A Tender Heart Pleasing to God and Profitable, Half title – Title page 2
Dr. Sewall's and Mr. Prince's SERMONS On the Death of Mr. Secretary Willard.
A tender Heart pleaſing to GOD, and profitable to Men.
A SERMON Preached at the South-Church in BOSTON: On the LORD'S-DAY after the Death of The HONOURABLE Joſiah Willard, Eſq Secretary of the Province of the Maſſachuſetts-Bay. Who departed this Life, December 6. 1756. Aet. 76.
By Joſeph Sewall, D. D. A Paſtor of ſaid Church.
BOSTON: Printed by S. KNEELAND, in Queen-ſtreet. 1756.
A Funeral-SERMON.
II. KINGS xxii. 19, 20.
Becauſe thy Heart was tender, and thou haſt humbled thy ſelf before the LORD, when thou heardeſt what I ſpake againſt this Place, and againſt the Inhabitants thereof, that they ſhould become a Deſolation and a Curſe, and haſt rent thy Clothes, and wept before me: I have alſo heard thee, ſaith the LORD.
Behold therefore, I will gather thee unto thy Fathers, and thou ſhalt be gathered unto thy Grave in Peace, and thine Eyes ſhall not ſee all the Evil which I will bring upon this Place. And they brought the King word again.
IN this Chapter we have the Beginning of the Reign of that godly King and eminent Reformer, Joſiah, 1 & 2.Verſes. In the eighteenth Year, he gave Order for repairing the Houſe of God; a Care moſt becoming civil Rulers, who derive their Power from the moſt High; that the Worſhip of that GOD by whom Kings reign, may not be neglected. And when the Book of the Law was found, and read before the King, he was deeply affected, "as one aſhamed of the Sins of his People, and afraid of God's Wrath." And accordingly, he ſent to inquire of the Lord for himſelf, and for the People. …. 13.
From the 15th … to the End, we have the Anſwer of Huldah the Propheteſs by the Spirit of Prophecy, in the Name of the Lord; Thus ſaith the Lord God of Iſrael, Tell the Man that ſent you to me, &c. In which, 1. There's a dreadful Threatning againſt Judah and Jeruſalem for their abominable Idolatries, y 16, 17. 2. A gracious Promiſe made to this good King, in the Words of the Text, Becauſe thine Heart was tender—or made ſoft, as Junius & Montanus. His Heart was as melted Wax to the Seal, ſuitably impreſs'd with an holy. Fear of God's Anger, with an abaſing Senſe of the heinous Iniquities which enkindled it, and a firm Reſolution to engage in the neceſſary Work of Repentance and Reformation. Agreably, Chap. 23d. we find him ſolemnly making a Covenant before the Lord, to walk after the Lord, and to keep his Commandment.—And conſequent upon this, deſtroying Idolatry. And the Word of God declares, …. 25. And like unto him there was no King before him, that turned to the Lord with all his Heart, and with all his Soul, and with all his Might, according to all the Law of Moſes; neither after him aroſe there any like him. This godly King was hearty in his Grief for the great Diſhonour done to God, and as an Expreſſion of it, rent his Clothes, and wept before the Lord, while he offered his ſervent Supplications to God; for it follows, I alſo have heard thee ſaith the Lord, …. 20. I will gather thee to thy Fathers, and thou ſhalt be gathered into thy Grave in Peace—. God would ſtay his Hand, and not inſtict … Judgments threatned, till his Body ſhould be ſafely houſed in the Grave, and his Soul be received to Reſt in Heaven, above the Reach of the deadly Evils haſtning on that degenerate People. But it may be aſk'd, How could it be ſaid that Joſiah was gathered to his Grave in Peace, when he died before he was forty Years of Age, by a mortal Wound receiv'd in Battle? To this I anſwer: The Promiſe forenamed, doth not refer to the outward Circumſtances of his Death; but to the Time of it, and the State of his Kingdom: Agreably it follows; And thine Eyes ſhall not ſee all the Evil I will bring on this Place. This pious King ſhould be taken away from the Evil to come, die in Peace with God, and be gathered to his Progenitors in Heaven, Thus the Righteous, when they die, enter into Peace, and reſt in their Graves as in Beds, till God ſhall awaken their ſleeping Duſt by a bleſſed Reſurrection to immortal Life.
From the Words, and as related to the Context, Obſerve,
DOCT. I. It is the Character of pious Rulers, that their Hearts are tender, and they humble themſelves before the Lord when he threatens to bring deſtroying Judgments upon their People.
