Funeral Sermon for Elizabeth Foxcroft, Addition
AN ADDITION.
THE foregoing Sermon on the Death of my late honoured Mother, was deſign'd & calculated more for the Inſtruction & Edification of the Living, than the Commendation of the Dead. Yet from the few occaſional Hints interſperſed in the Diſcourſe, (tho' not particularly apply'd to Her, becauſe in General applicable to and intended for the other excellent Gentlewomen, (Her dear Friends in Heaven before Her,) whom I did alſo deſign to commemorate, and for the Loſs of whom our Tears are ſet a flowing afreſh by this repeated ſtroke,) I ſay, from the few looſe Hints given in the Diſcourſe, We may in ſome Meaſure form Her Character. I did not aim at a full exact Portraiture and Deſcription of Her: or if I did, I'm ſure I have wonderfully fallen ſhort, and miſcarry'd in the Attempt. What has been ſaid might here be confirm'd, and Abundance more be added with great Truth and Juſtice. But I confeſs, I am afraid to enlarge any further in Her juſt Praiſes, leſt They, that know Her not, ſhou'd tax my Veracity, and imagine me to be brib'd & bias'd by my Affection and Relation to Her. And as for Thoſe that were acquainted with Her, They need not me to illuſtrate Her worthy, or recall to their Thoughts what ſo endear'd Her to Them while living, and cauſes them (now She's dead) to ſpeak of Her in ſuch Terms of Reſpect & Honour, as loudly proclame Their juſt Value for Her Memory, & deep Reſentment of Their Loſs. Her intimate Friends were choſen Ones, and good Judges of real Merit: Unto Them I appeal as Witneſſes to the Truth of all that I have ſpoken in Her Praiſe: and to Them I leave it to tell, Why They will ſo readily own, She was diſtinguiſh'd from the greateſt Part of Her Sex, and had not many Equals.—Only I will venture my ſelf to ſay, That few, I believe, have paſſed through the World with greater Repute, and more general Eſteem, or more fully come up to the rare Character of the Virtuous Woman, given by the Wiſe Propheteſs in the laſt Chapter of the Proverbs. She was indeed blameleſs and greatly beloved from Her Youth up. She was (as I'm told by yet-living Witneſſes) an apt, a grave, a very promiſing and deſirable Child; and as She grew in Years, ſo ſhe increaſed in Wiſdom, and in Favour with GOD and Man.— She had the Happineſs to be born of excellent Parents, (Two of the moſt eminent Chriſtians in Their Day,) who took great Care not only for Her polite Breeding, but her religious Education; and the ſame unfeigned Faith, that dwelt in them, was found in Her alſo. She was in ſubjection to Them with all Gravity, and (as the Apoſtle teaches all Young Women to be) Sober, diſcrete, chaſte, a keeper at Home, [reſerv'd, diligent,] good; and in Behaviour as becometh Holineſs; unſpotted with thoſe Vanities & Vices, which are the too common Blemiſhes of unguarded Youth. She was a Pattern of ſtrict Virtue, Morality, and good Carriage. And as bright an Example of Piety and Devotion; early addicting Her Self to Retirement for Cloſet-Duties; Delighting in Prayer & Meditation, in Reading and Hearing GOD's Word, and in religious Acquaintance, and Conference with good People.— And Her Piety was undiſſembled; a vital Reality, built on ſolid Principles, inſpir'd from Above. Her Religion was not Superficial: but internal, and deep-laid on a good Foundation of Repentance from dead Works, and of Faith towards GOD. She was the Eternal King's Daughter, by Spiritual Regeneration; and therefore glorious within; which was the Character (She has pleaſantly told Me) a Pious Miniſter once complemented Her with, when Young. She was indeed an … & real Chriſtian. And (as I've known Her humbly own with admiring Praiſes of the Divine Goodneſs to Her) She had, in Her Youth, a good Hope thro' Grace; and was perſuaded of a ſaving Work of the Spirit in Her, upon ſearching Her Heart, and examining Her ſelf by the Characters of the Regenerate laid down in the Scriptures, and comparing Her own Experiences with thoſe of other true Penitents.— And as She was an Early Convert, ſo by a patient Continuance in Well-doing She came to be an Eminent Saint. She was a rare Pattern of ſtedfaſt Perſeverance, and Growth in Grace. And (which is all I ſhall add concerning Her Life) in the ſeveral Relations, that She came into, She was very Exemplary to the laſt; She died well reported of for good Works; having been obedient to Her own Husband; having brought up Children; and guided well Her Houſe; having lodged Strangers; having waſhed the Saints Feet; having reliev'd the Afflicted; and diligently follow'd every good Work.
