The Vanity of Glorying in the Flesh, To the reader
TO THE READER.
Good Reader,
IT is a judgement threatened by two Prophets againſt the Jewes,Jer. 16 5. Ezek. 24.23. that they ſhould not mourn, nor lament for their dead. That which was their judgement is our ſin; which the Prophet Iſaiah hath languaged to our hands:Iſa. 57.1. The righteous periſh, and no man layeth it to heart, and merciful men are taken away, none conſidering, &c. It was ſometime the curſe of the worſt of men; that wretched Coniah, They ſhall not lament for him, Jer. 22.7.ſaying, Ah Lord, or Ah his glory. This wanton ſecure, ungrateful generation, hath moſt wickedly tranſlated this curſe upon them whom the Lord hath bleſſed, and made bleſſings to their generations; we lament not over our Worthies, ſaying, Ah Lord, or, Ah their glory.
The Hand of God of late is gone out againſt us in a dreadful manner, and within a few moneths laſt paſt hath taken away divers worthy Miniſters, not only faithful, but mighty in the ſervice of the Goſpel. The laſt Summer (as I take it) there died in one Eſſex.County only about thirty foure godly Miniſters; ſince then, there is fallen very lately worthy Dr. Hill, Malle is Hereticorum Schiſmaticorum, flagellum.Maſter of Trin. Coll. Cambridge, a man of a ſingular ſpirit for Government, mighty in convincing and ſuppreſſing of error and innovations.
Reverend Mr. Gataker, a Treaſury of Learning and Religion.
Profound Dr. Gouge, His excellent Comment on the Hebrews, with other of his learned Labours, will remain as Monuments of his great worth to poſterity.whoſe indefatigable induſtry, both in his publick Miniſtery, domeſtick duties, and private ſtudies was to admiration.
Judicious Whitaker, mighty in preaching, melting in prayer; whoſe holineſſe was mixt with ſuch ſweetneſs and tenderneſſe of ſpirit, that it rendred him uſeful and acceptable to men of all judgements and tempers.
Excellent Dr. Bolton, a man of ſingular ſpirituality and acuteneſſe in all his Goſpel-labours.
Famous Mr. Angel, a man ineeed of Angelical underſtanding and holineſſe, a burning and ſhining light.
Precious Mr. Robinſon Englands Jacob, London Remembrancer, judicious in preaching, affectionate in prayer, in both incomparably laborious, a man, moſt deeply ſenſible of the evil of the times, and unmovably firm to his principles.
Ingenious Mr. Jaggard, a man of ſingular parts, and excellent Miniſterial abilities.
Hopeful Mr. Fenton, newly choſen to Croatchet Friars, young in yeares, but of great maturity in the knowledge of Chriſt.
Theſe and many more, ſome in their full age, others in the midſt of their dayes, and ſome (wo unto us!) in their prime and strength of their Miniſtery hath God removed from us.
To this breach that God hath made upon us in the Church, hath he added ſome deep wounds in the Commonwealth; Beſides the death of many worthy Gentlemen, very ſerviceable in their generations; that which may ſet moſt ſad upon our ſpirits, is, that God hath ſnaetch't from us, by ſudden and unexpected ſtrokes, many young Gentlemen, of the greateſt eminency and hopes which this, or many generations formerly have known.
That Phoenix of Wiltſhire, Robert Strange Eſq Nephew to the late Honourable Sir Edward Hungerford, Robert Strange, of Somerford-Keynes, in the County of Wilts, Eſquire.and brought up in his family, a Gentleman of ſuch gravity, wiſdom, piety, humility, weanedneſſe from the world, and of ſuch a publick ſpirit, that the whole countrey look't upon him as a ſtarre of the most propitious influence that hath riſen in their Horizon theſe many generations.
The Noble young Gentleman Harbottle Grimſtone, Eſquire, Son and Heire to the Honourable Sir Harbottle Grimſtone, a Gentleman of greas eminency both for parts and piety, the honour and hopes of his fathers houſe.
That never to be ſufficiently honoured Gentleman, Mr. Holland of Lancaſhire, only ſon of Colonel Holland of Denton Eſquire, for ſolidneſſe of judgement, choiceneſs of affection, activeneſſe in Religion, ſingular uſefulneſſe in his countrey, highly eſteemed among the Gentry, honoured by the Ministery, admired by the Commonalty, beloved of all; the only pillar of his fathers houſe, the great expectation of the Countrey, lamented by all that ever knew or heard of him.
John Warmſtry Eſquire, only ſon to Gervis Warmſtry Eſquire, of the County of Worceſter.
Ferdinando Leigh, late of Lincolnes-Inne Eſquire, fourth ſonne to the Right Honourable Thomas Lord Leigh, Baron of Stone-Leigh, in the County of Warwick; Gentlemen of much honoue, and greatly lamented.