DOCT. II. It is their Privilege that when they die, they are gathered into their Graves in Peace.
DOCT. III. That a ſovereign and gracious God, doth ſometimes ſo order the Seaſon of their Departure out of this World, that they ſhould not ſee the Evil He is about to bring on their degenerate People,
DOCT. I. It is the Character of pious Rulers, that their Hearts are tender, and that they humble themſelves before the Lord when he threatens to bring deſtroying Judgments upon their People.
1. What is implied in this, Thy Heart was tender—
2. Shew, that this is an excellent Spirit, with which pious Rulers are endowed, and ſome in an high Degree.
1. What is implied in this,Thy Heart was tender—
Anſw. Negatively, It is not that natural Tenderneſs whereby ſome are more flexible and ready to receive Impreſſions than others, and which is increas'd by a good Education. Some Perſons by their Conſtitution, are more eaſily wro't upon than others; and it's obſerv'd, that a good Education ſoftens the Manners, †Emollit, mores,ſo that theſe are not ſo rough and untractable as others. And this is lovely. But then, if ſuch continue deſtitute of the gracious Tenderneſs of which we now ſpeak, and get looſe from the Reſtraints of Education, they become as Wax, ready to receive hurtful Impreſſions from the Men and Things of the World; and ſoon grow hard and inflexible to the Calls and Warnings of God's Word and Providence.
Nor is it meerly that legal Terror by which ſome fear and tremble when God threatens to bring deſtroying Judgments upon them. As when God threatned Ahab by the Prophet Elijah, that he would bring Evil upon him, and take away his Poſterity; Ahab rent his Clothes, and went ſoftly; ſo that God took Notice of it, and ſaid to the Prophet, Seeſt thou how Ahab humbleth himſelf before me *1 Kin. 21.And yet, alas! he went on in his wicked Ways, … was hardned to his Deſtruction, ‖Ch. 22.Felix trembled, while Paul reaſoned of Righteouſneſs, Temperance, and Judgment to come; but diverted and ſtifled his Convictions, and then it ſeems was given up to his Heart Luſts: For when he had ſaid, Go thy way for this Time; when I have a more convenient Seaſon, I will call for thee, it follows, He hoped that Money ſhould have been given him of Paul, that he might looſe him.†Act. 24.25, 6.
Nor is this an Heart perplexed with needleſ's Scruples about indifferent Things; or caſt down with immoderate Fear and Diſtreſs, even concerning ſpiritual Things. I grant, theſe Evils ſometimes eaſily beſet God's dear Children; but they are their Infirmities, and have a Tendency to enſeeble them in the great Work of their Salvation.
But to ſpeak more directly: A tender Heart is an Heart delivered from the Dominion of Sin, thro' which Men's Hearts are hardened; & renewed by the Spirit of Grace, in it's Qualities and Diſpoſitions, relating to God and ſpiritual Things.
Alas! we are by Nature ſince the Fall dead in Sins, and ſo deſtitute of ſpiritual Senſe and Feeling, till God give us a new Heart, and put within us a new Spirit, when we are born from above of the Spirit of God.
More particularly,
1. A tender Heart is an Heart ſavingly enlightned with the Knowledge of God and his Will.
The Word Heart, as uſed in ſacred Writ, comprehends all the Faculties and Powers of the Soul. In particular, the Underſtanding. Prov. 8.5.— Ye Fools, be ye of an underſtanding Heart. It is ſaid of the Jews, that there was a Vail on their Hearts; for their Minds were blinded, or as Beza tranſtates it, hardned. ‖1 Cor. 3.14, 15.They had not the Knowledge of Jeſus as the Son of God, and the true …, and ſo rejected him, and his Goſpel: Had they known him, they would not have crucified the Lord of Glory. And therefore, when the Spirit of God was pour'd out to make known this great Myſtery of Godlineſs. God manifeſt in the Fleſh, they look'd to him whom they had pierced, and mourn'd as for an only Son, and a firſt born. When Peter preached to them and charged them home with this moſt heinous Crime, they were pricked in their Heart with deep Remorſe, and obey'd the Call given them to repent. Act 2.37, 8.41. Thus when J…b was enlightned with clear Manifeſtations of the glorious. Majeſty of God, he ſays,— Now mine Eye ſeeth thee. I… herefore I abhor my ſelf, and repent in Duſt and Aſhes. Chap. 42.5, 6. And when the Prophet Iſaiah had ſeen the Lord ſitting on a Throne high and lifted up, he cried out with deep Abaſement; … is me, for I am undone, becauſe I am a Man of unclean Lips, and I dwell among a People of unclean Lips: for mine Eyes have ſeen the King, the Lord of Hoſts. Ch. 6.5. A believing Sight of God, ſoftens the Heart.
