The True Dignity of Pauls Elder in the Life of Owen Stockton, Floating text 2
His Evidences.
1. Evidences of true and Saving Faith.
After my recovery from a Sickneſs, I ſet my ſelf to examin and prove my faith, to ſee if it were true and ſaving: Becauſe pardon of ſin, freedom from Condemnation eternal life with other great bleſſings, are promiſed to Beleevers: And much of our comfort in Sickneſs, and health, in life, and death dependeth on the knowledge and proof of our faith; and that I did believe in Chriſt with a true and Saving faith, I was ſatisfied thus:
1. From thoſe expreſſions of Scripture wherein the nature and eſſential acts of faith are ſet forth, as 1. Coming to Chriſt, Joh. 6. 35. He that cometh—he that believeth on me. Coming is believing. My Conſcience bears me Witneſs that I am coming to Chriſt, for Chriſt himſelf and all his benefits, I ſind my Soul drawn to Chriſt, and upon all occaſions looking and going to him. 2. Receiving, Joh. 1. 12. As many as received him—even as many as believed on his Name. Receiving is believing. Now through grace I find my heart willingly receiving, and thankfully accepting Jeſus Chriſt as God offers him in the Goſpel, even an whole Chriſt, Chriſt in all his offices to be to me, Prophet, Prieſt, and King. 3, Truſting, Eph. 1. 13. In whom ye truſted—ye beleived. Truſting is believing. This alſo I find, that God hath given me an heart to rely on Chriſt, for Righteouſneſs, grace, and life.
2, From the ground of my faith, which is the word of God. It is through my knowledge and acquaintance with the word that I have been brought to believe in Chriſt, and through Chriſt in the Father that ſent him. And I read, ſuch as believe through the word are true believers, for whom Chriſt maketh interceſſion Joh. 17. 20. and who have everlaſting life, and ſhall not come into condemnation, Joh. 5. 24.
3, From this property and effect of faith, viz. Prizing Chriſt, 1 Pet. 2. 7. Unto you that believe Chriſt 'tis precious. The Apoſtle ſpeaks of the faith of Gods elect, ch. 1. 2. and of ſaving faith, ch. 1. 9. Now I find Chriſt is precious to me, ſo precious to my Soul, that I value and prefer him above the whole world. I account his blood precious, which cleanſeth me from all ſin. The promiſes exceeding great and precious which in him are yea and Amen. Chriſt is ſo precious to me that I am willing to ſuffer for him. Phil. 1. 29. yea I chooſe a ſuffering condition for Chriſt, before the honours, Riches, and pleaſures of the world, when they cannot be enjoyed without ſinning againſt Him. Heb. 11. 24, 25, 26. I am willing to take up the Croſs, and forſake all things for him.
Evidences that I was one of Gods Servants.
Sept. 30. 1666. I conſidered with my ſelf what evidence I had that I was one of Gods Servants, and was ſatisfied from theſe Scriptures, Rom. 6. 16. Know ye not that to whom ye yield your ſelves Servants to obey, his Servants ye are to whom ye obey, whether of ſin unto death, or of obedience unto Righteouſneſs. I find God hath given me an heart to yield my ſelf to Him. Nehem. 1. 11. O Lord I beſeech thee, Let now thine ears be attentive to the prayer of thy Servant, and to the prayer of thy Servants that deſire to fear thy Name. Here I ſaw that ſuch as deſire to fear God, are accounted Gods ſervants. Which through grace I do.
Some doubtings aroſe in my heart, whether I was one of Gods Servants, becauſe it is ſaid, Joh. 8. 34. Verily, Verily I ſay unto you, that whoſoever Committeth ſin is the Servant of ſin.
For removing this doubt I conſidered,
1. That the meaning of this Scripture is not that no man that hath ſin in his heart, or doth ſin in his life can be Gods Servant, but is a Servant of ſin, for then God ſhould have no Servants upon the face of the Earth, Eccl. 7. 20. There is not a juſt man upon Earth that doth good and ſinneth not, Joh. 1. 8. If we ſay that we have no ſin we deceive our ſelves and the truth is not in us.
