Sermon on the Death of Richard Adams, Section 1 – Section 3
1. Of Lamentation.
It is a much to be Lamented Thing, when such go, as that Reverend and Worthy Person that is lately gone from amongst you: For this Temper of Spirit being supposed, by how much the more there was of the conjunct Disposition to have been content to have staid longer for Publick Good; This speaks so much the more of an Excellent Spirit. When Desires are so Fervent after the Purity and Perfection of the Heavenly State, that nothing but sincere Devotedness to the Interest of God in Christ, could make them patient of longer Abode on Earth. 'Tis a Respect to God that either draws, or detains them, nothing but what is Divine inclines them either way. Either the Enjoyment of God above, or his farther service here below. That is an Excellent Spirit that lies under such influences. And the higher was the Excellency of such a Man, the greater is the Loss of him. The more he desired Heaven, within such Limits, the greater was his Value, and with so much the brighter lustre he shone on Earth.
There is much of God conspicuous in such a Man. And it was not a little of him that was observable in this Worthy Person. Such a Course as his was, that Even Course, that Peaceful Course, wherein was so eminent Devotedness to God, and Benignity towards Man, shewed his Spirit was toucht by the one, for the other. It could not be, but by influence from Heaven, that he so steadily tended thitherward himself, and was only willing to stay so long out of it, that he might invite and draw on as many as he could with him thither.
Hereby he appeared so much the more attempered to the Heavenly State, and that World where Divine Love Governs, making a Man by how much the more strongly he was attracted himself by it, so much the more desirous to attract others.
It is what such a one has about him of God on Earth, that makes him a desirable Thing to us here; it is not what Men have of the earthly Spirit, but what they have of the Divine Spirit, That makes them useful, both by their Labours and Examples, to this World of ours; as was this eminent Servant of Christ. It is a great Thing, to have one pass so long continued Course as his was, with so equal a temper. It is like I may have known him longer than many or most of you that were not related.
About Fifty Years I remember his Course, and our Conversation was not casual or at a distance, as that of meer Colleagues, chosen by others, but as Friends inward, and chosen by our selves, many a day we have Prayed together, conferr'd and taken sweet Counsel together; when he was at once an Example, and Ornament to his Colledge, where he lived Respected and Beloved of all, but of them most, who most knew him; That constant serenity, and equality of mind, that seriousness, that humility, wherein he excelled, rendered him Amiable to Observers; And therewith that industry and diligence that he used in his younger days, by which he laid up that great Stock of Learning and Vseful Knowledge, that made him (when Providence called him to the City) a well-instructed Scribe, capable and apt to bring out of his Treasury Things New and Old, whereof there is, and will be a long extant Proof in his judicious and dilucid Expositions of the Epistles to the Philippians and the Colossians, which was the Part he bore in the Supplement to that most Useful Work, the English Annotations on the Bible by the Reverend Mr. Matthew Pool.
In the great City he shone, a Bright and Burning Light, till many such Lights were in one day put under a Bushel, I need not tell you what, or how black, that day was. And then, though he was constrained to desert his Station, he did not desert his Master's Work; but still he was with God, and God was with him; and you know it I doubt not, many of you, what it was to live under so truly Evangelical a Minister; to have Doctrine from time to time distilling as the Dew and dropping upon you, such, as from which you might perceive how great was his Acquaintance with the Mysteries of Christ: In reference to those, over whom he had opportunity to Watch, it was undoubtedly, if it were not their great Fault, their very great Advantage.
As to his Domestick Relations, knowing so much of him, I cannot, but so much the more Lament their loss, God vvill I doubt not, be the bereaved Widovvs Portion; but it ought, with tenderness to be consider'd, What it was for one Person to lose successively Two such Helps, as This & her former Husband were, (who was also in another Vniversity my former and most inward Friend that Worthy Man Mr. Thomas Wadsworth) both Eminent Instruments in the Church of Christ.
And this has been more eminently Remarkable concerning him that is lately gone, that the Relations of the Family, to whom he was not Naturally Related, the Branches from another Root, yet had that apprehension of his Love and Care of them, and of their own Loss, as to desire this Publick Testimony might from them remain of him, that he was to them as tender a Father, as if he had been a Natural One, such Fathers-in-Law are seldom known, and therefore it ought to be mentioned, as that which may signify somewhat towards the Embalming of his Memory among you.