2. When the Heart is tender, the Will is renewed, and moulded into a Conformity to the Will of God.
Such whoſe Hearts are hardened, have their Wills bent to backſlide. Jer. 2.25.— I have loved Strangers, and after them will I go. And our Saviour, who ſpake as never Man ſpake, yet had Reaſon to complain that his Hearers would not come to him, that they might have Life. But when the Hearts of Men are ſoftned by the Grace of God, they are made willing in die Day of God's Power. Now they no longer reſiſt the Spirit of God and the Means he uſeth to draw them to himſelf. They hear and learn of the Father, and go to Chriſt, weary and heavy laden under the Burden of their Sins, and open their Hearts to receive him as offer'd in the Goſpel. Now they chuſe the Lord as their God, and cleave to him with Purpoſe of Heart, as their chief Good, and higheſt End: They are no longer as the Way-ſide, or Stony-ground Hearers: No! they receive due Impreſſions from God's Word, and it is written on the fleſhly Tables of their Hearts, as with the Finger of God: and they are ready to ſay, Lord, … wilt thou have me to do? And now, they no longer contend with God, when under the correcting Hand of his Providence; but reſign to his ſovereign Will, ſaying with Eli, It is the Lord, let him do what ſeemeth him good; or after their great Maſter, Not as I will, but as thou wilt. Thus when the Heart is tender, the Will is inclin'd to an obedient Subjection to the divine Will.
3. A tender Heart is an Heart purified from vile Affections, and ſo ſet right with God.
We read of vile Affections, (Rom. 1.26.) Such are the Paſſions, when inordinately plac'd on this preſent evil World, and ſet on gratifying baſe Luſts. Such are they who are Lovers of Pleaſures, more than Lovers of God, and whoſe Hearts are harden'd from God's Fear. Bur now, when the Heart is chane'd by the Spirit of God, his Love is ſhed Abroad in it, and the Language of the Soul is that, Whom have I … Heaven but Thee? and there is none upon Earth that I deſire beſides Thee. Pſal. 73.25. The Affections, … ſet upon Things above, and the Heart goeth form in earneſt Deſires after God, to ſee his Power and Glory, and enjoy intimate Communion with him. When ſhall I appear before God? Such as are of a tender Heart, ſanctify the Lord of Hoſt himſelf; and make him their Fear and their Dread. ‖Iſai. 8.13.They that are endowed with this gracious Diſpoſition, ſerve the Lord with Reverence, and godly Fear; realiſing it, that their God is a conſuming Fire. †Heb. 12.28, 9.And when God threatens to come forth againſt them, their Fleſh trembleth for fear of him, and they are afraid of his Judgments. *Pſal. 119.120.Yea, when God's Judgments are Abroad in the Earth, they fear before the Lord, receive Inſtruction, and learn Righteouſneſs. Being warned of God, and believing his Word, relating to the Calamities coming on a ſinful World, they fly for Refuge unto Chriſt, to lay hold on the Hope ſet before them in Him. And when they hear the Threatnings denounced againſt God's Covenant People, their Hearts tremble for the Ark of God. †1 Sam. 4.13.They Sigh and Cry for all the Abominations done among God's People, and hate the Work of them that turn aſide from God, and the Way of his Commandments. Such was the Heart of this good King; when he heard the Threatinings of God's Word denounced againſt Judah & Jeruſalem for their many and great Iniquities He rent his Clothes, expreſs'd an holy Dread of God's Wrath, and wept before him: And alſo manifeſted a great Indignation againſt the groſs Idolatries, and other Crimes, whereby his People had enkindled the jealous Anger of God againſt them.