AND what now remains, but to ſay ſomething about the Manner of Her Death; Her Frame and Carriage in Her laſt Hours? And all I intend to offer, ſhall be (chiefly from my own Obſervation and Memory,) ſome Paſſages that may tend to the Honour of GOD's Grace in and with Her; or be proper for our Imitation, Encouragement and Quickning.
HER Patience was truly admirable. She was exercis'd for ſome Time with great, continual and very tedious Pains, which were a ſufficient Trial of Her Patience; But She bore all with a Chriſtian Silence and ſteddy Calmneſs & Firmneſs of Spirit. And when a very ſhocking Turn ſometimes forced Her to liſp out a Complaint of, Pain, Pain! She wou'd inſtantly correct Her ſelf, and rebuke Her [ſeeming] Impatience; ſaying, But 'tis my heavenly Father, who is thus chaſtning of Me, and I deſerve it, — I deſerve what is infinitely worſe. And I hope all is meant unto Good. Once in ſome of Her laſt Moments, She ſpake out with a pleaſant Look & Tone, ſaying, O this is incomparable Pain! —and repeated the ſurpriſing Expreſſion. She had almoſt an invincible Fortitude of Mind. She waited on the Lord, and He ſtrengthen'd Her.
AND Her Reſignation was as remarkable. Her often-repeated Words were, I freely ſubmit to the Will of my heavenly Father, whether for Life or Death. I'm content; His Will be done! I am willing to die; or if it be His Pleaſure that I ſhall live ſtill and ſuffer, I am alſo willing. I leave my ſelf wholly to His alwiſe Diſpoſe. Only She added, Let GOD be with Me, and help Me to endure to the End!
HER Contempt of the World was ſingular. She was got above the Deſire & Love of Life. Once on my putting the Queſtion to Her; If She deſir'd to live any longer here, Upon what Motive it was? She reply'd with a certain Vehemence, (that ſpake Her Sincerity,) "I don't deſire it at all, Child. — Only She added this ſutable Corrective; I ſubmit intirely to the Will of GOD; I am willing to live & ſuffer yet, if He will be with me. — Once She ſeem'd to forbid us to pray for Her being any longer abſent from the Lord. And it is remarkable that when ask'd, What ſpecial Petitions She would have put up for Her? I don't remember, that She at any time mentioned Recovery: but Pardon, and Acceptance with GOD, and His gracious ſanctifying and comforting Preſence with Her, were the Sum of Her Deſires.—When her Indiſpoſition began to grow upon Her, She was apprehenſive of Death's Approach, and ſaid, I have done with this World; all my Concern now is to ſee my way ſafe and clear out of it.
SHE was in a very humble, lowly, and penitent Frame. She abhorr'd Her ſelf, and repented in Duſt & Aſhes. She ſaid, GOD is now chaſtning me for Sin. I deſerve all this, & Infinitely more. — Upon which I ask'd Her, Whether She ſpake of any more heinous Provocation, which She tho't might be the particular procuring Cauſe of this Viſitation: But She anſwer'd with great Modeſty in the Negative; ſaying, No, No; I bleſs GOD, who by His Grace hath kept Me. I can't accuſe my ſelf of allow'd heinous Tranſgreſſions, nor do I know of any Sin unrepented of.—Still She ſaid, She deſerv'd all that was laid upon Her; and that was Her Petition, Lord, Hear in Heaven, and Forgive, Forgive, and do, for thy mercy's ſake.
