The Chequer-Work of Gods Providences, Doctrine 2
Doctrine II.
That, Gods afflicted and distressed people shall not alwaies lie among the Pots, but at last (as with Doves wings) shall escape out of their deepest misery, and enioy all contrary Mercy, Prosperity and Felicity.
They may for a time lie in distress; but not alwaies. Their outward misery may be great: but shall have an end. TheypGen. 15. 13. to 17. may for a few years be oppressed in Egypt, and wander in the Wilderness: but at last they shall come to Canaan, the Promised Rest. qPsal. 30. 5. foreign jubilatio shoutingioy.Weeping may lodge for a night, but shouting-joy in the morning. rIsa. 54. 7, 8.In a little wrath God may hide his face from his, for a moment: but with everlasting kindness will he have mercy on them. For a season they may lie among the Pots, like black, soyled and deformed Scullions: but at length they shall be as the Wings of a Dove, covered with silver, and her feathers with yeallow gold. That is, They shall escape: Escape harmless: Escape beauteous, happy and prosperous. Consider well the expressions in the Text, viz. 1. They shall escape. This is noted by, Wings. They shall be (not as a Dove, but) as the wings of a Dove. Wings are swift: A Doves wings are eminently swift. Hereby the Scripture sets forth a swift and speedy escape from distress and trouble; sPsal. 55. 6, 7,O (saith David) that I had wings like a Dove, then would I flee away and be at rest, &c. Thus, they that lie among the Pots, shall at last be as the wings of a Dove: they shall have at1 Cor. 10. 13. way of escape. 2. They shall escape harmless and innocent. Why else doth he mention the wings of a Dove, rather then of any other fowl? Doves are commended by our Saviour for their Simplicity and Harmlesness; uMat. 10. 16. … i. e. vel foreign … foreign misceo.Be ye wise as Serpents, and harmless (Or, unmixed) as Doves. Gods peoplexIob 23. 10. Zech. 13. 9. when they are tryed in the furnace of affliction, shall come forth as refined gold and silver. They shall beyDan. 12. 10. purified, and made white, and tryed. They shall leave their dross behind them. 3. This is not all. For, They shall so escape out of distresses, as to enjoy the contrary mercies and felicities. This seems to be imported in the Doves white, silver-coloured, and golden-coloured feathers: or, as the Hebrew word properly signifies;zforeign Est aurum cu…us color nonniril ad virorem vergit. … in Pag… Th…. ad verb. foreign her feathers with a greenish yeallow Gold; which feathers in the Dove are very shining, pleasant and beauteous. White, ordinarily in Scripture denotes Prosperity, Felicity, Triumph, Glory, &c. As, Judg. 5. 10. Zech. 6. 3, 6. Rev. 2. 17. & 3. 4, 5, 18. and often elswhere. And Gold, or Golden, is often used to set forth that which is flourishing, prosperous, rich and happy. Hence, The Babylonish Monarchy is compared to the Head of Gold, excelling all the other, Dan. 2. 32, 38. and Babylon is called, The Golden-one, viz. The Golden City, Isa. 14. 4. and the purest and choicest oyl is called, Golden oyl, Zech. 4. 12. O, this is a very bright, sweet and comfortable side of the Text.
For further clearing of this sweet Lesson, note: 1. That Gods Afflicted shall at last escape out of their distresses into the contrary felicities. 2. Why they shall escape. 3. How God is wont to bring about such their escape. 4. The Inferences that offer themselves hereupon.
1. That Gods afflicted shall at last escape and be set free from their distress, and be vested in the Opposite Felicities; is evident,
1. By Gods faithful Promises to this effect, in all ages. And Gods aHeb. 6. 13, 17, 18. Tit. 1. 2.Promises are one sort of those two immutable things wherein it is impossible for God to lie. Take a taste of such Promises.
God Promised deliverance to Abrahams seed out of all their Egyptian afflictions. bGen. 15. 13, 14, 16.—Know of a Surety, that thy seed shall be a stranger in a Land that is not theirs, and shall serve them, and they shall afflict them four hundred years. And also that Nation, whom they shall serve, will I judge: and afterwards shall they come out with great substance.—But in the fourth Generation they shall come hither again, &c.
