Christ the Life and Death the Gain of Every True Believer, Title page – Dedication
ΧΡΙΣΤΟΣ ΚΑΙ ΚΕΡΔΟΣ
Chriſt the Life, and Death the Gain, of Every True BELEEVER: OR, THE Life of a Saint Reſolved into Chriſt, AND His Death into Gain.
Held forth clearly in a SERMON preached at the late ſad and ſolemn Funeral of the Right Worſhipful Rowland Wilſon, Eſq; a Member of the Parliament of England, and of the honorable Councel of State; and one of the Aldermen and Sheriffs of the City of London.
By Obadiah Sedgvvick, B. D. and Miniſter of the Goſpel at Covent-Garden.
Together with an Epiſtle Dedicatory: wherein is an exact Account given upon ſome years more then ordinary Experience of the ſuperlative Worth of this Eminent Servant of Chriſt, and of the Common-wealth.
By George Cokayn, an unworthy Teacher of the Goſpel at Pancras Soper lane, London.
Isaiah 57. 1. The righteous periſheth, and no man layeth it to heart; and merciful men are taken away, none conſidering that the righteous is taken away from the evil to come.
Difficile eſt definire extra Chriſtum, ſitne mori utilius quam vivere: rurſum adſit Chriſtus, & vitam noſtram perinde ac mortem benedicet, ut ſit utraque nobis fauſta & expetenda. Calv.
London, Printed by J. Macock for Thomas Brewſter and Gregory Moul, at the three Bibles in Pauls Church-yard, neer the Weſt end 1650.
To the truly Religious and ever Honored, Mrs Mary Wilſon, diſconſolate Widow to the late worthy and godly Patriot, Rowland Wilſon, Eſq; a Member of the Parliament of England, and of the honorable Councel of State, and one of the Aldermen and Sheriffs of the City of London. Grace and Conſolation from God the Father, and the Lord Jeſus Chriſt.
VIRTUOUS LADY,
IT is enacted by the Supream Power of Heaven and Earth, That man, the Maſter of the Creation, ſhould be a ſervant and a helper to the moſt contemptible creature fallen under his burden: by vertue of that Law the Ox or the Aſs might Exo. 23. 5. Deu. 22. 4.challenge and command help from their owners. Doth God take care of Oxen? Surely for our ſakes theſe things are written, to ſhew, that the Lord in a ſpecial manner doth oblige and command all that mention his Name, to make themſelves, to the utmoſt, comforting and refreſhing to all his people, who taste the bitterneſs, and feel the weight of an afflicted ſtate. God no ſooner hears the ſad cries and complaints of poor oppreſſed Iſrael in Egypt, but Moſes hears the news from *Exod. 3… 9, 10God of his going with a preſent Meſſage of Relief to them. Nay, the Spirit himſelf, God equal with the Father and the Son, ſhall upon the ſame account be *Ioh. 14. 16ſent from Heaven, and this ſhall be the great Title he ſhall be inveſted with, viz. [The Comforter.] To comfort the Saints is a work every way ſuitable to the higheſt in Heaven or Earth to perform. When I conſider theſe things, but especially recollect the innumerable Obligations which are upon me from the constant flowings forth of your expreſſions of friendſhip to me, I (being for many years together your poor & unworthy Servant in the things of the Goſpel) could not but in a ſpecial maner account it my duty ſolicitouſly to endeavor the bringing forth of ſomething, which through the bleſſing of God might be inſtrumental to the ſcattering of the darkneſs of that night which is now upon you, through the late inexpected and ſadly lamented ſetting of that Sun which did ſhine ſo gloriouſly in your Horizon. And truly amongst all other things which my thoughts endeavored to engage for your refreſhment, I found none ſo exactly calculated to your condition as that incomparable peece of Gospel … by Mr Ob… diah Sedgwick.that … and godly Meſſenger of Chriſt at the late ſad and ſolemn Puneral of your loving and beloved Huſband. And ſeeing the reverend Author, through a modeſt and humble diſowning of himſelf, was unwilling to be Midwife to his own Birth, I have (with his conſent and leave obtained, through much importunity) made bold to preſent it to you, as that which, through the concurrence of divine bleſſing, may adminiſter exceeding abundant conſolation to your drooping and decaying Spirit. I cannot but look