Funeral Sermon of Samuel Willard, Title page 1 – Publishers advertisement
A Funeral Sermon ON THE DEATH OF THAT Learned & Excellent DIVINE The Reverend Mr. SAMUEL WILLARD, PASTOR of a Church of CHRIST in Boſton, and VICE-PRESIDENT OF HARVARD COLLEDGE. Who Deceaſed Sept. 12. 1707. Aetatis Suae 68.
By Ebenezer Pemberton, A.M.
To which is Annexed, A POEM, on the ſame Sorrowful Occaſion, By the Reverend Mr. BENJAMIN COLMAN.
BOSTON: Printed by B. Green, for Benj Eliot, & Sold at his Shop under the Weſt end of the Town Houſe 1707
The Epiſtle DEDICATORY TO THE Congregation Lately under the PASTORAL CARE Of the Reverend Mr. SAMUEL WILLARD.
DEAR FRIENDS,
THE Great God, who is the only Fountain of true Honour, has imprinted that Majeſty and Beauty on true Excellency & Piety, that they command Eſteem and Reverence from all that obſerve them. And the more Eminent any are in Intellectual or Moral Perfections, the more diffuſive in their Goodneſs; the greater Honour is due to them when Living, & when Dead. Such as have been Publick Benefactors to the World by their Worthy Deeds, challenge the moſt Publick Acknowledgements. And to deny their Memory this juſt Tribute, will argue an heavy Imputation of Ingratitude and Injuſtice, both to God and Them. This ſeems agreeable to the Natural Notices of what is Good and Excellent, which are ingraven on the Minds of all men.
Hence the Very Unletter'd Nations have had many Contrivances, ſome odd enough, to Eternize the Memory of their admired Hero's.
That Part of the Heathen World, that has been better Diſciplined, has always had an Honourable Regard to the Names of their Departed Friends, who either for Wiſdom, or Courage, or Vertue, did ſingularly deſerve of the Publick. Funeral Panegyricks were made to Celebrate their Praiſe; & the greateſt Care was uſed to tranſmit their Names with all Marks of Honour to their Lateſt Poſterity.
The People of God themſelves have in all Ages accounted it a part of Piety, Juſtice and Charity to pay deſerved Reſpects to the Memory of Great and Good men.
The Jews were famous for this: They were wont to prepare the Bodies of their Worthy's for their Funeral by Coſtly Spices, Rich Odours and Perfumes. This we have an account of at the Death of Aſa. 2 Chron. 16.14. To which Cuſtome poſſibly the Wiſe man alludes, when he tells us, A Good Name is better than precious Oyntment, Eccl. 7.1. Decent Sepulchres were provided for their Interment; and Funeral Elegies made in their Praiſe. Their Names were not mentioned without a Bleſſing on their Memory: And agreeably the Rabbins ſeldome quote any Perſon of this Figure, but with that Form of Honourable Commemoration, viz. Such an One of Bleſſed Memory.
The Primitive Chriſtians accounted it no ſmall part of their Religion, to do Suitable Honour to the Memory of their Deceaſed Saints, eſpecially Martyrs, and faithful Paſtors. They took care that the very Aſhes of their Martyrs ſhould not be treated as Common Duſt: They were wont to Enſhrine their Remains of Mortality in Tombs, & Erect Monuments, on which were Inſcribed their Names, Quality and Character. Funeral Orations were made upon them: And they had Publick Records, called their Diptychs, in which their Names were Enrolled with all Circumſtances of Honour. And in a little time they were prone to pay a Reverence, to a fault great, to the very Dormitorys of thoſe that Slept in Jeſus. To be ſure in a few Ages they came to pay undue Honour to their Memory; which open'd the way to that Superſtition, and Idolatry in their Invocation, and Worſhip of Saints, which the Church of Rome has been for many Ages Infamous for.
And tho' it becomes us to avoid all that was Superſtitious, and faulty herein practiſed either by Jew or Gentile, Chriſtian or Infidel; yet it ſeems agreeable to the Light of Reaſon & Revelation to perpetuate the Memory of our Worthies, and to mention their Names with due Reſpect. The Wiſe man tells us, Prov. 10.7. That the Memory of the Juſt ſhall be bleſſed; i. e. ſhall be praiſed as ſome; or ſhall be with praiſes, as others read it. And it is a Command given, Heb. 13.7. Remember them that have the Rule over you, who have ſpoken to you the Word of God, whoſe faith follow, conſidering the end of their Converſation. Indeed a great care is neceſſary that in all the Praiſes we give to departed Saints, we ultimately reſpect the Glory of God, who was the Giver of all their Valuable Endowments: Their Worthy Actions muſt be ſet forth in a manner ſuitable, and with a juſt deſign, to incite the Living to an Honourable Imitation of them. And thus there will be no real Inconſiſtency, but an admirable Harmony, between Praiſing the Dead, & Inſtructing the Living.
