us from our sinnes in his blood. Besides that, hee hath given them his Spirit, for this very end, to kkRom. 5.5. 1 Iohn 4.13.Rom 5:51 John 4:13seale up his love to them, and ll1 Cor. 2.12.1 Cor 2:12to make them know what, out of his love to them, hee both hath done, and will further do for them. And they manifest and testifie their, though farre meaner, love to him, by their diligent observance of him, and dutifull obedience to him; by mmIohn 14.15.21, 23.John 14:15John 14:21John 14:23keeping his Commandements, and nnIohn 15.14.John 15:14doing whatsoever he enjoyneth them.

Againe,Reason 2. there is a solemne league of amity betweene Christ and the faithfull. Just such as that betweene Ionathan and David. For as they oo1 S…m. 18.3, 4. Q…modo Glaucus & Diomedes in amicitiae …ospit…litatis que mutuae …esseram, foreign. Homer. …l. foreign.to confirme that league of amity mutually betweene them, changed apparell one with other: Ionathan took Davids raiment and put it on him selfe; he took his own garments and put them upon David; So our blessed Saviour Christ hath changed apparell with us (a pp2 Cor 8.9. foreign.2 Cor 8:9sorry change indeed to him selfe, though advantagious to us) hath taken and put on himselfe our garments, not qqHeb. 1.16.Heb 1:16our nature alone, but even the sorry rags of it, rrHeb. 4.15. Rom. 1.3.Heb 4:15Rom 1:3our infirmities, by participation, and ssEsay 53.4, 5, 6. 2 Cor. 5.21. 1 Pet. 2.24.Isa 53:4Isa 53:5Isa 53:62 Cor 5:211 Pet 2:24our iniquities also, by imputation, and he hath taken his owne raiment and put it upon us, p. 6tt1 Cor. 1.30.1 Cor 1:30the rich roabe of his merits, and the royall roabes of his holinesse and righteousnesse; uuRom. 3.24, 25.Rom 3:24Rom 3:25by imputation, unto justification, the one; and xxIohn 1.16.John 1:16by participation, for our sanctification, the other.

Reason 3.In a word, yyHeb. 3.14.Heb 3:14he hath bestowed himselfe upon them; and zz2 Cor. 8.5.2 Cor 8:5they have given up themselves unto him. So that aaCant. 2.16.Song 2:16he is not more his own now, then he is theirs: bb1 Cor… 3.23.1 Cor 3:23nor are they now more their own, then they are his. And what neerer or more intimate amity can there be then this?

Vse 1. for Information.Now the Vse hereof may first be for information, to informe us of the most high and honourable estate and condition, of every faithfull soule, of every true Christian: he is a friend of God, he is a favo…rite of Christ. It is noted as a speciall, yea a singular honour, in Zabud the Sonne of Nathan the Prophet, that 1 Kings 4.5.1 Kgs 4:5he was the Kings, to wit, King Solomons, friend. But behold ddMatth. 12.42.Matt 12:42a greater then Solomon here: and a greater honour therefore then King Solomons favour was able to afford. Every true hearted Christian, be he never so meane, be he never so contemptible in the eyes of the world, (for ee1 Iohn 3.2.1 John 3:2this dignity of theirs, worldly men cannot see, the world is not aware of) is, ffIohn 15.15.John 15:15not a servant only, (and yet were that honour enough; it is that the Apostle prefixeth before divers of his Epistles, as a matter of no small credit to him, ggRom. 1.1. Philip. 1.1. Tit. 1.1.Rom 1:1Phil 1:1Titus 1:1Paul a servant of Iesus Christ) but a friend and favourite of him who is Apoc. 19.16.Rev 19:16King of Kings, and llMatth. 28.18.Matt 28:18Lord of Heaven and Earth: then which what estate can be more high or more honourable?

p. 7A second Vse may be for exhortation, Vse 2. for Exhortation.to incite every one of us to labour to be of the number of those, whom this dignity, belongeth unto. kkProv. 29.…6.Prov 29:6Many, yea llProv 19.6.Prov 19:6every one, saith Solomon, seeketh the face, **foreign … Facies pro f…vore & gratiâ Hebraeis passim. Num. 6.25. Psal. 4.6. & 80.3, 7, 19. & 105.4.Num 6:25Ps 4:6Ps 80:3Ps 80:7Ps 80:19Ps 105:4that is, the favour, of the Prince, of the Ruler. And indeed what will not men do and indure, if there be any hope or possibility, as they conceive, of successe, to insinuate themselves into the favour of great ones? Creepe on all foure, as mm1 Sam. 14.13.1 Sam 14:13Ionathan to get up the Rock, nnObsequio gr…ssare, — & leniter in sp…m Arrepe officiosus. Pers…a at que obdura: seu …ubra canicula findat Infantes statuas, seu pingri tentus omaso Furius hyber…a… ca…â nive conspuit Alpes. Flac. Serm. l. 2. Sat. 5.debase themselves to the lowest and meanest services that may be, attend them with neglect of their own affaires and themselves. And why should a man then think any thing too much to do, too hard or harsh to endure, though it be to ooMatth. 16 24. Luke 9.23.Matt 16:24Luke 9:23the denying, forsaking, and abandoning of himselfe, (as ppMatth. 16.25.Matt 16:25there is no way indeed but this to save himselfe) qqPhil. 3.8.Phil 3:8for the indeering of Christ to himselfe, for the winding of himselfe into the favour and friendship of Christ. For alas, what is the greatest favour of the greatest Monarch in the World without this? or what is the greatest favour of the greatest on earth unto this?

For first,Difference 1. Princes favours are fickle. A man may be in favour to day, and out of favour the next day: and so rrforeign. Qui summus bodiè cr…s futuru… nullu… est.aloft now, and as low as the lowest to morrow; yea, or sooner then so. ssLubricu… est secundu… …pud regem l… cus.The second place in Court, said ttPlati… in P…. 2.AEneas Sylvius sometime, is a slippery place. Yea, as it is uuAul… cul…en lubricum. Senec. Thyest.slippery, so they that hold it, if they slip and fall (as xxConfragosa in fastigium dignitatis via est. Non in lubrico tantum illic statur, sed in praerup…o. Sen. Ep. 82. & de tranq. c. 10. Quae excelsa videntur, praerupta sunt. foreign. Plut. Symp. l. 2. c. 1.soone p. 8they may) yyPsal… 73.15, 18.Ps 73:15Ps 73:18they come downe with a witnesse, zzforeign. N.Q. apud Stob. c. 105.— Ex alto magna ruina venit. Catale…. Vi…gil. Et gravius summo culmi…e missar…unt. Maximin. Eleg. 1.they fall heavie; their downfall is very dismall and dreadfull. We have an example of it in aaEst…er. 5.11.12. and 7.9.10.Haman: I cannot stand to relate it: you may when you will, reade it. Yea, I need not to relate it. For who is ignorant of it, that hath read, or heard read or told the story of Queene Esther? And this may befall those that are in favour with Princes, though they be never so faithfull unto them, never so carefull to please them. But Christs favour is not fickle: it is constant, it is permanent. bbIohn 13.1.John 13:1Whom he loveth once, he loveth ever. Do thou ccDeut. 4.4.Deut 4:4cleave close to him; and he will never leave thee: ddApo…. 2.10.be thou faithfull to him; and eeHeb. 13.5.Heb 13:5he will never forsake thee,**Psal. 89.32.Ps 89:32 he will never break his faith with thee.

Difference 2.Againe, Princes favours are no sure shelters. The greatest favourite may bee slaine in his Soveraignes eye, at his Soveraignes feet. Alas, ffPsal. 146.3, 4.Ps 146:3Ps 146:4how can they save them, when they cannot secure themselves? ggDominus est vitae tuae… qisqis contempsit suam. Sen. Ep. 44.Any one is Lord of their life, who sets light by his own life; unlesse the Lord be pleased to protect and afford them shelter against such. But Christs favour is a sure shelter. For hhEsay 63.1.Isa 63:1he is able to save; iiPsalm. 68.20.Ps 68:20to give issues against death; kkIer. 1.19.Jer 1:19to preserve his from death; to protect them so in death; that llIohn. 8.51.John 8:51though they dye, yet they shall not dye; though mmLuke 21.16.Luke 21:16they be slaine, yet there shall nnLuke 21.18. …t Acts 27.34. 1 Sam. 14.45. … Sam. 14…11. 1 Kings 1.52.Luke 21:18Acts 27:341 Sam 14:451 Kgs 1:52not an haires harme befall them; and to save them everlastingly after death. For ooHeb. 7.25.Heb 7:25he liveth for ever, to save perfectly all those that bee his.

p. 9A third Vse may be for comfort, Vse 3. for Consolation.consolation and encouragement, to every faithfull soule, to every true Christian. For hast thou Christ to friend? ppforeign. Eurip. O est. foreign. N.Q. apud Suidam. foreign. Eurip. Herc. fur.Thou needest feare no evill; thou n…edest dread no enemy. Thou mayest well rest upon him for matter of provision: thou mayest well relye upon him for matter of protection.

1. For matter of provision. qqPhilem. 17. foreign. Fyth…g ap. Laert.Phlm 1:17Branch 1. for Provision.For all is common among friends that are rrforeign. Euripid. Androm. Consortium rerum omnium inter nos facit amicitia, in commune vivitur. Sen. Ep. 48. Non, mebercule, …am mea sunt, qae mea sunt, qam qae tua. Plin. l. 1. Ep. 4. No… qod tuum est, meum est… omne meum est autem tuum. Plaut. Trin. 2.2.truly friends. And ss1 Cor. 3.22, 23. foreign. Clem. Protrept.1 Cor 3:221 Cor 3:23if all things be Christs; then all things are thine, if thou be his; and shall not be denied thee, nor detained from thee, ttPsal. 34.10. & 84.11.Ps 34:10Ps 84:11when thy necessity shall require them, and they may be for thy good. For well mayest thou reason here, as the Apostle of God; uuRom. 8.32. foreign. Chrys. in Rom. Hom. 15.Rom 8:32He that spared not his Sonne, but gave him up for us, how much more will he give us all things together with him? So of Christ; He that spared not himselfe, but hath given up him…elfe for me, hath bestowed himselfe upon me, hath not denied himselfe to me, how can he refuse to afford with all unto me, whatsoever shall be requisite, either for my support here, or for mine eternall welfare and salvation hereafter?

2. For matter of protection. Branch 2. for Protection.Hast thou Christ to friend? Thou mayest well reason, as the same Apostle doth in the same place, xxRom. 8.31.Rom 8:31If God be with us; so, if Christ be with us, (for yyRom. 9.5.Rom 9:5Christ also is God) who shall be against us? as, zzSi Deus co…ra nos, qis pro nobis? Petr. Cellen. ep. 23. lib. 6.if he be against thee, p. 10who can be for thee? so, aaQid tibi malipoteri… nocer…? aut qid tibi boni poterit deesse, si …lle te diligi…, qi de …ihilo cuncta cr…avit? Bern. in Caen. Dom. Qid timendum, si adsit nobis, qi purtat omnia? Hebr. 1.3. Idem in Psal. 90 conc. 1.Heb 1:3Ps 90if he be for thee, who can be against thee? And thou mayest therefore, having Christ to friend, say confidently with the Psalmist, bbPsal. 27.1Ps 27:1The Lord is my light, …nd my salvation, whom should I feare? or of what should I be afraid? as long as he provideth for me, ccPsal. 23.1. Hebr. 13.6.Ps 23:1Heb 13:6I shall be sure to want nothing: as long as he protecteth me, I need not to feare any thing. ddPsal. 23.3.Ps 23:3Though I walk, saith hee, through the vale of deadly shade, I will feare nothing, so long as thou art with me. **Vbi enim aut …ecum male, aut sine … bene esse poterit… Bern. in advent. 1. foreign. Plut contr. Epicur.For where can a man be in safety without Christ? or where can he be but in safety with Christ?