AGAIN, The Fear of GOD was in a very vigorous Exerciſe. She had a powerful ſenſe of GOD on Her Mind, the higheſt Reverence of His awful Majeſty, and a becoming Dread of His terrible Diſpleaſure. It was a great Expreſſion of Her's; Leaving this World is nothing to Me, Putting off this Body ſeems nothing to Me; but (being jealous over her ſelf with a godly Jealouſy, as becomes the beſt & brighteſt Saint on this ſide Heaven, She added,) To think of going into the Preſence of an infinitely holy and Heart-ſearching Judge, This makes me bluſh and tremble.
SHE had a ſtrong & genuine Faith in Chriſt. She ſaid, I am a poor unprofitable Servant, and have Nothing to boaſt of. Free Favour is my only Refuge. I have nothing to depend on, but the free Mercy of God in Chriſt; and in that I truſt. — She thus expreſs'd Her Faith in the Righteouſneſs of Chriſt alone for Juſtification; renouncing all Dependence on Her own Righteouſneſs, as a ſandy Foundation, that, if truſted to, would deceive Her into Ruin; realizing it, (as I have known Her ſometimes to expreſs Her ſelf,) that the Imperfections attending Her beſt Obedience were enough, to provoke the holy GOD to condemn Her, though She were guilty of no other Sins; and that nothing but the Merits and Interceſſion of CHRIST were to be rely'd upon.— She alſo acted Faith in CHRIST, as Her Strength, as well as Righteouſneſs, often calling upon Him in ſuch Terms as theſe; — O my compaſſionate High-Prieſt, my Strong Redeemer, Help Me, Help Me, O my Compaſſionate Saviour! Put underneath thine everlaſting Arms, ſupport and ſave Me.— It might have been ſaid unto Her, O Woman great is thy Faith!
AGAIN, Love to Her GOD, and SAVIOUR, was now kindled into a Flame.
WHEN I was once endeavouring to aſſiſt Her in clearing up the Evidences of Her Adoption, among other Queſtions of Trial, I ask'd Her, Whether She cou'd heartily joyn with the Pſalmiſt in ſaying to GOD, Whom have I in Heaven but Thee, — Here She prevented me and ſaid, Yes, Yes, and there is none upon Earth that I deſire beſides Him! — Her Heart was full of holy Longings after GOD. She often breath'd out her flaming Deſires in ſuch pathetical Expreſſions as thoſe; Lord, Lift thou up the Light of thy Countenance. O let thy Face ſhine upon me, and be merciful unto me. O my GOD, I am caſt down; Thou ſetteſt Me in Darkneſs; Thou hideſt thy face from Me: and what ſhall I do? Mine Eyes are unto Thee. I cry to Thee, O my GOD, in the Day-time, and in the Night: but Thou anſwereſt Me not. O my GOD, in Thy Favour is Life. Crown Me with thy Loving kindneſs.
HER Love to CHRIST was in a fervent Operation. She expreſt the higheſt Eſteem of Him, the ſtrongeſt Deſire towards Him. Once on Her ſaying, O my precious Saviour, Look on me with an Eye of Pity! — I took Occaſion (with a View to helping Her diſcern one Evidence of Her Faith in Chriſt,) to repeat to Her that Scripture, To Them that believe, He is precious:— Upon which, She expreſs'd Her admiring ſenſe hereof, ſaying, O how precious! He is altogether lovely! — She ſaid that, The Enjoyment of Chriſt was all Her Deſire. And that, This whole World was Nothing, Nothing to an Intereſt in Chriſt. And that, If She might but go to be with Chriſt, that wou'd be infinitely better than being here.