2. It is ſaid that the Servants of Sin are free from righteouſneſs, Rom. 6. 20. Now through mercy I follow after righteouſneſs, and find ſomething of it, whence I concluded, I was not the ſervant of Sin.
3. I ſaw that David held this concluſion that he was one of Gods Servants though he was compaſſed about with infirmities, yea, even at ſuch time as he was under a ſenſe of his ſinful infirmities. Pſ. 116. 11, 16. O Lord truly I am thy Servant, I am thy Servant, yet he had ſaid in his haſte (unbelievingly) All men are liars, David after he had committed the great ſin of Numbering the people, againſt the Counſel and Advice of his friends, Confeſſed that he had ſinned greatly and done very fooliſhly, yet calleth himſelf a Servant of the Lord, 2 Sam. 24. 10.
4. As I was Conſidering this thing the Lord brought to my remembrance, Rom. 7. ult. With my mind I my ſelf ſerve the Law of God, but with my fleſh the Law of ſin. This Scripture was a great ſtay and ſatisfaction to me, and took off that which was my chief fear. There is no doubt but Paul was the Servant of Chriſt, yet he ſayeth, I my ſelf with the fleſh ſerve the Law of Sin.
Evidences of the pardon of my ſin.
Aug. 12. 1666. being under the ſenſe of many ſins, I conſidered with my ſelf what grounds and evidences I had for the pardon of my ſins. And was ſatisfied from theſe Scriptures:
Acts. 10. 43. To him give all the prophets Witneſs that through his name, whoſoever believeth in him ſhall receive remiſſion of ſins. I found that through grace I did believe in Chriſt, 1 Joh. 1. 9. If we confeſs our ſins he is faithful and juſt to forgive us our ſins, and to cleanſe us from all unrighteouſneſs. I ſaw here that Gods juſtice and faithfulneſs, ſtand engaged to forgive their Sins, who make confeſſion of them, which God had given me an heart to do.
Iſa. 1. 16, 17, 18, 19. Theſe perſons to whom this promiſe was made, had ſinned againſt great mercies. ver. 2. and great judgments, v. 5. and other circumſtances did aggravate their ſins, yet God promiſeth to forgive their Scarlet, and Crimſon-ſins, if they were willing to repent and obey the Lord. If ye be willing and obedient. And through grace I found I was willing to obey Gods voice, to ceaſe to do evil, and to learn to do well.
Hebr. 8. 10. 12. The promiſe of remiſſion of ſins is part of the new Covenant, and I find that God hath made this Covenant with me. from Iſa. 55. 3. where the condition of the Covenant is coming unto Chriſt, to which God hath enabled me.
Dec. 30. Having left the prevalency of ſin, and found ſin not only Warring againſt but leading me Captive, which made me queſtion my pardon, I was enabled to reſt upon God for forgiveneſs of my ſin from,
Pſ. 65. 3. Iniquities prevail againſt me, As for our tranſgreſſions thou ſhalt purge them away. By purging is meant. 1. pardoning, Heb. 1. 3. Pſ. 51. 7. 2. Subduing and Deſtroying ſin, Iſa. 27. 9. 2 Tim. 2. 21. So that David when he felt ſin prevailing and not only one ſin but ſeveral—Iniquities, in the plural number, prevail, did yet reſt upon God both for the pardon and the Subduing of his ſins, and what David did I may and ought to do.
Rom. 7. 23, 24, 25. when the Apoſtle found ſin working, and warring and leading him captive, yet he hangs upon Chriſt, and bleſſeth God for Chriſt, and believeth he ſhould be delivered from the guilt and power of his ſins by Jeſus Chriſt.
When the filthineſs of my ſins made me afraid that God would not pardon, becauſe I had ſuch vile affections, and ſuch filthy motions in my heart, God comforted me with that word, Ezek. 36. 25. I will ſprinkle clean water upon you, and ye ſhall be clean from all your filthineſs, and I will cleanſe you, & v. 29. I will ſave you from all your uncleanneſſes. And from Act. 13. 38, 39. the promiſe is to all that believe, and here is promiſed Juſtification from all things—So as no ſin, no circumſtance in any ſin ſhall be charged upon any believer to his condemnation.