Vse 4. for Caution.A fourth Vse may be for Caution, to disswade, yea, and deterre men… from opposing or wronging any of the faithfull. ee2 Sam. 18.12.2 Sam 18:12How fearefull are men usually of offending a favourite? But all the faithfull are Christs favourites. ff2 Cor. 11.28, 29. foreign Plut. de mul. amic.2 Cor 11:282 Cor 11:29How chary are men of the credite, welfare, contentment, safety, and indemnity of their friend? even as chary as of their own; yea, or more. What is more usuall, then when we heare a friend traduced, or threatned, to say,gg… Rom. 16.4. 2 Cor. 7.3. & 12.15. Phil. 2.17. foreign. Plato… in Symp. foreign. Eurip. Iph. Taur. Dionysio caput Platoni …bla…u… …i…i…ami, m…n prius, inqit Xenoc. L…eri, l. 4.Rom 16:42 Cor 7:32 Cor 12:15Phil 2:17 speak what you please of me; but forbeare my friend: do what you will to me; but meddle not with my friend? And is not Christ think we, as chary, and as regardfull of those that be his? Yes undoubtedly. These are those, in behalfe of whom he giveth warning, and orieth, hands off; saying, ggPsal. 10….15.Ps 10:15Touch not mine anointed ones. It is spoken p. 11hh1 Sam. …4.7. & 26.9.11.1 Sam 4:71 Sam 26:91 Sam 26:11of Kings, and that ii2 Sam. 22.51. Psal. 18.50. & 21.7.12.2 Sam 22:51Ps 18:50Ps 21:7Ps 21:12in a speciall manner, and kkPsal. 105.14.Ps 105:14unto Kings there in their behalfe: as llCh…ysost. Theod. Euthymius, Aug. Prosp. Hugo Card, Lyran. in loc.the Ancients generally expound it. Doth thy conscience then tell thee; that such an one though never so poore a wretch, never so meane an abject, is a faithfull soule, a good Christian, one that sincerely feareth God, one that truly loveth Christ? nnMatth. 18 10.Matt 18:10take heed how thou wrongest him. Thou shalt bee sure to heare of it againe at one time or other, if thou doest. He hath Christ to friend: he is one of Christs favourites, ooZech. 2.8. Psal. 17.8.Zech 2:8Ps 17:8as deare unto him, as the very apple of his eye. ppIer. 2.3. Matth. 18.6.Jer 2:3Matt 18:6Nor will he suffer any wrong offered in word or deed, unto any of his, to go unrighed, or unrevenged.

A fifth use may be for triall and examination. Vse 5. for Examination.Hereby then thou mayest try thy selfe, whether thou beest a friend of Christ, or no, and one that hath Christ to friend. (For qq1 Iohn. 2.4. Frustra nobis in …o plaudimus, cujus mandata non implemus. Hieron. ad Iovi…. l. 2. Ne que enim Christianus esse videtur, qi Christiani nominis opus non agit, cum nomen sine act… at que officio su… nihil sit. Salvia…. l. 4 c. 11 John 2:4every professed Christian is not by and by rrOmne, amici, & omnes inimici… omnes necessarii, & omnes adversarii. Bern. in Cant. Ser. 33.Christs friend. ssPhil. 3.18. Qi Christianos se dicunt & Christo contradicunt. Aug. Ep. 171. Christiani in contum…liam & opprobrium Christi. Salvian. l. 4. c. 11.Phil 3:18There are some that so walk; and of professed Christians he speaketh; that they are enemies to Christs Crosse, and to Christ himselfe consequently) If thou beest a Lazarus; one that makest ttPsal. 70.5.Ps 70:5God, not the World thine aide, and thy stay. If thou beest an Abraham; or uuLuke. 19.9.Luke 19:9a childe at least of Abraham; one that xxRom. 4.12. Gal. 4.12. Rom. 4.16. Eorum enim filli dicimur, qorum m…res imitamur. Orig. in Ezek. 16… Vide Iuvenal. Sat. 8.Rom 4:12Gal 4:12Rom 4:16Ezek 16walkest in the steps of the faith of Abraham, ^y who is the father of all the faithfull.

But these things, you will say, are too generall. Vse 6. for Admonition.We will descend therefore to some particular p. 12notes in our ensuing discourse. And so passe we to the sixth and last Vse of this Point: which shall be for Admonition, to admonish us of the duties required of all those that professe or pretend to be in friendship and amity with Christ. xxProv. 18.24.Prov 18:24He that hath a friend, saith Solomon, must carry himselfe friendly. If thou wilt therefore have a friend of Christ, thou must be Christs friend, (for friend and friend are Correlatives) thou must carry thy selfe as a friend unto Christ.

Duties 4.How is that? you will say.

Duty 1. Faithfulnesse.First, thou must be faithfull and loyall to Christ. For yyProv. 20.6…Prov 20:6faithfulnesse is especially required of friends, and regarded in friendship. zzApoc. 2.10.Rev 2:10Be thou faithfull, saith he, unto death. Nor speaketh he of the faith that we **Qam habe…us in Christum.repose and put in him, but of the faith that we **Qam pr…sta…u… Christo.yeeld and performe unto him.

Notes 2.But when are we faithfull unto Christ?

Note 1.I answer. First, when we keep our heart and affections loyall and true to him, not suffering aaIames 4.4. 1 Iohn 2.15, 16.Jas 4:41 John 2:151 John 2:16this wicked world, or any sinfull lust (for these be the bb2 Sam. 15 6.2 Sam 15:6Absoloms that filch our hearts from this our David) to sway in our soules; nor our affections to be so set upon any outward thing, even such as we may lawfully love, ccMatth. 10.37.Matt 10:37father or mother, husband or wife, childe, friend, or acquaintance, or ought else whatsoever, that it should either dd1 Kings 11.1, 4.1 Kgs 11:11 Kgs 11:4withdraw our affection from Christ, or minish our love unto Christ, or eeLuke 14.26.33.Luke 14:26Luke 14:33that we should not be willing to relinquish it for Christ, if either ffLicet pa…vulus ex c…llo pe…d…at nepos, licet sparso crine & …usis v…stibus, ubera qibus …e nutrierat, ma…r ostendat, licet in limine pater jaceat, p…r calcatu… perge patrem: Siccis oculis ad vexillum crucis evola. S…lum… pietatis genus est, in hac re esse crudelem, Hier. ad Heli…d…r.it shall stand betweene Christ and us, or he shall be pleased to require it from us.

p. 13Secondly,Note 2. then are we faithfull to Christ, when we are affected as he is; when we love what he loveth, and hate what he hateth. For ggIdem …elle & nolle, …a demum persecta am…ci…ia est. Salust. in C…til. Hieron. ad Demet. Ennod. l. 6. Ep. 24… Sidon l. 5. Ep. 3. & 9. Minut. Octav. Apul. de Philos. Ioseph. apud Cassi. an collat. 16. Ioan. Sari…b. polycra… l. 3. c. 4. P…t. Cluni. l. 4. Ep. 21. Fulb. Ep. 68what is true friendship, but when men will and nill the same things? hhPsal. 97.10.Ps 97:10Ye that love the Lord, saith the Psalmist, hate that that is evill. Whereupon Augustine; iiAmas Deum? debes odisse qod odit. Aug ib.Doest thou love the Lord? thou must hate what he hateth. So art thou, or wouldest thou be Christs friend? thou must love what he loveth; and hate what he hateth. And what loveth he? kkPsal. 11.7. & 45.7.Ps 11:7Ps 45:7He loveth piety, purity, mercy, charity, humility, sobriety, upright dealing, and the like. And on the other side, llProv. 6.16.19. & 8.13.Prov 6:16Prov 6:19Prov 8:13he hateth prophanenesse, uncleannesse, unmercifulnesse, uncharitablenesse, haughtinesse, drunkennesse, intemperance, falshood, unjust dealing, and the like. If then thou mmZech. 8.19. Amos 5.15.Zech 8:19Amos 5:15lovest, affectest, and labourest in the former, not so much because they conduce and are consentaneous to humane society, (for so one may do that is no friend to Christ or Christianity) as because Christ nn1 Iohn 3.22.1 John 3:22liketh and loveth them, and they make thee oo1 Iohn 3.3, 7. & 4.17. Luke 6.35, 36.1 John 3:31 John 3:71 John 4:17Luke 6:35Luke 6:36like unto him: and ppProv. 8.13. Amos ….15. Rom 12.9.Prov 8:13Rom 12:9hatest the latter, not so much because they are contrary to civill society, as because Christ qqZec…. 8.17.hateth them, and they make unlike unto him, rrColos. 1.10.Col 1:10whom thou desirest to please, and to approve thy selfe unto; yea, whom thou endeavourest ss1 Cor. 11.1. Ephes. 5.1. foreign. Marcus Imper. …p. Iulian. in C…sar… foreign. Iust. ad Diog… foreign. Gr. Nys. de profes. Christ.1 Cor 11:1Eph 5:1to imitate, and strivest to be ttRom. 8.29. Phil. 3.10. foreign Marcus Imp. l. 10. c. 8.Rom 8:29Phil 3:10like unto: knowing that uuforeign. Plat. leg. l. 4. foreign. Plat. ib. l. 8. foreign. Idem Lysid. qod & Arist. Eth. l. 9. c. 3. foreign.likenesse p. 14breedeth further liking and love: thou art then a true friend to Christ indeed. But on the other side, if thou canst not brook or abide, but hatest the former, which he loveth; and lovest and delightest in the latter, which he hateth and abhorreth; it is certaine, there is uuI…ter dispares …nim mores non potest esse amicitia. Ambr. offic. lib. 3. c. 16. In taneâ morum discordia, qae potest esse concordia? …ier. ad Nepot. foreign. Plato Phadr. Clem. Strom. l. 5. & Euseb. praep. l. 13. c. 13.no friendship betweene Christ and thee, whatsoever thou maist professe or pretend to the contrary.

Duty 2. Observance.Secondly, if thou wilt shew thy selfe a friend to Christ, thou must diligently observe him. Friends, we see, are carefull to observe either other. Especially, if a meaner person have some great man to friend, how carefull and sedulous will he be to observe and attend upon such an one? And it is expected he should so do. So we finde in story, that it was the manner of those among the Romans that enjoyed the favour of any great ones, aaMane salut…tum venio, tu diceris ante isse salutatum. Martia. l. …. Ep. 1…. Nec venit inanis rustici… salutator. idem. l. 3. Ep. …8. Mercenari… salu…tor circ…volitat limi… potenti. …, s…um que regis s…i r…ribus a…gu…atur. Col…l. p…at. l. 1.to repaire to them every morning, (that was bbPrima salutan…es at… altera … art… l. 4. …p. 8.the first work they did, and cc… c…re…e, cu… pr…t…r li…orem i…pell…t, & ire pr… …pite… …ubeas… … Ne prior … 3.strived who should first do it) attend upon them so soone as they came forth, and tender themselves and their service unto them. In like manner, doest thou desire to maintaine friendship with Christ? thou must diligently and constantly attend upon him in his ordinances, in publick, in private: ddPsal. 2….8. … 27.4… & …2.2. & 84.2… & …22.…Ps 2:8Ps 2:27Ps 2:4Ps 2:2Ps 84:2Ps 84:22repaire frequently to his house; attend at his threshold: (eeProv. 8.34. Psal. 84.4.Prov 8:34Ps 84:4 he is a blessed p. 15man that so doth) ffCol. 3.16.Col 3:16invite him oft to thine house: ggLuke 19.5. Iohn 14.23.Luke 19:5John 14:23he is not dainty of repaire to the meanest of his: hhIo…n 1.12. Luke 10.38, 39.Luke 10:38Luke 10:39he is willing to be entertained of us; and iiProv. 8.31.Prov 8:31delighteth in such invitements: especially take heed, how, when kkApoc 3.20.Rev 3:20he knocks at the door of thine heart by the ministery of his Word or the motions of his Spirit, thou either refuse or neglect to open unto him. llCa…t …5.2.6.Such an oversight the Spouse committed, and she smarted for it, it cost her full deere. And mmExclusit. red… am? Ter. …u…. 1.1such unkindnesses oft make shrewd breaches betweene friends. Yea take heed of intermitting and letting fall thine usuall and wonted resorts. nnforeign. A…istot. Ethic l. 8. c. 5.Intermission of entercourse breedeth strangenesse betweene friends And such intermission of spirituall entercourse; may, though not cut off all amity, yet breed no small strangenesse between Christ and thy soule.

