Excellent Memorables for All Mourners, Doctrine
Excellent Memorables for all Mourners: Eſpecially Mourners for the Loſs of Deareſt … Gathered out of Mr. B's prepared (though not Preached) Farewel Sermon, at Kederminſter, Aug. 24. 1662. upon our Saviours …
John 16.22.
… therefore have ſorrow, but I will ſee you again, … Hearts ſhall rejoice, and your joy no Man take… … you.
THE Separation of dear Friends, made by Perſecution or Affliction, doth ſomewhat reſemble Death it ſelf. It doth ſo in Eleven particulars.
1. Death is the Separation of dear Companions; and …
2 Death is Ʋnwelcom unto Both of them: ſo is the ſaid Se…
3 Death is the end of Humane Converſe; ſo is that.
4 Death is the end of Earthly Comforts; ſo is that.
5 Death is the end of Humane Labours; ſo is that.
6 Death is the effect of Sickneſs, and uſually of Folly, and In… and Overſight of our ſelves; ſo is that alſo, moſt com…
7 Death puts ſurviving Friends into Mourning; ſo doth that.
8 Death is the end of all the Living; ſo is that.
9 Death is followed with Judgment, God's and Man's; ſo is …
10 Death deſtroys not the Relations of Soul and Body, ſepa… doth the ſaid Separation of Friends deſtroy their … unto each other.
11. Death's Power is not Everlaſting; there will be a Reſur… So the Power of the ſaid Separation is not Everlaſt… Godly Friends will ſurely meet again in that Kingdom … admits of no parting.
12. Death, I would add, Works good to the Saints: and ſo in the ſaid Separation, as grievous as it is to ſenſe, Rom. …
But yet this ſaid Separation reſembles not Death in all … …or,
1. … Friend is the Life of his Friend; no Paſtor is the Life …; as the Soul is the Life of it's Body. It is Chriſt alone is our Head and Life.
2. And the Continuance of ones Welfare depends not on the con… of my Friend with us. A Church-ſtate depends not on … of any one ſingle Paſtor whatever.
The Text contains, [and happy is he that well attains and …,] theſe Six Doctrinal Propoſitions.
D 1. Sorrow goes before Joy, with Chriſts Diſciples. Even… before Morning. Their Sowing in Tears, before Reap… in Joy. Their Pain of Travel, before Joy of Birth. Se… … of Sorrow, go before their compleat Joy.
1. Sinful Sorrows go before it. Though they ſhould not do … do ever ſo do. Worldly, Paſſionate, Peeviſh Sor… … that are Poſitively Sinful.
2. Sorrows in their nature Lawful, and only in their degree ſin… … before it. Theſe be our Exceſſive troubles, at things … we may Lawfully Sorrow for, with Moderation.
3 Sorrows meerly Natural do go before it. Such as Wearineſs … Labour, Painedneſs with our Diſeaſes, grievous Feel… … of Heat and Cold, of Hunger and Thirſt.
4 Sorrows Caſtigatory go before it. Theſe be God's Cha… … which have a tendency to do us good, if they be … improved. Such be all Sufferings in our Souls, Bodies, …, Eſtates and Friends.
5. Sorrows Honourable and gainful go before it. Theſe be Sufferings from Men for the ſake of Chriſt & the cauſe of Chriſt.
6 Sorrows Penitential do go before it. Theſe are Contrition … true Repentance, Faſting, Abſtinence, and Humiliation. …eſe Sorrows we muſt inflict upon our ſelves, to Kill Sin, … to Promote the work of Grace.
7. Sorrows Charitable do go before it. Theſe be ſuch as the … of God and of his Church; and our Pity of the periſh… World, do affect us with. Even as long as we live in a … ſo full of Sin and Miſery.
Hear five Reaſons for Sorrow's going before Joy.
R 1. God will have ſome Conformity between the order of PLACE and NATƲRE. In Nature, Nothingneſs was be… … Being; Infancy before Manhood; Weakneſs before …; Crying before Laughter. No wonder then, if … Sorrow be before our Joy.
R 2. Sin goes before Grace; and we are the firſt Adam's …, before we are Chriſt's. It is therefore but juſt that … ſhould be before Joy, where Satan goes before Chriſt.
R 3. God ſeeth this to be the fitteſt Method for our Cure. … may Deny our ſelves, we muſt know how little we … beholden to our ſelves; and muſt ſmart by the fruit of our … and Folly, before we are eaſed by the fruit of Grace and ….