Jul. 14. 1667. Having found my heart departing from God in a very treacherous manner, this did cloud my Evidence of pardon, but after prayer I was confirmed in the belief of the forgiveneſs of my ſin, from Jer. 3. 2, 20, 22. Here I ſaw that though the Jews had voluntarily without any enticing Temptation proſtituted themſelves to ſin, v. 2. and though they had in a Treacherous manner departed from God after he had taken them into a Conjugal Relation with himſelf v. 20. Yet he promiſeth upon their return to heal their backſlidings. My Faith was further eſtabliſhed by conſidering that remiſſion of ſin was promiſed to me in the Covenant, which Covenant ſhould never be removed from me. Iſa. 54. 9, 10. Alſo Dan. 9. 9.
When God had once and again cleared up to my Soul the Pardon of my ſins, I conſidered with my ſelf what duties this mercy called for: And I ſaw,
1. This ſhould make me thankful. Pſal. 103. 1, 2, 3.
2. It ſhould make me admire God. Mic. 7. 18, 19.
3. It ſhould make me more fearful of offending God. Pſ. 130. 4.—85. 8.
4. It ſhould make me Love God much. Luke 7. 42, 43, 47.
5. It ſhould make me glorifie God, and let him have the Dominion over my Soul. Rev. 1. 5, 6.
6. It ſhould make me cheerful and encourage me in all the troubles of this preſent life. Mat. 9. 2. Iſa. 33. ult.
7. It ſhould oblige me to forgive others. Eph. 4▪ 32. Col. 3. 13.
8. It ſhould make me willing to be employed in any Service for God. Iſa. 6. 7, 8.
Evidences of my Intereſt in, and Ʋnion with Jeſus Chriſt.
1. Faith in Chriſt Joh. 17. 20, 21. Chriſt prayeth that all that believe in him through the Word may be one in him, and the Father always heareth him. Joh. 11. 42. Now I find (bleſſed be God) that through the Word I do believe in Chriſt.
2. Effectual Calling. 1 Cor. 1. 9. 26. 30. God is faithful by whom ye were called—Ye ſee your calling—Ye are in Chriſt Jeſus. Now through mercy I find God hath called me out of darkneſs into his marvellous light, he hath called me to the knowledge and Faith of Chriſt.
3. Walking after the Spirit and not after the Fleſh. Rom. 8. 1. It is not ſaid, they that are in Chriſt have no fleſh in them, but they walk not after the fleſh.
4. Chriſts giving us his Spirit is an evidence that he abideth in us. 1 Joh. 3. 24. Now I find by the fruits of the Spirit mentioned, Gal. 5. 22, 23. that God hath given me his Spirit, and alſo by my being able to cry Abba Father. Gal. 4. 6.
5. Crucifying the fleſh with the affections and luſts thereof. Gal. 5. 24. that is, our corrupt nature, with the works thereof mentioned v. 19, 20, 21. The fleſh and luſts thereof is Crucified, when ſo ſubdued that it doth not reign. Rom. 6. 6. which I find, bleſſed be God.
6. Keeping Chriſts word. 1 Joh. 2. 5. which I deſire and endeavour.
The Comfort and Priviledge flowing from hence is, that I am,
1. Free from Condemnation. Rom. 8. 1.
2. Aſſured of Glory. Col. 1. 27. 1 Joh. 5. 12.
3. Intereſſed in Chriſts Wiſdom, Righteouſneſs, Sanctification, and Redemption. 1. Cor. 1. 30.
4. Intereſſed in all Spiritual and Heavenly bleſſings. Eph. 1. 3.
5. Compleat in him, though imperfect in my ſelf. Col. 2. 10.
Evidences that God is my God.
1. My being in Covenant with God. Wherein the great bleſſing promiſed is, that God will be our God. Heb. 8. 10. and my being in Covenant is evidenced to my Soul by my coming to, and cloſing with Chriſt the Mediator of the Covenant; for he promiſeth to make an Everlaſting Covenant with ſuch as come to him. Iſa. 55. 3.
