Two Sermons, Commentary · Chapter 1 · Verse 6
Vers. 8, 9. …
The Lord shew favou… unto you, as ye have done with the dead, and with me.
The Lord grant you, that you may finde rest, either of you in the house of her Husband.
NAomi being readie to take her leave of her daughters, faine she would leave them something, for which they might be the better after her departure▪ But Gold and Silver she had none, yet such as she had she freely gave unto them (heartie prayers.) Whence we learne, It is the best expression of a gratefull minde, to pray to God for the welfare of those, at whose hands we have received greater courtesies then we can requite.
As ye have done.
Hence we learne, God in the rewarding of the good deeds of his servants, dealeth with them accordingly as they have done with others. Yet farre be it from us to suppose, that in our stained and imperfect works there is any meritorious vertue, which deserveth, that God should proportion a Reward unto them: but this freely proceedeth from Gods favour; who to encourage us in well-doing, will not suffer a Cup of cold water to passe without its reward. Doe we desire then to have dutifull Children, and faithfull Servants hereafter? let us be dutifull to our P… rents, faithfull to our Masters. On the other side, hath God afflicted us with Zibahs to our Servants, and with Absalons to our Sonnes? let us reflect our eyes on that which is past, and call our selves to account, whether we formerly have not been unfaithfull to our Masters, undutifull to our Parents: no doubt, we may then take up the Confession of Adoni-bezek, As I have dealt with others, so the Lord hath done to me.
With the dead.
Question.
Here ariseth a Question; How can one shew favour to the dead, who being past sense, are not capable of kindnesse or crueltie?
Answer.
The Papists (who leave the soules of most men departing from hence, like Absalon's body, hanging betwixt Heaven and Hell) expound it, that these Women did fast and pray for …he soules of their deceased Husbands, that they might be delivered from torments, and in due time brought to happinesse in Heaven. For the confutation of which erroneous exposition, I need say no more, then that the Scripture makes no mention of any such middle place, wherein the soules of the godly should be detained before they goe into Heaven; and in matters of Faith, every Christian may safely say, Except I see in the Bible the print thereof, or can feel it deduced out of it by undenyable consequence, I will not believe it.
It is strange to see what impertinent places are produced by Bellarmine, to prove praying for the dead; as Iames 5. 16. Confesse your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed; the effectuall fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. Then he endevoureth to prove, that the dead pray for the living, from the Parable of Dives, Luke 16. 27. I pray thee therefore Father &c. where Dives was charitably sollicitous for the good of his surviving Brethren: But let the first place in S. Iames be perused by impartiall Judgements, and it obligeth mutually the dead Saints to confes…e to us, as well as we to them; which being impossible, directeth us to confine the words onelyonly to reciprocall confessing and praying to and for the living.
Some will say, Bellarmine having sufficiently proved Purgatorie before, (which necessarily inferreth prayers for the dead) he might be the briefer in that subject. It is confessed, many arguments are alledged by him to that intent, though to small purpose; as Psalme 66. 22. We went through fire and through water, but thou broughtest us out into a wealthie place. We answer; first, the living there speake de praeterito, we went; not de futuro, we shall goe. Secondly, it was literally meant of the Children of Israel; they went through the fire, when envassalled to worke in the Egyptian Brick-kills; and through water, when miraculously they passed through the Red Sea. Again, they went through fire, when preserved from the stinging of the fierie, they beheld the Brazen Serpent. Thirdly, if from fire in this Text any can kindle a Purgatorie, others will quench it from the word water, seeing no Papists ever fancied a watered Purgatorie.
They urge the place, Matth. 5. 26. Thou shalt by no meanes come out from thence till thou hast payd the uttermost farthing; importing, say they, a possibilitie on satisfaction to be freed thence, that is, from hell fire.
Answer: Vntil there, is not taken terminatively, but extensively; equivalent to never, or not at all; paralleled to that place, Psalme 57. 1. In the shadow of thy wings will I make my refuge, untill these calamities be over-past. What, would David depart from God, after his deliverance? Would he use him as Travellers a Bush? come under it in a storme, and leave it in fair weather? No surely, David would trust in God untill that time, and at that time, and in that time, and after that time, and at all times. Parallel also to that place of Matthew 1. 25. And knew her not till she had brought forth her first-borne Sonne: it being the constant Tradition of Antiquitie, according to the Proportion of Faith, and embraced by the Papists themselves, that Christs Mother lived and died a spotlesse Virgin.
Much stresse he layeth on that passage of the Apostle, 2 Corinth. 3. 15. He himselfe shall be saved, yet so as by fire. This place, saith Bellarmine, is locus utilissimus & difficillimus, most profitable and most hard.
We answer, first, in general; seeing by the Iesuit's confession it is so hard a place, it is utterly improbable, that Purgatorie (being of so high concernment to every soule as Papists would perswade us) can be therein intended: For all matters necessarie for men to know and beleeve, wherein the safetie of every single soule is interessed, (such as Purgatorie is pretended to be) is by the confession of all Divines expressed in plaine and pregnant Texts of Scripture; for want whereof, Bellarmine is faine to shrowd and shelter himselfe under the most obscure places, alledging a Text most dark and difficult, by his owne confession.