Graces, when diffused, give their pleasant Relishes, to all that any way partake of them.
What follows, was delivered in Writing into my hands to be inserted, by a Dear Relation of his.
His Humility and Self-denial were eminently conspicuous in his taking upon him the Care and Charge of so small and poor a People, and continuing with them to the damage of his own Estate, though he had considerable Offers elsewhere.
His Meekness, as it was very visible in all his Conversation, it was singularly shewed in his bearing and passing by Slights and Affronts, even from those he had very much obliged, taking off the Resentments, that his Friends had of the Injuries of that kind put upon him, by Abasing himself, saying, I'm an Unworthy Creature, I deserve no better.
His Candour every one was certainly made sensible of, who should offer to speak any thing Reflectingly about any Person behind their backs, for he was sure to vindicate or lenify in this Case, as far as he could.
When Labours, Weakness, and Age had work'd out his Strength of Body, there was never any thing appeared so manifestly to trouble him, as being necessitated to desist from constant Preaching — And, notwithstanding all Temporal Discouragements he met with in the course of his Ministry, his Mind, to the very last, was to have both his Sons brought up to it.
During the short time of his last Illness, when his Head appeared somewhat disordered in other things by the Pains that were upon him, it was observable, that he always shewed himself sensible in Hearing or Discoursing about any thing Religious, being among other things discoursed with by his Brother about the discharge of his Ministry, he answered, he hoped, he had endeavoured to serve God faithfully, and sincerely, though he had been an unprofitable Servant: About Five hours before his death, he said, God is my Portion, and desired those about him to joyn with him in Prayer, wherein he expressed himself very suitably to his Case as a dying Man, concluding thus: Grant that when this Earthly Tabernacle is dissolved, I may be taken to those Mansions not made with hands Eternal in the Heavens.
As his Life was calm and serene, so was his Dying, for tho' throughout his Sickness, he was all along apprehensive of Approaching death: There was no Ruffle upon his Spirit, Of which he himself then gave this Account, I know in whom I have believed.
2. Of Imitation.
And as such Stroaks, when they come, ought to be Lamented, They that by such Stroaks are taken away, ought to be Imitated. The Example remains; you have the Idea left; you know how such a one Lived, how he Walked, how he Conversed with his Family, how he Conversed with you as he had occasion: That Excellent Spirit he discovered in all, how much of an Imitable Example has it given to all those that are capable of Imitating, and Receiving Instruction that way.
3. Of Satisfaction.
But it ought also to have the effect of Satisfaction in the Divine Pleasure; When such a Blow as this comes, do not repine, Peacefully submit, tho' it carry smartness and severity with it. You ought to feel it, but yet notwithstanding to receive it with Submissive Silence, to be dumb, and not open your Mouths, remembring who hath done it, and that it is the disposal of Wisdom that cannot Err, as well as of Power that cannot be resisted, and of Kindness and Goodness that has its Gratefulness to this departed Servant of His. For consider, that notwithstanding his Willingness to have staid longer, if his Lord, whose he was, and whom he served, had thought fit. Yet this could not but be his Habitual Sense, To desire to depart, and to be with him, which was far better.
And if Christ be pleased, and he be pleased, why should we be displeased.
This was the Will of Christ, declared by his Word as to the thing, Joh. 17.24. Father, I Will, that those that thou hast given me, be with me where I am, to behold my Glory. And declared by the Event as to the time. And his will, both because it was Christs, and because it was best. Who are we, that we should oppose our Will to so kind a Will, on Christ's part, and so well-pleased a Will on his part? Or that a Dissatisfaction should remain with us, as to what there is with Christ, and him, so entire Satisfaction!
FINIS.
Here follows some SERMONS and DISCOURSES which was written by the late Deceased Mr. Rich. Adams, viz.
THAT in the Morning-Exercise at St. Giles's, SERM. XXVI. of Hell, from Matthew 25th. Verse 41.
In the Supplement to the Morning-Exercise SERM. XVII. What are Duties of Parents and Children, from Colossians the 3d. Verses 20, 21.
In the Continuatio… of the Morning-Exercise, SERM. XXII. How may Child-bearing Women be most encouraged and supported, from 1 Tim. 2. Verse 15.
End of the text · John Howe, Sermon on the Death of Richard Adams (1698)