In the daies of Asaph and David God Promised to his people: cPsalm 50. 15.— Call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorifie me.
dPsalm 91. 14, 15.Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name. He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honour him. How sweet also is the Promise in my present Text, Psal. 68. 13. In the daies of Isaiah; eIsa. 54. 6. to the end.—The LORD hath called thee as a woman forsaken and grieved in Spirit, and a wife of youth, when thou wast refused, saith thy God. For a small moment have I forsaken thee, but with great mercies will I gather thee. In a little wrath I hid my face from thee, for a moment; but with everlasting kindness will I have mercy on thee, saith the LORD thy Redeemer.—Oh, thou afflicted, tossed with tempest, and not comforted, behold, I will lay they stones with fair colours, and lay thy foundations with Saphires, and I will make thy windows of Agats, and thy Gates of Carbuncles, and all thy borders of pleasant stones, &c. Oh what manner of stones are here promised for raising of this building! What manner of expressions are here to set forth this deliverance and restauration! Thus their escape, &c. is certain by Gods faithful Promises.
2. By Gods Peoples frequent Experiences in all Generations, this their escape out of all their blacking troubles, is also very evident. We read much of their distresses in Scripture, but we read much also of their deliverances. gPsal. 34. 19.Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all. Gods people have many afflictions: but their God hath as many deliverances for them. We read; HowhPsal. 105. 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22. Joseph was sold for a servant, clapt up in Prison, hurt with fetters, laid in Iron, &c. yet we read also, how he changed his Prison-garments, how the King loosed him, let him go free, made him Lord of His House, and Ruler of all his Substance, &c. HowiGen. 15. 13, 14, 16. Exod. 1. to chap. 15, &c. Iosh. 21. 43, 44, 45. Israel was oppressed in Egypt, and fourty years afflicted in the Wilderness: and yet, How at last the LORD, by a mighty hand and out-stretched arm, brought them out of Egypt, through the Wilderness, into the Promised Canaan, the Land of Rest. HowkIob 2. 7, 8. & 42. 10, &c. Job sate down among the ashes and scraped himself with a Potsheard: and how God also turned his captivity, restoring him to double Prosperity. Howl1 Sam. 18, &c. 2 Sam. 5. 12. David was hated, persecuted and hunted up and down by Saul, from place to place, from cave to cave, from hold to hold: and yet how at last the LORD established David in peace and glory upon his royal Throne. How mIer. 38, 6, 13.Jeremiah was cast into the dirty dungeon, where he sunk into the myre: and also how Jeremiah was lifted up again out of the dungeon. HownIonah 1. 14. & 2. 10. Jonah was thrown into the Sea, and devoured by the fish which God had prepared: And also how the third day the fish cast up Jonah alive upon the dry ground. HowoDan. 3. 21. to 28. the three Jews were bound and flung into the fiery furnace: And also how they were preserved in the furnace, and delivered out of it, without having an hair of their head singed, their coats changed, or the smell of fire upon them. HowpDan. 6. 16, …7, 22, 23. Daniel was cast into the Den of Lyons: and also how Daniel was taken up again, alive, and without hurt, out of the Lyons Den. How q2 Cor. 11. 23. to the end. & 1. 4, 5, 8, 9, 10. 2 Tim. 4. 16, 17, 18.Paul was full of Afflictions, in many perils, yea sometimes pressed out of measure, above strength, &c. and yet how in his abounding tribulations, he had abounding consolations by Christ, how he was delivered by the Lord out of them all, yea sometimes from the mouth of the Lyon, sometimes from the jaws of Death. HowrLuke 16. 19, 20, 21, 22. Lazarus lay at Dives gates, full of sores, licked by dogs, not vouchsafed the crums of the rich mans Table (the dogs portion) so that he dyed: and yet how Lazaruts immediately upon his Death was carried by Angels into Abrahams bosom; And what shall I say? we read, how our dear RedeemersIs…. 53. 2, 3, 4. Heb. 12. 2, 3. Acts 2. 23. 1 Cor. 15. 4, &c. Eph. 4. 8, 9, 10. Heb. 8, 1, Phil. 2. 7. to 12. Eph. 1. 19… 20, 21, 22. Iesus Christ, was a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief, abasement and sufferings, from his Manger to his Cross, endured such contradiction of sinners, and at last was cruelly crucified on the Cursed tree, and after buried in the darksom grave: but we read also, How he revived and Rose again from the dead, Ascended up far above all Heavens, leading Sin, Satan, Death, Grave, and all our Captivity Captive, and is sate down on the right hand of God in supreme Authority, Majesty and Glory, All Angels, Principalities and Powers, yea all creatures being subject to him. Now all these, and like experiences of the Saints are most evident Demonstrations, That, the LORD tPsalm 22. 24.hath not despised, nor abhorred the Affliction of the Afflicted: That, uPsalm 58. 11.verily there is a reward for the righteous, verily he is a God that judgeth in the earth.