Secondly, that fire there meant by Saint Paul, is affliction in this life. As for such Fathers who expounded it de igne conflagrationis, of that fire which should burn up all things at the end of the world; it makes nothing for the patronizing of Purgatorie, in the Popish notion thereof.
Come we now to finde an Office, and make an enquirie, how many things a dying godly man leaves behind him in this world: His Soule is sent before him; and Revel. 14. 13. From henceforth blessed are the dead that die in the Lord. He leaveth behind him,
First, his Body; to which we must be kinde, by Buriall and …amentation.
Secondly, his Estate; to which we must be kinde, by carefull and faithfull Administration.
Thirdly, his Children, Friends, or Kindred; to whom we must be kinde, by Love and Affection.
Fourthly, his Faults and Failings; to which we must be kinde, by Silence and Suppression.
Fifthly, his Memorie and Vertues; to which we must be kinde, by Congratulation, …ommemoration, and Imitation.
Of these in order: For although these words, Ye have beene kinde to the dead, are capable of this …ound sense, You have been kinde to your Husbands, who now are dead, whilest they were living▪ yet because more seemeth imported therein, we will prosecute the aforesaid Particulars.
I say, first, his Body; to which there is due Buriall and Lamentation: Buriall, and that according to the qualitie and condition wherein he lived. We reade of King Hezekiah, 2 Chron. 32. 33. They buried him in the chiefest (in the Hebrew, in the highest) Sepulchers of the sonnes of David. It must be allowed, that the Sepulcher of David his Father, was higher then his; and next David, Hezekia…s. O that heighth might be but measured by true holinesse! There was an Officer amongst the Greekes, whose place it was to measure Monuments according to the Standard of the mens merits therein interred: Such Officers if used in England, would pare off great parcels from some Tombes, more proportioned to the parties Wealth then Vertues. But nothing could be abated of Hezeki…h his Monument, all the Dimensions whereof were due to his Devotion.
And Lamentation▪ Surely, of all the godly that ever departed this Life, Gods servants had the least cause to bewayl the death of S. Steven: For first, whereas there is a three-fold degree of certaintie of salvation; first, that of Hope, which as the least and lowest, scarce deserveth to be styled Certaintie; secondly, that of Evidence, whereby the person clearely in his soule apprehendeth Gods favour; thirdly, that of Vision, peculiar to this Steven alone, antedating his happinesse with his bodily eyes, being in Heaven before he was in Heaven: so that as many gates in his wounded body stood open to let out his soule, he beheld alive the Heavens opened to receive it.
And yet we reade, Acts. 8. 2. And devout men carryed Steven to his Buriall, and made great Iamentation over him. Observe; it was not said, they made great Iamentation for him, but over him; they knew him in a happy condition: It was themselves they bemoaned in his death, the sight of his Corps sharpening their sorrow, that the Infant-Church had lost one of her best swadlin…g-clothes.
Secondly, his Estate; to which we must be kinde, by carefull and faithfull Administration. Heb. 9. 17. For a Testament is of force after men are dead. Gal. 3. 15. Though it be but a mans Covenant, or Testament, yet if it be confirmed, no man disanulleth or addeth thereto. NO MAN? He must either be lesse then man in knowledge, a meere Beast; or more then man in malice, a meere Devill. By Testament I understand not onelyonly the very words thereof, but also what appeareth to be the Testator his Will to the Conscience of the Executor. How many in this kinde are cruell to the dead? So that some of the Legacies bequeathed by them, have had a Thumbe or a Toe, yea, some an Arme or a Legge cut off from them. Many Legacies which came sound forth from the Testator, before they could get through the Executors have beene more lame, and maimed, then the Criples in the Hospitall, to whom they have beene bequeathed.
Thirdly, his Children, or (because Mahlon and Chilion had none of them) his Kindred or Friends; to whom the living must be kinde, with Love and Affection. Remember the Character of the good Wife, Proverbs 31. 12. She will doe her Husband good, and not evill, all the dayes of her life. We have many Wives onelyonly negatively good, pleasing and praysing themselves in this, that they doe their Husbands no hurt. This will not doe the deed, they must be positively profitable. Nor is it said, all the dayes of his life, but all the dayes of her life. What if he dieth, her obligation to him is not cassated or nulled, (as many Wives generally conceive) but still continueth all the dayes of her life. True it is, she is set free so farre, as she may marry againe in a competent time, without the least shadow of sinne; yet so, as still obliged to doe good all her life time to the Friends, to the Children (if any) of her dead Husband; and he, if surviving her, reciprocally engaged to doe the like.
Fourthly, the best men leave Faults and Failings behind them; to these the living must be kinde, by Silence and Suppression.
First, of those of whom thou canst say no good, say nothing.
Secondly, of those of whom thou canst say some good, say no bad.