Lastly, (though many more might be added to this ſad Catalogue) this excellent young Gentleman Kingſmel Lucy, late of Lincoines-Inne Eſq Son and Heire to Francis Lucy Eſquire, over whom theſe Funeral Lamentations are poured out, whom Nature and Grace ſtrove which ſhould make him moſt honourable.
Theſe, I ſay, and many more ſpirits of a ſublime extraction, ſtars of the firſt magnitude; the ornaments of the preſent, and the hopes of the future generation, have beene prematurely cut off b… the fatal stroke of the Small pox, and have finiſhed their courſe, before they had finiſh't (the eldect of them, as I underſtand) the twenty fifth yeare of their age.
And now in the mean time, how little are we affected with theſe invaluable, I had almoſt ſaid irreparable loſſes. Certainly we do not lay them to heart according to the nature of the ſtroke inflicted in their removal: while we followed their ſad Hearſes to the grave, and our ears were filed with Funeral Lamentations, poſſibly we might fetch a cold ſigh, and let fall a few dry tears, but alas, how quickly do we forget our loſſes? we bury our ſorrows and our Worthies in the ſame grave. Our teares are quickly dried up, and our days (our houres rather) of mourning are ſoon ended. We have learned an eaſie way of comforting our ſelves over our ſorrowes, more truly of keeping ſorrow from our hearts: we will not ſuffer it to come near us. We uſe to ſay, he was a great Scholar, an excellent Preacher, a gallant Gentleman, there will be a great want of him, but we muſt be contented if God will have it ſo, we cannot help it, we are all mortal, &c. there's an end.
Haw eaſily do we ſwallow dawn theſe bitter pills, and extinguiſh the ſenſe of our miſeries in ſenſual fruitions? I finde but very few, but they make too much haſte to their comforts and cordials.
Object. But you will ſay, Why, what would you have us do, ſhould we ſorrow as men without hope?
Anſw. No ſurely,What our duty is in the loſſe of worthy men. but this we ſhould do: We ſhould ſit down, and tent our wounds; we ſhould weigh our loſſes in the balance of the Sanctuary, and take up Davids Lamentation in the death of Abner; Know ye not that a Prince and a great man is fallen this day in Iſrael? 2 Sam. 3.38, 39.and I am this day weak, &c. So many godly Mfniſters, ſo many worthy Gentlemen fallen, and we are this day weak; the Miniſtery weak, noble Families weak, the Church and State weak by means of theſe loſſes. Joſeph is not, and Simeon is not, and will ye take Benjamin too?Gen. 43.36. all theſe things make againſt me: So, &c.
2. We ſhould be ſenſible of divine diſpleaſure. It is obſervable, that when Pelatiah was ſmitten by a blaſt of divine Juſtice, Ezek. 11.13. that Ezekiel preſently fell down upon his face, to deprecate the proceſſe of judgement. Ah Lord God, wilt thou make a full end of the remnant of Iſrael? Behold, there was but one man taken away, nnd he a falſe prophet, a ſeducer, and yet the good Prophet cries out, as if God were going about to deſtroy the whole Nation? why? what ground of ſuch a feare was there in a ſingle perſons untimely death? Oh, the Prophet was ſenſible of divine diſpleaſure in that ſtroke, and when wrath was once kindled, he did not know where the fire might stay; it might burn down to the very foundations for ought he knew. How much more ought ſuch an holy jealouſie cauſe us to put our mouthes in the duſt, when we ſee ſo many of the precious ſons of Sion, comparable to fine gold, ſuddenly cut off by the ſword of the deſtroying Angel! Surely that we take no more notice of Gods diſpleaſure, is not our patience ſo much as our unbelief.
Thirdly, we ſhould look upon the loſſe of ſuch excellent ones, as ſad prognoſticks of approaching judgement; boding ſymptomes of evil to come:Iſa. 57.1. Merciful (or as it is in the Hebrew) men of godlineſſe are taken away, none conſidering that the righteous are taken away from the evil to come; when righteous men die (eſpecially in the midſt of their dayes,) evil is a coming, their death makes way for wrath; when Noah was ſhipp't the flood came; when Lot was houſ'd, Hell came down from Heaven to deſtroy Sodom.
Before the beſieging Heidlebergh, moſt of the godly Miniſters in the City were taken away, &c.
Fourthly, We ſhould ſtudy how to recruit our loſſes, and repaire our breaches. Every one in his ſtation labouring to be of an healing influence.
Parents, thoſe eſpecially of ſuperiour Orbes, beſtowing upon their children, honourable and religious education, the neglect wherof hath bin one of thoſe putrid ſources, out of which the moſt of the ſins and plagues of this miſerable Nation hath iſſued.
Young Gentleman, even from their childhood, to addict themſelves to ingenious Arts and Sciences, eſpecially to the*Phil. 3.8 excellent knowledge of Chriſt in the Scriptures, which is able to make them wiſe to ſalvation.2 Tim. 3.15,
Tutors in the Univerſity, and other inferiour ſchools, by their wiſe and holy industry, ſtudying how to improve thoſe ingenious ſpirits that are under their tuition ſo, as that they may ſend them forth full of knowledge and vertue, fit to ſerve their generation, both in Church and State.