upon this Text and Sermon as an exact Comment upon your prec…us huſband his life and death: his life was nothing elſe but a continual reſolution of all his actions and ends into Chriſt; and his death nothing elſe but a victory over ſin, and a ſure conduct into the bleſſed ſtate of eternity. And now did I not fear the further opening of the ſluces of your ſwelling paſſion, to the breaking in of an irreſistible torrent of ſadneſs upon your Spirit, I could very eaſily engage my ſelf to a voluminous Diſcourſe of this nature: but leſt the lifting up of him, ſhould renew an occaſion of caſting down your Spirit, I ſhall the more briefly preſent before you, and the whole world, what in my own obſervation was always, ſince I know him, eminently deſerving in him: Whereby it will plainly appear, that the Life and Spirit both of Text and Sermon did clearly ſhew forth themſelves in him. The truth is, when I conſider the exactneſs of his carriage in all relations, I am very apt to think, that as, for a complication of all perfections, he while he lived was *Nulli ſecundus.ſecond to none; ſo now he is gone, there will ſcarce another appear ſecond to him. He was an incomparable Huſband to you, an excellent Man to the State, and a precious Christian to God. He was to you the ſweeteſt yoke-fellow in the world, not one of his carriages but apparently bearing the Image of that Fountain from whence it ſprung, viz. ſtrong, wiſe and intire affections. He loved exceedingly, and yet ruled diſcreetly. You had, I am ſure, all you deſired, which was his heart, but not his head. He was Plin: nat. Hiſt. li. 10. cap. 62.never like the hee-viper, which put his head into the ſheevipers mouth. What God gave him to keep, he kept, and what God gave him to communicate to you, he did punctually perform. The truth is, both of you in this were ex…ct Diſciples to Moſes, always confining your ſelves to your proper apparel. That perfection methoughts which was amongst the reſt, as the Sun in the midſt of the Stars, was his unparalleld contentedneſs in the want of children, like Abraham in this, that he never in the leaſt grieved you by abraiding you, but excelling Abraham in this, that he never, either to God or man, unbecomingly complained of the want of a mercy ſo naturally deſireable, but ſtill expreſſed his ſence of the full and compleat making up of that tryal, next to Christ, in your ſelf: And when it pleaſed God to lay a real foundation of hopes of enjoying that bleſſing, he was indeed, like a Beleever, affected with the goodneſs and Providence of God, but not at all ſo tranſported, as if he had not been long before crucified to it. And when it pleaſed God to return and blast thoſe hopes, he carryed it like one that deſired no will but Gods might be accommodated. He expreſſed as much joy in his diſappointment, as ever he did in his expectation. He always ſaid in that neer tryal, Not my Will, but thine be done. He made it the buſineſs of his delight to ſcatter any cloud of trouble that reſted upon your Spirit; and though he naturally rejoyced in his own melancholly, yet the least ſymptome of ſadneſs in you was a burthen too heavy for him to bear. The truth is, all his carriages in this relation have left behind them this true testimony of him, that he rather made moſt worthy preſidents, then confined himſelf to the best examples. But I fear I have been too long in ſurveying his perfections in this relation; and in commending him as a huſband, I have diſcommended my ſelf as a friend, in adding too much fuel to the burning flame of your paſſionate affection. I ſhall therefore rather bury him as your huſband, and preſent him to you again as the huſband of the Common-wealth; to which indeed he was truly marryed, cheerfully ſpending himſelf in a continual faithful purſute of the Affairs thereof. He was a Timotheus in the Phil. 2. 