The Mourners Companion, Dedication 1 – To the reader
TO The much Honoured, Mrs. Elizabeth Barnardiſton.
MADAM,
THe ſad Occaſion of the Sermon, and your Relation to Her, whoſe Dying Requeſt was fulfilled in my Preaching it, doth ſtyle the Dedication yours. Though what I have mention'd of your Excellent Daughter, is leſs than others would have ſaid on the ſame Subject, yet having given an Account of her Preparedneſs and Willingneſs to Dye, methinks that ſhould be conſidered as a ſufficient Argument to mitigate your Sorrow, and prevent its Exceſs. 'Tis the Apoſtles Inſtruction concerning them who ſleep in Jeſus, that we ought not to ſorrow as do others, who have no hope. Such were the Aegyptians; and 'tis obſerv'd of them, that they mourned longer for the death of old Jacob, than his own Son Joſeph did. I know the Time of her Death gives an Accent to the Calamity: That before your Mourning Weeds were laid aſide for one of the beſt of Husbands, who hath a good Report of all Men, and of the Truth it ſelf; you ſhould be forced to continue the ſame, or put on more, for the Loſs of ſuch a Child, in the Prime of her Youth, and Strength, and Beauty: A Loſs for which you do not mourn alone, ſince many others are partners of your Grief; not by ſympathy only, as pittying you, but from a due Reſpect and Affection to her, and their own Concern at her Departure.
But as your Afflictions abound, God can make your Conſolations by Chriſt abound much more: And ſuch Loſſes as theſe, (though ſome of the ſmarteſt and moſt afflictive to humane Nature) may turn to your Spiritual Gain: And even this Rod, like that of Aaron, may bloſſom, and produce the peaceable Fruits of Righteouſneſs: If in the want of their Company, God himſelf be more depended on as your All in all: If their removal out of this World promote your Mortification to it; if their being taken up to Heaven, aſſiſt your Preparations, and excite your Deſires to follow: God hath already made good his Covenant Promiſe, in a very peculiar manner, to thoſe whom he gave, and hath taken from you; and I truſt will do ſo as to thoſe who remain: that they may know and ſerve the God of their Fathers with a perfect Heart, and ſee the Felicity of his Choſen; That they may tread in the ſteps of their departed Relatives, and bear up the Name of God in their reſpective Stations; to his Glory, and your Comfort, and their Salvation. And if God ſhould not make your Houſe to grow, yet he hath made an Everlaſting Covenant with you, well ordered in all things, and ſure, 2 Sam. 23.5.
I wiſh the following Diſcourſe may contribute any thing to your Support: or at leaſt be accepted, as an Expreſſion of my Obedience, in complying with your requeſt thus to make it publick: And as a Teſtimony of my unfeigned Reſpect to the Memory of the Deceaſed with a ſerious deſire of ſome benefit to others alſo, by ſuch a remarkable Inſtance of an Early Piety, of an Exemplary Life, of a peaceable Death: Which God grant, who alone can bring Good out of Evil; all whoſe Works are perfect, and whoſe Wayes are Judgment. I am,
London, Jan. 25. 1681/2. MADAM, Your moſt Affectionate Humble Servant, John Shower.
TO THE READER.
Reader,
I Being Earneſtly deſired, both by the Relations of the Deceaſed Gentlewoman, and by the Preacher of the following Funeral Sermon, to Teſtifie what I knew of the Gracious and wonderful workings of the Holy Spirit upon the Heart of this Perſon during Her Life; I could not but yield to their Importunate Requeſts.
And upon this Occaſion I muſt declare, That having Known her from her Childhood, and having very much obſerved her Converſation of late, and being called to give her ſeveral Viſits in her ſickneſs, I do believe (upon the whole) that God did give her a ſound Repentance for, and a Full Remiſſion of all her ſins, through the Mediation of our Lord and Saviour Jeſus Chriſt.
I can aſſure thee, Reader, who ever thou art: that ſhe had an awakened ſight of her ſins, accompanied with a great meaſure of Godly Sorrow for them: I diſcerned alſo in her a deep Humiliation, and I heard her open her ſelf-Condemnation thereupon. I found in her alſo a clear Knowledge of the Nature of the Now Covenant, together with a Right Apprehenſionof the Nature of that Faith, which is required of all men, (and is through Grace beſtowed upan ſome Penitents) whereby the Soul doth attain to an Intereſt in that Covenant: It being, thereby, united unto Chriſt; and conſequently, doth partake of the Benefits of his Merits, and doth receive the Fruits of his Atonement, with the Inhabitation of his Spirit.