4. A tender Heart is an Heart ſpirinkled from an evil Conſcience.
We have this Phraſe uſed, Heb. 10.22. The Conſciences of ſuch are purified in Virtue of the Blood of Chriſt, which is the Blood of God,†Act. 20.28. and ſo of Virtue to purge the Conſcience from dead Works to ſerve the living God. Conſcience is God's Deputy and Vicegerent in the Soul of Man, whereby he paſſeth Judgment on himſelf, as he is accountable, and ſubject to the Judgment of God. 1 Cor. 11.31.— If we would judge our ſelves, … ſhould not be judged. And according as the Conſcience is, the Man is ſaid to be. 1 Joh. 3.20, 1.— If our Heart condemn us, God is greater than our Hearts, and knoweth all Things. Beloved, if our Hearts condemn us not, then have we Confidence towards God. Now the Conſcience is defiled by our Sin & Apoſtacy from God.*Tit. 1.15. It is often bribed, blinded, and rendred partial by the Luſts of Men; yea, we read of ſome that have their Conſcience feared with a hot Iron. ‖Tim. 4.2.A dreadful Judgment, which makes a near Approach to Death. But the tender Heart implies a well-enlightned, faithful and tender Conſcience, ready to reprove for ſecret Sins, and ſuch as break not forth into overt Acts; yea, to check us for not avoiding the Appearance of Evil. David's Heart ſmote him for outting off Saul's Skirt, †1 Sam. 24.5.ſo far was he from ſtretching forth his Hand againſt him, to ſlay the Lord's Anointed. Thus the tender-hearted groan under the Burden of thoſe Sins which others make Light of, and their Cry is that, Rom. 7.24. O wretched Man that I am▪ who ſhall deliver me from the Body of this Death! Beholding the infinite Majeſty of God, they account every Sin, which is the Tranſgreſſion of the Law, to be a great Evil, and accordingly judge and condemn themſelves for it.
5. A tender Heart is a broken and a contrite Heart.
We read of God's ancient People, Jer. 5.3. They have made their Faces harder than a Rock, they have refuſed to return. But the tender Heart flows down at God's Preſence, and is diſſolv'd in penitential Tears. Perſons of this Character exerciſe that godly Sorrow which worketh Repentance to Salvation. Their Hearts are ſo broken for Sin, that they are broken off from it in inward Averſion, and an holy Reſolution to forſake all Sin, and turn from it to the Lord. Yea, they endeavour to bring forth Fruits meet for Repentance. Thus Joſiah was greatly concerned, & employ'd his earneſt Endeavours to reform thoſe Evils which expos'd his People to the deſtroying Judgments of an holy jealous God. 2 Kin. 23d Chap.
I might have ſaid, that a tender Heart inclines Men to ſympathize with others under their Afflictions, and to draw out their Souls to them, in affording them that needful Relief which their Caſe calls for. They obey that Word, Rom. 12.15 Weep with them that weep. But I proceed,
2. To ſhew, That this is an excellent Spirit with which pious Rulers are endowed, and ſome in an high Degree.
1. It is an excellent Spirit. Whatever this vain World may imagine, who call the Proud happy; it is an Ornament of great Price in the Sight of God, and very profitable to Men, eſpecially when found in them who by their Office are oblig'd to be Fathers to their People. It makes ſuch Men after God's own Heart, like David; †1 Sam. 13.14.yea, it reſembleth the moſt excellent Spirit of Chriſt, who bare the Griefs, and carried the Sorrows of his People, in his tender Compaſſion and Readineſs to ſuccour them. It's th… Workmanſhip of God. Ezek. 36.26. A new Heart alſo will I give you, and a new Spirit will I put within you, and I will take away the ſtony Heart out of your Fleſh, and I will give you an Heart of Fleſh. And God has a gracious Regard to it. Pſal. 51.17. The Sacrifices of God are a broken Spirit: a broken and a contrite Heart, O God, thou wilt not deſpiſe. God's Countenance beholds them with Delight, Iſai. 66.2.— To this Man will I look, even to him that is poor, and trembleth at my Word. Yea, Thus ſaith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth Eternity, whoſe Name is Holy, I dwell in the high and holy Place; with him alſo that is of a humble and contrite Spirit, to revive the Spirit of the humble, and to revive the Heart of the contrite ones. Iſai 57.15. Our Saviour pronouces them bleſſed, Matth. 5.3, 4. Bleſſed are the poor in Spirit: for there's is the Kingdom of God. Bleſſed are they that mourn: for they ſhall be comforted. Yea, the Son of God is anointed to bind up theſe broken-hearted and give them the Oyl of Joy for Mourning.*Iſai. 61. This Frame of Spirit exalts God; and them that honour him, he will honour. Such are prepared to receive abundance of Grace here; (God gives Grace to the humble) and for Joy unſpeakable, and full of Glory in the heavenly Zion.