I cannot therefore but think that I have done but my Duty, what Chriſtianity allows, & Invites to, in giving ſome Account of the Gifts & Graces of that Excellent Perſon, who was lately Serving God, and the Intereſt of this Congregation here below; but is now giving his Attendance on the Throne of the Lamb Above: And am perſwaded it may be many ways advantageous, eſpecially to this Flock of Chriſt; to gratify the deſires of many, by a Publication of what of his Character was deliver'd in the following Sermon, in which I have the ſatisfaction to have ſaid Leſs, than I am fully perſwaded, was his Due. And ſure I am, this ſhort account of this Servant of God may, thro' the Bleſſing of Heaven, be of conſiderable Service to us, that have ſo long Sat under his Shadow, and have had our Souls, if not our own fault, often refreſhed with his Diſpenſations.
The Great & Good things that are juſtly ſpoken of him, ſhould lead us to magnify Chriſt the Fountain from whence all his Accompliſhments were derived; and teach us what Honour is due to God in whom all Perfections do Concenter. They tend to inſpire us with Gratitude to Heaven for the beſtowment of ſo Rich a Bleſſing on us, and for the Continuance of the ſame for ſo long a ſeaſon; and ſo to breathe into us the Spirit and Temper of Holy Bernard, who on the Death of his Brother Gerard broke out into that flight: Lord, Thou haſt given, and Thou haſt taken away; tho' we grieve that Thou haſt Taken away, yet we cannot forget that Thou didſt give him. His Character may Excite us to a ſtrict Examination of our ſelves, whether our Improvement of ſo great a Bleſſing has been proportionable to our advantages, which hereby have been ſingular; and may lead us to a ſolemn Conſideration of that Awful Account we have to give up to God of ſo Rich a Price we have had in our hands; & how Speechleſs we ſhall be found if at the laſt we appear Strangers to Chriſt, and his Holineſs. It may ſerve to promote our Humiliation, and Repentance for our paſt barrenneſs under ſuch Manuring, as Heaven has afforded us, by the Care, Wiſdom and Fidelity of This his Servant: It may direct our Endeavours after, and Prayers for a Succeſſor, that may Enjoy a double Portion of his Gifts and Graces, to fit him to Stand in the Gap that is made in our Hedge. In a word, it may animate us to a due Imitation of his Holy Example, and to a juſt value for, and holy Improvement of what of his WORKS are left in our Hands, by which tho' DEAD, He yet Speaketh aloud to us.
By his Printed Works He has Erected himſelf a Monument, that will Endure when the Famed MAUSOLEUM's of the World ſhall moulder down, and be buryed in their own Ruines. Theſe will render his Name a Rich Perfume to ſuch as are acquainted with them, and have a true Reliſh for Pure and Undefiled Religion. Theſe contain a Rich Treaſure of Goſpel Truths, which are adapted to advance our Chriſtian Knowledge and Practice. In Them we have the Depths of Divine Wiſdom and Grace, in the Salvation of Sinners diſcover'd, from its firſt Deſign and Projection in the Dayes of Eternity, to the Conſummation of the Redeemeds Bleſſedneſs in the Kingdom of Glory, where Hope ſhall be turned into Fruition, and Faith into Open Viſion.
Here (a)Vide. His Treatiſe of the Covenant of Redemption.we have the Soveraignty and Freeneſs of Divine Grace diſplayed, and the Stability of the Believers Salvation aſſerted in the Account of thoſe Tranſactions between the Father and Son before the Foundations of the World were Laid, concerning the Redemption of Loſt man, when the Counſel of Peace was between them. Here (b)His Covenant Keeping the Way to Bleſſedneſs.we have the Tenour, the Duties and Bleſſings of the Covenant of Grace Open'd: A Covenant under the Vows of which we were brought in BAPTISM, which we are called to Renew at the TABLE of the LORD; and which is the Foundation of all our Hopes for Eternity. Here (c)His Diſcourſes on the XXXII Pſalm.we have the Eſſential Characters of the truly Bleſſed Man. Here (d)His Fountain Opened.the Polluted Sinner is directed to the true Fountain to cleanſe in. Here (e)His Treatiſe of Juſtification.the Condemned Rebel is inſtructed in the true way, how he may Stand in the Judgment. Here (f)His Remedy againſt Deſpair.the Deſponding Soul has a Remedy againſt Deſpair. The Prodigal Sons of men are here (g)His Penitent Prodigal.drawn with the Cords of Love & Mercy to their Fathers Arms, to the Service, Table, and Entertainments of his Houſe. Here (h)His Heavenly Merchandize.we are taught what value to put upon Divine Truths, and how to improve Wiſdoms Market. Here (i)His Barren Figtree.the Carnal lazy Profeſſor is Admoniſhed of the Evil & Danger of Barrenneſs in God's Vineyard. And (k)His Peril of the Times.the Hypocritical warned of the Peril of Formality in Religion. The Sorrowful Chriſtian has here (l)The Mourners Cordial.a Cordial provided to keep him from fainting. And (m)His Book of Deſertion.the Deſerted Soul is inſtructed how to improve the Hidings of God's Countenance, ſo as to have the Joyes of his Salvation reſtored. Here (n)His Chriſtians dayly Exerciſe.the Tempted are directed how to underſtand the Wiles of Satan, and how to behave themſelves in their Chriſtian Warfare, ſo as to come off more than Conquerors. In a word, the true Believer is here (o)His Child's Portion,acquainted with his Dignity & Priviledge, being Adopted into the Line of Heaven; and what the PORTION he may live in Expectation of, and ſhall fully Poſſeſs, when his Warfare ſhall be Ended, and he ſafely Conducted to his Fathers Preſence, where he ſhall SEE CHRIST AS HE IS.