II. But, Why, or whence is it that Gods afflicted shall, one way or other, at last escape out of all their afflictions, be taken from among those sullying Pots, and partake the contrary Mercies and Felicities?
Answ This comes to pass;
1. Because, Their God exactlyx2 Per. 1. 9. knows how to deliver the Godly out of Temptations and Tribulations, though never so intricate and perplexing. Oh the infinite wisdom of God! He knows how to bring his People into troubles, when they know not how they came thither: and he knows how to bring them out of troubles, when they know not how they came thence. He knows how to do this, with means, without means: By strong means, By weak means, and contrary to all means. Thus,yActs 12. 6. to 12. by his Angel he brought Peter (sleeping between two souldiers, bound with two chains) out of prison, his chains falling off his hands, and conducted him through the keepers at the prison door, through the first and second ward, and through the Iron gate of the City, which opened to them of its own accord, &c. Though Peter all this while wist not that it was true which was done by the Angel, but thought he saw a vision. ThuszDan. 5. 30, 31. …z…a. 1, 2, &c. by Cyrus and Darius he brought his Captive Iews out of Babylon as strangely as if they had been fetched out of their Graves. Whence they said;aPsalm 116. …, When the LORD turned again the Captivity of his People, we were like them that dream. This deliverance was so wonderful, that it did transcend their Faith, and almost surpass their Admiration. The LORD knows how to deliver us, (us (bNobis voentibus & nolentibus, selentibus & nesclentibus, vigilantibus & dormientibus, &c. willing and nilling, us knowing and not knowing, us waking and sleeping, &c.) out of our distresses.
2.… Because, Their God is infinitly able and powerful to rescue his people out of their lowest ebb of Tribulation. When King Darius cryed to Daniel in the Lyons Den, cDan. 6. 20, 21, 22, 27.O Daniel, servant of the living God, is thy God, whom thou servest continually, able to deliver thee from the Lyons? Hark what Daniel answered; O King live for ever. My God hath sent his Angel, and hath shut the Lyons mouths, that they have not hurt me, &c. As if he had said; Yea, my God is able to deliver me from the Lyons, for he hath delivered me. He that made the Lyons, can easily shut the mouths of the Lyons. O Pagan King believe in this omnipotent God.
3. Because, Their God is infinitly loving, tender and compassionate towards them in all their afflictions. Thus God spake to his Zion, which dwelt with the daughter of Babylon;dZech. 2, 7, 8. He that toucheth you, toucheth the Apple of mine eye. And the Apple of the eye is a most tender part: the least touch, the least mote, the least hair is very painful and intolerable to it. And such was Gods compassion to his afflicted Israel of old, that Isaiah saith;cIsa. 63. 9 In all their affliction he was afflicted, (viz he as it were smarted in their pains, sympathizing in their sorrows; And what followed hereupon?) and the Angel of his presence saved them: In his love and in his Pitty he redeemed them, and he bare them, and carried them all the daies of old: because of his love, pitty, commiserations to them, therefore he redeemed, saved and delivered them lob was restored by God out of all his extremities: but why… Even because of Gods love and compassions to him;fIun. 5. 11.foreign ignisicat commiseratlonem five compassi…nem cum miseria alterius. Jac. Laurent. Con. in lo… …e have heard of the patience of Job, and ye have seen the end of the Lord; (viz. what an happy issue God gave of all his sufferings, and why?) that (or, Because, …) the Lord is much-of-bowels, and Commiserating. Oh these yerning bowels and commiserations of God were such towards afflicted lob, that he would not suffer him still to lie among the Ashes. How emphatically are they here expressed! That Passage of Hezekia recovered is very sweet; gsa. 38. 17.Behold, for peace I had great bitterness: but thou hast in love to my soul delivered it from the pit of corruption, &c. Hebr. Thou hast loved my soul from the pit of corruption. As if he had said; O Lord, the strength of thy love, the arms of thy love, the cords of thy love &c. have kept me, and rescued me from the grave into which I was sinking: I ascribe my life and recovery, meerly to thy love. Oh Gods dear love to his afflicted, is a sweet cause of their escape out of affliction.