2. Pious Rulers are endowed with this excellent Spirit, and ſome in an high Degree. Thus was the meek Moſes, who was King in Jeſurun. When God threatened to deſtroy his People, for their abominable Idolatry relating to the golden Calf, how earneſtly did he plead that God's Anger might not wax hot to conſume them? Yea, ſo high did his tender Concern for his People riſe, that he ſays, Exod. 32.32. Yet now, if thou wilt, forgive their Sin; and if not, blot me, I pray thee, out of thy Book, which thou haſt written. He ſeems to be willing, if it was poſſible, to offer up himſelf a Sacrifice in their Stead, regarding the Glory of God, and the Salvation of his People, above any Intereſt of his own. *Vid. Pool in loc.Such an one was David, who fed God's People according to the Integrity of his Heart, and guided them by the Skilfulneſs of his Hands. Under his great Sin, and God's Threatnings of Judgment on him and his Houſe, he fell down in deep Abaſement before the Lord, crying for Mercy, with a truly contrite Spirit; nor can he forget the publick Weal; Do good in thy good Pleaſure unto Zion, Pſal. 51. And after this, when he had numbred the People, his Heart ſmote him, and he confeſs'd that he had ſinn'd greatly. And when God gave him his Choice of three Judgments, he choſe to fall into the Hand of the Lord, rather than into the Hand of Men; and when the Peſtilence raged, he ſays to God, with a truly tender and publick Spirit, 2 Sam 24.15.— I have ſinned, and I have done wickedly: but theſe Sheep, what have they done? Let thine Hand, I pray thee, be againſt me, and againſt, my Fathers Houſe. Such was that excellent Governour Nehemiah. When they ſaid to him,— The Remnant that are left of the Captivity there in the Province, are in great Affliction and Reproach: the Wall of Jeruſalem alſo is broken down, and the Gates thereof burned with Fire: Neh. 1.3. It follows, v 4.— When I heard theſe Words, I ſat down and wept, and mourned certain Days, and faſted, and prayed before the God of Heaven. And then he left an honourable and profitable Office in the Court of Artaxerxes, that he might ſerve the Intereſts of God's People at Jeruſalem. And ſuch was his tender and generous Concern for them, under their Poverty and Diſtreſs, that he was not chargeable to them as others had been; but, inſtead of buying Land, and en…ching himſelf, he ſpent largely in Hoſpitality. Nor was this meer humane Pity: No, when he had ſpoken of others that oppreſs'd them, he ſays, Chap. 5 15.— So did not I, becauſe of the Fear of God. The laſt Inſtance I ſhall give is Daniel, the Man greatly beloved. He was made a great Man, and of high Dignity, under Nebucbadnezzar and Darius. It is ſaid, An excellent Spirit was in him ‖Dan. 6.3.And he manifeſted it, not only in his faithful Adminiſtration of the civil Government, ſo that his Enemies could find no Occaſion againſt him; but alſo in his refuſing to caſt off the Fear of God, and reſtrain Prayer before him, tho' his Life was threatned by the profane Decree of Darius. And then he ſtop'd the Mouths of Lions, by Faith in his God. Furthermore, we find him, in the moſt humble and penitent Manner confeſſing his Sins, and the Sins of God's People; and with the moſt tender Concern beſeeching the Lord to deliver his People, and cauſe his Face to ſhine upon his Sanctuary, which was deſolate. And in the 10 th Ch. mourning three full Weeks, while he eat no pleaſant Bread; in his tender Sympathy with God's People under their ſore Afflictions. And thus we have theſe, and other Worthies, tranſmitted to us in the ſacred Annals more durable than Braſs or Marble, with ſignal Marks of that Honour which comes from God. Their Memory is … on Earth, while they are reaping the bounti… …ewards of free Grace in the Joys of Heaven. And this brings me to the ſecond Head of Doctrine.
DOCT. II. When pious Rulers die, they are gathered into their Graves in Peace.
