Funeral Sermon for Mary Doolittle, Sermon · Chapter 10
CHAP. X. Our Holy Friends Departed obtain their Deſires by Dying: this ſhould moderate our funeral Sorrows. A ſhort Account of the Exemplary Character of Mrs. Mary Dootle, with ſome Paſſages of her laſt Sickneſs. The Concluſion.
SECT. I.
Laſtly, HOW ſhould all this moderate our Sorrow, for the death of our holy Friends and Relations? whoſe earthly Houſe is pulled down, to enjoy a Heavenly one; Who groaned, and waited, and longed, for that Diſolution, which we unduely Mourn for. Who are pleaſed with that Tranſlation, and Removal. which we bewail. It is but what they deſired, and long have waited for. They are now pleaſed, in the Happy Change of their old Earthly, Dwelling, for a Building of God, not made with Hands, eternal in the Heavens. They are uncloathed to be Cloathed upon. Let us not then mourn for their Advancement to that Happy State, which they earneſtly aſpired after; and which we our ſelves ſhould live in the Joyful Expectation of. Let us rejoyce rather, that they have finiſhed their Courſe; that their Souls are gone to Chriſt; That their Bodys ſhall reſt in their Graves for a Time, and hereafter ariſe in Glory. Let us think where our deceaſed holy Friends now are, what they See, and know, and do, and enjoy: what the State, and Life, and Company, and Employment above is: and how much better it is with them now, than when they were with us on Earth. They have received the End of their Faith and Hope, and ſo attained their deſire in the preſent Salvation of their Souls; and they have Aſſurance too as to their Bodies, That hereafter they ſhall be raiſed, and changed, and made like the glorious Body of Chriſt.
SECT. II.
Let us thus think in particular of our Good Friend Mrs. Doolittle, who hath put off this Earthly Tabernacle, and is entered into the glorious Aſſembly of the Friends af Chriſt above. What I ſhall ſay of her, is not meerly to comply with Cuſtom, concerning the Dead, but in hopes to edifie and Inſtruct the Living.
I Know there be ſome, who diſguſt the publiſhing of any particular Paſſages of our departed Friends, how Imitable an Praile worthy ſoever: But it is the Fluttery and Falſhood often uſed on ſuch. Occaſions, concerning thoſe whoſe Character will not bear a Commendation, that is the Cauſe. But I fear no ſuch Cenſube as to what I ſhall now ſay concoming Her, whoſe Death and Funeral brings me here, and gives another Place this day to my Reverend Brother, than this, where he is wont to be.
God will not be diſpleaſed, that we ſhould Honour thoſe, whom he hath Honoured with eminent Grace. The Memory of the Righteous ſhall be bleſſed. And how ſhall others be perſwaded to follow the moſt Laudable Patterns, if we conceal particulars? At leaſt the Surviving Relations, Friends, and Acquaintance may be edified, and aſſiſted by it, in their Duty upon ſuch Providences. And I have the leſs to apprehend of Cavil, or Objection in the preſent Caſe, becauſe what I ſhall mention is from ſuch Hands as there can be no Doubt of the Truth, of what I ſhall ſay: and very many of you here, will readily yield a concurrent Teſtimony.
SECT. III.
It ſhall be under three Heads. Firſt her perſonal Piety, or her general Character as a Chriſtian. Secondly, her Relative Religion, or concerning her in the ſeveral Relations wherein ſhe ſtood, as faithfully diſcharging the Duties of them. Thirdly, Her Chriſtian Deportment under bodily Infirmities and Sickneſs, with ſome more remarkable Paſſages in this her laſt Sickneſs, before ſhe put off this earthly Tabernacle.
Firſt, as to her Perſonal, Piety, and general Character as a Chriſtian, That ſhe was truly Serious and Religious in her Youth, and ſo eſteemed and judged abone forty years agoe, was the ground of her being choſen by her Husband, as the Companion of his Life. And God continued her to him in much Mercy, for about nine and thirty years: being pleaſed by her to build up his Houſe to ſuch a Degree, as not many Inſtances in City or Country can be given of the like. That out of his own Family, there was not one Solemn Funeral in Thirty nine or forty years; except of two Children in the Month; and one newly wean'd; and none at all in the ſpace of five and twenty years. Let God have the Glory, and let Thankfulneſs to heaven be mixed with your mourning by this Reflection. I have many witneſſes amongſt you, who were acquainted with her ſerious Piety; and they who knew her beſt, had abundant proof of her ſecret Converſe with God, and dayly retirement for Meditation and Prayer: and this very often early in the Morning. Which is Imitable by all of us, and one of the beſt Evidences of Unfeigned, Real, Living Religion, in the Power of it.