Thirdly,Duty. 3. Obedience. our friendship with Christ must appeare, as by our diligent observance of him, so by our constant obedience to him. ooIohn 14.15…21, 23, 24. Proba…io dilectionis ex…ibitio est operis, de dilectione conditoris m…ns & vita reqiratur, nunqam o…iosus est amor Dei, operator si est; sin operari renuit, amor non est… Greg. in Evang. 10. & Be…n. de temp. 106. & can. Dom. q. 8.John 14:15If a man love me, saith our Saviour, hee will shew his love to mee by keeping my Commandements. And, ppIohn 15.14.John 15:14you are then my friends, and manifest your selves so to be, when you do what I enjoyne you. Yea then indeed do we shew our selves, to esteeme Christ our friend, and carry our selves towards him as towards a friend, qq1 Iohn. 5.3. Nil grave aut miserum est mihi, Qod re … voluisse: …u tant in impera. Oedipus Antigonae in Thebaid. …. Minor huic est labor jussa exeqi, qam mihi j…bere: l…t…s imperia excipit. Senec. Herc. fur. 1.1. Facilia fiant cuncta charitati, …uiuni Christi Sarcina levis est, qia ea una est Sarcina ipsa qae levis est, Dil…ctioni… … poterit esse grave diligenti? Aut enim non diligit qis, & ideo gravis est; aut di…git, & gravis esse non po…est. Aug. de nat. & grat. cap. 69.1 John 5:3when his Commandements seeme not p. 16harsh and grievous unto us: when rrEphes. 6.5, 7.Eph 6:5Eph 6:7with heart and goodwill we serve the Lord Iesus, either in that we do for him, or for others at his request. That which a man doth lumpishly and heavily for a meere stranger, the same yet he doth readily and ssforeign. Liban. orat. 11. Non sunt onerosi labores amantium, sed delectant ipsi. Iulian. de viduit. c. 21. Nonsentiunt amanies, qod laborant. Sed tunc ab eis plus laboratur, q…ndo à labore qis que prohibetur. Aug. de Matth. 16.24.Matt 16:24cheerefully for a friend. And that is it, that maketh ttMatth. 11.30.Matt 11:30Christs yoake seeme so easie, and his loade so light to his, that uuNon omnibus sunt onerosa tolerantibus, sed tolerare nolentibus, gravia vel levia facit animus tolerantis. Sicut nihil est tamleve, qod …i grave non sit, qi invitus facit: sic …ihil est tam grave, qod non ei, qi id libenter exeqitur, leve esse videatur. Salvian. de provid. l. 1. c. 2. Facit praeceptum liber, qi facit libens. Aug. de grat. Chr. l. 1. c. 13.seeme so unweldy and so unsupportable to others.

Duty 4. Patience.Lastly, it must appeare, as in matter of Obedience, so in matter of Patience; as in constant doing, so in patient enduring any thing whatsoever for him, even aaLuke 14.26, 33.Luke 14:26Luke 14:33to losse of liberty, limme, livelyhood, and life it selfe too. For what would not a man do or endure for a deere friend? Or what hath he not done and endured for us? Yea, appeare it must, not in patient only and quiet, but in willing and cheerefull enduring, undergoing and going through with, whatsoever we may be called to suffer and sustaine for his sake. bbGen. 29.18.Gen 29:18Iacob, though hee served for Rachel some tearme of yeares, an ccGen… 31.38.42.Gen 31:38Gen 31:42hard s…rvice under an harsh Master; by day parcht with the heat, and by night nipt with the frost, yet he went cheerefully through with it, and ddGen. 29.20. Amanti enim nihil difficile. Cicer. de orat. perfect. Qid grave n…n leviter tolerat, qi amat? Greg. in 1 Reg. 12.Gen 29:201 Kgs 12those many yeares seemed unto him but as a few dayes, because he loved her. So of the Apostles, p. 17Peter and Iohn, two of Christs faithfull friends, it is said, that when they had been in the Iewish Consistory, not rated and reviled, nor threatned only, but eeAct… 5.40.Acts 5:40beaten also, ffAc…s 5.41.they went away rejoycing, that they ggforeign. Oxymoron …l…gantissimum. C…s…ub.were graced so much as to be disgraced for Christ. And, hhRom. 5.3.Rom 5:3we, not rejoyce only, but even iiforeign.glory, in our afflictions; saith S. Paul, another of Christs friends, and that in the name of the rest; kkRom. 5.5.Rom 5:5because the love of God llRom. 8.39.Rom 8:39in Christ, and so mmRom. 8.35.Rom 8:35of Christ, is shed into our hearts by the Spirit that is nn1 Cor. 2.12. 1 Iohn 3.24.1 Cor 2:121 John 3:24given unto us.

In a word, what we do or endure for him, must come freely from us. ooAmor Affectus est, non contractu…. Ber…. de dilig. Deo. Amicitia non est vectigalis, sed liberalis: virtus enim, non qastus est. Amb. Offi. l. 3. c. 16 & Cas…io. de amic. c. 2. Multum a beneficio distat negotiatio. Cleanth. Sen. de benef. l. 6. c. 13.Friendship, as love the ground of it, is a free affection; not a trade or traffick for lucre and gaine. ppforeign. Arist. Ethic. l 8. c. 5. & ibid. l. 9. c. 4. foreign. Idem. Rhet. l. 2. c. 4.That is done by a man …reely, that is done for his friend; it is done as for qqforeign. Marc. Imp. l. 7. Sect. 13. foreign. Ib. Sect. 32 foreign.himselfe: his friend rrforeign. Arist. Eth. l. 9. c. 4. Amicus alter ipse. Amb. desp. l 2. c. 7.being to him as himselfe. ssBenefi…iorum simplex est ratio, erogantur, non computantur. S…n. de benef… l. 1. c. 2. Interitura …st rei …a…tae dignitas, si beneficium me…cem facimus. lb. l. 3. c. 14… Beneficium virtutis est; & turpissimum id causâ ullius rei dare qam ut datum sit. Se intueri & commodum suum, i…lud non est beneficium, sed soenus. Ibid. l. 4. c. 3. Non est beneficium qod in qastum mi…i…ur, hoc dab…. hoc rec…piam, auctio est. Ib. c. 14.We must not stand to demand, or forecast with our selves, as those prophane ones in ttIob 21.15.Job 21:15Iob, What shall I get or gaine by what I do or endure? What shalt thou gaine by it? saist thou? It is gaine sufficient, and so art thou to esteeme it, that thou maist do Christ any service. A singular precedent have we of this freenesse of disposition in p. 18that **Acts 9.16.Acts 9:16choice vessell S. Paul: uuPhil. 1.20, 21.Phil 1:20Phil 1:21I care not what become of me, saith he, so that Christ be magnified in me, be it by life or by death. For all the gaine that I aime at both in li…e and death, is Christ: that is, to do service unto Christ, to bring glory unto him, as that xxD. Ayray in loc.Reverend Doctor of ours rightly expoundeth it. Yea as the Apostle, I may well say, expoundeth himselfe, where he telleth those of Ephesus at his taking leave of them, yyAct… 20.22, 23, 24.Acts 20:22Acts 20:23Acts 20:24that he was going to Jerusalem bound thither by the Spirit, not knowing what might befall him when he should come thither: and howsoever from the Holy Ghost he was every where told, that bonds and afflictions there aboade him; yet did none of these things trouble him, nor was his life deere unto him, he regarded not what became of him, so he might joyfully finish his course, and discharge the work of his Ministery committed to him by Christ. That was all he de…ired, and all that he aimed at, to do service to his Saviour, to finish cheerefully his task assigned him by him. And the like disposition who so can finde in himselfe, may assure himselfe that he is a true friend to Christ, and may build upon it, that he hath Christ to friend.

And thus much for the first Point, that Every faithfull one is Christs friend.

The second followeth, that Every friend of Christ, Point ….is a friend also to those that be his.

Lazarus, saith our Saviour, not my friend, but our friend, mine and yours too: as well mine as yours, and yours as mine. And aa1. Iohn 1.3.1 John 1:3the communion, p. 19or society, saith S. Iohn, which you have with God and Christ, ye have also with us.

And so it must needs be. For,

1. bbIohn 17.21.John 17:21All the faithfull are one, Reason. 1.as in Christ, so with Christ. They are ccRo…. 12.4, 5.all members of one and the same Christs mysticall body; dd1 Cor. 12.12. Caput & corpus, unus est Christus. Aug. de Trinit. l. 4. c… 9. & in Psal. 45. & de verb. Dom. 49. & 65. & de temp. 40. Bern. Ep. 190. Beda in Ioan. 17. Omnes sancti & fideles cum h… mine Christo sunt unus Christus. Aug. de pec. mer. & rem. l. 1. c. 31.1 Cor 12:12Ps 45John 17the head and the whole body making up but one Christ. Nor can a man be a friend …o the head, that is an enemy to the heart or the hand, yea to the heele or the toe, to the lowest and meanest member of the body. eeActs 9.4, 5. Non potest concordiam habere cum Christo, qi discordare voluerit cum Christiano. August. de verb. Dom. 57.Acts 9:4Acts 9:5Nor can he be in amity with Christ, who is at enmity with any member of that body, whereof Christ is the head.

2. ffforeign. A…ist. Rhet. l. 2. c. 4.He that hath a friend must be a friend not to him alone,Reason 2. but to his friends also. He therefore that is a friend to Christ, must be a friend also to them that are Christs friends; and such are all the faithfull; as hath formerly been shewed.

The Vse whereof may be,

First, to admonish u… of our duty. Vse 1. for Admonition.Do we professe our selves to be of the number of Christs friends? We must then be friends also to those that be his. We must shew our love to him by our friendly disposition and cariage towards them; and that,

1. In affection. Branch 1. Affection.We must have ggRom. 12.16. Compatiamur affectu. Ambr. Offic. l. 3. c. 16.Rom 12:16a sympathie, a fellow feeling, and fellow like affection with them. hhforeign. Arist. Eth. l. 9. c. 4. & Rhe…. l. 2. c. 4. foreign.Friends rejoyce in the good one of another, p. 20ii2 Cor. 2.3.2 Cor 2:3as in their own; they **foreign.grieve for the evils one of another, as for their own: and kkRom. 12.15.Rom 12:15so must thou, yea so wilt thou, if thou beest a friend of Christ, llEsay 66.10. foreignIsa 66:10rejoyce with his when they have occasion of joy, mm2 Cor. 2.2. foreign Eurip. …p…. Aul.2 Cor 2:2weepe with them, when they have occasions of griefe. Yea so it is with the members, as of the naturall, so of this s…irituall body, nn1 Cor. 12.26.1 Cor 12:26if any one be honoured, all rejoyce …h it; oo2 Cor. 11.29. Heb. 10.34. & 13.3.2 Cor 11:29Heb 10:34Heb 13:3if any one be afflicted, all sorrow and suffer with it. But how can we rejoyce in the good of our Christian brethren, when we pp1 Cor. 13.3.1 Cor 13:3envie their welfare? How can we grieve with them in their griefe, when we our selves qqRom. 14.15, 1 Cor. 6.8.Rom 14:151 Cor 6:8grieve them, or are rrPsal. 119.158. 2 Cor. 2.5.Ps 119:1582 Cor 2:5causes of griefe to them.