Mark the perfect Man, and behold the Upright, for the End of that Man is Peace, Pſal. 37.37. Here then we ſee that They muſt die as well as others. All have ſinned, and therefore muſt die. Rom. 5.12.— By one Man Sin entered into the World, and Death by Sin; and ſo Death paſſed upon all Men, for that all have ſinned. It is appointed unto Men once to die by the Sratute of Heaven. ‡Heb. 9.27.High and low meet together in the Houſe appointed for all the Living, and here there is no Pre-eminence. Altho' civil Rulers bear ſome Image of the divine Majeſty, yet they muſt die as well as others. It's God's Prerogative to be the King eternal, immortal—Pſal. 82.6, 7. I have ſaid ye are Gods, and all of you are Children of the moſt High. But ye ſhall die like Men, and fall like one of the Princes. Neither their Piety towards God, nor their Power over Men, can preſerve them from the Str…ke; but then, they, and all the Saints, are delivered from the Sting of Death, by a crucified Saviour, who has aboliſhed Death, and brought Life and Immortality to Light thro' the Goſpel; ſo that altho' they ſhould die by Violence, as this godly King; or have ſharp ſpiritual Conflicts in their Encounter with the laſt Enemy; yet when they die, they enter into Peace, their Warfare being accompliſhed, Iſai. 57.2. He ſhall enter into Peace: They ſhall reſt in their Beds—Now that good Word is fulfilled in them, which was ſpoken to Daniel, Chap. 12.13.— Go thy Way till the End be: for thou ſalt reſt—. Their Bodies reſt in the Grave, till the bright Morning of the Reſurrection, when they ſhall ariſe glorious and immortal. And their departed Spirits are receiv'd by Chriſt, and go to be with him. which is far better. The Lamb which is in the midſt of the Throne, ſhall feed them, and ſhall lead them unto living Fountains of Waters: and God ſhall wipe away all Tears from their Eyes. Rev. 7.17. They behold the Brightneſs of the Father's Glory in the Face of Jeſus Chriſt, and are for ever ſatisfied with his Likeneſs. And now the Light of God's Countenance ſhines upon them in its full Strength, and all their Darkneſs vaniſheth away, as the Shades of Night before the ſpringing Day, and riſing Sun. And being joined with the Spirits of juſt Men made perfect, they wait in a certain Expectation for the Redemption of their Bodies and re-union with them, Yea, when Chriſt, who is their Life, ſhall appear, they ſhall alſo appear with Him in Glory: and ſo ſhall they be ever with the Lord. Agreably the Apoſtle Johnn heard a Voice from Heaven, ſaying to him,— Bleſſed are the Dead which die in the Lord, from henceforth: Yea, ſaith the Spirit, thai they may reſt from their Labours; and their Works do follow them, Rev. 14.13.
DOCT. III. A ſovereign and merciful God doth ſometimes ſo order the Death of pious Rulers, that they ſhould not ſee the Evil. He is about to bring upon their degenerate People.
Thus Joſiah muſt not live to ſee the Miſeries of the Babyloniſh Captivity: Such was the Tenderneſs of his Heart, and his great Love to his People, that theſe Calamities would have been almoſt inſupportable to him; and accordingly, his merciful God removes him to the heavenly World, where he is lifted up above all painful Impreſſions, and where all is calm and ſerene. In like Manner, the famous Auguſtin died, while Hippo was beſieg'd by the Vendals, and after taken.*Hiſt. Dictionary. And this the Prophet Iſaiah mentions as an Event which not ſeldom comes to paſs in Favour of the godly, when perilous Times are coming on their People. — The Righteous are taken away from the Evil to come. Chap. 57.1. Thus God provideth an Hiding-place for them, when the Storm is near.
But I muſt proceed to the
APPLICATION.
USE I. See the great Evil and Danger of an hard Heart.
Contraries will have contrary Conſequences. This deadly Plague of the Heart inclines Men to diſobey and reject the Warnings of God's Word and Providence. And this is highly provoking to God. Heb. 3.8. Harden not your Hearts, as in the Provocation. This evil Spirit gives God reaſon to complain as of his ancient People, Iſai. 1.5. Why ſhould ye be ſtricken any more? ye will revolt more and more. And therefore, when God's profeſſing People are guilty of this great and Heaven-daring Sin under inflicted and threatned Judgments, it's a fearful Preſage of approaching Ruin. Ver. 7. Your Country is deſolate, your Cities are burnt with Fire: your Land, Strangers devour it in your Preſence, and it is deſolate as overthrown by Strangers. Accordingly Wiſdom cries, Prov. 1.23. Turn you at my Reproof. And threatens, v. 24,—27. Becauſe I have called, and ye refuſed. I have ſtretched out my Hand, and no Man regarded; But ye have ſet at nought all my Counſel, & would none of my Reproof: I will alſo laugh at your Calamity, and mock when your Fear cometh; When your Fear cometh as Deſolation, and your Deſtruction cometh as a Whirlwind. O let us then be deeply humbled for the prevailing Power of this great Evil among us, in this dark and cloudy Day, and Cry to God to take away the ſ…ny Heart out of our Fleſh, leſt we ſhould be left after our Hardneſs, and impenitent Heart, to treaſure up Wrath againſt the Day of Wrath, and Revelation of the righteous Judgmeat of God.