2. My engaging my heart to approach to God. Jer. 30. 21, 22.
3. My being one of Gods Servants, as before. Iſa. 41. 9, 10: Thou art my Servant—I am thy God.
4. The Law of God in my heart, and my delight to do the will of God. Jer. 31. 33. Pſ. 40. 8.
5. My fear of God. Jer. 32. 38, 39, 40. which fear is diſcerned by eſchewing and departing from evil. Job. 1. 1. Prov. 16. 6.
6. My chooſing the Lord for my God. Pſ. 16. 2. and voluntary giving up my ſelf to him, to obey his voice and keep his ways. Deut. 26. 17, 18, 19. Jer. 7. 23.
7. My willingneſs to leave earthly Enjoyments at the call of God, ſetting looſe to the world, looking upon my ſelf as a Stranger and Pilgrim on the Earth, and preferring and ſeeking Heavenly things above Earthly. For God is not aſhamed to be called their God that are, and do thus. 11. 13, 14, 15. 16.
Hence I infer for my Comfort.
1. Gods Audience of my Prayers. Mic. 7. 7.
2. Gods preſence with me in all Conditions. Iſa. 43. 1, 2, 3.
3. A ſupply of all my wants. Pſ. 23. 1.
4. Strength and Aſſiſtance to all Services or Sufferings. Iſa. 41. 10.
5. He will be my God and Guide for ever. Pſ. 48. 14.
6. He will Pardon my ſins, and not forſake and caſt me off. Mic. 7. 17, 18, 19. 1 Sam. 12. 20 22. Jer. 51. 5.
And I Charge it on my ſelf, as my Duty,
1. To walk humbly with God. Mic. 6. 8.
2. To ſeek him early. Pſ. 63. 1.
3. To praiſe and exalt him. Pſ. 116. 28.
4. To Love him above all with all my heart. Deut. 6. 5.
5. To turn to him when ever I ſhall depart from him. Hoſ. 12. 6.
6. To truſt in him continually for all things. Pſal. 18. 2—91. 2. Yea in times of greateſt danger, diſtreſs, and fear. Pſal. 31. 13, 14. Pſ. 42. 11. 1 Sam. 30. 4. 6.
Evidences of Gods Love to my Soul.
1. His drawing of me to Chriſt. Jer 31. 3. Whom God drawes he Loveth with an everlaſting Love. Now I find that God hath drawn me, becauſe my Soul is come to Chriſt, and goeth dayly to him, and no man can come to Chriſt except the Father draw him. Joh. 6. 44.
2. His giving me Faith. He loveth thoſe that through the Word believe in his Son, even as he loveth his own Son. Joh. 17. 20. 23.
3. God Loveth thoſe that Love him, and that Love his Son Jeſus Chriſt. Prov. 8. 17. 1 Joh. 4. 19. Joh. 14. 21.—16. 27. I find that God hath given me an heart to Love him, and his Son Jeſus Chriſt.
4. A Principle of Spiritual life infuſed into my Soul, whereby I live to God is an Evidence of Gods Love to me. Ezek. 16. 6. 8 Eph. 2. 4, 5.
5. God Loveth not only the Righteous. Pſ. 146. 8. but ſuch alſo as follow after Righteouſneſs. Prov. 15. 9. which through grace I find he hath cauſed me to do.
My Comfort in this is, that this is an everlaſting Love. Jer. 31. 3. Joh. 13. 1. Nothing ſhall ſeparate me from it. Rom. 8. 38, 39. No not my Sins. Pſ. 89. 30, 31, 32, 33, 34. Though the Mountains and hills depart, his loving-kindneſs ſhall not depart. Iſa. 54. 10. Admire and Adore this Love Oh my Soul. 1 Joh. 3, 1.
Evidences of Gods accepting my Perſon, and Services.