Branch 2. Action.2. In action: we must shew our love unto Christ by doing good unto them. ssPsal. 16.2.Ps 16:2O Lord, saith David, thou art my God, ttActs 17.25. foreign. Eurip. Herc. f…. Clem. Strom. l. 5. Plut. de Stoic. Contradict. c. 37. Ipse est Deu… tuu…, qi …o… eget bonis tuis. Aug. in Ps. 80. Nec ille collat… eget, nec nos ei qic…am conferre poss…mus. Senec. de …f. l. 4. …. 9.Acts 17:25Ps 80thou hast no need of me; all my goodnesse, or well-doing, cannot reach unto thee. **Ps. 16.3.Ps 16:3But unto thy Saints that are here upon earth, to such as excell in grace and vertue, my desire and delight is to be doing good unto them. What I would, but cannot do unto thee, that for thee I do to them. So here, uuActs 3.21.Acts 3:21Christ indeed himselfe is in Heaven; nor can ought we do reach to him, nor hath he need of it himselfe. But in his stead he commends unto us his poore limmes here on Earth. xxMat. 26.11.Matt 26:11Me have you not alwayes with you; but my poor… members you have, and you may do them good when you will. yyNon eget miseriâ, sed eget misericordi…: non eget deitate pr…se; sedeget pietate pro suis. Salvian. cont. avar. l. 3.Yea though he wanteth not himselfe, yet he suffer…th want in them. zzMat. 25.35, 36, 42, 43. An non ege…, qi esurire, …i sitire se qeritur… Salv. ib. ….Matt 25:35Matt 25:36Matt 25:42Matt 25:43I was, saith he, naked, and a thirst, p. 21and a hungry, and sick, and restrained: and, **Matth. 25.40, 45.Matt 25:40Matt 25:45whatsoever is done to them, it is done to him, and whatsoever is denied unto them, it is denied unto him.

And hereby therefore we may well try and examine our selves,Vse 2. for Examination. whether we be indeed, as we professe, true friends unto Christ; if we shew our love to Christ, by aaGa…. 6.10. 1 Iohn 3.17, 18.1 John 3:171 John 3:18our beneficence and well doing to those that be Christs. Which if we faile in, we faile in truth of affection to him, whatsoever we may pretend. For as the Apostle reasoneth, bbIohn 4.20.John 4:20How can he love God, whom he never saw, that loveth not his neighbour, whom he daily seeth? So, how can any man say he is a friend to Christ, whom he never conversed with, if he shew no friendship to such members of Christ, his Christian brethren, with whom hee daily converseth?

Besides that,Vse 3. for Consolation. it may be a comfort to every sincerely faithfull soule, that every true Christian is his friend; and he hath interest therefore both in the cc1 Cor. 12.7, 25.1 Cor 12:71 Cor 12:25parts, and in the ddRom. 1.9. Ephes. 1.16. Colos. 1.3. 2 Cor. 1.11.Rom 1:9Eph 1:16Col 1:32 Cor 1:11prayers of all the faithfull, a great stay to a Christian soule, when it cannot satisfie it selfe with its own suits. Yea, that it hath a stock going with them every where: though it have little of its own. But I hasten.

The next Point is,Point 3. that

Christs friends dye as well as others. eeIames 2.23.Jas 2:23Abraham Gods friend: and yet ffIohn 8.52. Gen. 25.8.John 8:52Gen 25:8Abraham is dead. ggAmos 3.7. Iohn 15.15.Amos 3:7John 15:15The Prophets Gods favourites: and yet hhZech. 1.5. Iohn 8 52.Zech 1:5John 8:52the Prophets are dead too. Lazarus Christs friend: and yet iiVers. 14.Lazarus is dead. The Apostles kkLuke 4.4…Luke 4:4Christs friends: and yet ll2 Tim. 4 6. 2 Pet. 1.14.2 Tim 4:62 Pet 1:14the Apostles are dead. Yea, mmIohn 21.20.John 21:20the beloved Disciple, p. 22Christs nnIohn 13.23, 24.John 13:23John 13:24chiefe favourite is dead. For ooIohn 21.23.John 21:23Christ did not say, that he should not dye.

And no marvell. For,

Reason 1.1. They are made ppforeign. Clē. Strom. l. 2. Iob 6.12. foreign. Chrysost. de Compunct. foreign. Greg. Naz. pro…aup.Job 6:12of the same mould that others are: though they be possessed of pretious treasure, yet qq2 Cor. 4.7.2 Cor 4:7is it but an earthen vessell that the same is contained in.

Reason 2.2. They are subject to the like casualties that others are. For rrEccle. 9.2. Cuivis po…est accidere, qod cuiqam potest. P. Syrus.Eccl 9:2all things here come alike unto all; to the good and the bad, the pure and the impure: to Christs friends, and Christs foes.

Reason 3.3. They are by their naturall condition and constitution, as ssEsay 40.6, 7. 1 Pet. 1.24, 25.Isa 40:6Isa 40:71 Pet 1:241 Pet 1:25the grasse; which though it be not cut downe, yet will wither of it selfe.

Objection.Yea, but as the Iewes reasoned, when they saw ttIoh… 11.35.John 11:35Christ weepe at Lazarus his grave, uuIohn 11.36.John 11:36Behold how he loved him: say some of them. And againe other some, xxIohn 11.37.John 11:37Could not he that made the man borne blinde to see, have caused that this man should not have dyed? As if they had said, If he yyIohn 11.5.John 11:5loved Lazarus so, Solution.why did he suffer him to dye, whom he could have saved from death? So may some say, If the faithfull be Christs friends, why doth he suffer them to dye? when as zzDan. 3.17. Iohn 21.22.Dan 3:17John 21:22he might, if he pleased, deliver them from death?

Reason 1.I answer. 1. Because it is for their good. For they dye, aaApoc. 14.13.Rev 14:13to rest from their labours; to be bbRom. 6.7. Qod à malo liberat, qis non bonum pronunciabit? Tert. Scorp. c. 5.Rom 6:7rid of sin; to be cc2 Cor. 5…4. Excutitur morte ve…ernus mortis. mors morte dissolvitur; vita a…fer…n… confertur. Tert. ib. foreign. An…han. Moriar? desi…a… m…ri posse. S…. Ep. 24.2 Cor 5:4freed from death; to dd2 Tim. 4.8.2 Tim 4:8…eceive the reward p. 23of their well doing; to ee2 Cor. 5.8.2 Cor 5:8go to God; to ffPhil. 1.23.Phil 1:23be with Christ.

2. It is according to their own desire that they so do.Reason 2. Their desire with ggLuke 2.29.Luke 2:29Simeon is to hh1 King. 19.10.1 Kgs 19:10be dismissed: they desire to be ii2 Cor. 5.6.2 Cor 5:6eased of that burd…n, kkRom. 7.24.Rom 7:24released from that body of death, that they beare here about them; llVide Methodii parabolam de caprifici radicibu… & radicum fibris templi parietibus inna…is, q… nisi compag… dissolutâ eximi p…ni…us n…n possunt… apud Epip…an. in …a…e…. …4.which cannot be done but by death; they desire to mmPsal. 120.5, 6.Ps 120:5Ps 120:6leave this wicked and wretched world, and to nn2 Cor. 5.8.2 Cor 5:8go to their own home, to their ooIohn 14.2.John 14:2Fathers house, pp2 Cor 5.1.2 Cor 5:1to Heaven: they desire to depa…t hence, that they may qqPhil. 1.23. Iohn 14.3.Phil 1:23John 14:3be with the Lord Iesus, and rr1 Thes. 4.17.1 Thess 4:17abide with him for ever.

3. It is for Gods glory that they dye;Reason 3. and that they regard too as much as their own good. For ssPhil. 1.20.Phil 1:20Christ is magnified in them as well by their death, as by their life; as well by their pious and patient end and conclusion, as by their godly course of life and conversation. And a man may thereby as well glorifie God, though he dye in his bed, as if he dyed at a stake, or with ttIohn 21.19.John 21:19Saint Peter on the Crosse.

4. They aaIohn 8.51. foreign. Callimach. Epig. 14.John 8:51dye not, Reason 4.though they dye: death is no death to them: as they bbProv. 14.32.Prov 14:32hope even in death; so they ccIohn 11.26.John 11:26live even in death. ddforeign. Ch…ys. in Philip. Hom. 3.As others are eeLuke 9.60. 1 Tim. 5…6.Luke 9:601 Tim 5:6dead while they live; so they ffLuke …0.38.live when they dye. As to the wordly their ggPer vitam ad moriem transitu… es….life is but a passage unto death; So to the godly their hhPer mortem ad vitam reditus est. Am…r… de bon. mort.death is but an entrance into life: their iiEccles. 7.1.Eccl 7:1deaths-day is better to them then their birth-day: it is the kkApoc. 21.4.Rev 21:4birth-day of their immortality, the llAEternina…alu est. Senec. Epist. 102.birth-day of their eternity.

p. 24Vse 1. for Admonition.Now it is so, that even the faithfull, though Chri…ts friends, yet are as well as others subject to death; are no more priviledged or exempt from it, then others are? This may then first serve to admonish us that have such friends, to make use of them while we have them, not to be like those fooles, of which Solomon; mmProv. 17.16.Prov 17:16why is there a price in the …ands of a foole to get wisdome with, when he hath no heart to make use of it? Nor like those, whom the Heathen man speaketh of, that nnVirtutem in co…lumē odimus: subla…ā ex oculis qaerimus invidi. Flac. carm. l. 3. od. 24.cannot brook or abide such while they live, and yet lament for t…em, and wish them againe alive when they are dead: but ooHab…mus tanqam amissuri, tanqam recessuri, in ò recedentibus uta…u…: tanqam extēplo abituros possideamus, Senec. ad Marc. c. 10.Mark 10to make the best use we can of them for our spirituall good while we have them, not knowing how soone or suddenly they may be taken away from us.

Vse 2. for Consol…t…on, and Encouragement.Againe, it may serve as to encourage us against the feare of death, so to mitigate our griefe for the decease of such our friends; since that nothing therein shall betide us, or hath befallen them, but ppPsal. 49.…0. Esay… 57.1.Ps 49Isa 57:1what all Gods friends and Christs favourites have undergone before us, and doe daily undergoe. Nor would he suffer the same to befall those that are his intimatest friends, his best beloved, his dearest darlings, his neerest favourites, were there any qqProv. 1.33. Nihil accidere bo… viro mali potest. Son. de provid. c. 2.Prov 1:33evill in it, yea or were it not for their rrRom. 8.28. Etiam pro ipsis est. Senec. ib. c. 3.Rom 8:28good.

Point. 4.And so passe we to the next Point, to wit, that Sanctorum mors som…. Hieron. in Matth. 25.Matt 25Death, to such especially, is but as a sleepe.

So here, Our friend Lazarus aaforeign. C…llimach. Epig. 14.sleepeth, and bbActs 7.60.Acts 7:60Steven, when he had so said, fell a sleepe: and, ccActs 13.36.Acts 13:36David, when he had served his time, fell asleepe: and, p. 25dd1 Cor. 11.30.1 Cor 11:30for this cause some among you are sicke, and some sleepe: and, ee1 Cor. 15.6.1 Cor 15:6whereof some are asleepe, and some yet survive.

