The Faith of the Saints as to a Future House, Title page – To the reader
The FAITH of the SAINTS, As to a Future HOUSE and HAPPINESS in the other WORLD.
Set forth in A SERMON Preached at the FUNERAL of that Worthy Servant of CHRIST Mr. WALTER MARSHAL.
By S. TOMLYNS. M.A.
LONDON, Printed by John Richardſon, for Thomas Parkhurſt at the Bible and three Crowns in Cheapſide, near Mercers Chappel. 1680.
To the Honourable the Lady Anne Conſtantine, and to the truly Religious Mrs. Mary Fiennes; the Author wiſheth increaſe of Grace, and the enjoyment of Glory, through Jeſus Chriſt.
Madam, Miſtreſs,
IT hath pleaſed the Lord to afflict and exerciſe you both with Bodily Diſtempers, and every Fit of a Diſeaſe, every Paroxiſm of Pain, is a blow that contributes to the Felling of the Tree: theſe Van-curriers of Death do undermine the Vigor and ſtrength of Nature, and help forward the Ruin of a frail Tabernacle. As there are Flowers that blow and wither in the Spring, as well as others that flouriſh and fade in the Summer and Autumn; ſo, many of Mankind do fade and die in the Spring of Youth, as well as in the Summer of Riper Years, and in the Autumn of Old Age. God can make our Night, and Deaths Harveſt to come whenever he pleaſeth; our Sun may ſet, when we think it is not yet Noon; Deaths Harveſt may come, when our Spring ſeems not yet to be paſt. Our Breath is in our Noſtrils, and may ſoon paſs out; the Judge ſtands at the door, and may quickly enter in: It concerns us therefore always to be ready for the coming of our Lord, that he may not ſurprize us as a Thief in the Night, but may Viſit us as a Bridegroom that we have long looked and waited for. It is, or ſhould be the work of our whole Week-day, to prepare for the Everlaſting Sabbath. As by your Bodily Diſtempers, the great Landlord warns you out of your Earthly Tabernacle, ſo the Text I inſiſt on teaches you whither Saints muſt Remove, and what a Houſe God hath built to entertain the ſeparated Souls of Believers. I have therefore thought fit to Tender this ſmall Treatiſe to you, as a Teſtimony of my Reſpect and Obſervance towards you; if it may in any degree prove a Light to your Feet, a Lamp to your Paths, a Staff to your Faith, and a Cordial to your Souls, it will be very acceptable to him who is
Your Obliged and Humble Servant, S. T.
To my Well-beloved Friends, the Inhabitants of Goſport in the County of Southampton; the Author wiſheth Grace and Peace from God our Father, and from the Lord Jeſus Chriſt.
Chriſtian Friends,
IT hath ſeemed good to the Sovereign Lord of Heaven and Earth to make a Breach upon you, by ſnatching away from you a faithful and laborious Servant of Chriſt, who fed you with his Doctrine, and edified you by his Example: He wooed for Chriſt in his Preaching, and allured you to Chriſt by his Walking. Though the Seedſman be dead, yet the Doctrine he preached is Incorruptible Seed, the Word of God that lives and abides for ever. And though his ſervice by vocal preaching among you is paſt, yet your Account for your profiting by, and growth under his Miniſtry is to come. Look therefore diligently to it, that the Word of God dwell richly, and root deeply in your ſouls; that it be the ſword of the Spirit to ſlay your luſts, a ſpiritual Mould to faſhion your hearts aright, and Bread to feed and nouriſh you up to everlaſting Life. Walk while you have the light, and work the works of him that ſent you into the World while it is day, build up your ſelves on your moſt holy Faith, and walk in love towards each other as Chriſt hath loved you. Your ſouls came into this World on a Trading Voyage, to buy Gold tried in the Fire, white Rayment and Eye-ſalve. Neglect not your ſpiritual Traffick, the longer the Merchants ſhip ſtayes out, the richer Lading ſhould it bring home. Lade your ſelves with Treaſures that Death ſhall not ſpoil you of: Adorn your ſouls with Ornaments, that it ſhall not ſtrip off. It will be ſad if any of you ſhould go out of the World, and carry nothing away with you but the guilt of Sin, and the fear of puniſhment, a bitter remembrance of paſt iniquity, and a dreadful expectation of Wrath to come. Death is called the way of all the Earth, 1 Kings 2.2. and in this way you muſt ſhortly tread, and by it depart from all Friends and Enjoyments below. O look up to, and take faſt hold of Chriſt, that is the Ladder that reaches up to Heaven, and ſo is the way to the beſt Country and Inheritance! You cannot decline the way that will carry you off from all Earthly Relations, Pleaſures, Poſſeſſions. O be ſure that you enter into and walk …n in that way, that will carry you to an inviſible World of Happineſs and Glory! Time haſtens, days poſt away, and will you ſtand idle? You are carried a-pace down the River of Time, towards the Ocean of Eternity, and will you not as ſpiritual Racers preſs forward towards the Mark, for the price of the High Calling of God in Chriſt Jeſus! Let not by buſineſs divert you from your principal and moſt noble work. Mary choſe the one thing neceſſary; David deſired one thing; Paul ſaith, this one thing I do: Read thoſe three Scriptures, Luk. 10.42. Pſal. 27.4. Phil. 3.13, 14. This argues ſincerity and fervency i…deed, when you chooſe, deſire and do one thing as Neceſſary; and are Converſant about other matters but as indifferent things. Be watchful againſt the old man, that ſtoops you towards this Earth; beware of Satan that wreſtles with you, to throw your minds and …earts down to this World. Lay not thoſe ſnowy-creatures in your boſomes, that will not only melt away themſelves, but alſo chill your Hearts to better and more Noble Objects. Be not guilty of ſuch folly, to magnifie what you are but Stewards of, and to deſpiſe what you may be Heirs of. Take hold of the Hope ſet before you, and then when others ſhall be put away as droſs, you ſhall be made up as Jewels and ſhine for ever in the kingdom of your Father. This Sermon as it was Preached at your deſire, ſo now it is Printed with ſome enlargement, at the Requeſt of ſome of you: the Lord accompany it with the teaching of his Spirit and the efficacy of his Grace; that it may conduce to your ſpiritual Good; which is the carneſt deſine and Prayer of
Aug. 23. 1680. Your affectionate Friend and Servant for Jeſus ſake, S. T.