R 4. Fore-going Sorrows raiſe the price of following Mercies. … that come out of great Tribulation, will joyfully ſing … of their Redeemer.
R 5. God will have the Members conformed unto their Head. … went to the Crown by the Croſs; and ſo ſhall they … …e Chriſts. God's Will, alone, ſhould ſatisfie our … concerning this matter: But theſe Reaſons do ſet to … the Equity and Goodneſs of God's Will and Way.
Learn hence two things Exhorted.
E 1. Judge of your Sorrows not by your preſent Senſe, but by … Ʋſe and Tendency. Count them Purges, and Vomits; … you like beſt, when they work in the way wherein … uſe to Cure ſuch as take them. Remember, Sirs, and …,
… 1. Who is it you ſuffer by? Is it one that you ſuſpect of … of Power, Wiſdom, or Goodneſs?
Q. 2. See you not that Carnal Pleaſure is far more dangerous than all your Sorrow? Would you be in the condition of the ungodly, that proſper in the World?
Q. 3. Would you not rather follow your Saviour, and be conformed to Him and his Saints, than to the Wicked? Would you not go the common way to Heaven?
Q. 4. Hath not Suffering done you good, and the Croſs bore you good Fruit? Why then afraid of it, and why ſo deſirous of the Eaſe and Pleaſure that hath often Hurt you?
Obj. But 'tis not all Sorrow that foretells Joy.
Sol. No, but all Sorrow of theſe three ſorts doth foretell it.
1. Sorrow undergone in ſincerity for Chriſt's cauſe and ſake.
2. Sorrow performed as a Duty, for Gods diſhonour by our own and other Mens ſins, and for Miſeries thence riſing.
3. Sorrow of Chaſtiſement patiently ſuffered, and improved unto Reformation.
E. 2. Condemn not the Generation of the Juſt, becauſe you ſee them ſuffer more than other Men. Be not as ſome Beaſts; which, when one of their Fellows is wounded, do all forſake him. —And yet, err not on the other hand; think not that all be Bleſſed hereafter, that be Afflicted here. Know the Cauſe, e're you judge of the Suffering.
D. 2. Chriſt's Death and Departure was the cauſe of his Diſciples Sorrow. Three things grieved them;
1. That their Beloved Lord muſt be took from them.
2. That He muſt Die in ſuch a manner, painfully and ignominiouſly.
3. That He muſt Die while they had ſo little fore-ſight of his Reſurrection and Return. Had they known what would follow, they had been leſs troubled.
D. 3. The Sorrows of Chriſt's Diſciples are but ſhort. For,
R. 1. Life is but ſhort.
R. 2. God's diſpleaſure with his Servants, is but ſhort, Pſal. 30.5.
R. 3. Our Trial, muſt be but ſhort. God will ſee that the Furnace be not too Hot, nor we in it too Long.
R. 4. The Power of thoſe that afflict us, is but ſhort.
Obſerve then,
I. 1. Religion is not a whit diſparaged by ſhort and ſmall Sufferings. Do any think them long? Let them conſider,
1. Your Suffering will be no longer than your Sin.
2. Nor any longer than you make them NECESSARY.
3. No, not ſo long as you do deſerve.
4. Nor ſo long as the Sufferings of the Ʋngodly, &c.
5. Nor ſo long as your following Joys; nor ſo great.
I. 2. It is reaſonable that we moderate and mix our Sorrows with Joy. Being they be as hath been ſaid; Rejoice evermore, is no unreaſonable command.
D. 4. Christ will again viſit his ſorrowful Diſciples. He means not to forſake them, when he hides his Face from them. For why?
R. 1. He hath Conquered the greatest Enemies already; and there be none remaining to Conquer Him.
R. 2. He retains ſtill his Relation unto his Diſciples. He is their Head, while they ſuffer ſo in the World.
R. 3. He loveth us now He is in Heaven as much as ever He did on Earth. He lays not by the leaſt meaſure of his Love.
R. 4. His Covenant with his Servants is ſtill in force. And his Promiſes cannot be broken.
R. 5. His own Intereſt, Honour, Office, Preparations, do engage him to return unto his diſconſolate Flock. It doth ſo; And,
R. 6. It is for their ſakes that He withdraweth for a time. The Bitter of it, is intended as Medicinal for their Benefit. John 16.7. It is expedient for you that I go away.