4. Because, Their Covenant God is ever nigh to, and present with, his people in all their deepest and darkest distresses. Therefore they shall be supported under them, and seasonably released out of all:hPsal. 91. 15. I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honour him. Gods Presence with us in trouble, is our deliverance out of trouble. He was the iGen. 15. 17.burning lamp in midst of the smoaking furnace, Abrahams afflicted seed; He was the kExod. 3. 2, 4. 5, 6.Angel in midst of the bush (Israel) burning, but not consumed; He waslDan. 6. 22. with Daniel in the Den of Lyons, with themDan. 3. 2…. three Jews in the fiery furnace, with Jeremiah in the Dungeon, &c. And therefore they all had such false escape. If the LORD's Presence be with his people: then Safety is with them, Deliverance is with them, &c. And in due time they shall be released.
5. Finally, Because their God is most faithful. This Reason the Apostle gives; n1 Cor. 10. 13.God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able, but will with the Temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.
III. How, and in what way doth God take his People from the Pots, deliver them from their distresses and afflictions?
Answ. The Lord effects and brings this about, variously, and sometimes very mysteriously. As,
1. Oft-times by Transmutations of his Peoples condition. How oft doth he literally in this life Turn, their darkness into light, their sorrow into joy, their sickness into health, their pain into ease, their poverty into riches, their bondage into liberty, their adversity into prosperity, their trouble into triumph, their miseries into mercies! &c. As Iosephs bondage into Lordship; Iobs Poverty into double prosperity; Hezekiahs sickness into health, &c.
2. Sometimes by disarming their afflictions and miseries. This is an excellent way: when the sting, venom, mischief, malignity, &c. of affliction is taken out and suspended. In such case, Gods people may be visibly in a state of affliction, and yet un-afflicted. o2 Cor.…, 9, 1…As chastened, and not killed; as dying, and yet living; as sorrowful, yet alwaies rejoycing; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things. Think it not a Paradox. pExod. 3. 2, &c.The bush burned, but was not consumed. qDan. 6. 22.Daniel was in the Lyons Den, but had no hurt by the Lyons. God disarmed the Lyons paws, and shut their mouths. rDan. 3. 25, 27.The three Jews were in the fiery furnace, but had not an hair singed, or their coasts changed, nor had the smell of fire passed upon them: because God suspended the burning property of the flames. Thus the Martyr cryed out in the fire,sActs and Monuments, p. 301. vol. 2. Lond. 1641. Behold ye Papists that look for wonders, I feel no more pain in this fire, then in a bed of down, but it is to me as a bed of roses. Thus Gods dear people are sometimes without affliction, whilest under affliction: Delivered from misery, whilest in misery; God disarming their afflictions of their sting, venom and malignity.
3. Sometimes, by Remedying of one Affliction or Trouble with another. As he that by a wound was cured of an Impostumation; Or, as Physitians sometimes help a Palsey or Lethargy, by sorcing the patient into a Burning Fever: So sometimes the Lord is pleased to deliver his people out of one affliction by another. Thus (tJonah 1. 1…, 17. Jonas cast over-board, was saved from the Sea, by being devoured by the Whale. He had been swallowed up, if he had not been swallowed up. He had been devoured, if he had not been devoured. He had been buried, if he had not been buried. The bottom of the Sea had been his grave, if the belly of the fish had not been his grave. How admirable is this Dispensation, when God makes one affliction an antidote against another!
4. Sometimes, by elevating his People above the bitterness of their afflictions, by the surpas…ing sweetness of his Presence, and transporting consolations. Great afflictions may be upon them, but greater divine refreshments may even drown and swallow them up. u2 Cor. 1. 5.Our abounding afflictions are sweetly cured by Christs abounding and superabounding Consolations. The Moon and Stars are in the sky at mid-day, as well as at mid-night, but not one of them then appears; because the Sun shining in his strength, hath outshined them all: So when Jesus Christ the glorious Sun of righteousness shines in his strength of Grace and Consolation upon the hearts of his afflicted, he so shines away their troubles and distresses, that they scarce appear. If Christ steel the Spirit with Faith, Courage and Magnanimity, and fill the heart with the Consolations of God, which are not small; how easie is it to trample upon the greatest tribulation, and count all afflictions as no afflictions, yea as great advantages! HolyxActs and Monuments, p. 308. N. 50. vol. 3. Lond. 1641. Bradford Martyr said; I thank God more of this Prison, then of any Parlour, yea then of any pleasure that ever I had; for in it I find God, my most sweet good God alwaies. And Laurence Sanders Martyr confessed;yActs and Monuments, p. 139. vol. 3. Lond. 1641. I was in Prison, till I got into Prison. Hierom hath a good note concerning Job: That God came nearest to Job in his extremities, and dealt with him then most familiarly. And he adds:zVeniant plagal, omnia paenarum genera: dum post plagas advenlat Christus. Hieronym. com. in Psal. 66. p. 93. Tom. 8. Basil 1553. Let strokes come, let all kind of Punishments come: so that after these Christ will come.