20. foreignCommon-wealth, naturally caring for their State: He was indeed by the Providence of God in a very ſhort time called to ſeveral places of highest Honor and greateſt Truſt amongst us, wherein he always behaved himſelf, though as a Ruler over the perſons of men, yet as a true Servant to the good of men: As in his private, ſo in his publike capacity, no ones leſs then his own. He ſtill deſired that Juſtice might be as a River, and never coveted, to pale it in as a pond …or his private uſe. He delighted immediately to ſerve the publike, and at the moſt but collaterally himſelf: Yea, many a time hath he vigorouſly and heartily appeared againſt his own private intereſt, that he might approve himſelf a faithful friend to the Publique. I know nothing he got by all his Service, except *Pluta. in the life of Thra…ybulus. p. 12 34.Thraſybulus his reward, a crown of two branches, Bays, whereby he never contracted the peoples envy, but to his laſt had an interest in all mens good word and affection. And (which was the crown of all) he ever ſtood firm to his Principles, and could never be juſtly numbred amongst them who were given to change, always abhorring to wear that Glove which would fit both hands: If at any time he went with the ſtream, it was becauſe the ſtream went with him; and ſtil as the tyde turned, he owned his Principles, and boldly adventured to ſwim againſt it. No man can charge him to be like the bullruſh, which always waves with the wind; but all that knew him, can, without falſhood or flattery, affirm, that nothing could move him but Reaſon and Honeſty. The truth is, he was in this capacity a man ſo excelling, that every one was ambitious (as they were about Homer) to prove him to be his Homer.Countryman. But why do I ſtay ſo long in this, which, to the judgment and experience of his fellow Worthies, and almoſt to the whole Nation and City, was ſo certain and infallible; I rather deſcend to ſpeak to his ſpiritual part, as he knew, owned, loved and obeyed Jeſus Chriſt, and truly in this I know none that profeſs the Name of God in the way of the Gospel, but may be glad to have ſuch a Copy to write after. I have obſerved ſeveral things in him as a Saint, which I never ſaw met together in ſo much perfection in any man of his time.
1. He was a Real Chriſtian; he was ſuch a Chriſtian, as aSeneca.Seneca was a Philoſopher, bPlut. in the life of Seneca.more ſo in deed, then in name; though his face, with Moſes, did always ſhine, yet especially, with the Kings daughter, he was all glorious within: He much delighted to be beſt to God, and to his boſom friends. His integrity was his perfection. I may ſay of him (and I know the Lord ſaith the ſame) as God ſpake of Job, in every condition, that there was none like him in the earth, a perfect Job 1. 8. Job 2. 3. Gen 25. 27. Vid. car. in Job 1. 8.and an upright man, one that feareth God, and eſcheweth evil: That which is here called perfect, in Jacobs Character is called plain, ſo that the plain heart is the perfect heart, which was indeed the unparalleld perfection of this Worthy.
2. He was a Humble Christian; the higher he was in Gods account, the lower ſtill in his own: He knew too much of God, as not to know himſelf: He often ſpake in the language of Job; I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear, but Job 42 5. 6.now mine eye ſeeth thee; wherefore I abhor my ſelf, and repent in duſt and aſhes. He was never like the Phariſee, who lived far from neighbors, and ſo was neceſſitated to commend himſelf. He did indeed for his time very much for God, yet Col. 3. 12. 1 Pet. 5. 5. foreign humilitatem animi vobis in fixam habete.was he never heard to ſay, Come ſee my zeal for the Lord of Hoſts. He always obſerved the Apoſtles Rule, to put on humbleneſs of mind, and to be clothed with humility; for all that ever converſed with him, did, from the ſweetneſs of his carriage, truly conclude him to be a man humble in Spirit. In the midſt of all his honours he was rather preſſed down with the weight of them, then puffed up with the blast of them. When he was at the higheſt, the poor, which received the Gospel, he ſtill with much delight received as his familiars and equals; yea, with S. Paul, rather accounting himſelf the leaſt, 1 Cor. 15 9 Ephe. 3 8. foreign Miaimorum minimo Bez. Non jacto dignitatem meam fatcor me minimum eſse omnium Sanctorum. Pelica.yea leſs then the leaſt of all Saints.