And indeed in divers respects is death to such as a sleepe.

For 1.Reason 1. sleepe giveth ffSomnu… malorum domi…or, reqies animi: …ars humanae melior vitae Senec. Herc. fur. Vtmors, sic somnus miseros foelicibus aeqa…. foreign, E…stath. ad foreign. Inde dictū, foreign. Aristot. Eth. l. 1. c. 13.ease of paines and of troubles for the time: and so doth death to the faithfull: for ggApoc. 14.13.Rev 14:13they rest from their labours, their troubles, their travels. But sleepe doth it only, as those hhDelinimenia, sive lenocinia morbi, non remedia. Sen. de beat. c. 17. & Salvian. de provid. prafat.palliating medicines that empiricks usually give, that abate the paines for the present, but work no sound cure, so that the paine returneth after againe as fresh and fierce as before: whereas death with the faithfull worketh iiIob 3.13, 18. Mors simulut veni…, dolores, no… a…get, (non mitigat) sed aufert: ut remedium esse videatur, non poena. Ambr. de Cain & Abel. l. 2. c. 10. Pro rememed…o data est, qasi finis malorum. Idem de fid. resur.Job 3:13Job 3:18a perfect cure of all evils either kkEsay 57.1, 2.Isa 57:1Isa 57:2corporall or llRom. 6.7. Reason 2.Rom 6:7spirituall, so as they never feele them, or see them, or heare of them any more.

2. Those that sleepe are mmIohn 11.12.John 11:12not perished, are not dead; they are alive still: there is with them only a nnforeign. Arist. Ethic. lib. 1. cap. 13. foreign. Sive, foreign. Idem de somn. cap. 1. & 3.suspension and an intermission of some naturall actions and of ooforeign. Aristot. Ethic. lib. 1. cap. 8. Hinc Heraclitus. foreign. Plut. de superst. Anima in somno sic patitur, ut alibi agere videatur, dissimulatione praesentiae futuram absentiam ediscens. Tertul. de anim. cap. 43.all worldly imployments. ppVers. 12. foreign. Solet enim esse somnus aegrotantium, salutis i…dicium. August. in Ioan. 49.Lord, if he sleepe, say they, he shall do well. In like manner, p. 26qq1 Cor. 15.18. Mors non est peremptoria, per qam non adimitur Vita. Ambr. de Cain & Abel. …. 10.1 Cor 15:18those that sleepe in Christ, are not perished; though to the outward eye, to carnall sense they may so seeme. (rr…sai. 57.1. The righteous, saith he, perisheth, and no man considereth it,) yet in truth it is not so: all ssEccles. 9.6. Iob 14.21. Esay 63.16.Eccl 9:6Job 14:21Isa 63:16worldly imployments indeed are suspended and surceased with them, but they ttEsay 57.2.Isa 57:2rest in their beds, and they uuLuke 20.38.Luke 20:38live unto God.

Reason 3.3. Sleepe is but for a time; men are wont to aaPsal. 3.5. foreign. Arist. de Somn. c. 1.Ps 3:5awake againe after a while; and bbforeign. Chrys. de stat. orat. 5. Stul…e qid est somnu…, gelid… nisi mortis imago? Lo…ga qi escendi tempora fata dabunt. Naso Amor. 2.9.death is but a sleepe somewhat longer then ordinary. ccIob 14.12.Job 14:12Man, saith Iob, if he dye, shall not be awakened againe, untill dd2 Pet. 3.10.2 Pet 3:10the Heavens be no more. But then eeIohn 11.24. Vere dormit, qia de mor…e, velut de somno erat surrecturus. August. de temp. 104.John 11:24he shall, at the worlds end, when he shall heare that voice of our Saviour, ffEsay 26.19.Isa 26:19Awake ye that sleepe in the dust of the earth, and ggIohn 5.…8.John 5:8all hearing it shall arise.

Reason 4.4. Men usually rise from sleepe, hhforeign. Arist. de somn. c. 2. Hac reparat vires, membra que fessa levat. Naso Ep. 4.refreshed with it, in better plight then they were when they layd them downe to rest. So shall the ii1 Cor. 15.42.441 Cor 15:421 Cor 15:44faithfull rise againe from death, in farre better plight then ever they were while they lived here. kkPsal. 17.15.Ps 17:15When I awake, saith David, I shall behold thy face, and shall be satisfied with thine image. For ll1 Iohn 3.2.1 John 3:2then shall we become perfectly like unto him, not mm1 Iohn 3.3.1 John 3:3in grace alone, but nnColos. 3.4.Col 3:4in glory, too, when we shall see him as he is.

Vse 1. for Enco…ragement.Now is death then but as a sleepe to the faithfull? then first ooforeign. Chrys. de stat. orat. 5. foreign … Ibid.why should any faithfull, any friend p. 27of Christ feare death? It is a childish thing for a man to be afraid to put off his cloathes and go to bed; and what is death more then a stripping of us, that we may lay our selves down to rest? It is true indeed that in some diseases even sleepe it selfe is so ppforeign. Plut. de sup. foreign. Hom…r. Odys. foreign.restlesse and troublesome to the sick (it was qqIob 7.14.Job 7:14Iobs case sometime) and they are so ill after it, that they are rrQomodo interest in ipsis, qi qotidiè dor…iunt & exurgunt, qid qis que videat in somnis: alii sentiunt laeta somnia, alii torqentia, ita ut evigilans dormire timeat, ne ad ipsa iterum redeat: sic unusqis que hominum cum causâ su… dormit, cum causâ su… surgit. Aug. in Ioan. 49.afraid and loath to sleepe: and so indeed **Mors enim peccatori finis est naturae, non p…ae. Ambr. in Luc. l. 7. c. 1….it is, or may well be, in this case with the wicked. But it is not so with the godly: they may well say with the Prophet, ssIerem, 31.26.I slept, and my sleepe was sweet unto me. The sleepe of death is no dreadfull, but ttforeign. Iliad. foreign Ibid. foreign & foreign dulcis qies mortis. Ambr. de bon. mort. c. 8.a sweet sleepe unto them.

Secondly,Vse 2. for Comfort. is death as a sleepe, and such a sleepe, to the faithfull? aaforeign. Chrysost. de …at. orat. 5.there is no cause then to mourne and take on for such deceased. We reade of a people that bbDe morib. gent. Autor. incertus. foreign. Theod. de Chrysost. …ra…. 3.used to houle and keepe an hideous coile every day at the setting of the Sunne, as if they feared he would never rise againe. Would wee not condemne such of extreame folly? or would we not deeme him little better then a mad man, that should stand weeping and wringing his hands over one that were falne asleepe, as supposing he would never awake againe? Yet the like doest thou, when thou doest so over the dead: since that they are but in a deepe sleep. cc1 Cor 15 18.1 Cor 15:18They are fallen asleepe in Christ. And, dd1 Thes. 4.13. Contrist…mur in nost…o…ū m…r…ibus, de necessi…a… amittendi: s…d cons…lemur, de sper…cipiendi, ideo enim d…rmire dicuntur, …t cum dormientes audimus, evig…la…u…os ne d…speremus. Aug. de Ve…b. Ap. 32.1 Thess 4:13I would not therefore, p. 28saith the Apostle, that you should be grieved and sorrow for those that be eeD…rmientes appellavit, qi… resurrecturos praenunciavit. Aug. in Ioan. 49.asleepe, as men that have no hope, as if you thought they would never awake againe. For ff1 Thes 4.14. Manet ergo corum vita, qos manet resurrectio. Ambr. de obit. Valent.1 Thess 4:14those that be asleepe in Christ, will God awake, and bring againe together with Christ.

Vse 3. for ConfirmationThirdly, this may helpe to strengthen ggSomnus mors dicitur, propter futuram resurrectionem, velu… evigil…tionem. August. Ep. 1 …0. c. 32. Id…o mortu…s consu…vit, Scriptura dicere do…mientes; qia ev…gilaturos, id est, resurrecturos vul… intelligi. Idem in Psalm. 87. Q…re enim dormientes dicantur nisi qia di… suo resuscitantur? Idem de verb. Dom. 23. Cum evigilav…ri… corpus, reddi…um officiis ejus, resu…r…ctionem tibi adfirmat. Ita per imaginem resu…rectionis fidem initiaris, spem meditaris, discis mori & vivere. Tertullian. de anim. cap. 25.Ps 87our faith in the assurance of the resurrection of the dead. Augustine speaking of those words of our Saviour, hhMat…h. 9 24.The Damosell is not dead, but sleepeth: iiDormiebat: sed illi, qi poterat excitare… Aug. de verb. Dom. 44.she sleepeth indeed, saith he; but to him who is able to awake her. So, kkSor…ribus mortu… erat; Domino d…r…iebat, hominibus mortuus erat, qi eum suscitare non poterant: nam Dominus tan…â eum facilitate excitabat de Sepul…ro, qan…â tu non excitas dormientem d…lecto. A…gustin. in Io…n. 49.Lazarus sleepeth here, but to Christ, who llIohn 11.43, 44.John 11:43John 11:44was able to awake him, and mmM…rtuos tanqam è somno suscitavit. Martial. Epist. 2. Sect. 1.to raise him up againe with a word. He sleepeth, saith he here: but I go to awake him. And indeed as easie a thing it is for Christ with a word to raise out of this sleepe, not nnTardius qi… de som…o susci…a…ur, qam Lazarus de m…te. August. de temp. 104.Lazarus alone, but ooIohn 5.28. Omnes pla… ei, qi po…est exci…are, dormiunt. Nemo tam facilè excitat d…rmientes in lecto, qam Christus mor…uos in Sepulchro. August. de verb. Dom 44.John 5:28all those, that shall be found deceased at the pp1 Cor. 15.51.1 Cor 15:51last day, as for any of us qq1 Thes. 4.16.1 Thess 4:16by making a noise to awake any one that lyeth fast asleepe.

Vse 4. for Admon…ion.Lastly, is death as a sleep? We have that daily p. 29then before our eyes that may minde us of death. rrSomnus mortis imago. Naso am…r. l. 3. cl. 9. Speculum mortis s…mnus & exemplar. Tert… l. de anim. c. 24. Prop…nitur tibi corpus amicâ vi sopori… el. s…m, bla…dî qie…is prostratum, i… mobile situ, qale ante vitam j…cuit, & qale post mortem jacebit, ut tes…atio plasticae & sepul…urae, exp…ans anim…m qasi nond…m c…nlatam, & qasi jam ereptam. Ibid. cap. 43.Our sleepe is a lively embleme of it: ssQoties dormis & vigilas, toties moreris & resu…gis. Petr. Chrysolog. Ser. 59.so oft, saith he, as thou layest thee downe to sleepe, and awakest againe from sleepe: so oft, in a similitude, as the Apostle ttHeb. 11.19.Heb 11:19of Isaac, thou dyest, and risest againe from the dead. And well were it for us, could we take occasion thereby daily so to uuDeut. 32.29.Deut 32:29minde our end, that we might live xxIob 14.14.Job 14:14in a continuall exp…ctation of it, and a continuall yyPsal. 90.12.Ps 90:12preparation for it.

The last point is,Point 5. that

This friendship beweene Christ and the faithfull never faileth.

It surceaseth not in death, but surviveth their decease.

So here, aaVers. 14.Lazarus is dead, and yet, our friend still, saith Christ, and of Abraham, God, when he had beene many hundreds of yeares deceased, bbEsay 41.8.Isa 41:8Abraham my friend.