The Valuable Treatiſes, in which we have theſe Heavenly Leſſons; together with a conſiderable number of Choice Sermons on particular Occaſions, are Improvable Talents, which we muſt Account for before the Judge of the World. And it becomes us to take theſe, and improve them, as Eliſha did Elijah's Mantle, which dropt from him on his Tranſlation; and ſee what Wonders of Grace, may, thro' the Spirit of Bleſſing, be done by them on our Hearts.
And, I Truſt, the Relation I ſtand in to you will allow me with importunity to preſs on you, as well as on my own Soul, Some few Words of Counſel and Admonition, which our departed Paſtor often inculcated in the Courſe of his Miniſtry, & which are worthy to be Written on our Souls with Indelible Characters. viz.
Let us Labour to lay a good Foundation of Chriſtian Knowledge, as the foundation of Practical Religion. His whole Miniſtry was wiſely fitted to lay this foundation in us; and the want of it in many of his Charge he was wont pathetically to Lament. This Knowledge we muſt Endeavour to get, and improve in: which is neceſſary both to Truth and Growth in Grace. Without it our Affections are but blind Powers: they may be moved, and made Tumultuous, but not well regulated, and all the Impreſſions made on them will ſoon be Effaced.
Let us take care that all our Knowledge be Practical. To this End he open'd the Myſterious Doctrines of Religion; and ſet forth Chriſt in his Mediatorial Al-ſufficiency; That we might be Encouraged to Duty by that Proviſion made for our Aſſiſtance, and Acceptance in Obedience.
Let us be Admoniſhed not to Abuſe the Doctrine of that Spiritual Impotence, which has invaded Humane Nature, to Sloth and Negligence. He with Sorrow obſerved in Converſing with Sinners, how they would fly to this as an Excuſe for their being Strangers to the Power of Godlineſs. But we muſt remember, our Weakneſs lyes in our Wills, it is choſen & obſtinate; and is ſeen in reſiſting the Grace which is offered, and which is ſufficient for us; and therefore can never Excuſe in the Eyes of an Impartial Judge.
Let us Uſe utmoſt Caution that we do not take up with a Preſumptuous Confidence for true Faith. This is a Rock on which Millions have been daſht to pieces. This Servant of God was frequent in Warning againſt this, and in aſſerting the purifying influence of Saving Faith; and that an Unholy Believer was the greateſt of Contradictions. Let us ſee then that our Faith do not ſeparate Chriſt's Ephod from his Scepter: That it be not a Dead, but a Living Faith; that will purify the heart, work by love, and overcome the World.
Let us be careful how we take our State to be Regenerate without Examination: Too many it is to be feared, think they were Converted at ſuch a Seaſon, when they were under Legal Terrors, and afterward had ſome ſenſible Conſolation; and they have recourſe to this ever after, without trying themſelves by their After Lives, which have the black Marks of the Unſanctifyed upon them. This cheat we have been often warn'd not to put on our own Souls.
Let us be careful to Sanctify the Sabbath of God. The Obſervation of which will have a great influence upon the whole of our Religion, as has been often Inculcated on us.
Let us remember the Solemn Cautions Enter'd in the Name of Chriſt againſt Apoſtacy, & all approaches to it, either in Principle or Practice.
Let us be careful, in the diſcharge of the Duties of our ſeveral Relations, to Adorn the Doctrine of God our Saviour.
Let us take the Counſels of God, which called us to Proficiency in the School of Chriſt, to be Stedfaſt, Immoveable, alwayes Abounding in the Work of the Lord, knowing our Labour will not be in vain.