5. Finally, If God release not his dear People from Miseries and Afflictions before death, yet he alwaies sets them at liberty by Death, and brings them into the contrary Felicities. aRev. 14. 13.Blessed are the dead that die in the Lord—they rest from their labours. Death cures all the Saints diseases, ceaseth all their pains, tears, sighs and groans, and supplies all their wants whatsoever in Christ immediately beheld and enjoyed,bPhil. 1. 23. 2 Cor. 5. 6, 8, 9. which is far best of all. If the Lord do not deliver us before death, he delivers us at death. And if he delivers us not from death: yet he delivers us by death. Death is our great year of Jubilee, our year of Release, when we shall be set at liberty from all our bondage and thraldom, from all our debts and morgages, from all our sorrows and sufferings, because from all our sins. O therefore when death approacheth, then the Saints may gladsomly lift up their heads, for their Redemption draweth nigh. Gods people in this world are like Jonah in the Tempest: This world is as the roaring and raging Sea, still ready to drown and swallow them up; but death, like Jonas his Whale, is prepared of God, and swallows them up from the Sea of this world, so that to themcRev. 21. 1. there shall be no more Sea: And at last this great devouring Whale,dRev. 20. 11, 12, 13. Death, shall be forced to cast them up again upon a safe shore of Eternal rest and true felicity, at the General Resurrection, eIohn 17. 24.that they may be where Christ is, to behold his glory, and live in his ravishing presence for evermore.
Thus you see how the Lord delivers his Afflicted out of Afflictions.
III. Inferences hence, by way of Application.
Shall not Gods afflicted and distressed people still lie among the Pots, but at last (as with Doves wings) eseape out of their deepest misery, into the contrary prosperity and felicity? Then,
1. Hence, How different is the Dispensation of Gods Providence towards the godly and the wicked, and how different is their condition! The godly mustfPsal. 68. …3. first lie here among the Pots of blacking afflictions; but afterwards shall be, through an happy deliverance, as the wings of a Dove, covered with silver, and her feathers with yeallow gold: First they are in their mourning sables; but after they are cloathed with the garments of Praise: First gIob …. 7, 8. … 4…. 10, &c.they lie among the Ashes; then after the Lord turns their Captivity: First (hIer. 38. …, 13. they are in their Dungeon of distresses; after they receive deliverance: First iLuke 1…. 25.they have their evil things and are tormented; but afterwards their good things and are comforted. But on the other hand, if you look upon the wicked, you shall find the Scene is altered. They may at first be as covered with silver, and their feathers with yeallow gold: but at last they shall lie among the blackest Pots of misery: First they may flourish andkPs…. 37. 3…, …6. spread themselves like a green Bay tree; but after they shall wither l…like grass upon the housetops: They maymLuke 6. 25. now laugh; but hereafter they shall mourn and weep: They may now nLuke 16 25.receive their good things; but hereafter shall have their evil things: They may now be comforted; but hereafter shall be tormented: They may first oPsalm 92. 7.spring as the grass and flourish, but at last shall be destroyed for evermore.
O then, who would not Triumph to be Godly? who would not tremble to be wicked? The Godly first receive their wormwood and their gall, but afterwards their milk and honey: but contrariwise, the wicked first receive their milk and honey, and then their wormwood and their gall. Oh how much better were it, to begin with Gall and end with Honey, to begin with Sorrow and end with Joy: Then to begin with milk and end with wormwood; then to begin with vanishing comforts, and end with endless Torments.
2. Hence, Let all Gods afflicted people that lie among the Pots of darkest fullying miseries, most patiently bear their present pressures, and hopefully wait for their desired Deliverance. They shall be taken from among the Pots, theypPsal. 68. 13. shall be as the wings of a Dove covered with silver, &c. Therefore, tarry the Lords leasure. He that believes makes not haste. The Lords time of Relaxation will come: and his Time is the best time. He doth all things in number, weight and measure. Theres no Contradicting, Diverting or Directing of him in his proceedings. He knows best when, where and how to deliver his distressed ones. Be their sufferings never so extream or long, they shall at last certainly escape, either from death, or by death: either in this world, to partake sweet temporany felicity; or in the world to come, to enjoy sweetest everlasting glory: Therefore patiently bear andqHabak. 2. 3, 4. Heb. 10. 35. to 39. wait a while, and live by Faith: the vision will not fail, at last it will speak and will not lie; and he that cometh with salvation, will come and will not tarry.