And no marvell. For,

1. Neither doth Christs love to them, nor theirs to him surcease, at their decease. Reason 1.He ceaseth not then to love them still: for ccIohn 13.1.John 13:1whom he loveth he loves for ever. Nor do they cease then to love him: nay they love him more then, then ever before, better then, then ever they did, or could do: they never did or could love him so well as then, when the grace of dd1 Iohn 4.17, 1….1 John 4:171 John 4:1love, as ee1 Cor. 13.10…1 Cor 13:10all other, comes to be perfected in them.

p. 30Reason 2.2. So far is it from this, that death should breed any enmity, or infringe that amity, that is between Christ and them, that it removeth utterly all the reliques and remainders of that, ffColos. 1.21.Col 1:21that at first bred an enmity betweene God and them, and maketh some ggEsay 59.2. & 57.17. & 54.7, 8.Isa 59:2Isa 57:17Isa 54:7Isa 54:8breaches betweene them now and then, while they live here, to wit, hhRom. 7.24. & 6.7.Rom 7:24Rom 6:7sinne and corruption; which sanctification indeed eateth out here by degrees, but death utterly destroyeth.

Reason. 3.3. Christ and the faithfull, they part not in death. iiRuth 1.17.Ruth 1:17The Lord do so to me & more too, saith Ruth to Naomi, if ought but death do part thee and me: and it is a solemne clause in our espousals, till death us kkSo should it be read, not, depart.do part. But it is more then so betweene this loving couple; betweene the faithfull soule and Christ. As David saith of Saul and Ionathan, ll2 Sam. 1.23.2 Sam 1:23they are lovely and amiable either to other in their life, nor are they divided and sundred in death. mmMark 6.16, 27.Mark 6:16Mark 6:27The sword and death may sever the Christian mans head from his body, and his body from his soule: but neither nnRom. 8…35.Rom 8:35sword nor ooRom. 8.38, 39.Rom 8:38Rom 8:39death can sever him either from his head Christ, or from the love of God in Christ.

Reason 4.4. Death bringeth ppPhilip. 1.23.Phil 1:23Christ and the faithfull neerer together qq2 Cor. 5.6.2 Cor 5:6then ever: it bringeth them to a rr2 Cor. 5.8. Apoc. 14.4. 1 Thes. 4.17.2 Cor 5:8Rev 14:41 Thess 4:17more entire & immediate communion either with other, to ss1 Cor. 15.28.1 Cor 15:28a fuller fruition either of other.

Vse 1. for Exhortation.First then would'st thou have a sure friend, a constant friend both to thee and thine, one that may stand by thee and stick to thee, when all other may forsake thee, yea of necessity must leave thee? Make Christ thy friend, and aaGen. 28.15. Iosh. 1.5. Heb. 13.5.Gen 28:15Josh 1:5Heb 13:5he will never leave thee, though bb2 Tim. 4.16, 17.2 Tim 4:162 Tim 4:17all others do, when all others p. 31shall. ccAd limen carceris deduxerunt vo…. Tertul. ad Martyr. c. 2.Your wordly friends, saith Tertullian, writing to the Martyrs in prison, tooke leave of you, and left you at the prison doore: but ddVobisc…m carcerem intro…it. …b. c. 1.Christ your best f…iend went in with you. So thy wordly friends, yea all other thy friends will shake hands with thee and leave thee, if not before, yet at the eeMundi buju… p… …tica mors. Peral…. Sum. de vit.posterne gate of this life, either at their death, or, at furthest, at thine: but if thou hast made Christ thy friend, he will never leave thee, he will for ever be thy friend, unto death, in death, and after death, unto all eternity.

Yea, hast thou made Christ thy friend? Vse 2. for Consolation.He will continue so ffGen. 17.7. Exod. 20.6. Psal. 37.25, 26. & 115.13, 14.Gen 17:7Exod 20:6Ps 37:25Ps 37:26Ps 115:13Ps 115:14not to thee only, but to thine also for thee. It troubleth men many times (and well may it, considering ggforeign. Eurip. Stob. c. 127.the untrustinesse and unfaithfull dealing of many professed friends) upon their sicke, and as it may fall out, their death-beds, to think whom they should intrust with their charge, their children, if God shall call them away. This may well ease in part the minde of the godly man in this case: Christ Iesus thy friend he will undertake the charge of them, he will be a trusty friend to thee as well when thou art gone, as while thou art here. hh2 Sam. 9.1.2 Sam 9:1Who is there left, saith David, of Ionathans issue, that I may shew kindnesse unto for Ionath…ns sake? Nor could Davids love to his friend Ionathan surviving his decease, prevaile more with him, to move him to deale kindly with those that he left behinde him, then Christs love will with him towards those that have been, yea that are still, though deceased, his friends, to cause him to deale friendly p. 32with those whom deceasing they leave here behinde them,Vse 3. for Imitation. or at their decease commit unto his charge. It is the Argument that God useth to his people, to encourage them to depend upon him, not doubting of the continuance of his kindnesse to them, iiEsay 41.8.Isa 41:8because they were the seed of Abraham his friend.

And herein let us learne to imitate, our both Lord and friend, Iesus Christ. kkforeign; Eurip. Hecub.Let not our friendship to the faithfull deceased dye with them: llforeign; Soph. Aj…c. foreign. Stesichor. foreign. Archilich.as the manner of the world, and worldly men is: but let us make it to appeare, that it lives and surviveth still with us; by mmInimicitiae qo que suscipiende sunt propter amici innocentiam, cum restiteris vel responderis, qando amicus arguitur & accusatur. Ambr. offic l. 3. c. 16.apologizing for them, and maintaining of their credit and good name, if need be; nnforeign. Eurip. Di…n Pr…s. orat. 37.by faithfull discharge of any trust reposed in us by them; and ooforeign. D…mosth… Epist. 3. foreign. Is…crat. ad D…m…n. Amicitia parentum rectè in liberos transferuntur, …t charitas semel inita successorib… e…rum haereditario jure proficiat. Symmach. l. 7. Ep. 87. Religiosa curae es…, qae amicorum liberis ex …ibetur. Idem. l. 9. Ep. 31. Ad pos…er…s ami…o …n cur…m tra…fe…re debem…; ne fides cum hominibus interiisse vide…tur. Id. l. 9. Ep. 45.by a ready performance of all friendly offices … unto those they leave behinde them. Let us shew it then, I say, and ppforeign. Eurip. Ip…ig. Taur. foreign. Me…nand.then most, when there may be qqforeign. Eurip. Herc. sur.most need of it, more it may be, then while they yet survived: that so it may be said of us, as rrRuth… 2.20.Ruth 2:20she sometime of Boaz, that we cease not to shew kindnesse both to the living and to the dead; as ssforeign. de Capan…o Eurip… Supplic. Caduca enim & fragili… …ffectio est, qae non & amic…rum liberos amore propagato …omplecti…ur. Symmach. l. 9. c. 31.a true friend indeed will do.

p. 33And so much for my Text, Testimony given to the Deceased.and the Points of Instruction observable out of it.

Let me now crave your patience a little further, for the Application of it, and that that hath beene delivered out of it, to the present occasion.

Of our deceased Christian Brother therefore, M^r. Iohn Parker, whose remaines are at this time to be laid up in aaTerra novissimè complex… gr…i… j…m à reliqâ naturâ abdicatos tum maxime, ut mater, operiens, Plin. l. 2. c. 63.the bosome of the Earth, as in bbEsay 57.2. Hi… disposicion in generall.Isa 57:2a bed of rest; I may well say, as in the words, so in the name of our Saviour, Ou… friend Lazarus sleepeth. For he was indeed a Lazarus, though not in name, yet in truth, one that made God his aide, his helpe, his strength, his stay. Nor was he lesse a friend to Christ, and to all that were Christs; to his Ministers, to his members; yea to all for Christ, with this aime, either to bring them on unto Christ, or to build them up in Christ.

And he was indeed ccEccles. 7.28.Eccl 7:28a man of a thousand; yea such an one for a private man, ddQ…le… vix repp…rit …num Millibu… è multis. Aus…n. idyl. 16.as among many thousands, I suppose few to be found that might every way match him. For those things that are wont to be eeforeign. Greg. Naz. in Patrem.severally eminent in others, were in an ffforeign Idem in Ba…il.eminency more then ordinary ggforeign. Id. ib.combined together in him.

He was one of a sweet and sociable disposition;In Particular. of a meek and an humble spirit; just and upright in his dealings; faithfull in his trusts; firme and sure of his word; of a pittifull heart; of a bountifull hand; truly hhforeign. De Pio Marc… Imp. l. 6. Sect. 30.religious, without superstition or ostentation; p. 34zealo…s in …n high degree, but with spirituall dis…retion; industrious in his Calling, (one that abhorred idlenesse) yet so as …is sedulity therein should not withdraw him from due attendance on better things; of a good understanding; a sound judgement; a tender conscience; a circumspect cariage; a strict course of life, yet without austerity or censoriousnesse: in a word, of a wise and prudent temper in all things.

I remember a story in iiPlut. in Pr…c…pt. p…litic.Plutarch of an Artist at Athens, who being called among others to the undertaking of a piece of work for the publick, when one of his fellow-workmen had made a long speech, to shew them in what manner he would do it, if they would put it into his hands, he being a man of few words, but of good skill, said no more but this, kkforeign.As this man hath said it, so will I do it. To apply it to our purpose. We have spoken much… of the duties that are required of all those that pro…esse friendship with Christ; their faithfulnesse to him, their ob…ervance of him; their obedience to him; their loving what he loveth, loving whom he loveth; and the like. Now of this our brother we may well and truly say, What we have said… he did: he made good all we have said in a methode, in a manner, in a measure more than ordinary. And for the making good of what I say, that which I shall deliver unto you, shall be the most of it, out of his own remembrances, (for he kept journals as well of his spirituall …stat… and …mployments, as of his worldly reckonings and affaires) and the rest either from mine own knowledge, or the credible relation of those that conversed p. 35versed most constantly and inwardly with him.

When it pleased God to bring him first acquainted with Christ, His first Conversion.and to discover unto him the vanity of those courses that he had formerly taken; albeit he had a great measure of inward remorse, and was much humbled for the same, and he was now res…lved upon a new, and that a strict course of life; yet it troubled him not a little, that he could not shed teares, as he desired, for his sinnes, and his fore-passed excesses; that which made him somewhat doubtfull therefore of the sincerity of his then present repentance: nor did he leave earnestly begging of this grace and favour at Gods hands, untill it pleased God to vouchsafe it in great abundance unto him. In which te…res of his he professeth that he found more sound comfort, llforeign. Eurip. Helen. foreign. Greg. Naz. pro pauper. foreign … Chrysost. in Phil. Hom. 15. foreign. Basil… Caes. Hom. 4. foreign. Basil. Caes. Hom. 19.more hearty joy, more true contentment, then all his former mirth and jolity, ever did, yea then all the mirth and merry company in the world (and he knew by experience to his griefe what such things meant) were able to afford unto any.