II. Let us all be exhorted, in the diligent uſe of Means, to ſeek of God this tender Heart.
It is God's Gift. Ezek. 36.26.—I will give you an Heart of Fleſh. i.e. a tender and ſoft Heart, of quick Senſe, and ready to receive due Impreſſions from God's Word and Providence, and to yield to his ſovereign Will. Let us then pray to God for this great Bleſſing. When God had promiſed it, He adds, Ezek. 36.37. Thus ſaith the Lord God, I will yet for this be inquired of by the Houſe of Iſrael, to do, it for them. God will do this; but it muſt be in Anſwer to Prayer. He expects that his People do thus ſhew their Value for ſo great a Mercy, and their entire Dependance on him for it. Let us then, deeply ſenſible how our Hearts have been defiled and hardened by Sin, pour out that Prayer to the God of all Grace, Pſal. 51.10. Create in me a clean Heart, O God; and renew a right Spirit within me. Again, we muſt attend to the Word of God, which is perfect, converting the Soul. Jer. 23.29. Is not my Word like a Fire? ſaith the Lord: and like a Hammer that breaketh the Rock in Pieces. Yes ſurely, when the Almighty is pleas'd to take it into his Hand, he can break the hardeſt Heart, and diſſolve it into Tears of godly Sorrow, which worketh Repentance to Salvation. Let us then wait at the Poſts of Wiſdom's Doors, and hearken to the Voice of God's Word, and pray that we may mix it with Faith; then the Word will be to us the Power of God to change and ſoften our Hearts. Again, we ſhould obſerve the Providences of God for this End: That his Goodneſs may lead us to Repentance; and that under his awful Judgments, we may ſay with Joh, Chap. 23.16.— God maketh my Heart ſoft. And that knowing the Terrors of the Lord, we may look unto Jeſus, to whom the Father hath committed all Judgment, and mourn and turn to the Lord, with a broken Heart and contrite Spirit.
III. Then we ſhould lay it to Heart, when Perſons of this Character are taken from us by Death.
Let them be high or low in their outward Circumſtances, they are the excellent in the Earth, the Chariots and Horſemen of Iſrael, who help to keep off Judgments from a People. Had there been ten ſuch righteous Perſons in Sodom, the God who cannot lie, gave his Word to Abraham, Gen 19.32.— I will not deſtroy it for tens ſake. Agreeably, God ſpeaks of it as a provoking Sin, Iſai. 57.1. The Righteous periſheth, and no Man layeth it to Heart. And then adds, None conſidering that the Righteous are taken away from the Evil to come. May God avert the Omen!
In a particular Manner is this the Caſe, when ſuch are removed by Death, as were of publick Character and Influence, and in their Stations Gapmen, who us'd their beſt Endeavours, Humane Frailties excepted, to keep off impending Judgments from breaking in upon their People.
One of this Character, was that Honourable Perſon, whoſe Death we lament before the Lord this Day: Who having ſerved his Generation by the Will of God, is fallen aſleep, and laid unto his Fathers. As he bare the Name, ſo he exhibited much of the Spirit of this pious King: His Heart was tender, humbled and ſoftned under God's correcting Hand, in public and domeſtic Calamities. He was a true Mourner in Zion, for his own, and the Sins of God's People; and forward to engage in the Work of Repentance and Reformation, that God's Anger might be turned away.
In his Death this Province is bereav'd of One who was a faithful Friend and tender Father to his Country, in the ſeveral Places of public Truſt which he filled: As a Secretary of this Province by the Royal Commiſſion, for about forty Years, in which Office he continued till his Death; and as he had been for ſeveral Years of the Honourable Council, and Judge of Probate for this County: He diſcharged the Duties of theſe important Offices with a laudable Capacity, great Diligence and Integrity, as a good and faithful Servant of God, his King and Country. His ſolicitous Care was, that the Common-Wealth might receive no Damage. And he was moderate in his Demands from particular Perſons; ſo far from extorting more than was due, that, as I am informed, he rather abated of his Right. And there is Reaſon now to take up that Lamentation, and ſay, Behold, the Lord, the Lord of Hoſts doth take away the Judge, and the prudent, and the Ancient, the honourable Man, and the Councellor.