This enquiry is neceſſary. 1ſt. Becauſe both work and Perſon muſt come to judgment. 2 Cor. 5. 9, 10. 2ly. Though it be a mercy to have our Service accepted of the Saints, Rom. 15. 30, 31. Yet the main thing we ſhould labour for, is to be approved of God; 2 Tim. 2. 15. For the approbation of men without the acceptation of God is little worth. 2 Cor. 10. ult.
Evidence. 1. Iſa. 56. 6, 7. There the Lord promiſeth to accept their Burnt-Offerings, and Sacrifices upon his Altar (that is, all their Services which they perform in Chriſts Name, who is called an Altar Heb. 13. 10. and who was Typified by the Altar under the Moſaical Law) who joyn themſelves to the Lord, to Love and ſerve him, and keep his Sabbath, and take hold of his Covenant: Even to every ſuch Perſon he promiſeth acceptation of their Services ſignified by Burnt-Offerings, and Sacrifices. Now bleſſed be God, he hath enabled me by grace in ſome meaſure thus to do.
2. Rom. 14. 18. He that in theſe things ſerveth Chriſt, is acceptable to God. In theſe things, i. e. in Righteouſneſs, Peace, and joy mentioned v. 17. Here I ſee that when in obedience to Chriſts Command, and in diſcharge of the work, and Calling I have been called to by Chriſt, I endeavour by Preaching, Writing, Conference, private Inſtruction, to beget or promote Righteouſneſs, Peace or joy in the Holy Ghoſt, I am accepted of God.
3. Act. 10. 35. In every Nation he that feareth God and worketh righteouſneſs is accepted of him. We then work righteouſneſs when we work that which God commands us. Pſ. 119. 172. All thy Commandments are righteouſneſs. This I endeavour.
4. Gen. 4. 7. If thou doeſt well, ſhalt thou not be accepted? Then we do well when we ſerve the Lord faithfully. Mat. 25. 23. and when we ſhew Love to our Neighbour. Jam. 2. 8. whereof I have the Teſtimony of my Conſcience.
Evidences of Eternal Life.
God hath out of his free grace (bleſſed be his Name) given me good hope of Eternal Life from theſe Scriptures:
1. Joh. 3. 16. Whoſoever believeth in Chriſt ſhall not periſh, but have everlaſting life. This promiſe hath oft refreſhed and ſatisfied my Soul, when I have been Communing with my own heart about the grounds of my hope of Eternal Life. For I find that God hath given me an heart to believe in Chriſt; and the promiſe is, Whoſoever believeth, without any exception of the greatneſs, frequency, or long continuance of our ſins; when I have been unable to work the works of God, I have found an heart to believe.
2. 2▪ Sam. 23. 5. Although my houſe be not ſo with God, yet God hath made with me an everlaſting Covenant ordered in all things and ſure; for this is all my Salvation, and all my deſire although he make it not to grow. Here I obſerved, 1ſt. That being in Covenant with God is a ſufficient ground to hope for Salvation. This is all my Salvation, he hath made with me an everlaſting Covenant. 2ly. The ſinful infirmities and miſcarriages of the Servants of God, ſhould not diſcourage them from hoping in God for Eternal Salvation by vertue of his Covenant. David had been guilty of ſeveral miſcarriages, beſides his great failing in the matter of Uriah, as unbelief. 1 Sam. 27. 1. diſſimulation and lying to Achiſh. v. 10. Unkind if not unjuſt dealing with Mephihoſheth, in giving away half his Eſtate upon a falſe Accuſation of Ziba. 2 Sam. 19. 27, 28, 29. &c. Yet in a dying hour he relieth on God for Salvation, notwithſtanding his miſcarriages, by vertue of the Covenant. Although my houſe be not ſo with God (he includeth himſelf as the chief part of his houſe, although he had not ſo walked in his houſe with God as God required) yet this is my Salvation God hath made with me an everlaſting Covenant. 3ly. Though he did not ſee the growth or accompliſhment of ſeveral promiſes, in the Covenant, yet he is not diſmayed or beaten off from hoping for Salvation, but ſaith, this is all my Salvation, although he make it not to grow. Enquiring with my ſelf what ground I had to hope that this Covenant was made with me, I was ſatisfied from Iſa. 55. 3. Where I find thoſe that come unto Chriſt are taken into Covenant, and enjoy the ſame promiſes and mercies that God gave to David.