Being now thus growne into some intimacy with Christ;Observa…ce of Christ by attendance on him in his Ordinances. that no strangenesse by neglect might accrew betweene him and Christ, he was carefull to maintaine it by a frequent and constant attendance upon him in his ordinances, both in private and in publick. For his ordinary addresses unto God in private: Ordinary. Private.he used prayer constantly, as mmPsal. 55.17.Ps 55:17David, and nnDan. 6.10.Dan 6:10Dani…l, thrice a day; morning and p. 36evening with his fa…ily; and some other time of the day a part, either with his religious consort, if she were in the way, or in her absence, alone by himselfe. On the Lords-day his common course was, not as the manner of many. Yea the most, to lye longer in bed, and take their ease more on that day, then on others; but to get up early, that he might be an houre at least, if not more, sometime two, in private with God: after which he used to spend some time in prayer with his family: yet so, let me tell you, that the publick might not be drownd and swallowed up in the private;Publick. (for it was ever his saying, that the private must yeeld and give way to the publick) but that both he and his might be present in the congregation, as well at the publick prayers and service of the Church as at the preaching of the Word: after which publick performances also, his constant course was at his returne home to repeate with his family, and presse upon them, (which well he could doe) those things that had in publick been delivered unto them. And for the Week-dayes, once or twice at least, ordinarily he frequented the ministery of some of those of the best note about the City. And thus much of it I had from himselfe (the rest from those that conversed familiarly with him) when some halfe a yeare or thereabout before his decease, advising with me concerning some thoughts that he then had, of either abandoning, or abatement of his worldly employments, for the freer pursuit of spirituall things, which he most eagerly thirsted after, he related to me in particular p. 37what liberty he had, notwithstanding his then present engagements by his trade and traffick, for the prosecution of the better part.

This then was his ordinary course of addresses unto God, and attendances upon Christ. But besides these he had solemn days of humiliation upon speciall occasions:Extraordinary… Dayes of Humiliation. and no businesse of more then ordinary weight did he lightly undertake without some such imployment. It is said of Cornelius, ooActs 10.4.Acts 10:4Thy prayers and thine almes, and ppEsay 58.6, 7. Qi vul… orati…nem suam i… coelum volare, fa iat ei duas al…s e…e…mosynam & j…junium. Aug. de t…mp. 59. Erg… qi orat, j…j…ne…: qui jejunat, misereatu…: audiat petente…, qi petens opta… audir…: auditum Dei ape…i… sibi, qi su…m suppl…canti non cl…udit a…di…um. Es…rien…em sentiat, qi vult Deum sentire qod es… ri…: misereatur, qi misericordiam spera…: pi…tatem, qi qaerit, faciat: qi praestari sibi vult, praestet: improbus pe…itor est, qi qod a…iis negat, sibi postulat. Chrysolog. Serm. 43.Isa 58:6Isa 58:7these two constantly concurred, as with qqActs 10.2.Acts 10:2Cornelius, so with him: for the day after ever abroad he went with the b…g, and no small summes in it, to distribute, where he supposed most need was, or deemed most good might be done: for neither did hee rrforeign. Isid. l. 1. Ep. 44. Collocare te vult Dous, q… habes, non projicare. Aug. de 10. Cho…d. cap. 12. Multi sunt, qi non d…nant, sed pro. jiciunt. Senec. Ep. 21. Beneficia nec in vulgus effundenda sunt: & nullius rei, minin è beneficiorum, hon…sta largitio est. Senec. de benef. l. 1. c. 2.throw that he gave away, hand over head, but carried this, as ss…sal. 112.5.other his actions, ttE…rat, siqis existima facilem rem esse donare, plurimum ista res habet difficultatis, si modo consilio tribu…ur, non casu & impetu spargitur: habebit sapiens sinum facilem, non persoratum; ex qo multa exeant, nihil excidat. Senec. de beat. …it. cap. 24.with an advised discretion: without which liberality is uuAmbitio & jactantia & effu…io, & qidvi… po…us qam liberalitas existimanda est, cui ratio non constat. Pl…n. pan…g. B…n…fici… si detrax. e…is judi…ium, de…iaunt esse beneficia, in aliud qodlibet incidunt nomen. Senec. de benef. lib. 1. cap. 2.nothing lesse then that it beareth the name of.

Now as he had such times of solemne seeking to God;Gratulation. so he kept a due account of the successe of his p. 38suits, and the returne of his addresses: and he had then accordingly, solemne dayes of gratulation and thanksgiving; on which the bag likewise with the greater summes walked, out of that stock and store, of which anon, that he had set a part for such purposes: that so the poor servants of God partaking with him in that wherewith God had blessed him, might blesse God for him, and together with him.

Obedience.Thus much then for his due and diligent observance of Christ and attendance upon him. Now for matter of obedience; (aaProv. 15.8. & 21.17. Esay 1.11.14. & 66.3. Ier. 17.2….23. Ezek. 20 39.Prov 15:8Prov 21:17Isa 1:11Isa 1:14Isa 66:3Jer 17:2Jer 17:23Ezek 20:39 without which all such observances are but loathsome, nor acceptable, but abominable in Gods eye) he was one that bbColos. 1.10.Col 1:10in all things endeavoured to approve himselfe unto God, desirous, as the Apostle speaketh, ccH…b. 13.18.to keepe a good conscience in all things. And indeed he was a man of a very tender, yea of a scrupulous conscience, out of a feare to do ought, though unwittingly, that might be offensive unto God. To which purpose I can truly testifie of him that he made many a journey over of purpose unto me (that which also first occasioned mine acquaintance with him) to request resolution in such cases as seemed any whit ambiguous, ddIuxt… illud R. Gamalielis in Dictis P…t…um, c. 1. Sect. 16. foreign Ab…ineas …e à re dubiâ. Illud que c…utissimi cu…us que praec…ptum, Qod dubites, …e f…ce…is. Plin. l. 1. ep. 18. Siqidem benè praecipiunt, qi vetant …icqam agere, qod dubites, aequm sit…n iniqum. Cicer. offic. l. 1.not daring to undertake them, till he knew what warrant there were for them, nor desiring to deale in them, unlesse he might see some good ground for what he did. In which kinde I know that he forbore diverse things, because they seemed doubtfull, which might in likelyhood have proved very advantagious unto him, and that few would have stuck at.

p. 39Againe,Examination. because he knew well, that though a man be never so circumspect, yet eeforeign. AEschyl. ap. St…b cap. 3. foreign G…eg. Naz in Patr. foreign. Idem in Basi…. Iames 3.2. N… in uno sed in m…l…s nec qosdam, sed omnes offendere dicit. Aug. Ep. 29. Non dixit, offenditis, sed offendimu…, inqi…: &, in multis, praemisit; omnes subjunxit. Beda.Jas 3:2in many things he may faile, either in doing that he should not do, or not doing that he should, or not doing it as he should; that he might not therefore runne far behind hand with God, he had his nightly exercise, as he tearmeth it, both in his remembrances, and (where he seriously commendeth it also to his) in his Will: ffIuxta illud Pythagorae monitum. foreign. La…rt. in Pythag. Plut. d… superf…. & de Curios. Epictet. dissert. l. 4 c. 6. Non priu… in dulcem de…linat lumina somnum, Omnia q…m longi transege…it acta diei, Qo praetergressus? qid gestum in tempore? qid non? Cur isti facto de… abfuit, aut ratio illi? Qod mihi p…aeteritum? cur haec sententia sedit, Qam m…liu… mutâss… fuit?… Qid volui, qod nolle bonum fuit? utile honesto, cur malu… …ntetuli? —Sic dicta p…r …mnia facta que Ingrediens, orto que à vespere c…ncta revolvens, Offensus pravis, dat palma… & pramia rectis. Aus…n. idyl… 16. Idem de Catone Cicero de Senect. de Sext…o S…neca de irâ. l. 3. c 36. de s… idem ibid. de Christianis qibusdam Climacus Scalae grad. 4. Vide Chrys…t. Tom. 8. orat. 10.wherein having withdrawne himselfe a part, he used to take a strict surveigh and account of his employments the day past: to the end that if he found ought therein amisse, he might humble himselfe for it, and by renewed repentance make up the breach; if he found nothing, he might yet, with ggPsal. 19.12.Ps 19:12David, crave pardon for his hidden transgressions, and blesse God for his direction and hh1 Sam. 25.32, 33.1 Sam 25:321 Sam 25:33preservation so far forth. And yet beside this, he had his weekly, monethly, and yearely times of account, not for his worldly, but for his spirituall estate and condition, to iiPsal. 119.59…Ps 119:59examine how therein it fared with him, and how he either thrived or paired in it.

And thus much, as for his observance of Christ, so for his obedience unto Christ; his desire and endeavour p. 40not to faile in any office required of him, and his care to finde out wherein he might faile, and to amend what he …ound amisse.

But may some say, you told us ere while among other things, that those that are Christs friends must shew their love to Christ, in loving those that he loves, in being friendly, and doing good, unto those that are his.

Beneficence.Why? this was one of the principall flowers, in that Garland of graces, wherewith it pleased God to crowne and adorne this our Brother. In other things he excelled others, aaforeign. Eurip. apud Plut. in G…rg. & Alcib. 2. & Plut. Sympos. l. 1. c. 4. & l. 2. c. 1.in this even himselfe. What faithfull minister of Christ did he not entirely bb1 Thes. 5, 12, 13.1 Thess 5:121 Thess 5:13love, and affect? What faithfull member of Christ, though never so meane, did he not ccPsal. 15.4. 1 Pet. 2.17.Ps 15:41 Pet 2:17honour and respect? Neither was this his love and respect, dd1 Iohn 3.18.1 John 3:18verball, or eeIames 2.15, 16.Jas 2:15Jas 2:16complementall, but active and reall, ready largely and liberally to manifest it selfe at all occasions, upon the least intimation and signification made to him, as my selfe at diverse times have had experience, and that even there **Qod de Atheni…us. Aristides. foreign.where no motion at all hath beene made to him for them, but he had come occa…ionally to understand of their wants and necessities.

At his first effectuall call, among other things he then resolved upon, this was one, to set apart every yeare a tenth of his gaine for the reliefe of the poore (and that besides his tithe to God.Tenth of yearly gaine for the Poore.) And will you know the reasons that induced him thereunto? you shall have them out of his own memorials, and most in his own words.

Reason. 1.First, to shew his love and his thankefulnesse unto p. 41God; as ffGen. 32.10.Gen 32:10for raising him from a meane condition, having lesse then fifty pounds to begin withall at first, to that wealth that then he had; so more especially for ggEph…s. 1.3, 4.his spirituall goodnesse to him, in electing him, redeeming him, reclaiming him, hhPsal. 103.1, 4.Ps 103:1Ps 103:4remitting his sinnes, and receiving him to grace and favour in Christ.

Secondly,Reason 2. because he conceived, that this distribution of almes would be an excellent meanes of keeping him from being proud and high-minded, ii1 Tim. 6.17. foreign. Isidor. l. 3. …. 322. Ante omnia nihil est qod s…c generant divit…a, q… mode superbiam: omne pom…m, granum, …ructus, lignum …abet vermem suum: liu… est vermis mali, ali… py…i, alius fa…, aliu… tri…ici: vermis divitiarum superbia. Aug. de verb. Dom. 5. & homil. 15. Primus vermis divitiarum superbia. Idem de temp. 205.1 Tim 6:17a vice that usually followeth wealth; for when in the exercise of this gift he should behold so many lamentable creatures, some blinde, some lame, some sore, some diseased, some hunger-starved, having death in their faces either through famine or other wayes, it would minister him occasion of these and the like thoughts. kkSicut rusticus qidam ab aut…re Anonymo buf…ne conspecto lachrymas …bertim fudisse refertur, h…c consideratione motus, potuisse eundem, qi hominem f…ceratipsum, …usonem ejusmodi fecisse. Greg. Naz. pro pauper. foreign.Why am not I as this lamentable creature? Or why is not this lamentable creature as I am? ll1 Cor. 4.7.1 Cor 4:7What makes the difference betweene me and him, but the mercy of God only more in this kinde to me then to him?

Thirdly,Reason 3. it would mm2 Cor. 9.12, 13.2 Cor 9:122 Cor 9:13occasion many to blesse God, and to pierce the Heavens with their prayers, and indeed in giving to any his word was usually, nnHa… est foreign. ut Marc. Imp. l. 6. §. 7Praise God: or when he sent to others, as to my selfe sometime, any summe to be distributed among poore people, his manner was to adde p. 42in his lines accompanying it, will them to praise God for it.