Saving Faith and True Repentance are alwayes inſeparable; and their Conjunction doth evidence and ſpeak them to be true and ſaving; both Theſe (I do believe) were united in the Soul of this deceaſed Perſon: And therefore I have very great Hopes of her State. All Faith which is pretended to, where Repentance is wanting, I account to be nothing but a preſumptuous Confidence: and all ſeeming Repentance, which is not Accompanied with ſome Faith in the Divine Goodneſs, and in the promiſes made thereof (by our Lord Jeſus) is no other than the Repentance of a Cain, or a Judas his deſpair.
Our Lord Jeſus did (as it were) Epitomize the whole Goſpel, and comprehended the whole Duty of Man in two words, viz. Repent and Believe: and 'tis to be obſerved, that theſe two are ſet in the very Front, as the Text to all his Miniſtry, Mark 1.15. And by reaſon of the Import of them, they may be accounted as the Contents of the whole.
Where theſe two Graces are not conjoyned, Guilt Remains, and Sin Reigns: But where they are united in any Soul, as that Perſon is Juſtifyed, ſo that Heart is ſavingly changed, and that Nature is in meaſure Sanctiſied; and the Life of that Man (for the future) will be proportionably, univerſally Holy. Would the Genius of the preſent Age allow me to uſe Metaphors in Soul-concernments, I ſhould think that I did then beſt explicate to vulgar Capacities the Nature of ſaving Faith, when I did call Faith the Daughter of Knowledge, the Siſter of Repentance, and the Mother of Love; for the Holy Ghoſt tells us, that Faith comes in by Hearing, Ro. 10.17. That it Purifies the Heart, Acts 15.9. and works by Love, Gal. 5.6.
That God had given this Perſon the True Seed of ſuch a Faith, was evident by its Fruits: The Apoſtle tells us, that he that hath not the Spirit of Chriſt, he is none of his, Ro. 8.9. And alſo he tells us, that as many are led by the Spirit are the Children of God, Ro. 8.16. Now I muſt profeſs that (ſo far as I was able to Judge) I have ſeldom ſeen a dying perſon, manifeſt more of a Chriſt-like Spirit than ſhe did: That is, I never ſaw more of a Spirit Thirſting after Communion with God, of a Spirit more contemning the World, of a Spirit more deeply bowing unto the Will of God, or a Spirit more patient under the Croſs; and more Submitting to the Rod of God.
Indeed I knew once a Perſon that did exceed her herein, and it was her Renowned Father: A Man of the greateſt and moſt deſerved Name, for Piety and Sincerity, for Humility and Patience, of all Men, in or Near the City, that I have known: Who Feared no Pain or Torture upon any other account, but this only, viz. Leaſt they ſhould tempe him to the leaſt unbecoming Groan, in ſome great paroxiſme of the Stone.
The Submitting of our Wills to Divine Will and Pleaſure in all things, is the ſumme and ſubſtance of all Practical Religion here; and the full conſorming of our wills to the divine will and mind, is the height and Top of all mans Happineſs hereafter: To enjoy this Priviledge of full Conformity to God, is the Portion of None in this World; and to perform that Duty of ſubmiſſion to him, is the Attainment of but very Few; yet this deceaſed Perſon was ſo great a Favourite, as that God was pleaſed to beſtow this rare Jewel to be worn in her Boſom, who did ſeem with John to Lye very near the Heart of her Saviour.
Very ſignal and Conſpicuous is the diſcriminating Grace of God, towards ſome Perſons more than towards others: 'Tis true, that God is not wanting to the Happineſs of any of his Creatures': and his abſolute Sovereignty ſeems in all things to be governed by his Infinite goodneſs; ſo that, he is both Juſt, and good to all: yet there is nothing more notable, or more evident, than that there are ſome objects of his Love, who are his Segulahs, his peculiar ones: in whom God doth eſpecially delight; and unto whom God doth do good with his whole Heart, Jer. 32.41.
As God doth ſuffer moſt men to make their own choice, and doth beſtow upon them what they do fully and Finally chooſe: ſo he will himſelf chooſe as he will, and he will do with his own gratuitous favour as he himſelf pleaſeth; and he will give no account to any of his own matters.
A great Inſtance hereof was this now bleſſed perſon, of whom I may ſay, that her whole Life was full of Gods goodneſs: and that Mercy and Truth did follow her even all her dayes; which dayes, the favour of Heaven would not ſuffer to be many; becauſe it did ordain, that her Sorrows and her Temptations ſhould be but Few.