3. Hence, Finally, This may much calm and quiet their Spirits whose near Relations lie among the Pots: and also may excite their hearts to unfeigned thankfulness, whose endeared friends are released from distress and misery, to enjoy the contrary felicity.
Are your dear Allies in deep Afflictions, much blacked and disfigured as among the Pots? You bleed in their sufferings, and are exceedingly distressed upon their Extremities. Yet compose your selves, Theres hope in Israel concerning this. Such as belong to God, one way or other shall have deliverance: either from death, or by death. Remember this and like Promises, and quiet your hearts;rPsalm 68. 13. Gen. 15. 13, 14, 16 Psal. 50. 15. & 91. 14, 15. Isa. 54 6. to the end. Although ye have lien among the Pots, yet shall ye be as the wings of a Dove covered with silver, &c.
Are any of your near and sweet Relations Released from their Distresses; Before Death, or By Natures Dissolution? Bless God with thankfulness for his gracious Dispensations. For, thus; Gods Promises are Performed: Gods Mercies are expressed: Their Miseries are removed, and their Felicities exalted. And, as to the present case before us touching our Dear sister deceased: though heres much matter of sadness, yet heres more matter of thankfulness. Although it was her lot to lie a long time among the Pots, in more sharp tormenting pains and miseries then many others; Yet now she hath obtained a full Release. And, so holy was her Life, so constant her Faith, so stedfast her Patience to the end, and so great her interest in God; that we have no cause to doubt, of her coelestial Felicity, or of her present Triumphs in Glory. It is true, Our loss is great: But her gain is incomparably greater. Her Husband hath lost a Dear, a Sweet, a Comfortable Yoke-fellow; Her Children have lost, a Tender, a Careful, and Compassionating Mother; Her Allyes have lost a Faithful and Sincere-hearted Friend; The Poor have lost a special and liberal Benefactor; The Church of God hath lost an Holy, Heavenly and Gracious Saint; yea and Her self hath lost something among all these losses, she hath lost all her Diseases, all her Pains, all her Sighs and Groans, all her Tears, all her Sorrows and Sufferings, all her Troubles and Temptations, and all her sins. But Oh how much hath she gained, upon all these losses! she hath fPh…l. 1. 21. 2 C…r. 5. …, &c Feb. 12. 21, 22. Iohn 17. 24. Phil. 1. 23. Mat. 5. 8. 1 Iohn 3. …. Mat. 25. 21, 23. …salm …6. 11.Gained Heaven, Glory, Eternal Life, The Spirits of just men made perfect, The Society of Angels, The immediate presence and embracements of Christ, the beatifical vision and full fruition of God; The joy of her Lord, and unmixed pleasures at Gods right hand for evermore. These, These are high matters of gratulation. I say of her, to you her near relations, as sometimes Hierom said of Nepotianus to Heliodorus; tNec doleas, quod talem am…eris. Sed g…ndeas, quod talem habue…is. Hieronym. ad Heliodo…. Epitaph. Nepotiani. p. 23. A. Tom 1. Basil. 155….O lament not so much that you have lost such an one, as rejoyce that you have had such an one: yea, again rejoyce and bless God that you have had such an one so long. Consider; Her extremities on earth were intolerable; but her enjoyments in heaven are unutterable. Your losses of her may be abundantly made up in God: but what can compensate her present felicities? Her sorrow is turned into joy, her misery is swallowed up of felicity, her trouble is terminated in triumph. She hath passed from the Dark side, to the Bright side of my Text. O bless the LORD for her, and rejoyce with her; That sheuPsalm 68. 13. lies now no longer among the Pots, but is become as the wings of a Dove covered with silver, and her feathers with yeallow Gold.
FINIS. foreign.
MARY JACKSON the late Dear and Godly Wife of JOSEPH JACKSON Esq, Alderman of the City of BRISTOL, Having lived about fourty years, Did sweetly fall on sleep in CHRIST, April 24. Was decently interred, May 5. 1657. And is at blessed Rest, till CHRIST's second Appearing, To Awaken, Raise, and Glorifie her with Himself for evermore.