I do not underſtand, (and I like it not the worſe) that ſhe pretended to high flights of Confidence and Aſſurance, which few attain or preſerve very long: and I fear many deceive themſelves, by ſomewhat that is not of God under that Name. Yet when ſhe had any Darkneſs as to her Spiritual State, when ſhe was ſenſible of the weakneſs of her Love to Chriſt, and Lamented it; He who on all accounts was fitteſt to aſſiſt her, endeavoured to let her know the Truth of that Grace, by diſtinguiſhing of a threefold Love to Chriſt a Delighting Love, a Deſiring Love, and a Mourning Love: telling her that tho ſhe had not the former of theſe, to her Comfort: ſhe could not deny or diſown the two latter. And this helped to give her Satisfaction, and ſupport, concerning the Tryal of her State. She added Judiciouſly the Night before ſhe died, I look to Sincerity, and uprightneſs of Heart, as a ground of Comfort, but I do not put them in the room of Chriſt my only Saviour.
Several years agoe ſhe read much in the practical Writings of Mr. Iſaac Ambroſe, particularly concerning Eternity, which made a very great Impreſſion on her Mind, ſo as that ſhe trembled under the Apprehenſion, leſt ſhe ſhould come ſhort of that Bleſſed Eternity, there deſcribed. However under her Doubts and Fears, when the free Grace of God in Chriſt was diſcourſed of, ſhe could comfortably ſay, why then may not ſuch a one as I, be accepted by free Grace in Chriſt? and hope to be capable of Bleſſedneſs in Heaven, as well as others? this is a Faithful Saying, worthy of all acceptation, that Chriſt came into the World to ſave Sinners, of whom I am Chief. This ſhe did, and could ſay from her very Soul, and appeal therein to the Omniſcient Searcher of Hearts, and this was her Encouragement and Joy, that ſhe could Say it, I have reſigned my ſelf to God in Covenant again and again. I Bleſs the Lord who hath enabled me to devote, and give up my ſelf to be his. Lord? I am thine, Accept and Save me. And at another Time ſhe was able to ſay, I have had that Converſe with God, and Communion with him, that I would not part with for the whole World. This is more than many who are Sincere attain unto. For tho ſome real Chriſtians have great Refreſhments, and ſupport, by Communication of Light, and Strength, and Joy upon a ſick and Death Bed: as if the Light of Glory ſhined into them, and they had the beginning of Heaven here; yet many others may want this, when they come to die, and Experience little of theſe exuberant Joys, through their whole Courſe. For God exerciſes Prerogative in the Diſpenſation of his Comforts, at that, and at other Times. Therefore the Judgment we ſhould make of Perſons, muſt rather be grounded on their general Courſe of Life, than on their particular frame in Sickneſs, or toward the approach of Death; Some times by reaſon of the diſorder of the Blood and Spirits, the Holieſt ſervants of God may be either Lumpiſh and Melancholy; or elſe Feveriſh and Phrenetcal: ſometimes through the Temptations of the Devil, they may be unſetled in their Minds, or through Diſſertion ſpeak uncomfortably to thoſe about them. They may afflict themſelves with diſpairing Thoughts, and leave the World under inward Darkneſs. Their agonies in death may be without any ſence of Comfort, and yet they may be accepted with God, and paſs to eternal Glory: becauſe we ſhall not be Judged according to that particular Iuſtant of Death, but according to the general Courſe of our Life. However it is obſerved in moſt caſes, that God does ſpeak peace to upright Chriſtians, before he takes them to himſelf. And thus it was with our Deceaſed briend, of which more preſently. But.
SECT. IV.