3. Joh. 17. 2. Thou haſt given him power over all fleſh, that he ſhould give eternal Life to as many as thou haſt given him. Enquiring what ground I had to believe that I was given to Chriſt, I was ſatisfied from Joh. 6. 37. All that the Father giveth me ſhall come to me. Our coming to Chriſt is an Argument that we are given to Chriſt by the Father, becauſe all ſuch, and none but ſuch come to Chriſt. v. 37. 44. 65. I was further Confirmed from Joh. 17. 9, 10. Where Chriſt gives this Character of ſuch as are given to him, that he is glorified in them, and I find through mercy that the Lord hath inclined my heart to glorifie him.
4. Joh. 10. 27, 28, 29. My ſheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me, and I give to them eternal Life, and they ſhall never periſh, neither ſhall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father which gave them me is greater than all, and no man is able to pluck them out of my Fathers hand. Here I obſerved, 1ſt. That the Lord Jeſus hath promiſed to give unto his ſheep Eternal life▪ 2ly. He undertaketh for them for the time to come, that they ſhall never periſh. They ſhall not periſh by their own ſins (as unbelievers and unregenerate men do Joh. 8. 24. 2 Pet. 2. 12.) neither ſhall any perſon or temptation from without draw them off from Chriſt. 3ly. The Lord Jeſus gives his ſheep a two-fold Argument to aſſure them that they ſhall not periſh, either by their own corruption, or by any force or allurement from without. 1ſt. He holds them in his hand, i. e, he keeps and preſerves them by his power. 2ly. His Father who is greater than all keeps them by his power alſo. The Comfort of this depending on the qualification of the perſons to whom this promiſe is made, namely the ſheep of Chriſt, I conſidered what evidence I had that I was one of Chriſts ſheep. And I ſaw 1ſt. That Chriſts ſheep are ſuch as hear his voice, and follow him. Now I found that my heart had Anſwered the Call of Chriſt in the Goſpel, when he hath called, Look unto me, and be ye Saved; Come unto me all ye that labour & are heavy laden; and moreover that I do endeavour to follow his example, and to walk as he walked when he was in this world. 2ly. I ſaw that by his ſheep he meaneth ſuch as do believe on him, becauſe he proveth the Jews were not his ſheep, becauſe they did not believe on him. ver. 26. 3ly. I found thoſe evidences of the Lords being my Shepherd which David mentioneth, Pſ. 23. viz. his often reſtoring my Soul when I have fallen. His leading me in paths of Righteouſneſs for his Names ſake. If the Lord be my ſheepherd then I am one of his ſheep. 4ly. my returning to Chriſt through grace is an argument that he is the ſheepherd of my Soul. 1 Pet. 2. 25. 5ly. Viſiting the ſick and feeding the hungry, are the marks of Chriſts ſheep. Math. 25. 33, 35, 36.
5. Pſ. 84. 11. God promiſeth glory to them that walk uprightly, and I find God hath given me an heart to walk uprightly. In a ſickneſs not knowing but death might be approaching, I conſidered what promiſes I could reſt on for ſalvation, and among others God enabled me to ſtay, on, Iſa. 57. 2. He ſhall enter into Peace, they ſhall reſt in their beds, Each one walking in his uprightneſs. Theſe are my Evidences of etarnal life.
God having given me good hope, through grace, of eternal life, I ſet my ſelf to conſider what duties this called for, and God put into my mind, which I reſolve by the help of his grace to practiſe.
1. To bleſs and praiſe God for this mercy. 1 Pet. 1. 3, 4. Col. 1. 12, 13.
2. To mortifie daily uncleanneſs, inordinate affections, evil Concupiſence, Covetouſneſs, and all other ſins, Col. 3. 4, 5.
3. To carry my ſelf towards all men eſpecially towards my near relations as an Heir of eternal life and glory. 1 Pet. 3. 7.