Mark ye then, and be Exhorted.
E. 1. Miſunderſtand not the Departings of your Lord. Say not with the Evil Servant, My Lord delayeth his coming.
1. He will Return to Judge the World, at his appointed day, Job 19.25.
2. He will Return to his ſeemingly Forſaken Flocks. And give them Paſtors after his own Heart, Jer. 3.14.
3. He will Return to the Souls of his particular Servants ſeemingly Forſaken. Weeping endures for a Night, but Joy cometh in the Morning, Pſal. 30.5.
E. 2. Learn to behave your ſelves well, till Chriſt doth Return unto you. Particularly,
1. Bear his Abſence, but be not Pleaſed with it.
2. Be not too Indifferent neither, but Reſent it much.
3. Be not drawn to take another Lord, or Portion, in his ſtead. Let not Riches, &c. ſerve you inſtead of Chriſt.
4. Be not emboldened to Sin by his Abſence.
5. Be not diſcouraged from Duty, by his Abſence, Heb. 12.12.
D. 5. When Chriſt ſhall again appear to his Diſciples, their Sorrows ſhall be turned into Joy. When He comes, Joy comes with him. When the Sun riſeth, it is Light day, and Froſts are thawed, and all things revived.
1. The Deſerted Soul turns from Complaint, to Triumph. He that ſaid, There is no hope; now ſays, My Lord and my God.
2. The Deſerted Church doth the ſame. Joying in its reſtored Ordinances, Order, Opportunities, and Advantages.
3. The Ʋniverſal Church ſhall have an end of their Sorrows, and a Harveſt of Joys, when Chriſt returns at the laſt day.
And here attend ye well.
1. It is Chriſt Himſelf that is the Believers Joy. The Beloved of their Souls.
2. And He will not come Alone neither. He brings an innumerable Company of Bleſſed Saints and Angels.
D. 6. The Joy that cometh at Chriſt's return will be a ſecure and everlaſting Joy. Who ſhould deprive us of it?
1. Not our Selves. For our trying time will be out, and Confirmation will be the reward of Conqueſt.
2. Not Devils. For there they cannot corrupt our Imaginations, or pervert our Underſtandings, or diſturb our Paſſions.
3. Not any Men. The Holy and Bleſſed, will encreaſe our Joy; their Joy will be ours. And as for the Wicked, they will be diſenabled to hurt us, either by Flatteries, Threats, Reproaches … … cuſations.
Now obſerve;
I. The belief of this, rejoices the Soul under all Diſappointment … Though the ART, and FORM, and WORDS of Holineſs … ſo do.
I. 2. Be not Deceived by a Flattering; nor Dejected by a Frou… World. No, but place your hopes on the Joys which no Man can tak… from you.
O Neglect not theſe Counſels and Requeſts.
C. 1. Spend moſt of your Studies, in confirming your belief of, 1. The Truth of the Goſpel. 2. The Immortality of the Soul; And, 3. The Life to come. Lay up Treaſure in Heaven; and Live for it, as Worldlings Live for the Fleſh.
C. 2. Flatter not your ſelves with the hopes of Long Life. But make it the Summ of your Religion, Care, and Buſineſs, to be ready for a ſafe and comfortable Death.
C. 3. Live as in a conſtant War againſt all Fleſhly Luſts, and Love not the World as it cheriſheth thoſe Luſts. He is never to be truſted, that falls deeply in Love with Riches.
C. 4. Be Furniſhed before-hand with Expectation and Patience, for all Evils that may befall you. And make not too great a matter of Poverty, or Wrong from Men.
C. 5. Take heed of a Self-conceited, Ʋnhumbled Ʋnderſtanding, and of haſty, and raſh Concluſions. It is a Fool that rageth, and is confident.
C. 6. Maintain Ʋnion and Communion with all true Chriſtian Churches. Hold to Catholick Principles of meer Chriſtianity. Love CHRISTIANS as Chriſtians, but Love the BEST moſt.
