Safe Conduct, Title page – Dedication
SAFE CONDUCT, OR The SAINTS Guidance to GLORY.
Opened in a SERMON Preached at Dunstans in the Eaſt London. November the ſecond, MDCLIV.
At the Funerall of the Vertuous and Religious Gentlewoman, Mris. THOMASIN BARNARDISTON, late WIFE of Mr. Samuel Barnardiſton, Merchant.
By Ralph Robinſon, Paſtor of Mary Wolnoth, Lumbardſtreet, London.
This God is our God for ever and ever: hee will bee our guide even unto Death, Pſal. 48. 14.
The Lord will go before you; and the God of Iſrael will bee your rereward, Iſa. 52. 12.
London, Printed by R. I. for Stephen Bowtell at the ſigne of the Bible in Popes-head Alley. 1654.
TO The Worſhipful, my much Honoured Friend, Mr. Samuel Barnardiston MERCHANT.
Worthy Sir:
THis enſuing Sermon was by your deſire preached at the Funeral of your dear Yoke-fellow, and it is now by your command come to publick view. I thought my ſelf very unfit to be imployed at ſuch a Solemn Meeting, and cannot but judge what was then delivered unworthy to come forth to open light. But my engagements to your Self, and the memory of your deceaſed Wife, are ſuch, as that I cannot but gratifie this deſire. I had rather adventure the Cenſures of others, than have my own heart cenſure me for unthankfulneſs.
Sir, God hath by his wiſe Providence taken away the one half of your ſelf; that which his Majeſty doth now expect from you is, To ſtudy a quiet ſubmiſſion unto, and a holy improvement of this his afflicting hand.
If you do but commune ſeriouſly with your heart, you will ſee cauſe enough for this holy ſilence. How precious ſoever this Jewel was in your eyes, it was of a brittle nature. All the Sons and Daughters of Adam are Mortal Creatures, and why ſhould it be ſtrange to ſee a Mortal creature dye? Reaſon will teach men not to quarrel when they ſee that come to paſs which they knew could not but come to paſs. Quiſquis aliquem queritur Senec. Epiſt. Lib. 1. Ep. 99.mortuum eſſe, queritur hominem fuiſse, ſaith Seneca, To make complaint that our relations are dead, is to complain that they were mortal, and then it is the Hand of God that hath done what is done. Calvin writing to his friend who had lately loſt a hopeful Son, uſeth this as an Argument to quiet his Spirit, becauſe the ſtroke was given by God himſelf. Dominus qui in hac vitae ſtatione ad tempus …lv. Epiſt. ad …chebu…g.eum locaverat, evocavit. The ſight of Gods hand is ſufficient to command deep ſilence to Creatures, for whatſoever God doth, he carries it on, not only in Righteouſneſs, but in Wiſdom, yea and in infinite Mercy to them that fear him. All his Pſal. 25. 10.paths are Mercy and Truth, unto them that keep his Covenant, and think upon his Teſtimonies to do them. Bereaving Providences have Mercy and Truth in them towards the godly, as wel as enriching Providences. When God gave you ſo prudent and loving a Yoke-fellow, hee did not deveſt himſelf of his Propriety in her; Shee was Gods more than yours, even when ſhe was yours. The Borrower hath no cauſe to be diſpleaſed, when the Lender calls for that which is his own. Shee whom you now mourn for, ſuffers no loſs by this removal. A Wife is farre better in the Boſome of Chriſt, than in the boſome of any earthly Husband. Though you want her Senec. Epiſt. l…b. 1. Ep. 69.company, ſhe wants not yours. Citius mori, vel tardius, ad rem non pertinet; benè mori, aut malè ad rem pertinet. Hee that lives well lives much, though he live not long. When you hear that your Ships are ſafe at their Port, you are not troubled, though they bee in Harbour ſooner than you expected. Non ſic Calvin, Ʋt ſupra.Dei beneficium eſt longa vita, ut aliquid nobis depereat, ſi paucorum annorum ſpacio disjuncti ad meliorem vitam traducimur. God doth not break his Promiſe with his people about long life, when he cuts off a few years in this World, and tranſlates them to life eternal. God gives leave, yea he expects his people ſhould be ſenſible of afflicting Providences, but he will not allow them to murmur under ſuch Providences. He that ſees not Gods hand, diſowns his Soveraignty; he that repines, denies his Righteouſneſs.
As God requires ſubmiſſion, ſo he expects ſome good improvement ſhould be made of this his hand. There are Three things which God points out by this Diſpenſation. Sir, I know you deſire counſel as well as comfort, therefore I uſe this freedom. Gods minde is,
Firſt, That you ſhould meditate much on your own end. Death comes near the Husband, when it lays hold on the Wiſe of the boſom. Our dying friends upon their departure leave us this Meſſage, that vve muſt follow.
Secondly, That you ſhould ſee how uncertain all worldly things are. A vertuous Wife, the beſt of worldly comforts, is but a dying comfort; the faſhion of this World paſſeth away. The loſs of worldly contentments ſhould make us love the world leſs.
Thirdly, That you ſhould ſtudy more and more to make out your Spiritual relation to Jeſus Chriſt, and to rejoyce in it. The relation between Chriſt and a Beleever can never be diſſolved. He marrieth the Soul to himſelf for ever; though he hath taken away a loving Wife, he will not take away himſelf. A Soul is never ſolitary while it enjoys communion with Jeſus Chriſt.
Sir, you have now another Load-ſtone to dravv your heart Heaven-ward. The great and mighty God enable you to ſubmit to his holy Hand, give you more fellovvſhip vvith himſelf, and increaſe all his Graces in you. This is, and ſhall be the prayer of
Sir, your Servant in the Work of the Lord. Ralph Robinſon. Lumbard-ſtreet, Jan. 12. 1654.