3. He was a Sober Christian: though he much enquired into ſpiritual Myſteries, yet he never was wiſe above what was written. I never knew him but a great Lover of the Scriptures, and a ſpecial Admirer of that they teſtified of, viz. the Glorious Myſtery of Christ Crucified. He was never ſo ſuperstitious, as againſt clearer …ght, wilfully to retain dark and worm-eaten Principles; neither was he ſo ſlight, as upon every ſpecious ſhew to ſorego a wel experimented ſerious truth, to embrace a notional nothing. I am privy to many temptations of this kind, which he often wraſtled with: But this I know, that down-right plain truths, ſuch as Peter preached, Acts 2. (an expreſſion he often loved to uſe) were more acceptable and ſweet to him, then all the empty highflown nations and ſpeculations which this age, above all others, hath uſhered into the world. God gave him the mercy of a plain heart, and that heart delighted in pure and plain Simile gaudet ſimili.truth. I have heard, that there is in Scotland a floating Iſland, that if the Seaman cast his Anchor there, the Land will probably carry away his Ship. This excellent Servant of the Lord did never caſt the Anchor of his Soul upon ſuch an uncertain thing, but upon Christ, who is yeſterday, and to day, and the ſame for ever.
4. He was a Believing Chriſtian: The life which he lived Gal. 2. 20.in the fleſh was by the faith of the Son of God. He was clearly taught of God that rare art of going out of himſelf, and acting in another. Hence it came to paſs, that what he did Deus magis delectatur adverbi is quam nominibus. Heb. 11. 5.was not only good in the matter, but alſo in the manner of performance, with which * God is well pleaſed. This is the teſtimony which the Apoſtle gives of Enoch, that by faith he ple… ſed God. And the grand thing which God will take notice of at the laſt day, ſhall be the acting of Saints in a holy and ſpiritual manner: Well done good and faithful Servant, enter Mat. 25. 21 foreign id eſt, foreign Bez. Iob 21. 15. Quid pro…iemus? Iun. Mal. 3 14.thou into the Joy of thy Lord. His faith led him forth to do all that he did ſtill out of pure and entire affection to God, and the things themſelves. He never ſerved God for profit, but for pleaſure; not like thoſe which desperately ſaid, What profit ſhall we have if we pray unto him? nor like thoſe who much ſpeak the ſame language, What profit is it that we have kept his Ordinance? Nay, rather he accounted the work it ſelf, wherein he enjoyed ſweet and intimate Communion with Chriſt, as ſuff…ient wages. He delighted much to be near Chriſt, to ſee his face, and to hear his voyce: It was his frequent expreſſion, How dull is that Sermon or Ordinance to me, wherein I cannot ſee or meet with Jeſus Chriſt! Chriſt ſtill was the Ce…er of all his thoughts, which made him ſo little to be taken with this world, that he did not ſo much as careleſly mind the inheritance God gave him here, but ſtill delighted to accommodate his thoughts with better objects: It was but a trouble to him to think of living to enjoy that which he was heir to, he ſtill rather deſired to be diſſolved, and to be with Chriſt, which he accounted beſt of all for him: Though his time was but ſhort in this world, yet he thought it extream long till he was in the arms of his Saviour. It made him to bear his laſt ſickneſs with much patience and cheerfulneſs, becauſe he thought after that ſickneſs he ſhould be well to eternity: Ʋpon that account, though he was ſometimes full of pain, yet he was always full of peace, inſomuch that the very day before he dyed, being asked by a friend, whom he loved, How it was now with his Spirit? his anſwer preſently was, I have now no trouble to wraſtle with, but the unwillingneſs of thoſe that are dear to me to ſubmit to the Will of the Lord concerning me, expreſſing in himſelf much joy and ſatisfaction in his expectation of the ſudden accompliſhment of Gods good Pleaſure, wherein the Lord not many hours after did fully gratifie his longing deſires, and even in the ſtrength and vigour of his underſtanding