MOREOVER, Her Hope & Confidence in GOD did not fail. She had liv'd a Life of Dependence on GOD & made Him Her Truſt from Her Youth: and She had been begotten to a lively Hope of Salvation. And now the Time was come that She muſt die, She had the Hope of the Righteous and the Peace of the Upright in Her End. She was not indeed one of them who have no Bands in their Death ▪ nor of that happy Number, who have the full Aſſurance of Faith and Joy in the Holy Ghoſt. Yet once (I remember) after a long ſilence (when I preſume She had been deeply engag'd in Meditation and Prayer) She ſuddenly open'd Her Eyes and with a kind of Tranſport utter'd theſe Words, Now I have hold of Him, Now I've Hold on him. O let Him never leave me! Let me never loſe my Confidence in him! — Yet the Clouds ſoon return'd after the Rain. Humble Doubts and Fears prevailed; and ſometimes She was in great Darkneſs. One wou'd have expected indeed that ſuch on extraordinary Life of Holineſs and Communion with GOD as She had led, ſhou'd have terminated in a moſt comfortable & joyful Death. Yet GOD, who exerciſes a Sovereign Liberty in the Diſpenſation of His Comforts, was pleaſed to order it otherwiſe with this humble contrite Chriſtian. She was full of ſelf-diffidence & the deepeſt ſelf-abaſement to the laſt: And yet in the midſt of all Her Darkneſs and greateſt Diſtreſs, She had Faith in a lively Exerciſe, and ſome mixture of Hope, which was as an Anchor to Her Soul, and kept Her from being over-ſet with her oppreſſive Fear & Grief. She always call'd on GOD, as Her GOD, with a humble Familiarity, and an obſervable Emphaſis. She often uſed theſe Words in the Agonies of Her … Faith. My GOD help me. My compaſſionate Father help me. I have truſted in Thee, my GOD; let me never be put to Confuſion. I hope in thee my GOD; let me never be confounded.
ONCE in a continuing Fit of acute Pain, She thus expreſſed Her Truſt in GOD; I am in Pain: What ſhall I do? I am weary with my Groaning all the Day. O Lord, mine Eyes are upon Thee. Lord, ſtrengthen Me. O Lord, my Hope is in Thee; whither elſe ſhould I go? In Thee do I truſt: I have truſted in Thee: I muſt truſt in Thee; and I will. Yea tho' thou ſlayeſt Me, yet will I truſt in Thee. — Which laſt Words (the Words of Holy Job in his Affliction) She often uſed. — Under the ſenſe of Her unuſual Darkneſs of Mind and Dullneſs of Affection, Theſe were ſome of the admirable Breathings of Her unſhaken Truſt & Reſignation; My GOD! Thou hideſt thy Face from me, Thou makeſt me walk in Darkneſs. But I ſubmit: I'm content, I'm content. I am at thine al-wiſe Diſpoſe. I deſire the Light of thy Countenance▪ and value it above this whole World: but if Thou ſhalt ſee meet still to hide thy Face from Met, I ſubmit, I ſubmit to thy Holy Will. Only I will yet hope. On Thee my GOD do I wait all the Day long. I hope I ſhall yet praiſe Thee.
AT another Time (the laſt Opportunity I had of ſpeaking with Her,) She ſeem'd to have a more comfortable and chearful Hope: Theſe were ſome of Her Words, I hope in my GOD. O my ſtrong Tower and Defenſe! I hope in Thee, my GOD. I now hope, and this is my Refreſhment. — And again, She ſaid, O my GOD, Thou art my only Hope and Confidence. Thou ſupporteſt and ſtrengtheneſt me, and buildeſt me up in my Faith.
AND again, When She was in the apprehenſion of Thoſe about Her, drawing near to the Cloſe of Her Life, My Father to miniſter to Her Support, repeated ſome Part of the 23d Pſalm, and as He was ſaying thoſe Words, When I walk thro' the Valley of the ſhadow of Death, I will fear no Evil; for thou art with Me, —. She interrupted Him, and ſupplied the Reſt, ſaying, Thy Rod and thy Staff, they comfort Me —. She was heard to ſay divers Times, Come, come, come: How long, how long? — Thus it ſeems, the Clouds paſſed away at the Approach of Death, and at Evening there was Light.
BUT I remember, whenever She had any Reviving, She was continually ſollicitous leſt She ſhould be deceived. She wou'd often pray, O let not my Hope make Me aſhamed. Let it not be the Hope of the Hypocrite, that ſhall periſh! Tho' once She added, It can't be ſo; I am no Hypocrite: I know I am not. And I think it was upon Her uttering theſe Words (which She did with an Air of Aſſurance uncommon to Her,) that I ask'd Her, Whether the Hope She had did ſerve ſenſibly to wean Her from this World, and increaſe Her Hatred of Sin, and inflame Her Deſires towards GOD, &c. And She anſwer'd with Humble Thankfulneſs to GOD, in the Affirmative. — I told Her then Her Hope was certainly the Fruit of the Spirit, a good Hope, which wou'd not be diſappointed.