4. To walk worthy of the Lord. 1 Theſ. 2. 12. How that is to be done is expreſſed Eph. 4. 1, 2, 3. Col. 1. 10.
5. To purifie my ſelf as God is pure, 1 Joh. 3. 3. which implies purity of heart, Math. 5. 8. purity of words in diſcourſe; for every word of God is pure, Prov. 30. 5. and ſo muſt ours be alſo, Eph. 4. 29. Zeph. 3. 9. purity of life, 1 Pet. 2. 22.
6. To Serve God and to ſerve him in a gracious and Godly manner, Heb. 12. 28.
7. Not to fear them that can kill the body, Luk. 12. 4, 32. Nor fear the want of outward things, ver. 31, 32.
8. To rejoyce in hope of this Glory in the midſt of worldly troubles, Rom. 5. 2, 3. 1 Pet. 1. 3, 6.
9. To keep the full aſſurance of hope to the end of my days by Continuing diligent in Miniſtring to the Saints, Heb. 6. 10. 11.
Thus have we given the Reader ſome account of this Eminent Saint and Servant of Jeſus Chriſt, ſuch was his holy and heavenly life; Thus walked he both in the fear of God, and in the Comfort of the Holy Ghoſt: Thus laboured he to approve himſelf to God, to others and to his own Conſcience: Thus anſwered he his profeſſion, ran his race, and preſſed forward to the mark. Upon the equal and impartial view whereof, though the deſign of theſe pages be only Oſtendere, and not Oſtentare virum, yet I can ſcarce forbear to ſay, He hath left ſuch a Name and character behind him as may worthily commend him, both as a Chriſtian and a Miniſter to the obſervation, Honour and Imitation of moſt, if not All that read him.
What remains is only to apply him to the following funeral Text as a more than ordinary Inſtance of the truth thereof. And whoſo conſiders the manner of his life may with little doubt conclude his Victory over death, It was before mentioned that he hath left behind him ſome Manuſcripts worthy of the preſs: ſome of which he entitles, The beſt Intereſt; A Treatiſe of Glorifying God: The cure of the fear of Death. All which he well underſtood, not only by Speculation but by Experience. He who had gained the beſt Intereſt, and could upon good ground ſay, My Beloved is mine, and I am his; He who aimed at the beſt End and induſtriouſly purſued it, viz. the Glory of God, was doubtleſs ſo fortified with the grace, Conſolation and Covenant of God, as to triumph over the King of Terrors. Having the teſtimony of his Conſcience that in Integrity and Sincerity of heart he had fulfilled his general and particular calling, and ſerved his generation by the will of God, and having the aſſurance of Gods Holy Word, for his reward in a better World, It was no difficulty to him to die. He was ſo far above the fear of Death, that he ſeemed altogether unconcerned at it, as to the terror of it or danger after it, both in ſickneſs and in health. In his perfect health, Conſidering the evil of the day he lived in, he would often ſay, It is a good time to die. I am content to live, and willing to die. To me to live is Chriſt; I have no other deſign of life then to ſerve Chriſt. He breathed out with Greg: Turon. Domine, ſiad huc Populo tuo ſim neceſſarius, fiat Voluntas tua. Deſidero quietem, non recuſo laborem. If God hath further Service for me to do. I am content to live, elſe I rather chooſe to die. Such clear apprehenſions he had of the Glory of Heaven, and ſuch full aſſurance of hope thereof, that, as he expreſſed himſelf to his Friend, he looked upon all that this world can afford as droſs and dung compared with it.
As death was not terrible ſo neither was it unexpected to him. He preſaged it long before it came. He told his Friend, converſing with him more than a year before he died, that he had apprehenſions that he ſhould not long live; and that for ſome time paſt, God had inclined his heart to ſtudy how a Chriſtian might get above the fear of death: And what he found to be his ſtrength and Conſolation againſt that laſt enemy, he had digeſted into method, and for his own and others uſe Committed it to writing, and had almoſt finiſhed it, and did then lay an obligation upon his friend in caſe he did Survive him to perform the laſt office for him, and commended to him for his Subject 1 Cor. 15. 57. as the teſtimony of his affectionate and hearty thankſgiving unto God who gave him the Victory over the fear of Death, through Jeſus Chriſt our Lord.