and parts he ſweetly fell aſleep in the Lord. And now, Oh that my head were waters, and mine eyes a fountain of tears, that Ier. 9 …1.I might weep day and night for ſo irrepairable a loſs. I know nothing here can now take my heart, when the righteous are thus ſadly taken away. But I muſt correct my ſelf, and retire into the Wilderneſs, and weep bitterly, where none ſhall witneſs it, or be prejudiced by it. Therefore now ſeeing God hath determined his own Will, my great buſineſs is in the ſtrength of Chriſt to ſpeak to your conſolation (ſweet Lady) who have the deepeſt ſhare in this ſad loſs. The truth is, the Lord hath taken from you the most ſuitable and choyceſt Quum non ſatis naturae, neque Gloriae, nequae patriae vix…ſset.mercy you had below himſelf, and that in the midſt of your enjoyment of it; when the flower in your boſom was moſt fragrant, it pleaſed the Lord that the… it ſhould be withered. God took him away before he had lived half long enough to any relation; but the Lord hath done it, and it is good to be ſilent in his Will: Your buſineſs now is to ſee and receive the making up of this loſs in Chriſt, who is not only a Father to the fatherleſs, but alſo a Huſband to the Widow: *Iſa. 54 5.Thy Maker is thy Husband. There are four things wherein the Lord doth manifeſt to you his tender ſenſe of your condition.
1. He executes all your Judgment for you; He is the widows *Pſa 68. 5. Defenſor viduarum. Iun. Spei ſecularis ſocietate deſtitutis dominus ſibi templum fabricat. Aug.Judg: Hers in a peculiar manner. God was ſo good under the Law, as to *Deu. 10. 81.execute the judgment of the widow; much more is he ſo now under the Gospel: Whether you are Plaintiff or Defendant, ſeeing the Judg is yours, the Cauſe cannot but be yours alſo.
2. He eſtabliſheth mercies to you: When a huſband dyes, the very pillars of the houſe are broken; God then appears and eſtabliſheth all again: ſo that now what the widow hath, though never ſo little, is more ſure to her then to any one elſe: Pro. 15. 25 Conſtituit terminum viduae. …un. 1 King. 17. 16.* He eſtabliſheth the border of the widow. It was the widows oyl in the cruſe, and the widows meal in the barrel, which did not waſte.
3. He threatens all that afflict you; He proclaims to all the world what he will do againſt them who do the leaſt thing againſt you: Read often that place, Exod. 22. 22, 23, 24. Yea, if any do but ſo much as vex you, God numbers it in the Ezek 22. 7Catalogue of their great prevocations.
4. He looks upon it as a ſignel act of goodneſs in all that ſhew mercy to you: He looks upon it as that wherein all Religion Jam 1. …7. foreign Curare & pro virili ſublevare. Bez. Jor. 49. 11is ſwallowed up: This is pure Religion, to viſit the fatherleſs and widows in their affliction.
Now from all this diſcovery of Gods goodneſs to you, what is it that God may juſtly expect and challenge from you, but the caſting of your ſelf by faith upon him? God encourageth you to it: Let their widows truſt in me. Now earth is blaſted and withered to you, whom ſhould you fly to, but him in whom the life and fulneſs of what you have loſt ſtill do abide and continue? What Earth cannot repair, Heaven can. Oh that God would therefore by this dispenſation take occaſion to lead you forth into further experiences of himſelf, that you might, while you drink down this bitter cup, taſte alſo and ſee that the Lord is gracious. This I know will be your only relief, and that which in …e will certainly ſcatter that cloud of ſadneſs which indeed at preſent reſts with too great darkneſs upon your Spirit, which the Lord, by the manifestation of himſelf, will in his time totally diſpel: In the mean while, let that ſweet Scripture as a companion reſt with you: Unto the upright there ariſeth light in the darkneſs: he is gracious, and Pſa. 112. 4.full of compaſſion, and righteous. That the Marrow and Spirit of this Text may be your Portion, is the unceſſan… Prayer of,
LADY, Your poor Orator at the Throne of Grace, and unworthy Servant in the Work of the Goſpel. GEORGE COKAY Apr. 18. 1650.