AND (to add only a Word or two further) She was full of the tendereſt Expreſſions of Love to every Body, and very thankful to Her Friends for their kind Viſits, and for every (the leaſt) Service or Office of Love done by any: And never was a Perſon more lowly-minded; She was clothed with Humility; She cou'd ſee nothing in Her ſelf, (She ſaid) that ſhou'd deſerve ſuch Love and Reſpect from People, as was ſhown Her, and admir'd what cou'd be the Reaſon of it, &c. — But (what is more) She had a Divine Zeal in Exerciſe, that put Her upon diſpenſing Holy Counſels, Cautions and Encouragements to all about Her, as was needful; which She did with great Fidelity and Affection, as well as Modeſt and Diſcretion. How pathetically did She exhort one & another to Order Their Converſation as becometh the Goſpel, to watch over Themſelves, to take Heed to Their ways; and walk in the Way of Truth: adding once this remarkable & very moving Expreſſion. "MY GOD will not be mocked, MY GOD will not be mocked.
HER Dying Counſil to Us, Her Children, (which may We never forget!) was that; O take Heed, take Heed; and be diligent to make your Calling and Election ſure.
SHE ſpake to all in General about a Death-bed-Repentance, and gave Warning againſt the great but too common Folly of depending on it.
SHE expreſſed Her ſenſe of the great Importance of actual Readineſs for a Dying Hour, and to excite hereto was the Tendency of that Counſil, Prepare to meet thy God, O Iſrael! — Which were ſome of her laſt Words, and ſpoken with a moſt awful accent and aſpect.
FURTHER, She was full of Prayer. She was praying always in the Holy Ghoſt; being fervent in Spirit, and with a great Facility pouring out her Deſires (chiefly) in Scripture-Expreſſions; For her Bible was very familiar to Her, She had from a Child known the holy Scriptures, and taken uncommon Pains, to treaſure up the Word of GOD in Her Heart & Memory. She was much in Prayer for Her ſelf, continually looking to and calling upon GOD in CHRIST for Mercy & Grace to help Her. — She alſo prayed for Others, Particularly She left Her Bleſſing on Her Children; when we were ſtanding round Her Bed, and calling Her Bleſſed, acknowleging our Obligations to Her, and expreſſing our deepeſt Sympathy with, as well as dutiful and ſolemn Wiſhes for Her; She ceaſed not to pray for Us, and to bleſs Us in the Name of the Lord, and this not only in General, but in Particular; (not forgetting Thoſe of Her Children that were abſent; and Her Children's Children, even the Children that ſhall be born;) and the laſt Words She was heard to ſay, were thoſe Let my Children Live in Love and Peace; and let the GOD of Love and Peace be with them, for Ever and Ever. Amen!
SHE was very deſirous of the Benefit of other's Prayers with Her and for Her, while Living.
BUT now no longer! She is got beyond the Reach, and above the Need of our Prayers. She is gone where She is eaſed of all Her Burdens; where Her Sighs are turned into Songs; Her Griefs and Groans into Joy and Praiſe; Her Faith into Viſion; Her Hope into Fruition; Her Grace into Glory. Having born the Croſs on Earth, She now wears the Crown in Heaven: While We are left behind in Tears, bewailing our Loſs; [a Judgment, I'm humbly ſenſible, (to ſpeak for my ſelf) I was too ripe for,] And not knowing the Things that ſhall further befall Us. GOD grant it may not prove ſuch a Beginning of ſorrows, as the Death of pious Rachel was; upon which the Affliction of Joſeph in a few Months enſu'd! We ſhou'd therefore humble our ſelves under the mighty Hand of GOD; and be earneſt with Him in Prayer, that He wou'd not proceed in His Controverſy with Us. — Howbeit, if the Spirit of Joſeph (the ſame Spirit of Faith and Patience, of Grace and Supplication) does but reſt upon Us, whatſoever may be the Evil to come, though We ſhould have Sorrow upon Sorrow, Yet (as He ſaid) GOD means it unto Good. If We do but patiently bear, and religiouſly improve afflictive Providences, We ſhall find by happy Experience, that Sorrow is better than Laughter, which is one of the wiſe Proverbs of Solomon, tho' an uncouth Paradox to the carnally-minded: but when GOD has finiſhed His Work, the Myſtery will be unriddled. The Day ſhall declare it.