David is a most excellent instance hereof, 2 Sam. 1. 24. Who could more, or more justly have inveighed against Saul then David? O ye Daughters of Israel, rejoyce for the death of so great a Tyrant, who killed Ahimelech the High Priest, and fourescore more of Gods Priests, whose soules were as cleare from Treason as the white Linnen Ephod they wore were from spots: Twice I had him at my mercy, once in the Cave, once when asleepe; yet he (notwithstanding all his faire promises to the contrarie) was the more cruell to me for my kindnesse to him. No such matter; David conceales what was bad, remembreth what was good in …, at leastwise what would make his memorie acceptable with the weaker Sex; namely, his making of Gallantrie fashionable amongst them: Ye Daughters of Israel weepe over Saul, who clothed you in Scarlet, with other delights, who put on ornaments of Gold upon your apparell.
Fifthly, Memorie of his Vertues: To which three things are due, to make thee kinde thereunto.
First, Congratulation. I will touch this string but tenderly; not so much because fearing mine owne fingers, (as if the Lesson should be false I play thereon) but expecting other mens eares as ill-disposed with prejudice. It is no Poperie, nor Superstition, to prayse God for the happie condition of his servants departed; the ancient Patriarchs, the inspired Prophets, the holy Apostles, the patient Martyrs, the Religious Confessors. When the Tribe of Ruben, Gad, and halfe Manasses, erected the Altar ED at the pas…age over Iordan, it startled all the rest of the Tribes, as if under it they had hatched some superstitious designe; whereas indeed, the Altar was not intended for Sacrifice, but was meerely an Altar of Memorial, to evidence to posteritie, that these two Tribes and an halfe (though divided from the rest by the River of Iordan) were conjoyned with them in the worship of the same God. In like manner, when some Ministers thank God for the departure of his servants, some people are so weake, and some so wilfull, to condemne such for passages of Poperie, as if superstitious prayers were made for their departure: whereas, indeed, such Congratulation, on the contrarie, speakes our confidence on their present blisse and happinesse, and continueth the Church Militant with the Church▪ Triumphant, as the compleating one intire Catholike Church of Iesus Christ.
Secondly, Commemoration is due to the Memories of the deceased. Hence the an…ient custome of Funerall Orations continued in our moderne practice, both to the honour of the dead, and profit of the living.
Thirdly, Imitation of their Vertues. It hath been a great Question amongst such who desire to expresse themselves thankfull to their dead Ancestors, of what Metall, or Matter to make their Monuments so as they may be most lasting and permanent. Wise men have generally decryed Silver and Brasse; not so much, because too costly, (such may be the worth and wealth of the Executors and partie deceased) but too tempting to Sacriledge to demolish them. Brasse is generally subject to the same mischiefe, and Marble Touch and Alablaster, are generally used for that purpose; but the Monument lesse subject to Casualtie, is, to imitate the Ver…ues of our dead Friends: in other Tombes the dead are preserved; in these, they may be said to remaine alive.
When we see a Child very like to the Father and Mother thereof, we use to say, Thy Father will never be dead as long as thou livest. Thus it is the best remembrance of our dead Progenitors, to follow their Vertues. S. Paul cannot looke upon Timothy, but presently calls to minde his Mother Eunice, and his Grandmother Loi…, though the latter no doubt long since departed.
The Lord grant, that you may finde rest, each of you in the house of her Husband.
Here we may observe, first, that it is the part of pious Parents to pray to God for duplicate page duplicate page the good successe of their Children, especially in the matter of their Marriage: example in Abraham, Gen. 24. 7. Secondly, hence we may gather, that the Life of married persons meeting together in the feare of God, is Rest.
Objection.
How then commeth it to passe, that many men and women may take up the words of Rebecca, Seeing it is so, why am I thus? Gen. 25. If the married Life be. Rest, how commeth it to prove my Purgatorie, my Hell, my cause of restlesse I orment? Men and women were joyned in Marriage, Gen. 2. to the end to be a mutuall helpe one to the other, but many prove such helpers as the King of Ashur did to Ahaz, 2 Chron. 28. of whom it is said, he distressed him, but helped him not.
Answer.
Who can hinder it, if men of their Girdles and Garters make Halters to hang themselves? If those things which should be for their strength and ornament, be through their owne default turned to their utter undoing; the estate of Marriage is not herein to be blamed, but the folly of such who out of some sinister …nds undertake it. Happily some chuse their Wives like as our Grandmother Eve did the Apple, because they are pleasant to the eyes to be lookt upon: others out of a love of their Wealth, saying of their Wives what the Sichemites did of the sonnes of Iacob, Shall not all their Heards and Gattell be ours? Whereas i… Grace and Pietie were principally respected in their Choice, (other outward accommodations in their due distance not neglected) they would finde the truth of our observation, that a married Life is Rest▪ For though some pettie Brawles may happen amongst the most sanctified Couple, which may move their anger, yet shall it not remove their love, if one with Christian discretion beareth with the infirmities of the other. Ioab made this compact with his Brother Abishai, 2 Sam. 10. 11. If the Aramite be stronger then I, thou shalt helpe me; but if the Ammonites be too strong for thee, I will come and succour thee. Thus ought Man and Wife to make a Bargaine with their best Councell to, and prayers for each other, to …ssist themselves mutually against their sundry weaknesses and infirmities, which otherwise would turne their Rest of their Life into unquietnesse.