Secondly, Let us Conſider her Carriage in each Relation. There were many things Im table in her Example, as a Wife, a Mother, a Miſtreſs, &c? Her Affection and Reverence to her Husband, were very obſervable. When he, among many other of the faithful Servants of Chriſt, was Silenced, and forbidden to Preach; though ſhe had then Children, and like to have more, and a conſiderable Maintenance was thereby to be ſtopped, and a growing Family to be caſt upon the Providence of God; and many urged her to perſwade him to comply with the Impoſed Terms; ſhe wholly declin'd it, and would rather truſt God in a Suffering State; leaving him intirely to his Conſcience, as the fitteſt Judge of his Obligations, Truſt, and Duty, in that Caſe.
When afterwards, of Conſequents to his Nonconformity, he met with any Difficulties, by continuing to Preach, ſhe patiently ſubmitted, and took joyfully the ſpoiling of their Goods; ſaying often, when his Perſon was in hazard, That ſhe was ready, rather to adventure her own Life, then that his ſhould be in danger: as apprehending his to be more valuable to the World, and the Intereſt of Souls, than hers, or Twenty ſuch.
This Affection ſhe continued all her Life, adviſing her Children in her laſt Sickneſs, to be careful of their Father, and tender of him in her Abſence: for by ſo mild, and good a word, ſhe ſpake of her Diſſolution, then in proſpect. Adviſing them withal to Love one another, and be kindly affectioned to each other: Praying particularly for her Son, whom ſhe had the Comfort to ſee ſetled in the Sacred Work of the Miniſtry, that God would furniſh him with ſuitable Strength of Body and Spirit, and crown his Miniſtry with an abundant Bleſſing.
Not long before ſhe died, ſhe thankfully owned the Goodneſs of God to her, in the Spiritual Aſſiſtance and Comfort, ſhe received by ſuch Relations, who had an Intereſt in Heaven, and could plead it for her in Prayer, while ſhe was languiſhing on a Sick Bed. O what a Mercy is it, (ſaid ſhe, when her Husband and Son had both been Praying for her, with great Fervency and inlargedneſs of Heart,) What a Mercy is it, that I ſhould have ſuch Relations, to plead with God for me. And, at laſt, when ſhe took her Farewel of her Husband, ſhe thanked him for all his Love, and all his Prayers, as audibly as ſhe was then able to ſpeak.
Many Memorable things ſhe ſaid, by way of Counſel and Advice, to her Children. As concerning the Deceitfulneſs of the Heart, and the need of ſearching it again and again; for God knows it, and will not be mocked. Exhorting them to ſeek God with their whole Heart, to Pray fervently, and importunately for his Grace and Favour, and not in a ſlight and overly manner, as if they were indifferent whether God did Anſwer, or Deny. I hope they will remember it, and act accordingly.
At another time, in her Sickneſs, ſhe cried out, whilſt her Children were about her, O Love the Lord all ye his Saints! Love the Lord ye my Children! Love him, Fear him! She deſired that they would Pray for her, and ſhe aſſigned a good Reaſon why they ſhould; For, ſays ſhe, I have often Prayed to God for you, when you could not Pray for your ſelves.
Under this Head, I might add ſomewhat of her Carriage even to Servants, to whom ſhe gave the moſt Seaſonable Counſel, particularly in her laſt Sickneſs, to the Servant that attended her, to be much in Reading the Holy Scriptures, to value Catechiſing, and be diligent in learning the Principles of Religion, to be faithful in her Place, &c. But this leads me,
SECT. V.
Thirdly, To the Laſt Scene of her Life, to ſpeak of her deportment under Bodily Weakneſs and Pains; under which her Patience and Submiſſion were very becoming, and truly Chriſtian. VVhen a day or two before ſhe died, her Relations ſeemed more than uſually concerned; She asked them why they were ſo; ſaying, It is not Death yet; I may out-live this, and be buffeted by Sathan, as a Roaring Lion, before I die.
When ſhe could not ſleep in the Night, ſhe ſaid the next Morning, I thought this would have been a Comfortable night to me: but preſently recollected her ſelf, ſaying, So it is, for it is a Mercy I am out of Hell, when Ten thouſands are caſt into the bottomleſs pit, that never ſinned as I have done.
How well ſhe bore her own Sickneſs, and how little ſollicitous ſhe was about the Iſſue of it, is evident from her own words; O how comfortable is Death, when ſin is Pardoned, and God Reconciled? O that I might entertain kind, and good Thoughts of God, and truſt him, though he ſlay me. When ſpoken to about her Recovery; She could ſay, I do not hope it; and bleſſed be God I do not deſire it. When asked, Are you not in a ſtreight about it? Are you willing to leave Husband, and Children, and all to be with Chriſt? She declared her Willingneſs.