Time being nothing but a dreſſing Room to Eternity; the ſhorter it is, the ſooner do Holy Souls enter into the more immemediate preſence of the Glorious Majeſty.
It is Reckoned in holy Writ, as an act of very Great kindneſs ſhewn by Hegai (the Kings Chamberlain) unto Eſther, that all things neceſſary for her Puriſication, and for her due preparation, for the love of her deſigned Husband (The great King Ahaſhuerus,) were given to her more ſpeedily than to others: whereby a Quicker acceſs to the King was afforded her; and the Crown was ſo much the ſooner ſet upon her Head.
The good Spirit of God did deal ſomething after the ſame manner, with this young Virgin: For the work of Sanctiſication was haſtened in her, that she might the more early receive the Crown of Glory, from the King of Kings: and might be preſented holy and without ſpot, or blemish, or wrinkle, or any ſuch thing.
Few pages, and fewer hours allotted me for this work, will not permit me to enumerate the many ſpecial favours that were ſhoured down upon this perſon while ſhe lived.
I shall not therefore take notice of the priviledges of her Birth, or the Honour of her Family, which were great; neither will I mention her Natural endowments, of parts, or Beauty, or any ſuch thing: Bleſſed be God, that ſhe her ſelf (though young) had learned before her death, to reckon ſuch enjoyments as theſe, to be very mean and poor, when compared with the Joys that were ſet before her.
They are Love tokens of a greater value, which I did obſerve to be conferred upon her; and theſe were ſuch and ſo many, That I may ſay that ſhe was one of thoſe that God had bleſſed with all ſpiritual bleſſings in heavenly things in Chriſt: and I may adde with the Apoſtle, that God having choſen her in him before the Foundation of the World, to be holy and without Blame. And the ſame God having decreed the End, did alſo ordain the Means.
Accordingly, in the Firſt place the kindneſs of God appeared in ordering, that ſhe ſhould be born of, and brought up by very Pious and Religious Parents; and few perſons did ever enjoy more Spiritual Nurture and Admonition, or had a greater ſtock of Prayers laid up for them, than this Gentle voin in and the reſt of that Oſſspring.
Another ſingular Mercy, which did promote her Salvation, was the excellent pattern, of modeſty, virtue, and piety which was afforded her by her elder Siſters. The Inſtluence of a Good Example is alwayes greatly Advantagious: but when it is found in near Relations, 'tis much more obliging and efficactous.
Another great Bleſſing, much conducing to her Eternal Happineſs, was this, that in her youth, ſhe enjoyed the priviledge of Attending upon ſuch an eminent Mimſtry; that the very Enemies thereof, have been heard to Confeſs, that it is very Learned, and moſt Rational, and further they knew not: but ſuch as are Taught of God, and have their ſpiritual ſences exerciſed, ſo as to be acquainted, not only with the form of Godlineſs, but alſo with the Power thereof, theſe men do ſay, that the Character which the others do give of this eminent perſons teaching, are moſt true; and they do further alſo ſay, that it is extraordinary Clear and convincing, moſt Evangelical and Scriptural; greatly practical and profitable, and yet very Sublime and Spiritual.
Now Reader conſider, whether many (if any) ſuch have finally miſcarryed; whoſe Natures were gentle, and eaſie to be entreated; whoſe hearts were Soft and Tender; who had the Beneſits of ſuch Education, and ſuch Example; who enjoyed ſuch Teaching abroad, as well as ſuch Counſel at home; and all, accompanyed with fervent Prayer unto God for a Bleſſing, which I am ſure that ſhe did not want: it being reported of her Father, that his Cuſtom was (with the Pſalmiſt, 119.164.) Seven times a day to pray unto the Lord, and to praiſe him. Moreover, I am informed, that this deceaſed Gentlewoman was obſerved to ſpend much time in Cloſet Prayer of late; conſider then, I ſay, whether we may not hope conſidently, that the Grace of God had ſavingly and effectually wrought upon her; who was both viſibly in Covenant with God; and whoſe heart alſo God had diſpoſed and prepared, by ſuch ſpecial Means of Grace which he had beſtowed upon her.