Patrons, upon the ſad vacations of their livings, by the death of worthy Miniſters, to fill their rooms with learned and godly men, without open contracts, or ſecret inſinuations of any unworthy Simoniacal expectancies.
Surviving Miniſters ſtudying how to pray more, preach better, live more exemplarily, converſe more fruitfully.
Yea, every one in their places and callings, labouring to be more holy and prayerful,Pſ. 12.1. more uſeful and active for the intereſt of Chriſts, and for publike good.
This, were to do like Chriſtians, worthy of our Name, and the fruit of this would be excellent and beautiful. For
Fruits of ſenſibleneſſe of our loſſes.1. It might help (through grace) to appeaſe divine anger.
2. To avert approaching judgement, as Amos 7.1, 2. compared with ver. 3. and 4.5. with ver. 6.
3. God would take it kindly, behold, precious in the ſight of the Lord is the death of his Salnts; Pſ. 116.15would not our Father take it well, if we were followers of him, Eph. 5.1.as dear chilldren?
4. It would make way for comfort. Comfort is then ſeaſonable and ſavoury, when it comes in in Gods method; Bleſſed are they that mourn, for they ſhall be comforted. Mat. 5.4.The world inverts Chriſts order, they begin in comfort, and end in mourning; true Saints begin in mourning, and end in comfort: it is true all over.
When thus humbled under the mighty hand of God, it might be ſeaſonable to ſuggeſt to our ſelves and others ſome ſuch conſiderations as theſe.
1. Comforting conſiderations.Who made theſe that are taken away, ſo excellent and influential? GOD: Well, as he ſaid, Salvus eſt Artifex, God never dieth; he that made the veſſel is alive, though the veſſel be broken in pieces: with God there is abundance of Spirit, he can eaſily raiſe up others in their places to carry on his work. When Moſes was troubled about a Succeſſour, and knew not where to finde him, and therefore begs an immediate choice from heaven, Num. 27.16. Let the God of the ſpirits of all fleſh ſet a man over the Congregation, &. God had a recruit that Moſes little thought of, a Joſhuah, one under his own roof, his ſervant, he must ſucceed in that great charge, ver. 18.
2. Conſider, God can do his own work without the ſervice of men; though he uſeth instruments, he needs them not; many times (to ſpeak after the manner of men) God is more troubled to fit the inſtrument, then to do the work alone. In the Creation of the world God was alone, Iſa. 44.24. In the Redemption of the world, Jeſus Chriſt was alone, and of the people there were none with him, Iſa. 63.3. And how eaſily were both theſe mighty wohks finiſhed: In the reforming of the Church he uſeth inſtruments, and the Church looks upon them many times, as the oniy men that muſt do it, and behold, they prove ſo croſſe and untoward, that unleſſe God lay them by, and take the work into his own hand, a deliverance would end in a bondage, and a glorious Reformation ſet in a black and horrid Deſolation. This is a comfort were we fit for it,
Though God tie us to means, he doth not tie himſelf to means.
Thirdly, the leſſe there is of the creature, the more God is engaged to appear, Deut. 32.36. Our deſpairing times are Gods riſing times, Iſa. 33.10. The comfort is this, GOD will glorifie HIMSELF.
Fourthly, as our duty is, when God takes eway the creature to live immediately upon Himſelf; when the ciſterns are empty, then to go to the fountain; ſo our comfort is.
Thoſe are the pureſt taſts of God which we have immediately from himſelf.
Our very windowes darken much of our light.We ſee through a glaſſe darkly, 1 Cor. 13.12. And many times, ſome of our water [of Life] leaks through the pipes by which it ir conveyed.
God is moſt to the Angels and Saints in Heaven, becauſe what HE IS, he lets in immediately into their ſouls. They drink of the river of his pleaſures, Pſ. 36.8, 9.and in his light do they ſee light.
Fifthly and laſtly, as for our Worthies that are gone, they have made a bleſſed change,
Labour for Reſt, Sin for Holineſſe, Earth for Heaven, Rags for*Good old Mr. Dent, when he thing out his laſt breath, ſaid, Give me my Crown and Robes, and ſo gave up the ghoſt. Robes, their Croſſe for a Crown, the company of ſinners for the Spirits of juſt men made perfect, the creature for the Creator, Father, Son, and Holy Ghoſt, God bleſſed for ever.
Reader, I could adde much more upon this Accompt, but I am ſenſible how farre already I have exceeded the bounds of an Epiſtle. It is for thy ſake, and therefore I hope with the ingenuous, it will finde net only Pardon, but Acceptance.
The Lord fit thee for theſe comforts, and then fill thee with them. It is the humble and hearty deſire of
A poor unworthy Servant of Christ, and of thy faith, THO. CASE.