C. 7. Be ſure you maintain due Honour and Subjection unto your Governours, Prov. 24.21. Obey no Man againſt God. But if you fall under perſecuting Governours, in patience poſſeſs your Souls, truſt God, and hold faſt Innocency, and abhor Rebellion and Revenge. Do nothing but what God will own. Self-ſaving Men, are uſually the deſtroyers of themſelves and others. Peter, that drew his Sword for Chriſt, denied him the ſame Night, with Oaths and Curſes. Fools truſt themſelves, and Wiſe Men truſt God. — We may learn Wit from that Fool, who ſeeing great Guns and Muſquets, asked, What they were to do; and being told, they were to Kill Men, ſaid preſently; Do not Men Die here without Killing? In our Countrey they will Die of themſelves.
C. 8. Be ſure you keep up Family Religion. Eſpecially in the Education of Youth.
C. 9. Live in the Love of God and Man. Bleſſed be they that faithfully practiſe thoſe three Principles which all do profeſs. Sc. 1. To Love God as God above all, and ſo to Obey him. 2. To Love our Neighbour as our ſelves. 3. And to Do as we would be done unto.
Notes of the ſame Author, from Luke 20.20.
Doctrine. To have our Names written in Heaven, is the greateſt Mercy, and firſt, and chiefly, and only for it ſelf to be Rejoiced in. Which ſo puts the eſtimate on all inferior Mercies, that further than they refer to this, they are not to be the matter of our Joy. For why?
R. 1. All common Mercies may conſiſt with preſent Miſery.
R. 2. Yea, they are alſo the ordinary and ſtrong Means of making Men miſerable, and holding them in Miſery.
R. 3. They are often made the Devils Tools to do his Work by, and are uſed againſt God, to the hindrance of the Goſpel, and injury of the Church.
R. 4. All of them may end in Miſery, and leave the Owner in Everlaſting Woe.
But I challenge all the World to tell me,
Q. 1. What ſhould be Rejoiced in if not a Name in Heaven? If not the Lord of Life himſelf, the Joy and Glory of Saints? What is Heaven, but the Enjoyment of Him?
Q. 2. Is it not fit we now Rejoice, in that wherein we muſt Everlaſtingly Rejoice? If you knew the Friend and Place in which you were to have but an hundred years Joy, that fore knowledge would make them preſently more delightful to you, than any other.
Q. 3. And, Is not this Joy a Divine, Pure, Profitable, and a Warrantable one? Need you be Aſhamed of this? Is not he the beſt Chriſtian, that hath moſt Love, Joy, and Gratitude? Is not he the likeſt to perform beſt his other Duties, and to conquer his remaining Sins?
You may be ſure your Names be written in Heaven;
1. If Heaven has the preheminence in your Practical Eſteem. If you are reſolved to ſtick cloſe to Chriſt whatever it coſt you, and take God for your Portion.
2. If obtaining Heaven be your principal… Care, Buſineſs, and Work, which you mind in the World.
3. If finding your ſelves Loſt and filthy in Sin, you ſee Chriſt's Sufficiency and Neceſſity, and unfeignedly take him for your Saviour and Lord.
4. If the Heavenly Nature be moſt amiable in your Eyes.
5. If you have a ſpecial Love to the Heirs of Heaven.
Rejoice not, till you have theſe Evidences; For, 1. God … not you to Rejoice. 2. Your Joy is Ʋnreaſonable. 3. It is Diſhoneſt … Diſingenuous. 4. It is Diſhonourable and Shameful. 5. It can be but Short. 6. And it is Unprofitable, yea Hurtful.
Rejoice evermore, when you have theſe Evidences; For, Joy b… longs to you, 'tis your Priviledge and your Duty. Let not So…s and Firebrands of Hell, live a more Joyful Life than you, who muſt be Everlaſtingly as full of Joy, as the Sun is of Light.
Did you but know 1 how God approves holy Right Rejoicing, more than your Pining Sorrow; and 2 how it ſtrengthens the Soul, and 3 ſweetens … 4 caſeth Sufferings, and 5 ſuits Goſpel-grace, and 6 encourageth … 7 ſerves to ſubdue the Sins that trouble you, you would labour and … your drooping Spirits raiſed.
☞ However; if Melancholy, and your Mistakes, … ſhall keep you ſad here; as to your Happineſs, … comparatively great. Heaven will wipe away … Thoſe Joys will be long enough, when they come.
London, Printed for Tho. Parkhurſt at the Bible and Three Crowns in Cheapſide, near Mercers Chapel. 1691.
End of the text · Richard Baxter, Excellent Memorables for All Mourners (1691)