And this is yet more evident, if we reflect upon God's dealing with her in her laſt Sickneſs; whereby God did ſeem to ſeal Inſtruction deeply upon her Soul. Her diſtemper was one of the worſt ſort of Small Pox: At her firſt being taken, ſhe had ſtrong apprehenſions that ſhe ſhould dye; ſhe therefore did fall cloſely upon the work of Examination, deſiring the aſſiſtance of ſome Miniſters therein; and ſhe was viſited by many; ſhe opened her caſe to us all, and God was pleaſed to make her to ſuſpect and be jealous of the worſt; and to confeſs, and condemn herſelf for, her Sins, both of Omiſſion, as well as Commiſſion; and humbly to inquire after the only way of Pardon: And it pleaſed God ſo to bleſs theſe laſt helps, as that none of us, who viſited her, do doubt, but the ſame Spirit who convinced her of Sin and of Righteouſneſs, did at length ſeal her up to the day of Redemption.
The Alpha, the firſt Beginning and Foundation of all practical Religion, is that act whereby a Soul doth deliberately, reſolvedly, freely, and expreſſely dedicate and devote it ſelf unto God, and his Service: Thus the Saints in 2 Cor. 8.5. The Omega, the laſt, concluding, and conſummating work of a devout Soul, is to commit and commend its Spirit into the hands of God, as to a faithful Creator: thus did Stephen, Acts 17.59. Yea thus did our Lord Jeſus himſelf: Luk. 23.46.
Thus alſo did this bleſſed Perſon: ſhe did, I hope, begin well, in an early Conſecration of her ſelf to God: I am ſure ſhe did end well: and 'tis the end that Crowns the work: ſhe did reckon, that ſhe had not fully Finiſhed her Courſe; nor rightly laid the Top-ſtone of her ſpiritual Building, ſo as to cry Grace, Grace unto it; untill ſhe had moſt devoutly and humbly offered up her Soul to God in Prayer, by the aſſiſtance of ſome Friend and Miniſter.
Accordingly, although it were midnight, and although my Habitation was far from hers; yet in the very laſt Agonies of her Death, ſhe did ſend for me: and with the cleareſt uſe of her Reaſon, and the moſt ſervent deſires of her Soul, ſhe did entreat me, that I would in her Name, ſolemnly and expreſly furrender and give up her Soul into the Arms and Boſom of her Saviour, in whoſe precious Blood, ſhe did hope that all her ſins were now fully waſhed away.
I did readily obey the Call, and did comply with her deſire: for I did, and do judge that this deſire of hers proceeded from ſome extraordinary Impulſe, and work of the Holy Ghoſt: And Reader, thou walt think as I do, if thou ſhalt read and obſerve the effect and conſequence hereof, as it is related to thee, in the cloſe of the following diſcourſe.
Almoſt ſuch another extraordinary Impreſs (as it may be thought) was made upon her Spirit, on occaſion of this Author's preſenting her with a *Exhortation to Touth to prepare for Judgment, 11 Eccl. 9.Funeral Sermon, which he had preached but a little kefore ſhe was taken ſick: which Sermon ſhe having received, and read, and diligently conſidered; ſhe was heard to ſay, That ſhe did think, that her own change would not be far off; and that ſhe could wiſh, that the Author might preach her Funeral Sermon alſo: and ſhe then named the Text (now inſiſted upon;) and ſaid, That ſhe hoped, that God would make her Funeral Sermon as profitable to other young Ones, as the Former Sermon had been to her ſelf.
Her Prognoſticks were too true, as to the ſhortneſs of the time which she lived after thoſe words were ſpoken by her; God grant, that her hopes be not fruſtrated, but that all her dying words may prove truely prophetical: and eſpecially thoſe, which related to the profitable ſucceſs of the Sermon here before thee.
The Author hath done his part like himſelf, as well in this, as in the former Diſcourſe: Oh that he might find as diligent, and as conſidering Readers, as she was: many excellent Conſiderations, very ſubſervient, and conducing to thy Conviction and Salvation, are propoſed herein: but all will be in vain, and to no purpoſe, without thine own Meditation, and the Spirits application: Concerning the Diſcourſe, I muſt ſay no more, and I can do no leſs; than to allude to the words of the Holy Ghoſt, Eccl. 12.9. And moreover, becauſe the Preacher was wiſe, therefore in this Diſcourſe, he hath Taught the People Knowledge; and hath given good heed, and ſought and ſet in order many Arguments for thy preparing for Death, and moreover for preferring of Death before Life: The Lord convince thee by them; and alſo carry thee comfortably through all Time to Eternity. My Paper is ſhort, and my Time ſhorter, I muſt therefore conclude; for the Sermon is wholly Printed, and ſtops only untill I have told thee that I am
Thy Friend, and Souls Servant, S. Fairclough.