This was no vain preſage; though yet he had a Strong conſtitution of body, which he had uſed with all temporance and Sobriety, and was then in his full ſtrength, and the maturity of his age, Scarce declining from his ſtate of Conſiſtency. His natural temper did ſomewhat incline him to feaveriſh diſeaſes. A feaver having Commiſſion from God ſeiſed on him, Aug. 31. This Viſitation of God (as all former) he accepted with all Patience and Submiſſion, Caſting himſelf on the care, and reſigning himſelf up to the will of his Heavenly Father. His diſeaſe encreaſing and ſtrength declining, he told ſome about him, that he had ſome apprehenſions he ſhould, and deſires alſo if God pleaſed, to have died a Martyr, but now he thought he ſhould not. Adding withal, God is wiſer than I, and knoweth my weakneſs.
Diſcharging his dying office by grave exhortations and encouragement to Serious Religion and Suffering for it, which he eſpecially applied to his only Child; Owning and profeſſing his Nonconformity to the laſt, as judging himſelf obliged thereto in Conſcience towards God; Bleſſing God for his invaluable Gift of Jeſus Chriſt to the children of men; Bleſſing God who had called him to the honourable employment of the Miniſtry of the Goſpel, and had enabled him to be faithful therein, and encouraged him with his preſence and bleſſing under all the difficulties thereof; Bleſſing God who had lifted him up above the fear of Death; Rejoycing in the peace and teſtimony of a good Conſcience and hope of the Glory of God, after 10 or 11 days conflict with his diſeaſe (which after ſome hope of recovery very ſuddenly and unexpectedly ſeiſed his head,) He quietly ſlept in the Lord, Sept. 10. 1680. in the one and fiftieth year of his age.
This being the bleſſed exit of this Eminent Saint, methinks I hear him ſay to thoſe he left behind, as his dying Saviour to the daughters of Jeruſalem: Weep not for me, I have died in peace, am entred into peace, am at reſt in my bed, have paſſed through Jordan and am come to Canaan. I am beyond ſin, and ſorrow, and trouble and labour, am come to the Heavenly Jeruſalem, to an innumerable company of Angels, and the ſpirits of juſt men made perfect, and to Jeſus the Mediator of the New Covenant, to that Eternal Sabbath that remains the people of God. Weep not for me.
And doth he not alſo add, weep for your ſelves? You ſhall ſee my face no more, you ſhall enjoy communion with me no more, you ſhall hear my voice no more, I ſhall deſpenſe the Goſpel to you no more. Ye ſhall come to me but I ſhall return to you no more. O what is the meaning of this dark providence, that in ſuch a day as this, God ſhould call from his work one ſo fully inſtructed, ſo willingly zealous to ſerve him and his Church in the Goſpel of his Son. Whether God hath done this in his juſt diſpleaſure for the unprofitableneſs, unthankfulneſs, and itching ears of thoſe that enjoyed ſo precious a bleſſing: Or whether to warn us of ſome approaching dreadful judgment from which he hath hid this and other his holy Servants in their graves: or whether both; it concerns us ſeriouſly to conſider, and upon either account he may ſay to us, Weep for your ſelves.
We read, 2 King. 13. 20, 21. Eliſha died and they buried him, and the bands of the Moabites invaded the land at the Coming in of the year. And it came to paſs as they were burying a man, that behold they Spied a band of men, and they caſt the man into the Sepulchre of Eliſha; and when the man was let down and touched the bones of Eliſha, he revived and ſtood upon his feet, and Judg. 16. 30. The dead which Sampſon ſlew at his death were more than them which he ſlew in his life. In alluſion to which I conclude with this wiſh, God avert the bands of the Moabites; but would to God the dead in ſin would apply their dead hearts to the Sepulchre of this dead Prophet, that at the touching of his bones they might live, and that the providence of his death may be more effectual to the mortifying of ſin, in Survivers than all the labours of his life.