BUT indeed our Concern now is not ſo much, what ill Events this Viſitation may be the unhappy Forerunner of, or how We ſhall be able to bear them; as what good Account We ſhall be able to give up of our Deportment under and Improvement of the preſent Affliction, and how We ſhall apply it to make Us better prepar'd for the next, whatever it be. — O that We may have Wiſdom and Grace to demean our ſelves aright under this heavy Trial, and accommodate our ſelves to the Intentions of Providence herein; ſo that tho' We are Loſers in our Comforts, yet GOD may be a Gainer in His Glory! O that We may never forget the wiſe Leſſons We've been taught, or loſe the holy Impreſſions (I hope) We have received, by this mournful Diſpenſation! O that hereby our Hearts may be more looſen'd from all Earthly Friendſhips and Enjoyments! That CHRIST (our beſt and never-failing Friend) may be more endear'd to us; and our Affections more ſet upon the Things that are unſeen and Eternal! O that We may be made more thoughtful of Death & Judgment, and be quickned in our Preparations therefor! O that We may be learning from the Example of our dear Deceaſed Friend and Parent, how to Live, and how to Die! She was holy and humble, thro' Her Life, and the ſame at Death; and theſe are the two great Characters; which ſpeak the Chriſtian acceptable to GOD and entituled to Heaven. What tho' She had not that fullneſs of Hope & Comfort in Her End; but after all Her Diligence to make Her Calling and Election ſure, was trouble with Doubts and Fears, when She came to die. We muſt not, becauſe of This, doom it a vain Thing to take Pains in working out our Salvation, nor be diſcouraged from a Life of Religion. For (Remember) the Cloud had a bright ſide; and notwithſtanding all Her Darkneſs, She made a glorious End; being in the midſt of her greateſt Temptations & Diſtreſſes, full of Faith & humble Hope, fervent Love, Prayer and Praiſe. And truly it is worth the while to Live over Her ſtrict and holy Life, that We may die Her happy Death, and our laſt End be like Her's. — Let us labour then to get our Souls inſpir'd with a noble Emulation, and fir'd with a generous Ambition to be and do like Her. Let us covet to equal, and if it be poſſible to excel Her in all that was imitable both in Her Life and Death. We have the ſame Spirit of Grace to aſſiſt Us, and the ſame Recompence of Reward to allure Us; and what can We deſire more? — Conſider, If we (Her Children) ſerve the Lord & do Worthily in Iſrael, We may perhaps inherit more of the Good & Grace of the Covenant, than She; as Jacob's Bleſſings prevail'd above the Bleſſings of his Progenitors. This Conſideration ſhou'd induce Us to be Followers of Her excellent Pattern. And it ſhou'd alſo be a moving Argument with Us, that this will greatly redound to Her Honour, as well as ours, When there is an Entail of Religion upon Poſterity; It is indeed a bleſſed and glorious thing; This Religious Succeſſion puts a living Beauty and Luſtre on the Name and Race. But a very peculiar Dignity is put on the firſt and grand Parents, who were the Beginning of this noble and happy Stock. It was the great Glory of Abraham, next to his being the Friend of GOD, that he was the Father of the Faithful. This honourable Character makes his Name Shine in the ſacred Story, and endears his Memory to univerſal Poſterity; and it will be none of the leaſt of his Honours in the Day of the Manifeſtation of the Sons of GOD, to appear as the common Head to a numerous and glorious Offspring; and to be able to ſay, Lo! Here am I, and the Children which thou haſt graciouſly given thy Servant!