Reason 4.Fourthly, he conceived he should be no small gainer by such gift. And shall I tell you from himselfe, what the gaine he meant, was? He considered, he saith, what ooPhilem. 7.Phlm 1:7comfort would accrue to such poore ones by his gift: and what a joy must it needs then be unto him, (yea and no small ppforeign. Gr…g. Naz. pro paup. foreign. Idem ad cives su…s de prae…id. irâ.honour it is indeed, if it be rightly conceived) to be an instrument of such comfort to any member of Christ? I might well adde, and to qqMatth. 25.40. foreign. Greg. Naz. pro paup…r. foreign. Idem in tetrast. Christus accipit… qod de di…i: ille accipit, qi unde dares dedit. Aug. de temp. 50. Ipse s… dicit accip…re, q…d pa…tribus da…ur. Sibi colla…um praedicat, quod in pauperis ma…u ponitur. Idem hom. 47. Q…d in terrâ jacentibus porrigi…is, in coelo sedenti datis. Greg… in Evang. 40.Matt 25:40Christ in them. This therefore rr1 Cor. 16.2.1 Cor 16:2he constantly set apart: and out of this treasury it was, that upon the forenamed occasions he so liberally dispensed. That which being cast up, amounteth to many hundreds, a greater summe then for some considerations I think meet to expresse: and yet what beside he freely bestowed upon his kindred and allies, is deemed to amount to as great, yea a greater summe then it. Nor do I reckon what over & above all this also went out of his poores purse, which he never carried out empty; that he might ssGal. 6.9. foreign …lut. de S…. …lit & contr. C…lo…. Hoc est qod Marc. l. 12. Sect 29. foreign …Gal 6:9ever be doing good; that which he much desired and most ttforeign. Marc. Imp. l. 7. Sect. 13 & l. 6. Sect. 7. foreign … Idem. l. 10. Se…t. 3… foreign. Greg. Naz. in bapt. foreign … … foreign. Epicu…us ipse …ud Plut. de vit… Epic.delighted in, blessing and praising God, in his remembrances, p. 43that had uuforeign. M…c. l. 1. Sect. 17.given him ability and opportunity so to do: it being one branch also of his daily prayer, that as God increased him in wealth, so he would be pleased withall to encrease in him, wisdome, humility, and thankefulnesse, together with a constant and comfortable perseverance in that lovely grace of charity.

Yea but, what got he, or gained he, may some of you say, by this his beneficence? or what was the fruit and effect of it?

I answer. He esteemed it aaforeign. Ph…laris Ep. 17. & Ep. 119. foreign. B…neficium dand… accepit, qi digno dedit. P. Syrus. Marc. l. 11. Sect. 4. foreign. Idem lib. 9. Sect. 42. foreign; Plut. de …ffect. e…g. …r. 4. foreign. Aris…id Panat…. Ad ben…ficium no… adducit cogitatio avara, nec sordida, sed liberalis, cupiens dare, etiam cum dederit, & augere novis ac recentibus vetera. Seneca de benef. lib. 4. cap. 14.gaine enough to do any good: and bbHebr. 13.16.Heb 13:16Gods acceptance of this his service to be recompence sufficient. But yet it pleased God abundantly to recompence this his beneficence unto him, both with outward and inward blessings.

True it is indeed,Gods triall of him. that for some space of time, some three or foure yeares after that his resolution of setting a tenth apart for such purposes, he thrived not, he found no increase, nor came forward in the world, as formerly he had done. Yet was he not thereby discouraged, nor did he forbeare to be bountifull as opportunity was offered, and the necessity of poore people required it; but he gave still with cheerefulnesse and comfort out of love unto p. 44God, (I give you his own words) freely leaving prosperity in temporall things to God his fathers good pleasure; and conceiving (so he saith) that God in wisdome and goodnesse prospered him not, thereby to try his sincerity to him, and his charity to others… yea and that cc…n. 2….…2. …, id est, … …e f…i: ign…tus enim …ibi qis que est a…te interrogationē tentationis: latent que homi…em dilectionis & …idei sua vires, nisi exp…rimento divino eidem inno…escant. Aug. in Gen qaest. 57. & in Deut. 13.3. q. 19. & in Psal. 58. & de Trinit. l. 1. c. 12. & l. 3. c. 11.Deut 13:3Ps 58he himselfe might thereby have experience of his love unto God, his faith, patience, and constancy; nor would he forgoe those evidences hereof, that thereby he gained, for ten thousand times ten thousand times more then they cost him. So that albeit he prospered not in his wordly estate, yet even then also he thrived much in his spirituall estate, and in the fruits and comforts of it.

Blessing of him in his estate temporall.But from that time forward God abundantly advanced his estate. (You heare him againe speaking to you in his own language) so that he found experimentally those gracious promises of God true, Psal. 112.9.Ps 112:9Prov. 19.17.Prov 19:17(and he citeth the places) of his blessing of him that disperseth and dispenseth to the poore; of the repayment of that with interest, Eccles. 11.1.Eccl 11:1that is so lent to the Lord; of the finding againe after many dayes with increase the bread, or aaforeign panem, id est, semen: ut Psal. 104.15. Iun.Ps 104:15bread-corne, that is cast upon the face of the waters, or bbSecundum aqas in l…is irriguis, ac proinde feracibus. Esay 32.20. Iun.Isa 32:20on the land neare thereunto, though it seeme cast away for the present.

But that, which is above all, and beyond all, it pleased God withall to afford him such evidences and assurances of his favour & love towards him, Spirituall.as who…oever would buy from him by offer of the whole world and all the soveraignty thereof, he professeth he would refuse a thousand such worlds in exchange for them. By meanes whereof, as he led ccforeign. Phil. 3.20. Qod Cypr l. 2. …p. 4. In ca…ne adhu… positis vi…a vivitur, non praes…ntis seculi, sed fu…uri.Phil 3:20an heavenly course of life here on earth; so within his soule p. 45in spirituall joyes and comforts ddforeign. Greg. Naz apolog. foreign. Chrysost. de stat…is. 2.he had an heaven here out of heaven. And this cheerefull and comfortable estate and condition continued with him to the end.

The nearenesse whereof as presaging before his departure into forraigne parts, whither his affaires drew him, he took a great deale of pains according to eeEsay 38.2.Isa 38:2Esaies advice to Ezechiah, in the se…ling of his estate, and in composing of his Will… Pliny the younger saith, it was a received opinion and common conceit in his times,Preparation for his End. that ffTestamenta …ominum, specula morum. Plin. l. 8, …p. 18.mens last Wils and Testaments, were as looking-glasses, in which a man might as cleerely descry and discerne the inward disposition of their minde, as he may see their bodily face in a glasse. And such indeed was the Will of this our deceased brother,His Will… all savouring of piety, all of charity, very lively resembling and representing his inward disposition. Few Wils, I suppose, so composed, come into the Office: full of spirituall, religious, holy, heavenly expressions; full of blessings of Gods name, and acknowledgements of his goodnesse, with incitement of others thereunto; full of works of mercy, bounty, and charity, In it, His charity.as if he were but then beginning that work, which the most put off till then. Besides large Legacies to not a few of his neare kindred and acquaintance, which I cast out of this account. To the poore Palatine exiles, fifty pounds: to the Towne of Leicester for the use of the poore Weavers and Knitters there, fifty pounds: for the reliefe of poore prisoners, one hundred pounds: for the taking up in the streets a certaine number of p. 46poore children, Boyes, and Girles, to be fitted for, sent out to, and placed in the forraine Plantations, three hundred pounds: among his poore servants, seventy pounds: among other poore, left to the discretion of his Executors, fifty pounds: to this poore man, and that poore Minister, as they came then in his minde, to the summe of forty and seven pounds; which in all amounteth to six hundred sixty and seven pounds.

This for his charity, ggApoc. 2.19.Rev 2:19as fresh at last as at first, notwithstanding his charge, that is wont to coole charity with many, but did not so with him.

His Piety.Now for his piety, and his care of the continuance of it with those whom God had blessed him with or committed to his charge. It is report…d of Plato, that when he had occasion to go abroad, he used to give in charge to those young men that lived with him, hhforeign. Plut. de Sanit. conserv.to spend their time during his absence, in some usefull imployments: and blessed Peter the Apostle was carefull to take such a course, that ii2 Pet. ….13.his Disciples might after his departure remember and beare in minde those things, that he had delivered to them while he lived. In like manner was it with this our brother. As he was alwayes carefull, (therein a true child of kkGen. 18.19.Gen 18:19Abraham) to commend piety to his people, and to informe those of his family, as well servants as children, how to feare and serve God: so in speciall manner, at his departure beyond the seas, he assigned each of them, as their abilities and capacities were, what they should learne of the grounds of religion, and proofes thereof out of Scripture, against p. 47his returne. And yet more specially for the better continuance of piety and godlinesse in those his child…en whom God had blessed him withall, and the i…citing of them by his example and the fruit he had found in it, to a more constant and cheerefull practise thereof, he gave order in his will, to have all his spirituall journals, his meditations and remembrances, gathered together, digested and reduced into a methode, by some two godly Divines, unto whom also he hath assigned a very liberall consideration for their paines therein taken: and severall Copies thereof to be transcribed and made up for the use of each of his Children: that therein they might see him when he was gone, and llQomodo de Pt… l…m…. Th…r. idyl. 17. —foreign. Eurip. Helen.treading in those steps that he had walked in before them, they might at length mmHeb. 13.7.Heb 13:7arrive at that end, that he hath now attained to: which nnQod Commod… Marci fili… Aristides; foreign.the Lord in mercy grant they may. Thus both living and dying, yea as well dead as …live (though not dead indeed, but alive still, alive to God, yea alive to his too) he desired every way to doe good.

What shall I need to adde ought concerning his end? His End.It is seldome seene, and ooVix fi…ri p…test, ut benè moriatur, qi malè vixe…it.hardly, saith one, can it be, that one that hath lived ill, should make a good end. But ppFieri non potest, ut malè moriatur, qi benè vixerit. A…g. …om. de ver. & f…ls…p…nit.it cannot be, that one that hath lived so well shou…d make any other then a good end. Sure it was so with this our brother, by report of those that were eye-witnesses of it: full of pious expressions and sweet comforts to the last; and that, even after that speech failed him, but memory and understanding continued with him, by sign…s outwardly expressed, upon such passages recited, as he had before given order p. 48to them about him to be read by him. Insomuch that we may well with good probability suppose, that God in his holy wisdome had so disposed it, that he should go ov…r hence to make his end in that place, amids the enemies of Gods truth and grace, that those that are seduced by them, might see… pregnant proofe of …e power of piety, in the religious and comfortable end of one deceasing in that faith and profession, in which those seducers of them beare them in hand, that there is no safety or comfort to be had, either in life or in death.

In a word to conclude all with the words of my Text; Our friend, and your friend; Christs friend, and the friend of all Christ his, sleepeth; his soule being entred into his Masters joy, his body to be laid up in its Chamber of rest; untill Christ come to awake him, and us altogether with him, to the et…nall blisse of both.Conclusion of all. Let us all make that use of wh… hath …en delivered, that we be thereby encited to i…itate him in those good things that we have, either seene in him, or heard of him, that so through Gods goodnesse and his gracious ac…eptance of our godly endeavours, we may both attaine and retaine those spirituall joyes and inward comforts that he found and felt, both in life and in death.

FINIS.

Imprimatur, Iohannes ….

End of the text · Thomas Gataker, The Decrease of Lazarus (1640)