Saints Memorials, Sayings 3
Mr. RYTHER's SAYINGS Concerning Mr. IANEWAY.
MY dear and reverend Brother deceast was delightful to me, and to all that knew him when living, and so desirable when dying.
O how often have we taken sweet counsel together! his thoughts, his time, his study was, how he should get sinners bands broken off, and themselves brought into the liberty of the Sons of God.
Under a bodily Consumption, he laboured to build up Saints, that they might be kept from soul-consumption.
It's high time for the world to awake out of sleep, and to minde the state of their Souls.
God is now gathering in his labourers; then who shall gather in his harvest?
He is putting out the lights, and who shall guide them to Emanuel's land?
Two famous lights in one week,Mr. Venning and he. not put under a Bushel, but under a Grave-stone.
This present life we enjoy here, is but a Voyage; all Christians are homeward bound.
Believers when their Voyage is finisht and compleated, they are with Christ.
Believers are venturers; their immortal pretious Souls are their ventures.
OnelyOnly poor sinners, so living and dying, make lost Voyages.
Alas for that Gain, where estates are got, and souls lost! you will weep and mourn over these Gains to all Eternity.
In this present Voyage, poor Souls meet with seas of Troubles.
Satan's storms of Temptation, as well as storms of Affliction.
Do not we sail through many a Red-Sea, before we arrive at our port?
In this Voyage you must steer by your Compass; the Rule of the Word is your Compass to sail by, to live by, and must be your Compass to dye by, and to put into your Port by.
In this Voyage you are accountable at your returns; wicked persons must account for every idle word, and for every evil action.
You carry necessary Provision for a Voyage.
O how many of us are but poorly laid in for our Voyage! who knows what the latter part of our Voyage may be fill'd up withal?
Do we know what storms and tempests may attend our very putting in to Port?
Was it not so with him that is now safely arrived? had not he his storms before he harboured?
O poor Souls! you see how fast you sail down the River of Time, to put into the Ocean of Eternity.
Paul desired to ankor, and finish his Voyage.
Where Christ is, there is no sin: Saints are hous'd, when they are once got to Heaven.
To be with Christ, is to be in safe harbour.
When God hath in this life filled the Water-pots of his people with affliction, he takes that time to take them to Heaven, and turn it into the wine of Consolations.
Consider, God hath taken away a Shepherd from his Flock that gently led the Burthened, that faithfully fed the Hungry, heal'd the Diseased, and diligently lookt to the state of his Flock.
He was a faithful Watchman.
God's Gardens take a great deal of dressing.
When Dressers are taken away, what danger are Vineyards in of becoming like the field of the sluggard?
How did this Labourer spend himself in his Masters Harvest?
He was a Guide in the way to Heaven. And is this a small loss?
Is not house breaking up, when a Father goes?
O what a stroak is this, for many poor Souls to lose a Spiritual Father!
You have lost a Minister, we who knew him have lost a fellow-labourer in the Gospel.
You have lost a faithful Shepherd, that are his Flock; we a faithful Brother, that are in the Ministry; the Nation a faithful Wrestler with God.
God pulls out stakes in Zions hedge, but few are put in.
God did renew the Bow in his hand, day by day, and it abode in strength.
He was no dauber with untempered Morter, nor sower of Pillows under Christians or Sinners Elbows.
He Preached to you as one in an heavenly Extasie of Love, to win Souls to Christ.
He lived and shone out of the Pulpit as well as in it.
He was not only a burning zealous light in his Doctrine, but also a shining light in his Conversation.