It is true, ſometime; ſhe complained, that ſhe had not ſuch vigorous, lively, melting Affections, in Sickneſs, as ſometime formerly in Health: yet ſhe depended on God ſtill.
VVhen ſhe was Asked, VVhether ſhe kept her Thoughts employed about Heaven? She Anſwered, I do what I can. And the Night before ſhe died, after a little ſilence, when ſhe was queſtioned concerning her Thoughts, VVhat ſhe was thinking of? She Anſwered Three things, (which are fit for all of us often to think of) a Deceitful Heart, a Painful Death, and a Tempting Devil: God reſtrained the laſt, and carried her above the Fear, and Feeling of the Second: for though ſhe ſaid, She feared a hard Death, as many Holy Perſons do. Yet ſhe added, I ſubmit to the will of God, he will not lay upon me more than he will enable me to bear.
VVhen the 17th Chapter of John was Read to her, where are thoſe remarkable Conſolatory words of Chriſt, Father, I will, that thoſe whom thou haſt given me, may be with me, to behold my Glory; though ſhe could hardly ſpeak, ſo as to be heard, ſhe made a ſhift to ſay, O Excellent, Excellent; expreſſing her Faith, and Hope, and Joy, as far as her weakneſs would permit.
Her Humility, and Thankfulneſs was very conſpicuous during this Sickneſs. O what a Mercy is it, ſaid ſhe, that ſuch a one as I ſhould have Hopes of Heaven, of the Pardon of Sin, and of an Intereſt in Chriſt? And yet when any of thoſe holy expreſſions ſhe uſed were repeated in Praver to God, by thoſe who aſſiſted her, She deſired, no ſuch Speeches of hers ſhould be mentioned to God; For, ſays ſhe, my Frame is not equal, and alike a way. I cannot think, and ſpeak the ſame things, at one time that I do at another.
An hour or two before ſhe left this World, ſhe teſtified her deſire to be with Chriſt; ſaying, How long! O Lord, how long! (if my Work be done) Come and deliver me! She begged they would pray for her, that her Strength might hold out to the laſt; that God would not leave her, nor hide his Face in the Agonies of Death. She defired rather to be diſſolved, than to continue in the Body: ſaying, I Look, I Long, I Hope; O when will the hour come? Muſt I tarry, and endure another Night! Come Lord Jeſus, come quickly! Haſt thou no Bowels for me? Whilſt thou wert on Earth, thou wert full of Compaſſion to poor Sinners, and art thou not the ſame in Heaven? After this, ſhe owned her ſelf refreſhed by Prayer, and that though her Body was weak, her Heart was in a good Frame; being much recruited, and encouraged by Prayer. And ſo ſhe commended her foul to God, calling on him to the very laſt, for his merciful Aſſiſtance, and Succour, through the dark Valley, and to accept and receive her departing Soul; and ſo ſhe died in the Lord, and ſlept in Jeſus.
God grant to us, as he did to her, ſaving Help in that hour of Darkneſs and Trouble; and enable us to follow the Exemplary Faith and Patience, of thoſe who are gone before; that with them at laſt, we may receive the end of our Faith and Hope, the Salvation of our Souls, and the Reſurrection of our Bodies in the day of Chriſt, who is the Reſurrection and the Life; in whom, whoſoever believes, ſhall never die the Second Death; but the Spirit, that raiſed Chriſt from the Dead, ſhall quicken our Mortal Bodies, and make them like to his moſt glorious Body, that with Soul and Body we may be for ever with the Lord. To him be Glory for ever and ever. Amen.
FINIS.
Books to be Sold by A. Chandler, of the ſame Author.
THe Mourners Companion, or Funeral Diſcourſes on Several Texts.
An Exhortation to Repentance, and Ʋnion among Protestants.
The Preſent Correction and Reproof of Sin; or a Diſcourſe on 2 Jer. 19. Thine own Iniquities ſhall Correct thee, and thy Backſlidings ſhall Reprove thee.
A Sermon of St. Peter's Sin, and True Repentance. Printed for S. Wade, at the Bible under the Piaza of the Royal Exchange in Cornhill.
End of the text · John Shower, Funeral Sermon for Mary Doolittle (1693)