Theſe things, and many more, which we have Learned, Received, and ſeen in him, Let us do; and the God of Peace will be with us. The Great Shepherd of the Sheep will feed, lead, and defend this Flock.
In this way we ſhall Erect for him the moſt Honourable Monuments in our hearts; & his Memory will be always freſh, and his Name pleaſant to us thro' the Dayes of Eternity.
I ſhall not add, But that the GREAT LORD and Head of the CHURCH may Shower down all Spiritual Bleſſings on This Congregation; That the Kingdom of Chriſt be here advanced by the Converſion of the Unbelieving, and Improvement of the Believing in Holineſs: That you may always Enjoy the Means of Grace, & Divine Influences on them; that your Breach may be well Repaired; that your Houſes may be Bethels; and every Soul a Living Temple; & that we may all meet together at laſt in the HOLY of HOLIES Above, and be FOR EVER with THE LORD.
Shall be the Conſtant Prayer of Your Affectionate Friend & Servant EBEN. PEMBERTON. Boſton, Octob. 16th. 1707.
Beſides ſmall Literal Miſtakes, & falſe Stops, there are theſe ERRATA's which diſturb the ſenſe.
PAge 38. l 1. after men, add does. l. 11. for (are) r (is). p. 41. l. 24 dele (at). p. 44. l. 26. for (Diſtriction) r. (Diſtinction). p. 46. l. 5. for (to) r. (thro') p. 73. l. 15. after (and) add (we). p. 74. l. 15. for (had ſtained) r. (did threaten to ſtain). l. 16. dele (did threaten).
The following BOOKS Written by the late Reverend and Learned Divine Mr. Samuel Willard, to be Sold by Benjamin Eliot at his Shop under the Weſt End of the Town-Houſe in Boſton.
1 SPiritual Deſertions Diſcovered & Remedied: being the Subſtance of Divers Sermons, Preached for the Help of Dark Souls labouring under Divine withdrawings, from Pſal. 30, 7. Thou didſt hide thy face & I was troubled.
2 The Fountain Opened: or the Great Goſpel Privilege of having Chriſt Exhibited to Sinful men, wherein alſo is proved that there ſhall be a National Calling of the Jews, from Zech. 13.1. In that Day there ſhall be a Fountain Opened, to the houſe of David, and to the Inhabitants of Jeruſalem for Sin and for Uncleanneſs.
To which is Annexed a Diſcourſe of Evangelical Perfection, or how far the Goſpel requires believers to Aſpire after being compleatly perfect, from Math. 5.48. Be ye therefore perfect, as your Father which is in Heaven is perfect.
3. The truly Bleſſed Man: or the way to be happy here and for ever: being the Subſtance of Divers Sermons, Preached, on Pſalm XXXII. throughout.
4. The Peril of the Times diſplayed, or the Danger of Mens taking up with a Form of Godlineſs but denying the Power of it: from 2 Tim. 4.5. Having a Form of Godlineſs but denying the power thereof.
5. Morality not to be relyed on for Life: or a brief Diſcourſe diſcovering the One Thing wanting, which leaves the Legaliſt ſhort of Eternal Life: from Mark 10 21. One thing thou lackeſt.
6 Loves-Pedigree: or a Diſcourſe ſhewing the Grace of Love in a Believer to be of a Divine Original: from 1 John 4 19. We love him becauſe he firſt loved us.
7 The Chriſtians Exerciſe by Satans Temptations: or an Eſſay to diſcover the Methods which this Adverſary uſeth to Tempt the Children of God, and to direct them how to Eſcape the miſchiefs thereof: from 2 Chron. 21.1 And Satan ſtood up againſt Iſrael and provoked David to Number the People.
8. Walking with God the Great Duty and Privilege of true Chriſtians: in Two Sermons: from Gen 5.24. And Enoch walked with God.
9. The Man of War: A Sermon Preached to the Artillery Company at Boſton: from 1 Kings 9.22. Theſe were men of War.
10. The beſt Privilege: A Sermon wherein the great advantage of Enjoying the Oracles of God is diſplayed, and the Duty of ſuch as have them is urged: from Rom. 3.1, 2 What advantage then hath the Jew, &c.
11. The fear of an Oath: or ſome Cautions to be uſed about Swearing, if we would approve our ſelves truly Godly: from Eccl. 9.2. As he that feareth an Oath.
12. The Checkered State of the Goſpel Church: being the Subſtance of a Sermon prepared for and in part Preached on Septemb. 18. 1701. being a Day of Publick Faſting and Prayer: from Zech. 14.6, 7. And it ſhall come to paſs in that day, that the light ſhall not be clear, nor dark. But it ſhall be one day which ſhall be known to the Lord, not day, nor night; but it ſhall come to paſs that at evening time it ſhall be light.