In his Death, the College, whom he ſerv'd as a Tutor for ſeveral Years, is bereav'd of a vigilant Oxerſeer, whoſe great Concern was that pure Religion and the beſt humane Literature, might flouriſh in that School of the Prophets, which may God preſerve for a great Bleſſing to our Land, ſo long as the Sun and Moon ſhall endure.
This Town our Jeruſalem is bereav'd of an Inhabitant well qualified and ſpirited to ſerve its beſt Intereſts; and who might with Propriety adopt the Words of the Royal Pſalmiſt, Becauſe of the Houſe of the Lord our God, I will ſeek thy Good.
This Flock of Chriſt, of which his excellent FATHER was an able and faithful Paſtor, is bereaved of an exemplary and fruitful Chriſtian, who walk'd humbly and cloſely with God, in a firm Adherence to the Doctrines and Precepts of the Goſpel: One that was zealous for the Day and Houſe of the Lord, and conſtant in his Attendance on the public Worſhip, even when his bodily Infirmities might urge him to ſpare himſelf.
And indeed, my dear Brethren, when we conſider how a Sovereign God has of late been thinning our Glory, by the Death of ſeveral pious and uſeful Members, and ſome who had ſuſtin'd public Offices in the civil Government; *… Lewis,Eſq and Mr. Edward Br…field.we have great Reaſon to humble our ſelves before God, and cry to Him, with whom is the reſidue of the Sprit, in the Words of David, Help Lord, for the godly Man ceaſeth; for the faithful fail from among the Children of Men. The Lord revive us again, that we may rejoyce in Hi…!
His Family is bereaved of loving faithful Huſband, of a tender Father, and good Maſter. May God comfort the mournful Relict, with that good Word, Thy Maker is thy Husband; and graciouſly reward her unwearied Pains and Labour of Love, in being ſo helpful to his Servant, and his Offspring! And may die Father of Mercies in Heaven, take up the bereaved Children, now that their earthly Father hath forſaken them, and bleſs them with all the Bleſſings of the everlaſting and well-ordered Covenant!
Once more, the Poor and Afflicted are bereaved of a merciful Man, whoſe Heart and Hands were open to relieve them under their Wants and Diſtreſſes.
But I forbear; My Brethren, I have briefly mentioned theſe Things, that we may give Glory to the Father of Lights, from whom every good Gift, and every perfect Gift come down, and truſt in him for ever, with whom is no Variableneſs, neither Shadow of turning; that we may earneſtly ſeek to this God, to repair the Breach he has made, and be excited to be Followers of them who thro' Faith and Patience inherit the Promiſes.
And now, may the God of all Grace, pour out his Spirit on every Order among us; that we may remember our firſt Love, and do our firſt Works leſt an holy God ſhould be provok'd to remove our Candleſtick out of its Place, and put out our Light in obſeure Darkneſs; leſt this, and other Bereavements, ſhould prove Forerunners of deſolating Judgments haſtning upon us. May God be with us, as he was with our Fathers and never leave, nor forſake us! May the Lord of Hoſts appear for us in every Mount of Difficulty, and ſubdue our Antichriſtian Enemies; that this his People may abide before him in this good Land, to ſerve him till the ſecond Coming of our Lord!
To conclude; Let us not be offended in Chriſt, when we beheld ſuch exemplary Chriſtians call'd to bear heavy Croſſes, conflicting with grievous Temptations, and ſometimes walking in Darkneſs; but rather obſerve how their Humility and Patience, Reverence and Submiſſion to the Will of God, were exercis'd and improved under their heavy Trials; and then realize the glorious and everlaſting Reſt which remains to the People of God in Heaven; that we may encourage our ſelves in the Lord, and ſay with the Apoſtle Paul, with whoſe Words I finiſh, 2 Cor. 4.16, —18. For which Cauſe we faint not, but though our outward Man periſh, yet the inward Man is renewed Day by Day. For our light Affliction, which is but for a Moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal Weight of Glory: While we look not at the Things which are ſeen, but at the Things which are not ſeen: for the Things which are ſeen, are temporal; but the Things which are not ſeen, are eternal.
FINIS.
The Character of CALEB.
IN A SERMON Delivered At the South-Church in Boſton, On the Lord's-Day after The Funeral of The HONOURABLE Joſiah Willard, Eſq Secretary of the Province: Who Deceaſed December 6. 1756. Aet. 76.
By THOMAS PRINCE, M. A. And a Paſtor of ſaid Church.
BOSTON: Printed by S. KNEELAND, in Queen-Street. 1756.